//------------------------------// // Uncertainly Certain // Story: Beyond Blind Eyes // by Lunaric //------------------------------// "I swear, Cotton." Aqua giggled as she smiled. "I swear, it doesn't hurt! I know it made that cracking sound yesterday, but It doesn't hurt at all. I even used a little bit of telekinesis as I woke up. And that barely got sore for a minute!" "Hearing your horn crack isn't a good thing, Aqua." "I feel fine, Cotton. Look: even the doctor said I'd have some... What's the word..." The filly shook her right hoof up and down for a second. "Ah! Discomfort. Or at least some word like that while I was growing up. I think yesterday could be classified as discomfort." Cotton shook her head. "Still..." "Look. I'm okay. I'm not in pain. I'm doing good. If my horn starts to hurt when I use magic today, I'll stop. Okay?" The pegasus sighed. "Okay, Aqua..." As the two descended into silence, Cotton continued on her walk. The pegasus was giving a ride to the smaller of the two around a park by the name of Cattail Hill. The park had a hill in the middle of it with a pond surrounding it. It is nice, I'll admit. Aqua had requested a change of scenery from the usual large yard around the orphanage that doubled as a park. How she can differentiate between there and here I have no clue... Cotton shook her head with a small smile. With it being winter, Cotton couldn't hear any ducks despite the warm sun. Though, my teeth do chatter occasionally out here. She then frowned and turned to look at the filly on her back. She had her eyes closed with a serene look on her face, ears occasionally twitching this way and that. I'll ask how she stands it later... Cotton looked forward. She's not a pegasus, so how can she be so comfortable in this chill? Not many ponies were out and about. Even rarer to see one off the main paths that led to the market and popular shopping areas. When Cotton spotted not one, but two ponies lounging underneath a tree, she was thoroughly confused. Are they a couple..? Why else would they be out here other than for a date? They are both pegasi... "Hey, Aqua?" Cotton felt a jolt of movement on her back. "Y-yeah?" "How are you feeling?" The filly took a second to respond. "Good." Cotton giggled. "No, I mean are you cold?" "Oh." The filly joined her in giggling. "Nah. A little bit, but I like the cold." "Ah." Cotton nodded. "Yeah. Where I used to live it was cold often." Cotton frowned. "Oh" "This one time I remember not wearing any clothes for the snow, but I was out there having fun for probably an hour or so... Not enough snow to make a snowman, but we made do..." Cotton opened her mouth as Aqua continued. Guess I'll ask about the cold later... "Yeah. Me and my brother did that a few times. I still remember those big forests... God, it feels like it's been forever since then." Cotton paused in her gait, turning to face the filly. "Wait. You had a brother?" Aqua looked very nervous. "Uh... W-well..." The filly furrowed her eyebrows. "Wait, I've never told you?" At Cotton's lack of immediate response, she looked down and hummed aloud. "Huh... I think you're right... I don't think I ever mentioned him... That's one's on me, I suppose. Hm... Anyway, yeah, he's doing good. Or at least, the last time I saw him he was..." Aqua went quiet. "Do you think he's still okay?" "I... Honestly, yeah... He knew a lot, but that didn't really help him..." Aqua hung her head. Cotton looked at her in pity. "Did he-" Aqua cut her off as she looked up to Cotton's. Her eyes were sparkling purple. "Thanks for caring, Cotton, really. But I don't really want to think about it." The pegasus' eyebrows were raised. "Are... Are you sure?" Aqua nodded firmly. "Yeah." "Alright, Aqua." Cotton slowly nodded. The filly closed her eyes and laid her head down. "Thanks." They spent the rest of the walk in silence.