//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: Nobody // by Blazer //------------------------------// I know people experience hardships. That everybody has their own problems. Sob stories being thrown about left and right, abusive parents this, hurricane that, Internet drama, the whole nine yards. Nobody wants to hear it. People are desensitized to it; they listen to things like that every night at six-o-clock. How the anchorman tells you, "Good evening, folks," and over the next few hours, tells you just why it isn't going to be a good evening. Unfortunately for me, it wasn't too different. Back home, I couldn't do anything right. I was a screw-up. Barely holding on in school with a C-average. My close friends calling me a shut-in because I won't spare the money to go see movies any more. My brother getting angry with my inability to take honest opinions and criticism. My girlfriend leaving me. It's obvious that I suck at relationships... Or just at everything. This always left me with nobody to talk to. Nobody to sympathize with. That's what I was, essentially. A nobody. But there was one thing I could do correctly. One thing that would make all my problems melt away. Something I've played since my childhood. Basketball. Every game, as soon as I set foot on that court... everything just went right. Every shot made was so satisfying, although not as much as the responding roar of approval from the stands. To hear friends, family, and even complete strangers cheer your name always evoked such pride in what I enjoyed doing. Even in practice, I always enjoyed the freedom I was granted. I always knew what I was doing, even in the hairiest of situations. No hitches, no bumps in the road for me to stumble over. No falls for me to take. It was my escape. Here, on the wooden floors of the school gym, I was unstoppable. I was happy. I wasn't a zero anymore. I was somebody. Until I ended up here. And I was nobody again. -- NOBODY Prologue *** "Dude. Jay. You listening?" "..." "Jay!" "Agh! What the hell!" "Dude, did you hear a word I said?" "Yeah, yeah." I waved my hand dismissively. "Stop driving like a maniac. I got it." "Then why are you still going 75 on a 65 speed limit freeway?" I let off of the gas slightly, allowing the car to slow down to about 65 MPH. "There. Happy?" I asked, brow twitching in irritation. "Yeah. Better." Bryan replied, shifting in his seat. "I swear to god, dude. You bitch about every little thing." "Hey, I don't care how you drive when I'm not around. Just don't go so fast when I'm here." "Okay, okay. Don't have to repeat it." I hit the turn signal, moving over into the right lane to get off the freeway. Bryan cleared his throat. "Sheesh. Why do you always get all touchy when I ask you about one little thing?" "I don't like it when people pick on my flaws; do you?" I shot back. "Well, not really, but-" "Yeah. There." "But," Bryan raised his voice. "I'd rather have people tell me something that they'd prefer me not to do so I avoid looking like an asshole. Which is what you're doing right now." "Wow. Real mature, dude." "Who's being the immature one? Can't take a bit of criticism?" "Shut up." "Alright, alright. Fine." I glared daggers into the road ahead of me. "I swear, if you weren't my brother, I'd beat the tar out of you." "Yeah? Well, same here." I braked gently, easing the Prius to a stop sign. Glancing both ways, I proceeded. As I continued to navigate the streets back home, Bryan cleared his throat again. I hated it when he did that. I think he does it to announce that he's going to say something. "So, you get any news back from Toys R' Us about that interview they mentioned?" "Not yet." "Ah. Well, at least you got a call about an interview; I haven't heard back from any of the places I applied to. Hope you get that job." I gave him a sidelong glance. It was bold of him to think that the conversation would cool off that quickly. But, then again, we've been arguing like that for eighteen years. It's what brothers do, really. Although apologies were rare, it was usually unspoken apologies that we gave out. Usually when we expressed good will to the other, that was a sign of such an apology. I nodded. "Thanks." Turning right into a side-street, I slowed as I pulled into our driveway. After putting it in park, I soundlessly exited, retrieving my bag and lunch from the back of the car, waiting for Bryan to do the same before locking it and heading inside. Bursting into my bedroom, I tossed my bag onto the bed, rolling my shoulder to work away the soreness. Hitting the power on my computer, I pulled my flip phone out of my pocket, opening it. I noticed that I had two unread texts. I quickly opened them, reading them over. My hope deflated when it was only a couple of acquaintances from school asking me about homework. Deleting the two, my eyes fell on the third message. An explosive sigh escaped my lips. It was from my girlfriend. Opening the message, I read it again, even though I had already read it before. It was a complaint about me standing her up on our previous date, and the one before that. I also noticed the date on the text was from over a month ago. Suddenly feeling a pang of sorrow for her, I thought maybe I should make it up to her. I popped the button on the bookbag, flipping the nylon flap over. Rummaging around inside, I removed my planner and flipped it to December, noting that I had nothing going on this weekend, other than the homecoming basketball game Saturday night. I opened my flip phone again and furiously tapped out a text message, asking her if she was available Friday night for dinner at the Melting Pot, a local fondue restaurant near her house. After sending the text, I left my phone on my desk, returning to my computer to check my email. I jolted when the phone vibrated against my desk, making a loud buzzing noise. Snatching it off of the desk, I opened it, my eyes scanning the message. "sounds great; just as long as your really there this time. :\" I couldn't help a smile. I wouldn't let her down this time. *** "Nether dust container?" "Check." "Sound crystals?" "Check." "Okay. That's the last of the list. I think we're ready, then." "Er... Are you sure the Princess will be okay with this, Twilight?" "Hm?" "Y'know... With trying these long-range teleportation spells?" "Oh, Spike. We've already been over this." "I know, I know." "It's just like my short-range teleporation spell." "Yes. But you're teleporting a magical object!" "Spike, did anything bad happen when I teleported Rarity?" "Wha..? What're you getting at?" "There weren't any negative effects after I moved her with my magic, correct?" "Well, no, But-!" "And Rarity was a unicorn, right?" "Yeah, but still-! "Therefore, she was a 'magical' object due to her horn." "Right..." "So, teleporting nether dust to the Princess shouldn't be a problem. Besides, they said it was urgent, correct?" "Yeah. They did say that the extracted nether dust needed to be sent to them right away... But they suggested that you take the train to Canterlot." "Yes, but this will definitely streamline things. I won't have to leave my library if I use long-range teleportation." "Ugh. Don't say I didn't warn you..." "What? What's the worst that could happen?"