//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: The Bet // Story: A Sparkle of love // by Silentpegasus //------------------------------// Chapter 5 The Bet Echo Specter found himself in a dark alley filled with trash and the homeless. He knew this place, knew it all to well. He trotted back to his home, it smelt of pain, of fear and of blood. Echo made his way to the basement where he did his operations there was a mare waiting with a small bundle in her hooves, she looked at him with hope in her eyes. Echo’s gaze then fell upon a bundle that was in the mares hooves he saw that it was moving. “Please! Please help her!” cried the mare, Echo took the bundle into his O.R. he examined the small pegasus filly, she had the feather flu. “I’m sorry, but I lack the medical equipment to treat her. You need a real hospital.” he said as he looked back to the mare who was in tears. “I can’t! They turned us away because we didn’t have the insurance. I came here for help. Please, she’s all I have left.” Echo looked at the small filly on the table. “I’ll see what I can do.” he then trotted back to the small filly on the table. He began treating her with almost every thing he had, it wasn’t enough. After spending an hour in the O.R. he walked out hanging his head in shame. “I’m sorry but the virus has spread too much, she’s in pain and will die.” the mare collapsed on the ground in tears. Echo embraced her trying to ease the pain. “Ca-can you d-do so-something?” the mare cried. “I can make it so that your child doesn’t suffer any more.” he said with tears streaming down his cheeks. Instantly the mare knew what he meant she backed away from him and slapped him across the face. Echo stared back at her with tear soaked eyes.The mare knew that he was right and collapsed to the floor again, Echo put a hoof on her shoulder, the mare looked up at him. “W-will it h-hurt her?” “No, it will be painless. She won’t feel a thing.” “Then d-do it, my child has s-suffered enough.” “Are, you sure?” “Y-yes.” “Would you like a few moments together?” the mare nodded, he led her over to the table the small filly was laying on. She put a hoof on her daughters head. “I’m so sorry Lilly, I’m sorry that it had to end like this. My only hope is that you can forgive me for being such a poor mother, I just want to let you know that I love you and I always will.” the mare broke down in tears as she finished her statement. Echo was behind her fighting the urge to cry. “Okay, do it quickly.” Echo trotted over to the small filly that was still breathing lightly. He went over to a black box and retrieved a syringe containing a red liquid. He then trotted over to the filly holding the syringe with his magic. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” he said as he penetrated the filly’s flesh with the needle. He saw the filly squirm a bit and opened her eyes for a moment, and looked at her mother who was still crying. “Mommy what’s wrong? I feel funny.” the filly said as the mare rose and embraced the filly in a hug, the last one they’d ever share. “I-t’s nothing sweetie, you’re just going to sleep for a bit, I just want to let you know that I love you and I won’t ever stop loving you.” “I.... love you too..... mommy.” the little filly said as her chest stopped moving. The mare couldn’t take it and started to sob over the body of her daughter. Echo trotted over to the mare and got her to her hooves and led her out the door. “Wait can I just have a minute alone with her?” “Of coarse take all the time you need.” he left the mare in the room with her daughter. Five minutes went by he decided to check on the mare. As he opened the door he saw the mare holding a scalpel to her throat. “No! Don’t-” his cry fell on deaf ears as the mare slit her throat and collapsed on to the small filly. Echo hurried over to the mare, there was nothing he could do, the mare just laid there dead next to her daughter. Echo broke down and cried over the bodies of the two ponies. He looked down and closed the mare’s eyes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Echo woke up in a cold sweat, with Twilight looking down at him with a concerned look on her face. “Are you okay? I heard you screaming and I tried to wake you, but you must have been having one heck of a dream.” she said as Echo sat up wiping the sweat off is brow. “What was it about?” “I don’t wan to talk about it.” he said as he caught his breath. Twilight put a hoof on his shoulder. Echo got out of the bed and went to the bathroom and splashed cold water onto his face. He calmed his mind and trotted down stairs to see Twilight gathering her things. “I though we’d eat at Sugar Cube Corner today. Is that alright?” “Yeah...sure. Just give me a minute.” Echo trotted back up stairs and rejuvenated his ‘mask.’ Echo went outside the library to see Twilight waiting for him with a weak smile on her face. “Alright let’s get going.” The two unicorns made their way to Sugar Cube Corner without saying a word to each other, more than twice Echo saw Twilight glance at him with a blush on her face. Echo dismissed the thought as they entered the bakery. The two found a booth ad ordered their food. “Are your friends joining us?” “No it’s just us.” she said as she avoided his gaze. “Alright I’ll bite, what’s wrong?” “What are you talking about?” “You haven’t said a word since we left the library and why do you keep staring at me all the time?” he said as he cocked an eyebrow. “I just have a lot on my mind that’s all.” “Does that include me?” “Well yes and no. I’ll admit I’m curious about you but I’m also afraid to know more about you. Considering what you told us last night and then you wake up screaming from a nightmare.” “I would be too if I was in your situation. I know I haven’t had a charmed life but it’s who I am.” “But I just don’t see how-” “Twi, I don’t expect you to understand, I was raised in the streets and you were raised in luxury. We’re from very different worlds, while you were busy studying or playing house I was out finding food or trying to find a pony I could steal from.” “So how did you discover medicine?” “Well I got hurt a lot, so did my partner, neither of us would go to the hospital and I was the only unicorn out of us so I was the natural choice to learn it.” “Your team?” “Yeah, me and a pegasus, Star Chaser. She was my assistant and helped me with the patients. She would also distract colts while I robbed them blind.” “That’s so-” “Don’t judge me, we did what we had to do to survive. It wasn’t honest work but it paid well and kept us fed.” “So you two were close?” “ We were the only family we had.” “Where is she now?” “Okay, can I ask a question here?” he said in annoyance. “Sure what?” “Why are you so interested in me? Asking me about my past and stuff, what’s your gain in all of this?” “I wan’t to help you.” Twilight said with concern in her voice. “But why? I have nothing to offer you. Plus how can you stand to be around me? I’m surprised that you haven’t treated me as bad as Applejack did yesterday morning.” he said as he eyed the lavender mare. “Because I think that-” “Because you think that you can help me? Save me? Well you can’t no one can. I’ve been in the dark for so long it now hurts to see the light.” he looked at the mare who now had a sad look on her face. “Look, Twi, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, giving me shelter, food, trying to get me new friends but it has and will never be who I am.” “And just who are you then? A drifter? A loner? A doctor? Who are you? What are you?” Twilight said tears starting to form in her eyes. “I don’t know anymore.” Echo said as he looked back at the mare. “I haven’t known since I left Detrot, every night I’m bombarded by memories of the ponies I’ve failed, patients, my friends even my parents.” “Look, I’m just trying to help you because I can see that theres still a chance for you to enjoy your life and no matter what you do I won’t give up. That’s who I AM. I don’t abandon my friends.” she said as she crossed her front hooves. “Heh-heh, you sounded like Star for a second there. Fine you’re free to try but I’m warning you don’t get your hopes up, as soon as I’m done paying back my debts I’m going back to the forest.” “What if you decide to stay?” “Alright how about this, if you somehow manage to convince me to stay then I will owe you a favor.” “A favor?” “Not any favor. THE FAVOR, basically you can ask me to do anything and I will do it without question.” he said as he held out a hoof. “Deal, I hope you’re ready to lose.”she said as she shook the black hoof. “One thing Ms. Sparkle, I never make abet I can’t win.” he said with a grin. “Well there’s a first time for every thing.” Twilight said as she returned the grin. “This is going to be fun I can already tell.” he said with his voice dripping in sarcasm. The two ponies left the bakery and trotted into the busy town. “So where are we off to now?” “I need to stop at Roseluck’s shop for some tulips.” the trotted up to a small shop a cream colored mare with a red mane was watering some plants. “Hey Twilight what’s up?” the mare then noticed the dark stallion standing with her. A smile spread across her face. “Well hello there, and how can I help you?” Roseluck said as she gave Echo a lustful look. “Um..Rose I need some tulips.” Twilight said as she tried to get the mare’s attention. “Yeah sure they’re over there against the wall.” she said a she pointed to the back. When she turned back around she saw the dark stallion looking at a purple flower she trotted over next to him. “Can I help you with anything?” “I see you crossbred a blue hazel root with a red pedal violet.” The red maned mare’s jaw dropped at the statement. “You’re a herbalist?” “Sort of, I make remedies out of certain flowers and plants.” “Well that’s impressive. It’s rare to find a pony with those interests. What brings a stallion like you to this small town?” she said as she leaned against him. Echo noticing the mares motion took a quick side step away from her. “Well I’m from out of town and I’m staying with Twilight.” “Wait, are you two together?” “No, I’m just crashing with her while I’m in town.” “Oh, I see. So you like plants?” “Yeah for the most part.” “Hey Echo I got the flowers we can go now I just need to find- oh Rose you’re over here.” “Oh yeah Twilight, I’ll be with you in a minute.” she shouted over to the lavender mare. “I’m sorry where are my manners, My name is Roseluck, you can call me Rose.” she said as she outstretched a hoof. “Echo Specter. You can call me Echo.” he said as he put on a weak smile. “Well Echo, it was nice meeting you.” she said as the stallion started to walk away. The mare trotted after him. “Hey Echo hang on a second.” he then turned back to the red maned mare. “Yes?” “You know about crossbreeding plant’s right?” “Yes.” “Well I need some help with some plant’s I’m trying to cross breed, could you come by here later on like say seven o’clock and lend me a hoof?” Echo looked at the mare who put on a weak smile. “Um..sure I don’t mind.” he said weakly. “Great. See ya.” the mare said a she trotted away. Echo stood motionless dumbfounded at what just happened. Twilight then trotted next to the dark stallion. What the buck just happened? “Okay Echo we can leave.” Twilight then noticed the stallions’ face. “Hey Echo, Equestria to Echo.” “Huh? Sorry just lost in thought.” the two unicorns then trotted down the street’s of Ponyville. “So what did you and Rose talk about?” “Well we talked about flowers and plants. Then she asked me to help her out with some plants later tonight.” Twilights’ eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. “WHAT? WHAT DID YOU SAY?” “I said yes.” “WHAT WHY?” “Geez, what is with you and yelling all of a sudden? And why are you acting like this? you’re the one who told me to try and be nice. So that’s what I’m doing.” Twilight then felt her face turn red. “It’s just that I’m surprised that you agreed to it.” “So am I. But she seems interesting, I mean we both know a great deal about plants and herbs.” “And does she know that you were a street doctor for thugs and gang members?” “No, and why are you being so hostile all of a sudden? I thought that this is what you wanted, me branching out to other individuals.” he said as he gave glare to the mare. “I know it’s just that, I didn’t know you’d do it this quickly.” “Believe it or not Twi, I can be nice when I want to. And I wasn’t about to let a fellow herbalist try and crossbreed a species without any help.” “Why would she need help with that?” “Ugh! Crossbreeding is a very difficult process it requires both delicacy and precision. Two things I am very good at.” “Well alright, If you want to do that.” “Thank you for the support. So where to next?” “Back to Applejacks’ farm.” the two ponies then made their way to the apple orchard on the far side of town. On the the way there Twilight couldn’t wrap her mind around what Echo just told her.