//------------------------------// // Final Step:Release // Story: Igniting Hope // by Theta //------------------------------// We started the day off with a simple walk around the small town, talking idly as we went along. We skipped from topic to topic, starting off with simple 'How's your day been' and moving into...well into 'Would you rather' questions. Everything went smoothly...well at least for the first half of the day. We decided to catch a bite to eat in a nearby restaurant; aptly named 'The Coffee Place'. It's literally modeled after a coffee cup, no joke! But back to the story, we had just been seated and were looking over the menu, when 'parents' decides to be the next topic. "Hey Ditzy, why does your mom hate me?," I asked with a quizzical look plastered on my face. "She wants to ruin everything in my life, no matter the cost. She's...she's a bitch! It's like that with everything in my life. Nothing is ever good enough...no matter if I get honor roll at school, or find a guy who actually likes me for me. She ruins everything, like a black cancer on my back! I hate he-," She ranted, and only when I touched her hand is when she froze and tears ran down her cheeks. "I...I'm sorry for bringing it up, I really am. No need to cry now, you're with me and I ain't going to let anything ruin that.," I said with a low, comforting voice. She wiped the tears from her eyes, and gave a weak, but hopeful smile, "Thank you, Torque. That means a lot to me..." Ditzy was interrupted by the waiter, whom had his arms crossed and was tapping his hoof furiously, "If you two are done, what would you like to eat? Hurry up, I got other tables to wait on." "Uh, just hay fries for me, dude.," I said with a laid back tone. "I'll have a daisy sandwich, please.," Ditzy ordered with more politeness than the waiter deserved. "It'll be out in a bit.," his voice had an impatient tone to it. "Torque, if you don't mind...I have a question for you.," Ditzy said with an innocent voice. "Not at all, shoot away, Tex." "Why did you run?" Fuck me... I can't tell her. Not now, not here,,,oh shit what should I tell her... All that I could think of saying was, "I can't tell you now. Let's head back to the park after this and I'll tell you." The next hour was sat in complete silence, the two of us just sat there completely awkward. Me trying to think of how to tell her, and Ditzy sat thinking of what she had reignited. When we finished our food and paid the bill, we sauntered out of the establishment, The park was a short distance away and hardly far enough to even finish my thoughts. Within minutes we were sitting on a bench, watching as the afternoon unraveled. Finally I spoke up, breaking the tension. "Ditzy, I'm telling you this because I trust you, something I haven't been able to do for a long, long time. Please, I beg of you, don't hate me for what I am about to tell you. I won't lie, it's a fucked up situation, but it needs to be told. Two things caused me to run; death, and home. The death of my best bud, Nastic. It-it was something that could've been prevented, something I had direct control over. But I was stupid.," I slam my fist on the table, "I was a fucking idiot. It was the last game of our season, the game I knew recruiters would be at. More specifically, the recruiters that had picked both of us up earlier in the year. I wanted to guarantee us spots on the Canterlot University team, make sure we were the big picks of the year. Well, we were up; I had already made sure I'd have a name, but Nastic... He just wasn't running his A-game. I just wanted to help him... I threw the ball at him, I guess harder than I intended, and it didn't hit it's target. I mean, it did, theoretically, but it didn't. I meant to throw him a solid pass, but it hit him in the chest, not crosse. Guess he had bad karma or something, because that ball caused commotio cordis; a super rare condition. Long explanation short, it caused his heart to beat off rhythm; causing a heart attack... My best friend, dead at my hands. Man, the gods must really hate me. As for home, it's more of the lack of one. My parents never really paid any attention to me, at least my dad didn't. He was a good guy, just a bit...distracted. As for the bitch I call mom, she's nothing but a cynical, oppressive fuck who tried to use me to live out her goals. She knows no sympathy, no sadness, no emotions other than anger and disdain. I have nothing more to say bout her. But now you know why I ran. why I'm here, why I'm the biggest fuck up in Equestrian history. I...I wouldn't blame you if you ran from me.," I finished with a sullen demeanor. I looked over to find Ditzy hugging me, and sobbing. She looked up and said, "Torque...I'm so sorry for your loss...I mean, I thought I had a rough life...but yours makes mine seem so, so great! I'm...I'm here for you, Torque. I'll help you get over this...oh I mean not get over, but move forward...No, I'm trying to say I want to help you forgive yourself. Please allow me to do that, I mean you've done so much for me already and I've done nothing for you..." I didn't reply with anything. There was nothing I could reply with, and nothing I wanted to reply with. Instead, I just collapsed into her shoulders, a single tear falling from my eye. At that moment, every one of my fears disappeared. Most of the remaining guilt was lifted from my soul, however enough stayed for me to remember Nastic. It was still an amazing feeling, like having the weight of twenty hoofball players lifted from my shoulders. And when I could finally speak, all I said was, "Thank you...thank you so much." _____________________________________________________________________________________ *Two years later* "And that, Dinky, is the story of how I met you're mom. She's the best thing that has ever happened to me, other than you and your brother that is. You three have given me light in my time of darkness, and are my salvation.," I finish the story, looking directly at a wide eyed, unicorn filly. "That was an awesome story, daddy! What happened next, though? I mean, you cut out the past few years! I want to see it from you're view point..." Dinky quizzically inquired. "I'd love to tell you, but it's wayyy past your bedtime. If you're good, I'll tell you the rest tomorrow." The lavender foal squeals with delight, and quickly pulls the sheets over her head. "Sleep tight, my little filly." I plant a kiss on her forehead before I turn around to exit the room. And in the doorway, Ditzy sat with a smile on her face, and a tear trickling slowly down her cheek. "I can't believe how she hung on your every word, Torque. Never in a million years could I tell a story like th-" I quickly embrace Ditzy, wrapping my arms around her and planting a kiss square on her lips. "I love you, Ditzy Doo. No matter what you say, I know for a fact that you are a better story teller than me. Now come on, I can see you're tired."