Vinyl stepped into the small enclosed room carefully. She didn't know anything about this strange stallion, but she had heard rumors about those that could hear the Melody. It's said those who can hear it but don't understand it go mad and end up killing themselves.
"I had to lock him in here for now" said Gear entering the room behind her "The thickness of the walls seem to be giving him some comfort"
"Is it really that bad?" asked Vinyl shooting the blind stallion a questioning glance from behind her purple shades
"You know how ponies deal with things they don't understand" answered Gear with a sigh "What do you think?"
"No close the door!" yelled a voice from behind a crate on the other side of the room A hoof made a "close the door" motion "Your letting it in!"
"My mistake" apologized Gear closing the door tightly
"You aren't alone this time" said the voice again "There is another voice sounding"
"But I haven't even said anything yet" said Vinyl confused
"That's not the voice he's talking about" said Gear with a smile "What does it sound like?"
"It sounds deep with a strong resonance and rhythm. Unlike yours which is more distant with a pleasant tune" said the voice
"What else can you hear?" asked Vinyl curiously
"In here nothing. Thank the heavens" said the voice with a sigh of relief then it switch to one of disgust "But out there there is so much. The noise is all around, the beat of rain falling, the breath of wind in the trees, the crunch of the earth underhoof"
"The problem you see here Vinyl" explained Gear "Is that he can't control his ears. They pick up everything at once and it just turns into a jumbled mess"
"I don't get it all of those are just normal everyday things" said Vinyl confused "Why do they bother him?"
"Because there is a bridge between the Melody and what everypony else hears" replied Gear thinking of a way to demonstrate "Hey could you sing my voice, just for a moment?"
"I could try" replied the unicorn leaving the cover of the barrel His blue steel colored coat shimmering in the low light. He had near the same color hair as Vinyl but her's was a shade lighter blue, and his was lying flat covering one eye. He took a moment to prepare and his chest expanded with the in take of breath.
As he began to sing Vinyl couldn't believe her ears. She'd never heard something so beautiful. It was as if the unicorn was playing a recording of a master symphony. It started off slow and distant with strings and slowly closed the distance gaining momentum and ending with a drum crescendo.
"What the buck was that?" asked Vinyl staring at the blue unicorn her face one of amazement
"That was my Melody. The very music of my soul." said Gear putting a hoof on Vinyl's shoulder "When this stallion sings he doesn't just sing. He echoes the very flow of the Melody itself. He is an Echo"
"He can echo the Melody?" said Vinyl deadpanning out of sheer awesomeness She was so close to her dream, to the True Melody.
"You keep talking about this Melody what is it?" asked the Unicorn "and what is an Echo?"
"The Melody is the music of ones soul. Their true voice so to speak" answered Vinyl shaking her head to regain some of her wits "An Echo is a person who not only can hear the Melody, but can also reverberate it through his own and produce it's echo. Hearing the Melody at all even a little is extremely rare, but this" Vinyl had to sit from sheer jaw dropping dumb-foundment "This was believed to be impossible"
"Is it really that special?" asked the unicorn "Surely you both can hear it as well?"
"No we can't" answered Gear shaking his head "You are the second pony, in my lifetime, I know of who can hear and echo the Melody."
"Wow" said the unicorn his eyes widening "I had no idea this was such a gift"
"It is more than a gift is an art lost to time." said Gear "It's a mysterious force the Melody. It's a projection of ones very soul, a song without end"
"I've been thinking" asked the unicorn pointing at Gear "You seem extraordinarily wise for your age. Now that I think about it your voice is extremely different than the others. I've only ever heard one other like it."
"I'm not surprised" said Gear walking out of the room before the unicorn could finish trying to explain his thoughts
"I wasn't finished..." said the unicorn a little disappointed
"Don't worry your not the first one he's walked out on and you won't be the last" laughed Vinyl "What's your name kid?"
"I don't have one" he replied Vinyl looked him up and down, trying to notice anything really obvious for a name
"Why not call you Echo?" Vinyl asked thinking it was rather appropriate for the blue unicorn
"How about Fading Echo?" suggested the unicorn "Since it seems most my memories have faded as well"
"I like your style" smiled Vinyl "Fading Echo it is then"
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Spitfire was about to go below deck, when Steam Gear walked up on deck. He seemed a little off, he'd been different ever since that white unicorn turned blue and woke up a few days ago. She remembered he had taken Vinyl down to talk to the unicorn. Why was he up here alone then?
"Hey Rusty you okay?" asked Spitfire trotting over to him "You've been worrying me lately"
"Hey Spits" said Gear with a sigh "It's nothing I just have a bad feeling, that's all"
"Is it about that new unicorn?" Spitfire guessed concern for her friend in her voice
"Yes, but it's nothing dangerous" said Gear "Vinyl is quite safe with him"
"Well in that case I have something that might take your mind off it" said Spitfire giving him a punch in the shoulder
"Not now Spits" replied Gear "You know I have to train with Twilight today. I've been slack on her magic lessons lately"
"Snowfall said he'd take on Training for both Twilight and Rainbow Dash" said Spitfire getting to her point "He wants to see how he can combat magic. Besides Twilight and Rainbow Dash work best as a team, for reasons I don't need to explain to you"
"You have a point" agreed Gear "I guess Snow could use the practice as well. Magic is what trapped him for all those years. I could see why he wants to train on ways to fight it"
"So that leaves you open to train with me" finished Spitfire with a smile
"You want me to train with you?" asked Gear guessing her answer
"Of course!" cried Spitfire "You've been doing all this training with everypony else except me. If I wasn't your friend, I'd say you were trying to avoid me or something"
"Just not now Spits" said Gear with a heavy sigh walking away to the prow of the Albatross "I'd like to be alone"
Spitfire felt a pain in her chest as Steam Gear walked away, leaving her alone once more. She couldn't understand why he kept shoving her away. She had gone and asked Snowfall herself to take over Twilight's training today, just so she could have some alone time with him. She walked to the aft of the Albatross and looked to the sky. Tears began to flow down her cheeks as she sobbed quietly.
"A mare as young and beautiful as you shouldn't be crying" said a friendly voice from behind her
"Snowfall..." sobbed Spitfire looking back at the snowy stallion "How did you..?"
"Flutershy told me where to find you" replied Snowfall answering Spitfire's half finished question "She thinks I might be able to help. Would you rather I sit down?"
"Sure" replied Spitfire turning away from him, not wanting him to see her tears
"So what's wrong?" asked Snow sitting down next to Spitfire "What did the Captain do this time?"
"How..?" asked Spitfire
"I may be a little out dated" answered Snow with a comforting smile "But I know heart ache when I feel it. I get the same vibe from the Captain"
"He keeps pushing me away" said Spitfire controlling her breathing to speak clearly through her tears "I've tried everything, nothing is working"
"I guessed that was the reason you wanted me to take Twilight under my wing" said Snow knowledgeably "Although I was thinking about doing it anyways"
"What did i do to make him hate me?" asked Spitfire looking straight into Snowfall's eyes
The pain in those amber eyes made Snowfall feel a pang of contempt. "Why do Mares always have to over react?" he thought putting on a friendly face once more "He doesn't hate you" said Snow out loud "In fact I think he likes you a lot"
"What makes you say that?" asked Spitfire
"The fact that he let's you call him Rusty is a good sign" laughed Snow imagining how hard Steam Gear would punch him if he tried to call him that "But besides that there's also the fact he gave you his quarters"
"I guess, but then why does he act so distant?" asked Spitfire her sadness flipping to anger "What did I ever do to him?!"
"I don't think you did anything" answered Snow making note of Spitfire's new found fury "In fact I think he's trying to make sure he doesn't do anything to put you in danger"
"What are you talking about?" asked Spitfire confused
"He never told you how Suni died, did he?" asked Snow raising one eyebrow. At a head shake from Spitfire, he sighed. "I thought as much. After the war, when he went down to check on Erebus and the unthinkable happened, Suni was living with the Captain at their home in Canterlot"
After Snow made sure that Spitfire was listening intently he continued "While the Captain was delayed by Erebus's assault, he sent a second one ahead to Canterlot. When it arrived it trashed the entire house and murdered Suni. Erebus didn't just want the Captain to be in the dark, he wanted him to experience the anguish of losing everything he had. Of being helpless as everything he loved was taken away"
"I think I get it now" said Spitfire "He doesn't want to put me in harms way and he thinks by ignoring me, Erebus won't go target me too get to him. I guess I never thought of it like that"
"Now do you understand it a bit better?" asked Snow wanting to make sure he'd made his point clear
"Why doesn't he just tell me all this himself?" asked Spitfire wanting more answers
"I'm not sure" answered Snow shaking his head "I've never seen the Captain like this before. Besides I was never really good with stuff like this"
"Snowfall!" yelled Gear angrily from the center of the deck "I'd like to talk with you"
"I'm coming with you" said Spitfire standing up, startling Snowfall with her abruptness
"I'm not sure that's a good idea" Snow said caution thick in his voice
"I don't care" replied Spitfire leading the way to center deck As soon as Steam Gear got a glimpse of her coming around the corner his expression hardened. It was as if he had dumped concrete on himself. He looked fine, but a little stiff.
"I didn't call you Spitfire" said Gear as nicely as possible "You must pardon my recommendation of your departure, but I'd like to speak to my old friend in private"
"Then just pretend I'm not here" snapped back Spitfire "You seem to be really good at that"
"I'd really like to have a talk with Snowfall" repeated Gear trying not to lose his cool "This matter is rather important"
"If it's so important then why can't I know as well?" asked Spitfire challenging Steam Gear's motives for conversation
"Because..." tried to explain Gear starting to look a bit uneasy
"Captain you're speechless?" asked Snowfall trying hard to hold a grin back
"I haven't been feeling the greatest lately" replied Gear deliberately looking away from Spitfire's amber gaze Spitfire walked around and sat directly in front of him.
"Look at me when I talk to you" demanded Spitfire angrily
"I can't..." said Gear weakly dropping his gaze to the deck his ears drooping
"Captain?" asked Snowfall feeling as if he should step in "Are you going to be okay?"
"Why can't you look at me?" yelled Spitfire angrily "What the hell did I ever do to you?"
"Spitfire! Shut the hell up!" yelled Snowfall putting himself between Spitfire and Steam Gear "I think there may actually be something wrong"
"I just want to know why he's treating me like this" said Spitfire anger still thick in her voice "I thought we were friends"
"Now isn't the time for this" shot back Snowfall "We need to get him to Fluttershy immediately"
"I'm already here" said Fluttershy landing beside Snowfall "Let me have a look"
Steam Gear was now lying unconscious on the deck, Fluttershy leaning over him trying to listen to his heart beat. What she found startled her. Letting out a quick "eep" of fright she stood up quickly.
"What is it?" asked Spitfire concern the only thing in her voice now
"We need to get him to his room immediately" said Fluttershy directing Snowfall to lift him gently "He's suffered more damage than I realized"
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
After Steam Gear was put to rest, Snowfall and Spitfire were asked to leave the room. They waited outside for Fluttershy to come out and tell them what's wrong.
"Just look at what you did" growled Snowfall eyes aimed like daggers at Spitfire "For all we know he could be dieing in there. To think Fluttershy wanted me to help you"
"I just wanted to talk to him" said Spitfire her head hung low in remorse "I didn't mean for this to happen"
"Ponies with good intentions should be executed in my book" said Snowball ferociously
They both looked up as Fluttershy stepped outside to join them. She no more than opened her mouth and a barrage of questions was launched in her directions.
"Is he okay?" asked Snowfall "Will he be alright?"
"Was it my fault? asked Spitfire "Does he hate me?"
"Quiet!" yelled Fluttershy startling Snowfall and Spitfire into silence Once they had closed their mouths, which were still hanging open from shock, she got quiet once more. "That's better. Now do you want to hear the good news or the bad news first?"
"The bad news first" said Snowfall and Spitfire slowly nodded agreement
"Okay" said Fluttershy taking a deep breath "The bad news is he's suffered both an anxiety attack due to excessive amounts of stress and a heart attack from his bad heart. It's in horrible shape, it's hardly beating. There is no way he should have even been able to stand up in his condition"
"That's the Captain" said Snowfall with a strained chuckle "Doesn't know when to give up"
"Well that's not making it any better" sighed Fluttershy continuing in her explanation "It's getting worse I'm afraid. If his heart keeps deteriorating at this rate there's not much I can do, and the stress isn't helping"
"Is there anything we can do?" asked Spitfire fighting back tears
"I was hoping you'd ask that" said Fluttershy with a knowing smile "Since you're the only one who can fix this"
"Me?" asked Spitfire a little doubtful
"You broke him" said Snowfall demandingly "Now fix him. Do it quickly or I'll have no problem cutting you down where you stand"
"I could explain it to you" said Fluttershy holding the door to Steam Gear's room open for Spitfire "But I believe he'd rather do it himself" She shot a warning glance at Snowfall who grunted in acknowledgment, but kept his mouth shut.
"Spitfire come in here" Gear said from the other room "I need to discuss something with you"
Spitfire walked into the room to see Steam Gear lying under the covers of his bed. She could see a bowl of water next to him and herbs obviously laid out by Fluttershy.
"Yes" Spitfire asked hearing the door close behind her
"I believe you are now aware of my condition?" asked Gear
"Fluttershy informed me" said Spitfire "Why didn't you tell me before?"
"I kept silent because telling you would have made it worse" said Gear
"How?" asked Spitfire confused "I don't understand"
"Every time I see you I see her you know" said Gear "Suni"
"I've been told the resemblance is uncanny" replied Spitfire with a little annoyance
"My heart was damaged when I came home to be told Suni had been murdered in my absence" said Gear a single tear escaping his bandages "All of my strength and power and I still couldn't be there when she needed me most, because of my arrogance and stupidity." His hoof tightened into a fist "I failed to keep her the first time and it broke my heart, if the same were to happen to you.."
"Come on Rusty" said Spitfire with a reassuring grin "I'm not a filly anymore. I can handle myself"
"You don't know what Erebus is capable of" said Gear in a warning tone "The best way for me to protect you is to keep my distance"
"I'm not sure I can ever know how you feel" said Spitfire a remorseful look on her face "but you shouldn't let your fear of failing again, stop you from trying at all"
"I remember the pain I felt on that day" said Gear sitting up a hoof on his heart "I don't want to feel that again"
"You told me once when I was little to follow my heart and it would lead me to do what was right, correct?" asked Spitfire
"Yes I did" said Gear a bit puzzled "Back when you were afraid to follow your dreams of joining the Wonderbolts. Why do you ask?"
"Because I'm going to follow it again" said Spitfire walking up to him "And do what I know is right"
Spitfire leaned in and pressed her lips to Steam's. She expected to be met with some resistance, possibly Steam trying to pull out of the kiss. Surprisingly he leaned into it. Spitfire could feel herself being lost in the sensation. She'd kissed ponies before, but none of them had kissed with this much emotion. Regretfully Spitfire had to pull her head back for a breath of air.
"That's going to make it really hard for me to keep my distance" said Gear with a regretful smile "You may have put your life in great danger"
"I'm not worried. Not with you watching my back" replied Spitfire kissing him again "Besides weren't you the one who said to live life without regrets?"