"Grab your things; we are leaving!"
I slowly woke up it was still dark out. Dim in luminosity, pitch black to my eyes. Flare hadn't turned my lights on. With a forceful nudge, he managed to push me off of my bed. "Get up we are leaving!" That tone of his could only spell out trouble. In an instant, I became fully aware and alert of what was to come.
"Flare, what is going on? What time is it?" I was frightened, to say the least. Flare already had his bag packed, but to tell you the truth, I don't think he ever unpacked them. He paced around like a madman, anxious of what I didn't know what was to come.
"Storm, just pack. I'll tell you on our way. Oh, the time. It's, ah, ummmm... Three o'clock." Three o'clock. That rang in my ears like a tolling bell
"It's what?!" I stomped my hoof down "I shall go no where 'till you tell me what the hell is going on!" Flare only hung his head low... and sighed.
"I got a letter of eviction 30 days ago. To make a long story short, we need to be out of here in three hours, so pack up." I knew he was lying. It was too easy to pick out the deceitfulness from his voice, but I had no choice. I went along with it and packed all of my belongings. It took me about twenty minutes to back everything. It was about four o'clock now. I stood in the living room, waiting for more from Flare. No matter how long I had waited, however, I suspected that he was no where in the house. I began to worry, as this knot in my gut began to constrict.
"He was just here like five minutes ago," I felt a slight breeze the door was open, the air biting at my coat with a chill. "Strange... Flare never leaves the door open. Come to think of it, when did we have wind in Cloudsdale?" I walked out side to see Flare, gliding and cutting through the breeze, moving clouds with his featherless wings. It took a lot out of him, being featherless and all, but something I had noticed something. He had his hooves clasped together tight, praying.
"Please Dear Lord, let this letter be true. Let Mom and Dad be sound and safe in Ponyville." Ponyville. Why does that sound so familiar? What made that name stick out in my mind? And since when did Flare start praying? The stallion had never shown any signs of spirituality, nor care for it. So many thoughts had raced through my head. My skull started to feel light, and that knot in my gut began to clench harder, tightening to a screeching loop.
"Flare, I'm done packing. When are we leaving?,"
"When we see the sun, so I'm guessing the next hour or so." I swear I could have heard sobs coming from Flare, crying as silently as he could in order to keep a mask of dignity he thought would go away. He was truly upset, but who would enjoy the thought of having their parents gone for so long? It was rough on us, of course, but mostly him. Oddly enough, he was like my father. He took care of me but I get to actually see my parent? Wait my parents are still alive? These thought made me sick with joy. An angry joy; because they are still alive, apparently, and anger, because they left us.
"Here comes my friend to escort us to Ponyville. Remember the letter I sent you? Saying you will feel cloud quakes because they are moving Cloudsdale."
I nodded
"Well they moved it farther then I thought so we you meet my friend make it short and sweet we need to leave before the movers come."
I smirked. I knew I caught him in a lie, but I'll bust that bastard's balls later. In the far off distance, however, I saw something. A bright rainbow streak, hurdling towards us at a high velocity. I was in a fit of shock, and amazement. It was one of the most wonderful things in the world. Bright auras of multicolored lights cut through the skies. As what had trailed such a sight however, became more apparent to my vision. It was but a mare, ripping through the air in such a high speed that I had never seen before. The mare glided toward the ground and landed, planting her hooves into the earth. I couldn't help but stare at her wings. So tone and agile, it was difficult to believe that the pair belonged to such a mare.
"Storm this is Rainbow Dash she's escorting us."
With a gesture, she held her hoof out. Still, I found myself still amazed and astonished at her wings. It was something about them, something eye-catching. I never was unfit, but she was muscular wing wise. Flare smacked the back of my head with a swift jerk of his hoof, knocking me back to my senses. I regained my composure, turned around, and slugged him in the shoulder.
I shook the mares hoof that she was offering.
"Hi I'm Storm Runner,"
She looked to me and smiled, eyes attentive, and expression strong. "I'm Rainbow Dash. By the way, how old are you kid?"
"I'm sixteen, for your information. How about you?"
"Same as you, actually. Anyways, let's get going before the movers come."
She was lying too? I would've believed them if I hadn't heard Flare praying about mom and dad.
"How will Flare getting to Ponyville? He can't fly," Then I noticed something that caught my eye. There was a slight fault to her figure. Her stomach had a bulge, out at about her lower hoof hips. Flare unfolded his clipped wings and moved the clouds. Waiting behind the clouds, however, was a hot air balloon above them, along with another pony in it.
"No of us could make it flying with our wings. It's way to far away, so Twilight, up there, is helping us. Everyone in Cloudsdale hates anything that isn't a pegasi now. Since the war and all."
I looked at her her. Baffled, I saw something that was out of the ordinary. The pony had a weird fixture on her head,
"What is that stick out of her head?" I had asked, hoping to get an answer of reasonable credibility.
Flare only laughed, "That's her horn she's not a pegasis. She's a unicorn."
"A unicorn?"
Rainbow stepped closer "A unicorn is like a pegasi, but without wings. She has the ability to use magic and spells, sort of like the invisibility spell on this rope," she tugs in the air and the balloon moves. The sky was now shimmering a radiant light purple as the suns rays clashed with the blue sky, creating such a luscious hue. Flare was starting to become uneasy, from what I could tell.
"Well, if we're all set, let's move," Rainbow said with an expression of determination splattered on her face, eyes glistening with readiness.
The large balloon began to settle and land next to me, resting the passenger basket on the ground. I jumped out of the way as to avoid getting hit by the contraption. Flare hopped in, then me, and lastly Rainbow Dash. I heard the fire start up, the heat waves licking the swirling air inside of the balloon as the entire thing expanded. And with that, we were off, with winds rushing at our faces and altitude thinning the air. I saw the edges of that city in the clouds, coming closer and closer all together. After that, the only thing else to see was blue. A drifting vortex of blue.
"What is all that blue stuff?" I questioned, pointing toward the scene.
"That's called an ocean storm. Haven't you ever flown upwards to see it before?" Rainbow Dash pondered, looking at me with a hint of surprise.
"No, actually, we aren't even allowed to; since the war started, we had to stay on the ground."
Rainbow Dash shook her head in disappointment. "Stupid pegasi, always trying to keep everyone in the dark, away from the truth. It really makes me sick! That's why me and your bro here went AWOL and fought with the unicorns and earth ponies."
I turned to look at Flare, baffled at what I was hearing.
"You fought with the earth ponies and never told me this?"
Flare looked down in a fit of depression "Yeah... I did."
"And the war hero story that you told me?"
"Me and Twilight... sort of... wrote that"
My head spun. I was distraught, confused, almost to the point where I felt betrayed. He and I were both well aware of the next question that was about to come.
"And... your wings?"
"Never real, Storm. They never were. It was all a lie, a ruse, if you will. I must tell you something that may hurt a little..."
He slowly trotted over to where Rainbow Dash was standing, coming up behind me.
"What are you both doing? Get away from me!" I shouted in a flurry of anger. Never have I had someone lie to me after all these years.
She backed away and moved in front of my vision. "You should have let me stay behind you."
"Storm, I'm not your brother. I never was. I was adopted and raised by your parents. They were lost in the idea that they would never have a child. They adopted me, raised me like one of their own, loved me, like one of their own. I was everything to them. Their entire world. Eventually, you came along, proving their past reasoning wrong."
My heart started to hit a barrage of beats. My hearing came to a slight ringing, and my hooves began to turn cold. Everything in my vision began to double, then triple, then eventually fading to a pitch black. I passed out, hitting my head on the way down. Without notice, I could feel a splash of water engulf me. I must have fell out and fallen into the sea.
When I had awaken, I saw a streak of cyan and rainbow pass to the right of me. I turned and opened my wing like my final flight test. I heard a pop, clicking inside the flesh of my wings. I screamed as I descended downward, crashing into Rainbow Dash on the way. She managed to catch me, however.
"I told you kid. You should've let me stay behind you."
"Yeah, I see why now."
She flew upward to the balloon, taking me along with her. Flare and Twilight were up there, waiting for me. Twilight's face turned a faint green as she leaned over the railing. I could hear a couple of gags, and a slight splashing. I assumed she was vomiting.
Flare said "Are you going to be okay?"
I nodded and cried as he wrapped my bandage up
"So, when exactly were you deciding to tell me?"
He looked at me, wearing a subtle frown "I never planned on it, but this is the best of time as any."
"So what else have you lied about besides the movers and my family? What else do you have to hide from me? If you do, just spill it, right now." I knew that last remark hurt because his eyes became glassy and his chin started to quiver. He shook his head, wanting not to continue this conversation any longer.
"He didn't lie to you Storm. He kept a promise to your parents, the ones who need you now." I rolled over to see Twilight above me, angry, but calm "I knew your parents ever since I was a filly. They would always come to Canterlot, always wanting to visit the princess. Your parents are royalty, believe it or not. They are Cloudsdale's political advisors."
I couldn't believe it. As I rolled back over, I could see Flare, still tending for my wing. I felt awful, and disgusted. I just laid there, and cried. I cried out of pain, self pity, regret, and fear. An overwhelming amount of lies set to truth, of secrets set to light, and stories of heroism placed in the dark, all for me to take in in a mere two hours. I felt the air getting dense; the balloon must have been decreasing in altitude. We were all tired and upset, not wanting to talk to each other. None of us spoke, not after Twilight's outbreak. Flare sat in the corner talking to Rainbow as she stroked his mane, running her hoof through the strands of hair. They leaned against each other, not caring what happened around them any longer. With a sparkling light gleaming in their eyes, they brought themselves together, sharing a kiss. I heard no noise after we hit ground, settling down. Twilight was the first to hop out of the balloon. There was a strange short creature waiting at Twilight's side. It was short and light purple, littered with scales on it's skin, and spikes running from the top of it's head down to it's tail.
"Is this the colt we were suppose to prepare for? He doesn't look royal to me."
"Spike, hush! He is. He doesn't act like it, but he is." She huffed and turned around, walking away.
"This is where me and Rainbow Dash stayed after we turned AWOL. This is Ponyville."
I looked around, examining the barren area. "Where is everyone,"
"They are still sleeping, actually; its only seven in the morning."
Sleep? That sounds wonderful, since, of course, we were up since three in the morning . "So, where exactly are we staying?"
"Rainbow Dash and I are going to her place here in Ponyville. You'll be right next door to us. Follow us; we will show you to your place."
We walk for about ten minutes until we came to a white fence. We began to trail it down to a sign that said 'Sweet Apple Acres' across. Apple? I wonder that was, and what the brown things were with green on top and different colored orbs stuck between them.
Without notice, I heard a sweet voice appear, resonating in my ears.
"Howdy y'all! I hope y'all had a safe trip."
I looked down from the sign to see a beautiful pony with no wings nor a horn. Flare leaned in next to me, whispering into my ear.
"That's an earth pony. Kinda' like a unicorn, except without the horn and magic,"
I didn't care what she was. Her eyes shined like emeralds, glinting as she batted her lashes. She was a light orange with a bright blonde mane, accompanied by a brown stetson that complimented her nicely. She gave a small nod to me, followed by a wink. I could feel my heard race again. I sure hope I don't pass out again.
She walked up to Flare and Rainbow Dash, wrapping her hooves around them in a hug.
"I'm glad y'all made it back. The whole town is excited for the wedding."
I looked at Flare. Marriage? This big pony that I called my brother is getting married? Really? It was quite indeed true. With the same look in both of their eyes before, they pressed against each other, sharing another kiss. It was unbelievable. I felt worse than I had ever before. I tears began to roll down my eyes.
"What's a matter with you there, partner?"
I didn't speak. How could I? I bad mouth at my brother just a while ago. Blood or not, he raised me like a real brother, then I had proceeded to insult him in front of his fiancé. He patted my back, missing my bad wing. With a playful pull, he grabbed me, hugging me tighter than ever. He whispered "I promised I'd come back to take care of you no matter what," I broke. I stopped crying, I stopped feeling, I stopped thinking. I just broke. Standing there for what felt like half an hour, they began to worry about me.
"Does the fella need a doctor?"
"I don't know. Give him a minute. Anyways me and Rainbow Dash are going home. I guess we will see you guys around."
Still stuck in that dumbfounded position, I could see that the mare stood there with me the whole time I was there. I stood for I don't know how long. She had gone, and then returned with a stallion; a big red hulking earth pony.
"Big Mac, take him to the guest room and lay him down. And don't let Granny see him. She won't know what to do with herself in this state he's in." Big Mac threw me over his shoulders nodded his head. He trotted to the house, with me bouncing like a dead weight on his back. We arrived to the structure, which was next door to this big red building. He opened the doors, peekinghis head in.
"Eeyup, no Granny Smith."
He trotted up the stairs, laying me down in the open bedroom bed. I laid there, pondering as to what Flare said. I couldn't comprehend it. He wasn't even my real brother. How could he even remotely love me? How could I down talk the very stallion who raised me from a colt to now, the one who I most depended on? A lot changes in sixteen years, that much is true. After the two years after he came back, it never felt like he actually left. I hung my head, regretting what I had done. My very conscience was crushed under my very thoughts. I brought my hooves to my eyes, trying to hold back from breaking down. It didn't work. It fact, it only gave me something to cry into; the very hooves of a terrible person.
I heard foot steps tapping on the hard floor. I heard a knock on the door, subtle, and caring.
"Hey fella. May I come in?"
I got up to answer the door, trying to rub my eyes from the torrent of tears that had ensued. I didn't want anybody to see me like this. As I opened the door, I saw her. The same orange mare from before.
"Ah don't think I got to properly introduce myself. I'm Applejack."
I got back into the bed, having my back towards her. She probably didn't want to see me like this.
"I'm just a pegasi. That's all there is to me." I said with no expression in my voice (or at least, I tried not to show expression).
"Now come on fella. Ya gotta' at least tell me your name."
"Trust, me, it's not that important."
She moved in closer putting her hoof on my shoulder. It was warm and loving. "Now come on partner. If your staying in the Apple family house, you gotta' have a name."
I shrugged "Stormrunner."
She rolled me over and smiled, "Now come on partner. That wasn't that hard now, was it."
I got a better look at her face from this angle. She had a cluster of freckles that sprinkled both her cheeks, and big dark green eyes that shined, even in the dark. Her smile was intoxicating. With it, I felt welcome, to say the least. I sat up, only to find myself gazing at her. For quite a while, we didn't say anything to each other. but it was like we said a thousand words. Just her company was more than enough. She got up and left, only to come back with a cot to put in the guest room I was in. We shared the company of each other for the night. With that, we slept 'till the very next day. I awoke smiling, for I had knew somebody wanted to be with me. I looked over, hoping to see her, only to realize that she wasn't there. "Wow. She's... gone."
Door flung open, almost slamming into the wall that it was hinged to. A small filly, short in stature, walked in.
"So you the new guy my sister's been talking about all morning."
I smiled, somewhat joyed at what she had to say. She actually talked about me. I can only wonder as to what she had say.
"She's my big sister, so don't you dare get any big ideas or the cutie mark crusaders will get you!"
I nodded, just trying to entertain the cute kid.
"Applebloom! What are you doing, messing with our guest." It was Applejack, carrying a tray with something golden on it.
"I heard you slept with our guest last night and I didn't want him getting any funny ideas, sis."
Applejack blushed at the comment... and so did I. I looked passed Applebloom, only to wink at Applejack.
"Don't worry. It'll never happen again, I promise."
"Good." Applebloom stormed out passed her sister.
"I'm so sorry she did that."
I laughed "Its all good. I use to do the same with Flare all the time." Bringing up Flare, I began to feel a bit depressed, still saddened at what happened yesterday.
She smiled as she walked across the room.
"Flare told us wonderful stories about you and him. He really loves you. I already know what happened yesterday, sweetie."
It hit me like a brick. She knew I froze. She placed the tray in front of me
"Well, sugarcube, eat up. These oats are what's for breakfast."
I wolfed down the oats without hesitation. I choked as the first mouthful went down, but I continued. She only smirked.
"Gosh feller, you were hunger, weren't you."
I nodded "They were delicious."
She smiled and started to walk away. As she was about to leave, however, she turned back.
"Well, honey, if you need anything, holler for me."
She turned the corner. I just couldn't help but smile. She was nice nicer then most pegasi that I had ever met before. I wondered what Flare was doing, and feeling. I felt mixed feeling lowliness and joy. What happened yesterday, and the generous hospitality of Applejack, it was all bittersweet.
I rolled over, looking at the ceiling. I could only wonder at what's going to happen in the days to come...