It was a rainy day near Trottingham, the sky covered with grey puffs and the earth soaked at least four hooves. It's been like this for days on end, the weather ponies having no luck. Outside of the town, just on the outskirts, lived a pegasus exempt from weather control named Deft Tone. He had a shiny black coat with an occasional silver mark, mane almost snow white and eyes a tender baby blue. His cutie mark was a solid blue musical note, his talent the ability to play the violin. The wind pounded hard against the wooden door of his home.
"Jeez, the wind sure is roaring. I wonder if my friend will be able to make it." Suddenly, there's a knock at his door followed by the pony knocking letting themselves in. "Ah! There you are. I hope traveling here wasn't too difficult."
"Not at all, though I wish you would have opened the door a little sooner. I am freezing!" Roxanne 'Roxy' Carter spoke, shaking rain off her mane. She walked into the cottage-like house, being careful to wipe her hooves off so not to dirty the floors. Her coat is a tan color, slightly faun like, her mane long, red, such as her tail. Her cutie mark is that of a shield, as she is a protection pony, one who sacrifices for others. She curled her wings to her back, not wanting them to get in the way.
"So, Why did you want to see me? Did something happen or are you just wanting to catch up?" she asks.
"Nothing too major happened. Ranger was wanting to speak with you at the academy tomorrow, but he asked me to tell you that meeting was canceled." Tone glanced off to the side, toward the chair next to him. "Come, have a seat. Been a while since we spoke. How's the family? Your mother still sick?"
She walked over and sat beside him, looking at him, trying to keep from seeming upset. "She.. She's still sick... But... The doctor pony... Said he would only give her a few more weeks... You remember my older brother, Matthew right? He's trying everything he can at his lab to find a cure...But no luck so far... How is your family faring these days?"
Tone coughed a bit in his hoof. "Father's still in the guard, mother's still out on an adventure with her friends, and sis left for Manehatten three days ago. As far as I know, I don't," he said, trying to play his response like a joke. "And you don't have to be so tense. I'm not your officer ya know." He straightened up a bit and rubbed his neck. "And sorry to hear about your mom. Must be tough for everypony..."
Roxy shook her head, putting her face into her hooves. "It is... But... I think we'll get by... I just wish she wouldn't be hurting so much." She bit her lip. "I feel bad that you haven't been in contact with your family in awhile... If you want, I have friends in the office posts of Manehatten and the Castle, if you want to get a message through.." She shrugged her shoulders, somewhat to get the tenseness out. "I know you aren't my officer or any of my cadets." She blushed slightly. "I guess I just... Have trouble switching from civilian to officer...Sorry." She licked her lips. "By any chance could I have something to drink? It was a long flight and I feel as though I'm gonna die of thirst," she stated, trying to make it sound somewhat like a joke, mostly failing though.
"Of course."
Tone left the room, returning with a glass of water from the sink. "Here. It's all we've got here. And about those posts, I'll be fine. Wouldn't be the first time I've been left home alone. Remember that Summer a few years ago? The one where we had to spend ten days alone in the house because of a freak rainstorm?"
She took the glass and drank from it, setting it down after. She chuckled at the memory. "I remember. You used to be such a scared little stallion, even though you acted brave. In fact, if you recall, that was how we got our cutie marks. You played your violin to pass the time and I kept you calm and safe during the worst parts of the storm. Also, about the water, that doesn't bother me. We soldiers thrive off of it." Roxy said, winking playfully and finally relaxing some.
"You don't have to remind me of my nature. I know well that I'm... tense around storms." Tone rolled his eyes at his own statement. "I got over that fear a while ago though, but I wanted to know how you've been doing. How's the academy training going and such? Make any friends?"
She smirked. "I know I don't have to remind you, but it's so much fun to see you struggle and squirm. Oh well... The academy is going great. So far I'm doing pretty well, though I was granted leave time for my mom..."Roxy looked at the floor, her mom drifting into her thoughts before she shook her head. "Anyway... I have made a few friends at the academy. Another Pegasus, this one a stallion, his name is Dante. He's pretty strong, though not quite so fast.And there's April. She has a very smart mouth,but she's good at flying quickly and through storms."Roxy looked at him, a slight smirk gracing her features. "How are you lately? What have you been up to?Any mares?"she asked, teasing.
"No," Tone remarked. "You know me, too shy to get out and do things." He chuckled a bit. "Why do you ask?"
Roxy smirked. "No reason... I was just curious. Although... If you want... April might be curious..."Roxy turned her head to look at him. "That is... If you are."
"If I was looking for a relationship, it'd have to be with somepony I knew. You know that Roxy." Tone rubbed his eye. "What time is it? You came in pretty late."
"I know that. I'm mainly teasing you and trying to get you out of your shell some." Roxy looked around for a clock, finally finding one. "Wow... It's midnight... Guess it's time to hit the hay..." Her mouth opened in a yawn as she rubbed her eyes. "Have a guest room for me to stay in?"
"Sorry. You know this house only has one bed. You're welcome to sleep on the couch if ya want."
"It was worth a shot." She yawned. "I don't mind the couch though. Comfortable... Usually." Roxy spoke, carefully getting up before walking over to the couch. "'Night."
"I'm not going to bed for a bit. But go on," Tone said, paying the comment little attention. "Night though."
She looked at him. "I'm only going to sleep because I thought you were tired. And I am a little tired... Do you need help with something?"
"Nah, you can head on. I'll get tired here soon."
"Okay. If you're sure. If you need me, call." Roxy spoke, walking to the couch and laying down on it. She felt her wings unfurl and cover her up, like a blanket of sorts.
Tone stepped into his room and grabbed a cover from a closet. Coming back out, he laid it on top of his life-long friend. "You could just ask ya know."
Roxy raised her head to look at her best friend since foal-hood. "I know.... But I hate to impose when I'm a guest. You know that."
"Of course I know that. Why do you think I didn't tell you?" he said, smirking. "Anyway, I'll see you in the morning."
"See ya. Sleep well, and hope that Nightmare Moon won't get ya," she said, laying her head down to sleep.
"Time to get up!" Tone echoed through Roxy's ears, nuzzling her sides and nearly pushing her off the couch. The weather outside wasn't much better than it was yesterday, the rain still pouring and relentless.
Roxy jumps up, turning to face whom she perceived as an attacker. She sees it's Tone, not somepony else. She released a sigh of relief. "You shouldn't do that Tone," she panted. "But morning anyway."
"Want something to eat? I know how you like toast."
"Please? Do you want help?"
Tone laughed. "Roxy, it's toast. How hard is it to make toast?" Still chuckling to himself, he entered the kitchen. "But if you really want to, I'm not stopping you," he called back.
She followed him into the kitchen. "Toast is not hard to make, but I do remember that you almost set your home on fire trying to cook a few years ago." Roxy spoke, a teasing manner in her voice.
The stallion shot a glance toward the mare. "You can't let me live that down can you?" he said with a sigh. "Throw some wood into the oven would you? I'll grab the bread."
"Of course I won't. What kind of a friend would I be if I forgot the whole incident?" the mare asked with a smirk. She grabbed the firewood and placed it in the oven, being careful not to make it pile in a way that would make too big of a fire.
Meanwhile, Tone reached to the top cabinet and grabbed the bread. Placing the grain-based food on the counter, he took a kitchen knife and began to cut some slices from the loaf. "How many pieces you want?" he asked.
"Perhaps two or three. I'm not that hungry..." she walked up to where he was, carefully finding a place to sit. "Want me to get us something to drink or...?"
"There's water from the tap." He thought for a second. "Actually, grab two glasses and see if you can't get us some nice, fresh rain water from outside," Tone said, grinning.
"Sure thing." she said, reaching for some glasses before heading outside. She comes back in, soaking wet, her mane every where.
"So... how's the weather?" Tone said, trying his best to hold back a laugh.
Roxy shot him a death glare. "How do you think the weather is?" she growled, setting the water glasses down.
"Just like your mood. Peachy," he giggled.
"Exactly." she deadpanned, her eyes rolling.
Tone stepped over to the oven, placing five bread pieces in a long wooden pole that flattened at its end. He stuck the bread into the fire, taking his glass off the table. "You know, now my floor's all wet," he said, taking a drink.
She snorted. "My bad. Though you are the one who wanted fresh rain water." Roxy commented, going to look for a mop or cloth to clean with.
"What are you doing?" Tone remarked.
"Looking for something to clean up with. Wanna save me time and tell me where the mop is?" Roxy asked, looking at him, a 'so-not amused' look on her face.
"Mop? I don't own a mop."
"You're lying. You forget, I am trained to detect this kinda stuff."
"Me? Lie? Now why in the world would I lie?" he said with a grin.
"Okay...Full out lie no. Tease me by lying or stretching the truth... Maybe."
"I would never," he stated, placing his hoof to his chest.
She snorted. "I'm sure you wouldn't," she retorted, unconvinced.
"Anyway," Tone said, changing the subject. "How long do you think the weather will stand? It hasn't lightened up at all since yesterday."
"I don't know... Days maybe..."
"Days?" he pondered aloud, pulling the newly toasted bread pieces out of the oven. "Surly not that long."
"It wouldn't be the first time it's rained that long though..." Roxy answered, taking a sip of water from her glass.
Tone rolled his eyes. "I didn't store up on supplies for an extended stay-in."
She shrugged. "I probably need to go anyway. My family could need me and if I'm not there to help..." She shook her head, not wanting to think about it.
"Look, I know ya wanna do that and all, but did you not see how bad it is out there? You'd get lost in that heavy rain for sure and then where would you be?"
"Maybe half-way to CloudsDale?" the mare half-joked. "Seriously though, I can handle weather like this... Most of the time..."
Tone chuckled. "Heh, yea. Most of the time. Now what am I going to tell everypony when you do get lost? That I let you?" His chuckle dissipated to a sigh. "But if you must go, at least let me see you there. Least I could since I was the one who invited you over in the first place anyway."
She sighed. "Alright. But if we do get lost, I'm blaming you for jinxing us. Got it?" she teased, trying to lighten the mood some.
"If we get lost, it's your fault for wanting to leave," Tone noted, heading for the door. "Shouldn't have lent my rain coat to Fray..."
"Poor Stallion." Roxy commented, her voice a playful type of condescending.
"Yea, yea, let's go," he remarked coldly. "Where are ya headed again?"
"Home. In Baltimare...." She starts out of the house, her wings unfurled.
"Flying isn't an option," Tone stated, lifting up a hoof. "Too dangerous. We're walking, alright?"
Roxy sighed, re-furling her wings. "Fine. We'll do it your way...."
"See? Was that so hard?" he snickered, opening the door and allowing the outside weather to pelt his home's front entrance. "Mares first."
Roxy snorted as she walked out of the house. "Whatever,"she retorted, tired of arguing.
The outside weather was truly unforgiving, droplets of water pelting the two ponies who could barely see a mere hoof in front of them, much less hear anything softer than a ravenous beast. Tone has to use most all of his energy just to take a few steps.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Tone hollered, voice barely audible in the storm as he almost slipped into a puddle.
Roxy braved walking a few steps, almost unaffected aside from shivering from the cold. "Yeah. We need to try anyway," she shouted back, fighting through the storm.
"I forget," he called back. "How far is it walking normally?"
Roxy shook, cold seeming to seep into her coat and hooves. "I think... About twenty miles... Walking, that would take us about... An hour or so... Think there would be a train running at this hour and during this storm?" Roxy asked, shaking.
"I don't think anything alive is out right now," he yelled back. He took notice of her constant shivering. "Are you alright?"
"I'm freezing... I don't like cold weather at all," she hollered back. "Think maybe there's at least a shelter near by?" she yelled, noting that they had been walking at least fifteen minutes.
"I can't see two hooves in front of me! How am I supposed to tell?" he answered back.
"I don't know! Maybe sprout a unicorn horn and use magic!" she loudly retorted back, trying to be some-what funny. She glanced around, trying to see around them. "I think I see some kind of cave... About five hooves ahead..."
"I can't see it! Just in front of u-"
Tone's face collided rather abruptly with the side of a cave entrance, snout now irritated. "Found it..." he gruffed.
"I can see that," she snickered, finding her way inside the cave.
Tone followed suit, ignoring the comment and shaking his coat to try and dry off. "Hope we don't catch anything from the rain. Pwew... some storm huh?"
Roxy shook water off of her. "No kiddin'. I hate this kind of weather. Wish those weather ponies would hurry..."
"I don't expect that they'll be able to control this one. We might have to wait it out..."
"I hope not for too long... If something happens to my mom and I'm not there..." she trailed off, curling into a ball on the cave floor.
Tone sighed, sitting beside his friend. "It'll be alright," he reassured, placing a hoof on her shoulder. "Promise."
She looked up at him. "You really shouldn't make promises you might not be able to keep..."
"I haven't yet, so why start now?" he asked, smirking.
"I don't know... To try something new perhaps?" she asked, looking at him.
"Aw, c'mon now. You know me better than that," Tone said, staring outside the cave at the wall of water falling from the sky. "So what do you wanna do? Try again?"
"No... Not right now... The rain is falling way to hard. We won't be able to see anything," Roxy explained, staying laid down.
"Hey, you alright? You... aren't looking too well Roxy." Tone eyed a slight paleness in his friend.
Roxy tried to glare at him, so he would see she's okay, but failed. "I'm fine. Why?" Roxy asked, trying to pass it off as nothing.
"Don't give me that. You and I both know how susceptible to sickness you are. Are you alright? You still haven't completely dried yet."
"I'm fine. And I am not susceptible to sickness. I've only gotten real bad sick a few times in my life," Roxy argued, not wanting her friend to worry about her.
"Hold on. Let me go get something." Tone stood up and exited the cave before Roxy could even begin to argue, returning approximately thirty minutes later with a soaked quilt. He thrust the covering a few times to try and dry it some before laying it across Roxy. "That'll keep ya warm whenever it dries off a bit."
"Thanks. But you shouldn't have done that. You got soaked and there's no telling if you caught something," Roxy spoke, snuggling into the quilt desperate for warmth.
"None sense... I'll be fine. You needed it."
"Thanks..." She smiled at him.
"Nah, don't thank me. I'd a done it for anypony else."
"I know."
The two sat in silence for a few minutes, both staring outside into the drenched world from the cave's mouth. "Just like last time huh?" Tone suddenly said.
"Almost. If we had a fire, it would be just like last time."
"We'll be alright, just as long as we stay inside and avoid getting wet. Besides, we're slightly elevated. It's not like we'll flood if it continues."
"True...." Roxy yawned, trying to force herself to stay awake. "I just hope it ends soon... Or at least becomes easy to navigate through..."
"You can go on to sleep if ya like. I'll keep watch for changes in weather," Tone offered with a smile.
"No way... I need to stay awake..." she replied politely. He noticed she looked a little flushed.
"Go on to sleep," he insisted with a calming voice. "I'll wake you if anything changes."
She sighed, realizing it was futile arguing. Roxy closed her eyes, snuggling into the quilt.
A few hours went by in what felt like only minutes to Tone. Roxy's cheeks flushed even brighter, the color of her coat even more pale. He knew she was coming down with something. The whole time, he never budged. He just continued to stare out into the weather, listening to the inconsistent patter of heavy rain. After another hour, he too was fast asleep, head atop of Roxy's shoulder.