CHAPTER 33
Rainbow had decided to take a rest, so the balloon was traveling on the wind instead of being pulled, which meant it would be a good hour or so before we would get back to Ponyville. I was bored, but I was taking it well, seeing as to how Pinks had fallen asleep right next to me, and she was leaning on me. It was adorable, to say the least. Another pony, however, wasn't taking the boredom as well as I was...
"UGH! SO BORED! CAN'T TAKE IT." Rainbow threw her forehooves up into the air, and then fell over onto her side.
AJ rolled her eyes, and sat down next to Rainbow. "Now come on, Rainbow, can't ya jus' take it fer another hour 'r so?"
"An hour? Why not make it a day? Or a week? Or a month? OR A YEAR?!"
I tuned them out, and just in time. Hot sat down next to me, and shook her head, giggling a bit. "You've got some kooky friends, you know that?"
I let out a little chuckle, and nodded. "Yeah, but they've changed my life. If it weren't for them, who knows what I'd be doing right now? I'd probably be dead, in all honesty. Being with them is way better than what I did before I came to Ponyville..."
Hot raised a hoof up to me, silencing me. "Don't talk about it. I know it's probably painful, so I don't want to be the reason you dredge up bad memories." I gave her a thankful nod.
"What about you? You seem like you've got a few stories to tell."
She smiled, and closed her eyes, leaning her head back. "You have no idea... I actually wasn't raised around this kind of stuff. I was born and raised in Canterlot."
I stared at her for a few moments, while my mind processed what she had just said.
"What, you don't believe me?"
I shook my head, snapping myself out of my deep thought. "No, no, I believe you. I was just surprised, is all. Go on."
"Yeah, I was born in Canterlot, and my family wasn't the richest out there, but we were pretty well off. I wore nice clothes, had good friends, went to a nice school... All that good stuff. Whenever I graduated, I went off to college, hoping to get a degree. But, sadly, I ended up flunking out, and I went off to find somewhere to stay. I couldn't just keep mooching off of my parents. But when I told them I was gonna leave, you're not gonna believe what they told me..."
I cocked my eyebrow. This story certainly was interesting. "What'd they tell you?"
"They told me I was adopted." I felt my jaw drop. "Yeah, seriously. I knew we didn't look all that similar, but I had no idea I was adopted. Well, after that piece of news, I had to find my real parents. I set off, traveling all over the place. I worked odd jobs here and there, to make a little cash to live off of, but otherwise, I was always on the go. It was really nice, traveling all over the place. Then, I landed in Manehattan. I made a few 'friends' who weren't exactly a good influence. They ended up convincing me to drink, and they slowly opened the door for more... Harmful things. They got me on all sorts of drugs, and they got me into some trouble with the Manehattan Mafia, the guys who've been after you all this time. Well, it turns out, my 'friends' had used MY name to buy drugs, and they'd run up a tab. But they thought of a different way to get me to pay back, other than bits..."
I nodded, understanding where this whole thing was going. "They turned you into their plaything."
She hung her head in shame, and I saw tears start to run down her face. "I messed up my entire life... Just because I made some stupid mistakes. I'm an idiot... I just don't know what to do anymore..."
I pulled her into a hug. "Hot... I know exactly how you feel. After I started doing all the things I did, I was always on the run... I had nowhere to go, no ideas to go off of... I just kept turning to crime. I felt awful for everything I did, but it made me money, and it was the only thing I was really any good at. I messed up my entire life, but hey, after going to Ponyville, it all changed for the better. I bet the same goes for you. As soon as you set hoof in that town, everything's gonna be for the best. I promise."
Hot kept on crying, but the frown that was on her face turned into a smile. "You're a really nice stallion, you know that, Shadow? I thought you'd think I was a moron for all the choices I made."
I shook my head. "'Normal ponies make bad decisions. Only stupid ponies make stupid decisions.' You're not a stupid pony, you just made some bad decisions, and now you can turn it all around... Heck, we have a spare room at Sugarcube Corner. We'd have to ask the Cakes, the owners, but I'm sure they'd let you stay!" I remembered the little spare room in the attic of Sugarcube Corner. I'd been staying in Pinks' room ever since that fateful night we... Anyways, since I wasn't using it anymore, it seemed like a good idea to let Hot stay. It's better than just dumping her in Ponyville and letting her fend for herself.
Hot looked at me, and she had a mixed look of thankfulness, and disbelief. "You have no idea how long it's been since somepony's been this nice to me... I don't know what to say."
"Then don't say anything. Now, why don't you go get yourself more acquainted with everypony else. I think I'll just sit here for a little while longer." Hot nodded, and stood up, heading over to the other mares who were gathered on the opposite end of the basket.
"I heard every word of that, you know." I almost jumped out of my skin. I looked at Pinks, and she had her chin rested on my shoulder, her forelegs wrapped around my chest.
"Uh... Yeah. Sorry for just offering out the room like that, but she needs all the help she can get." Pinks giggled a bit, and planted a quick kiss on my lips.
"I'm not upset at all, silly. I think I'm starting to rub off on you. You're being so nice to everypony..."
I wrapped my foreleg around her back, and pulled her even closer to me. "I was never really mean. I'm nice, I guess, I just never really get the chance to be. Well, I never did, but ever since I came around a few months back, I find myself being nice and generally more social. And it's all thanks to you, Pinks. You've turned my entire life around."
She nuzzled my shoulder, and let out a content sigh. "Yeah, but I think it's the best decision I've ever made."
I nodded, and we sat there for several minutes, holding each other, savoring the contact like it was the last time we'd ever touch. I ended up breaking the silence between us. "You know what I think?"
"No. What?"
"I think this was all meant to happen." I gestured to our friends, who were all chatting away with Hot. "I dunno how to explain it, but I've always got this feeling that everything's right in the world. It's as if this were all just how things are supposed to go. Like..." I couldn't think of a word, but Pinks helped me out. Again.
"Fate?"
I smiled and nodded. "Yeah, fate... Listen, Pinks, there's something I wanna ask you..."
She looked up at me again, and her eyes started shining with anticipation. "What?"
I gulped, and barely managed to stutter out the words. "Will... Will you... Will you m-"
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Twilight yelled out. "Hey! There's Ponyville! Rainbow Dash, do you think you could go for an extra minute or two of flying? We'd get there a lot faster!" Rainbow jumped up, and hovered up to the reigns.
"No problem! Ponyville, here we come!" In under a second, we were off at lightning speed. Pinkie gave me an apologetic smile, and moved up to join everypony else to watch the scenery fly by.
"CRUD. Oh well... There's always next time. I'm not giving up... I really hope fate doesn't decide to backhand me for trying that."