It kills me not to know this but I've all but just forgotten what the colour of her eyes were.
And the scars, oh how she got them.
Has the tellin' signs of a dream, down a single tear is droppin'.
To the valleys of an aging face that this world has forgotten.
It's over...finally...
I sat perfectly still on the far cusion of the couch, staring blankly into the faint darkness of the room. I was tired, very tired. Sweet Celestia, I was tired but I kept telling myself, over and over that it was done. Finished.
Over.
I rubbed my eyes, feeling the aftermath of the strain my sobbing had put on them. My knuckles felt raw and sensitive to the touch, so much so that a simple poke could make me yelp in pain. My clothes were torn and dirty, somewhat, I just knew Athena was about to have a go at me for that. I let the foundations of a smirk come across my face at the thought of the talented seamstress. Only for it to all but be demolished as my mind came back to the events of the night.
That's when I heard a soft, unsteady whimper emanate from beside me.
I perked up at the noise. I tilted my head to the side and saw her, the little sleeping pegasus filly. Her body curled over itself as her coat and wings shivered in the cold of the night. She looked so adorable, so fragile, so vulnerable.
But she was safe. She was safe now...but she was cold.
I scooted over to the small, winged pony and nestled myself beside her tiny body. She hummed desperately and fidgeted to get at me with her hooves, instinctively looking for the warmth of my body-heat. I pulled her closer and laid down beside her, my head settled on the arm rest as she rummaged further into me. My arm draped her over and she nuzzled under it subconciously, as if trying to make it her blanket. I almost sighed in adoration.
Almost.
I was silent, however. I was silent and so was she as I gently stroked her long, soft mane with my other hand, she smiled absentmindely at that, asleep as she was.
I couldn't sleep though, watching the little filly enjoy a blissful land of slumber just got me thinking. Pondering on how I got to where I now lay.
It's been...how long?
Five months...damn.
It's been five months since I turned fifteen, five blissful sets of thirty (or so) days.
As you can imagine, my time has been spent doing what you might reckon. Wake up, dress, walk to Ponyville, work at Sugarcube Corner until my shift ends and find something or somepony to kill the rest of the day before going home, reading and getting another six-hour sleep.
And repeat.
I'm actually a little surprised that I never caught sight of that pesky filly that I found discriminating Roseluck. I had chalked it up to some personal agenda but really, it was none of my business...plus, I didn't really care.
Though, it's not like everyday's the same, every now and again, something unordinary happens. Well, as 'unordinary' as it could possibly get on a average day in Equestria. This is a magical land of sapient ponies, after all.
So, by the time the Summer Holidays rocked up, I was about as estatic about it as any of the school kids. Mainly because most of my friends were indeed, still in school.
"We'll be able to hang even more now, Kyle!" Lyra beamed happily up at me and soon enveloped me in another one of her heart-warming hugs.
Our relationship has grown far more accustomed to a more affectionate one. Lyra has told me, once or twice that she now sees me more as a big-brother than a best friend...and if I'm honest with myself, I reckon I'm quite proud to call her family. Of course, over the holidays, I didn't just spend time with Lyra. Surprisingly, Rarity had become quite a good friend of mine and soon we were out for almost the entire day some days, either at Athena's or just hanging out somewhere in town. I saw little of Roseluck but on the occasion that I did, she'd always wave and I'd salute back.
My little social circle was certainly well kempt.
I always felt as if the world got a few shades brighter whenever a friendly face walked into Sugracube Corner. Even if I don't see them right away.
"Two blueberry muffins, please, sir." Ordered a rounded pink unicorn mare politely with a smile. Her two-toned violet mane was styled rather awkwardly, shooting straight up in an egg-like shape. Damn thing nearly hit the ceiling.
"Sure thing, lass." I nodded before reaching down under the counter to acquire said baked goods. It was only when I had them baggaged up and handed them over to the mare that I saw somepony behind her. A white unicorn filly, looking around the bakery curiously but with a sense of impatience. "Rarity?"
Her ears perked up at her name and she looked away from me with confusion. "Hm? Kyle?" she asked.
I chuckled at her obliviousness and she turned at that. She smiled brightly up at me and trotted up to the counter. "Why, hello, Kyle. I'm sorry, I forgot you worked here." She began before her eyes widened and she turned to look up at the pink mare, of whom was giving her a questioning look. "Oh, erm...Mother?" she started nervously. "This is Kyle, we met some time ago and he's my friend." she gestured to me a pointed hoof.
Mother?
"Is that so?" she asked with a sly grin.
"Aye, ma'am. Rares here managed to get me sorted with a few extra sets of clothes." I explained, feeling rather uncomfortable under her gaze.
"Well then," she began, putting a hoof to her chest. "I'm Garden Wishes, Rarity's mom."
"Glad to meet ya, Garden."
Days like those were interesting. When something different occurs or I meet a new pony that doesn't look at me with that same expression of uneasiness.
Thankfully, I recieved it less and less as time went on. I suppose the novelty had worn off, that me being here, working in the bakery, living on the outskirts of town was just simply becoming second-nature.
It was hopeful thought but a good one.
"You'll see, everypony's gonna get used to you." the little green unicorn comforted.
I smiled, looking away from her and downed the last of my drink. I leaned back on the bench. "All I can ask for, lass."
It wasn't long before the 'homsickness' began to settle in again. It mostly now stemmed from some of the sheer boredom one can have without access to such things as gaming or better yet, the internet. All I could hope for was that the Equestria I fell into has some connection to that little oddball Button Mash. I haven't even seen anypony that looks like his mother in Ponyville, at least yet. Though, despite that, you won't believe how easy it is to not miss with all the daily routine stuff that goes on.
Still, it's always something I'm going to remember in the back of my mind.
An example of what I did with my spare time brings a certain memory to my head...
*Knock* *Knock*
I grunted. "Son of a...Hold on!"
I looked up from the ground, panting as I felt the sweat cool my skin. I unhinged my legs from the couch and stood up, groaning tiredly as I grabbed my towel and rubbed the back of my neck with it.
Even before getting whisked away to Equestria, I had started trying to take better care of my body. So, a few househeld workouts didn't hurt every once in a while. Since I was lacking the dumbell that always sat by the foot of my old bed, I had to settle with simple muscle exercises. Cheers, Jaxblade.
I turned the handle to the door of the cottage and swung it open. "Yuh huh?" I asked breathlessly.
My eyes widened in exasperation as I realised who was standing just outside the doorway. "Oh...I'm sorry, are we interupting something?" Celestia asked, uncertainty laced in her voice.
"Tia!" I greeted excitedly, forgetting briefly of the sudden awkwardness of the situation. "Howdy to you too, Cadence." I added, noticing the pink alicorn standing beside the alabaster mare.
The younger alicorn looked away sheepishly as her cheeks changed to about three shades redder. Why is she-...?
I gave myself a quick once over and saw the cause of her reaction. I was drenched in sweat and only the thin silk singlet that I arrived here in guarding the vision of my torso. My arms were practically pulsating were blood that pumped through outlandishly visible vains. Not to brag but the ol' biceps were looking a Hell of a lot more bulk than they would normally be.
"Ah, why don't you two shelas come on in? I'll go have a quick shower, make yourselves at home." I gestured for them to enter and the duo of princesses complied, the awkward tension seeming to lessen as they did. Though, Cadence was still blushing like mad and...even as she might try, she couldn't hide the sheepish grin on her muzzle from me.
What's with her lately?
I brushed the thought aside, she was probably just embarassed and maybe a tad nervous. So, after washing myself off and throwing some of Athena's darker fashioned threads on, I walked downstairs again to find the two princesses settling in comfortably in the lounge room.
"Sorry 'bout that, lasses. Just tryin' to keep in shape." I said as I took a seat in my regular spot on the couch. Normally, I'd recline on the whole thing but this was the first time in a while that I had company and Celestia just happened to take up the opposite side of it while Cadence sat in the middle of us.
I needed some more chairs for this place. It wasn't uncomfortable but I think we could've all asked for a smidge more room.
"It's no trouble, Kyle." Celestia nodded understandedly. "Has all been well since our last visit?"
"More or less, as much as I can ask for, really."
Celestia smiled at that. "That's good to hear. Of course, there's always a place in the castle for you, should you think it wise." she informed.
I scratched my neck. "I know and cheers for that but...I reckon I'll be fine down here, I'm-uhhh...kinda waiting for a mate to come home."
There was always something that nagged me at the back of my mind. Barely a day goes by when I didn't think about or miss Applejack. The growing anticipation of her return leaves me a hopeful bugger smiling happily at the ceiling at night with the thought of the orange filly running back to the farm. I knew it was going to happen eventually. Though, at some points, I could only hope that all was well with her, that she was doing okay in Manehatten.
That she was happy.
This thought always drifted my mind towards the other future Element bearers. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were still most-likely taking on flight school together, I could only imagine Gilda was intertwined in the picture somehow but I tended to not think too much on that.
"Oh? So you've met a some special somepony then?" Celestia remarked teasingly.
My left eye twitched. "Goddamnit! Why does everyone reckon that-...!" I pinched the bridge of my nose. "A 'mate' is a friend, kind of an expression I use."
Cadence let out a very audible sigh of...relief? She swiped a hoof across her forehead, beneath the underside of her horn, as if wiping away built up sweat. "Oh, thank goodness. For a minute there I thought that-" she stopped when her eye caught mine, a very, very confused look of mine was directed straight at her. "That...this mare just up and left you after...you know." She finished unsurely, bumping her hooves together as she stared at them nervously.
I eyed her wearily. "Yeah, uhhh...no worries, it's nothin' like that." I began. "It's just that I know she's coming back home...but I don't know when, is all."
"How can you be so sure that this mare is certain to return to Ponyville?" Celestia asked quizically.
I gave her a knowing, if not, cocky smirk. "Filly, reckon she's not even my age and..." I paused. "Call it a gut feeling." I chuckled a little at that. "But 'nough 'bout me, what's goin' on with you two?"
"It's been fine, I guess." Cadence replied, smiling lightheartedly at me.
"Indeed it has but Kyle, I'm afraid that we don't have as much time as I would like for this visit." she explained, a touch of an apologetic tone in her voice.
"Ah, really? Well, that's not a problem, Tia, I know what your job calls for." I grinned up at her.
"However," she started, a smile working it's way onto her face. "Since that our meetings may become less and less frequent, I have decided on offering you something, if you so desire."
"Uhh, alright, hit me."
Celestia nodded and smiled as she stood up and regarded me questioningly. "The fireplace is in the bedroom, is it not?"
"Yeah, it is, why?" I asked, standing to my feet in confusion. The white alicorn didn't answer but nodded again in thanks before proceeding upwards to the stairs. I silently followed her and looked back at Cadence who jumped to her hooves and trotted in tow with the taller princess. We climbed up to my room, I was still very much so confused as to where this was going as Cadence just hovered around the space and Tia moved over to the fireplace on the far right side.
Wordlessly, she closed her eyes as her horn took on a radiant gold aura. She lowered her head and pointed the shining spear upon her head at the desolate and dark alcove. In a bright flash of white, a spark ignited from her horn to the fireplace. Regardless of the lack of uncharred wood resting in the alcove, what drifted and danced within the brick-work was a bright green spout of flame.
Green. Did I mention that was my favourite colour? Well, it is.
"Uhh, Celestia?" I prompted. "Are you cold or something? I didn't reckon that somepony that controlled the sun would actually get cold."
The regal mare lifted her head up to look back at me and gave me an amused grin. "Oh, no, Kyle but I thank you for the concern." she said.
"Uhh, no worries." I replied, unsurely.
She gestured to the emerald flame with a wave of her hoof. "However because I feel as if we won't have as much time to spend together, I think it wise to stay in touch via some other means."
I stared into the dancing jade fire for a long moment, processing all that she had just said. "So...ya wanna be pen pals, now, Tia?"
At first, I flinched at that, I expected her to gawk at me in shock at my blatant analysis of her magic and intentions. However, she simply nodded and smiled again. "In a way, yes, this flame shall automatically send any parchment you find necessary to send to me. I shall write back as soon as I am able, of course." she explianed.
I rubbed the growing hairs on my chin. "What the Hell, sure, I can work with this. Bugger all, we could just message eachother all night like two mates on facebook." I chuckled at that.
Cadence gave me a quizical look. "Face...book?" she asked, slowly.
"Don't worry 'bout it, lass." I dismissed her with a knowing smirk.
"...Right." Celestia drawled, shaking her head to collect herself. "With that said, I do believe that's all that I came to say."
"Wait, you're leavin'?" I blanched. "Already?"
"I'm sorry, Kyle but it is not up to me to stay. The duties of princesshood have always been doubly exausting ever since-..." she trailed off. Her head dropped slightly, solemnly and her gaze casted to the floor in a misty haze.
I stepped up to her and put a hand on her shoulder, it had been a while since I had to reach that high to do so. "I know, Tia. It's okay, you don't have to explain it to me." I smiled up her, as comfortingly as I could.
She smiled sadly back down at me, it seemed that still after all this time, the old alicorn just couldn't keep a straight face when the thought her sister came to mind. Understandable, I suppose. "Thankyou." she whispered sincerely. "You...she would've liked you." Celestia mumbled, her smile widening as I gave her shoulder a tentitive rub, absentmindely bumping into the golden collar around her neck.
"I reckon I would've liked her too, Tia." I said, staring up into her bright pink irises as she stared back at me. After a long moment, she nodded and looked back up at Cadence, who was apparently watching the whole thing with more than a hint of confusion and more than likely, intrigue.
"Cadence, with your school year over." She began, allowing a sly smirk to adorn her muzzle. "Would you like to spend the day with Kyle?" She asked, a deviously innocent tone in her voice.
"Huh...?" I managed, dumbfounded.
"What?!" Cadence blanched.
"I think you two could do with some quality time together don't you agree?" Celestia mocked.
"I guess but...don'tcha reckon that's a bit sudden?" I asked.
"Uhmmm...okay." Cadence let out. I turned around to face her, questioningly, she just stood there awkwardly with a slight grin on her face as she pawed at the floor with a hoof. Even despite her vibrant pink coat, there was no denying the red tint in her cheeks.
I barely thought anything of it. I sighed and looked back up at Celestia. "Well, if the lass is up for it. 'Suppose it's not a bad idea." I conceded.
"Excellent, I shall return tomorrow." She nodded again as her horn began to glow.
"Tomorrow?!" I blanched. However, that was all I managed to say to her before she dissapeared in a flash of white, leaving me and the alicorn princess alone in the cottage. I turned to look at her and gave her a quick shrug before reclining back on the bed. "So, Cadence, up for anything specific?"
So began a full day of nothing but hanging out with Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.
In all honesty, I don't remember ever having so much fun. As we marched through town, idly chatting about whatever came to our heads, it felt alright to finally talk to someone closer to my age.
The fact that she was female and a princess and an alicorn barely even...Oh, fuck it, it was fun 'cause it was Cadence and she just happened to be in her mid-teens aswell.
We talked, laughed, grabbed a bite at Sugarcube Corner and I bought us a round of drinks from market downtown. Really, I couldn't think of a better way to spend the day. What was interesting to note was that everypony seemed to regard the princess with little praise despite the fact that she had both a horn and a set of wings. I thought barely anything of it and just kept to myself about it but I won't deny that I was silently appreciative that somepony was observative enough to recognise royalty.
"Hey, Kyle!" Shouted the happy little squeal of an all-too familiar voice. I turned my head to the sound and found young, innocent Lyra standing there on the opposite end of the street, waving over to me with a massive beam on her muzzle. By her side was Quo, the mare looked down at the filly and then looked up and caught my eye, sme smiled and nodded respeectively.
"Howdy, Lyra." I greeted back with a half-salute. She scampered over to me, causing Quo to shake her head with a faint grin and followed her in a swift trot. I knelt down and the young unicorn and I shared another close hug. "How've ya been, lass?"
"Great!" She beamed again. Lyra must've finally caught sight of the pink alicorn beside me as she looked up at her in confusion. I followed her gaze to see Cadence quickly look away from the filly's stare and gaze at me in the same manner. "Who's this, Kyle?"
"Oh, yeah. Lyra, this is-"
"Yeah, Kyle. Who's this?" Cadence cut me off with a hint of something I couldn't quite tell.
"...Uhhh, this is Lyra, Cadence." I began, giving her a rather blatantly quizzical look. "She's the pony that I met first and Lyra, this is Cadence." I stood back up. "She's Princess Celestia's neice and is, actually a good ma-friend of mine." I turned to give her a faint smile and her mood seemed to stop on a dime as she grinned back at me.
"Oh!" Lyra yelped in surprise before suddenly...bowing? She closed her eyes and lowered her neck to the ground, looking down at the ground and slightly spreading her front hooves out. "Your majesty." She said, in the most formal tone I had ever heard her say.
I let out a bit of a snicker at that. "No need to bow...Lyra." Cadence said politely though there was some emotion behind it that I couldn't quite place. The alicorn suddenly looked up at me with a hint of impatience. "Kyle, it's getting kinda late, don't you think?"
I stared at her for a moment. I looked up and found that the sun was, in fact, at much more slanted angle adjacent to the ground than I thought. "Uhh, I guess. Tired, Cadey?" I asked, wryly.
"Sorta, we've kinda been out all day." She reasoned. "And don't call me that." She added swiftly, giving me a mock-glare.
I smirked. "Yeah, I reckon it's about time to chill." Cadence nodded and I turned back to the filly, whose golden eyes watched me ever so attentively. "Well, it was alright seein' ya, lass." I ruffled her mane playfully and she giggled at that, even being bold enough to lean into it somewhat, quite adorably, I might add.
"Yeah, see ya around, Kyle!" With that, she scampered back to the cerulean mare and gave a quick wave as Quo ushered her away after nodded at me again, silently.
"I can already tell she thinks the world of you." Cadence said suddenly. "She reminds me alot of another unicorn filly that I babysit for, occasionally."
I chuckled, knowing full-well who she was referring to and stood back up to turn to and gesture for her to follow me. "So, you're a babysitter?" I asked, smirking, beginning to walk as she trotted briskfully beside me.
"Yep, mostly." She answered, taking a quick sip from her tropical fruit smoothie. "Although, I do admit that I do find a sense of joy in it. Watching over somepony else's foal may seem kinda boring but it's actually really fun."
"Well, as long as you enjoy what ya do, I suppose." I folded my hands behind my head as we made our way back to the cottage.
It was good day. Cadence ended up spending the night over after we just sort of hung out for the rest of the night in the house. Like a bashful gentleman, I obviously told her to sleep on my bed, there was no way I was going to give in to her constant nagging about her being a guest and should sleep on the couch. No, she was a princess both literally and...complimentary.
To my surprise, I slept fine. At least I think I slept fine, the memory of that night's kind of fuzzy, to be honest.
Tia ended up coming at about noon the next day with a golden chariot to whisk both her and the pink alicorn away. I tell you what, the look on her face when I opened the door to find the alabaster mare standing there, smiling radiantly...it looked sorely dissapointed.
Celestia and I shared a brief greeting before we all walked out of the cottage. Cadence look back at me, turning away from the carriage. "Thanks, Kyle. I had fun. Guess I'll see ya around?"
I smiled at her, genuinely. "Course, Cadey. I'm gonna miss ya." I admitted, cheerfully.
To my surprise, she quickly pulled me into a hug and...gave my cheek a quick, friendly kiss.
I could only stare at her as she pulled away and practically galloped into the chariot with Celestia. "Bye!" She waved, beaming as the two pegasi quickly took off with the carriage in tow.
I stood there, waving, even as it flew out of sight. "Bye..."
I brushed my hand over the spot where her lips touched, letting an uncharacteristically giddy laugh.
It was going to be a good day.
It was only yesterday.
Yesterday...God, I wish I could take it back.
It was just a normal late morning in Ponyville...
"She said they were nice...NICE!"
The birds were chirping, the coin was flowing for every home and humble business around town...
"They need to be SPECTACULAR! How am I supposed to make them better when the performance is TONIGHT!?"
The sun was high in the sky, it looked really nice outside.
"Kyle are you even listening?"
"Eeyup." I answered, closely mimicking one of the two remaining apples down on the farm.
Damnit, AJ. When are you coming home?
"Oh yeah, what was I talking about?" The porclain filly questioned, glaring at me scrutinisingly.
"You were ramblin' 'bout how your teacher said that the costumes you've been workin' on for months are good but, according to you; not good enough." I started, bemusedly. I looked over at the young unicorn, leaning my face against an upturned fist as I settled my elbow on the table. "You're also upset because you think you can do better but because you have barely any time...well, you have no time." I leaned back on the wooden chair, almost smugly. "I reckon you're beating yourself up a little but there's nothing wrong with going for a bigger goal, I suppose."
Rarity cast a look down, looking almost ashamed at something before looking back up me with a small smile. "Well, it's good to know that you're listening." She said, a hint of an apologetic tone in her voice.
"No worries, lass. I've always kinda been that guy who listens to pe-ponies."
"And I appreciate that."
I smiled at her as she dove back to her work, noisely pushing away at the orange fabric in, slowly been drilled and threaded away by the sewing machine atop the desk. She sat by the window that looked over the quiet streets of Ponyville, not paying the slightest attention to the beautiful scenary outside.
Yeah, well, who can appreciate it more? The girl that's grown up with it all her life? Or the human that's been here for little over half a year?
The room, or 'studio', as Rarity would love to call it was littered to the brim in mannequins (of which, I had found out were actually called 'ponyquins', believe or not) and boles of various fabrics. I took a seat on a nearby simple brown wooden chair after Rarity had invited me from the my freshly ended shift at Sugarcube Corner, whining and rambling about how her teacher's insensitvity was going to be the death of her.
She might as well have said that. Rarity can certainly carry on when she wants to.
So, as she toiled away with the existing and 'unsatisfactory' outfits for the school play, bickering idly with herself, I just sat there and listened to her.
"You know I do, don't you?" Rarity suddenly asked nervously.
"Know what?"
"That I appreciate you, you're a good friend, Kyle." She admitted cheerfully.
I felt a warmth in my chest when she said that. "Cheers, Rarity. That means alot, the feeling's mutual."
She beamed at me for a moment before looking back down at her sewing machine and gazing at it with no small amount of sorrow. "I...I just wish I could do this." she let out, almsot to herself. "I just want to make something that will make ponies gasp and stare in awe of it's beauty." She continued. "I've tried my best to do what I see Athena do but whenever I try, it doesn't turn out nearly as well as I want." Rarity looked close to shedding a tear by now.
"Hey, Rares." I stood up and walked over to her. I placed a hand on her back comfortingly and knelt down so I could look up at her. "Don't worry, it okay." I rubbed the fur between her shoulders. "I promise, some day soon, you're gonna make some of the best pieces of clothing Equestria will ever see." I waved a hand in the air dramatically. "You'll make the most prestine suits and the most gorgeous dresses for the whole world to gawk at, trust me. You've got talent, Rarity. You just need to find it."
The white filly turned to me, her eyes were watery and her mouth hung open as she stared at me, widely. I patted her back softly and rather awkwardly and managed a friendly grin. When I made to stand however, Rarity swiftly locked her hooves around my neck and buried her muzzle into my shoulder. Mechanically, I wrapped a single arm aroung her and to my surprise, she silently began weeping into my jacket, dampening the fabric into a dull grey.
"Hey, don't cry, Rarity." I managed, as soothingly as I could muster.
She sniffled a little before breathing shakily. "You're too kind, Kyle. Even though I know you're just saying that." She pulled away and gave me a sad smile.
I made to assure her that I was being entirely honest but she cut me off before I could say anything. "Maybe I'm not meant to be a fashionista, after all." Rarity said, more to herself than I and closing her eyes. What she said left me speechless.
...What did she just say?
"Rairty-"
CRACK-A-PING!
I was cut short again but this time by blinding cerulean blast exploding from the unicorn filly. My vision returned as I heard a high pitch squeal emanate from her lips and I rubbed my eyes to adjust the new found brightness.
"What's going on!?" It was then when I first saw the image of the young unicorn being effortlessly dragged away by the horn atop her head. All I could do was stand there in awe, stuttering madly to myself as I watched her body float half-way across the room as she stuggled fruitlessly against the magical pull.
"Hang on, this is-"
"Kyle, help me!" Rarity had managed to grab onto the adjacent corners of the open doorframe with her front hooves and was staring at me with a look of desperate pleading to aid her.
"Oh, uhh, right!" I ran over to her, she grimaced and squirmed as her horn proved to be too much for her and her hooves gave into it's might. She screamed for a moment before I grabbed on one of her back hooves and snared my hand around the doorknob. The doorknow to a door that happened to close due to the force of Rarity's horn slamming it inward. "What's happening?!"
"I don't know!"
This is...oddly familiar
Just then, the magic grip on Rarity seemed to double in strength and gave a sharp tug. I lost my grip on her hoof and wwas sent staggering back due to the force, Rarity yelped as she was dragged away yet again. I shook my head as gave chase, Rarity continued to struggle in vain as she was pulled down the stairs out the door and into the streets. I followed her outside and to my dismay, her horn seemed to be playing a game of cat and mouse with me. Instead of directly taking her...to wherever it wanted to, it zig-zagged through alleyways and even over buildings, causing me to lose sight of Rarity more times than I like to mention. Ponies around her barely though anything of and gave nothing more than a curious glance to her, me, chasing her was no different case.
In my head, I tried to realise something, I knew this wasn't some strange occurance. Something told me that...I had seen this before.
But where? And when!?
Rarity seemed to be winning the battle, somewhat after she rounded another corner. I was getting worried, she almost outside of town by now. "Don't worry, Rarity! I'm comin'!"
"Would you mind to hurry up, please!" She retorted.
I didn't reply to that and just kept running after her. Whatever spontaneous magical gltich this was, it was fast...and starting to piss me off!
By some lick of luck, I caught up to her. She rounded a corner and as if the spell stopped to catch a breather, she slowed down, albeit only somewhat.
I grinned and reached out a hand to grab her, she stared back into my eyes thankfully. It was only when I looked back down at the hoof the brushed against my open palm that something happened. Apprarently, we had managed to end up in front of my workplace when I caught up to her. I cursed that fact.
As soon as she drifted off away from the front door, it opened...and managed to slam right into me. I yelped in both pain and shock as I fell back with the force of impact.
"Kyle!!" I heard the little white unicorn shriek as I hit the grass road with dull thud and groaned at the incoming headache. Jer voice trailed off and soon fell silent in the distance. I felt a warm liquid seep from my right nostril and shook my head, groggily rising to my feet.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Shrieked a grey pegasus mare that I didn't recognise as she loomed over me with worried magenta eyes. I said nothing to her and grunted as I sat up, rubbing my forearm along my nose to wipe away the blood, however to little avail.
I coughed. "No worries." I said, with a hint of disdain. She looked unsure of herself as she watched me stand up, probably contemplating either to help me or not. I barely gave her a second glance once I was on my feet and stared at where the alabaster filly had been. I looked up and gazed around, Rarity was nowhere to be seen.
She was gone.
"No." I whisped. "Aww, fuck no." I added, growing louder.
"A-are you okay?" The pegasus asked, shakily. I turned to her and gave her a hard look, something she cringed at at.
I sighed. "Yeah, great. Cheers." I let out, somberly as I walked slowly away from her.
After hours of searching and calling in vain, I went up to the drama teacher up at the school, who was standing amongst the gathered performers. They all looked nervous and glaced around as if looking for somepony.
Three gueses as to who.
The foals were all undressed and not prepared to face the crowd of parents and other polite townsfolk. Upon recognising me, the teacher trotted up to me, a worried expression on her spectacled face.
"Where's Rarity? She still has the costumes for tonight. I thought for sure she'd be here on time." She said.
I sighed and that's when her expression shifted upon seeing mine. "Rarity's...missing."
With that said, let's just say the whole 'The show must go on!' thing doesn't really apply here.
After managing up everything and giving what little information I had to the concerned teacher and her students, I asked if they could all be on the lookout for the white unicorn.With that done, I came home and sat straight down on my couch, just staring at nothing and pondering what had just happened.
What was that?
It all just happened so fast. One minute she was there, the next she was off and then she was gone. It rattled in my head constantly, unrelentingly. The guilt was going to tear me apart eventually, what was I supposed to tell her parents? What was I going to tell myself? That it was accident? Some bazaar magical surge?
No fore somewhere in the back of my mind, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something else at work here. God, that terrified look in that filly's eyes will haunt me for the rest of my...
Filly...Rarity...
Of course...Of course!
By Celestia, I am so fucking stupid! How could I have been so goddamn blind?!
A sly and knowing grin wormed it's way onto my face. I couldn't believe it, I couldn't believe it took me so long for me to realise it!
Rarity was sitting in her room, working on the costumes for the school play. Her horn suddenly springs to life and drags her out of town. By now, she's probably drifting through multitudes of different landscapes which will all lead her down the way towards...
"A rock." I smiled again as it finally hit me in full force. I let out a slight snicker. "Dumb rock."
Tomorrow was the day. Tomorrow's the day when Dash finally performs the Sonic Rainboom, I don't know when exactly but I know why and how, not much to go one but at least I got a day. She'll break the sound barrier and make the impossible happen.Tomorrow's the day when little ol' Pinkamena becomes good ol' Pinkie Pie, at last. Tomorrow's the day when Twilight shows all of Equestria just how powerful she is and when Celestia takes her as her apprentice. Tomorrow's the day when Fluttershy finds her true place in life. Tomorrow's the day when the Applejack will see that rainbow pointed right towards home, after all this time and come galloping on back here.
It's been too long.
Tomorrow, Rarity will come back with a keg full of jewels, diamonds and bloody Hell, who knows what. Then she'll add them to the play costumes and get her cutie mark.
Tomorrow, they all will.
I grinned widely, laughing and clapping at the revelation.
I glanced up at the clock above the archway to the kitchen, it was little over 9:30 pm. I sat up, grabbed a piece of parchment, a fresh quill and ink pot and started scribbling down a quick letter. I re-read it to myself and chuckled sinisterly before walking upstairs and tossing it into the eternal green flame. I thought back to what it said and spoke the words again.
Dear Tia
I know it's been a while since I've written anything to you or Cadence but I just wanted to say 'Howdy' and to ask you a brief question;
Have you ever heard of a Sonic Rainboom?
I reached into my vest pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper, folded neatly up into a tiny squre. I unravelled it with a fair bit of stoicism. Beyond all the creases and ragged weathering of the photo, I still stared at it and held it with as much care as I could. The picture was a memory I wanted to hold onto for as long I lived, in the frame was me. I felt ancient staring into that thing. It was just me and them, all together in the park, grouped together for the camera. That was a good day but that was then, this is now.
Tonight was the night.
Tonight was supposedly going to be 'The Best Night Ever'. Hell, for all I know, it just be. In fact, I know somewhere in the back of my mind, somewhere locked in my long-term memory that this was indeed going to be as such.
Despite what catastrophies this party may endure.
Party? What party?...And why am I dressed like this?!
The girls have been looking forward to this night for well over two months. I got to say, Rarity did a very fine job at crafting their dresses for the evening. Even though Dash won't admit, I can still tell that she really likes getting all dressed up...especially in front of the 'Sexy hunk of a pegasus' she would go on about. She was such a fangirl at times, it was almost endearing, if not annyoing.
I now currently sit alone at one of the rounded, small dining tables, sipping occasionally on the rather bitter wine I had poured myself at a nearby table. Normally, I wouldn't drink alcohol, I was very impartial to the stuff, much to alot of my friends angst. I'd never get drunk with them, the idea just didn't appeal to me but it was fun to watch them rant and slur every now and at our regular meet-ups.
I went for another drink. "Half as long..." I chugged it down. "Twice as bright."
Why we simply couldn't be having one of those tonight? I'll never know but apparently, there's something 'important' with this 'Grand Galloping Gala' that they all wanted to go for their own specific reasons.
Wait...The Grand Galloping Gala?
I dusted off a fallen sliver of black hair off the dark blazer Rarity had tailored for me, I must be getting old, I'm shedding like mad lately. Not feeling oblidged to look the part, mainly fore I really couldn't, given my species, I wore the jacket open without a tie. I may have caught a few disgruntled stares and huffs because of it from the high-class ass-lickers of this gorgeous city but I didn't care in the slightest.
Mostly because a certain mint-green mare said I looked and I quote 'Rebelliously handsome'. She did say another thing but I'd rather not say it given it's...vulgar characteristics.
Lyra can certainly change her mood on a dime sometimes.
Anyway, I sat there alone. Just me. I walked in with seven mares and a baby dragon and I'm all alone here. All was not lost though as I stared silently at the orchestra gently playing their instruments on the stage in the plaza. However, before the pianist, the tuba and harp players, one grey mare stood out amongst them.
Her eyes were closed, shielding away the brilliant violet gleam from the world. She was an Earth-Pony, she stood on her hind legs, the strings of her cello firmly pressed down by one hoof as she strummed away at them with her bow in the other. Her charcoal mane draped down her back elegantly just as her long, shiny tail swept absentmindely at the flow beneath her.
Her name was Octavia and she was my friend.
...What?
She had told me that she'd be performing this year and I admit that seeing her show was one of the big reasons for tagging along to this event.
She looked so calm up there, almost bored. I couldn't blame her, she was a professional and above that, an artist. I could understand the frustration she must've felt, playing her cello at such a slow and simple way. It must've felt like a waste of her talents and truthfully, it was. I had seen what she could do and bloody Hell, mate, for an Earth-Pony, I don't reckon there's anypony in all of Equestria more skilled at the cello.
It was in my musings that I found myself staring up at her, smiling serenely through my moustache-goatee combo. It was also then that I notice that she had opened her eyes and gave a rather bemused look to the other musicians on stage. She looked over at the harpist and I followed her gaze and frowned at his smug, closed-eyed expression.
"Mate, Lyra can play circles around you." I let out with a slight snicker. I looked back at Octavia and found, to my surprise, she was now looking down at me and her half-lidded, bored eyes widened noticably upon seeing me. I waved at her and beamed back, I could see that she was starting to let a happy little grin work it's way onto her face.
Octavie looked back down at her cello and grinned with a tinge of shyness, now playing with a more upbeat composure. I gave the crowded room a quick once over.
Nopony was even looking at them!
I sighed and turned back to look up at Octavia. She had apparently notice full-well herself and casted a sad look down at the strings.
Well, if they weren't going to acknowledge her then I'll just have to fix that.
"Bloody Tartarus, where'd you go, Lyra?" I breathed irritably.
"Hiya, Kyley-Wiley!" Exclaimed a voice to my side as a warm weight made itself known, pressed against me.
That...fucking...name.
I turned to gaze upon the radiant pink mare. Her pearl-white teeth sparkled in my face as she stared back into my eyes joyousy. Her man was as bouncy and puffy as ever, there was no way anypony could fix that. However, upon her head sat a tiny hat, laced in a ribbon. Hell, most of her dress was comprised of ribbons. A big pink one at the base of her puffy white V-neck. Blue and white-striped ones at each dark pink slipper and one at each laced interval of blue lining on the...dress part? I don't know.
Got to say, though, the whole 'Real candy in the outfit idea' was a nice touch I reckon. Of course, it does sound kind of weird when you look at her and think 'She looks delicious'.
Her front hooves had wrapped themselves around my arm, quite firmly I might add.
"Howdy, Pinkie!" I greeted back, grinning and pulled her into a quick hug. She squeed and giggled excitedly, nuzzling her face into my shoulder playfully. I could only chuckle at that. "What're ya doin' here?"
"I could ask you the same thing, silly." She said, pulling away and bumping me in the nose with her hoof.
"Just watchin' Octy's performance, lass."
She gasped. "Kyle Johnathon Mercer! Are you cheating on poor, dear Lyra?!" She exclaimed with mock-seriousness.
I snickered. "Course not, shela." I lidded my eyes at her. "But if I were to, 'reckon it'll be with somepony with a bit more..." I leaned in to whisper in her ear. "...Energy." I breathed.
I pulled back to see that her pink face had become ten shades darker, her pupils were the size of pin-pricks and her mouth opened and closed nervously. "Uhh, I-uhhh..." She stuttered.
I couldn't help but burst out laughing then. "Hahah, just kiddin', Pinks. Ya know I bloody love Lyra ." I teased.
I...what?
Pinkie giggled in relief and some embarassment but seemed to regain her composure. "Oh, good 'cause all that filly thinks about is you, ya know." She said, smiling wamly up at me.
"Yeah." I smiled back and set her back down on her hooves. "I know."
Pinkie nodded and pulled out a seat beside me to sit down with me. She was unusually quiet tonight. "Hey, what's up, lass?"
Pinkie gave a sad look to the other party-goers. "This...isn't really what I imagined." She managed. "I tried everything to gets these ponies into the spirit of things, I even did the Ponk Pokey for Celestia's sake!" Pinkie groaned.
I rested my hand on her shoulder. "I know, Pinkie. I don't reckon anypony else is havin' the night they thought they would either." I began. "It's just that high-class ponies don't know how to party or have fun like you, Pinkie. They're all the too up themselves for that." I grinned at her. "And, if I might say, that was quite a jam ya pulled off, shela.
Pinkie giggled again. "You always know what to say, Kyle."
"Do I? Reckon I hardly ever do." I breathed...hauntingly?
"Yeah but that's just you being Mr. Big, modest human." She beamed again.
We sat that way for a while after that and by then, I could take no more of it.
"Hey, Pinkie?"I finally said, standing up. She looked up at me quizzically. "I don't reckon these ponies wanna party...I think they wanna paaarrtay!" I twirled my fist in the air comically in front of her before walking up the stage.
"Well, it's about ti~me!" Pinkie beamed, following suit as we walked up the flight of stairs.
The musicians all ceased playing once I and the pink mare walked on the short stage, staring at us with confusion and slight angst. I paid them little mind and walked up to Octavia, of whom opened her eyes to find that she was only one playing. The grey mare glanced around for a moment before fixing her gaze on me as I crouched down to meet her eye-level.
"Howdy, Tavi." I greeted. The cellist ignored my greeting, however.
"Kyle?" She began in that refined tone of hers, tiliting her head slightly in confusion. "What are you doing?"
"Well, I was watchin' you're act, as I reckon you already know." I smiled at her. "You're a bloody good muso, Tavi but I was just wonderin'...since the night's almost 'bout done..."
I left the sentence open with the most adorable beam I could muster, though through my beard, it was probably alot more rugged than I would've prefered. Octavia stared at me bemusedly for a long moment. Finally, she let out a sigh and put a firm hoof to her face in exasperation. "Fine, do what you will. Not like I can stop you anyway."
Even despite her obviously annoyed expression, I brought her into a swift, quick hug. "Cheers, Tavi."
"Yes, yes. You're welcome." I waved off nonchalantly though i could tell she was trying to hold back a smile. "I suppose it's the least I could do for you for coming." She looked back at me. "I do appreciate you watching my performance, Mr. Mercer." she said, sincerity etched into her tone.
I bit back a sigh. "Just 'Kyle' is fine, lass." I said, breaking away from her. "Now scoot, I got a gig." I ushered her off and she scowled back at me. I just chuckled at her serious expression and turned to Pinkie, who stood there, uncharasterically patient, twirling her hat on the flat of her hoof. She threw it in the air. "Pinkie." As her eyes reficused on me, her hat stopped mid-flight. "It's time to begin, isn't it?"
The grin on her face was sure enough to break at the seams. "Aye-Aye, Cap'n!" She saluted before reaching into her nature-defying mane with a hoof. She rummaged around a little bit in the air before her face lit up and she gave a firm tug. In the clef of Pinkie's hoof was-
A guitar? Eeyup, an electric, steel string, cut-away guitar.
I gave her a thankful smile but let it turn into a deadpan when I noticed the thick wire lodged in her mane, connected to the axe, itself. "Oopsie." She let out, throwing the instrument my way carelessly. I caught it with some effort, it was in one piece but I still gave her a scowl about it. Pinkie gave another tug at the object in her mane and out pops the amplifier connected the axe.
Bloody good piece o' tech, that is. Blimey.
She grins and dashes in front of me, pulling a mic out of hammerspace like she would do with so many other objects. Pinkie adjusted it humbly to my height and I nodded a thanks to her as she reared up on her hind legs and placed her front hooves on my shoulder for balance. I turned to look at her and we shared another friendly smile.
I thought for a moment as to what to play. By the Sun, it made me feel older than I was went I thought about how limited I was back in the day. Now? Bloody Hell, I'll play just about anything if I can remember it. On that note, a rather hilarious, if not, ironic idea popped in my head.
As if our minds were linked, Pinkie dashed her head forwards, practically gobbling up the microphone in the process. "C'mon, ponies, you wanted a party! Well let's par~tay!!"
Even as all the shocked, high class faces were turned towards us, I paid them no mind and instinctively held down the strings and by Celestia, did I strum.
"This is who I am and this is what I like!
GC, Sum and Blink and MXPX rockin' my room!"
"If you're lookin' for me, I'll be at the show!
I can never find a better place to go!"
"Until the day I die! I promise I won't change..."
"So ya better give up!"
"I don't wanna be told to grow up!
And I don't wanna change, I just wanna have fun!"
Even over the distortion, I could here the front door slammming open as me and Pinkie sung, neigh, yelled the chorus. "Okay, all you high-class ponies. Here's a high quality apple cake for all you're gosh darn, picky taste buds." I heard Applejack call out to the crowd, wheeling in on a cart what looked like a six-layer apple cake. I always liked those, whenever she and Granny Smith would whip one up in the kitchen, I barely needed an invitation. Applejack would always insist on me coming over whenever they were making something.
Guess she really did love me.
I looked over at Pinkie. "Stage dive!!" She yelled excitedly. Unfortunately for her...and Applejack, she managed to use her 'Pinkie powers', as I had dubbed them, to soar enough to land straight on the edge of the cart with the cake resting on it. AJ stared up at the apple-flavoured pastry in utter shock, watching it fly across the room to it's inevitable demise. once again, things took a turn for the worst. As Rarity stepped through the large doors with the pompous asshole of a stallion I had to watch with her all night, the cake seemed to develop a mind of it's own and utterly direct itself at the pair of white unicorns.
They both let out yelps of surprise but that wasn't what made me stop playing the song. What it truly was was Prince fuck-head deciding to recoil back, grab Rarity with his filthy hooves that shouldn't be anywhere near her...and comically threw her in front of him.
Like a shield.
And you don't USE Rarity as a shield. Ever.
The pick fell out of hand, I gaped at what I was seeing. The cake had smashed violently into Raritys face, splattering over her mane, eyes, muzzle and worst of all; her dress. Her friends made that dress, MY friends made that dress. All she did was merely stand there for a moment, her mouth agape in silent rage, I was no better off however. That bastard of a up-tight husk of a stallion just whimpered and shook in fear...he should be fearing Rarity...or me.
Rarity had just fallen back to all-fours as I placed the guitar next to it's amp. I gave a quick look back at Octavia and her band. She was the only one standing there and seemed to have seen the whole thing aswell. She looked up at me, silently and I nodded determinely back at her.
I walked, neigh, stormed off the stage and across the room. As my teeth gritted and fists clenched, I couldn't help but recall everything I had seen tonight. To be honest, I should've caved his head in when he made HER put down that garment on her dress on that puddle just so HE could keep his damn hooves as dry as possible.
For fuck sakes! Just go around the bloody thing!
The cake from her eyes finally drooped off her face and onto the floor, she stared blankly at nothing. She didn't even notice me pushing my way through the crowd as her pupils shrunk to pin-pricks and she whipped around, her teeth were barring at the porclain stallion. "You...y-you...Bastard!"
Wow, she sounded alot like me there...
I let out a brief snicker at how much she began to sound like me, guess we really rubbed off on eacother over the years. Now, what with all my swearing and blatant disdain for the inexcusable, that was going to pay off for her. Rarity advanced on the pompous colt, he backed away in fear and...was that digust? Of Rarity?
I was now close enough to hear that extended ranting. "...In fact, the only thing ROYAL about YOU is that you are royal bloody pain!" Rarity screamed, cake flying off of her at every move.
"Ahh! Stay back! I just had myself groomed!" Prince fuck-head pleaded, pathetically.
"Afraid to get DIRTY!?" Rarity shook her head wildly at the stallion, flinging whatever chunks of cake was lodged in her mane and probably in her ears. Fuck-head flailed about with his hooves and yelped in shock as he was bombarded with the sugary remnants of the pastry.
He looked like he was about to fall over. I wasn't going to let him off that easy though. Before he staggered anymore, I brushed my way past Rarity, I could pracitcally feel the heat of rage radiate from her. She shot up when she saw me and stared up at me with a new sense of calm. I gave her a quick look behind my back before turning to the stallion, she seemed...pleased with my new-found presence.
"Ahh!" He scrapped away with panic at the cake on his fur but became motionless as I tugged harshly on his suit collar. I pulled him closer and looked him dead in the eye, I could see the panic in those forsaken cyan orbs.
Then out of nowhere, a single sentence worked it's way into my brain. One single sentence that reminisced within my mind, a phrase with more meaning to me than I could ever imagine. It felt angry, it felt protective...it felt right.
"Leave her alone."
That's all I said...before I reeled back and punched him square in the muzzle.
He didn't even make a sound as I felt his nose break and his limp, dazed body staggered and swayed before he fell unconcious. It was just unfortunate that he happened to knock a golden statue of what I assumed was Tia, it didn't really look like her all that much. Regardless, it began to wobble and soon, it was unhinged off it's pedastle.
"Shit! Look out!" I called out, everypony seemed to noticed the shifting shadow of the statue and looked up to see it beginning to fall. Luckily, by some slight chance, Rainbow Dash, still in her multi-hued dress highlighted by golden accessories zoomed out of nowhere and...caught the the statue by the neck with her back. She grinned cockily as she tilted her head upwards.
"Yes!" However, that was when she remembered that Pegasi aren't the strongest species. She wobbled with the new-found on her back and before anypony knew it, the marble columns along the rotunda were violently tuppled by the majestic menace that was the statue. One by one, they went down like dominoes and when the dust cleared, Dash was standing there with the most embarassed look on her face. The statue just happened to break into three pieces at that.
As if on cue, I turned around to find three ponies standing there, shocked expressions on all their faces at the demolished courtyard of the Grand Galloping Gala. The first I noticed was little Ms. Sparky, Celestia's prize-winning new apprentice that moved in Golden Oaks Library not too long before tonight. Twilight Sparkle was her name, of course, I already knew that before she introduced herself.
The next was Celestia, herself. As regal and majestic as ever, she never really changed over the years but that's to be expected since she's a Goddess and all. Standing there was the alicorn that was with me right at the beginning, the one that helped me get a life sorted for myself when I first arrived here years ago.
The third? I stared at her the longest. She had grown into such a beautiful mare over the years, I had known her for the longest time and she had grown to be one of the biggest parts of my life. She loved me and I loved her. It was my little Lyra that was standing there, all done and dressed up in Gala dress, Rarity had certainly made a masterpiece with her design. Her golden orbs scanned the room until they locked with my own dark eyes, she just stared in silent question; "What in Tartarus happened?!"
I rubbed the back of my neck and gave the rest of the girls a quick glance, they all stood amongst the rubble; Pinkie, Dash, Rarity and Applejack.
"Well..." I began. "At least it can't get any worst, ay?" I said with a nervous smile but soon frown as I noticed something. "Hey, where's Flutters-?"
"You're...going to LOVE ME!!!"
I sat firmly down on the green recliner in the corner of the room, a bowl of chocolate-flavoured cereal in my lap. It was basically Milo, so I ate eat greedily throughout most of my mornings. I brought the spoon up to my lips mechanically as I thought about last nights...vision.
"Did I really just belt out Simple Plan at the Grand Galloping Gala?" I pondered out loud, rather sarcastically. "Damn, best not let that one come true." I snickered.
I left the empty bowl in the sink before I got dressed for work. Athena had now started charging me lately, not that I really minded, it was just something else to make money for. Of course, she dimmed the prices a tad, I chalked it up to it being that most, if not everypony in Ponyville goes around without clothes and that would make the human with the cultural nudity taboo and no fur coat one of a fashionista's greatest customers.
For Equestria, anyway.
That morning...Sweet Celestia, that morning...
I opened the door of the cottage and immediately felt that something was off...wrong.
With the uneasy feeling settling into my heart, I gave a quick once over the front yard of the cottage...nothing.
I made to look back in the house but my eyes settled on the wood of the inwardly open door. Carved and cut into the workmanship of it were...claw marks.
Large, jagged and shallow claw marks decorated my door in the most horrific fashion I can fathom. Even with the dread welling up within me, I inspected the scratches with reluctant curiousity. After identifying them for about five minutes, I tried to convince myself that it might've just been a stray cat looking for food, or even a dog.
But no, no something about the way they were carved in looked...diliberate.
That's when it dawned on me. That's when I remembered something I wish I hadn't. As the realisation sinked into my mind, all I could do was back away from the door. My back hit the other side of the archway and I stood there, staring at it.
One word pierced it's way through my lips then, just one word. "...Sacrifice."
After all this time, after convincing myself that I was safe, that...the Rake was bored of me and left me alone to my glee. With this new event, I almost smacked myself for being so ignorant. It never left, did it? It was always there, watching me, mocking me...stalking me. Always from afar, always at every point, around a corner or a dark alleyway that I might've passed. It must've figured that I had forgotten about it and...viciously carved a reminder of it's presence into my home.
At that thought, my fear began to simmer, boil even into something else.
Rage.
The ever-burning fires of anger began to roar within me. How dare this thing come near my home. How dare this thing come even CLOSE to me! It thinks it can scare me, it thinks I will fall quietly into it's deathly clutches like a mouse in the claws of a common house-cat.
But no, oh no. If it reckons that I will surrender to it's will, it's wishes.
It has another fucking thing coming.
With a determined nod to myself, I decided to prepare. I decided to get ready for when it would attack, which I knew would be soon, why would remind me of it's presence if otherwise?
That was the plan, after my shift at Sugarcube Corner, I was going to prepare. I didn't know how or what with but I was going to be ready.
With bared teeth, I slammed the scarred door behind me and made a smooth, if not, agravated pace along the road into town. Heading there I couldn't stop thinking about it, in fact, I might've so caught up in it that I didn't even remember what today was going to be.
Which is probably what lead me to my...next predicament.
Oh, I'm still so sorry.
It wasn't until about half way down the road when I began to hear it. I shrugged it off at first but when it grew louder and definitely clearer, I stopped dead in my tracks, straining my ears to pick up the sound again. I looked around to find the source of the sound but all I could find was the grassy plains and random trees that surrounded the road. It was then when I realised that the sound wasn't necessarily getting louder...but rather closer.
I scratched my head. Was that humming? No, it kinda sounds like...screaming?
Yep, that was screaming. However, it sounded like the natural voice of whoever was had too soft of a tone to scream at all or at least; loudly.
"Where's it coming from though?" I muttered. Was somepony in danger?
With this new though, I began to panic somewhat. In my mild frantic state, I must've glanced upwards...fore it was then when I discovered the source of the sound.
My eyes widened as I caught sight of a small...was that a pony? It's too small to be an adult, so I guess...Oh no.
Stunned, my eyes began to make out the form of a filly, flailing it's legs about in the air frantically in an attempt to cease it's descent...to it's death. I could see the waving strands of it's long mane flowing wildly in the wind. I could neither see a horn or pair of wings from my view-point on the ground but I couldn't care less about that.
There was a filly falling from the sky.
"Oh shit." I breathed before making a split second decision and taking off into almost full-on sprint. "Hold on!"
She, as I had concluded with the pitch of her screaming, didn't notice me over her own voice and the wind angrily blowing in her ears.
I ran towards her with more speed than I thought I had. She was in trouble, her life was in danger.
And I don't think I could live with myself if I could've prevented it...but didn't.
"C'mon, c'mon." I muttered through clenched teeth, my eyes never left her falling her body as she grew closer and closer with every ticking, precious second.
I ws running out of time, she was running out of time. It wasn't long before she would hit the ground below us...
Soon she would...
Soon, this filly's life would be over...
And I let it happen...
"NO!!"
She barely off the ground...when I jumped.
I leapt at the falling little pony with every ounce of might I could muster, I didn't even catch sight of her coat or mane colours, I was too focused on saving her. I reached out my arms, her legs continued to flail and swipe frantically, her eyes were clenched shut in panic and her screaming was near heart-breaking.
Time seemed to slow down as I manage to clasp my arms around her body, she stopped moving entirely, ceased her screaming as I must've knocked the wind out of her. Her eyes remained firmly shut.
I pulled her close to my chest and shut my own eyes in anticipation. Strangely enough, as gravity forced me to dive back to the ground with the small pony in my arms, I couldn't help but feel...slight fluttery touches against my skin. My body now became almost cocooned in the feather-like brisks and felt-tip lashes of whatever was coating us.
It wasn't long before the feeling passed and as I sensed the hard dirt and grass grow closer, I held the filly tighter in my arms.
Thud.
"Argh!"
I landed on my shoulder, skidded in the earth for a short moment before my momentum gave out and I was left lying on my back with the somewhat heavy weight on my chest. My hands brushed along the smooth, soft texture of the filly's coat and I smiled blissfully, my eyes already closed from the oncoming headache from the fall.
I caught her. I saved her. She was safe. She was alive.
"Hahah." I chuckled quietly to myself as I sat up, the filly's body now draped over my lap and I held up her head with my hand on her neck. I didn't open my eyes, I just grinned without a care.
"Th...t-thank...y-you." In the still silence, I heard the small breath those words, ever so gently.
"No worries, lass." I whispered back. I sat there, just listening to her tired and deep breaths.
After a while, I shook my head and turned it to the side and open my eyes to finally properly see her. She was lanky little pony, her legs seemed unnaturally thin and scrawny but I just shruuged it off. I could now see the set of wings firmly pressed against her sides, her coat was a beautiful butter-yellow hue. Her eyes were dazed and unfocused, only being half open but were complimented by a set of long, dark lashes that outlined them. Though, I could really only see her left eye as her right was hidden well by her long, vibrant pink mane that draped down her...
Hang on...
"F...F-Flutter...s-shy?"
Her eyes seemed to refocus at the mention of her name and she looked up at me for a moment. "Yes, that's my..." Before her cerulean orbs shrunk in sudden fear, she let out a quiet yelp...then fainted. She sighed as her head drooped lazily into my arm, her eyes fluttering shut once again.
I...was stunned.
I gawked at the tiny pegasus with an ajar jaw and eyes that could be consider pony size. I gave a quick glance upwards, there was the city in the sky, Cloudsdale. Still just as beautiful as I first saw it but now, it was directly over-head. I shot a look behind me and found the source of the weird sensation that I felt earlier. Fluttering without a care in the world was a swarm of pink-coloured butterflies, slowly grouping back flying around in unison like a school of fish.
I then thought back to what happend yesterday. Rarity's horn had lit up unexpectantly and dragged her off to Celestia-knows where. Now here's Fluttershy, she had just fallen from the sky, screaming and flailng around like a mad mare and there was a convient swarm of butterflies to cushion her fall.
However, they didn't. I did, I'm the one that saved her, I caught her before she hit the ground. Now, she's unconcious in my arms.
"Oh, God..." I muttered to myself, the realisation began to crash down on me like a tower of bricks.
I wasn't meant to save her. I wasn't supposed to save her. Fluttershy was destined to be rescued by the flying insects that would soon be the symbol of her cutie mark...
I had tampered with fate...I had messed with her destiny.
No...no, there was still time. I could still fix this, I knew it, I knew I could, I had to. Rainbow had yet to perform the Sonic Rainboom yet, if I could Fluttershy to see the vibrancy of the world at ground-level, she could still get her cutie mark.
She could still fulfill her destiny.
"Fluttershy." I spoke up, shaking my arm firmly. It only resulted in her head bobbing back and forth, lazily, almost comically. "Fluttershy? Fluttershy, wake up." I placed my free hand on her shoulder and shook her, she groaned a little but was still completely out-of-it.
"Fluttershy!!"
No response...
"Fluttershy, damnit, wake up!"
Unmoving silence...
"For fuck sakes, Fluttershy! Wake your lazy ass up!"
Nothing...
I began to panic again and violently shook her limp body, trying desperately to get to regain conciousness. Hell, I even slapped the lass across the muzzle in a horror-filled attempt.
My voice began to strain. "C'mon, Fluttershy! Wake u-"
*CRACK-A-BOOM*
I grimaced at the sudden loud explosion that went off. I looked up and found one of the most beautiful sights I will ever behold. Shooting across the light blue sky was a bright, radial rainbow. The colours themselves created a almost glistening sound as they stretched out towards the furthest reaches of the sky. Even as the spectrum grew more vibrant, it destoyed it. The inner ring of the spectacle was as pure white as Rarity's coat, perhaps even purer. The trees shook angrily as it's force blew them away, threatening to rip them from the soil they called home. A quick glance around and I would find that the many rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks and other critters that roamed the outskirts of town were clambering into their homes in fear of the boom.
They had no idea how beautiful it was and I can never give it justice as to just how much it really was.
Hell, I think I shed a tear upon seeing it...the Sonic Rainboom.
She had done it. Rainbow Dash had done and I saw with my own eyes, not from a computer screen but in person.
Though, it wasn't long before the awe turned to pure horror.
I looked slowly down at the sleeping pegasus, how she was able to ignore the cosmic explosion was beyond me. I didn't really care about that though. I glanced down at her flank, it was barren of a cutie mark, not a single pink butterfly resided amongst the butter-yellow hue of her coat. It then hit me, it hit me hard, so hard I think I got a concussion from it.
"Oh my God..."
I was too late.
"Fluttershy...I..."
I wasn't meant to save her.
"I'm...s-so s-sorry."
I robbed her of her cutie mark.
"Oh, God, I'm sorry."
I tampered with her destiny.
And all I could think of was a question...just one question.
"What have I done?"