//------------------------------//
// Crowded Isolation 
// Story: Destinies Entwined 
// by Graphic Refrain 
//------------------------------//


Destinies Entwined


Crowded Isolation

by Technomare




"Ferox!" called the teacher, rapping her meter stick sharply on Ferox's desk, making a resounding crack.

Ferox was startled back into consciousness, and upon realizing what was happening quickly flattened his mane and returned a muted "S-sorry Miss," keeping his eyes pointed downwards at the scratches on his desk.  The instructor quickly returned to teaching, acting as if nothing had happened; Ferox's mind, however was already miles away from the geometry lesson, engrossed in personal fantasies, information of which he would never share with any pony - or any other species for that matter.

His eyes drifted lazily around behind his barely open eyelids, the lesson was about trapezoidal prisms, but the only lines he dreamt of were curves.  Drifting off, a white haze began to occlude his vision, lacking depth yet containing an infinite volume; lacking dimension yet encompassing everything.  Suddenly a mare emerged from the haze, sporting a chic fuchsia coat with a blue headpiece.  The mare seemed oddly familiar, but amidst the dream, he couldn't quite remember where he'd seen her before.  He almost had it, it was on the tip of his tongue and yet...

"Ferox!" huffed the instructor, starting to lose her patience with the sleepy colt,"this is the second time you have fallen asleep while in my class today, once more and I'll have no choice but to refer you to the principal."

Despite being in danger of suspension, Ferox was currently more concerned with figuring out who the mysterious mare was than listening to the instructor.  The problem with this however, was that while Ferox's attention was not focused on the instructor, her attention was focused solely on him.  Ferox suddenly felt a sharp tug on his ear as he was dragged from his chair by the enraged instructor.  His reverie broken, the magnitude of what he had just done descended on him, forcing him to a near panicked state. By the time he was calmed down, Ferox was sitting directly in front of the principal, Dr. Yards, and she was not at all happy to see him. 

"Mister Blossom, do you know why you have been brought to my office today?" She peered at him intently.

"I wasn't paying attention again in class Dr. Yards," said he shamefully.

"And why was that now?"

"I was daydreaming about.."

"Honestly Ferox," Yards said in exasperation,"is this going to be yet another year of you not paying attention in class?"

"No, Dr. Yards, it won't be, I'm sorry," he replied,"I...I'll try not to."





Walking side by side, the Blossom brothers were heading home after a long day at school.  Ferox was telling Nelum of his umpteenth visit to Dr. Yards' office.  And lamenting the fact that he hadn't been able to discover who the mysterious mare was.  The walk home was a long one and the conversation began to grow thin, eventually turning into silence.  As the pair walked along in silence, Ferox's thoughts drifted back to his dream, while unbeknownst to him, his brother shared similar thoughts.