//------------------------------// // A Dual Excursion // Story: Destinies Entwined // by Graphic Refrain //------------------------------// Destinies Entwined A Dual Excursion by Technomare The moon shone brightly through the only window, painting a streak of light across the cluttered room; the light reflecting off various artifacts, casting diffuse reflections across the small space, a speckling of white patches. The beauty of this was lost on Ferox Blossom, who despite being fully awake, had a mind buzzing with thoughts which weighed heavily upon him. The night had been long and restless, full of tossing and turning, in a vein attempt to find a comfortable position, both in bed and mind. Having found the former a few minuted prior, the room was now silent, save the occasional exhaling of breath or late night carriage trundling by outside. Suddenly the bed creaked again, but not of Ferox's ministrations. Following the sound with his ears, Ferox sees his brother Nelum, clambering out of bed, making his was over to the two colt's shared closet-space. The double doors creak open, and Nelum's blue hoof unhooks a cloak from it's hanger, donning it with a a swift ease. The now-cloaked blue pony slunk silently from the room and disappeared into the night. Full of bewilderment at what he just witnessed, Ferox hoisted himself from his bed, his hooves making a soft clack as they made contact with the floorboards. Making his was to the already-open door, he was relieved as the hallway carpeting muffled his hoofsteps. Checking the kitchen, bathroom, and storage area, Ferox noticed a distinctive lack of his brother, simultaneously a feeling of dread came over him. There was only one way Nelum could have gone - out. Throwing caution to the winds, Ferox quietly unlocked the apartment door and crept silently down the seventh floor hallway. As he gained distance from his family's abode, his confidence grew and his pace quickened. Soon Ferox was practically galloping down the stairwell, past the unponied security desk in the lobby, and out onto the cold, night streets of Maretropolis. Warnings from countless school safety presentations come rushing back into the pink pony's mind as he finds himself alone in the city at night. His instincts told him to stop right there and return to the warm, comforting safety of his own bed; this was not a time for instincts. His own brother was venturing out at night, unknown to anyone, and he was getting right to the bottom of it. He regathered his wits, and set off at a brisk trot after the sound of receding hoofsteps. Rounding a corner, Ferox caught a glimpse of his counterpart's cloak as it slipped between two waste containers. Ferox groaned inwardly, why in Equestria was his brother taking such a difficult path to...where ever he was going? Crouching down, Ferox squeezed between the waste bins, scrunching up his nose at the putrid smell of decaying trash. On his escape from the smelly prison, Nelum was no where to be seen and all hope seemed to be lost. Just as he was turning back, Ferox's ears picked up the soft rustle of disturbed litter, coming from an alcove, hidden, almost completely, in the shadows. Peering from behind yet another waste bin, curse the wretched things, the pursuer watched as his brother disrobed. Engrossed in the scene before him, Ferox was unaware of his hoof slipping against the cold, wet edge of the trash bin, behind which he had taken cover. Setting a small pouch down with a small thump, Nelum exhaled a deep sigh of relief. He had been followed, by whom was unknown, but it had forced him to take a longer and more winding path to his sanctuary, losing the unknown pursuer, but cutting short his meditation. He begins once again, restyling his mane, pulling his pink locks up into a simple bun. Next, digging in the bag, the blue pony retrieves the tools of the trade, and begins her artwork, checking herself every few minutes in the nearby window. CRASH! Ferox had slipped and fallen out from behind his hiding place, landing spreadeagled on the rough concrete ground. Awkwardness... pure, unalterable, awkwardness. Nelum was staring aghast at his very bedraggled brother, and Ferox was staring right back at his very feminine looking...sibling. It was a few moment before either of them said a word, and in that time it would have been impossible to tell which of the two were more shocked. Heart racing at a million meters per second, Nelum spoke first. "I can explain!" Ferox simply stood there in shock. "You... you're what?" He spat out, just confusedly. There was his brother, his lifelong friend, looking like... a filly. Well practically, there were many features about his brother which were still most definitely masculine, but that did not detract from the effect, especially in the dark lighting. "How long have you been doing this Nelum?" "Only a few weeks, I know it seems weird, but I really enjoy it. It makes me feel... right." Nelum cast his gaze downward, like a young foal who knows they've done something wrong. "Don't hate me?" "Nelly, I would never hate you. You're my brother, - Nelum shuddered - but more importantly my friend. I love you as any family member should, and nothing can ever change that." Looking at his brother, sister? whatever; looking at his sibling, Ferox could see that he had finally snapped. Nelum's face rose, the expression split between agony and rage. "No! It's always been like this," Nelum sniffed out,"for as long as I can remember, I've always been the odd one out. Made fun of for being too girly or creepy, just because I'm different. I don't know why I'm like this, I just am!" Whenever mom calls me her little colt I shudder, whenever people try to be polite and call me mister, it just makes me sadder. I don't know what to do Fer... I don't know who I am." Slowly and deliberately, Ferox responded. "Come on Nelly, it's late and we have to go to school tomorrow, you know what Miss Yards will do if you show up late again." Wave after wave of sobbing continued, but eventually the cloaked pony had regained enough of their wits to shakily nod in agreement. Ferox helped his sobbing twin to his feet; as he did a wetness crawled down his own cheek, falling silently to the ground beneath him. As Nelum returned the stolen possessions to the pouch the moonlight began to recede, and by the time the two reached the looming door of the apartment complex the sun was just breaking over the horizon, ushering in a brand new day. Together, the two walked past the empty security desk, pushing aside the door to the stairwell. The two ascended without speaking, only the soft clacking of hooves on metal preventing them from descending into true silence. Floor after floor they climbed, the sun following their progress, beginning its daily path across the sky, eventually reaching the sills of the seventh floor windows just as a bedroom door was thrown open. The sun shone brightly through the only window, painting a streak of light across the cluttered room; the light reflecting off various artifacts, casting diffuse reflections across the small space, a speckling of bright yellow patches. The beauty of this was not lost on the two Blossoms, who despite being exhausted, had minds buzzing with thoughts, weighing heavily upon the both of them. The night had been long and restless, full of tossing and turning, in a vein attempt to find any comfort, both in bed and mind. A new day had dawned.