//------------------------------// // Dark days & New lights {Edited} // Story: Soarin's Scales // by Thebravenorse //------------------------------// Soarin's Scales Chapter One: Dark days & New lights Soarin had woken up to a throbbing pain in his head. It was not, as you might imagine, Soarin's first hangover, but it hurt like hell all the same. Slowly and hesitantly he pulled the sheets off himself and sat up in bed. He tried to lift his head off the pillow he lay back in. Not an option, the pain was just to great. Then he inadvertently turned his head too quickly and that hurt like hell also. Never the less, he got up and trotted over to the bathroom, even though his body wanted nothing more than to lay down and die. He took a look the mirror only to see remnants of his former self. Soarin's mane was in a mess and his fur was covered in vomit and spot stains. To put into words: Soarin was a total train wreck. His eyes were bloodshot from all the crying and insomnia. Looking over to his clock he noticed that he had to be at Wonderbolt's practice in an hour. But he didn't care, he couldn't care less. Also... she would be there. Soarin hadn't felt like his old self for the past month. Getting up in the morning required a lot of effort and all of his so called friends irritated the hell out of him. Always asking if he's okay or wondering when he'll go back to work. Maybe soon. Maybe never. He didn't cari If he got fired. Soarin's Doctor (who he had so reluctantly went to) said that he suffered from depression which didn't surprise him. After all, his breakup with Spitfire was hard on him. The Doctor had said that the emotions we feel after a break up are overwhelming at times, but know that they are as natural as love itself. He also said that there are four stages of an emotional break up. One. Guilt~ already there Two. Nothingness~ yup Three. Defeat~ Oh yeah Four. Exhaustion~ Big time And Five. Depression..... Soarin had broken up with thousands of mares in the past. Most of whom were fan-fillys who he had spent one night in bed with, then would sink out early the next morning. But this time was different SHE broke up with him after just one year as a couple. But here's the best part. She cheated on him. I mean, can you imagine what that does to a stallions confidence? not that much good, that's a fact. And the part that really hurt him was that he actually... cared about her unlike the other mares he's been with. Spitfire was his best friend. They had been friends long before becoming Wounderbolts. He... he missed her this all his hear- Soarin shook his head. There was no time for that kind of thought. Looking away from his reflection. He said something under his breath which didn't sound all too polite. Then he dragged himself over to his alcohol and vomit stained bed, crawled under the sheets and went to sleep. 'I'll do something productive later ' he thought. * * * At a bar in Ponyville sitting at the farthest table in the back, finishing his tenth beer, sat Soarin. The bar was named "The Crazy Horse" and had been his second home for the past month. He was told by the bar owner that if he wanted to be allowed to keep coming back he would have to sit far away from the rest of the customers because his depressing and regular visits were starting to get complaints. Lucky for Soarin, the owner was a good friend of his named "Vinyl Scratch" and unlike most sane bar owners, she would not throw out an old friend. Just then a song started to play on the bars phonograph: Soarin was now openly crying, so much that he didn't even notice the green and purple figure taking a seat across him. Soarin felt a claw on his shoulder and his head shot up to see the familiar face of Spike the dragon. Spike had grown both physically and mentally in the past years since him and that librarian mare came to town. About two years ago he had another growth spurt but unlike the first one, this was all natural. The dragon stood at the same height as an average stallion when he was on all fours. Soarin and Spike had actually gotten real close after the events of the Equestrian Games some years ago. This was before Spike had gotten his growth spurt. Spike had been the only pon-errrr-dragon to visit him in the hospital as his wings recovered. Soarin was confused at why he would visit him, because previous to this, they had never said a word to each other. But Spike went on to tell him about how he was a huge fan of the Wonderbolts (especially Soarin) and when he had heard of Soarin's accident he came right down to check up on him. That had made Soarin's day. Spike was more than surprised to hear that none of his fans or teammates had came to see the famous flyer, but was also excited to being the first one to check up on him. Soarin and Spike spent the rest of the day hanging out in the hospital room talking about all kinds of topics and telling jokes. Soarin didn't want the little dragon to get bored, so he told him that he could leave if he wanted to (even though Soarin would hate it if he left), but Spike merely shook his claw and told him "Nah, I would rather stay here with you and listen to your cool stories" he said with a smile. Soarin had a few tears in his eyes because of the kindness the little dragon was showing him. Spike would rather give up his whole day inside with Soarin then to go out and watch the teams practice.... Spike and Soarin just stared at each other for a while, neither one saying a word. Spike removed his gaze from Soarin's eyes and looked over all the beer bottles. Then back to Soarin and removed his claw "Why?". "What?" Soarin didn't thank he heard him correctly "Why are you doing this to yourself?" Spike clenched his claws but calmly replied, but then Spikes voice suddenly got louder "Why are you killing yourself?!". Soarin couldn't respond, he was stunned, angry, and sad. Spike once again had come to the rescue and hit the mark, to seek him out and try to help. Sure ponies asked if he was okay or when would he get back to work, but that was only when Soarin had gone to them. But Spike had come on his own behalf. Soarin started to shed tears and he looked down unable to look his friend in the eyes. Spike lifted the pegasus's head with a claw and leaned closer. Spike had a few tears of his own escape him "Why?" he asked in barely a whisper. Soarin could handle killing himself with alcohol, he could handle a broken wing, and he could try to deal with a broken heart but he could not handle seeing the one dragon/pony that actually cared about him cry because of what he was doing to himself. So Soarin relented and then told him everything. From the day Spitfire broke up with him, the day he stopped showing up to work, and to where he was now killing himself on beer and whiskey. By the end of the painful story, Soarin was a complete mess and cried loudly, gathering attention from the other ponies in the bar, but he didn't care. Spike reached over the table and pulled the crying Pegasus into a hug. Soarin was confused for a second but then melted into the hug and cried a storm into Spike's shoulder. Spike just held him close through it all. About ten minutes later, Soarin had stopped crying and calmed down all together and pulled away from Spike's strong arms. Spike all ready missed the soft fur on the stallion. "Thanks bro, I needed that." Soarin sniffed and wipe his eyes with a smile. "No problem." Spike smiled back. Soarin looked above the door to the bar and read the clock. '1:23 AM! Wow I've been here longer than I thought' thought Soarin. "Um.. Spike?" said Soarin. Spike looked at his friend "I just want to thank you for.. well you know". Spike laughed and shrugged "It was really no problem at all. I just couldn't leave a great friend like you feeling so down" Said Spike with a slight blush. Soarin didn't notice though as he hopped off the chair. But once his hooves touched the floor, he toppled over. Luckily for him, Spike caught him in mid air, now Soarin was the one blushing because he was cradled in Spike's arms like a baby. Soarin and Spike just stared into each others eyes in that position for a long time until Spike coughed and spoke "Um... I t-think you had a bit too much to drink, S-Soarin." he said with a awkward chuckle, putting Soarin back on his hooves. "Yeah I guess I have." Soarin chuckled too, rubbing the back of his head with a hoof. Spike thought for a moment. Hesitated. Then spoke. "Um you can, I mean if you want to-" "Yea?" asked Soarin, curious at where he was going with this. Spike swallowed "You could stay at my place tonight, I know you live in a cloud home and you're in no condition to fly". Soarin didn't know what to say. Not only had Spike given him a shoulder to cry on but now he was offering HIS home for a place to stay in his time of need. Spike was truly a great friend. But there was one thing? "Spike don't you live with that librarian? and don't you need her permission?". Spike was confused for a minute then face-clawed "No. I must have forgotten to tell you, but I don't live with Twilight anymore. I moved out about a month ago and got my own place not far from here." Spike deadpanned. "Okay then, let's go". "What?" said Spike in disbelief. "Let's go. You were offering me a place to stay, right?" questioned Soarin, slightly confused. "Oh... Yea! Okay let's go." Spike grinned with a small blush. This time Soarin noticed. 'What is up with Spike?' he thought. Soarin paid Vinyl and thanked her. Then the two friends trotted out of the bar. Spikes scales and Soarin's fur touched for an instant on their way out the door. Only if they could know how much they would touch in the coming future.....