//------------------------------// // another long day // Story: Travis won't die in the end // by Blue dragon 116 //------------------------------// One week has passed since that night and my release from the hospital three days later. And I have spent most of my spare time tinkering with my truck. Or helping out where I could whether it be at the library, or sweet apple acres. As a result I haven't really had a real discussion with any of the girls since that night. They would always try to start a conversation but I would quickly shoot it down, saying I was to busy to chat or just wanting to relax after a hard days work. But in reality my mind was abuzz and weighed down by what I saw on that mysterious tome, and what all it could mean. And then to add to the confusion of it all, when I got up the nerve to investigate what was inside that bloody tome this morning. I went to look for it, only to find it gone and a small letter in its place with Luna's seal on it and addressed to me personally. After reading it I placed the letter back where I found it and went to tinker once again with my truck, the contents of the letter only adding to my confusion. A few hours later Twilight came outside looking for me, and drawn to the sound of music coming from my truck. As she got closer the song began, its lyrics giving her pause, that and the second voice that could be heard singing along coming from under the hood . No one knows what its like to be the bad man to be the sad man behind blue eyes. Twilight eased ever closer to the truck glancing under the hood to see me, tool in hand, lost in the song as it played. and no one knows what its like to be hated to be fated to telling only lies. So engrossed was I in the song, and all the memories that it brought back. That I completely missed Twilight standing there staring at me. While I sang with all my heart to the song so many family and friends said fit me so well. but my dreams they arnt as empty as my conscience seems to be i have hours only lonely my love is vengeance that's never free. As Twilight stood there listening, tears began to well up in her eyes, only for her to jump when she felt something brush her leg. Only for her to look down to find Spike standing next to her, staring up at me as I continued the song completely unaware of my audience. no one know what its like to feel these felling's like I do and I blame you no one bites back as hard on their anger none of my pain, woe can show through Pretty soon I abandoned any pretense of trying to work on the truck, instead beating my hand on whatever I could to the beat of the song. Just letting whatever came flow out, as a few tears began to well up in my eyes. but my dreams they arnt as empty as my conscience seems to be i have hours only lonely my love is vengeance that's never free. discover l.i.m.p say it no one knows what its like to be mistreated to be defeated behind blue eyes no one knows how to say that there sorry and don't worry im not telling lies By this time tears were flowing freely down Twilights and Spikes faces as they watched me, while I kept my eyes closed focused on everything I was feeling and remembering. but my dreams they are just empty as my conscience seems to be i have hours only lonely my love is vengeance that's never free no one knows what its like to be the bad man to be the sad man behind blue eyes. As the song came to its end. I took a deep shuddering breath, and marshaled my thoughts. Then I leaned back and began to open my eyes, only to have them spring open in shock. As I was hug tackled from my left nearly knocking me off my feet, while the sound of sobbing filled my ears. Shocked and confused I looked down to find Twilights face buried in my chest as she cried, Spike doing the same with my side. I stood there shocked as they both continued to sob, too confused to actually make sense of this situation. After a few more minutes the waterworks dried up, and both Twilight and Spike look up at me with tear stained faces. "Now what's all this about?" I said as I wiped a tear from Twilights cheek and poped Spike on his chin making him look up at me with a grin. " Why are you two crying, surely it cant be from me singing?" "Do you really feel that way Travis?" Twilight said as tears threatened to flow once more from her eyes. With a tired smile I wiped the tears from her eyes with a gentle hand and said. "I often do yes, but its all right as long as I have you Twilight, and all your amazing friends to talk to." Twilights began to blush as she looked at me with surprise, then she looked down at the ground and whispered so quietly. "Do you really mean that?" "Of course I do Twilight." I said as I lifted her face to look me in the eye. "You and your friends have been so kind to me through all of this. You most of all Twilight, you were the kindest even when I was being an ass. And then to top it all off your letting me stay in your home." Twilight smiled at me and began to fiddle with her hands as her blush intensified as she said. "I was only doing what any good friend would do." Hearing this made me chuckle as I ruffled her mane, much to her distaste, as she batted my hands away playfully. Giggling like a little girl as she turned and flicked my nose with her tail. Breaking into a run to beat me to the door as I gave chase laughing all the way. Just as Twilight opened the door with her magic I struck, pouring on the speed catching her quickly and lifting her off her feet. My momentum carrying us through the door and onto a nearby couch, a laughing giggling mess. For a few minutes we stayed like that laughing and content as we were. Until Twilight decided to try and throw me off of her. Only for me to fall flat onto her, face first into her chest. For a long second everything was silent, while I sat there too stunned to move. Until I quickly pulled my face back and placed a hand on either side of Twilights head, Only to see her blushing like mad and her eyes as wide as saucers. "Twilight im so..." I began only to be interrupted mid sentence by the sound of the door flying open and another voice saying. "Hey Twilight have you seen...... Well well what have we here, is the egg head finally getting some?" Rainbow Dash said before she broke into hysterical laughter. As I tried my best to jump off Twilight and explain, only to fall backwards over the couch and slam my head on the ground. Making my vision swim, and the voices of the girls sluggish and distorted. While I simply stared at the ceiling and waited for the room to stop spinning. When everything quite spinning I rolled over and got on my knees and peeked over the couch. To see Rainbow Dash and Twilight having a hushed argument in the kitchen while spike was glaring at me. I kept glancing back and forth between the arguing mares and Spike, until Spike walked over to me and got right in my face and said. "Now you listen here buster, don't you be trying anything funny with Twilight, or you will have me to answer to." I simply stared at Spike like an idiot until realization dawned on me and my face began to burn, while I whispered to spike. "Hey I aint guna do nothin like that Spike. Twilight is my friend and what happened a minute ago was a complete accident. Wait how do you know about that you were outside?" "I came in with Rainbow Dash, and good thing I did too. So I could stop you from getting into any funny business with my sister." Spike said glaring at me with a look that could kill. Which was pretty impressive for him, considering he's a baby dragon and all. "Well I can assure you that I had no intention to do any such thing Spike, scouts honor." I said as I held up my hand like I was taking a solemn oath. Spike stared at me for a moment before he simply nodded and strolled past me and into the kitchen where Twilight and Rainbow Dash had finally quite their argument, though Twilights face was still fairly red. I cleared my throat nervously as I stood getting the girls attention, only to look away and blush like hell when Twilights eyes met mine. "im sorry Twilight, I didn't mean for that to happen." I said staring down at the floor nervously. "Now if you will excuse me I have something I need to take care of." With that said I spun around on my heals and disappeared out the door without a backwards glance, going where ever my feet would take me. Meanwhile Twilight stood staring at the door I just left through her mouth hanging open while she tried to figure out where it all went so wrong. "Geese what's his problem?" Rainbow said with a frown on her face as she stared at the door with a confused frown. "Ohh what did I do wrong, did I upset him? Did he think I was flirting with him?" Twilight said her voice dripping with worry her mind in overdrive trying to think. Until her eyes shrank to the size of pin pricks and she gasped in fear. "What if he doesn't want to be friends with me any more, did I just scare him away. Ohh what do I do my books didn't say anything about this." "Whoa hey Twilight calm down everything will be fine." Rainbow said as she ducked under the maelstrom of books flying through the air. As Twilight scanned their titles looking for something, only to stop when Rainbow Dash jumped into her line of sight getting smacked in the back of her head for her troubles. "Oww geese Twi calm down all right everything will be just fine." Rainbow Dash said leaning down to pick up the book that hit her. Only to stop and stare her mouth agape as she stared at the title. "Flirting and romance for dummies, a step by step guide to dating." She read out loud and looked up to see Twilights entire face a new shade of crimson. While the book disappeared out of Rainbow Dashes' hand, and reappeared in Twilights. Where it was promptly clutched to her chest defensively. "I don't know what to do." Twilight sobbed as she sank to the floor and cried, until she was quickly pulled into a hug by both Rainbow Dash and Spike. Spike held her whispering assurances to Twilight, while Rainbow Dash still tried to console her friend. But she couldn't help but feel this was her fault. Meanwhile I trudged on staring at the ground as I walked, too absorbed in my inner turmoil to pay attention to where I was going. That is until I ran into somebody knocking us both off our feet, making my head spin for the second time that day. A tired and frustrated groan sounded from whoever I hit making me sigh and say. "im so sorry I wasn't even paying attention to where I was going." "That's quite all right darling no harm done." Rarity said making me look up surprised, not expecting to run into her. And then my face went pale when I saw her fine black and white dress shirt covered in dirt along with her pants. "Ohh god Rarity I am so sorry." I said jumping to my feet and offering her a hand to pull her up, one she happily accepted. And began to dust herself off after she stood, only to have her eye and a ear twitch wildly for a second. When she realized exactly how dirty her clothes were. "Rarity im so sorry I didn't mean to, honest." I said trying to avoid the drama, and eventual melt down that would follow the fashionesta's soiled clothes. Only for me to do a double take and nearly fall of my feet when she said albeit, with a rather forced smile. "Don't worry about it darling, no harm done. Now come with me so we can discuss what has you so downtrodden, its the least you can do after all." Of course she didn't give me much choice, just grabbing my arm and dragging me to her boutique. Only releasing her death grip on my arm when were safely inside the boutique and she had locked the door. "So tell me darling what has you so depressed, and don't try and tell me its nothing." Rarity said over her shoulder as she went to the back. Reappearing moments later in a new set of clothes along with two steaming cups. One she quickly gave to me as she made herself comfortable on a couch. I glanced down at the cup and its honey colored contents, and then looked to Rarity questioningly. "Ohh its only tea darling now quite stalling and tell your dear friend Rarity what's bothering you." She said patting the spot beside her with her free hand, while she took a sip of tea. With a tired sigh a took the seat beside Rarity and began to tell her about my day. rather reluctantly at first, but once I got started it just all came out like a broken dam. "Well that certainly is a brain teaser isn't it?" Rarity said thoughtfully. "I believe the best course of action would be to spend some time to collect your thought's and then go talk to Twilight." I was just about to get up and thank Rarity, until a disgusted look crossed her face and she groaned saying. "But before we do anything we must get you cleaned up and in some new clothes, those things are absolutely atrocious." Rarity said pulling me to my feet and leading me up the stairs, and then promptly shoving me in a bathroom with a towel in hand before she closed the door. With a yet another sigh I resigned myself to my fate and pulled my shirt over my head, only to nearly jump out of my skin because of what I saw in the mirror. Where there should have been my reflection I saw my father. That is until I realized it was truly me, it had been so long since I shaved or looked in a mirror. I didn't even realize my beard had gotten so long, with thick black hair covering from my upper lip down, even going down onto my throat. As I stared at my reflection a few tears welled up in my eyes, as I remembered all the things my father and I went through together, the and the bad. But my trip down memory lane was a short one, since I was broken from my thoughts by a light knocking on the door before it was gently eased open. Allowing Rarity enough room to peek her head in and look at me. "Is everything alright darling, is something wrong." She said coming fully in the room to wipe the tears from my face when she saw them. "Travis, darling tell me what's wrong why are you crying." She said, almost begging making me chuckle softly as I wiped my eyes. "There is nothing wrong Rarity I promise." I said taking Rarity's hand in my own smiling. "I was simply surprised to see how much I look like my father is all." "How much you look like your father?" Rarity said slowly getting a nod yes from me. "Yea, just add a good number of years worth of stress and daily life and I would look just like him..... Oh how much I miss him, and everyone else back home." I said reaching into my back pocket and pulling out my wallet as tears threaten to flow again. After I wiped my eyes once more I opened my wallet and pulled out a picture of me and my family naming them in the order they appeared in the picture. "Starting from the left is my mom, the man next to her is my step dad, im standing next to him..." "With your father standing next to you." Rarity finished for me smiling up at me. "You have a beautiful family Travis." "Thanks Rarity." I said as I turned back towards the mirror running my hand through my beard absentmindedly. "Yell if you need anything darling ill be in my room down the hall if you need me." Rarity said as she began to back out of the room. "Wait Rarity actually you wouldn't happen to have a razor I could barrow would you?" I said sheepishly, getting a smile from Rarity as she came back into the room and sat me down on the edge of the tub and said. "As a matter of fact I don't darling. But I do know a spell that could be of use here so why don't you relax and let me give it a shot." I watched Rarity carefully as she began to examine my face, like one would a piece of art. Before her horn began to glow and a random breeze blew by. Caressing my chin, making me shiver from the odd sensation. With a satisfied smile Rarity stood back and motioned for me to look at the mirror. Which I quickly did, only to chuckle when I realized she trimmed it back down to the way it was when I got here. which would be short to the point where it looked like I just had a five o clock shadow. "I thought this look fit you most, it shows your age, while still presenting a hint of maturity." Rarity said as she left leaving me to take care of business. Which I did bathing fully, though the lavender and vanilla soaps were a little girly for my taste. They cut through any muck that may have been on my skin, leaving it smooth and clean once more. I quickly dried off and rapped a towel around my waste, poking my head out the door saying. "Rarity im finished you wouldn't happen to have a change of clothes for me would you?" "Indeed I would darling." I heard behind me, making me jump and yelp in surprise .Turning to see Rarity staring at me with a smile and even a faint sign of a blush on her cheeks as she handed me some clothes. Before she scampered off to her room and I put on the clothes she made for me, my only compliant being the shirt was a little big. "So what do you think?" Rarity said as I stepped out the bathroom. "I love them Rarity, they are almost exactly like the clothes that Luna burned up." I said, while Rarity beamed with pride. But her face fell a little as I continued. "My only compliant is the shirt is a little big." Pulling the shirt away from me to reveal a good inch of extra fabric. "Well you have lost a little weight since I made these." Rarity said looking me up and down. "This is true, but thank you so much and I cant even begin to think of ways to repay you." I said smiling only to have it waved off as I was walked to the door. "Think nothing of it darling think of it as a gift." Rarity said as she held the door open for me and motioned me through. "Still I owe you one Rarity." I said as I walked out and smile back at her as she waved and closed the door. 'Damn it feels good to be in my clothes again." I thought as I began to walk again with no destination in mind, though this time with my head up and smiling. As I walked I became lost in my thoughts, letting my feet take me where ever they will. When I dragged myself from my thoughts I found myself on the path leading to Fluttershys cottage. The thought of her brought a smile to my face, but it quickly turned to a frown when I realized I hadn't seen Fluttershy all week. And all the animals, even the cottage looked unkempt. Not ruined or anything but defiantly not as neat as Fluttershy kept it. Figuring a hello was long over due, and I should see how she was doing I walked up to the door. "Hey Fluttershy are you home?" I called as I gently knocked on the door. Only to have it ease open by itself and revealed the inside of the house to be in the same condition as the outside. There was a thin layer of dust visible on everything in the room, and what sounded like quite sobbing coming from upstairs. "Fluttershy im coming in." I hollered as I walked in and towards the stairs, the sobbing never stopping once. It only got louder as I walked up the stairs. Heading towards a closed door that sounded like its where the sobbing was coming from. "Flutteryshy can I come in? is everything alright?" I asked as I gently tapped on the door, hearing a squeak of surprise come from the other side of the door. Along with the sound of things rustling around, before the door was cracked open enough for Fluttershy to look at me with a blood shot eye. "Oh hello Travis how can I help you?" She said sniffling and wiping tears and ruined makeup from under the eye I could see. "Fluttershy can I come in please, I want to know what has you so upset?" I said as I leaned forward and gently grabbed her hand. "Please let me help you Fluttershy that's what friends are for." For a long moment we simply stared at one another before Fluttershy nodded yes and opened the door all the way. And the sight that greeted my eyes stopped me in my tracks, Fluttershy was standing at the foot of her bed wringing her hands nervously. Her cheeks were stained from hours of crying and her ruined make up, on the bed behind her lay a beautiful black dress. For a long moment I looked between Fluttershy and the dress confused, until she began to cry again and started to fall. Without thinking I shot forward and grabbed her mid fall, and gently eased her down to a kneeling position. "Why did he have to go? He was so kind and gentle for his size and he was so sweet to me." Fluttershy said between sobs into my shoulder. "But at least now he is free to be with his family. I knew he wouldn't leave me without a reason." Shortly after that Fluttershy dissolved into a incoherent mass of sobs and crys. While I sat there and let her cry on my shoulder until she was finished. A good couple of hours later found me tucking a exhausted Fluttershy into bed as the sun set. I looked back to make sure she was all right one last time before I left closing both doors securely. Ringing out my shirt as I walked and the sun sank below the horizon letting the moon take its place in the sky. Putting my shirt back on I began to jog towards a large hill overlooking Ponyvile, I had an appointment with a princess and it wouldn't look good if I was late. And then later on after that I needed to talk to Twilight. "One problem at a time" I chided myself with a laugh as I came to the hill and lay down to admire the stars and waite for my guest arrive.