//------------------------------// // An Ill-Deserved Vacation // Story: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic -- Off The Record // by The King of Hearts //------------------------------// //// An Ill-Deserved Vacation //// “Are you sure about this?” Spike asked Alex, as he finished packing his bag, “I mean… I know what she did was horrible. But we still need you here!” “What for?” Alex asked rather abruptly, sending Spike back an inch, “You don’t need me to be around for anything until everypony faces their dark sides, right?” “Well…” Twilight sighed, averting her gaze from the furious stallion, “He hadn’t seen his family in a few years, right Spike?” “I guess so…” Spike exhaled, as Alex walked toward the door with his bag. “Thank you guys for putting me up for the last week,” Alex said, looking at the clock on the wall, “Rainbow Dash is leaving for Manehattan in a few hours, right?” “You should go see her!” Spike announced, before instantly regretting it, “I mean…” “No,” Alex said, with a sharp edge to his words, “She won’t be seeing any of me for the next few months.” It was painful for Twilight and Spike to hear his utter these words, considering how happy he had been just a few weeks ago, when the two of them were finally reunited after so long in solitude. His heart had been smashed, but he refused to show it to anypony. “How do you even plan on getting back?” Spike asked, remembering that it took The Doctor and the TARDIS to take him between dimensions, “Do you know the magic?” Alex only nodded. Neither of them knew what to say. “I’ll probably stay for a week or two… Which will translate to a month or so back here.” Alex said over his shoulder, “I’ll see you guys then.” And with nothing more, Alex left the room, and shortly after, the library. The three ponies in the house all let out a sad sigh. These past few days had been truly horrible for everypony, and despite how terrible it seemed, they were all happy to rid of the bundle of tension they were sharing the house with. “I hope he’s okay.” Spike said simply. Twilight wanted to add something, but didn’t want to spend any time bashing her friend Rainbow Dash within the earshot of the ponies in this house. She would keep it to herself. “When is Rainbow Dash due to be inducted in to the Wonderbolts?” Alpha asked, cautiously entering the room. “I have no idea,” Spike shook his head. “I didn’t bother looking in to it,” Twilight added. “Are you going to go to the ceremony?” Alpha asked next, feeling fairly confident in what the answers would be. “I don’t know.” They both answered together, confirming his suspicion. “I… need to get back to the boutique,” Spike sighed, walking past his friends, “I’ll see you guys later.” They both only nodded. The tension was too much for him… and as bad as he sounded for it, he just wanted to go home and be loved by Rarity. It would perk up this mood the entire town seemed to be putting him in. //// “The train destined for Manehattan will be leaving shortly, please load your baggage and find your assigned seats,” The announcer repeated, as the final passenger stood outside the train, waiting on the platform. Rainbow Dash stood, watching the entrance to the platform intently, desperately hoping that at least one of her friends would arrive to see her off. None of them had said a word to her since she had confessed her dark secret to them… and she didn’t blame any of them for it. But, a small part of her wanted nothing more than for her friends to walk through the door, and wish her good luck on the journey she didn’t even want to make. What she wouldn’t give to see Alex, just one final time, and apologize for what she had done. But she wouldn’t get the chance. He had obviously found out one way or another, and had followed it up with avoiding her like the plague. He would confront her when the time was right… Whether she was a Wonderbolt when that time came around was still to be seen. “This is the final call for the train destined for Manehattan, please load your baggage and find your assigned seats.” The announcer said for the final time. Dash felt her eyes fill with tears, as the realization of what she had done sunk in further than it already had. Nopony wanted to see her. She had ruined every friendship she had in Ponyville. She was a monster. And it was because of that, she had sent her letter of resignation to Princess Celestia, and decided to make this move. She couldn’t ever face her friends again. Looking to the train, she lowered her head, lifted her bag off the ground, and tossed it in the side compartment. Sighing, she stepped inside of the open door immediately to her left, and proceeded to her seat, finding it instantly. Seating herself, she idly fiddled with her hooves, as the engine roared to life, and everypony was asked to remain seated. Slowly, they started to depart from the station, rolling past the sprawling platform. Glancing out the window one final time, Dash felt her heart leap as she made eye contact with a white stallion, standing next to the entrance on the opposite side of the building. He was far, and there were ponies passing between them. But she would know that massive gray spot across the small section of his chest anywhere. His face told her everything she needed to hear. He was broken. And she had done that to him. It was there that she realized, that seeing him on her way out only made things a million times worse for her. That is what she had given up. That which she had fought so hard for. “I love you, Alex…” She muttered as the train passed out from the platform, and out in to rural country. It was the last she would be seeing of him for a long, long time. //// Alex sighed, walking out the door, and away from the trains. He had decided, against his better judgment, to see her one final time before he left. When he had told his friends that he was going for a week or two, he had been lying. He wasn’t planning on coming back until they came looking for him, to help fight their ‘ultimate’ enemy. That would be it. Then he would be back on earth. He was done with Equestria. A spark escaped from his horn, as the energy he had been amassing for the past few hours started to pour from his head, and surround his body. The world around him started to warp, as the chaotic power engulfed the entire area around him, shifting the colors of the darkening, and splitting every ray of light in to a spectrum of colors. Colors. Growling, Alex let out all of the anger he had been keeping inside of him, as the remaining power blasted out around him, sending massive gusts out in all directions. “God Dammit Colors!” Alex shouted, as a spike of lightning shot up in to the sky, and filled the town with a blinding light that was even seen by the rainbow Pegasus on a train outside of town. When the light faded, all that remained was a black patch on the ground. He was gone home.