//------------------------------// // I Will Try to Fix You // Story: Never Alone // by New Spark //------------------------------// ----------------------------------Both POVs------------------------------------------------------ Anguish was replaced by relief by the time that the pair stood up. “I almost gave up.” Soldier said. “Don’t you dare do that my fluffy fucking fighter,” Whirlwind replied. “But everything seemed so hopeless.” “That’s some of our lots in life. But I’ve seen you play Equestria Calling. You are a soldier and soldiers have to fight through the storm.” A small smile formed on Whirlwind’s face. “A first person shooter and war aren’t the same thing,” Soldier replied blankly. “But you’ve survived war, too. You’re a soldier. It’s even in your name.” “I wish. I’m not brave or strong or anything.” “Bravery isn’t about not having fear, it’s about living through it.” Cottoncandy gave a sad smile as he wrapped his wings around her. And they started crying again. “I don’t belong anywhere,” CS sobbed. “And how in the hay is that you fault?” Whirlwind asked. “Because I want to belong. I want to find peace and happiness and love but I can’t. Nothing works for me.” Whirlwind stroked Cotton’s soft mane. “Sometimes, finding happiness is hard. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.” “But I’m searching as hard as I can but I still can’t find it.” CS hated this life. It was dark and gray and horrible. He had tried so hard to find the good sides but couldn’t. He had lost his family, his friends, everyone. “I… I hope you do eventually find it. I think you will.” Whirlwind didn’t know what to say. She wanted so desperately to make everything better but she couldn’t. She wanted to say the perfect words, do the perfect thing that would just make the sweet peice of heaven in front of her feel better. But she couldn’t. “I wish… I wish I could just go somewhere better. Somewhere where everyone loves each other regardless of what he or she looks like or is interested in. A world without labels, a world with friendship.” “That sounds like old Equestria,” Whirlwind commented. “I wish I could go back in time and live there,” CS cried. “Baby, I wish that too. I wish that with all my heart. But we have to do the best with what we’ve been given darling. I wish it was not so, but it is.” Whirlwind was also crying now. She oh so wished her colt could be in the time and place he wanted to be in. To find the things he was looking for. “Whirlwind, I need somepony.” “I’ll try to be that somepony.” “You’ll try, but can you help me? My life is different from yours and I have to get through it alone.” “I’ll try to alleviate that loneliness as much as I can my sweet angel. I don’t know what the future will bring but I do know that I intend to never let you go.” “No one’s ever accepted me and the people who have are all now so far away. Even you.” “But the people who love you still love you.” “I’ll grow old and die alone, I know it.” “You know nothing for certain. Life is full of ups and downs. It gets better and it gets worse and it gets better again. And your life will get better again. “ “How do you know that?” “If we don’t have hope we have nothing.” “But it’s too hard,” CS sobbed. “Then find the hero that’s inside all of us, baby.” “I’m no hero.” “You’re my hero and you can be your own hero too.” “What if you can’t?” “I believe that you can, Cottoncandy Soldier. And you need to believe in yourself too.” “You sound so cheesy,” CS faintly smiled through the tears. “That’s how I think, you fluffy cyborg bunny.” Whirlwind also faintly smiled, not knowing whether her Cottoncandy was feeling a little better or not. And they embraced, talked, and cried with the rain pouring through the broken window. -- The two of them eventually decided that they had to cover up the window. CS had a tarp in his storage room which they put over it. Then they dried themselves off and started cleaning up. Whirlwind held up a piece of glass to the ceiling light, and watched as a rainbow emerged onto the floor. “Look, CS, isn’t it beautiful?” “Yeah,” he replied, still somewhat sad. “It could be said that life is like that. A thing of pain could bring a thing of beauty.” Whirlwind had always contemplated things like that. “Yeah, maybe.” “And sometimes, something that looks like a broken piece of junk could be hiding a rainbow.” -- Soon enough, the kitchen was cleared up and the two were in CF’s living room. “That thing your boss did? It was pure evil,” Whirlwind stated coldly. “Yeah, you’ve gotta work hard but who the hell chews the fuck out of a child during his first month? You were doing your best and screaming and threatening never ever helps anyone learn.” If this is the way adults behave, then this world is truely fucked.” “But this is what I have to deal with every day, Whirlwind,” Cotton replied, tears reforming in his eyes. “He deserves a really bad beating. That’s cruel, unusual, unfair, and downright dictatorial!”Whirlwind was fucking mad at this slave-driver who made her friend feel worthless. She was fucking mad. “It’s not like we can do anything about that,” Cotton replied hopelessly. “But that doesn’t change the fact that they are the problem, not you. You tried your best and he was being unreasonable.” “The world is filled with people like that, and you just have to bear through it.” CS rested his head on Whirlwind's chest. “But never forget your worth. You’re not a worthless waste of space, they’re unfair roadblocks to freedom. Don’t you ever forget that.” “But everyone’s like that, always looking out for themselves and no-one else, always caring about nothing except getting ahead in life, never being fair.” “That’s the problem with this age. If Celestia, Luna, Cadence and Twilight were here, this wouldn’t be the case. There would be freedom, love, and camaraderie.” Whirlwind wished she’d lived in the past. “But they’ve been gone for decades, ever since the Tree of harmony died.” “That’s the problem, CS. That’s why society spiralled out of control into this fascist piece of shit.” “Well, it’s not as bad as you say it is,” CS said. “It’s bad enough for good people to be forced to surrender. Never forget your worth, though. No matter what anyone says or does.” CS began to tear up again, and Whirlwind thought that now would be a good time to change the topic. “I’ve always wanted you to teach me how to play Equestria Calling,” Whirlwind said as she took his hand. “I’m probably a fucking noob, though.” “Well, by the time I’m done with you you won’t be one anymore,” Cottoncandy said, smiling at her. Cottoncandy got the game ready and started explaining it to her. It was pretty much a war game, and you were a foot soldier, that much Whirlwind already knew, but she had no idea of anything else. Cottoncandy guided her through it, but guess what? She was still a fucking noob! “I knew you’d be bad, but I never thought you’d be this bad!” CS laughed. “Hey cut me some slack, this is literally my first time!” Whirlwind laughed back. CS was feeling a lot better now. He was not even close to fixed, and the bittersweet misery was still in him. But Friendship. That was a life changing force. --------------------------------------Whirlwind’s POV---------------------------------------------------- They were dancing to music playing on CS’s phone now. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Whirlwind loved dancing and twirling to the beat, and loved being with Cottoncandy. He felt like, well, cotton candy. Soft and sweet, melting on your tongue, fluffy, filled with sugary goodness that could make you smile and feel warm inside. He was shaking and twirling to the notes that drifted in the air. Sometimes he’d join hooves with her and they’d spin and twirl together. He seemed much better, but honestly, how much better can a person be when not even twelve hours had passed. Well, at least it was helping. It brought her so much joy to see this sweet colt dancing around happily. -------------------------------------------Both POVs---------------------------------------------------- “Maybe you should sleep at your parents’ house today. I’d never be aloud to sleep at a boy’s house and you can’t sleep alone tonight.” Whirlwind had noticed that it was getting pretty late. "I'm twenty. I'd be a pussy if I went running back to them every time I cried," Soldier said. "This is where our thoughts differ. You may be twenty but you're still their son. You were their son before you were born and you will be their son when you're thirty, forty, fifty or a hundred, you'll still be their son. Going to them for protection or help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of love," Whirlwind wished Candy could just let people help him. "But I shouldn't need protection at this point." "Everyone needs protection. And your parents are the best people who can give it to you. Just listen to me this once." “Okay," Cs said, giving in, "My parents’ house is an hour’s drive away,” CS said, “We’d have to drive a long time.” “Well, I love driving with you. Let’s go there and then by then it would be pretty late so I guess I’ll just have to sleep over.” “Are you sure your parents would allow that?” “It’s Sunday tomorrow so probably, though I’ll have to check with my mom.” “Then call her.” And a short phone call later they were on their way. The night was so beautiful, as nights tend to be. The air that rushed in through the windows was sweet and cool and the music that played on the radio, though all meaningless party songs, were melodious and relaxing. The two of them talked and talked and talked. They talked about video games and TV shows and books and movies. They talked about politics and the economy and the environment. They made up fantasy stories where they were transported into other, better worlds where the could live their lives in peace. -- CS’s parents were quite surprised to see their son and Whirlwind show up at their door. “Hi, we’re gonna be sleeping here tonight. There have been some … problems,” CS said. “Um, sure son,” the golden-coated pegasus mare who was a totally awesome mom replied, slightly confused.