//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: The Price of Failure // by Humanity //------------------------------// I just don’t get it... What’s gotten into Rainbow Dash?! Why would she joke about something like that? I saw James this morning and he was just fine then! I know Rainbow Dash likes to joke around with me, but to even make one of those little pamphlets for a funeral? What, did she lose a bet to do something that mean? At least the rain stopped when I left Sweet Apple Acres to go home. I was so sure we’d get our cutie marks as ventriloquists... Man, it feels like I’ll never get my cutie mark at this rate... No! I know I can! I mean my big brother got his only a week after he first met us! If he can do it, so can I! When I got home... You know. Fluttershy’s place. The whole place felt...way too quiet. None of the birds were singing after the rain stopped. I didn’t see any of our little furry neighbors running around. Well, maybe they were just staying out of the rain thinking it might start up again. I didn’t want to get wet either, so I went inside. It was kinda dark. Did Fluttershy not come home yet? I flipped on the closest light switch and called out for her. “Fluttershy! James! I’m home!” I waited a few seconds. Something was weird here. Whenever I call for him, I always hear James’ footsteps somewhere in the house. But I didn’t hear anything. “Huh? Hey, James! You home?! How was Canterlot?! Everything turn out OK?! Are we gonna get more chocolate milk rain today?!” Still nothing. Oh well. I went to the kitchen and opened up the fridge. I had put out some buckets to catch some of that weird chocolate milk that was raining yesterday and got a good amount. I stuck a straw in and slurped it up. Yummy! When I had enough, I went upstairs. Maybe they were taking a nap. “James? Fluttershy? Are you... Huh?” I didn’t see James anywhere, but I saw Fluttershy lying on her bed. Looked like she was asleep, but I was getting hungry. I better wake her up to make dinner. “Fluttershy? I’m kinda hungry. What’s for dinner?” I asked her before going around to the other side. “Are you awake? Is James gonna...” She was awake. But she wasn’t moving. All she did was look at me with...really sad eyes. Had she been crying? “Fluttershy...? Are you...OK?” “Please... Leave me alone... I’m sorry...” She sounded so tired. Like... I don’t know. It was kinda scary to see her like that. Fluttershy’s really nice and sweet, but really shy too. But... What happened to her? “Uh... OK, I’ll leave you alone. But is James home yet?” She didn’t even say anything to that. She just buried her face in her pillow and shivered really hard. I left Fluttershy alone after that. But I was still hungry, so I made myself a daisy and grass sandwich with honey mustard. I used to live by myself, so I know a bit about making food. I sat on the sofa in the living room while I ate. It was really quiet except for the sound of the rain again. The thunder and lightning flashes didn’t bother me. But...I felt really lonely. I looked over at the corner behind the sofa. James’ big wooden sword was leaning up against it. Apple Bloom put a lot of work into making it. I forget what kind of wood she used, but she said it was really strong. I’ve seen James swing it around a few times. He really likes it. I just wish he was there with me. While I ate, I felt something land on my head. It was Angela, James’ pet dove. “Oh... Hey there, Angela. Have you seen James?” She hopped down and cooed really sadly while nuzzling me. She looked pretty lonely too. “Yeah, I miss him too... I wish I knew what was keeping him. I wanna go over to Sugarcube Corner for some milkshakes with him tomorrow after school. Wanna come?” Angela cooed pretty loudly while she tried to preen me. She then hopped on my back and started dragging her beak through my feathers. She does that sometimes. I don’t think I really need it, but Angela likes to preen my wings. I smiled at her. She’s such a good bird. I took a shower a little later and got in bed. That’s where I’m writing this from. But Fluttershy never moved from her bed. It... I was really worried for her. Would she be OK after a good night sleep? Well, I’m all snuggled and tucked in now. But I’m not going to sleep yet. I wanna wait for James to say goodnight first. It’s kind of...creepy with all this really gloomy weather and he’s still not around. I really miss him. I know he’s my big brother even though he adopted me, but... I can’t believe I’m admitting this, but he’s the closest thing to a dad I’ve ever known. I know I don’t show it much and I really try to hide it when I’m outside with him in Ponyville, but I really love him. I don’t know what I’d do without him... Hey, maybe I’ll show him this when he gets home! He’ll probably feel all warm and fuzzy when he reads it. It’s been an hour now. Still no sign of him. Maybe he’ll kiss me on the head goodnight. Or maybe he’ll tell another bedtime story. Which one though? Is it gonna be about that little pink round guy that swallows things to get crazy awesome abilities and that blue round guy with the mask who has bat wings and swings a sword faster than sound? Or maybe about that story of the guy in blue armor who shoots fire and all sorts of things from his arm and the red guy with long blond hair who uses a sword with a blade of green light? Oh, or that one about the guy who throws a boomerang with his little pink flying cat who’s really a baby dragon? Man, I can’t imagine Spike looking like a purple cat with wings. He’d probably hate being that cute. It’s almost midnight... But I still don’t hear him. I’m so tired though... James, where are you? Come home, big brother. I wanna see you before I go to sleep. Just a little longer...