Ch. 26 - A Wheel Drag
“GAWK!”
Painwheel jumped backwards, the Buar Drive spinning up. Her red and black eyes wide, darting around the large crowd. Sweat dripped down her brow.
Her heart raced, muscles tensed. Coiling thorns inside her body wriggled excitedly, digging into muscle. Adrenaline flooded her system, preparing fatigued muscles for flight. Or a fight.
“Heavens dear, it's alright!” Rarity jumped from the crowd and approached the human, cooing softly. She wore a beautiful dress of her own design. A single lock of hair was out of place. She ignored it. “Painwheel sweetie, it's just a party. You're safe.”
“S-s-safe?” Painwheel stuttered, eying the assembled ponies. A few near the front of the pack looked on with unease, but they visibly relaxed when Painwheel stopped the blade spinning. She even spotted a few that dug hooves uncomfortably into their ears, wincing. Painwheel breathed rapidly, arms splayed out and knees bent. She looked to Rarity.
“Yes, dear, you're perfectly safe here,” Rarity repeated, placing a hoof gently on Painwheel's shoulder. The hoof specifically avoided touching the prominent nail-like protrusions. “Sorry for startling you. Somepony...” She looked back to the crowd, spotting a particular pink ball of fur. She scowled, “...decided to turn this into a surprise party...that you were already aware of...” Rarity began cursing under her breath, “Really, of all the...”
“Ah told ya that was a dang fool idea,” Applejack said, looking down upon the resident party pony as the latter slunk down to the ground. As if to accentuate the point, Applejack konked her on the head.
“Ouch!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, rubbing her noggin. She smiled sheepishly. “He he, sorry!”
“For the sake of our friendship, Pinkie, I'm going to chalk up that little faux pax to having spent so little time with our special guest,” Rarity continued, wrapping a foreleg around Painwheel's trembling arm. “Otherwise you would know how high strung she was.”
“Yeah...oops...” Pinkie Pie said, eyes downcast. Her hair threatened to deflate at the rate she was going.
“...um, it's alright...” Painwheel said, finally collecting herself and standing upright. She waved a hand out. “Really.”
“R-really?” Pinkie said, sniffing. “You mean it?”
“...I...guess?”
“Then let's get this party back on!” Pinkie shouted, leaping to her hooves with a new spring in her step. Nopony noticed it made Painwheel flinch slightly. “Music back on!”
The entire crowd, watching curiously at the exchange, resumed their revelry. In the distance, a unicorn wearing sunglasses at night placed records on the table and struck the hall up with a dance tune. The unicorn bobbed her head to the beat, smiling all the way.
“Well, darling, shall we take advantage of your fashionably late arrival?” Rarity asked, hugging the human's arm.
Painwheel gulped, looking around uneasily.
“Don't worry, we've already informed everypony present that you are not to be swamped.” Rarity smiled, patting Painwheel's hand gingerly. “How about it?”
The human looked over to Spike, who already shoveled appetizers into his mouth. He looked back at her, guilty expression on his face, but Painwheel just frowned doubtfully. She looked at her feet, then inhaled; exhaled. “...okay...”
Two Years Ago
Carol nursed punch quietly, doing what she always did at parties: support the wall. In large numbers, her fellow students danced and mingled while a jazz band played.
She fidgeted in place. She thought sadly, what am I doing here? I should just leave already.
“Mind if I join you?”
It took a second for Carol to realize the question addressed her. “Huh? What?” she said quizzically.
One of her classmates stood nearby, leaning forward, hands clasped behind her back. She smiled warmly, long blonde hair hanging from her upturned face. “I asked if I could join you, sitting against the wall. I hope you don't mind.”
“Oh, no, I don't mind,” Carol said, shaking her head fiercely. Side-stepping to make room, she kept her eyes fixed on the girl.
“Thanks,” the girl said, face beaming. Her shapely chassis leaned against the free section of wall. “I thought it would be better, but this party turned out to be a bit of a drag.” She cupped the back of her head with a hand, and sighed. “And from the looks of it, you aren't enjoying it either, right?”
“Um...no, not really,” Carol admitted, staring down into her punch glass.
“Thought so.” The girl looked towards the dancing throng. Upbeat tunes blasted from the band's instruments, sending couples into Lindy Hops and Charlestons and even one or two tangos. Anyone present who wasn't dancing was packed into tight circles of gossip. Noisy gossip. Unless they were at the wall, and alone like Carol. At least until this girl arrived. She turned back towards Carol, catching the wallflower in the middle of staring, “say, you want to ditch this joint? My dogs are barking from all the standing...and uh...” The girl leaned close, glancing around for eavesdroppers, “...between you, me, and the wall, I'm kind of sick of talking like a flapper. Can't a girl just speak English, am I right?”
“He he, yeah,” Carol said, finally cracking a smile. “I'd be happy to go. I was just thinking of leaving myself.” Another look down at her drink, which she just decided to chug in one go.
“That's the ticket,” the girl giggled, hooking an arm under Carol's. When this elicited a squeak from Carol, the girl tugged gently. “Don't worry, I'm not taking you for a ride or anything, except in the literal way. I got a jitney waiting outside.”
“A what?”
“It's a car. Don't worry, I didn't get that for a while either.”
As the girl led her towards the door, Carol felt a number of eyes watching her. The girl seemed to notice it too, and looked over her shoulder towards the crowd. A grave expression flashed briefly across her face.
Carol looked back as well, noting how a number of students were all collectively avoiding looking at the two. “Uh...”
“Just some gawkers,” the girl said, smile returning to her face, “pay them no mind. They won't bother us. So...where you want to go?”
“...um...Shell Beach?”
“Sounds great!” the girl said, sounding unusually but sincerely happy. “Hey, what's your name?”
“Carol. My name is Carol.”
“Filia,” the girl said, opening the door to let the two young ladies leave.
“Filia...” Carol said, eyes going wide as mental connections snapped into place. “F-Filia M-Medici?”
“...if you don't mind,” the girl said, looking sidelong towards Carol, “can I just be Filia? Is that okay?”
“...okay!” Carol smiled, clutching Filia's arm harder. “Nice to meet you, Filia!” Carol never felt happier to leave a party.
Present Day
Painwheel never felt more apprehensive entering a party.
Then again, she hardly remembered actually walking into the heart of a party.
“This is Mister and Missus Cake,” Rarity said, holding Painwheel's arm. “They run Sugarcube Corner. It's that lovely sweets shop the party was going to be held in until recently.”
“Hello,” Painwheel said in a gravely tone, bowing despite her sore and parasite-ridden back.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Painwheel,” Mr. Cake said, visibly relaxing. If he was put off by Painwheel's appearance, her politeness put him at ease. “Right, honey?”
“Oh yes, it's an absolute pleasure,” Mrs. Cake said, nodding. “Pinkie Pie told us so much about you.”
“Really?” Painwheel asked, confused.
“Oh yes, she works for us, and couldn't stop talking about how excited she was for this party.”
“Some would say a little too excited,” Mr. Cake said, “nearly impossible to get the little ones to nap with all her talking. Even more than usual.”
“By the way, Wheelie!” Pinkie Pie said, cartwheeling into view, a move that made the human flinch. “Do you like the pinwheels? I thought I had enough, but then we changed venues and I had to buy a gazillion more on short notice to fill out the space.”
For the first time, Painwheel examined the surroundings aside from the mass of ponies. Aside from streamers and such standard fare for parties, the meeting hall was absolutely bedecked in pinwheels. Pinwheels on walls, pinwheels on tables, pinwheels hanging from the ceiling. Pinwheels of many sizes and colors. Of pinwheels, no shortage existed.
And then there were the flowers. Galax, Statice, Wisteria, and Yellow Roses* stood out the most of the multitude of flowers likely chosen arbitrarily. Points for effort, if nothing else. “Hmm...”
“Oh, I'm just glad we could still cater this shindig,” Mrs. Cake said, giggling. “It was a miracle getting all the food baked, though. Double the original amount, and we're still running low.”
“At least we won't have to clean this one up,” Mr. Cake added, elbowing his wife in the side. “Eh? Eh?” The two laughed.
Painwheel felt a pang of sadness in her heart. These two were parents. Further, they reminded her a bit of her own parents.
“Speaking of food!” Pinkie Pie said, hopping back into view. Painwheel hadn't even seen her leave. The earth pony balanced a plate of colorful pink-and-white cake. She grabbed it with her hooves, stretching it towards the human. “Have some cake, Wheelie. I know you'll love it! It's a Cake cake!”
Oh brother, Painwheel thought, but took the cake nonetheless. She'd been impolite enough throughout her stay in Ponyville, justified though she was. Moreover, the cake made her mouth water. Watching Pinkie Pie stand there, holding out the plate, smiling expectantly, Painwheel's hands could do little but seize the confection. “T-thank you,” Painwheel said, scarcely waiting before breaking off a piece and stuffing it into her mouth.
“So? How is it?”
Painwheel had no words. Lucky break, since she wouldn't talk with her mouth full regardless. She merely shut her weary eyes and let pure taste envelope her. Allow her to experience something...other than the pain for once.
“I think she likes it,” Rarity chimed in, noting Painwheel's blissful expression.
Heaven.
He's late, it thought.
It waited in the dark, as it had for time untold. Ages upon ages, year after year. No true measure of time, in absolute terms. Just it and the empty shadows.
To live forever in shadow would once have appealed to the being. How naïve it had been, mistaking shadows for True Darkness. Lonely darkness.
He's late, it thought. I know not by how long, but he's terribly late.
It sighed; a rogue echo rebounded across the walls of its prison. Once upon an age, it tried to entertain itself by bouncing echos against the walls. As is appropriate for such extended internments, of course, conversations with a mirror of oneself prove very quickly boring.
How it wished a being like itself could stare into the unchanging dark long enough to start hallucinating. Like the old philosopher ponies used to do. But it had no eyes, in the traditional sense.
He's late, it thought.
Hell.
“Do those nails hurt?”
“Yes, but they're not-”
“Was the monster as scary up close at it sounded?”
“It was-”
“Are you going to be the new guardian of Ponyville?”
“I don't think-”
“Where do you come from?”
“I-”
“Are there going to be any more monsters showing up?”
“My friend wanted to know if that buzz-saw could cut through steel.”
“Would you be interested in a modeling contract?”
Whatever apprehension kept them at bay earlier broke down shortly after she met the Cakes. Now Painwheel was swamped by curious ponies.
They were invading her personal space. Her heart raced and muscles tensed; she ended up grunting and flinching as stress pain racked her arms and legs.
“P-please...can you all just...back up...please?” Painwheel stammered, choking back pained grunts. Sweat rolled down her skin, and she found herself retreating more and more, wrapping trembling hands around her arms and dipping low. “R-Rarity? Where are you?”
“Excuse me.”
Few realized it when Fluttershy flapped into view, flying over the heads of some ponies and landing as close to Painwheel as she could.
“Where did you get that dress?”
“Um, if I could have everypony's attention,” Fluttershy said softly.
“Why are your eyes that color?”
“I don't think you all should be crowding her like that.”
“Can I get your autograph?”
“Stop!”
The small crowd of ponies halted, looking towards the yellow pegasus who had yelled...softly, somehow. Painwheel looked to Fluttershy, body shaking.
“Now everypony, I know you have a lot to ask,” Fluttershy said, moving towards Painwheel. Ponies politely parted for the pegasus. “But you're making Painwheel very uncomfortable. Trust me, I know.” Fluttershy placed a hoof lightly onto the flat of one of the Buar Drive's blades. “We should all leave her alone now, so she has time to breath. Can you all do that?” She smiled warmly. “Pretty please?”
The assembled ponies looked to each other, then quietly dispersed, save for a few who muttered barely audible apologies to Painwheel as they passed.
Painwheel breathed a sigh of relief. “T-thank you.”
“Oh, it's really nothing,” Fluttershy said, shaking her head. “I mean, I guess it was a little intense to stand up to everypony and say that, but...but I really do know how it feels.”
“Punch?”
Fluttershy squeaked, falling over. Painwheel looked over her shoulder, seeing Pinkie Pie with a tray of punch glasses balanced on her fluffy tangle of a mane.
“...sure?” Painwheel responded, taking the offered punch glass. “Um, if you two don't mind...I'd like to be alone for...a few minutes...” She sipped from the glass – lemony sweet – and made for the nearest wall. Her sore feet reduced her to a hobbling gait.
So tired, she thought, politely waving to party guests as she shuffled. I just hope that was the worst of it. That these ponies decide to leave me be, finally.
“Where is she?”
Twilight Sparkle looked up from the punch bowl, startled. “Bwha?”
“The human!” Lyra said, dancing excitedly in place. A wide, toothy smile extended across her face, her eyes locked on the alicorn princess. “I can't wait to see her!”