Chapter 5 The Eyes can Elude us to What’s Really There
Ponyville Street:
Chai was flustered, an emotion she had not known to exist in her life. This unicorn made her feel… something. It was strange, he was no different than any other pony around her, but yet, he felt familiar to her.
Even with her eyes close, she could see his life force outlining a somewhat familiar figure to her. Details were lost to Chai, but that was the price to pay for wider range of detection. Fortunate too, since she detected a another pony hiding in the same alleyway where the colt came from.
Reaching out for her glasses, they were quickly levitated by the unicorn. So you sneeze at me and now you’re taking my glasses, Chai thought dryly while trying to be polite to get her glasses back.
Chai didn’t understand why he wouldn’t give her frames back, until he pointed out her mistake. “You know, for a pony who has her eyes closed; you’re doing surprisingly well.” Normal ponies couldn’t see with their eyes closed.
I’m an idiot, she thought, standing stock still, even though her hoof felt twitchy. It continued like that, until he told her why he was annoyed.
“Gah, that politeness. It feels forced, weird even … and didn’t I say not to call me ‘sir?’” he said angrily. “Here’s your glasses”. He levitated her frames back, and she grabbed them using her injured hoof.
Chai cringed at that, she truly thought she did everything right. After all, she could adapt to any situation; so why should this be any different. A change in action then, she thought, calculating as her voice changed in tone.
“Well then, what else would you like me to call you? I presume you have a name, correct?” Chai said in a business-like fashion. If this stallion wanted rudeness, then she’d give him that.
She opened her eyes to look at him, only to freeze up at the sight of him. He was definitely a unicorn, but she definitely felt like she knew him. She felt her body go cold and heat up at the same time, and her chest fluttered.
“I’m… Neon… Neon Lights,” he said, staring at her, making her hold her breath in a nervous anticipation. It’s you, I can’t forget those big, blue eyes.
“I’m Chai Tea,” she said softly, not attempting to be too quiet, and praying to something that he didn’t remember her.
He stared, as she nervously flicked her tail just to distract herself from the unicorn. The seconds felt like hours to her, and his face looked pensive. Biting the inside of her cheek to dispel her hesitation, she intensely posed a question.
“I haven’t seen you here before, are you new to the area?” she asked, feeling robotic, not sure what else to really say. However, being ever-curious, she took a good look at him. He was a head shorter than her, and had a messy, spiky hairstyle.
He snapped out of his trance and replied.
“No. I’ve been to Ponyville plenty of times, I’m just moving in now,” he stuttered out, his hoof rubbing the back of his head. “Um, sorry for being rude to you,” Neon mumbled.
Chai’s eyes narrowed at the unicorn.
“What’s wrong with you?” demanded Chai, startling the unicorn.
“Wha–”
“First you tried to be charming, then you question me like a criminal! Have you no shame for yourself, acting so callously to someone you don’t know?” her anger flared out, as the snow around her melted. “I was being polite, but obviously you can’t appreciate that!” She looked down, peering at his eyes. His ears folded back, his body retreating to the ground.
To an onlooker it looked like a fight between a wolf and a house cat.
She could see the hesitation in his eyes before a spark lit up. Neon’s posture straightened, his face determined.
“Because I hate facade, I get enough of that from Canterlot,” he yelled, “I don’t want it here. Besides, you don’t have to put up a front for anypony, and you have really pretty eyes.” His face was inches away from hers.
Chai’s eyes widened, her feelings were unbound by a colt, and on top of that, she let her anger blind her from feeling the broken illusion spell. Her eyes snapped close, her mind overloaded with thoughts.
Her logic kicked in as a plan formed in her mind. “I have a medical condition that makes me wear these,” the lie rolled off from her tongue easily, “it’s a very sensitive matter for me and I would be thankful if you forgot about this,” Chai said, making sure she got full eye contact.
There was a long pause as his eyes glazed over. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” Neon said. Chai closed her eyes; smiling inwardly at her victory. “But I’d rather see your beautiful eyes just the way you are,” he said, sounding rather cheeky. Leaning towards her ear, he spoke quietly. “It would be a shame to hide them.”
Chai’s body moved, her foreleg pushing him back. Her face scrunched up as she splayed her ears back. She felt the ground around her squish from her step. A faint smell from him caught her nose’s tension.
By the pits of Hades! Why didn’t hypnosis work!? … wait a minute, that smell. He’s an alcoholic!
Neon sighed, “Well shit, you’re a virgin”. He leaned back from her, sounding disappointed.
Chai took a risk and opened one of her eyes. He was staring at her, his eyebrows raised. She quickly shut her eyes, making him sigh again along with a chuckle.
“You know, it’s kind of pointless to hide like that,” he said, giving her some space. I mean there’s nothing to be ashamed about them.” A hoof lifted towards her. “C’mon let me see them, beautiful.” Chai turned her head away from him. “Hey… why won’t you look at me?”
Chai stood silent, ruminating over her situation. He caught her off guard, saw her eyes, and was once someone that she knew.
She pondered, slumping her body, trying to not look at him. It was unfortunate that she was taller than him, since it only made her more level to his head.
“Achoo”! Her eyes flew open. Neon ran his hoof across his nose, a trail of slime following along.
Chai could see a red tint in his cheek, along with the partially frozen clothes. She had to do something.
Jumping on top of him, Chai shouted, “Why are you wearing frozen clothes?! You could catch a cold like that!” Her hooves acted without command as a tearing sound echo throughout the courtyard.
“The fuck?” Neon yelped, “that’s my T-shirt that you're ripping!” His hooves went frantic, trying to get his shirt back, but she wouldn't let him; his torn shirt thrown aside.
“Well I’m sorry for your loss, but you should take care of your health first," she replied sternly, her hoof now placed on his cheek. He was running a fever. Neon’s eyes widened at the contact before he started to grin.
"Well, at least buy me dinner first before you take care of me, then." His brow wiggled at her suggestively. If he stays out here for much longer he’s going to catch pneumonia. Wait, my enchanted scarf! But first. “Sure, how about vegetable soup. That should help you with your cold.” Her head dashed into her bag, looking for the item. Half of her body was submerged in it. “I’ll deliver it myself.” There was a warm heat behind her.
“That’s not what I meant, and is that an enchanted bag? Wow! I only ever seen these used in Canterlot banks,” she heard Neon call, his tone rather surprised at the last statement. At this point she didn’t care about keeping normalcy anymore.
“Yes, it is. Now let me concentrate, please,” she said, her tail pressing into her thighs.
While enchanted bags are useful in collecting items, they were not very practical for keeping them organized. Random items floated in the magically created space, leading Chai to be frustrated at not finding the scarf.
Where is it… There! she thought, moving aside a box labeled Himalayan Honey. Next to an old Swiss Army knife was a pure-white scarf. It looked hoof-made by skilled hooves, or, in this case, hands as she knew it.
Eyes softening, she placed a gentle hoof on the wool, feeling its soft texture. Chai’s muzzle inched closer to the item, and she gently held the scarf in her mouth.
~Poke poke~ Teeth clenching at the scarf, her pupils shrank as her body reacted accordingly. “What are you lo–” a hoof connected to his chest, throwing him back to the ground, her left back leg pinning him. Surprisingly, he didn’t struggle, it was almost like he was…
No! Chai’s leg retreated back from him as her body exited the bag. She turned, facing him.
Eyes closed, Neon breathed raggedly, trying to get air back into his lungs. The unicorn lay there in a heap, his legs splayed out. There was a muddy hoof-mark on his chest, in the exact place where Chai hit him.
Her head dashed to his chest, and she pressed her ear into his fur. ~Thump thump~ thump thump~ , “UUrrfFF”, he weakly said.
Thank goodness, he’s going to be okay. Chai breathed out, slowly lifted her shoulders back up.
But not before taking another look at Neon’s state.
Her ears drooped. Looking at him, she could see he was cold, dirty, and smelled like a distillery; not to mention he looked sickly.
A pinching feeling settled in her chest, an alien feeling to her mind. She knew pain, both physically and mentally, but this felt... deeper, deeper than both.
Chai felt her body move, her front legs wrapped around his small frame tightly. Eyes closing, she put her head next to his.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
Soft lips pressed to cold ones, her tongue invading his mouth. The lewd action was short-lived once she separated, leaving it a blue mist exiting from her mouth and entering into his. Chai’s body shivered, her breathing filling the silence in the courtyard.
That should be enough mono for his body to use. She thought, her mind hazing over. Absentmindedly, her hoof stroked Neon’s cheek, the tip tracing his muzzle lines. Already, he started to look better.
With a quiet moan, Neon leaned into her touch. The corners of his lip turned upward.
Eye’s widening, Chai leaned back from him, her hoof yanking to her side. He shivered once her ministrations stopped. She glanced over to the side to see her bag partially open, but more importantly her fuzzy scarf in hoof’s reach from her.
Without another thought, Chai grabbed the scarf and pulled it to the stallion’s neck. Gingerly, her hooves tied the white shawl around his throat, letting the enchantment do its work on him. He sighed in contentment, snuggling into the warm fabric.
Standing up, Chai took a step back from him, and walked towards her satchel. Her light trot began to slow as she took in the scenery.
The snow melted into the ground, creating a frozen mess. Wilted snowdrops were scattered around them, their delicate petals soiled by the sludge. The once lovely scene was melted into a muddy slush, littered by dying flowers. She took a step back.
~squelch~
Tilting her head down slowly, Chai lifted her right leg up. A small collection of snowdrops laid mangled on a hoof-sized hole, still having a string holding them together.
A long moment passed before she yanked the flowers to her. Chai dashed to her bag, grabbing it in one fell swoop. She turned to eye Neon before eyeing the unicorn in the shadows.
“Tattoo, take him home please.” Without another word, she vanished.
Stepping out of the shadows, the unicorn revealed herself to be none other than Vinyl Scratch, however, there was something off about the DJ.
“~Mmm, there is no fooling you, my mistress.” Her voice pondered, then she paused. Cocking her head to the courtyard, she stared at the stallion. “You’re quite lucky you know, not a lot of strangers get this kindness from her,” she said in a smooth voice, unlike her usual scratchy one. Then with a Cheshire grin, she walked up to him saying, “~Oh, I think we can help each other out~” she finished it with a giggle.
Horn glowing purple, Neon’s head lifted to the air as Vinyl eyes examined him. Head tilting left and right, Vinyl memorized his facial features. Then his mouth opened up, and the purple glow wrapped around the stallion’s tongue, yanking it out. The mare’s muzzle crinkled.
“Oh gross, you gotta stopped sticking your mouth everywhere,” she said slamming his snout, and trying to not gag herself. “Well, besides you being a stud and short, you’ll be good for her nerves~” she said, humming happily. A purple haze seeped out from Vinyl’s horn, and phased out from reality.
Vinyl blinked. “What the hell? Argh, my head!” she said, placing her hooves on her head. “That’s the last time I’ll take a drink from a stranger.” Rubbing her head, she noticed the downed stallion. “I guess I won the bet.”