Palette started her trot on to the streets of Ponyville, her destination already crystal clear in her mind. She couldn't see the place, but knew every turn to make and every shop with every step. She knew the shopkeepers that operated those stalls, but not the other way round. The strides Palette took were small and meek, doing everything in her power to shrink herself down, to make herself so insignificant that hopefully the judging eyes of the ponies she couldn't see would glaze over her.
"...Three bits please!" The booming voice of a stallion reached her ears.
Honey Comb. Probably selling another bottle of his home-made honey candy again. Palette didn't pause for a moment, moving slowly towards her destination.
On the way, Palette heard a discord of voices just ahead and as she walked further, it shifted to her right. Judging by the volume, it seemed that a large portion of Ponyville had gathered outside wherever it was, wishing or arguing for whatever it was. When suddenly, the scrumptious aroma of freshly baked treats hit her muzzle. She rubbed it slightly, feeling as if the smell itself had just punched her. The smell made her pancake-filled stomach growl once more. She didn't even need to guess what the fuss was about now.
Sugercube Corner's morning bake. Of course. Palette gave her tummy a small rub, wishing she could trot over and join the crowd that was shouting in a chorus of demand for the crunchy muffins and decadent cupcakes. However, that would mean joining a crowd. And once they lay eyes on me, the cheering would stop. They would leave and I'll be blamed for chasing away business. She sighed, stopping for a moment and orientating herself to look at the direction of the yells. As swiftly as she turned her attention to Sugercube Corner, she shifted away and continued her journey. As usual.
The rest of the walk was uneventful. At least nothing she wasn't used to. There was the typical construction noises of another home in Ponyville. To Palette, it just meant another pony that she wouldn't get to see. The quill shop had its usual morning bustle, no doubt from many fillies and colts scrambling to get enough supplies before the first schoolbell rang. She also trotted past the weather branch of Ponyville, the last landmark before she reached the coverted end of her walk. The shouting of commands and many gusts of wind from launching pegasi gave the branch away even without sight. Long ago, she would stop to make out the conversation but only heard terms she didn't understand, like "L.T." or "R.U.". As such, she simply left the shouting as the incoherent nonsense that it was.
When the clopping of hooves on sand changed to gravel, did Palette knew she had arrived. The smell of crisp air, the sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs. Chirps from robins, sparrows and other species of birds she never tried to identify told her she was finally here.
Ponyville park. She changed her walk to more of a stride, and then to a gallop. She moved past the whispering couples and found her hooves touching grass and dirt once more. To many it would have indicated that they had strayed off the path, but to Palette, it merely meant she was on it. She raced forward and heard the ghost of rushing water. Almost...
When the echo of a speeding river grew twice as loud, did she know she had arrived. Raising her right hoof, she tried to extend it. It went almost straight but was stopped by a thick object. She felt the rough nature of the item in question, running her hoof up and down its coarse grain. She followed one line until it curled into a circle, intertwining with another before it swirled back around and down to the base. Nice to see you again, Sprout.
She was sure that if anypony was watching her, they'd think her insane. Placing her hoof on the bark of a tree, one that stood isolated at the very edge of the park, just in front of the rushing rapids of Ponyville's river. But she knew that wouldn't be the case. She loved this spot as it was far away from the stone and gravel path that everypony else trotted on. Out of sight from the couples that occupied the benches whispering words of love and gossip into each other's ears. Past the entrance and exit. She knew nopony would disturb her here for nopony dared to venture off the beaten path.
Pressing her back against the tree, she slumped down to its base, feeling the cool air wash over her face. It felt as if a spirit itself had dragged a finger past her cheek. Each small wisp of wind that crossed her face calmed her down. It brought her a simple comfort to know that in this spot, the world was disjointed from her own little island. In this spot, she never needed to worry about somepony trotting up to her to ask for directions, before quickly apologizing once they had spotted her cloudy eyes and slinking far far away. She always knew the way to whatever landmark they were looking for, but they never gave her anytime to answer. Everypony was sorry for her and eventually, she felt the same as well. However, here was where none of that mattered. It was a pleasure she expected nopony to understand, and she preferred it that way.
Leaning her head back, Palette felt it touch the trunk of the tree and simultaneously, she could see the thoughts from her previous days come together and rest in the middle of her mind. They were never different. Every day was the same routine. She wanted to change it up but didn't even know where to start. She felt like a machine programmed to do a few things in order. Nothing more. Nothing less. To change her routine would be to change the size of a gear. And she found no reason to. Why should she risk breaking down and being more useless than she already was? She was designed to do a routine and she performed it to the tee.
The thoughts had basically sorted themselves out. Everything in her mind was exactly where it needed to be. Every emotion and thought slid into their respective folders. Order. Satisfied that she had gotten another subroutine in her life down once more, she allowed her mind to empty and drift far away into the darkness of sleep. She wasn't tired. After all, she had just woken an hour ago. However, Palette found little else to do than to rest. Her body had also gotten used to it and so the mare with the bright yellow mane slept up against the tree. Her mind, like her sight, empty and dark.Just the way she was used to it being.
The next thing Palette knew, she was being shaken awake fairly violently, a distant voice echoing in her still dark mind.
“Mis…”
Palette tried to focus on the source of the voice. Maybe she was having a dream? She smiled at the thought. It would’ve been the first one for as long as she remembered!
“Miss!” the sudden shout shattered any hope she had into small fragments. Palette quickly rose her head groggily and rubbed her eyes. Who in the…
“Miss? Miss, you have to get to shelter right away!” the frantic voice of a stallion called out again, even louder this time.
“S-shelter?” Palette shook her head, tilting her head up to the source of the voice. “What in Equestria is going on?”
“Miss, didn’t you hea—”
Silence. Palette didn’t need to guess what the stallion had just noticed. Her heart sank deep down past her chest. Here we go again.
“Yes.” Palette stood up on her hooves, dusting herself off. “Yes I am what you think I am. Now mind explaining why you’re here?”
“Miss, I’m Hilt Guard, one of the weather ponies here in Ponyville. I need you to find shelter immediately!” the voice only repeated the same few words, causing Palette to question whether this really was a dream.
“May I ask why?” she asked in an agitated tone, wanting to continue her day like she always had.
“You didn’t hear about the thunderstorm clearing?” Hilt asked in disbelief. Before she could answer, she felt a droplet of rain fall onto her shoulder, sliding down her back. Followed by another. And another.
“Oh no. Come on!” She felt a hoof grab hers and whisk her form away from the spot.
“Hey! Hey, where are you taking me!?” The calm comfort that had been in Palette’s heart had transformed into quickly escalating fear. She tried to pull her hoof away from her captor but found his grip was far too strong. “S-stop! Help! Help!” she yelled as wind whizzed by her ears. The drizzle had turned into a full-blown storm. Rain cascaded down from above, matting her coat and soaking the ground beneath her. Thunder had started to roar louder than any she had ever heard. Her hooves squelched and splashed in puddles of mud and dirt and still she was being dragged along like a leashed pet. Her hooves ached and cried out for her to stop. Just when she could take no more, she felt the vice-like grip release her hoof, giving her back control.
Run! This is your chance! the voice in her head begged. Palette braced herself, ready to take off back home. All she needed to do was turn right from Ponyville park and… where? Where was home? Where was she?
Before she had time to carry out a decision, a hoof grasped onto hers once more and tugged her to the right where the torrent of rain had ceased. Something slammed shut behind the way she came and Palette stood in silence, shivering as ice-cold water continued to drip down from her body.
“W-where...w-where am…” her teeth clattered as she spoke. She could feel the warmth in her body sap away with each ticking second, making it impossible for her to speak more than a few shaky words. Fear had all but consumed her heart. She had been kidnapped by a stallion she didn’t know and brought to an unknown place somewhere in Ponyville. I...I’m not going to make it out of here.
Just then, Palette felt something thrown over her body as a hoof curled itself around her shoulder. The object was slightly rough but it was quickly absorbing the water on her coat, granting her a little respite for the biting rain. She felt herself being guided slowly to a chair, where she was seated.
“I’m...I’m so sorry Miss. I didn’t want to drag you like I did, but you would have frozen to death if I let you stay out there,” the voice’s tone had calmed significantly and now, Palette could sense the care behind each word. She still didn’t trust him though, and summoned all the energy she could to ask the nagging question.
“W-where...where am I?”
“The weather branch in Ponyville, Miss.” the voice replied deftly, though this time, he was much softer. Not due to volume, Palette could tell, but due to him being farther away than before. Her ears caught the clanking sound of spoons and utensils, drawers opening and closing and the whistle of a kettle. “Is hot chocolate okay with you?”
Palette wrapped the towel tighter around herself, trying to calm her still shaking form. Her mind was racing, trying to maintain her composure over the sudden jolt from her daily routine. For once, something different had happened and she didn't like it one bit. The darkness in her eyes seemed even blacker than usual as the patter of rain on the windows and roof filled her ears.
“M-Miss?” the voice called out once more. Palette barely managed to separate it from the chaos that was in her mind.
“I-I have a name. P-Palette,” she spoke through trembling lips.
“Alright then. Here you go Palette.” The sudden increase in volume caused Palette to jump in her seat, picking up the heat that was radiating from something in front of her. A strong sweet smell also overcame her senses. “I hope you don’t mind hot chocolate. I...umm...asked, but...you know, you didn’t answer and all.”
For the first time, she could sense hesitation in his voice. The quick, confident tone had broken just ever so slightly. She tapped the table in front of her, trying to find the drink he had spoken about. Right now, a warm drink was akin to diamonds after what she had just been through.
After several aimless taps, she felt a hoof land on hers, lightly guiding it to the handle of the cup. Palette’s face flushed bright red and her mouth drew into a frown. She silently gripped the cup and lifted it to her lips, the rising steam hitting her muzzle. Tilting the cup bit by bit, she soon felt the almost scalding liquid touch her mouth. She sipped a little and sat it back down, feeling the warmth slowly spreading to the rest of her body.
“Palette’s a nice name.” The confident tone had returned to Hilt’s voice. She didn’t reply. “We’re kind of stuck here for a while. Storm’s not scheduled to stop for another hour at least.” She turned away, trying to let the rain and thunder drown out his voice. She knew what he was focusing on, those cloudy white eyes of her. No doubt he only had one question in his mind, one he was too afraid to ask. “Well, if you’re not going to speak, this is going to be one awkward hour.”
The frankness of his words grew her attention. That, coupled with his laugh, made her unsure if he meant it as a joke or whether it was meant to be taken seriously. Just keep quiet. There’s nothing you can say to make this better. He’ll just judge you, like the rest. The thoughts continued to flow endlessly. Palette took a breath, unsure why she was going against her thoughts now.
“Why is it so quiet?” she asked, immediately regretting after she had finished.
“Probably the others have found ponies still out and about and guided them to the shelters we have stationed around Ponyville.” The chair across her squeaked softly. “While others are carrying out the storm.”
“Then why not bring me to one of those shelters?”
“Because, this was the closest place from Ponyville park.” Again, Hilt’s reply was instantaneous. “And the other shelter don’t have hot chocolate.” Palette could practically feel the mischievous glint in his eyes as he chuckled at his own joke. She found herself smiling a little as well, but hastily forced it back down into a frown.
“Well, we should find something to do to pass the time,” suggested Hilt.
Don’t entertain that request. Her mind urged her. “Like...like what? Me being the way I am, I don’t think you’ll find many things I’ll be able to do,” she paused.
“Well, do yo—” Hilt was about to throw in a suggestion, but was quickly cut off by her once more.
“No, I don’t want your pity,” she crossed her hooves, looking downwards.
“Al...alright?” His tone had changed to one of utter confusion. “I...I was just going to ask you what you see.”
The atmosphere thickened considerably, weighing on Palette’s shoulders. A sudden barking flame had been sparked within her when she heard that question. He’s insulting you. Making fun of you. Told you he was no different. “What...what is that supposed to mean?” she asked, agitated.
“Well, you...here let me try something. Close your eyes.”
The last three words struck a harsh cord in Palette’s heart. She turned her head up, scowling at the stallion across her. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Just...trust me on this.”
She had every right to just stand on her hooves and stomp out the door. I don’t need to take this kind of— But a sudden crash of thunder reminded exactly what was waiting on the other side. There would be no warmth of hot chocolate if she did exactly that, neither would there be a towel wrapped around her. Even so, Palette knew he was probably not going to let her go into the raging thunderstorm alone, which, when compared to just closing her eyes, seemed like the worst option for miles.
She slowly did as he instructed.
“And...what do you see?” Hilt’s innocent and oblivious voice as he spoke those words caused Palette to grip the sides of her chair with all her might to suppress her rising anger.
“Guess,” she sarcastically asked through clenched teeth, her patience wearing paper thin.
“Well, what do you want to see?”
She allowed the question to ring in her head for a few seconds. She thought she knew the answer to this question in a heartbeat. Oh the places she would go to! To see the lush green leaves of the trees that lined Ponyville park! Or the river that she could hear so crisply when she would lay at that spot!
“P-Palette?” Only after Hilt called her name did she realize she had been sitting in silence after he had posed the question to her. Not like she could’ve helped it. For the first time since, well, as long as she could remember, she saw images flash through her eyes. They were fake, yes, but being able to see the spectrum of colors from places she long forgot made her heart tingle ever so slightly.
“...A-a cliff. Overlooking the ocean,” she blurted out. Palette didn’t understand why she chose that location. After all, with so many familiar places to pick, she was sure it would be the hills of Appleloosa or maybe the bustling signs of Las Pegasus. However, a cliff? That bit she didn’t understand. But she didn’t want to question why. That would only make her stay here longer.
“Alright, then think that you’re standing on a cliff staring at the sea.” Word by word, Palette saw the world start to form together. As if somepony was fixing a jigsaw puzzle and she was part of it. She soon saw the cliffs form beneath her hooves and just below that was the faint blue of the ocean.
Blinking several times, Palette tried to focus once more, but noticed that the colors she could see appeared bleached. She could barely tell what the colors were. The grass on the cliff, that she swore she could feel under her hooves, was a faded green, reminding her of a dress she used to own when she was younger. How, after many many trips to the washer, the colors seem to sap away. The ocean, too, looked as if somepony has drained the very idea of water out of it. It didn’t looked nearly as lively as she remembered and found that the waves that danced on its surface were tame, not vicious or angry as she would have preferred.
Tilting her head up, she saw clouds being painted against a grey sky. Though it was there, it looked more like a dull painting where the artist had ran out of colors. Nothing seemed alive and the lack of sounds and smells only confirmed it.
“You see it, don’t you?” Hilt’s voice boomed softly into the world Palette stood. She felt like there were two of her. One sitting at the table, sheltered from a raging thunderstorm and listening to the stallion and another standing on the cliffs, overlooking a basically dead world. Right now, she didn’t know which one she’d rather be in.
“Yeah but everything’s so...colorless.” Palette furrowed her eyebrows closer together. She looked behind her, only spotting more grass that sprawled forward before stopping on the border of a white unknown. It resembled an artists’ canvas when he or she had not finished painting the piece. Though currently, she didn’t like what she had already painted in front of her.
“Well, what color is the sky?” She craned her neck, managing to catch the slightest blue swirled in with all the other depressing colors.
“Blue? I...I think.”
“Blue? Well, that’s boring. Let’s make it...pink?”
Palette recoiled her head in shock, unable to find a suitable reply to what she had just heard. “P-pink? Skies aren’t pink,” she reasoned.
“Well, no. In my world, skies aren’t pink.” She didn’t know why Hilt was referring to the world they both lived in as ‘his world’. Palette wanted to interrupt and ask, but bit her lip in fear of extending this dreary stay even longer. "But in your world, the skies can be any color you want it to be. Like..."
"...Pink." Immediately after Palette muttered that word, the once dull sky filled with a vibrant magenta. Bit by bit the color crept up from the middle to the edges and far beyond. Each second that ticked by, the skies seemed to come alive. The once motionless grey clouds started to move against the new backdrop, parting to reveal a bright sun that bathed the cliffs and the water in a glittering brilliance. Despite shivering cold, Palette could feel the warmth of each ray of sun and the comfort she felt was second to none. She closed her eyes to savor this moment, almost certain she could never get it back once it passes.
"So?" asked Hilt Guard. His deep voice was closer now and Palette knew he was leaning forward in his wooden chair.
"...It's... It's pink alright." She smiled, watching the world start to take shape. Though, when compared to the skies she had just reanimated, the rest of the world looked even more lifeless than it was moments ago. "But the grass on the cliffs..."
"...are golden." Hilt's voice carried such confidence she was wondering if he had told this to other blind mares, though that thought was quickly replaced by another.
"What?" Palette instinctively asked not a second after he had finished his sentence.
"The grass. Color them a shining gold!" He repeated once more with much more gusto, his command resonating through the world.
Golden. And sure enough, the grass beneath her hooves exploded in an array of bright yellow. Small bits of shining amber from the initial eruption fluttered upwards and flew in individual directions, like butterflies that had just been released from captivity. Palette took a small leap back away from the creeping yellow, gasping as it swiftly spread past the black grass. Almost fearful that the honeyed grass would overtake her as well, she tried her best to move to places where the color had not infected. However, that soon proved to be impossible as it painted through to every single blade.
Gazing at the fields now, Palette noticed the grass has started to reflect the pouring sunlight back upwards, creating a huge field of sparkling yellow. This simple sight filled her with awe, making her smile grow ten, no, twenty times its size. She had not seen colors this bright, this vibrant in ages. But now, the sea’s grey water truly looked dreadful.
“The sea. What color do you want it to be?” questioned Palette as she stared down at the water, straining her eyes for the non-existent waves.
“Me? Palette, what color do you want it to be?” Hilt threw the question back at her. She was prepared to do the same but judging by how quickly the stallion replied, she knew they would be throwing the question back to each other for hours to come.
“I want it to be.” Running through a myriad of colors in her mind, she sorted through those that would fit the rough seas. However, only shades of blue remained in her thoughts once she was done. She tried again, ending up at the same conclusion. Not blue. Blue...blue wouldn’t fit. Never in a million years would Palette have thought she would be living a moment when blue was the wrong color for the ocean. She recalled all the pictures she used to love, the sceneries she used to see when she was younger. The oceans, they were all blue. Light or dark, cyan or aqua, they were blue all the same. And yet now, here she was, able to dye the waves with any color she could imagine. She turned up to gaze at the blushing sky, then behind to the shimmering grass under her. Returning her attention to the sea, she gave a smile.
“Emerald. Like the trees in the park during spring.”
And so it was.
A brilliant green crawled from beneath the surface. It wasn’t obvious at first, but Palette knew something was rising. Sure enough, a geyser shot upwards in the distance, spitting out green water that gleamed under the light of the sun. Her ears quickly caught the rhythm of a loud crash just under the cliff she stood on. Waves! She glanced down and sure enough, the water that had been enlivened with green had begun their assault on the cliff. It was only a wave every few seconds at first, but soon, the entire sea had been dyed green and the waves’ continuous metronome of splashes brought a full grin to Palette’s mouth. She took a deep breath and smelled the seawater she missed so much. Memories of spending time at the beach with her friends, her family came flooding back to her much like the ocean she had just animated.
She took several slow breaths to steady herself, matching each inhale and exhale with the waves. “You see it?” Palette didn’t answer Hilt’s question, closing her eyes to better take in the sounds and smells of the odd place all around her. However, nothing compared to the feeling of true happiness when she opened her eyes and the world was still there.
It was no dream. This world was hers and she could see once more. Her mind wondered how the inert, lifeless world she saw a time ago had transformed into such a wonder. For the first time, the world had started to live and breathe.
And for the first time, Palette felt as if she had just started too.