//------------------------------// // A Wish // Story: A Dark Shade of the Past // by InfinityBreach //------------------------------// A Dark Shade of the Past by InfinityBreach Chapter 11: A Wish Rainbow and I were walking through the main part of town, heading to a place she called 'Sweet Apple Acres'. As we were walking through the town, it appeared as though many businesses were about to close for the day. Many ponies were beginning to go inside, and finish up what they were doing before retiring for the day. I looked up at the sky, seeing that the sun itself was beginning to set. Rainbow was telling me of all the important areas around town, as we walked through. Unfortunately I had pretty much drowned her out, as I was mostly thinking about my situation. 'The magic that I apparently used, doesn't exist. My species itself, isn't supposed to exist. Who am I? None of this makes any sense.' My mind was coming up with a cacophony of ideas, every idea as crazy as the one before. At the end of the street, I saw a well, which broke me out of my train of thought. "…and over there is a well that many ponies throw coins in to make a wish. Not that I need to wish to be a part of the Wonderbolts. Everypony already knows how awesome I am!" I heard Rainbow enthusiastically say. "Do you happen to have any coins, Rainbow?" I asked. "Yeah I do, why, do you want to make a wish?" Rainbow questioned, hovering by me. "Yeah. I'm going to need all the luck I can get if I want to figure out who I am." I replyed, looking down the well. The water was extremely clear, so much so that you could see the coins gathered at the bottom of it. While I was looking in it, I could see my reflection looking back. Then I saw Rainbow's head pop in next to mine. She smiled at me, hoofing me a golden coin of sorts. "Here you go. Hopefully your wish can come true someday, although I doubt that your wish will come slamming into you out of nowhere, or something." I smiled back at Rainbow, taking the coin from her hooves. I gripped it in my own hoof for a little bit, and closed my eyes. 'Please, let me figure out who I am. Let me meet more awesome friends like the ones I've met today, and just… help me.' I threw the coin into the well, and watched as it fell to the bottom. It hit the water with a small splash, and the impact rippled throughout the water, distorting me and Rainbow's faces. I looked up at Rainbow and smiled. "Thanks for being here for me. I really do appreciate it." She looked at me and gave me a smirk herself, patting me on the back of her head with her hoof. "Hey, what are friends for, anyway?" We were about to head back en route to the Sweet Apple Acres when a pink blur slammed into me. "What the heck!" I yelled, as I flew through the air, landing a few yards away. I turned around, to see Rainbow on the ground laughing, and a pink blur disappear into one of the houses down the street. "Uh… what was that?" I asked Rainbow, who was still on the ground, rolling around as if seeing me getting hit was funny. "Bahahahaha! Let's just say, I think you made another friend." She replied, wiping a tear from her eye. She refused to tell me anymore when I tried to question her about it, so we just continued on the way to the acres. Pretty soon, we were on a path with apple trees everywhere. I looked around, staring at the seemingly endless amount of apples. "We should almost be there. I'm sure Applejack should still be awake, since she works earlier and later then anypony." Rainbow said. "Does she own this place?" I asked Rainbow, astounded that anypony could take care of this much land. "Well, her and her family all live here. They all work together to harvest the apples when they are ripe." Rainbow explained. "Wow. That's… amazing." I mumbled in awe. "Oh hey, there she is!" Rainbow pointed to an orange pony with a brown hat, carrying two buckets of apples. "HEY APPLEJACK!" The orange pony looked towards us, and motioned for us to follow her. She began to walk towards a red building, that I presumed was a barn. We finally caught up to her, as she had finished putting away the buckets. "What in tarnation are ya doin out here this late, Rainbow? I figured you of all ponies would be dead asleep right now." Applejack said. Then she looked at me and added, "And who is this?" "Well you see, I actually have a favor to ask of you." Rainbow said. "Rainbow! How many times I gotta tell ya I don't need to be in no relationship!" Applejack sternly told her friend. Then she turned to me and said softly, "Sorry dere partner, but I just don't need a stallion in my life at the moment." "Wait, what? NO NO NO, that's not what this is at all!" Rainbow said, facehoofing. "Oh it ain't? Then what is it?" Applejack asked, curiously. Rainbow explained my situation to Applejack, who sat and listened to it very carefully. When Rainbow finished explaining, Applejack took off her hat, and began to rub her eyes a little. "Well I'll believe ya since I know ya Rainbow, though I doubt any other sane pony would." Applejack said. She then turned to me. "So you're Eclipsal huh? Mighty quiet over there if you ask me." My eyes widened in surprise as she mentioned me. Most of the conversations about me had nothing to really do with my input, so it's strange being put on the spot like this. "Well, I don't really know or remember anything. However, I feel like I can fully trust Rainbow and Fluttershy, along with anyone that they might trust." I said, satisfied with my answer. "You seem pretty trustful of them, but why?" Applejack asked me. "Well.. they took care of me, and they have helped me through this difficult time. I don't really have any choice but to trust them, and even then, I still do." I looked at Applejack, to see her searching my eyes for something. After a moment, she immediately began to relax. "You know, ever since I was a filly, I've learned that telling the truth is a great thing. Or as most ponies say, 'Honesty is the best virtue'. I think you'll get along quite well at the Apple farm!" Applejack said, smiling at me. She raised her hoof to me, and I tapped it without thinking, and then looked back at my hoof. 'How did I know to do that?' I thought to myself, just as another wave of pain burned through my head. I tried to keep my composure, but obviously I was failing, since Rainbow looked at me with a worried face. "Did you remember something?" Rainbow asked. "I… I don't know." I replied, slowly. "Whats wrong with him?" Applejack asked Rainbow. I lay down in the middle of the barn, and recollected myself. Rainbow told Applejack about how my head hurts when I remember something, even though it doesn't come as a memory. Applejack nodded her head in understanding. I closed my eyes, as they talked together for a while. I stopped paying attention after that, just attempting to relax. "Well I'll see ya later Rainbow, take care of yourself." Applejack said, which made my ears perk up. "You're leaving now?" I said, turning to Rainbow. "Yeah, there was some storm damage after last night, and since I shirked my duties today to help you out, I'm probably going to have my work cut out for me tomorrow." Rainbow replied, smirking in my direction. "Oh! I'm sorry I didn't mean to be a burden to you." I whispered. "You've taken such good care of me so far, and I-" "Hahaha, don't worry about it." She said, flying away, before I was able to finish. I looked up at her retreating form, when Applejack put her hoof on my back. "I doubt yer being a burden ta anypony, Eclipsal." Applejack reassuringly said. "However yer gonna have ta earn your keep around Sweet Apple Acres!" she continued, jokingly punching my shoulder. "I'll show ya where the empty barn is, and you can make yerself at home there. Just don't sleep too late, I'ma need ya up bright and early 'morrow mornin." "I can't wait to get to work tomorrow. It might keep my mind off of the issues at hoof too." I said, thinking about the amount of work it would take to clear out all these apples. Applejack laughed at what I said. "Ain't no pony ever been excited bout goin out ta work here 'fore." "Well I promise you I'll do my best to help you with your business and earn my own keep at this farm. Its really the least I can do to help, considering you're letting me live here." I smiled down at her. She smiled back, saying, "Well then let me show ya off ta yer room then. It's over there, right behind the house." She pointed at a small black building, that looked more like a miniature house then a barn. She started walking off towards the building, motioning for me to follow her.