//------------------------------// // 4 // Story: Tales // by geopol //------------------------------// Tales by George Pollock, Jr. IV. The Second Turn: Wishful the Lost One My husband died so young. Equine encephalitis. There was a plague of it decades and decades and decades ago – you might have read about it in history books – and Rex died of it. He was so young. In the prime of his life. It was one of the three times in my life I've cursed The Steed. Yes, I know it's blasphemy, but I've done it. And I meant it every time. If you want to hate me for it, go ahead. I don't care. I'm not sure anymore that The Steed even exists. I mean, it was so unfair. Why did he take my husband when there were so many other ponies who deserved to die? I'm sorry, but it's true. It's not like Equestria is some sort of damned perfect paradise. What did Rex do to deserve to die? Did I do something wrong? What could I have done to deserve that? What sin from either of us was so terrible that he deserved to die? Anyway … at least he got to have a family of his own before he died. He got to see his children. Even then, we went through hell first. We lost our firstborn. She was a filly, and we had even picked out a name for her if she were a filly: Wishful. Because we wished for her happiness in life – and ours. She was stillborn. I remember pushing her out, and then I didn't hear anything after that. No breathing, no movement. It frightened me. Rex was there, and I remember him suddenly breathing frantically behind me right after Wishful came out. And he wasn't saying anything. Just started moving crazily. I yelled, "Rex! Rex, what's wrong? What is it? What's wrong?" When I finally turned around, I could see him nudging her on the ground like a toy. She was still wet. Rex had torn open the membrane around her, but she wasn't breathing. Rex was nudging her like crazy, but she wasn't moving. I started nudging her, too, and I was in a panic and practically flipped her over. I got so insane, Rex finally stepped over her and had to restrain me. And I was screaming at him and at Wishful, and I was fighting him tooth and hoof to get to my baby. She never woke up. I don't like thinking about it. Even now. And like when Rex died, I was mad at The Steed. Screaming mad. Shrieking mad. And I cursed him. Is that why some bad things have happened to me in my life? I don't know. I stopped trying to understand years ago. We had two other kids – Purpose the colt and Promise the filly. But Rex and I were really scared about losing them, too. I remember praying for forgiveness when I was carrying each, even though I still hurt and angry over Wishful. They came out OK, but I don't know whether The Steed answered my prayers. Or even cared. Or even existed, like I said. But we never forgot Wishful. She was the only reason I ever saw Rex cry. He was the captain of Princess Celestia's royal guard, and other than about Wishful, I never saw him cry. Smile and laugh, sure. All the time. But never cry. Except for Wishful. Sometimes in private, he'd nuzzle me over the back of my neck quietly, then he'd start to cry. We'd never say anything in those quiet, sad moments, but he'd cry, and his tears struck my neck, and I knew why. Often, I'd cry, too. Celestia and my Ponyville friends attended Wishful's service. And then Rex's. I fell hard after Rex died. I was glad they were there, especially the Ponyville folks. They kept me from crashing so hard, I wouldn't get back up again. They reminded me that Promise and Purpose needed me now. I had to get back up and live. I'm glad they did. That's what friends are for.