Ch. 3: Distractions
Morning came as it usually did when I didn’t want it to and every bedroom, for some reason, has every window all pointed to the east, so the sun will get right in your eyes and forced you out of bed. I guess they don’t want ponies sleeping in.
But this morning felt so much different, as I suddenly felt an urge; an urge that I hadn’t felt in so long: I wanted to write something. It felt so alien to me after not writing anything for at least six months and now out of nowhere, I can feel my typewriter calling out to me.
I got myself out of bed and set up the typewriter by complete reassembling it back together because it was the only way it was going to fit into my saddlebags, before going into the other side of the bags (which I really needed to get around to unpacking) and pulled out two bracelets. Once I put them around my hooves, two little sticks came out, allowing me to actually press individual keys without accidentally pressing like six at once.
I sat down in front of the typewriter, before another feeling came over me: apprehension. It’s like one of those stories about sticking your hooves over an open fire; after you feel the pain, you’re not going to just do it again without a good reason. Good thing I found that reason.
“I don’t need to show it to anypony,” I reminded myself aloud with a smile, “I just need to get this feeling out, that’s all.”
With that in mind, I let myself go and just started typing.
In Equestria, there was a meadow that seemed to stretch on for several miles, with the horizon being visible in all directions. The ground was decorated with flowers of various colors and in the middle of this beautiful meadow, was a great oak tree. It was the home of a colony of caterpillars. Every day, they would climb the tree to get the leaves at the top. For some, the trek was little more than an inconvenience. For others, namely the ones at the bottom, the trek would take all day and there was no room for errors.
Three of these caterpillars, all of whom were brothers, would start their day by climbing the tree, hoping to get enough food in their bellies to survive the night. With only a slight breeze to slow them down, it wasn’t that hard for the first day, as long as the three were together. After filling themselves to the brink, they all went back to their own little home at the bottom of the tree. On the way back, the youngest of the brothers asked why they needed to live so far away. The middle brother said he couldn’t answer because he didn’t know. The eldest brother could only think of one thing to say and that was to reassure his little brother that life will get better eventually, just like it did for their mom, who was now a beautiful butterfly and would no longer ever have to climb up a tree to get her food. This brought a smile to the younger brother’s face, as the three went into their little hole for the night.
“Good morning, Ponyville!” I heard a feminine voice shout outside, pulling me away from my story. What followed next is what really got my attention.
*BOOM!*
Out of nowhere, a huge explosion suddenly shook my home, even shaking the floor underneath me. But what’s worse is when I went to cover my ears, I accidentally shoved the two typing sticks into my ears, preventing me from fully covering them and probably doing more damage.
“Ow! Where did that come from?!” I frantically asked, as I tried to push myself off the floor, when I suddenly noticed a breeze in my house. I look over to the window on the other side of the table to see that the window was completely blown out. Whatever that explosion was, I was lucky I wasn’t close to it.
I ran outside, the ringing in my ears finally stopping, to see what just happened. I looked up toward the faint remnants of what appeared to be a rainbow, but it had dissipated before I could get a good look at it. The sun being in my eyes wasn't helping matters much either. But it didn't really matter at this point, as I now have a new problem: My windows were completely destroyed. I went through the house and found that only my two front facing windows were actually destroyed, but the rest were relatively unharmed.
‘At least it wasn't a total disaster,’ I thought to myself, as I took my bracelets off and searched the house for a broom. Thankfully, this house at least came with one of those, as I eventually found one in a closet in my living room. I swept all the glass shards into a little tray and walked outside to dumped them, when I noticed Twilight in the distance with a cyan blue pegasus with a rainbow-colored mane and Twilight didn't look…pleased with her. I could just barely make out what they were saying.
“I can’t believe you did a sonic rainboom that close to the ground! Do you know how many windows you destroyed?! I don’t even want to know what you did to anypony’s hearing!” Twilight wasn't just mad, she was flat out livid.
“I’m sorry, alright?! I was just so happy to be home that I got carried away! The news I had was just so great that I couldn’t resist!” the pegasus responded energetically. Whatever news she had, it must have been very good news.
“Well you can wait until we get everypony together. Right now, you’re helping me fix all the windows you smashed,” Twilight lowered her tone, but I could still tell even from my distance that she was still very much angry. “Now let’s go Rainbow-” she stopped herself, as she saw me standing on my porch, staring and I could only think to wave at them. Her demeanor perked up a little after my wave. She walked over towards my house and waved as she came over.
“Hello Playwright,” she greeted, looking happy to see me though it seemed a lot less happy once she saw what was left of my windows, “I see Rainbow Dash got your windows too.” I turned and realized I had set the tray full of shards on the ground behind me. “Oh! By the way, this is Rainbow Dash, the pony we tried to introduce you to yester-” Twilight didn’t finish, as she was cut off by Rainbow Dash, who began to show off, which I could only assume was to wow me with her flight skills. I’ll admit, they were definitely top tier flying skills, as she basically cleared up the sky and made all the clouds look like her face, before exploding out of the cloud, leaving nothing but a clear sky behind her.
“As Twilight here said, I am the one and only Rainbow Dash, Ponyville’s fastest flier and future Wonderbolt!” Well...she certainly seemed full of herself, but her face softened as she landed on the ground. “Though it’s more like “Official Wonderbolt” now!” Twilight smiled, as it was very big news indeed. Getting into the Wonderbolts is no small feat and for most pegasi, it was a childhood dream that you needed to work at your whole life just to realize it.
“That’s great, Rainbow Dash!” Twilight seemed just as happy as Dash was at this news. I’ll admit, even I felt happy for her, despite breaking my windows.
“Oh and sorry for all the showing off,” Rainbow Dash looked towards me with a much lighter smile instead of the cocky grin she had a minute ago. “It’s just that now that I’m an actual Wonderbolt, I think I need to make my introductions as awesome as I am.”
“T-that’s not necessary, really,” I spoke up, which caused Rainbow Dash to jump back in mock surprise.
“Oh my Celestia, he actually talks!” Not really surprised by that reaction. I hadn't said a word for most of this conversation, which made me kind of chuckle. “For a while I thought he was a mute or something.”
“Oh, be nice, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight spoke calmly with a smile, realizing that Dash’s joke wasn't offending me. She looked down towards my hooves before saying anything more. “Are those what’s left of your windows?” I looked down to see that the tray of shards were still right at my hooves. I almost forgot that they were still there. “Let me fix that for you,” Twilight’s horn suddenly started to glow a light purple, as did all the shards. Then, right before my eyes, Twilight put all the pieces of the windows back into place and fixed them, almost as if the explosion never happened. “That’s better, isn't it?” Twilight spoke as she enjoyed her handy work with even a small task like fixing a broken window.
I still had yet to find the right words to say, so I just pick the simplest to avoid making it awkward, “Thank you,” Twilight nodded back at me with a smile.
“Well, we need to be going now, as I need to deliver some books to Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash has to help me fix all the windows she broke,” Twilight mentioned, before the two waved goodbye.
“It was nice talking to you both,” I waved back, but what I said seemed to get a chuckle out of Dash, though she looked like she was trying her best to hide it.
I went back inside, feeling a little better, but it was time I got back to the story I was writing. I looked over what I had wrote and remembered what I wanted next.
The next day came and the three brothers looked to work their way up the tree again, but to their surprise, some of the leaves fell on the ground, near the base of the tree. They could easily have just climbed down a little and grabbed them. The three brothers quickly went to the leaves and feasted, happy that they didn’t have to work so hard for food. But then, a huge bird flew overhead with its gigantic shadow tipping the defenseless caterpillars off to their predator. The group split up, with the middle and younger brother running for home, while the eldest gave himself up to draw the bird away. The two brothers made it home safe and wouldn’t leave the hole they called home until the next morning. The oldest brother, however, never returned.
*Grumble*
“Really? You’re hungry now?" *Grumble* "And apparently you have a sense of timing too! Stupid stomach; telling me I need food to live!" I angrily get up from my seat, before realizing I looked like an idiot and I was glad no pony was around to see me yelling at my stomach. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, as I hadn't eaten anything yet today. But then another problem came up: I hadn't bought any groceries. Well, it was time I fixed that. I grabbed my saddlebags and threw them on my back, checked to make sure I had a decent amount of money and headed out, hopefully to fill up my fridge and cabinets with food.
I walked outside to see the mailmare delivering a letter into my mailbox, before flying over to deliver Fluttershy’s mail. I opened the box to see a package addressed from my parents. It was pink and decorated with various flower designs, no doubt to remind me of my mother’s flower shop back home. I put the package inside the house and would see what was in it when I finally sat down to eat. At least that’s what I told myself.
I walked into the marketplace to see it bustling full of ponies, big and small, young and old, trying to get their shopping done. The crowd wasn’t too big that you couldn’t get to the stands, but it still felt cramped to me.
I hated crowds since I was a colt, but I needed food for my house, so I pressed on through it. I walked for about a minute, before I saw a familiar face that made my worries fly away; it was Fluttershy and she seemed to be doing her shopping today as well. I thought it might be a good time to get to know her a bit better, so I maneuvered through the busy street until I was in earshot of her.
“H-Hey Fluttershy,” I managed to stutter out. I seemed to surprise her, before she turned around and smiled. Though she didn’t look me in they eye, I could tell that she was happy to see me.
“O-oh, h-hi Playwright. Y-You must be shopping today too,” she still seemed nervous around me, still keeping a modest distance from me. It must be after I caught her outside my house last night. I shouldn’t bring it up until she felt a bit more comfortable around me.
“Y-yeah, I realized I didn’t have any food in the house, so I decided it might have been a good idea to go and get some. What are you shopping for?” Food, idiot. What else would she be there for?! Why did I ask that?!
“Well, I needed to make sure I had food to feed the animals, but I also needed to pick up some detergent. I needed a new blanket for my bed after the last one got…a little more brown,” Fluttershy made sure that last part wasn’t said too loud, but I heard her loud and clear anyway. It’s almost like she was ashamed that one of her animals, for a lack of a better way to say it, took a dump right on her bed.
“Ew...That poor blanket,” I expressed sympathetically. “You need help getting the stains out?”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s really not too big an issue. It’s nothing a lot of washing can’t fix,” she assured me, but she seemed almost like she was embarrassed that I even asked to help her. I guess nopony does unless they had a reason. Heck, I wasn’t even innocent of this since I did want to get to know her better.
So we continued shopping together, as she helped pick out foods that she thought I would enjoy. Various fruits and vegetables went into my saddlebags, as we continued to talk about each other. Eventually, after we finished buying all of our stuff, I summoned up the courage and decided to ask Fluttershy something that I almost immediately regretted.
“Hey Fluttershy, you want to get something to eat?” I wanted to punch myself in the face. I doubted that she would say yes and her shocked expression and blush didn’t make it feel any better either.
“O-Oh… I-I am feeling a bit peckish…sure! I know a restaurant that would be nice.”
What? She actually accepted my offer? And she even sounded enthusiastic? I couldn’t believe my luck! I actually felt confident that I couldn’t screw this up. I was just hoping Fate and Life would pick on somepony else for a change.
We both walked over to the restaurant Fluttershy told me about and it didn’t seem too busy. We sat all our groceries on the ground next to an outside table; I was thankful that Fluttershy didn’t suggest about eating some of our groceries. The tablecloth was yellow and had a pink flower in the middle. A vase filled with a few bright flowers was also on the table. Reminded me a lot of home…and Mom.
A waitress came up not too long later and set down a couple menus for us to look through. “I’ll be with you two in just a minute,” she told us both with a smile. I set the menu down, while Fluttershy began to look at hers. I decided that I should at least try and get a conversation going.
I did feel a bit more comfortable talking today then I was before, but I’m not exactly sure why. Maybe the initial shock of being dragged everywhere and being forced to meet everypony was over, I could actually decide to talk to ponies on my own terms.
“So Fluttershy, what are your animals like?” I just needed something to get her talking. Thankfully, this did it more than I had anticipated.
“Oh they're all such sweethearts!” Fluttershy exclaimed...well compared to her normal quiet tone anyway. “They’re normally well behaved and sometimes bring me things that I needed from the nearby forest, such as free honey, wild berries and sometimes, they even can bring me these lovely flowers.”
“Do they ever cause any trouble on their little foraging trips?”
“The younger ones will sometimes steal from other animals from the forest and I’ll have to go and calm them down, but they’re just young that don’t know any better yet,” she sounded a little…exasperated like it happens way too often and took a lot out of her.
“Any particular stories that stick out in your mind?”
“So what will you two be having?” the waitress came back and it had occurred to me that I hadn’t even looked at the menu once. Whoops. Nice prioritizing there, Wright.
“Uh…I’ll have a hay sandwich and apple juice,” I replied quickly, reading off the first two things my brain registered from the menu. Lucky for me, the waitress didn’t care.
“I’ll have a fruit salad and some water,” Fluttershy answered calmly, making me feel a little silly.
“Okay! I’ll be back with your drinks in a bit,” The waitress went back inside and left us alone.
“As I was saying,” I decided to get the conversation back on track.
“Well...there was this one time with Angel and the flying squirrels.”
“Angel?”
“He’s my pet bunny!” she responded with an angelic smile, “He’s so adorable but can be a bit of a hoofful sometimes.”
“So what did he do to these flying squirrels?” I didn’t even care that I was adding nothing to this conversation. I just wanted to keep her talking.
“Well, one morning, I was filling Angel’s bowl, but I realized he wasn’t around. After looking all over for him, I found him with a few acorns for some reason, but he was being chased by at least a dozen flying squirrels. After he hid behind me, the squirrels ended up attacking both of us, but I eventually managed to calm them all down and Angel returned their acorns.”
“Oh wow… I’m sorry to hear about that,” I wasn’t expecting to hear she literally got assaulted by squirrels out for nuts.
“It’s okay, as I wasn’t really hurt by them, but I couldn’t figure out what Angel was trying to do as he wouldn’t explain.”
“When did this happen?” I inquired. The waitress had returned and set down our drinks.
“I think it happened a day before you came to Ponyville,” she stated as she took a sip of her water.
“That recent?!” I wasn’t expecting something like that to happen. I was even more astonished when she moved her mane back to reveal a little bandaid on the back of her neck.
“Who would’ve guessed that squirrels were so vicious when their acorns are taken,” she joked, trying to play it off like it’s nothing. She’s obviously been through some crazy things. This mare was in a league all her own.
“So, do you have any stories of your own…if you don’t mind telling?” She seemed curious about me. I thought about any stories that would be good but…my life isn’t exactly the most exciting…or the happiest for that matter.
“I don’t think I can top a squirrel attack but…I don’t know if you’d want to hear this kind of story from somepony you just met a couple days ago.” I could’ve swore I saw her pupils expand and her leaning a little closer.
“Is it a bad story?”
“It’s not a happy story, so I doubt you want to hear me whine about it.”
“I would never say you were whining, but I won’t pry if you don’t want to say anything,” she smiled, letting me feel a bit lighter. I smiled back in return.
“Thanks Fluttershy,” I simply said, just as the waitress had finally returned with our meals.
“Enjoy!” she said cheerfully and sat down our meals. We both ate our meals while we shared some more small talk about Fluttershy’s friends and my life back in Canterlot. I tried my best to pick the happiest parts while keeping the sad parts to a minimum. After our meals were finished, we both packed up and went back home, stopping at my house first.
“Well, I’ll talk to you later, Fluttershy,” I said from my porch as I waved goodbye.
“I would like that!” she smiled as waved back and proceeded home. I went inside and looked at my typewriter and my bracelets. I remembered I hadn’t finished my short story yet and I should probably get to it. I quickly put all the groceries away, while finding out this house doesn’t have any dishes either so, I had to get some of those too, before sitting back down at the typewriter.
I read back what I had wrote down in my head before thinking of something.
“I know just what ending I want…”
The brothers continued to try and survive for the rest of the week. Rain came to wash them away, but they would not allow it. Wind tried to blow them away, but they would not budge. The wildlife was on a feeding frenzy, but they would not let it end. They continued to fight and survive until one morning, they got a sight they could not believe.
The eldest brother had returned, not as a caterpillar, but as a beautiful butterfly, free of the restrictions that had once been imposed on him and his brothers. He explained after he got away from the bird, he found an empty hole to make a cocoon in. He wanted to tell his brothers that he was okay but something told him they would be fine. The two younger brothers both cried as they saw their brother tell them not to give up and that life will get better, just like he said. The eldest bid them farewell as he flew off to explore the world beyond this oak tree that at one point was nothing more than a prison. The brother was finally free.
The two younger brothers followed his example, growing to become butterflies as well, determined to see what lies beyond the endless meadow. To see the world in all its beauty. To follow their brother’s example and become more than they used to be.
The three brothers were all finally free.
I looked at the paper in front of me, satisfied with it. I looked outside, before remembering my mother’s package. I walked up and peeled off the tape before looking inside. In it was a letter and a picture frame. I opened the letter and read it.
Dear Playwright,
I hope you are enjoying your time in Ponyville. Tinker said it would fit your liking. Have you met anyponies that made you feel welcome?
We miss you, you know. You haven’t even been gone a week and it already feels like you been gone a year. I realize you must still be a little down about what happened but don’t worry, your family will always support you, even when we’re far apart. I hope you find whatever it is that you need to find because me and your father just want to see you happy.
They say that parents are their proudest when they see their children leave the house but…I think I only felt sadness. But Tinker was right when he said that you needed to find a place where you could be happy, not stuck at home with all of us, no matter how much it hurt to see you go. I hope you’ll come visit us soon. Or maybe we’ll come visit you! Your brother would love to have us all come visit! I think that’s what will do then! Send us a response if you’d be okay with that. There’s a stamp in the envelop if you need one, as well as a spare envelope in the box.
Love,
Mom
I couldn’t hold back the tears this time…I felt like I abandoned my parents when Tinker and I decided to have me move to Ponyville to try and figure out what exactly I wanted to do. I didn’t think about before, because I was being too much of a whiny little colt. But why would my brother suggest me going to a town where everypony knows each other for me to get away from ponies? That sly dog. He sent me so I could meet more ponies and get out of that funk I was in. I can’t tell if I’m angry for being deceived or happy that he’d go this far for me.
“Thanks bro…thanks Mom.”
I went over to the typewriter and put a new sheet in.
Dear Mom,
I’m enjoying my stay in Ponyville. It started out pretty bad when my agoraphobia kicked in when one of the more…energetic ponies threw me a welcome party, but since then, the ponies have been super nice and I’ve even been getting some inspiration out of this. I’ll admit, Tinker got this one right. I’m feeling much better and I would love for you guys to come here, but right now, my house is a little lacking in the furniture department, so I really don’t have anywhere to stay. I think it would be best if I came to you guys until I got more furniture…whenever I get around to it. I’m sorry to make you sad, but I’d love to visit. How about two weeks? Say the 12th?
Love,
The more happy Playwright
I pulled the envelope and stamp and got the letter ready to send. I flew to the post office and dropped in the send box before heading back home. I went through the box for the picture frame and saw that it was a picture of the family painting my grandmother made. Everypony from every branch of the tree was in that painting, including a little colt me. I went upstairs and put it right on the nightstand.
I felt content. I had some friends and I’m starting to get that writing spirit back. Either this town is really good at making ponies happy or I’m really just quick at getting over bad things in my life. Probably the former.