//------------------------------//
// chapter 22 Lesson Two: Heal The Wound. 
// Story: Wayward Hearts 
// by SilverTopHat 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 22
Lesson Two: Heal The Wound.

I must have slept for only a few hours for Lesson One. I can't believe I did that without her, actually yes I can. I want to be as magically strong if not stronger than Celestia and I can't do that if Glitterlamp is protecting me from every little danger. Magic is as dangerous as any other power source but dying from my carelessness would be pretty stupid. I guess my pride got the better of me that time.

Evening was falling over the town of Appaloosa and I was restless. The effects of Lesson One had immediate reactions with me. I could call forth the Dream substance to this waking world without stress, it appeared as glittering black sand and it morphed and re-morphed at every whim. It also seemed to linger longer than before and definitely more, thick, for a lack of a better word.
Fearbane became more alive than ever. The distinction between a living eye and a sparkly gem faded entirely, the twitching, blinking, darting eye if wasn't focused on me was staring at something else. Whenever it was in my grasp, to now I found it hard to part with, I could also see through it without effort. It had a learning curve to it but I was taking it slow. My energy wings with its glowing golden brilliance clung to my back constantly and only when the sword left my grasp did they dissipate.
A crash followed by a barely contained curse erupted from Glitter, ever since she told me that she still cared about me even after what I did only endeared her even more to me. The influx of energy, love, whatever she calls it, only spiked her magic power. She couldn't levitate a cup without crushing it now.
“Focus, focus.” Glitterlamp would mutter to herself and lift another object only to: send it flying across the room, bounce it around the room, nothing, crush it to fine dust, or sit there and mutter angrily to herself. A block of wood flung out of her grip and a wing tendril caught the projectile before it could do some damage.


“Try taking the amulet off, isn't that thing supposed to be an amplifier?” I said setting the block down on the table in front of me. “And let's start with something easy, like wood carving.” I suggested knowing hat carving came easy to her. Glitterlamp smiled and unclasped the amulet from around her neck.
“Well, let's give it a shot.” She said levitating the amulet to me, not quite a throw but a little harder than a toss it was manageable and controlled at least. “But if we are to carve let's to it in the art room.” Glitterlamp said taking the block and trotting upstairs. The art room was still a mess and the sent of dry, warm wood shavings was pleasant and brought a smile to my face. Like Sapphire's habit of having a dozen unfinished paintings there was plenty of oddly shaped blobs of wood pinned to tiny platforms. 

Glitterlamp gave me one of the blobs and looked around for her chisels.
“Ah! That's right, this isn't my shop. I was using the kitchen knives to carve. Do you mind if we go shopping? It'll be nicer if we had proper tools.” Glitterlamp said pulling out a slightly bent kitchen parring knife looking a little embarrassed.
“Sure, if the stores are still open.” I agreed. “Let me get my socks and boots on.”
“Come on! You don't need those! Those 'socks' smell terrible anyway!” Glitterlamp laughed wiggling her unadorned hooves to show her point.
“My feet are far more squishy than your hooves.” I said slipping the only pair of sock I had, they felt rough and full of dried sweat. Ick. “And I don't want to step on a bur or any other thorny plant.”
“You'll be fine, C`mon!” Glitterlamp said as she stuffed a saddle bag with glittering gold and silver Bits. She did such a good job at hiding it but I could feel pure excitement at the simple fact that she finally achieved wealth and could have thing without worrying.
“Do you think I should bring Fearbane along?” I asked and Fearbane's eye looked to Glitterlamp quizzically.
“I don't think so,” Glitterlamp said looking it over, “we're only going to the store, not into a scary ruin.”
“Alright, let's go.” I said trying the last knot on my boots and we headed into the cool desert air.
“I'll need a canteen, this place is too dry for me.” I thought coughing at the intense dryness the air had to it, like the air was pulling the water from my eyes.
“Absolutely, if you want to work during the day.” Glitterlamp nodded as she already shifted into her Springdew form. 

I cringed at the memories of this place, the saloon was where I made a fool of myself and it was the big highlight of the town. Sure the general store was inviting enough but the saloon was the 'go to' place in town. Looking at the saloon now I could see Trixie, smiling broadly, pulling things out of her big floppy hat and the crowd seemed to enjoy it.
“I think it was over here.” Glitterlamp said pushing past some free swinging doors that brushed a bell at the top releasing a cheery jingle. “Yep found it!” I followed her into a brightly colored store with all sorts of things lining the walls and shelves. From writing feathers to kitchenware and food supplies, all the basic thing ones would need. Glitterlamp was already buzzing around the small store picking things out. Nothing really caught my eye, there was no clothes that would fit me, no video games, movies. I missed the comforts that my old world had. 
I felt a little naked without Fearbane, we've been through a lot. Not just the fights but the simple day to day living. Learning how to cope with the numerous sharp edges and using it as a wizard would use a stave or a wand. It just was a part of who I am, it defined me as much as I defined it.
I explored the small store while Glitterlamp chatted with the clerk finding the things she wanted. The passive aggressive talk of haggling and bartering was missing as it was replaced with casual friendly talk that buzzed over my head, it was rude to listen in to another's conversations if one could help it.
What was I looking for? I wandered around this shop looking something. The glass trinkets didn't interest me, rows and rows of herbs and spices only made my stomach growl, dried fruits and vegetables didn't look all that great, I've been eating nothing but fruits and veggies.
“Can I help you find something?” A mare asked with a smile.
“I'm with her over there, for wood carving tools.” I said pointing to Glitterlamp.
“Ah, I thought you two looked new. Been in town long enough?” The mare was rather plain with a tan bandana tying back her vibrant orange mane, her coat was a pale yellow.
“Not very long, a month or less. Do you have a calendar in here by chance?” I said being polite.
“Yes right over here.” She picked one out of shelves and I took it out of her mouth.
“Thanks.” I said and hesitated. “Do you mind if I ask you something rather strange?” I said wondering if I was going to regret this.
“Sure, what is it?” A helpful smile presented itself on her features.
“Is there anywhere that sells meat?” The words left my mouth and I awaited the response. The mare looked as if she was waiting for the punchline. “Nevermind.” I said walking away feigning interest in some prices of flour.
“I do know where, it's just I've never been asked that, well not by pony at least.” The mare tugged on my arm. “Although, I do not sell it, but most Gryphons are willing to barter for it.”
“But there are none close, is there?” I asked already guessing the answer would be no.
“Yeah, closest ones live in Canterlot.” The mare sounded a little sad but it was pretty unconvincing.
“Figures. Thanks anyway.” I said putting on my best smile, I really was looking forward to eating bacon, NO no, don't think about, nope. Still thinking about bacon.

My arms were filled with thick brown bags, left arm held the hobby stuff, right arm had the food stuff; eggs, flour, cooking essentials. Might find a new way to cook eggs, a lifetime of eating eggs. My farts will truly be legendary.

With the sun completely beneath the horizon and not stabbing my eyes I could actually enjoy being outside. At least in the Everfree Forest the trees blotted the sun out.
“Hey, Michael!” Trixie's voice carried in the tranquil silence of the small road.
“Hmm? Yes?” I turned to Trixie's voice, she was standing at the door of the Saloon with a big grin on her face.
“Yes! Your master calls you! Trixie requires assistance!” Trixie declared boisterously. 
“I don't know, what do you think?” I thought to Glitterlamp.
“I think you should, I'll catch up.” Glitterlamp took the bags from my hands.
“Retrieve Fearbane for me would you? When you come back, I mean. I think I'll need it.” I added as she took the bags and started quickly to our house.
“I'm coming Trixie.” I said walking toward the Saloon hardening myself for whatever she needed me for.

Trixie was already on the stage when I came through the swinging doors and eyed the crowd with a stoney face. 
“Stand next to me Michael.” Trixie commanded from atop the low stage.
“Careful, he might rhyme badly again.” A whisper caught my ear. I stepped onto the stage and faced the crowd with determination. It was harder to breathe and the temperature was increasing to uncomfortable levels. I hate crowds focusing on me.
“Hold this.” Trixie whispered handing me her hat. “I will now open a portal between this box and my hat.” She said to the crowd with a flare of her hair. I looked in the hat and saw nothing except odd little lumps, wait a second. Little pockets had been tied closed containing some odds and ends.
“I thought she got her magic back?” I thought suddenly looking sideways at Trixie. “Why are you resorting to cheap sleight of hand? Or,” I thought suddenly, “magic is too easy and she needs to use mundane means to have a challenge.” I smiled at that thought and decided to play along. “After all it's fun to be in a magicians performance.”
I showed the hat's insides to the crowd and folded my arm into the hat making it look like my arm disappeared into the hat. Well, there wasn't much to say. The butterflies went away I guess, I would wait patiently for Trixie's command and thankfully the tricks weren't too hard. I played along with the hypnosis, clucked like a chicken, howled like a wolf filling the saloon with shivers.
I was having fun! My antics and over exaggerations hid Trixie's sleight of hands, hooves, whatever, so her tricks did look like real magic. Trixie seemed startled for some reason and had an announcement.
“I shall now perform my disappearing act!” Trixie seemed nervous, more felt than seeing it. I scanned the crowd and didn't see any difference, it was really dark now. Any lights that were lit had been reflecting its light down on the stage and none in the crowd. Trixie held out her bag of tricks and her hoof hovered above the bag and she shouted, “Good night!” and with a stamp of her hoof a blast of dazzling smoke and sparks then she was gone.
The crowd just ate it up! Stamping their hooves, cheering, whistling and some were shouting for more. The crowd was really great! Why did she want to leave? My eyes fell upon Glitterlamp and I smiled then I done a deep bow and was about to step off when a mare pushed me back.
“Ah, HAY NO!” I recognized the voice and the face. I was starring down at the rather furious face of Cactai Blossom. She climbed onto the stage and huffed at me.
“Shows over,” I said waving my hand around the stage dismissively wondering why she was behaving like this. “I'm done here.”
“I'm not done with you, ya bully.” Cactai said tilting her hat back. “Since you insulted Lilly in public, I think it's best you apologize in public too!”
“Oh, about that, is it?” I thought glumly.
“I'm not apologizing for my opinion, I hate sad songs. I don't care who sings them.” I stated trying to sound indifferent about it. I looked to Glitterlamp and she had brought Fearbane with her like I asked.
“Aww! I was going to use my magic in the show too! Well, there's always next time.”
“Then you should`a kept ya mouth shut if ya don't have nothing nice to say!” Cactai snapped at me, then she had a grin that held no cheer. “Feel up to a sing off?”
“Is Lilly here?” I asked getting ticked at this, a show down over something so little? Or is that my human way of thinking? “Couldn't we settle this elsewhere?” I asked with an edge.
“Yeah, but this is the only place that has a stage.” Cactai said as if I was blind. The crowd was no longer smiling but wide eyes eating up every word, watching our every move. The tension was rising within me.
“I'm sorry,” I said the crowd since I couldn't single out Lilly. “I'm sorry, Lilly, that I think sad love songs were the worst ideas ever written.” Then I turned back to Cactai. “I doubt you'd like my music anyways.” I hate crowds when it came to this, one minute it's fun and smiles next moment they would tear you apart. I turned and started to walk to the other side of the stage.
“Backing down from a challenge, you're a bully and a coward?” Cactai announced sounding victorious.
“Walk away there's nothing to be gained. Put her down in her PLACE! Just do the sing along, try to appease her pain, she's only protecting her friend.” I really wish I could make up my mind when things like this happen. Regardless, I stopped cold in my tracks and slowly turn to her.
“I'm new to this whole sing off thing, mind explaining me the rules, I mean, you do have rules don't you?” I said letting the words flow through me. “Don't take me as some cruel fool, I've offended Lilly and I apologized, so why are you so agonized?” I said walking back over, I could feel Glitterlamp's emotions range to excited and pleased.
“I don't like bullies, that kinda behaviors gotta be nipped in the bud!” Cactai said and the crowd agreed.
“I know the feeling, trust me I do, if doubt lurks in your heart ask either Trixie or Springdew.” I said stretching an arm to Glitterlamp.

The crowd stomped their hooves politely and one called out,
“Hey, get the bed sheet! I think it's karaoke night!”
Great, just fricking great.

The workings of a karaoke stage was set up with a song selected out, apparently the challenger got to pick the song. It was a love song, a wedding song is specific, apparently it was customary blah blah blah, used at the royal blah blah very rich history bluh. Honestly, it was Lilly explaining it to me and it was her favorite song but I couldn't care for the history behind it, it was being used as a weapon against me after all.
“Yeah, are you sure everything's fine between us?” I said interrupting Lilly's long history lesson behind the song.
“Yes,” Lilly nodded with a smile. “I mean I didn't mean for anything like this to happen but Cactai is like that, she'd defend you to end.” Lilly admitted looking a little embarrassed. “The kids like you and I like anything who's great with kids.” Lilly winked at me. “Cactai is just doing what she thinks is right, and I kinda wanna see if you got a great singing voice. I know I like it when you tell the kids stories.”
“Is she flirting with me? No I'm just reading it wrong. Just accept the compliment.”

“Thanks.” I said taking my place on the stage after the preparations had been completed. The projector was a contraption made of bronze and gems, rubies made the light, a thin film rolled before a hole to which the light would shine through, an opal made the sound and that's where I couldn't figure out the rest of the machine. It was magical in nature which of course defied my sense of technology. 

I looked to the crowd for a nerve wracking moment and quickly read over the lyrics; Lilly assured me that the words will be on the screen but I can't read Equestrian that fast yet.
“You can do it!” A young voice to which I knew cried from the crowd. I found the bouncing figure in the crowd and it was Applesauce! No, Applebloom! But what's she doing here? I found that the whole Cutie Mark Crusaders where here and everyone from the orchard! I felt my tension rise even higher, not yet to the breaking point but I felt nervous. I tried to breathe and read the lyrics for the ninth time.

“Love is in bloom/
A beautiful bride, a handsome groom/
Two hearts becoming one 
A bond that cannot be undone because /
Love is in bloom 
A beautiful bride, a handsome groom/

I said love is in bloom 
You're starting a life and making room 
For us/”

And it just kinda looped like that. From what I gleaned from Lilly it's a whole lot better than the funeral dirge of “here comes the bride,” song. I translated what I could and there was some that I didn't have time, I'll just have to really just wing it.

Cactai flicked her hat off and took her place at the microphone as I took mine.
“Ready?” I asked trying to calm myself than anything else.
“Yeah,” Cactai nodded giving me an angry glance, now all her attention was on the screen. We sung, her voice was steady and light. Her voice would match a fiddle with the energy she commanded while mine was more akin to a cello with a bass thrum to it, eager for a more harder edge.
For the first stanza of lyrics I had translated went smoothly, it was when the screen scrolled to the paragraphs I had not yet translated did I falter and my performance went down tremendously, I wasn't familiar with the song at all and I wasn't really keeping up to the tune very well.
I hope this was just in my head and there isn't some judges sitting in the back to critique me. The song wasn't long, thank goodness, and there was no judges, double thank goodness, and everyone cheered and was having a good time. Glitterlamp stomped louder and cheered harder than any other pony in this saloon. To top things off I actually liked the song! It wasn't sad or downbeat! I couldn't get this wide, cheerful smile off my face and I didn't want it to end!
“Okay, yer turn!” Cactai's scowl was gone and was replaced with a wide smile with a distant look in her eyes.
“What?” I asked confused but happy with just going with the flow.
“Yer turn to pick a song, silly!” Cactai answered giving me a playful shove.
“I don't know any of your songs, and you won't know any of mine.” I said shaking my head. “Let's just say you win and put this behind us.”

“Winning? This isn't about winning! This was to see if you would chicken out, c`mon pick a song! Any song!” Cactai encouraged me.
“But it's gotta be a love song right?” I asked.
“Pretty much, I mean look at that.” Cactai pointed her hoof and the couples slow dancing in the Saloon. “Isn't that a beautiful sight?”
“A love song, I think I got one, but I don't know if you'll like it. Might send people runnin`.” I said nervously.
“Ponies,” she corrected me, “Just sing your heart out, if not now, when?” Cactai handed me the microphone and waited eagerly to see what song I'd pick. I held out my hand to Springdew/Glitterlamp beseechingly.
“I want to sing this song for Springdew but, I need Fearbane to do it.” I said with a tender gaze and the sword was deposited in my hand. The wings sprouted from my back and large monolithic speakers rose from either side of me. “I just wanted everyone here to know how I feel about you, my dear.” A general 'aww' emitted from the crowd and Cactai gasped at me then politely left the stage.
“You can do it! Let it our from your heart!” Lilly cheered. Glitterlamp was turning red and waved shyly at the crowd. I know the song came from Gemini Syndrome's “Stardust” but it was the song that stood out strongest right now.

I hope this wasn't that bad of an Idea.

I willed the song to play around me and to alter my voice so I could have a layered effect. I always loved that effect. The speakers throbbed with the hard bass kick that I hoped it wasn't too loud for them. The electric guitar was new to them and everyone was shocked at this new sound playing in their ears. I used Fearbane's pommel as if it was a microphone.

“I know this place, it smells like innocence lost/
We left the traces of the sins we bought/
But I wouldn't change a thing!/
It's just a waking dream!
Look at the wake from the stardust pouring from your eyes!/
You are perfect, you are perfect in my mind, and you won't fade away!”

I was lost in the music now, truly lost. The words which would have normally been hard to summon came so easy now, nothing was in this saloon. Nothing but me and Glitterlamp.

“I know this face it's so familiar/
I'm sure I know you but it's all a blur/
Now I can't recall a thing!/
It's such a wicked Dream!”

I sang with all of the power my passion had to offer. Glitterlamp's waves of adoration washed over me as I sang my love into an audible measurement.

“Praise to the memory living inside of me/
Host to entirety, writing my story/
Lusting and gluttony, so unbecoming/
The stardust is making me blind!/
But you won't be left behind! The memory is left to remind!!/”

Glitterlamp was at the edge of the stage and I was kneeling down holding my hand out to take her hoof in my hand. Never in the craziest moments in my life, no sane day of my life, no courage of my old life could muster, would I ever sing in public like this. Only through the trials that I have endured would have allowed me to stand up on this stage and live a near rockstar like dream.

“Look at the wake, from the stardust pouring from your eyes/
It's no mistake,/”

And this is where my memory starts to fail me! Might as well end it softly trailing off into the wind. The look of pure love filled Glitterlamp's eyes, I was very glad that she liked it that much.

“You are perfect, you are perfect in my mind./
And you won't fade away/”

I was now aware of the ponies around me now. The expressions were ranging up and down the emotion scale, some cheered, some were still rubbing their ears, some had simply left.

“You did it! You did it!” Sandie and Lil Dune pranced around me. “We knew you could!” 
“Hey, wanna come over for dinner? We could turn it into a party!” Braeburn asked cheerfully.
“Isn't it rather late? I'm tired.” I thought and Glitterlamp stepped forward.
“We'd love to! Could we have some of that apple pie to celebrate?”
“Sure!”

We started toward the door but something grabbed my hand and begun shaking it vigorously.
“Congratulations!” The stallion with the wobbly lip smiled happily. “Ah, to be young again.” He said wistfully and letting my hand go. Soon my hand was shaking every stallion's hoof in the saloon with robust affection.
“That's the way to do it gents!” A voice cheered me and shook my hand.
“I think my hand is gonna fall off.” I thought absently wondering what it would be like without having my left hand. Glitterlamp was surrounded by mares giggling and whispering. Glitterlamp felt like her hooves were going to leave the ground.

“What is going on? I just sung a song.” I thought looking around confused. Eventually we made it out of the door and into the cool air.
“That was so sweet of you, I wish something like that could happen to me.” Lilly said to me as we walked to Braeburn's house. “So, what are you gonna do for a ring?” I about spat out each tooth in my mouth.
“WHAT!?”