//------------------------------// // VIII: The Running Mare // Story: ...And It's Freaking Cold Up Here // by TailsIsNotAlone //------------------------------// I sit up in bed the next morning and open my eyes. Not that it makes any difference. As I slide down to the floor and stub my hoof on the bedpost, I decide two things: it's going to be a rough day, and my mood is going to match. Maybe it's because I'm goddamn sick and tired of being blind, maybe it's because I didn't finish my cig last night, maybe it's because I didn't sleep well after Spike got me thinking about Beth again...or maybe it's just that I have to wait one more day to get out of here and take Snowdrop's silly vase to the castle ruins. "Twilight!" I call as I stumble out of her room. I hate having to remember where the doorway is and how far I am from the stairs. "Good morning, Jay!" she calls up from the landing. "How did you sleep?" "Lousy! But I don't need you carrying me to your bed every morning after you wake up. I've slept in worse places than a hallway. I can handle it, all right?" "Oh...all right. I was only trying to help." She sounds embarrassed. Good. I keep one hoof on the bannister and trip very slowly down the stairs. Maybe I do want that flying lesson from Rainbow. "Help? If you want to help me, dig into your bag of magic tricks and make my eyes work again. How's that for an experiment?" "Well, there are several possibilities that exist for correcting a pony's vision," she says carefully, "But I'm not sure if they would do any good. Your body has a significantly higher concentration of magic than a normal pony's, and it's impossible to be sure of the result. You didn't respond at all to a temporary color changing spell, yet my teleportation spell caused you extreme discomfort. I'm afraid it would be irresponsible of me to--" "Forget that! I'll take responsibility! Just think of something!" "I'll try, Jay," she says softly. "You have my word. In the meantime, are you ready for breakfast?" "I don't feel like it," I finally get to the landing and walk unceremoniously to the door. "Where are you going?" "Out!" She sounds worried. "But you don't know your way around Ponyville that well yet! You should take somepony with you." "I don't want anypony with me--and it's body! Anybody, as in person! Human being! Now leave me the hell alone." I slam the door behind me and stalk out into the front yard. A light rain is falling and there's some wind, too. I don't care. I'm tired of staying in that uncomfortable treehouse and mooching off of Twilight. I've got a job to do, princess-tested and Snowdrop-approved, and I want to go do it and get out of here! What am I going to miss about this crazy place anyway? I have no clue where to go, so I stay here fuming and muttering to myself. It must look pretty weird to anyone passing by. Well, forget them. I didn't ask to be here. My coat is getting wet. I don't know how long I've been sitting there when the sound of flapping wings seeps through the rain. Something plunks down next to me in the wet grass. "Hey." It's Rainbow Dash. I relax a little, without answering. "So, you got tired of hanging out at Egghead Central Headquarters, huh?" I grunt. "Something like that." "I don't blame ya. Twi is cool in her own way, but..." I shake my head. "It's my fault. I woke up feeling shitty and I took it out on her." "...Oh. Been there, dude." We don't say anything for a while. The rain keeps falling. "Hey. Let's get outta here." "And go where?" I turn to her as she stands up again. She shakes the water out of her feathers, spraying me with a fine mist. "Anywhere. Just up." I have nowhere else to be, so I nod. She wraps her front hooves around me. One flap of her wings shoulders gravity aside and I'm in the air. The wind yields with a gentle roar as we take off. She's right; the destination doesn't matter. We're everywhere and nowhere. The only warm and solid thing is her, and it's enough. I might stay like this forever if I could. Even the best flier in the world has to get tired sometime, though, so I make myself as small a burden as I can. Don't move or speak; be a part of her. It seems to work. Finally we level off. The wind slows down and my hooves touch a surface again. I know right away it's a cloud, but different from the one I woke up on. It feels much larger and thicker, more like a bounce house than cotton candy. I even catch a whiff of it; it smells old and dry. The air is thin and cold and I don’t feel wet anymore. We must be even higher than the rain. "This is it, kid." I swallow hard. "What?" "The highest place in Cloudsdale, like Luna was talking about," she's breathing hard. It must have taken a lot out of her to get me here. "This is where it ends, when you get the snowflakes and all. Just thought I'd let you get a feel for it." "...Thanks." I'm shaking, but not because I'm scared. "And there's nopony else up here. Anything you want to say now, kid, is between us and the sky." I take a tentative step forward. "Plenty of room." I pace back and forth for a while, like I'm on the sideline at a game--a losing game. "I need to get out of the library," I say. "Twilight means well and Spike's a lot cooler than I thought he'd be. But it's not working." I jab a hoof into the cloud. It doesn't give much. "I'm so weak. Just a child. A disabled child. I fucking hate this. I'm sick of feeling helpless and I want my eyes back. Just one minute and I'd still have my eyes, do you know that? And my body. All I had to do was leave my place one minute earlier, one minute later, and this doesn't happen. The drunk never crashes into me and I'm still back there, doing...whatever. I was on my way to the gas station. Who knows what time it is over there now?" I pace some more. I'm overflowing with emotion; my heart feels too big for my body. "I want to wake up in the hospital again and see Beth. I don't want to get back together with her or anything. That's gone. I just want her to be there so I can tell her I'm sorry for being a jerk." "Beth? Your...ex?" I nod. "You still love her?" I feel my eyes getting wet, and squeeze them shut. "Love. Goddamit, is that all anyone ever talks about? What does love mean anyway? How can one word sum up all the stuff that really matters?" Dash doesn't reply, just waits for me to get it out of my system. "Like the way she would cook for me even when I wasn't hungry, just to show that she cared? Or the time she dented the fender on the Corvette and I liked her so much I just laughed it off? Was that love? How about the time her dad and I got drunk and fought and I knocked one of his teeth out, but he still gave us his blessing a few months later just to make her happy? Saying 'I love you' doesn't capture that, Rainbow. It can't. Especially when it wasn't true anymore and we went on saying it anyway." I’m out of words. She gives me a minute to wipe my eyes before she walks up next to me. “I think I kinda know what you mean.” I look up in her direction. “You? Rainbow, we were married as long as you’ve been alive.” “I mean my parents, doofus. They just kinda stopped feeling it after a while.” “What happened?” “They stuck around, for me,” she says. “’Cause they were really cool. Where do you think I got it from, huh?” I smirk. “And then later when I moved out…that was it. They just went and did their own thing. I still see ‘em sometimes,” I sense that she’s looking at me. “You have any kids?” “Nope.” “Ever gonna?” “…I’m just trying to take care of myself right now. It’s about all I was ever good at.” “Oh, yeah?” she thumps me hard on the back. Ouch. “Well, be sure to tell that to all those ponies down there after you save ‘em from the sickest winter ever!” I cough. “Ow. Abuse. Abuse!” “Too hard?” “I think you knocked something loose, you big oaf,” I wink in her direction. “I kinda feel lighter now.” “A little thing like you? You can’t afford to lose any more weight, kid!” she grabs my head with her hooves and gives me a quick noogie. “Don’t call me kid,” I smile a little, until I feel something fall out of my mane and land on the cloud right in front of us. Three guesses… Rainbow stops. “Hey, what’s that?” Something had to spoil the moment. I gulp. “Um…well, that’s…” “Sure is a funny looking box. Hmm…” It sounds like she’s picked it up. Now she’s sniffing it. “Hey! I thought you smelled kinda like smoke, but I figured it was from Twi’s magic or something. It’s these things, isn’t it? What the heck are they?” No way out of this one; I have to tell her. Someone else was bound to find out eventually. “I’ll tell you, Rainbow, but you have to keep it between us,” I put a hoof around her shoulder. “They’re called cigarettes. And don’t touch ‘em if you ever want to make the Wonder Colts.” “Wonderbolts, dude.” “Whatever,” I fidget slightly. Hundreds of feet up, nopony else around, didn’t get a decent smoke last night… “Give me one of those, will you?” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ By the time Rainbow and I get back from Cloudsdale, I’m done bitching and I feel ready for anything. I don't even worry about not being able to see the leaves. They'll all be down by the end of the day anyway, and then we can get to work. I might as well try to enjoy myself until then. If Snowdrop’s plan works, it could be the last free day I ever have here. Fluttershy told me all about pony holidays while we waited for Rainbow and Applejack to warm up, and just as I thought, everything is done manually. The leaves have to be removed from the trees by the ponies. It sounds like a pain in the ass to me, but somehow they make it fun. A lot of trees are stripped with controlled windstorms created by the pegasi, but near towns and cities it becomes a real festival. A bunch of ponies run a marathon all over the place, and the vibrations from their hooves bring down the leaves. Twilight is busy using her magic to dry the dirt roads. I have to remember to apologize to her later. But enough of that. It's time to do what I do best: coach. "All right Dash, you ready?" Her wings flutter with nervous excitement. "Born ready, kid!" "That reminds me, get those wings tied up. None of your Sonic Raincoats or those other tricks you do." "Rainbooms!" "Whatever. Now focus. You need to use your head out there. To you this is just another race. To A.J., it's personal. All she cares about is beating you. Unless you want to tie for last place the third year in a row, don't waste time taunting her, showing off, or playing dirty.” Rainbow growls. “She always starts it! You think I’m gonna let her get one up on me?” “I’ve got a friendship lesson for you, Rainbow. Real friends are always with you, whether you win or lose. Your ego is not your friend. Why? ‘Cause when you lose, it abandons you. Goes right out the window. Your talent is your friend. No matter what happens, that’ll always be with you. Use your talent, forget about everything else, and you can win this race. Got it?” “All right, Jay, I’ll think about it." I give her a suspicious look. "Hey, don't worry about me. I got this!" Rainbow says excitedly. "Now go find A.J. and coach her, okay? She's the one who really needs it." I shrug. "All right, if that's what you want. Good luck." "Thanks kid, but I won't need it. Hey, Fluttershy!” she flags down the other Pegasus, who kindly leads me to Applejack on the other side of the field. There’s a real buzz in the air out here. Dozens, maybe hundreds of ponies are talking all around us. One conversation really catches my ear: “Okay, Bulk Biceps. This is the moment of truth. Are you ready to race?” asks a mare with a bright, energetic voice. “YEAH!” a very loud stallion answers her. “Are you ready to run hard enough to shake down every leaf within a five-mile radius of Ponyville?” “YEEEEAAAAH!” “Enough already, Lyra. You really think he needs a pep talk?” says another mare with a lower, stranger voice. “Give us a minute, Bon Bon. Are you READY to carry me if I can’t run on two legs anymore?!” “YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHH!” the stallion roars, nearly busting our eardrums. “I still think that’s a bad idea,” Bon Bon says disapprovingly. “You’re going to be sore for a week...” Their voices fade as we pass them by. The more I hang around here, the more I understand how close this world really is to the human one. Obviously there are no humans, no bars, no football on TV or any TVs at all. But they sure use a lot of our ideas and inventions…or I thought they were ours. Did the ponies have 'em first? Maybe they're not separate at all and things from one world just spill over into another. Damned if I know. I'm the kid who skipped philosophy class and threw around the old pigskin instead. I snap out of it as Fluttershy sticks out a hoof and stops me. “Here we are. Um …Applejack?” “…Darn high-falutin’ pony,” Applejack mutters. It sounds like she’s talking to herself, not us. “I know we’re friends and all, but sometimes…” “Excuse me…Applejack…” Fluttershy says softly. She still doesn’t notice us. “I got half a mind to keep her wings tied after this old race is over with. Spendin’ a little more time on the ground with the rest of us just might do her some good.” “Yo! We’re here,” I yell out. “Well, howdy, Jay and Fluttershy! Didn’t see you there. Hey, Big Mac! Granny Smith! Apple Bloom! Come on over here and meet our friend Jay.” “Hmm?! Wha? Well, I’ll be jiggered if you’re not the cutest lil’ filly I ever saw!” rasps a very old-sounding mare. I hope that’s Granny. “I already saw her at school,” Apple Bloom grumbles. “She thinks she’s a colt. And an alien.” Big McIntosh just says “howdy.” “Nice to meet you, ma’am. Foal. Big fella.” I nod to them in turn. “I ain’t a foal!” Bloom yells. “I’m gonna get my cutie mark any day now, you’ll see!” “No I won’t,” I grin, pointing to my eyes. “As far as I can see, you’ll always be a…what was it you said yesterday? A blank--" “Now that’s enough of that, Jay,” Applejack warns, taking me aside. “You’re supposed to be older than her, for cryin’ out loud.” I blush. She’s right; I guess I’m not myself today…or maybe the whole idea of “myself” is changing after a few days in a different body. Snowdrop’s voice doesn’t seem that strange coming out of my mouth anymore, my hearing and sense of touch seem sharper, and my wings are starting to itch--almost like I really want to use them. I’m not sure how I feel about that. “Now, it looks like the race is about to start. You got any last-minute pointers for me?” The farmpony is professional and mature, the kind of player I would want on my team. In fact, she will be when we take off for the forest tomorrow. I clear my throat and try to get back into a coaching frame of mind. “First I’ve got a question for you, A.J. What do you want to accomplish here today?” “I want to beat Rainbow and win that race, of course.” I decide to throw her a curve ball. I look straight towards her and square my shoulders. “Bollocks. No chance.” She’s so shocked that it takes her a moment to answer. “’Scuse me? You saying I can’t do it? Well! I’ve heard some rude things in my day, but--” “Listen. You’re talking about two different things, Applejack. Getting the last laugh on Dash, which you would really like to do…and actually winning the race, which you can do if you stop worrying about Dash. Which one is more important to you?” “Well, I…” she hesitates. “I don’t rightly know, sugar. I never thought of it that way.” “Well, now's the time. Remember: you can compete with Rainbow any day. The Running of the Leaves happens only once a year. That’s your last-minute pointer. Good luck.” “Jay! Good thing I found you!” It’s Spike. “The Running starts any second. You wanna ride in the balloon with me and Pinkie?” “What for? She can’t even see,” Apple Bloom says. All of the adults quickly scold her. I’d better take the high road this time. “Don’t worry about it, guys. Besides, she’s right. Why take me of all ponies?” “I’m doing the live commentary with Pinkie. That way you’ll know exactly what’s going on,” Spike pauses. “Please?” I give in and follow him. Besides, I want to be at the finish line when the winner crosses. We float over the race as it begins. Hundreds of hooves thunder over the countryside, and thousands of dry leaves fall crackling to the ground in their wake. Spike and Pinkie call every step of the action on microphones--really, Spike calls the action while Pinkie says whatever crazy thing comes into her mind. At least she doesn't sing. It’s a battle between the pegasus’ speed and the earth pony’s endurance. Sometimes Dash is in the lead, sometimes A.J. Sometimes it's a pony I've never heard of; Thunder Lemon? Ditz Kicker? I can't keep all these names straight. Twilight Sparkle catches up with A.J. and Dash on the homestretch. Spike says she won fifth place in her first Running by saving energy for the end. Pinkie says she doesn’t think Rainbow Dash ever runs out of energy. I silently wonder if Applejack can pull it out. Maybe, if she took my advice to heart more than Rainbow did... The first racers are nearing the finish line. I don’t have to see it; Pinkie and Spike paint a picture in my mind. Dash and A.J. can see Twilight running between them, but not each other. Not knowing which one might be ahead, they just throw everything they have into the rest of the run. They roar across the finish line, and it’s so close that we can’t even tell who won. But I hear Apple Bloom and Granny Smith cheering on the sideline as we lower the balloon, and then I know. Spike takes me over to Dash. “Jay. I…uh…” her voice is ragged from exhaustion, and she's too shocked to say very much. “…Decided to give her a break, huh?” I interrupt with a wink. A pause, and then she coughs out a laugh. “Yeah. Let’s just say that.” “Because you never lose.” “Glad we understand each other, kid.” “So am I,” I smile, and before I can stop myself I'm stepping up and sort of leaning against her. She leans back. There it goes: 37 years of smoking, drinking macho cred down the drain, and I don't even mind. Damn you, Snowdrop.