“I do not see the allure in allowing some wretched human a chance in a body like that. Your efforts to destroy my two pieces will be in vain, Father, and I think you know this.”
“You’re too sure of yourself, Garyx; Richards may still surprise you yet, as might all of this world filled with magnificent creatures. An old drake is often a wise one, who has seen many battles and calculated stratagems for assured victory. You spend all your time in Pandemonium, destroying places and civilizations in a blind rage, so you’re naturally blind to this fact as well, my son.”
“Oooooohhhh! Burnnnnnn!”
“.... Annoying.”
“.... Annnnd there he goes. Honestly, Father, why don’t you just smite him and be done with it? Garyx will continue to try and disrupt balance and order within the known multiverse forevermore, and you have the power to just snuff him out where he flies.”
“I know he stands against everything I am for, Kereska, but that is because he was cast into the shadow of both Tamara and Bahamut as just a hatchling; it was his self-born hatred of being in their ‘shadow’ that makes him act this way... and it’s possibly the same reason Falazure and Tiamat are so distant as well.”
“.... Feh. Do not lump me in with that sorry sack of scales, Father; Garyx is beneath us all, and you somehow manage to suffer through his ilk. You’ve proven to be a better drake than I, which is a harder task than you know.”
“Forever the braggart, forever the pariah.”
“Curve your tongue, Bahamut! I will no-”
“Enough! All of you. We watch and see.”
The walk back to Sunset’s place was quick and easy enough, causing me no small amount of trouble. Once I entered her cabin and deposited the groceries in their proper place, I opted to snatch an apple from the pound she bought. Munching happily on my red and juicy snack, I willed myself to enter the cold of Bullivia’s winter season once again.
Interestingly enough, the path before me was starting to receive soft drizzles of snow. Smiling greatly at the serenic scenery, I willed my nerves to calm themselves at possibly finding out who Sunset’s secret fling could be, and instead invoked some feelings of peace to match the beautiful sight of snow drift through barren trees.
“Although it can be considered rather morbid, the death of these trees really do bring about a sense of wonder. I always found it fascinating how they die and seem to just come right back, as if the soul was never gone, but just dormant.” Pursing my lips at how much of an old geezer I thought like, I decided to give myself another distraction; the red delicious apple never saw the bite coming. “.... These minotaurs know their way around some apples, too.”
In about five minutes of traversing the non-existent foliage of Sunset’s front forest area, Stonehaven once again greeted me with its high herbal and candy scents of the minotaurs’ Winter Gathering. “Yet they wear Santa uniforms and sing carols..... rather boisterous ones at that.” Indeed, the sound of baritone bulls invaded my eardrums like a war cadence. I gave notice to these voices and people by way of a sideways glance, making me chuckle as one of the bulls scooped up his - I’m assuming to be - child and placed the little scamp on his broad shoulders.
“Such a relaxing time... hard to believe Sunset might have a secret love interest, though. I know much, but not all. She’s gonna have a lot to explain.” Mixed feelings about my future predicament with this mystery pegasus ravaged my mind like an angry sea serpent, churning my forced-serenity asunder. “... Ugh, it’s probably someone from Granite Podium who didn’t get the memo that she’s my girl. This is gonna be hell-a awkward.”
“.... Even so.... I shouldn’t discount the possibility that this is all a huge misunderstanding.” Pinching the tip of my chin between my index finger and thumb, I hummed for what seemed like a solid minute and a half before finally realizing that I had returned to the Town Square. The many scents of freshly-baked apple pie and other types of pies filled the air; a titillating aroma that did a cracker job at infiltrating my nostrils and piquing my curiosity to try a bite.
Minotaurs flooded all around me, heading to stalls and buying toys or pastries. I spotted what seemed to be a flicker of red and yellow in this sea of monochromatic black, brown, and white. Some yellow cows and bulls were mixed in as well, all of them in appropriate winter clothing and having a gay old time.
“.... Shit!” I sucked my teeth and frowned. “I think that was Sunset.... damn it all.” Getting my giant bag of excuse me’s and pardon’s out from inside my chest, I started to weave my way rather sloppily through the sea of bovines. Many bumps were had, with me being on the end of some sucked teeth and slight glares, but I eventually reached the position at which I saw that glimmer of yellow and red.
Frowning even more at the girlfriend-less scenery presented before, I gave a heavy sigh and looked left and right. This search of mine was starting to look like a fruitless endeavor, but I didn’t want to give it up just yet. “Every step taken feels like she’s getting closer... but it always seems like she gives me the slip right when I catch up..... is she doing this on purpose?... was it really her at all?”
My crowd-weaving became enhanced as I focused on those little glimpses of red and yellow, my body sliding in and out of skinny openings within this line of minotaur defenses. Less people were being bumped as I sped up, gaining ground on the elusive color scheme just in front of me. “It’s small enough to be her! Come on... just reach out and touch!”
Narrowing my eyes, I cleared my throat just as I touched the sliver of red and yellow coloring. To my infinite displeasure, it was nothing more than a floral-patterned round suitcase, which was being tugged around by a mare; a mare who saw fit to turn her head around and frown at me.
Timidity and an overwhelming sense to apologize profusely gripped at my body as I smiled sheepishly, knowing fully well that I had succeeded in embarrassing myself in front of this mare; a woman who stood almost on equal height as Sunset, but looked aged.
Soft mocha hair gave way to a prim and proper gold mane and tail. Even though it should have came as no surprise that ponies wear clothes, this mare took it to the next by having on a purple suit jacket with white undershirt and gold coin necklace. A tinted-purple scarf was wrapped around her neck either for warmth or accessorizing, with a gold and purple ear piercing on the bottom section of her left ear.
I gave a nervous cough as she cleared her throat, putting a hoof in front of her mouth to remain civilized. “Uh.... sorry for grabbing your bag, ma’am. Y’see, I was just looking for my...” Blinking rapidly about three times, this mare got the silence her suddenly-raised hoof deserved; a part of me wondering why I stopped talking, regardless if she wanted to speak or not.
“The professional course of action - if that is indeed the case - was to not grab my suitcase, but to make your presence known either verbally or with a clearing of your throat.” Her permanent frown could dishearten even the brightest of optimists, and it certainly made me a little apprehensive. “You’ve earned points by apologizing first and foremost, but the overall rating I am giving this first meeting is atrocious; four out of ten, would most definitely not do again.”
“Ah fuck; I done pissed off quite the character. I’m gonna try to clear the air, though; it would help having another pony acquaintance.” My thinking done, I hastily coughed into a claw and cleared my throat, looking back down at her with a completely stoic face. “Again, I must apologize for my rudeness, ma’am. I’m Silas Epista, and it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I had to squat just a tiny bit in order to extend my claw out to her, which she eyed down with pursed lips before placing her hoof in it and giving me a surprisingly-firm shake. “.... Harshwhinny, and the feeling may become mutual depending on how well you turn this first encounter around.”
“Well she’s not pulling any punches; although I am a believer in brutal honesty, I can’t help but feel a little intimidated by those striking eyes of hers; feels like my best will never be enough, and that she’s always expecting more.” I hid the minute frown which followed that thought. “.... She reminds me of my whore of a mother: that judgemental air, that suit jacket, and those heartless, analytic eyes.”
Sitting back on her haunches, Harshwhinny began to tap her left forehoof. My blunder was noted quickly, and I stumbled over a couple of words as I scrambled mentally for something to open up the conversation with. “U-uh... sooo.... what brings you to Bullivia?” She raised her eyebrow, making me swallow a suddenly-erected mountain in my throat. “Uh... is it... business, by chance?”
“Seeing as how you’re not a collegue of mine, that information shall not be disclosed. However, I will say that I find it odd how you could possibly be interested in my life.” Slightly turning her head away, Harshwhinny investigated a stall that was selling churros, surprisingly.
“Hmm.... my hunger grows. Pardon me for a second, Mister Epista.” Trotting over to the stall, she took two bits out of her chest pocket using her mouth and placed them up for the operator to slide away into a bucket. It was then that I noticed the weird anatomy of ponies up close; how their hooves were used like hands as Harshwhinny grabbed the napkin surrounding her treat perfectly.
Clearing my throat now that this mare had succeeded in throwing me off, I decided to try and save this sinking vessel once more. “I grabbed your bag earlier because I was looking for my girlfriend.... she’s the same color scheme of that suitcase, you see.” Scratching the side of my face as she took a dainty bite, I could feel my resolve melting away. “I lost her in the sea of minotaurs surrounding Town Square.”
Swallowing her bite silently, Harshwhinny affixed me with a quizzical glance. “It sounds as if you’re asking me to help you find her.” The napkin rustled a bit as she moved the churro back up for yet another small portion of her snack. “Because if that’s the case, then I’m afraid you’re better off looking for her instead of wasting time talking to me.”
I frowned a bit at that. “I’m not wasting my time. We live in the same house, and she’s been living here longer than I have. Sunset’s perfectly capable of finding her way back to the house.”
“Well, she’s done a crackerjack job of losing you in a crowd.”
Growling lowly at how much of a nuisance this mare is being, my thoughts joined up in order to bring one thing to past; I wanted more than anything to put this mare in her place, so I showed my severe distaste of her attitude by way of balling my claws up into tight fists and stomping my foot powerfully. I felt that appendage sink into the ground, nearly throwing me off balance as Harshwhinny’s eyes widened. Some minotaurs stopped and looked our way as I snarled a bit in growing rage.
“You apathetic harpy! You rant on an’ on about keeping it professional, but I’ve had it up to here...” I nearly jabbed myself in the head with the side of my leveled claw, the wrist sitting right next to my left temple. “...with your hypocrisy! You have been downright dreadful, the absolute worst in terms of conversation partners!” With every annoyance-filled exclamation, Harshwhinny stepped back a pace and started to shiver in fear. “How about you keep it professional and start treating me with the same amount of respect I’m showing you!?”
I could feel my face heat up, and just as I was about to lay into the mare some more, there was a soft tugging on the right side of my jacket. Snapping my head around, I noticed that Sunset’s aura was taking up the space around my bottom pocket and tugging softly. She herself was looking at me with pursed lips and a slight glare, letting me know I crossed the line with how bad I exploded on Harshwhinny.
Trying to settle my nerves, I felt what anger remained begin to slip away softly. It ebbed off my body in calming tides, filling my being with slowly-surfacing serenity. I could feel the sensation sending shivers up my spine as my gaze became lost in Sunset’s disapproving look. Sighing once more, I turned my head back towards Harshwhinny and pursed my lips. “..... I’m sorry.”
Harshwhinny cleared her throat and coughed into the napkin she had been using to eat her churro. “.... Likewise. I - um - hope we can put our differences aside and move on from this event.” She then stood up - and seemed to shy away a bit - as I saw Sunset nod at her. “I was not expecting to happen upon the daughter of Golden Shimmer and Pure Skies.” Dipping her head in homage just a tad, Harshwhinny pulled at her collar a bit and looked away.
“To think the prestigious and professional Ms. Harshwhinny would be over here in Bullivia; what might be your business?” Sunset walked in front of me and sat down, flipping some of her mane out of her eye.
Ms. Harshwhinny pursed her lips, looking at me with a glance of “You’re lucky Sunset is here.” before sighing and puffing her chest back out. “... Well.... if you must know, Miss Sunset, I am currently on vacation.”
“ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME, MATE!?” Frowning minutely at that rather shallow reason for brushing me off earlier, I crossed my arms and tapped my left foot in growing annoyance. “She’s just like my fucking mother..... one thing’s for certain, she’s definitely not staying anywhere near us. I might end up catching my first murder charge...”
“Of course you can hitch a ride back to Canterlot.”
I nearly felt my eyes leap from their sockets, a mental reminder going out to ensure widening my eyes that fast would never be done again. Even so, I couldn’t help but keep a constant look of shock leveled at Sunset, before the only sensible thing I could think of left my mouth. “..... Abuhhhh?”
At this, both mares looked at me with raised eyebrows. Sunset spoke for the both of them. “.... Was that not clear? I said Ms. Harshwhinny can hitch a ride back to Canterlot on Judgement when we finally decide to set off. There isn’t a problem with that, right?” The way she said it let me know immediately that she wouldn’t stand for any backtalk on the subject, but I let her know with a slight glare that we’ll be having words later.
Giving a sigh, Sunset turned back to Harshwhinny and cleared her throat. “It’s settled. We have two more days left before we leave. You won’t have a problem with waiting, will you,” Sunset asked in annoyance, earning just a nod from the pseudo-professional mare in front of us. Returning the nod with one of her own, Sunset proceeded to cross my path in order to go home.
“Good. We’ll convene at my place before eight in the morning. My cabin is in the western section of the forest,” Sunset continued, stopping her brisk walk just before entering the out-of-earshot range. Looking over her right shoulder, she smiled sweetly before jerking her head west. “There’s a trail leading from Ol Man’ Timber’s Antique Emporium; follow it, and you’ll be at my cabin in about five minutes.”
Sticking my claws back into my pockets, I decided to follow after Sunset, not wanting to even look back at Harshwhinny. “Guess there’s all types in this world; I should have expected there to be someone like my mom here, regardless if it’s a pony or not. Now that she’s coming along with us to Canterlot, I’ll lose my chance to have some quality alone time with Sunset and Donna. Fucking hell... this day just went from O.K to Shite in about 2.6 seconds.”
Sucking my teeth quietly, I spat a wad of agitation and saliva onto the ground. “I refuse to be given the short end of the stick for much longer. Something’s gonna give, and Sunset’s gonna learn real quick that there’s two legs to the relationship pants and not four.”