//------------------------------// // Chapter One // Story: Try Again // by I Like Pie //------------------------------// It's hard to walk away. It's hard to give up. I just need to try. That's kinda hard when every time I think of Twilight Sparkle anger rushes through me. Maybe I shouldn't try to forget and forgive. She took my town. She was the one who got others to destroy my property! Every single day I plot revenge. It doesn't seem to work. The plans are to crazy. To obvious. I need too be sneaky. I need to be smart. I also think about my old friend Sunburst. He's the one who gave me my philosophy without even knowing. I wonder what he'd think if he knew what I've gone through... He'd probably see me as a maniac. A criminal. Then again, who cares what he thinks! He's not better than any pony else! A bunch of curse words rush through my head. For the last few day I've been living a pitiful life. Every day I eat small bits of grass and sandy dirt. If I'm lucky I can find some form of pure water. Usually, I'm not that lucky. Ninety nine precent of the time I have to eat mud, germ-y water, or if I'm really unlucky, my very own spit. Twilight did what she did about three months ago. I can't believe her simple (yet powerful actions) have changed my life so much. Why is that? She's no better than anypony else. A pair of pretty pony wings, a horn, and the horrible tittle as princess can't make her the best of the best. All of that just gives her an inflated ego. More mean insults about her rush through my head. Currently I sit in the middle of a desert. I draw diagrams in the warm sand with the tip of a hoof. "Why hello, little lady." Someone suddenly says next to me. He startles me. I leap to my feet and stare at him. I haven't seen any ponies since Twilight did her thing.. Look, I don't want keep on going into detail about it. He's a muscular stalion unicorn. He wears a rubber band with shark teeth on it and his dirty orange is tied back in a braid. His coat is a light blue, his eyes are also orange, and he also has a small and scruffy beard. He wears the types of clothes you'd expect a bandit to wear. Neither one of us speak for a moment or two, but he then speaks. "Oh, I had a hypothesis that you were the talkative type, I think that was easily debunked." He laughs at his own joke. "The name's Starlight Glimmer," I say getting into the cheerful act I used as the mayor of that former town of equality. "What's yours?" A smile appears on his face. "So it seems like there's some talkative stuff in you. The name's Sharp Hooves, local bandit at your service." He uses his magic to tip a fedora that's on his head. I roll my eyes. "And you're just going to tell me that?" He laughs again. "I didn't use my real name. My wife is the only one who gets to know that! Anyways," He stands on his hind legs. "You're Starlight Glimmer! Everypony knows you." "What!" I have a feeling my eyes look like saucers. "You look really cute when you get surprised." He laughs once more. He gets ready to continue speaking but I clear my throat and start speaking. "Don't you have a wife?" I glare at him. "Indeed I do, I just like complementing my fellow peers. Isn't that what a kind pony does?" I snort loudly and this time Sharp Hooves is the one who rolls his eyes. "Anyways, Starlight everypony knows you. You're a infamous criminal. Wanted posters for you are everywhere." I hate that I'm considered a criminal. I shouldn't be considered one! I just pass around philosophy. "Oh. Okay!" I snap. It comes out more angry than I wanted it to be. Sharp Hooves then walks up so close to Starlight that they can feel one another's breath. "You also look cute when you're angry. I definitely should take note of that..." A smug smile appears on his lips. "You know what, Daylight Clay-mer-" That's the final straw! "Starlight. It's Starlight. Starlight Glimmer!" I start staring him down. He suddenly gives me a cross eyed and joking stare accompanied by a goofy grin but then it disappears. "Okay. Okay. Starlight Glimmer, why don't I take you a camp of mine. It's full of bandits. I bet it's just like the town you once were mayor of. It's a great opportunity." "Oh. So you're now poetic?" He gives me a smile. "You know what, I'll come with you. It seems like an interesting opportunity. Thanks, Sharp Hooves." He tips his hat again (this time with a hoof). "It's my please, darling. Let's get going, Starly Glammir." I shove him jokingly and he falls down with a soft thud. "It's Starlight Glimmer! How many times will I have to tell you this? Will this be a running joke?" He laughs in his usual way. "Maybe, sweetheart. Why don't we get going." He then quickly leaps to his hooves with as much dignity as possible but he still looks foolish. I let out a sigh and roll my eyes once more. "I really don't think you actually have a real wife." We start walking. "That's just a hypothesis for now. Hope you enjoy this." He gives me a wink.