//------------------------------// // Speak // Story: Thunderous Wrath // by SweetPeachTea //------------------------------// "You'll wear this. Understood?" A cap was promptly produced and placed on my head, the article of clothing now covering my horn completely. It itched slightly, and I moved to arrange it, though my motor skills were still considerably lacking. Sunset Shimmer eventually aided me, making sure it was settled both comfortably and firmly upon my little skull. Once it was snug she pulled away with a smile. "Looking good," she nickered. I pretended not to notice the amusement on her face and instead turned to look outside of the hotel room we had purchased for the next few days. The window was covered in a thin layering of dust, but, I could still recognize that it was early morning. The sky appeared mostly clear, taking on a familiar shade of dull blue as the sun began its journey across the sky. "Raiden." A hoof was placed upon my shoulder and I blinked up at Sunset. "We'll have lessons during lunch, okay? But, for now, I need to fetch us something to eat. I'm going to trust you to move around on your own. But you need to promise you won't take off your cap, okay?" I nodded and she raised a brow in response. After a moment of lingering silence I quickly realized she was awaiting a verbal reply. "I will not remove my cap," I said. She smiled and trotted past, appeased. "Good! I'll go get us some breakfast. I'll be a while, so, why don't you walk outside for a bit? Don't wander too far, alright?" Humming in response, I heard as the door gently open and clicked shut. I was alone, it seemed. I was surprised that she trusted me to make my own decisions in this strange place - but, I did not complain nor question it. I crawled onto the single bed that both I and my recently acquired guardian had slept upon. It had rained the previous night, and we had been blessed with the fortune of coming across the small settlement. Dodge Junction, it was called. What an odd name. Yet, there was no real point in questioning the origin behind it. - - - "Seven bits," the stallion said. "H-here." Both of us were trembling terribly and Sunset Shimmer had wrapped her cloak protectively around my tiny form. The stallion peered down at me as he accepted the coins, his eyes gleaming with pity. I was bundled up so tightly that barely any of me could be seen. He likely only witnessed a sniffling little snout and a few wispy blue hairs. "That yer foal there, ma'am?" He asked, rubbing his chin. "U-um. Yes," she said, uncertain. Her hooves wrapped around me securely, the hold somewhat possessive. The stallion offered up a warm grin. "Well, the kitchen's closed up now. But, we still have some leftover soup. Ah'll bring some for ya and that filly of yers. What's her name?" Sunset Shimmer's eyes darted about for a moment. It was obvious she hadn't thought of such a situation occurring. Surprising, really, seeing as she was a highly intelligent mare. Eventually, she stammered out a reply. "L-Little Light." "Oh! Heh! What a charming name ya got there, filly," he said, chuckling. "Well, Little Light, no worries. Ah'll have a meal coming right up." The meal had been pleasant and warmed me fairly quickly. As we dried off and partook in the meal, I couldn't help but acquire a taste for vegetable soup on that night. I exited both the room and simply structured hotel, somewhat eager to explore the innards of this settlement. There weren't many others wandering about. The early hours was likely to blame for this. The day had just started, but, still, there was the occasional movement and someone of interest that passed. Those whom bothered to glance in my direction did so repeatedly, somewhat bewildered by my noteworthy features. In all honesty, I was much more perplexed by their own, noting the varied pastel coloring of their manes and pelts. "Well, hello there!" I backpedaled for a moment, having been too distracted to properly avoid the mare walking in my general direction. The cap shifted and I hurried to correct it before standing fully, blinking owlishly up at the interesting-looking pony who greeted me. "Now! Aren't ya the cutest thing!" The pony whom had so eagerly greeted me offered an affectionate nuzzle, the scent of cherry immediately flooding my nostrils as they flared. It wasn't entirely unpleasant, but, I was unsure of how to reply. So, once released, I retreated several steps and bowed my head politely. "It's nice to meet you. I'm..." Pause. "... Little Light." "Well! Hello, Little Light! Ya lost? Poor dear. It's real early, usually little fillies like yerself are tucked in bed snoozin' the day away." "I'm not from around here, ma'am," I replied. "Oh! Hm. Well, that does make plenty o' sense. Don't see many pegasi 'round these parts. And I think I would've remember seein' somethin' as adorable as yerself," she crooned. "Plus yer accent reminds me of the folk down in Ponyville. Ya from there?" She was a pretty creature, her pelt a creamy coloration and her curly mane carrying an impressive amount of volume. A pink ribbon was wrapped around her neck, finished up in a slack blow that hung loosely yet still managed to appear charming. A beauty mark, likely her most defining feature, was stamped upon her cheek - and cherries served as her mark. Odd, have I ever questioned the reasoning behind these marks? It was at that moment that I remembered Sunset Shimmer explaining them to me at length several nights before. - - - "These represent your talent, Raiden." I concentrated on my flank, scowling at the mark. "My talent? What would this mean, Sunset Shimmer?" "Perhaps you've a talent for wielding electrical magics?" She said, smiling at me. "It would make the most sense. Plus, your name and appearance are... curious - and defining. Ponies names and even their appearance often match their respective cutie marks." "I suppose that would indeed make the most sense," I reply. "In my previous life, I was renown for my ability to wield such power. Yet, at the moment, most of it is out of my reach." I felt something akin to frustration bubbling within me as I forced myself to admit to this. "I'm actually curious about your past, Raiden," Sunset said. "Can you tell me about it?" "I..." Something caused my head to throb as I spoke, my attempt at fetching these memories resulting in an immediate headache. I felt as though it had somehow immediately drained me. I shook my head and Sunset Shimmer's expression became pinched with obvious concern as I curled up near the fire and spoke no more. - - - My belly rumbled and I felt a tinge of embarrassment, my cheeks warming. The mare chortled as though she had found it quite amusing. "Haven't eaten yet, my dear? Come on over with me. I'm heading back to my stand. We're settin' up real early 'fore the customers come flowin' in. We'll get something in that belly of yers." I think of my guardian and opened my mouth to politely refuse... only to be nudged along, the mare insistent. Eventually, I found myself surrounded by an assortment of stalls, the scents flowing from each individual one tempting me. Somehow all the carts appeared dry despite the heavy rain that had occurred the previous night. Perhaps they had simply took the initiative and covered up their property after they had closed the day before? Mares and stallions both were prepping, arranging vegetables or fruits in a neat order so that customers could look on and select from the whatever was made available. The options appeared wide and varied, yet I couldn't help but notice the absolute lack of meat vendors. "Here ya are!" She plucked up a few cherries by their stem and placed them before me. "Oh - I - thank you, ma'am," I said. "No need to be so stiff, hun," she drawled. "Ain't gonna hurt ya none. Folks 'round here are right friendly. Well, most of 'em, at least." The mare moved to address the stallion who was likely in charge of looking over the stand as I hesitantly went about consuming the cherry. My way of eating was still quite sloppy, and red juice spilled out of my mouth and down my lips as I chewed, temporarily staining my blue coat. The adult female chuckled at this and quickly produced a handkerchief before wiping it away. It felt oddly nice to be treated this way. "Cherry Jubilee." "Hm?" I blinked up at her in bewilderment. "The name's Cherry Jubilee, darlin'," she drawled. "Yer folks visitin' for a spell?" "Well my... mother is here for a moment. We're traveling, so, we decided to rest here for a few days." "Oh! Now, ain't that curious. Where's yer ma, Little Light? She know yer out here in the shopping district?" Her smile remained in place, but, there was the tiniest flicker of concern in her eye. I nodded my head and she appeared relieved. "Well, that's good! I'd hate ta make a foal's ma worry. Still hungry?" "I'm fine, ma'am. I actually had a que -" "R - Little Light!" "Oh, is that her?" I turned around, greeted by the sight of the mare who had taken it upon herself to take care of me. Sunset Shimmer approached at a fairly hurried pace, a prominent scowl on her muzzle. "We need to return to the hotel," she said. "Well! Hello -" "Oh, I'm sorry. We're in a rush. I hope she wasn't bothering you, ma'am," the unicorn interrupted. It was obvious something was wrong. Anxiety rolled off of her like waves and her body language clued me into her unwillingness to merely stand by and indulge in conversation. Such negative emotion was damnably infectious, and I glanced in-between the mares as they spoke. It was obvious the comely earth mare had also noticed it, head slightly tilted to the side. "It's nothing, really. I'll just let ya go. Be good to yer ma, Little Light. Ya hear?" Before I had time to nod in response I was grasped firmly by a field of magic and placed a top the unicorn's back as she hurried away from the market area. "What's wrong?" I asked, trying to remain mounted as she began to gallop. "Soldiers. More of them. They must have trailed us somehow. As soon as we reached the hotel I'm going to execute a spell that'll hide our respective magical signatures so that they won't be able to immediately identify us. Leaving, right now, isn't an option. Too suspicious." The explanation was rushed, and I was still very much bewildered by the time we reached the confines of our hotel room. Sunset Shimmer immediately went to work, shivering a bit as she hurried to mask what she labeled a 'magical signature'. I felt an odd stirring within me in response to her powers. She also made sure my hat was adjusted correctly. "If somepony - anypony - asks you anything that relates to us you act like an ignorant foal. Understood, Raiden?" "I understand," I said. This hurried verbal exchange was followed the sound of a hoof knocking firmly upon our door. "Sunset Shimmer! This is the Royal Guard. We have a few questions for you. Can you please open the door?" "That doesn't sound... good," I said, lamely. The unicorn pressed a hoof upon her face and released a sigh.