Chapter 26
Braeburn and I were walking down a snow-covered path. The trees beside the path were bare of leaves, but had acquired layers of snow to replace them.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked. Braeburn had learned from Applejack that she had taken the CMC ice-skating, and upon finding out I never had, decided it was high time I learn. And that he would teach me himself.
“You’ll be fine.” he said, nudging me on the shoulder. “Ah reckon you’ll pick it up real fast.”
He was leading me to the small lake east of Ponyville. I knew it was a popular place to skate, and had seen others do it. But I’d never wanted to go out on the ice myself.
Although, my deep seated fear/hate of deep water could have something to do with that.
But he seemed so excited to share this with me, and I hadn’t been able to say no to that shining, eager smile he’d had when he’d asked to take me.
“Who taught you how to skate?”
“My pa taught me when ah was ‘bout nine years old.” he said, teeth flashing white as he smiled. “Back then, my family lived Dodge Junction. He’d take me to this pond near our house, help me put on my skates, then strap his own on and take me out on the ice.”
He tilted his head back slightly, eyes focused on the past. “Took me a good while to learn how to keep my balance, but then I was just a li’l colt.”
“Your dad sounds nice.”
“He’s a nice stallion, and a great pa. Can’ wait ‘til you can meet’im.”
I dipped my head slightly. “I’d like that.”
“You would?”
I nodded. “I’d like to meet your parents.”
Braeburn thought for a moment, then said, “We could go visit them after Hearth’s Warming. Ah haven’t visited in some time. It’d be real nice to see them again.”
I grinned. “I’d like that.”
Braeburn was very pleased at the thought of visiting his parents, I could tell by the way his tail swished back and forth. I liked it, it was one of his cute little quirks.
When we reached the lake, he took off his saddlebags, then opened them and pulled out two sets of skates.
“Here you go.” he said, handing me the ones he’d brought for me. “Make sure’n put the back pair on first.”
I did as he instructed, tightening the straps that held them onto my hooves. After so long not wearing shoes of any kind, it was strange, and uncomfortable having something like this.
When I tried to put on the front pair, I became increasingly frustrated. I couldn’t get the straps tightened and keep the skates on my hooves at the same time. I growled, frustrated, as I again dropped one of the offending skates.
Braeburn, who had noticed my foalish outburst, came over. “Need some help?”
“Yes.”
“It's okay.” he said, picking up the skate and sliding it onto my hoof. He took hold of the skate and pulled the strap tight enough to hold it on, but not so tight it hurt. “Ah couldn’t do it at first, either.”
“Thanks.” I said, once he’d helped me with my other skate.
“Yer welcome.” he said, gently tapping my nose with his hoof.
He put on his own skates, then balancing on them, walked onto the ice. I pushed myself shakily to a standing position, then tried to mimic him.
I stayed upright for about 1.6 seconds.
I slipped sideways, yelping as I fell. Braeburn, who’d probably anticipated this, caught me.
“Lean on me.” he said, pushing me upright. “Now, keep your skates spaced apart.”
Patiently, Braeburn tutored me in the proper way to stand, then showed me how to move forward across the ice. After the better part of two hours, my sides hurt from falling, but I was reasonably steady. Although speed would have to wait.
“There you go.” he said, once I’d managed to make it to him without falling over. “Ah knew you could do it.”
Then he motioned with his head for me to follow, and then set out across the frozen waters of the lake. I followed, but with far less grace than the golden stallion who lead me. Braeburn turned slowly, carving a gentle path right. I mirrored him, passing him as he came out of his own turn.
“You’ve got the hang of it sugarcube.” he said, pulling around and coming to my side.
For a time, we just skated casually around the lake. But when the sun started to get close to the horizon, and the sky turned red and gold and purple, we returned to the bank where we’d left the saddlebags.
“That was fun.” I said, looking up at the brilliantly colored sky. I took my skates off, which was infinitely easier than putting them on had been. I loosened the straps with my teeth, then they just fell off my hooves. “Thanks for this.”
“Of course, North.” Braeburn nuzzled my cheek. “I loved sharing this with you.”
After packing the skates up, we began the walk home. The chilly air was still, and a sense of peacefulness settled over me. I looked to my left, at Braeburn. Not examining, just appreciating that he was here. He noticed, and smiled at me. He sidestepped to walk closer to me. We continued in this manner the rest of the way home.
_____
When we got back to the farm, Braeburn held the door open for me. Inside, we were greeted by Applejack.
“Y’all have a good time?” she asked.
“Yep.” said Braeburn. “Only came back now because it’s gettin’ dark.”
I nodded in agreement, then asked “When’s dinner?”
“Yer just in time.” she said. “Go ‘head’n wash up.”
“After doing so, we went to the dining room and sat down. Big Macintosh was on my left at one head of the table, Braeburn on my right. Granny Smith was on his right, and Applebloom was across from him. Applejack was across from me.
“So Braeburn…” said Applejack once we’d started eating. “How’d he do?”
“Just fine, AJ.” he answered. “North go the knack of it real quick.”
“Good.” She turned to me. “Maybe now you’ll take the girls skatin’?”
After the first time she’d taken them, the CMC had gotten it into their heads that it was their destiny to become figure skaters. And while the were good, and certainly faster than me, it was extremely difficult for Applejack to keep them under control.
I swallowed my mouthful of food. “I couldn’t keep up with them. How would I look after them if I can’t catch them?”
She sighed. “Ah suppose that’s a fair point.”
“Sorry, Applejack.” I said, grinning slightly. “Looks like you’re stuck with them for now.”
“Hey!” said Applebloom, sounding offended. “We’re not that bad!”
She and Applejack argued for a while, but it was more playful bickering than genuine anger.
_____
After dinner, Braeburn helped me shower. After we brushed our teeth, Braeburn gave me a kiss on the cheek.
“Good night.” he said. I kissed him back.
“Good night.” I said. He went to his room, and I went to mine. I readily crawled under the covers, enjoying the coolness of the fresh sheets.
After a while, my thoughts turned to my life here. I liked it. The Apples had been so kind to me. I felt like I belonged, which was the greatest gift they’d given me.
But even as I laid there, wrapped in the soft covers, my thoughts turned to the thing that I did miss. A lot.
The Doctor.
Where was he? Was he coming back?
For a moment, these thoughts opened the floodgates to other painful memories.
Sombra
The CMC suggesting I was the “mare” in my relationship with…
Thunderlane.
I missed him so much. My heart felt like it was being torn. We’d been so much to each other. The loss of a connection, so deep, and… intimate. He’d been my best friend, and now I couldn’t go near him. I couldn’t be the beacon that drew Tenebrous back.
Sorrow, guilt, and regret welled up inside me. I couldn’t stand it! Tears fell down my cheeks. I tried to drive these thoughts from me, but they only loomed more darkly over me.
Unbidden, my body reacted. I got out of bed, shaking from contained grief. I went out into the hallway, then looked right. Big Macintosh’s room was next to mine. Then I looked left. Braeburn’s room was at the end of the hall, by the stairs.
Walking softly on the worn wooden floor, I went left. I paused in front of his door, then gently tapped the wood with my hoof. When there was no discernable response, I pushed the door slightly open.
“Braeburn?” I called softly.
There was a soft sigh, and a rustle of his bedclothes, then: “Yes?”
“Can…” I swallowed, hesitant to voice my question. “Can I…?”
“‘course. I said so, didn’t ah?”
I walked over to the bed. Braeburn scooted over, pulling back the covers for me. I pulled myself in, and settled down next to him. Braeburn draped the covers over me.
“What’s wrong, sugarcube?” he asked. “Nightmares?”
“Sort of.” After a pause, I continued. “I was just… thinking. About…”
I was worried he’d be hurt or even mad if I told him I was missing Thunderlane. But I continued nonetheless.
“About Thunderlane.”
“Oh?” He didn’t sound mad or upset, just curious.”
“I… I miss him. A lot.”
After a few seconds, Braeburned answered. “That’s normal, North. You spent a lot of time with him, then you-”
“Left.” I sniffed. “Left him, with hardly a goodbye.”
I rolled over to face him.
“I feel so guilty. But I shouldn’t, should I? I had no choice, not really. Not if I wanted him safe.”
I felt Braeburn’s hoof touch my shoulder.
“And on top of that,” I said, feeling hot tears falling down my cheeks, “you probably think I’m a horrible coltfriend, still pining after my last relationship.”
“No, ah don’t.” Braeburn squeezed my shoulder slightly. “I understand. This isn’t about breaking up, either. I think, maybe you feel guilty for wanting to put your feelings ahead of his safety. And that’s such an amazing thing about you, North. You’re willin’ to put him first, even if it means losin’ him.”
I pressed my face into his shoulder. “I do love you, you know.”
Braeburn wrapped me in a hug. “I know. I love you too.”
Laying there, I let myself surrender into his warm embrace. Talking had made me feel better, like it had when I talked to Big Macintosh.
I fell asleep, and knew no more.