The Angel in Red

by Inkquill

Act I, Scene II

It was Thursday and the time of the Exhibition would soon be upon them. As the morning carried out, he was just about done finishing packing the last of his personal belongings that he had dubbed necessary for the long trip ahead.

He was scheduled to meet Dusk and Barbara at the train station by eight that night and ride it until they reached Sweetland, then take a carriage for the final hurdle of their journey to the city of Geneighva, where the Exhibition was being held.

He sighed as he finished packing the last of his bags. However as he clamped it shut, he failed to hear the door of his room swing open as a figure stepped inside. Slowly approaching from behind, the grinning figure reached out with her hooves and pounced, wrapping them around the Pegasus’s head and covering his eyes.

“Guess who!” Came a feminine voice.

Butterscotch jumped at first, but mentally calmed hearing the familiar voice. “Blue Belle!” He cried excitedly as he turned around to face her.

There before him was the regal alabaster Unicorn mare he had known since childhood. She wore a regal scarlet and maroon trim gown that accentuated her body quite flatteringly with the long honey-golden locks her flowing mane elegantly pulled up into a bun and smiled warmly at him. “The one and only.” She chimed teasingly.

“I thought you weren’t going to be home for another month?” Asked Butterscotch.

Blue Belle shrugged and gave him a winking smile. “Nonsense! And miss another month spending time with my favorite little brother?”

It was then that Butterscotch’s smile dissipated, glancing back to his packed luggage. Blue Belle followed his gaze and spotted the stuffed suitcases stacked on his bed.

“Wait? Are you going somewhere?” She asked with obvious worry in her voice.

He nodded and let out a sigh. “I sent you a letter. The Exhibition in Geneighva is coming up and Dusk was invited to attend, and that means both Barbara and I have to go… I didn’t know you’d be home so soon… I’m sorry.”

Blue Belle could see the embarrassment and shyness creep over Butterscotch’s face, prompting her to reach out her hoof to comfort him. “It’s okay Butterscotch.” She reassured. “I must have left before the mail arrived.”

Butterscotch lowered his head and sighed.

“Oh come now Butters, it’s alright.” Blue Belle insisted. “I mean it’s not forever. I mean what is it? Three weeks? One week to get there, one week there, and one week back? I mean that’s not that bad.”

“It’s just I wish we could catch up a little bit you know?” Butterscotch replied.

Blue Belle let a tender smile trace across her lips. “Oh Butterscotch… still that little shy, apologetic colt papa brought home all those years ago. It will be okay. I mean this is really big. Papa would be so proud of you.”

Butterscotch looked up and smiled faintly. “You really think so?”

“I know so.” She replied. “If he were here now, he’d probably be the most proud father in all of Equestria.”

Butterscotch couldn’t help but blush. “Aww… thanks Blue. You always know how to cheer me up.”

The two shared a hug before they both exited the room and began to walk down the flight of stairs towards the estate’s main foyer.

“Hey! I have an idea.” Butterscotch exclaimed happily. “How about we go to that little restaurant papa used to take us too when were little and we can catch up a little before I have to head off to the train station?”

“That sounds delightful!” Blue Belle replied, giving him a light peck on the cheek. “I’ll go change into something more casual and then we can head out.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Butterscotch said trying to hide his blush. “I’ll call the carriage.”

“Great! I’ll be out in five minuets.” Blue Belle said as she hurried off to her room, leaving Butterscotch still blushing with a warm smile.

“Oh! Blue Belle!” He called out.

Blue Belle stopped just before her room and looked back at the little Pegasus. “Yeah Butters?” She replied.

With a warm and nodding smile he said, “I’m glad your home.”

Blue Belle smiled back and said. “I am too,” before ducking into her room to change while Butterscotch called for the carriage.

“Okay is that everything?” Dusk Shine asked as he and Barbara loaded up the last of their luggage onto the train with the help of one of the train’s conductors.

Lifting up the last of the suitcases, Barbara grunted in exhaustion as she handed it to stallion. “Yeah!” She gasped as she tried to catch her breath. “That’s the last of ours. Now all we need is Butterscotch.”

Glancing at his watch, Dusk nervously scanned the crowd for the Pegasus stallion. He bit his lip as the clock ticked closer towards the train's departure. “Oh where is he?” said Dusk. “If he doesn’t hurry he’s going to miss the train.”

Catching her breath, Barbara took a deep intake of air as she also scanned the crowd. “Wait! There he is!” She exclaimed, pointing towards the figures of Butterscotch and Blue Belle. “And there’s Blue Belle!”

The two of them quickly maneuvered through the bustling crowd, pardoning themselves when they accidently knocked into some of the other patrons.

“So sorry I’m late guys.” Butterscotch apologized as he caught his breath,”

“Yeah guys, we got a little caught in traffic on the way here.” Blue Belle added.

Dusk shook his hoof. “It’s alright guys. You made it here, that is what is important. Oh! And before we say anything else, it’s good to see you my Lady Blue Belle.”

“Yeah Blue!” Barbara added. “It’s been so long. When did you get back?”

“Just today.” Blue Belle replied. “Though I wish I could have gotten here sooner. I mean, I get home and you guys are rushing out the door!”

“I thought Butters sent you a letter?” Asked Barbara.

“She didn’t get it in time.” Butterscotch said as he handed the conductor his luggage. “Letter must of gotten to Trottingham after she had left.”

“Well that’s a shame.” said Dusk. “We could have all gone out to lunch.”

“Oh it’s alright guys.” Blue Belle reassured. “When you get back we can all catch up. Maybe we could even through a little party at the estate?”

“That sounds like fun.” said Barbara. It was then that the wailing sound of the train’s whistle sounded, ringing out loudly and alerting all passengers that the train was about to depart.

“All aboard!” Called the conductor as he climbed on the train.

“Oh! That’s our call!” said Dusk as he motioned towards the train. “We got to get going. It was so great to see you again Blue Belle. When we get back we’ll all catch up and share our stories of our travels.”

“It’s a deal!” Blue Belle called out as Dusk and Barbara hopped on the train. However before Butterscotch could follow them she stopped him by placing a hoof on his shoulder.

“Wait Butterscotch, I want to give you something.” She said reaching into her handbag.

Curious to what it might be, he watched her as she sifted through her bag and pulled out a small trinket that she then placed in his hoof. Glancing at it he instantly recognized it’s craftsmanship.

“Papa’s silver ring?”

She nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been carrying it with me while I was away, to remind me of my home and you. I want you to take it with you. To remind you of home, and of Papa and I. So if you ever are feeling lonely, you’ll have this to remind you that Papa and I will always be with you.”

Butterscotch stared at it for a moment, remembering when he was little and he had just arrived at his new home. He had been found as a baby by the constable on a stormy night and was brought to the city orphanage where he lived until he was three. That was when his Papa came and found him. He was a kind and generous stallion whom despite Butterscotch’s shyness, always managed to make him feel loved and at peace, adopting him and bringing him home to love with him and his young daughter Blue Belle.

“Thanks Blue.” He said pulling his adoptive sister into a warm hug.

She returned his hug and again gave him a light peck at the cheek. “Think nothing of it.” She said as the conductor again called out.

“Now go on then. Hurry your haunches.” She said with a smile.

Butterscotch nodded and tucked the ring into the pocket of his coat before hopping on the train and finding his seat next to Dusk and Barbara. He felt the train lurch forward as the wheels began to turn. Peering out his window she waved to Blue Belle as the train began to pull away. She waved back as steam began to billow out of the underside of the train, eventually obscuring both of their views.

Sighing a little, Butterscotch leaned back into the red leather of his seat and tried to relax. “Well here we go…” He whispered to himself as the train sped along out of the station.

The train jostled slightly as it sped on along the train tracks the dark forest, illuminated only by the pale light of the moon above.

The passengers had all retired to their bunks in the sleeping cart and had fallen fast asleep, dreaming sweet nothings as the train carried them to their destination. However, one of the passengers was having a much harder time getting a restful night then the others as he tossed and turned sporadically in his bunk.

Butterscotch panted as his brow trickled with sweat before he shot up gasping and nearly slamming his head into the ceiling of his bunk.

Realizing that he was still safely tucked into his bunk, Butterscotch collected himself as he recovered from horrid nightmare he had been having.

“Butterscotch?” Barbara whispered groggily from her bunk. “You okay?”

“Y-yeah… I’m fine…” Butterscotch lied.

“It’s those nightmares again isn’t it?”

Knowing he couldn’t deny it, he nodded in response.

“Same one?” Asked Barbara.

“Same one… I don’t understand it Barbs. No matter how fast I run… I can never get away… but why am I having the same nightmare over and over?”

Barbara shook her head while rubbing her tired eyes. “I don’t know Butters. Is there anything I could do to help you sleep?”

Butterscotch shook his head. “N-no… just go back to sleep Barbara. I’ll be fine. I’m just… I’m just going to look at the moon for a while.”

Letting out a long, boisterous yawn, Barbara laid her head back down on the softness of her pillow and nodded. “A-alright then… night.”

“Night Barb.” Butterscotch replied as he peered out his window. For the next few hours he simply watched at the nocturnal landscape unfolded before him. Rowling fields and hills of flowers, their colors dampened by the dim light of the evening.

For a split second he managed to spot two deer prancing through a grove of mulberry trees, a doe and a buck as the train sped by them. It was times like this that he wondered why he sometimes feared the night so much. It was calm and serene, with an otherworldly beauty that could entrance the hearts of many, and yet, was dark and mysterious at the same time.

Taking several long cleansing breaths, Butterscotch let the gentle moonlight bath over him, letting his limbs go limp and his heartbeat slow, letting the plush softness of his sheets take him as he slowly drifted back to sleep, only hopping that this time his dreams would be much more pleasant...