Never Be The Same

by Kickback

Chapter 21 - Life is Beautiful

You can't quit until you try. You can't live until you die.
You can't learn to tell the truth until you learn to lie
You can't breathe until you choke.
You gotta laugh when you're the joke
There's nothing like a funeral to make you feel alive.

---

You know that feeling you get when you feel like you've forgotten something after a day out and you check your pockets to find that one thing that you thought you didn't have? It's a relieving feeling, right? I'm not too sure how to describe what I felt in that moment. I don't think my heart has ever actually stopped beating before in my life but I swear it must've right then and there after hearing those words.

"Oh, sweetie! I'm so proud of you!"

In my shock, I swiveled my body around and caught the sight. Fluttershy's mother's face was scrunched in an intensely wide grin as she squeezed the little yellow pegasus in her hooves. Her dad just stood there, almost teary-eyed with a thin smile on his muzzle. I could't see Fluttershy's expression as she was mostly concealed by her mum's embrace but I could make out just one thing. As her legs thrashed about instinctively while she was border-line suffocating, my eyes locked onto a newly embedded coloured decal on her flank.

Three light pink butterflies.

I just stared.

Shocked and bewildered. I was so sure...so certain that...

The mare set her daughter back on her own hooves again, cupping her muzzle gently with her own. When she let go, Fluttershy spun her head around, she gasped when she caught the sight of the same mark I found myself in a staring contest with from afar. She didn't say anything, only smiled sweetly at the cartoony insects.

"Yeah...i-it was there when I woke up this morning."

It...How didn't I...

"Go on, what do you think it represents?" The stallion asked.

That would be the last time I saw Fluttershy like that in that moment. From all the way down the path, she flickered her gaze over to me and gave me a confused look. I forced my lips to curl from being slack-jawed in my shock to what I hoped was a smile. She grinned back at me one final time before she turned back to her parents.

I didn't hear the rest of the conversation as I turned back around and stood in front of the door to the cottage, even if there was more to be heard. I just...I was so ready for it all, you know? I was so sure that I'd live the rest of my years with the soul-crushing shame of what I thought I had done.

But...I don't.

Some part of me wants to take destiny by the throat and rip it's head off for making me believe what I did. I'm having trouble wrapping my head around it. Did it all not matter? Was I just worried over nothing? I blamed myself, hated myself for stealing her fate away from her but...there it was, right? Plain as day, etched into her soft yellow fur like it should be. Like it always should be.

Would be.

My teeth began to grind against eachother as my jaw forced my mouth into a fierce, almost manic grin. I looked back, maybe to catch one more glimpse of the little, adorable pony before she was gone but I was too late. The last I saw of her like that was just her tail poking out from behind her mother's form as she and the stallion beside her soared up into the clouds. Even though I knew none of them could see it, I gave a short wave in their wake.

The warm sting of a pool of tears pricked at my eye as I watched them fade into the whiteness. My cheek tickled at the sensation of the salty liquid cascading down my face. It was a nice feeling. I opened the door slowly and when I closed it back on the world, I leaned my own back onto the hard wood.

She was gone and I had no clue when or if I'd ever see her again.

I'm not sure what I expected to feel when this moment came. I was all set for her predictable departure, let's not mix words but that? I don't think I've ever been more relieved in my life.

Relieved and proud.

I was proud of her for being so brave. I was proud of her for being so assertive, so caring. Our time together might have just scarred us both for life but...I was happy. I could only hope that she would be too, growing up. I wasn't sure whether to be inspired or spiteful. Destiny had reeled it's ugly head at me. I felt inspired at the fact that that little pony spat in fate's eye and earned her cutie mark despite everything, despite not earning it the way she supposed to. Without me. I wanted to scream at destiny's smug face for playing with me like it did. It seemed that no matter what happens, how many variables there are, it all ended in the same result. It's all cause and effect except the effect is always the same.

I sat down, leaning my back against the door and looked up. There they were. Half of the woods' lively critters were staring right at me with their curious, beady eyes. They seemed confused and I had a fair idea what about.

"Fluttershy's gone." I smiled. "She ain't comin' back."

I glanced over to Shiva, perched on her head was a little white rabbit, his arms crossed and his nose twitched as he gave me a level glare. I didn't know what to make of it. The bear just growled or yawned, one or the other and rolled her head aside to lay her chin on her arm, closing her eyes to rest.

I suppose from their point of view, there was nothing here to keep them staying. Without Fluttershy, the kind pony that invited them in, stayed up with them and talked with them, what was left but a plain old alien human and an old shack, right? One by one, the foxes scurried out the back, the owls flew out the adorning windows. Little by little, the house was, let's say, 'de-junglefied' and I couldn't be happier for it. Seriously, with all these bloody creatures about the house, I felt like Ace Ventura.

By the time the chirping and the barking stopped as they all scampered off, only three of us remained. The rabbit, Shiva and I, though to be fair and I wasn't sure just how long bunnies lived for but there was no way, with the way he looked and was looking at me, that that wasn't Angel. Besides, that's what she called him. If or if not that's actually him is beyond me at the moment. I stood up, everything ached as I did and walked over to them. Shiva lifted her head to face me and I couldn't help but smile and scratch her gently behind her left ear. She didn't really react but Angel did, making his glare just a tad bit angrier. I assumed jealousy and offered him the same gesture. I was right and he leaned into my touch.

Little demon.

After throwing on a set of different threads and snacking on a bit of fruit, neither of them had moved much at all when I came into the lounge room. Well, Shiva didn't, at least but Angel never stopped hopping around on her fur. I just smiled at the sight, she was a weird one, that's for sure.

Alas, it was time to go. Angel seemed to sense this and bounded over in tow as I walked up to the door. When I looked down, he just rubbed his paw over his nose at me. I opened it for him, he gave me an oddly polite salute before he went off, bounding away into the wilderness outside. There was only one thing left now and that thing was completely aware of it. She was looking right at me with her head held up when I turned to her, still laying flat on her stomach with her arms and legs curled around her frame. She just stared at me blankly.

"C'mon, girl." She growled.

"Nah nah, none o' that." Shiva did the bear-equivalent of a groan and an eye rolled before climbing up to her paws. Steadily, she sauntered forward.

"Oh, don't be like that. We'll get together for brunch some time, whatcha reckon?" A low roar escaped her throat. I chuckled. She looked up at me when she got within arms reach. There was an emotion in those tiny, black eyes that I couldn't quite place. I went ahead and brushed the fur along her neck, she gave a pleased growl at that. What I didn't expect was for her to thrust her muzzle up at me and give my face a good, wet licking. Ever felt a bear's tongue on your cheek? Yeah, ain't great and she fucking knew it too, almost laughing at my expense.

Barely a moment later and she was sashaying out the door. I followed her and we walked down the path together but once we found ourselves down at the road. She went left and I went right.

Good bear.

Ahh, Ponyville. What's their left to say? It feels like an eternity since I stepped into this town but yet, it was only yesterday. That's history now though, right? It happened, everything happened. Tomorrow's a mystery and I couldn't be happier about it all. I should probably see a shrink about that, actually. Between all the despair I've dealt with recently, you'd think I'd be huddled up in the corner of my room, muttering and hugging myself. Fuck it, I'm good...I said I'm good.

Oh, wait, somepony was waving at me. Heh, wouldn't you know it, little Roseluck over yonder in the marketplace. She grinned at me from afar, throwing her hoof in the air and swaying it steadily. Cute kid, still a cute kid. Hell, they're all adorable, regardless of age. It's the eyes, man. They all have big old anime eyes, the weird Clannad kind, you know? I'm getting off-track a little here. Of course I smiled and waved back. I thought she was going to run up or stay put and wait for me but when she noticed that the mare behind her had taken off, walking away, she glanced over to her then back to, waved again and hurried off in her wake. I assumed it was her mum. I also like to assume that she just didn't see me or her daughter. The alternative leaves me...well, you get the idea.

"Mercer!"

Oh, there was a voice I wasn't expecting today.

When I turned, I was assaulted with the image of tan and blonde mare skidding to a halt in front of me, looking exasperated but beaming all the while nonetheless. "Just the colt I was looking for!"

"Hey, Athena. What's up?"

"Oh, I just had to find you once it hit me. You need to see my sketches, they're just-where are you going?" She asked, sounding almost offended as I strode past her. I looked back blankly.

"Well, c'mon, walk with me." I gave a wave with my hand, gesturing her to follow. "Go on, talk."

She seemed extremely taken aback by that but picked up where she left off and trotted briskly beside me. "So, I'm there this morning, eating breakfast, just a little old family recipe, home-cooking, you know? Anyway, so I start back up again on some of my designs and while I'm carefully threading through this one-of-a-kind Saddle-arabian silk, it hits me! And I think Eureka! Anyway-"

Oh my God, I do not want to even remember this conversation.

---

The bell atop the archway rang as I pushed through the door, some part of me wanted to just let it slam into the fashionista's face as she followed me inside but I restrained myself, holding it open for her. She politely broke out of her rant and gave a soft 'thank you' as she strode into the bakery. Keeping her eyes closed but certainly not her mouth. Athena got like this sometimes, I wasn't all too used to it since she never does this when she's working and I mostly only see her for that reason. So she can work. Oh, she's still working though, giving that jaw of hers a damn good exercise.

"Coming!" I heard Mrs. Cake sing from atop the second floor.

"So, I was thinking something frilly. With leather! Not the real stuff, after all, that's horrendous. You should really think about changing your style a bit, enough with all the layers and hoods and whatnot. Try going slimmer, bring out your figure a little. Oh and get a manecu-NO! Forget I said anything."

I had just walked around the counter when she reached out to me with a hoof and pawed at my locks. I lowered my glare, staring at nothing in particular but I could see, in the corner of my eye, the mesmerized look on her face as she studied and combed my hair. Her touch was gentle and actually kind of nice but it was so out-of-nowhere.

"There's no way that's your natural color, is it?" She asked.

"I don't know how to dye my hair."

"Hmm. I'm actually a little bit jealous." She smiled, cocking her head to side playfully. I just rolled my eyes, letting a grin cross my face. She was certainly weirder than Rarity was, I'll tell you.

"Sorry about that, dearie." I heard Cup's voice frantically echo as she clip-clopped her way down the stairs. "Now, what can I-Oh, Kyle! It's just you."

I nodded at her as she just gave me a relieved beam. "G'day, MC."

"I'll be back in a jiffy, alright?" She gestured back to the second level, I gave her a two-fingered salute, much to her glee, apparently and she dashed back upstairs.

In the corner of my eye, I saw Athena suddenly glance around the room. "Wait, where are we?"

I eyed her with a shit-eating grin. "What can I getcha, lass?"

"Oh. Oh! This is where you work, Sugarcube Corner, right. Ummm...Oh dear, I'm so sorry. I just had this brilliant idea and OH CELESTIA, I didn't even tell you it!" She visibly winced at the force of her hoof smacking against her face.

"Heh."

"Oh, it's so good, Mercer! You are going to love it!" She grinned, not noticing the round, red mark on her face slowly dissipating.

"Thanks, Ath' but...I'm kinda good on clothes for a while."

"Oh, no, no! This is different, my friend. I need to make this for you. Do understand me? I need to. It's so...Unique! Oh, listen to me, I sound like a manticore with all this pride."

"Look like one too." That earned me a semi-soft slap across the face. I just chuckled.

"You, sir, need to learn how to speak properly to mares."

Alright, time to see if those suave acting skills are as sharp as ever. "Mares? I see nothing of the sort before me." When she reeled back her hoof, I grinned wider and caught it as she lunged forward to slap me again. She seemed caught off guard by that and even more so when I leaned in close to her muzzle, her eyes never leaving mine. "All I see is one Helluva fashion goddess that's earned the right to be proud."

That got a blush to appear on her face.

I let go and reclined back a little, still standing behind the counter, watching her as she shied away and rubbed at the spot I touched on her fetlock. "Well, I don't know about 'goddess' but...thank you."

I couldn't help but find a touch of irony in that. "Pfft."

"What?"

"Nothin'."

"No, c'mon. Tell me."

"Want anythin'?"

"Coffee, please. Two sugars." Done. Took all but a few seconds before I slid the paper cup to her. She softly proclaimed her thanks and sipped at the hot drink. "Now go on."

I picked up a wash cloth that lay crumpled up off to the side and idly rubbed down the counter with it. "Well, it's your name..."

"What about it?"

"I've actually been wondering alot about it."

"Why?"

"Well...I've picked up on somethin' while I've been here. Ponies' names all seem to revolve around or are made up of nouns, verbs and adjectives. You though, you've got something else. Something unique, different and I've always been curious about it."

To my surprise and a little bit of regret, she suddenly looked a bit downtrodden at what I had said. Whatever it was. "...I could say the same thing about you." She spoke into her cup.

"Hmm?"

"It's like you said, right? Nouns, verbs and adjectives. Tell me, does you name mean anything where you're from?"

I scratched my chin. "I think there was some weird, specific underlining in the placement of the letters but it's been a while since I've read anythin' like that. So, no. It doesn't, at least not in the same direct, literal sense."

"Hmm." She took a bountiful gulp of her coffee and smiled down at her reflection. "I like it."

"Heh...I like yours too."

She broke out in a brief laugh at that. I had never seen her like this before. This was the first time I'd ever really come to her about her name and it looked like it was a touchy subject for her. "Thank you." She muttered softly as she pushed the now empty paper cup over to me. "For the coffee...and for saying that."

"...Hakuna Matata, Athena."

Jingle jangle.

Well, would you look who it is. "G'day, Rares."

"Good morning, Kyle." She chirped, the same proud aura that revolved around the tan mare now orbiting her. "Oh, Athena! What a pleasant surprise."

"Hello, Rarity."

"What can I getcha?"

"Milkshake. Chocolate. Extra sprinkles, I feel like treating myself." It is way too early for ice-cream but whatever, I walked back into the kitchen and got to work.

"What's the occasion?" I asked, half-heartily scooping orbs of frozen sugary goodness into a stainless steel cup.

"Tonight's the night."

"What is?"

She gasped. "Kyle, you've forgotten already?!"

In goes the milk. "Lost me."

"Don't tell me that you seriously forgot. Please."

"Uhhh..." Sprinkles, help me out here.

"The show!" Oh...OH! That's right.

"O-of course, I didn't forget 'bout that." I glanced back to her but dearly wished I didn't when I caught the scowl etched on her face. I turned back and ducked down into the cabinet where they keep the milkshake mixer.

"You really shouldn't lie to your friends, Mercer." Athena commented, I could practically taste the sarcastic mirth in her voice. Yeah, laugh it up.

"I ain't lyin'!" Damn, this thing was loud when it got going.

"Keep that up and your tail'll catch on fire!" I rolled my eyes at the sound of the new voice. Great.

"Cheers for the assist, Carrot!" He just laughed.

"Oh, come now, you three. Stop teasing the poor dear." Thank you, MC. Fucking finally, it's done.

With her sugary drink in grasp, I walked back up to the counter, nodding to the Cakes as they trotted into the kitchen and slid it towards her. She nodded her thanks and drank greedily from the single, slightly bent straw placed in the cup. The little unicorn's lips smack as she stopped, letting out a please 'ahh' of satisfaction before looking back up at me. "You are coming, aren't you?"

"Yeah, yeah. Of course."

"Good." She smiled. "Because I really want you to see what I've done with my designs."

"Oh, I'm sure they're going to be...brilliant."

"You don't sound too excited..." Rarity's voice noticeably flattened.

"Oh, no! Don't get me wrong. I've no doubt that your costumes will be nothing short of incredible, it's just..." I glanced up at the ceiling briefly. "I don't know what to expect from the rest of the play."

Rarit's mouth twitched into a thin line. "Still...I'd really appreciate if you were there. Especially if...Oh, what if they're too flashy?" I walked around the counter, neither of their eyes left me as I knelt down to the filly's level. "What if-" She stopped when I reached forward and cupped her chin gently.

"It'll be fine, Rares. Trust me." I smiled. As we stared at eachother for a moment, I couldn't help but notice the look Athena was giving me. I couldn't quite place but there was something in that coy little smile that she was wearing that I just didn't know how to describe.

"Okay...I trust you." With that, I let go but she halted me with a firm hold of her hoof from standing up. Confused, I stared at her, silently asking why. Saying nothing, her eyebrows creased and answered with actions rather than words.

Rarity hoisted herself up and stood on her hind legs, cupping my cheek with her hoof while staring back into my eyes. Well, I guess to her, it'd just be the one eye. She had a hard look on her face, as if she was carefully studying my features. It wasn't long before her horn started to glow a soft light blue, encompassing the growth on her forehead in a mesmerizing aura. The same hue enveloped the veil of black that draped over my left eye, all I could see in it was blue. Just as fast as it came, it was gone. Rarity levitated the thick bang off my face and carefully hooked it around my ear, unmasking my vision to full clarity, something I wasn't all that used to. My jaw dropped hung open slightly at that.

Rarity didn't seem to notice the wide-eyed look she'd earned from me and just smiled softly at her work.

"You should keep it like that."

Author's Note:

Just a bit of somethin'-somethin' to tie you all over.

Life is Beautiful - 6AM

Comments

[Moongaze14]

I really like watching Kyle interact with Athena and Rarity.

[JohnIsOffline]

UPDATE IS UP!!!
24.media.tumblr.com/f5eb7eed31f07a566d006bd5333cef98/tumblr_mhevoxfkk21rg7mizo1_400.gif
Now time for...story.

She was gone and I had no clue when or if I'd ever see her again.

Now that...i call cliffhanger (Fix: foreshadow). sad but it still cliffhanger (Fix: foreshadow).

Little demon.

Oh...well let see in future....he will be good bunny or he will project his dad.

"You should keep it like that."

Ohhh...Rarity...

[Bazing]

5548281 "Cliffhanger" don't you mean "Foreshadow"?

[JohnIsOffline]

5551575 I don't know that mean but sorry, i am not understand that english. i am not from US if you understand. that a first time i hear that one. i put that one because it can remind all time. if you understand me Morgan freeman.

[Bazing]

5551734 ah my bad mate. I'm not from the US either, I'm Australian. Anyway, Foreshadow means "to hint towards something that may happen in the future"

Also Morgan Freeman is awesome

[Kickback]

5548128 Quote-unquote watching

[JohnIsOffline]

5551804 Oh thank Nay, i will have write the note "Foreshadow" i see..you a fan of M.F Yeah..i remember movie about god.
*Morgan Freeman Role*
My son...Morgan Freeman love you all...and i am gonna read you a fairy tale..*ahem*

[kotor511]

Seriously, with all these bloody creatures about the house, I felt like Ace Ventura.

For all who don't know who that is:

That guy...

[kotor511]

something tells me angel bunny isn't just a regular old rabbit, I mean look, they got their marks around what? 8-9 years old? Pretty sure that's how old the crusaders are, then in the canon series the mane 6 are supposed to be in their early twenties (19-25), according to Lauren Faust, which makes sense since most of them have a real full time jobs and own a house.

Now when Fluttershy was 8-9 years old as she got her mark, that means angel bunny must be 12-13 years old in the series.

And he still looks as young and fit as ever...?

Dat wabbit is not normal!

[ArchAngelGundam]

That was fun. Looking forward to more.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.

[Lupus]

How in the hell did I miss this chapter? Immediately rectified!

Tomorrow's a mystery

But today is a gift.

I couldn't help but notice the look Athena was giving me.

Athena knows what's up, but when will he?

[theshinobistallion]

Can't wait for the next update this is good

[Wolfblood2203]

He just got injured like a day ago and shouldn't he go to the hospital it was said that he didn't have enough bandages so he should go to the hospital , also how is he not limping, how is nopony noticing his injuries and how did rarity move his hair isn't he immune to magic. 🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨

Sorry but this sets me off from the story, because it would be very interesting to see the ponies reactions to his injuries, and to see celestia's reaction to his injuries as well, it doesnt really make much sense on why you didn't put like that, it would have made the story much better in my opinion.🤔🤔🤔 But other than that it's pretty good.😏😏😏