Tending to the Heart's Forgotten Garden

by Botched Lobotomy

An Equestrian Type of Magic

I used to think I was made to be alone. I’d attempt to make friends, of course, but school can be small, in places like I’m from, and fail enough, you’ll soon stop trying. Sunset was like that, too. I failed at making friends because I was shy, and every time I said something I regretted, I ran off to hide my burning face – eventually, with magic. Sunset failed because she was too strong, too-well connected, and every time she tried to make the other children love her, they ran to band together – eventually, she tried with magic. Loneliness turned us cruel.

Pinkie called today. I knew it was her, of course, when I picked up the phone, but part of me was still surprised to hear her voice. She asked me how I was doing, I told her fine. She asked me if I’d done anything interesting recently, I told her nothing. She asked what it was like to have the house to myself, more spacious perhaps? I told her sure. I think I’d forgotten how to talk to people. Or maybe when I ran out of things to say to Sunset, I ran out of things to say to them, as well.

So I asked her how she was, and put an emphasis on the she that I think came out darker than I’d intended. I’m not sure how I thought that she’d been doing. It changed almost by the day – often, by the hour. Sometimes I was sure that she was fine, almost unchanged, skipping merrily along some street somewhere (or trotting, perhaps), in Canterlot, or Ponyville, or Fillydelphia – sometimes I was sure that she was gleeful – sometimes, I thought she must be sad, not quite as useless as myself, perhaps, but sorry all the same: those twenty years had been hers, as well as mine.

‘She’s a mess,’ Pinkie said.

‘Oh,’ was all I managed.

I thought it would make me feel better. Perhaps it did, some small vindictive part of me, the part of me that almost won the day she saved me first – but mostly I was glad she was alive. It hadn’t ever crossed my mind she might not be – not consciously, in any case – and I don’t know why it would – but all the same, I felt a strange relief because of it. Maybe it was just the fact another person had seen her since. Proof that she was out there, I hadn’t imagined her away.

We talked a little longer, after that, finding something more than one-word answers to discuss, and towards the end, Pinkie’s voice grew soft, almost nervous, and she told me she could put Sunset on the line, if that was what I wanted.

Wanted. What a silly question. It was all that I had wanted, for more than half my life. I wanted to hear her voice so badly, wanted to talk and smile and love her as I had, without this awful tangle that had grown up all around us. Pinkie must have sensed some change in me, because she almost whispered when she asked ‘Wallflower?’

I swallowed. ‘Put her on,’ I told her.

The phone crackled. That moment lasted an eternity, stretched long and terrified over 700 miles – but also, in that same – sweet, so sweet – not alone.

...

‘Wally?’

Sunnybuns

14:34
Hey, you.

14:34
Hey you

14:35
How’s Business going?

14:36
Well I can answer my phone
14:36
So
14:36
Cranky went out to get some paper for the printer
14:36
That was 15 mins ago
14:36
And things are going about as well as you’d expect

14:37
Wonderful. Well, at least he isn’t there to catch you.

14:37
Whatcha wanting?

14:37
Bored.

14:38
Me too
14:38
You’re in Bio right?

14:38
Unfortunately.

14:39
Poor Wally

14:39
Poor *Sunset*. At least Bio’s slightly interesting.
14:39
When it’s about plants, and not about frogs.

14:40
Hey that bit about horses was kinda cool, right?

14:40
In as much as it was fun trying to work out how exactly the mirror screws with our biology, sure.

14:41
At least you don’t have to know what demand-pull inflation is though

14:42
Sounds hot.

14:42
OKay
14:42
Well
14:43
N

14:45
N it is.
14:46
Sunset?

16:04
Just got my phone back
16:05
Thanks for that one

16:10
You are very welcome.

16:12
Bitch
16:13
You heading to the garden for a bit?

16:14
Already there.

16:15
You wanna grab something to eat after?

16:15
Nah.

16:16
Nah?

16:16
But there is a movie I’ve been meaning to catch.

16:17
Oh no
16:17
Tell me it’s not what I think it is

16:17
Well that depends on what you think it is.

16:18
They’re not even good! I *promise* the book is way, waaay better.
16:18
And the original trilogy
16:18
Which you still have not watched

16:19
Are you down?

16:19
Uuuuuuuuuuuugh
16:19
Do I have to

16:20
Yes.
16:20
I’ll buy you dinner after to make up for it <3

16:22
Okay
16:22
But it had better be a damn good meal

16:24
No promises!

21:34
I said it then, I’ll say it now: good film.

21:35
I am going to kill you

23:00
Hey

23:05
Hey.

23:06
Can I ask you a kind of silly question

23:06
How silly are we talking?

23:07
Do you, like
23:08
*Like* talking to me?

23:09
Uh
23:09
That’s ominous.
23:09
What’s that supposed to mean?

23:10
I mean
23:11
Ughh
23:12
Sorry
23:12
I get caught up in my own head sometimes, you know?

23:13
I know.

23:13
I was just thinking about Equestria
23:14
And when I first came through the portal
23:15
And the fact I used magic to make people like me then
23:15
And how I still have some pony magic
23:16
And like
23:19
I cant help but think sometimes that maybe it’s affecting other people? Like how much magic was there over here before I came through? You’ve seen how easy it is to use magic to manipulate people
23:20
Even when you maybe don’t mean to

23:20
Woah, woah!
23:20
Slow down. What are you trying to say?

23:21
I don’t know
23:22
Just that sometimes I feel like maybe it’s just magic that makes people like me?

23:23
Oh
23:23
Have you talked with the girls about this?

23:24
Not really
23:24
They understand their powers even less than I do
23:25
I don’t think it would effect them anyway
23:25
Seeing as they’ve got magic too

23:26
So who do you think it would affect?

23:27
It’s just that I’m starting to feel like I did before, you know? When I was using magic. Like maybe too many people are on my side now
23:27
I’m not sure who it would affect. Non-magic people probably

23:28
Like who? Trixie? Flash?

23:29
Trixie’s kinda magic, I think
23:29
Maybe
23:30
Flash...doesn’t like me enough to count

23:32
Who then? Me?

23:33
Maybe?
23:34
Look, I told you it was stupid
23:36
Wally?

23:37
I’m listening.

23:38
I just
23:39
It doesn’t feel like you should like me? Put aside the whole taking away your evil magic stone for a second here

23:40
Stone forgotten.

23:42
Why should you like me?

23:45
Is this “Why do I like you” or “why does anyone like you”?

23:46
Both, I guess?

23:48
Do you...not like spending time with me?

23:48
No!
23:48
That’s not what I’m saying
23:49
I have way too much fun with you
23:49
And I think you do too?
23:50
I’m just asking why

23:51
You’re thinking the reason I hang out with you is your weird pony magic?

23:51
It sounds stupid when you say it like that.

23:53
Oh, it is.
23:55
People don’t like you because you’re unconsciously manipulating them with pony magic or something.
23:59
No offence, Sunset, I think people like you because you’re an amazingly kind, funny, empathetic person who goes out of their way to help others, no matter what it takes to do it.

00:03
That’s not fair
00:03
I was going to say all those nice things about you

00:04
What?

00:05
I was feeling like you were kinda too good to like me, you know?
00:05
Someone like you couldn’t actually enjoy hanging out with me like I do with you

00:08
Sunset
00:09
You’re a disaster
00:09
Thank you
00:11
Want to call?

Sunnybuns. Call duration 1:25.

08:23
Sorry about last night

08:25
Never be.

Comments

[Posh]

23:25
I don’t think it would effect them anyway
23:25
Seeing as they’ve got magic too

23:26
So who do you think it would affect?

God, that “effect/affect” bit was so buttery smooth...

[Botched Lobotomy]

10787827

I do try

[PresentPerfect]

oh my god, these text convos aren't just for funsies :O

[Ice Star]

14:42 Sounds hot.

Oh no she’s a furry

[Botched Lobotomy]

11134235

14:59
Wally what the fuck's an UwU

[Bicyclette]

Sunset failed because she was too strong, too-well connected, and every time she tried to make the other children love her, they ran to band together – eventually, she tried with magic. Loneliness turned us cruel.

so true they do have that in common

Or maybe when I ran out of things to say to Sunset, I ran out of things to say to them, as well.

oof

Wanted. What a silly question. It was all that I had wanted, for more than half my life. I wanted to hear her voice so badly, wanted to talk and smile and love her as I had, without this awful tangle that had grown up all around us.

augh. that aching love and need buried under all the awful tangle… and if Sunset is the one who broke up suddenly and left, and is not doing well, and is wanting to talk then, well… i’m starting to get a picture of something. excited to see if i’m right!

14:41
At least you don’t have to know what demand-pull inflation is though

14:42
Sounds hot.

hehe. that does sound hot!

23:22
Just that sometimes I feel like maybe it’s just magic that makes people like me?

oh, dang! that is quite the insecurity, and an understandable one, given how being the protagonist of this TV show works

23:42
Why should you like me?

um because you’re cool as hell, Sunset?

23:59
No offence, Sunset, I think people like you because you’re an amazingly kind, funny, empathetic person who goes out of their way to help others, no matter what it takes to do it.

so true

00:03
That’s not fair
00:03
I was going to say all those nice things about you

00:04
What?

ahaha yeah, i would totally be Wallflower here

Sunnybuns. Call duration 1:25.

ooh, one hour and twenty-five minutes? at midnight? they liiiiiike each other!