The prequel to Falling For Scratch, "It's funny, the things we do..... one moment your walking through childhood, no thoughts, and the next? You have a degree in human services and no where to go. *sigh* Sometimes we need a little magic in
This story follow's David, a young adult who just got his degree in human services and yet has no where to go....... stuck in a run down town, in an old apartment with no money. Life is boring...... Sometimes I like to believe that everyone needs a little magic in there life. Everybody...........
Disclaimer: I do not own my little pony friendship is magic or any of the pony's. They are the property of Hasbro
It was a typical day, wake up, go to work, come home, and write in my journal. Nothing really ever changed around here, but really that was part of the beauty of living here, "the slums" as most people would refer to it as was really an unseen gem in my own eyes. A strange satisfaction of knowing what life has in store for you, and not having to constantly strive for excellence. No, here everybody worked at a pace of mediocrity and nobody saw fit to need to push for anything else. I had ended up here shortly after getting my degree in human services, along with a few studies in the field of psychology. Don't be impressed... By the time I was ready to start work the bombs started dropping, and i fled here. Ever since I haven't been able to make enough money to get out, so I'm pretty much stuck. I take a small sip of the flat sprite that typically sits on the left hand corner of my desk and chuckle as I notice a small black ant greedily drowning in a tiny pool of the sugary beverage. I grab a paper towel and quickly wipe up the spilt drink, frowning as I notice a light phantom of the mess. A stain. I sigh, and go back to my writing, quickly realising that I had lost all interest in pumping out anything special in my journal today. There was always tomorrow anyway.... I decided to go for a walk, an exercise that I was all to familiar with.
The warm breeze hit my face as I walked out onto the cracked streets of Abbotsford. I look around, once again chuckling to myself. "Cue dog barking, and random police siren" I whisper to myself only to follow with a couple more chuckles. Its one of those neighbourhoods, you know what I'm talking about. The kind that a group of not so fortunate orphaned kids might find themselves after a tragedy takes their family. Except I'm no orphan, nor am I a child. I could take care of myself and rent was staggeringly cheap if you knew how to do it. Sure work was a drag, and getting myself up in the morning was like trying to swim to the surface for oxygen with a ton of cement around your feet, but I've managed to.... well... manage I suppose... By the time I had noticed I had started walking, I was already halfway across town. I raise my head slowly to see a couple of sketchy looking individuals duck into ally ways, like a vampire hiding from the sun. Luckily it wasn't these kind of individuals that you had to worry about, it's the ones that ignorantly refuse to avoid the sun. "What is up with me and comparisons today?" I mumble to myself, allowing my conciousness to slip back inside of my own thoughts.
I'm nearly all the way to work at this point, the cracked side walks have given way to gravel and the thick smell of burning rubber, and rotten.... something, forces its way into ones nostrils and makes itself cozen. I shudder, attempting to dispel the scent with minute twitches and focus. I hear the sound of an engine starting behind me, followed by a roar and screaming. I duck to the right, grabbing a small pipe, and holding it with two hands. Its not long before I notice who broke my stream of thought. Marcus, and his pack of goons...... Marcus was the closest thing to a "friend" I had out here. I mean, if you can call someone that steals your money, try's to beat you up on occasion and then shows up at your door because some gang wants him dead a friend... "What the hell Marcus! Don't sneak up on me like that." His truck roles slowly towards me before coming to a lazy stop. The first thing I look at are his eyes, their clear. Well, just about as clear as someone that's been shooting up and blazing it for 6 years can get. He was a heavier set guy. I wouldn't go as far as calling him fat, but he had some weight on him (and quite a bit of weight on me). He typically wore T-shirts and shorts, and he pretty much always carried a blade on him, be it a pocket knife or a sword. After all, law has almost but all left here.
"Come with us man! Were gonna go play some Xbox and smoke up!"
"You know I don't do that shit Marcus.." I look to the passenger seat to see another friend of mine Roger. Roger was a little more level headed then Marcus, although he is easily persuaded and has gotten into drugs because of it. "and besides, I gotta go check my work schedule." I yell, maintaining a strong stance the best I can.
"Screw work! Hey and screw you then!" Marcus Revs his engine angrily and peels out by me, nearly hitting me. I shake my head. Marcus also had anger problems, and paired with his "hobbies", he's been a stick of TNT for quiet some time now. I continue down the path when a small vibration in my hoodie pocket stops me. I pull out the phone, and realize who had texted me. Although I already knew who it was seeing as she's the only one that has my number. Natalie, my Girlfriend. Probably the most potent fuel to keep this living fire alive. She wanted to go out today..... I look down at myself, stained hoodie, ripped jeans, old sneakers..... I quickly type out "Need some time to make myself presentable." I look up to see that I was by Gladwin St. Work was only a 5 minuet run away, and then 15 minuets home. I think to myself, although by the time I had made my full decision I had already begun jogging down the gravel.
~---~
I was greeted by the same service I always am when I get to work, "why the hell are you back so early?" It was Denise, while a little vulgar on first glance, she was really a sweetheart on the inside.
"I just need to glance at my schedule sugar." I smile as the last word drips off my lips.
"Dont call me that David!"
"I know you love it!" I look back to see a small blush forming on her cheeks as I go deeper into the factory. To check recover the oh so sacred schedule book. "That which shalt determine when thou art free." I stifle a laugh, while also scolding myself for saying something that stupid. I find the book after the passing the third division on my right, my division. Its funny really, how much you can bond with a place that you hate so much. I guess that would explain family? Ahhh who cares! I grab the book and quickly flip through the various plastic sleeves, searching for my last name. "P, p, p, p, p........ Ah." I discover that I get next Wednesday and Thursday off, and give a little cheer. Its not ofter that one gets two consecutive days off in a row, let alone one day out of the week. Sure this place is a bit corrupted, but if nobody felt like facing off with the 12 gauge hanging ever so proudly at the service desk. Like I said earlier, kinda like family right? I chuckle some more, and receive a couple of odd glaces at my cheery attitude. Matt removes his welding goggles from around his head, to get a better look at me, dark circles under his eyes, but slightly above burned a strong fire. Matt was the kind of person that you should never say, or infer that something is impossible because he will find a way to do it. He was an overall great worker, and you never heard a peep or complaint from him.
"What d'ya have gold in your shoes or what?" He raises his eyebrows and sets his welding torch down.
"Code X Matt" I smile at him proudly "I got Wednesday and Thursday off".
"Again? What kind of lipstick do you put on?"
"Lipstick?"
"Yeah mate, to kiss the boss's ass!" He elbows his co worker and they all start laughing
"Ahhh, whatever man. Enjoy your shift guys!" I can faintly hear a rustling chuckle around me as the words drip out of my mouth
"Like that'll ever happen!" And just as fast as the uproar of laughter had begun it had subsided to the regular sound of machines and fire.
I arrive home minuets later, tired and sweaty. I strip off my hoodie and quickly step into the bathroom before noticing my open journal. I go into the bathroom fully but peek my head out for a double take. I let out a sigh that could have blown a cup over, and sat down quickly scribbling some words into it.
*Note* keep an eye on strange urges to uncover, and explore things. I don't need any surprise twists in my life!
I close the book and quickly hop into the shower, allowing the thoughts of the strange encounter with the pile of rags to seep deeper into my consciousness. "I hope I'm not too late Natalie..."
So dinner with Natalie went so, so. She was concerned about my lack of concentration last night and I have only that bundle of rags to thank for that. I fear that its quite literally consuming my own thoughts. I'm probably just overreacting, probably nothing.
I finish writing out the last sentence for yesterdays "adventures". I couldn't believe that someone such as myself, somebody who I figured was so strong minded would be so easily brought to their knees by a small curiosity. I quickly turn off the music I was listening to and saw the last sentence with a smile. "Not too long ago, this village was a golden scene of hope." I get off my chair running my fingers through my hair, pleasant with how soft and clean it still was, realising that a pre work shower would not be necessary today. The thought of a few extra minuets before pleased me, and I pick up my acoustic guitar and strum out a few chords rhythmically.
~---~
I had made sure to take the long way around to work for today, avoiding Gladwin at all costs. If not just for the bundle of rags that still has managed to torment my apparently soft mind, then also for Marcus and his raging anger. I snap out of my thoughts and numb my mind as I continue to shape the metal in front of me into the perfect curves, and unique shapes as instructed. Matt leans over and whispers into my ear as a foreman passes by proudly. "Thats the new foreman eh?" I look up from the now acutely curved steel plate. The foreman stops and gives me a dirty look despite my silence. I slowly look back down, trying to show him that I was doing everything but trying to slack off. The foreman passes in a few proud strides, and ends up finally leaving our sector and heading back to head office. "That was a close one. Reckon he had it in for you?"
"I don't know but that was incredibly stupid..." Matt shines a quick frown over to me, and I quickly apologize. "Sorry, I've.... had alot on my mind..." I look back down to the metal, the curve slightly warped from the neglect of absolute attention, "dammit....".
"Suppose a nice jug of rhackt will help?" I allow a small smile to appear on the side of my lips.
"You know me too well Matt...." I bring my torch back to the steel "far, far too well." I manage to perfectly reshape the metal back to its required curves, and move it down the line.
~---~
"I'm not actually worried about any foremen or "higher ups" having it in for me, i mean, if there's one thing I can say about my work its that I take pride in doing the best I can....." I bring the frosty cup to my mouth, sipping on the potent poison and enjoying the burn as it slips down my throat and spreads to the rest of my body.
"I'll say, you're a monster some-days. If anything you probably have a promotion in the future." He does the same frowning as he trys his best to down the bitter liquid. I chuckle to myself and raise my glass for a toast
"Heres to the rest of our life. Shaping metal and sipping rhackt!" He raises his glass still full and connects it with mine. "Whats the matter Matt? Don't like a little poison every now and then?" He frowns
"Not that, just this stuff tastes like shit."
"Thats the point, it makes it hard to get drunk." I take another mouthful and lean back in my chair, being careful not to make contact with any surrounding drinkers. I look to my right to see two men furiously arguing over some topic or another. To my left a young women is crying in the corner, a few dollar bills scattered around her, and directly behind me a frowning waitress was tapping an old watch that hung slightly off her wrist. I roll my eyes. "Guess it's getting late huh matt?" I look at him, his glass still half full.
"You going to finish that?" I take his glass before he can even answer
"Wish i could mate...." I stand up and bring the glass over to the sobbing girl and hand it to her.
"Here, on me, enjoy it." I head out the doors with a small wave to Matt, who was still doing everything he could to keep the rhackt, and dignity inside of him.
I step off the curb testing my balance, I was still clear headed which of course was good, and I begin walking quickly down the street towards Gladwin. By the time I stroll by the ruined sign for the street the moon has already reared its pale, cold, face fully, and provided quiet a peaceful ambiance for a place of this stature and reputation. I lick my dry lips nervously as I approach the stretch of side walk that lead to that demonic thought swallower. Instinctively I tip toe over to where it was, seeing nothing but bare sidewalk the whole way. Half of me sighs with relief and the other half of me cries in desperation for answers. I shake my head, satisfied with how everything turned out. That is, until I see a rather bright purple glow leaking out of an underground parking unit to my right. I bite my lip, harder, harder, and even harder attempting to decide if I really want to know....... I nudge forward, inch by inch, attempting to remain silent. A strange sound emits from the back of the parking unit, and the light gets stronger. I peek my head around the corner to see a floating orb of sorts at the back. I bite my lip again, this time letting out a small whelp as I realise I had punctured the skin. A small trickle of blood rolls lazily down my lip, and onto my chin, and I wipe it off continuing forward towards the light. I'm nearly half way when the orb disappears and I'm swallowed by the thick grainy darkness that tightly hugs me. This is it isn't it? I'm going to feel something cold hit me, and I'm going to get stabbed to death. I'm going to hear a loud crack, and have the walls painted with my brain, I'm......
"Don't panic..." I hear a very light and quiet voice whisper from behind me. It's that of a woman, and a very young one at that. Images of the young woman from the bar fill my thoughts and I lift my fists in the darkness ready for anything. A similar glow to the orb appears illuminating the owner of the sweet voice. It was a creature.... A pony looking being, with a horn, and a barely visible pair of wings tucked to her sides. She was the same colour as both the illuminating lights, a very "airy" lavender, and she was staring at me with large, innocent, purple eyes.
"Don't panic human." The lavender pony creature takes a very slow step towards me, and I follow with one back. This continues until I feel my back hit the wall of the underground parking unit. I push my hands against the gritty wall, as if hoping to find a secret passage. "Please, I won't hurt you, I promise." Her sweet voice and innocent eyes stirred mixed emotions in me. By one hand I was terrified on the front that I had no idea what was going on, or how this was at all possible. By the other hand I was struck with a bolt of curiosity, what was this creature. To be completely honest her exterior wasn't anything that was "threatening" but again, confusion masked everything. By the time I had fully assessed the situation being stood but a few feet away from me. She was rather small, coming to just below my thigh.
"Who are you?" I say a little more calmly now, staring into its eyes.
"My name is Twilight Sparkle, I am a princess of Equestria, student of Princess Celestia" I cock an eyebrow at her.
"Princess of Equestria?" I look at her strangely "Where is Equestria?"
"In terms of from this very location..... I'm not entirely sure. I came here with the help of Princess Celestia, luna, and the elements of harmony." I find myself getting more and more confused every word she speaks. "I came here looking for somebody."
"I don't understand Twilight, I've haven't so much as heard of half the things your talking about..." I shake my head
"Can I show you something?" She asks innocently her eyes seemingly lighting up, as if a fire had just been ignited. I shrug casually, attempting to hide my fear.
"I suppose?" She gestures for me to get on my knees, and after a minuet of hesitation I obey. She closes the last few feet very slowly her horn illuminating more brightly with each small step. By the time she reaches me I have to close my eyes because of how bright the light is, and moments later I feel something gently touch my forehead. My physical sense of conciousness leaves me.
"I can feel the magic coming from their world. A revolution will start if we don't step in."
"Have faith in me princess, I can fix this."
"Remember to asses the situation my student, if its necessary put the element out and leave immediately after."
"Understood."
I squint my eyes painfully and let out a low groan, as I realise my face currently lie on the cold cement of the parking unit. I attempt to open my eyes but can barely open them a crack, and even that was nothing but a blur. I feel something soft touch my forehead as I grunt again. "You've come to already?" I gently bat away whatever it was that had touched me and manage to mumble some words.
"T-twilight? What did you do to me? I can't see..." I feel the same soft warmth gently place my hand down and touch my forehead again.
"I-I'm sorry, this wasn't supposed to happen, you should have been out for hours...." I angrily sigh.
"What the hell.... WHY the hell do you want that??"
"It's a spell.. It was supposed to..... Explain more...." I sigh once more, this time keeping a calm voice.
"You mean put my element out?" The warmth leaves my forehead as I realise that Twilight had immediately pulled away.
"How do you know?" I hear pacing to my left. "Who told you?"
"You did, that... "spell" allowed me to hear two people talking, you and somebody else, something about an element and putting it out if necessary.."
"Here, relax, I'll help you up." A strange feeling wraps itself around me, and I shudder uncontrollably. I feel myself lazily lift off the ground and before long I'm on my feet, trying my best to stay on my feet. I shudder once more and Twilight speaks again "What?"
"That felt.... Fizzy..." I hear her giggle lightly as the whole situation suddenly turns oddly friendly.
"Now, lets get that vision back for you." I hear her horn begin to charge up again, and immediately after I can hear a fizzle sound. "What!????"
"What...."
"My spell was just cancelled, you seem to be fighting it."
"'I'm not doing anything!" I raise my arms in frustration
"Well then I suppose you aren't getting your vision back for awhile...." I sigh sadly, turning around dumbly, trying to get a sense of direction. "Unless." I stop and look towards the voice. "You could hold your breath until your nearly unconscious, then I could cast the spell on you..." I try to find a valid point to argue on, but find none. I wanted my vision back, badly. I take a deep breath and hold it in. Hours seem to pass as I hear twilight begin to gently tap what I assumed was her hoof. It was starting to get hard, I wanted to breath, but I wanted my vision back more. I can hear her starting to charge the spell again, waiting. Eventually I begin to lose balance and sway, I get light headed, and then I'm falling. I can see that I'm falling. I can see! I'M FALLING! I open my mouth to yell, but I'm caught by something. I open my eyes assuring myself that I was no longer falling, I open my eyes to see the same orbs of purple that I had found myself getting lost in before except now bangs nearly covered them. I was staring, I knew that, but I was confused, and entranced all at once.
"Hi....." I say with a derpy smile.
"C-can- you......" I realise that she's holding me up, and quickly get to my feet. I can see her fully now, she was human. She was wearing jeans, and a T-shirt, her hair matched her main, purple with that pink stripe in the middle. She had the largest eyes I had ever seen. "It would appear that your vision has returned." She says, catching her breath, and brushing herself off.
"You're...... a human now." I rub my head in utmost confusion.
"Its a spell.... Although it drains me severely, and I can't keep this form for very long...." She yawns, and I sigh.
"Everything is a spell with you isn't it?" She blushes lightly and kicks a foot.
"Hey... you wouldn't have any place to stay would you?" She rubs her bare forearm gently. "I've been hiding around town, and it's not exactly the most comfortable thing..." My eyes widen at the sudden change in subject, and i stutter.
"W-well yeah of course.... uhhh, I guess...." She looks relieved and walks over to me I lead the way, heading home.
What is happening, just while ago this thing was the scariest thing I had ever encountered in my entire life, and now I'm letting it move in with me? It's strange, It almost feels like we're bonding. I feel a connection to her, she's so friendly. Although there are still so, so many questions I have about her. What, and where is Equestria? Why is she here, and what's all this about putting out an element? My element.... What's an element. I sigh, looking over to the still relived looking Twilight gently fidgeting her hands. Girl, you better not make me regret taking you in. I smile at her, she doesn't seem to notice.
