The Mettle of Friendship

Chapters

Arc 1: Violet Sunset, chp 1
Arc 1: Violet Sunset, chp 2
Arc 1: Violet Sunset, chp 3
Arc 1: Violet Sunset, chp 4
Arc 1: Violet Sunset, final chapter
Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 1
Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 2
Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 4
Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 5
Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 6
Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 7
Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 8
Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 9
Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, final chapter
Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, epilogue
Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 3

Arc 1: Violet Sunset, chp 1

Violet Vigil wasn’t much to gawk at. She was an earth pony with a medium but firm build. Her coat was pale silver, her mane and tail dark violet with streaks of bright silver in them. Her eyes were violet, vivid and piercing. She didn’t have her cutie mark—that little symbol on her flanks that told her what her one true talent was—yet. She hadn’t tried enough, hadn’t seen enough, and hadn’t known enough to earn it. She was just a kid.

Violet lived on a carrot, potato, and otherwise root farm in the mountain range west of Trottingham. A farm meant work. Constant work. She loved the work—spending nearly all day uprooting the produce so it could be cleaned and stocked en masse to be sold elsewhere in Equestria—for it gave her something to focus on, something to engage herself in, and something to distract her. From the time she was four years old, she worked on the farm. She didn’t ask for more than that as she didn’t want more than that.

Her father, Earthcrest, became the insistence that instilled within her diligence and a good work ethic. Her mother, Starlight Tread, showed her the importance of a thoughtful mind and subtle yet fervent empathy. She had a nice family; she really did. Small, but loving. Violet wouldn’t give them up for anything—they answered her questions, stayed her fears, and gave her a sense of self… she was as close with them as dirt was to her hooves after a long day.

When she was six years old, her parents brought forth the topic of leaving home for school, to which Violet gave them a blank stare, tilted her head, and asked, “W-what? What are you talking about?”

“Violet…” her father said. “We don’t want you to be isolated to this farm. The wide world is full of experiences and adventures that we can’t give you.” Violet merely tilted her head the opposite direction and inquired, “O-outside home...?” She shook her head.

Sighing, her mother trotted up to Violet and placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Sweetie, you will not be doing this forever. You deserve a better life…”

“We are sending you to school,” her father spoke up. He hardened his eyes when his daughter’s eyes became glossy and shed a few tears. He hardened his heart when she cried out, “But, I don’t want to!” and “Mommy, Daddy, don’t leave me!” Violet clung to her mother and buried her muzzle in one foreleg, hiding her face. She didn’t want to leave, didn’t want to lose the simple comfort of her parents. Mom and Dad were like her personal nightlights, keeping away the dark. Violet was never sure why she felt better when they held her hoof, kissed her forehead, and told her everything would be alright, but she did. And when they left the room with a soft “Goodnight,” suddenly… it was.

And Violet was losing them. Sure, she’d return to them every day and be able to cling to them as if there was some faint hope she’d never be able to let go—never be able to escape the security and safety—but she knew nobody, was nobody, and couldn’t rely on anybody. She’d be by herself. No nightlight. No sure voice telling her it would be okay. No mystical powers settling that uneasy feeling in her stomach whenever she was scared. Trembling, Violet asked, “How long?”

Starlight looked a plea to her husband. Earthcrest sighed and said, “I don’t know. I’ll go to the school and ask that tomorrow. Today, we need to get the rest of the work done. Vivi?” At the sound of her nickname, Violet felt her stomach plummet. She wouldn’t be called that; at least, not as much. It was a small thing, likely one she would soon forget, but for that reason, it was all the more saddening. There was a familiarity attached to it, and the more she gave it up, the more she would be leaving behind a part of herself until she left behind her whole self, becoming an entirely new Violet. She didn’t want that.

For the rest of the day and week, Violet worked. She had never worked as hard in her entire life. It was all she could do to stave off the emotions clawing and cutting at her whenever she saw her parents, for she knew then that there would be a time when she would have to say goodbye. Unfortunately, the sheer effort she put into her work also ate the days away rapidly. The quicker she could return to her work, the sooner she could quell her wrenching stomach; but also, the sooner that fateful day came. The first day of school.

Shortly, Violet had learned she would be gone for six hours of each weekday, from nine am to three pm, and would be there every week from that month, August, to next year’s May… until she was sixteen. The magnitude of time she’d spend away from her parents frightened her and it was with great displeasure that she wrenched herself from her bed when her father called out, “Violet, wake up! It’s your first day of school!”

Grumbling to herself, and trying to ignore the protests in her gut, Violet did as she was told. She gathered her things, all of which was a backpack containing her sack lunch, some paper, and a pencil.

To her credit, she managed to keep hold of herself throughout the morning routine. When her mother brushed her mane and tail, she didn’t wince or cry out in pain whenever Starlight tugged particularly hard to straighten some clumped hair. When Earthcrest asked her how she felt, Violet merely replied, “Fine,” but this disturbed her parents. The sheer lack of character in her speech and movement set off internal alarms that something wasn’t quite right with their daughter. It wasn’t like Violet to be so short with them or so detached. When Earthcrest and Starlight lead their daughter away from home, however, Violet’s steps became progressively slower and she looked to her parents worriedly.

Finally, when they reached the edge of her home and passed a threshold marking the furthest Violet had ever ventured from her home, she turned to her mother, rushed to her legs, and clung. “Don’t make me go!”

“Violet,” Earthcrest said firmly. “You have to.”

“Why!?” Violet yelled, turning to and pointing a hoof at her father. “You say I have to go, but why? You say this leads to a better life, but what if I don’t want that life? You’re pushing me away, but why? Why!?” She choked, looking down and processing her thoughts rapidly.

Do they hate me? What have I done? I’m a good girl! I only help!

She lifted her head and wiped a few tears away. “Am I being punished for something?”

Starlight gasped and stared at her daughter. “Vivi… of course not…”

“Then why?” she leveled with an even voice.

Earthcrest narrowed his eyes and said, “Enough, Violet. You’re going to school and that’s that. They can teach you things we cannot.”

Violet was about to ask what things but her father began to push her forward with a hoof. For a short while, she fought back, batting at Earthcrest’s hoof. It soon proved to be useless. Violet soon realized she would be going to school and there was nothing she could do about it so she said, “Fine! I’ll go to school.” She didn’t want to be seen by other foals pushed into school as she was fighting back. Already, she knew she would be alone; it wouldn’t do to further alienate herself from everyone by complaining. “But I’m leading...”

Her father stopped, gave her a cross look, and turned to Starlight. “Starly…”

“Oh, let her,” she insisted. “She won’t go anywhere, hun; that is, anywhere but school.” Raising an eyebrow, he turned back to Violet and gave her a small nod and stepped back. “Well… if you say so. Violet… lead the way. It’s about ten more minutes straight forward. It’ll be visible here shortly.”

Earthcrest’s words proved to be true the more Violet walked. The school soon became visible, standing out against the mountainside as a large red barn with various structures around it. There was a sign that denoted one set of structures “Playground” and another “Cafeteria” but her ears flattened back against her head. She frowned and began slowing down once more. Did she really have to leave? Was what would be taught here really worth it? More than once, the urge to turn tail and gallop away filled her… but it never consumed her. Somehow, she managed to continue walking towards the school. She saw a few other fillies and colts, some heavily enthusiastic and others crying. When she looked to the other parents, she saw just as mixed results. She didn’t get it. If they didn’t want to go, why were they being forced to? And why did some of them want to go in the first place?

These were the questions that flittered through her mind when one filly trotted up to her, held out a hoof, and said, “Hi! My name is Petal Dance. What’s yours?”

Violet gasped and retreated behind her parents. Earthcrest chuckled and said to Petal, “She’s, apparently, a little shy. Her name is Violet Vigil. Vivi,” he said to his daughter, nudging her with a hoof. “Go on and say ‘hi.’”

She hesitated but after another nudge from her father, Violet slowly walked up to Petal and said softly, “Hello.” After a moment, she realized the hoof still hanging in the air and gently raised her own hoof to it. Her hoof was shaken up and down gently and returned to her, after which Violet swiftly ran behind her father once again.

Petal frowned but waved. “See you inside, Violet.” As she left, Violet gradually came out from behind her father and gazed at all the other foals. She wondered why they were here and whether they were here against their wills. Her ponderings were interrupted, however, when Earthcrest gently placed a hoof on her shoulder, garnering her attention.

“Violet,” he said softly. “I know this is hard but you can do it…” Violet’s eyes widened and became somewhat glossy. “… You’re our daughter and we’re so proud of you…” Her stomach plummeted and she shook her head slightly. “… So please… go on…continue to make us proud like you always have… like you always will.” She hugged Earthcrest tightly, never wanting to let go, questioning why he had so much faith in her when she didn’t posses a grain of it for herself, but then Starlight who pulled her away and looked deep into her daughter’s eyes.

“Violet,” she whispered. “We will always be here. We are not leaving you; we would never leave our daughter. You will always be our little ‘Vivi’ and nothing will change that, okay?”

Violet stared at her mother and for a moment, nothing happened. The next, the tears slid down her face unchecked and she buried her face in Starlight’s chest.

If… if they think I can do it… I’ll try… for the time being.

For the time being, Violet felt better. At length, she lifted her head from her gently smiling mother and smiled herself. She said, “Okay. I’ll do my best.”

Earthcrest wrapped one foreleg around the two most important mares in his life and grinned. “That’s all we could ever ask for, Vivi,” he said softly. “Like your mother said, we’ll be here at the end of the day. Always.” Violet nodded and stepped away from them.

“Okay… I’ll see you two later, then… here I go…”

She took a deep breath and walked away from her parents for the first time. Her parents watched her go, Starlight wiping away the tears Earthcrest never let show.

Arc 1: Violet Sunset, chp 2

It was exactly what she had suspected. Violet’s stomach was a misbegotten pit where she buried herself and refused to let herself show… and she knew this would happen. She was too shy to ask anything of anypony and fell victim to her own superstitions and worries. What would they think of her? Would they like her? What if she messed up? Right from the start, she faded to the back of the class and simply watched as other foals answered various questions about themselves. When the time came that the teacher, a nearly completely black coated unicorn named Omniliterary—though everyone usually just called her Omni—asked her, she barely spoke up and stammered more than once. Eventually, when Violet was through answering who she was, where she came from, and what she liked to do, she felt her cheeks burning and tried to hide her face in her desk. She wasn’t bothered much afterward—not even Petal Dance approached her, for she seemed to be too busy chatting it up with other of the more sociable foals, especially one called Juniper Flutterfall, another earth pony that had short, curled hair and a gold coat. Juniper seemed to be able to get everyone to talk, save for her, of course. Class gradually continued, though it couldn’t finish fast enough for Violet. Omni scared her with how bubbly and loud she was.

“Hey Violet!” she called out during coloring time. Spitting out the crayon, Violet looked up and tilted her head with unease. “Y-yeah?”

“How come you’re sitting alone? Come on; sit with Petal, Juniper, and everybody else! The more, the merrier!”

Shaking her head, Violet battled the tension rising in her stomach and looked away. “I’d rather not…”

Omni tried a few more times and was met with even worse results, after which she asked to talk with Violet outside the room. She reluctantly agreed and followed the teacher. When the two of them were alone, Omni turned and frowned at her.

“What’s the matter, Violet? Why won’t you join any of the other foals?”

“I… I—” Violet struggled to begin, looking at Omni’s hooves, for they seemed to be infinitely easier to look at than those eyes laced with concern. Even then, she couldn’t contain all of her tears and a few trickled down her cheeks, unchecked.

“I’m scared they w-won’t like me.”

“Oh, Vivi,” Omni said reflexively, stretching her forelegs to wrap around Violet and hoist her up in a fierce hug. “I know it’s scary but trust me, it’s worth it.”

No… no… she repeated over and over, squirming and fumbling from her teacher’s grasp. Somehow, she landed on all fours and spent a moment just staring at the floor. Violet gave Omni a tear-streaked shake of the head and returned to class with all the insistence and speed of a sloth, keeping her head down.

When lunchtime came, she filed in behind everyone and meekly took her tray of a rose petal sandwich and a glass of water to a table far removed from where most of the ponies commingled. She ate in silence and solitude, staring at her tray, wondering. Worrying. Festering.

Is this what it’ll be like every day?

She didn’t notice the pony coming up to her until she waved a hoof in front of her face and asked, “Violet?”

Violet followed the limb until she found a body attached to it and the head leading it. It took her a moment to realize she was looking at Petal Dance. “Oh,” she said almost inaudibly. “Hey Petal.”

“Hey Violet,” she responded pointedly. “Sorry about not talking with you in class. Once I started talking with Juniper, I just lost track of time… you know, the rest of us are over there,” and she gestured with her head to the main cluster of tables. Smiling reassuringly, Petal extended her hoof a little further in invitation.

Backing up ever so slightly, Violet declined, saying, “Thanks Petal, but I want to eat alone.” And as she said the words, she felt her gut curdling uneasily. She didn’t want to spend time with everyone. With as much grace as she could muster, she gently nudged to hoof away and shook her head. Petal stared at her for a moment but withdrew her forelimb and shrugged. “Alright. See you later.”

“What’s the holdup, Petal?” a voice called from behind her. The voice was nasally and quick, as if entitled.

Petal turned and said with some insistence and annoyance, “Be right there, Juniper!” After returning her attention to Violet, she mumbled, “Sorry, Violet. I gotta go…”

“Bye,” Violet said as she watched the green and teal filly go, being welcomed at the far, much more populated table with a rather loud, “’Atta girl! Who needs Violet Vain Vigil?” Stifling a few tears and the urge to vomit, she returned to her bland appearing meal and actually began eating it then, risking whatever it would foist upon her, for it certainly had to be better than what she was feeling right then: bitter and paralyzing loneliness. It was indeed bland and stale, to her acceptance, and she lost herself in her mind again. She missed her home, her parents, her work. She missed that little pleasure she got from working and immense freedom she knew she had there. It was as rejuvenating as it was productive; she really didn’t know why her parents had sent her away but she trusted them. She trusted them enough to go about school… day after day… for weeks and months on end… and for ten years. Violet suddenly longed for her warm, slightly stuffy room and dusty window.

A few moments passed before she realized that something nudged her left shoulder. It turned out to be the hoof of another pony, this one she saw was a colt. He was short, shorter than she was and had a deep blue coat with a white mane that had streaks of gray in it. His eyes were stark white and he spoke with a soft voice, one that had difficulty pronouncing some words.

“H-hey, Violet?” he asked. “Mind if I join you?”

Violet tilted her head and studied the colt. He hadn’t asked her to sit with anyone else; he had asked to sit with her. Honestly, she wanted the company but didn’t want to overwhelm herself. She saw both ends met and decided the colt could indeed sit with her. “Sure.”

“Okay, just let me g-go get some food,” he said, struggling once again. That little tick was something that clearly irritated him, for his cheeks reddened ever so slightly as he stumbled. He left quickly and returned just as quickly with his own rose petal sandwich and glass of water. Violet watched him with curiosity, her stomach easing. When he sat down and placed his tray on the table, he looked to Violet and smiled crookedly, blushing again.

“Hey,” he said. “So, how come you were eating by yourself?”

Violet recoiled slightly but responded, “Well… I just… I don’t think I fit in. They’re all so happy and together. I want that but… I’m afraid they won’t like me.”

The colt widened his eyes. “R-really?”

“Yeah.”

“So am I. My name is Quiet Quill.”

Quiet Quill?

“If you don’t r-remember me,” he said, “it’s because I was even quieter than you were. At least everybody heard you. I was so nervous, I barely heard myself talk and I couldn’t say anything more so they just… skipped me.”

Violet nodded and took a drink of her water. “Yeah….” The moments dragged on but she found her stomach easing. She was able to eat her sandwich.

When the two of them were done eating, they carried their trays to a trash can, dumped them, and placed them on an adjacent table to be gathered. When Violet turned to return to the classroom early, she suddenly remembered Quill and instead turned to faced him. She held out her hoof and when he shook it, she said, “I’ll see you later, Quiet Quill.”

Quill smiled let the words flow like water. “Call me Quill.”

Violet nodded once again and finally turned to leave. She had only taken a few steps when she turned yet again and found Quill looking after her. Having second thoughts, she gestured in front of her. “Wanna come with?”

His eyes widened but he said quickly, “Yeah.” Quill picked up pace behind her and they returned to class. This time, they sat together, ignoring the rest of the class—though they didn’t see Omni’s wide smile as she watched the pair out of the corner of her eye—and when Violet left the school, she surprised her parents with her good mood. They asked her what had happened and she merely said, “I made a friend.”

Starlight Tread and Earthcrest were thrilled to learn this and her mother swept her up in a great big hug, after which her father sandwiched her in between them. She was only released when she cried, “Mercy!”

Arc 1: Violet Sunset, chp 3

While eating dinner, Violet talked about Quiet Quill. She said he was just as shy as she was, if not, even more shy. She talked about how, even though he was shy, he had taken it upon himself to sit with her. There was something about him that rung as likeable to Violet. It wasn’t something tangible; that was for sure, though he wasn’t physically unappealing. No, it was something more spiritual, more mental, and even emotional. He had been lonely, too. He had understood. He eliminated her loneliness and in doing so, eliminated his own. He was smart in that regard.

Overall, Violet liked Quill. He wasn’t interested in putting her in the limelight. He was only interested in having a good time with a friend. Those facts eased her mind immensely and made going to school much less intimidating. She went to bed that night with a smile on her face and something to look forward to the next day.

Once again, they sat together. They didn’t talk as much as the day before, but neither of them minded. The simple proximity they shared seemed to be more than enough. It wasn’t enough, however, for Juniper.

“Hey Triple-V!” she shouted, using the nickname she had created to use in class so that Omni wouldn’t be aware of the insult, vain, “Why don’t you come sit with us? We’re much more lively than that mute!”

“Watch your mouth, Juniper!” Omni instructed regardless through thinly veiled lips.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Miss Omni! It won’t happen again, I swear,” she said, keeping her eyes on Violet, rolling them.

Violet felt something bubbling and boiling within her then and was surprised. Never before had she been angry with anyone but now it was there. It was a challenge to keep herself from shoving a few poison-tipped words down her ears and she would have sworn she was about to do just that but it was Quill that stepped into her eyesight and walked towards Juniper. Violet couldn’t see it, but he was seething.

“What’s your problem, Juniper?” he said without missing a beat.

“Excuse me?” she asked irritably, raising an eyebrow. This was certainly a new side to Quill.

“We’re just trying to do our own thing. Why don’t you just leave us alone?”

Before Juniper could have a chance to respond, Quill continued, waving a hoof around to accentuate his points. He spoke with a new fluency and determination he never knew he possessed.

“And while you’re at it, you could stand to quiet yourself more often. I swear, you can be heard from every corner of the room, and even during naptime, I can hear you whispering to the Sisters know who! We aren’t here to listen to you, Juniper. We’re here for our own reasons and I highly doubt any of them are for you!”

The whole classroom was silent for a good couple minutes before Quill spoke once more. “If I hear another word from you and it’s not warranted or productive, or if it’s aimed at making Violet feel bad or worse than she already must feel because of you, I will not hesitate to report you to Omni or any teacher. You got that?”

Juniper stared with a slack jaw and wide eyes. She regained her senses after a moment, though, and turned to Omni, vehemently gesturing to Quill. “Did you hear that? That was totally uncalled for!”

Omni didn’t change her expression from the usual smile and perky giggle. “Nothing seemed uncalled for to me! I appreciate you standing up for Violet, Quill.” He grinned and nodded towards his teacher. As Quill returned to Violet, the widest smile he had ever seen her wear was plastered all over her face. He hadn’t gone halfway when she burst from her desk and tackled him to the ground, hugging him with all she could muster.

“Thank you, Quill… so much…”

“Sure thing, Violet. Sure thing…”

She could hardly keep her eyes off him and Omni had to call for her attention multiple times, not that it mattered to her. She was genuinely happy to see the both of them so open and content with each other. If she had to deal with them being distracted every now and then, in exchange for their happiness… she would happily make that deal. After class that day, Petal caught up with Violet while she was bidding Quill goodbye.

“See you tomorrow, Quill…”

“Count on it, Vivi,” and this time, he pecked a little kiss on her cheek. After smiling at her, he turned and departed for his parents.

Violet lifted a hoof at that spot and felt her cheeks become sweltering as she watched him go. The butterflies that seemed to have swarmed her stomach stole her attention for a while before she finally somebody calling out, “Violet!”

Spinning around with some surprise, Violet answered, “Yeah?”

“You got a moment to talk?” She nodded.

“Look,” Petal stood and started and shook her head. “Don’t take my spending time with Juniper like I don’t like you. I do. I just… don’t want to irritate Juniper. Quill had some nerve to do what he did… but I couldn’t do that. Please, I don’t want you to hate me.”

Violet stared for a moment and laughed. “Petal, I don’t hate you.”

Petal sighed heavily and had a ghost of a smile on her face. “I’m glad… look, if Quill isn’t around and Juniper gets too… Juniper… I’m here for you.”

“Thank you, Petal. Really.”

They both hugged and a wave washed over Violet. It felt as if the worries she had been consumed by were nothing anymore; that she could go about her school days with all the assurance in the world from Quill and Petal. Before she knew it, days melted into weeks and into months.

Indeed, time passed by quickly, her time with Quill and Petal—mostly Quill—making time fly by rapidly. She doubted she could have lasted as long as she did without them. Quill was like a subtle assurance whenever she doubted herself. He was an extra push when she was nervous. He was an open book that she could inscribe herself inside anytime, anywhere, and any way she desired. If Violet wanted to transcribe her day’s woes within the pages of his mind, Quill would be happy to provide the ink and parchment. And Petal, she knew, would do just the same, given the chance.

Violet had even invited Quill over for a winter break party. It was a small event, including only her family and Quill’s. Nobody else knew about it. Violet and Quill spent most of their time just talking to each other, especially about a certain holiday involving hearts and hooves.

“Well, Violet… would you be my special somepony?”

Violet was starstruck. She stared at Quill and after a moment spent struggling, said, “D-definitely.”

They hugged afterward and Starlight Tread snuck in a picture of them together. At first, her daughter was outraged and blushed like mad but in truth, she loved it. She kept it in her school bag from then on.

One day in January, however, a storm assaulted the school, wind bending trees, rain clacking against every surface, and lightning providing a stop to the foals’ hearts every couple minutes. Omni wasn’t sure about the safety of the school and she listened with apprehension to her students.

“I’m not sure we should be here,” Petal said.

“Me neither,” Violet agreed.

“You think we should go, Miss Omni?” Quill asked.

“Quit your griping, Quill. We’ll be fine,” Juniper snapped. Nearly every pair of eyes in the room narrowed at Juniper and she looked down.

“Fillies and colts, stay calm,” she insisted. “I’m just as concerned as you a—” and before she could finish her sentence, a bolt of lightning pierced the clouds and blinded anyone who was looking out the classroom’s only window. The following thunder crack made everyone clamp their hooves over their ears.

When they could once again allow their ears to be unhindered, Omni sighed and shook her head. “Nope. Everybody out, now! We need to evacuate!”

There were multiple sighs of relief and one, Violet noticed, came from Juniper. She noted that and with Quill, she started to depart through the main hallway and out the front doors. She realized that nobody else was evacuating and mentioned as much to Omni.

“I’ll let everyone know,” Omni assured. “This place isn’t safe. Just keep on going and make sure you stay safe. Go home if you have to, just be safe!”

The foals did as they were told, and with all haste. Violet and Quill stayed close together and were surprised when Petal joined them.

“Aren’t you usually with Juniper?” Quill asked, though not unkindly.

“She stayed inside. Besides, I can’t stand her anymore. If I stayed with her one more moment, I’d buck her to the moon. And I don’t want to get grounded.”

The three of them laughed as they exited the school and stood in the wind, rain, and occasional lightning. It didn’t take long for them to agree to depart and head home. Violet and Quill embraced each other for more than a few moments.

“Stay safe,” Quill said.

“You, too.”

“I love you,” he whispered into the storm. It was lost amidst a crack of thunder that tore their attention from each other and back to the school. A bolt of lightning had shot from the heavens and pierced the school, collapsing a large portion of the south side and igniting it.

“Run!”

The rest of their classmates fled the site. Even Quill and Petal had started to depart but when Violet made no move to retreat, Quill stopped and Petal noticed this so she stopped as well. Quill returned to Violet and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

“We have to go!”

“No.”

“Violet!”

“No!” she yelled, turning to Quill. “I won’t ever leave when somebody needs my help! I’m going in!” He stared at her with a mixture of disbelief and wonder but didn’t tell her to run again.

“Violet…”

“Quill, please. I can’t leave them.”

“I agree,” Petal spoke up. She garnered the attention of Violet and Quill. There was determination set on her face and she nodded. “I’m with you, Violet.”

After nodding her thanks, she gave a pleading look to Quill. He sighed heavily but nodded himself. “Alright. I’m coming with as well.”

Smiling widely, Violet leaned forward and kissed Quill on the cheek. “Thank you,” she said softly and though it was lost to the storm, Quill could read her lips easily enough. He blushed and grinned a little himself, gesturing to the school.

“Let’s get on with it.” Violet looked at it with a mixture of fear and awe, but only for a second. She gazed around and saw a multitude of ponies paralyzed by their own fear, those that hadn’t already left. A new rage welled up inside her, breaking forth and forcing her to yell, “Don’t just stand there! Help them, for crying out loud!”

Nobody responded and Violet snarled, stomping the ground and took off once again. She ran into the burning building—sure that Quill and Petal were right behind—and ignored the many cries of alarm that sounded behind her. The cries told her to stop, to run away, and to save herself.

No. Never. I won’t ever leave somebody who needs my help.

Arc 1: Violet Sunset, chp 4

The inside of the school was sweltering but Violet ignored it as best as she could. She focused on finding any ponies still inside and found the first of many huddled behind some debris in the first room she entered. The hardest part was convincing the foals to follow her but eventually, she managed to lead them out of the building and once outside, they fled in many different directions. Violet wasted no time in returning to the building.

She went about this method systematically, working through the building room by room. The deeper she ventured, the more ponies she found, and the greater strain was put on her to convince them to not only follow her, but make their way through the many small fires that littered the floor. Quill and Petal were indeed there, lending their words and even volunteering to cover different sections of the school. Much to their surprise, however, they found Juniper in their classroom, huddled against a wall with a pillar of fire in the doorway, separating her from the main hallway.

“Juniper!? Why are you in there!?” Violet called out.

“I… I forgot my bag!”

“What could possibly be so important in your bag that you went back into a school ablaze to get it?”

“M-… my doll…”

“Your what!?”

“My doll, okay!? I forgot my cat doll! See?” and Juniper held up a doll with silver and black patterned fur. It had yellow eyes but one seemed to be burned off. From behind the fires, the three of them looked at each other.

“We can’t just leave her…” Violet insisted. Quill readily agreed and after a moment, Petal nodded as well, albeit with hesitance.

“Where’s a fire extinguisher?” Quill wondered. The three of them searched in the immediate area for one but upon seeing some debris collapse from the roof, they decided time was running out. They had to save her here and now, if at all.

“Forget it,” Violet muttered. “I got this.” She braced herself, backed up a few steps, and started galloping. She heard Quill yell in alarm as she jumped through the fire and landed in the room. “Juniper, come on, we have to go!”

Juniper’s eyes were alight with fear as she jerked her head from side to side. “No! The fire…”

“Won’t do as much harm as the building collapsing on top of you!” Violet insisted but upon seeing Juniper only wail and bury her face into her doll, she sighed and changed tactic.

“Juniper, look… we need to leave. Take my hoof and I promise you’ll get out of here alive.” Extending her hoof, Violet gave a reassuring smile. Juniper looked from her hoof to her face and back multiple times.

“I… I don’t understand… even after everything I said?”

“That doesn’t matter when lives are at stake, Juniper. All that matters is that we all get out of here alive.”

Tears slipped from her eyes and trickled down her face, meeting the upturned edges of a smile. “R-really…?”

“Yes,” Violet said with tried patience despite the collapsing building around them. Juniper replaced the doll in her bag and took Violet’s hoof, rising to all fours. Nodding, Violet turned and jumped back through the fire to meet Quill, whose mouth was gaping open, and Petal, whose eyes were completely bugged-out.

Grinning, Violet turned and called to Juniper, “Your turn! Just run and jump and close your eyes as you’re coming through the fire!”

“A-are you sure, Violet?”

After roaring “Yes!” in response, Juniper swallowed hard. She took the doll out of her bag once more, hugged it close, and replaced it in her bag. Another moment was spent bracing herself but at length, Juniper started galloping and when the time came, jumped, closed her eyes, landed, opened her eyes, and it was over. Just like that. She breathed a great sigh of relief and looked at Violet.

“Thank you, Violet. Thank you…”

“Sure thing, Juniper. Now get outta here while Quill, Petal, and I get the rest out.”

The three of them had already turned to leave and Juniper watched them go. She looked behind her to the end of the hallway that lead outside and back to the three foals leaving her. Her stomach lurched and she cried, “Violet, wait!” She galloped to them and spoke quickly.

“I know I haven’t been the best pony to you or Quill… but I’m sorry. I never should have said those things or acted that way.”

Violet smiled and hugged her, whispering, “Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad you’re alive.” She let her go and nodded behind her. “Now go, Juniper. I don’t want to see you again unless we’re both outside the school.”

“Okay,” Juniper said, turning and galloping away fast but before she left eyesight, she waved a hoof back at them. “See you later, Violet!”

Not too long after that, they found Omni in the teacher’s lounge. She was there on her way from the back of the school, from which she had gathered a group of foals and a teacher who were stuck behind some debris. She had cleared it away with levitation and looked back at them as they just entered the teacher’s lounge. “Wait a moment,” she told the group.

“Violet, what on Equestria are you doing here!? And you two, Quill and Petal! What’s going on? I thought I told all of you to leave!”

“We’re here helping what ponies you can’t get to, to leave!” Violet answered irritably. “We already helped more than ten, including Juniper!”

Omni stared at them and shook her head in amazement. “Alright. But leave, now! Your lives can’t be risked; you’re just foals!”

“No!”

“Violet—”

“Miss Omni, once Violet has her mind set on something, it’s hard to convince her otherwise. I learned that recently. Besides, there are three of us…” Quill interjected. When Petal nodded, Omni looked at the three of them in turn and ended on Violet. She sighed.

“Fine. Just… be careful…”

“We will.”

“Take care.”

They parted ways, Omni leading the group back outside and Violet, Quill, and Petal delving deeper into the school. But as time wore on and the work took its toll, Violet found she was forced to stop and take a breather; and then, more and more often. It got to a point where she had to rest for minutes. At this time, Quill returned and cried out in alarm when he saw her on all fours, heaving.

“Violet, can you keep going?” he asked swiftly, all too aware of the failing integrity of the structure. The ceiling was falling to pieces here and there and the stairs had all but collapsed. Somewhere frighteningly near, a support beam whined.

After still another minute to catch her breath, Violet nodded. “I have to.”

Upon seeing her struggle to all fours, Quill instructed sharply, “No! Take a break.”

“What…?” she looked back, nonplussed, to her friend.

“Violet, you’re exhausted. Leave now; it’s too dangerous.” His words were spoken quickly, insistently, as if time were running out. When Violet actually took a moment to look around her at the building instead of for wayward ponies, she began to notice it. Failing support beams. Burning doors. Decay. Death.

Sighing, she conceded and looked back to Quill. “Alright…”

“I’ll make sure she stays safe, Quill,” Petal said.

“Thank you, Petal,” Quill responded, smiling and hugging her. “It really means a lot to me.” Petal returned the hug in full grinned herself.

“No problem. You’ve changed a lot since I first saw you.”

“Yeah, well… Vivi’s responsible for a lot of that.”

There was a silence between the three of them. Violet and Quill looked at each other for a good, long while. Before they could stop themselves, they embraced tightly.

“I’ll be back soon, Vivi.”

“I know.”

Quill kissed her on the muzzle for a brief moment before turning and venturing deeper into the school; but before he exited through the door to a side hallway from the teacher’s lounge, he looked back once more at Violet and mouthed the words, “I love you,” before departing.

Violet gasped and froze. Her heart raced and she breathed faster than she ever had before. It took Petal’s insistence and physical push to get her to start moving and even when she started to move herself, she did so as a snail. Violet wanted him nearby right now, not in there, risking his life. But she couldn’t ask such a thing and she was already halfway outside. Shortly, she was outside, back in the storm. She didn’t leave, though. She stayed some distance from the school, under a tree, using it to block the raging wind. Petal remained by her side, not saying anything. There was nothing to say… until, however, Petal saw a new mark adorn Violet’s flank. She inhaled sharply and was about to bring it up when Omni spotted and rushed to them.

“Where’s Quill?”

“Still inside. I got too tired… so I’m waiting for him. Petal joined me to make sure I was safe.” Petal nodded in affirmation.

“You three… you really are something else. I’ve rarely seen such camaraderie among adults, let alone foals.” Omni placed a hoof on Violet’s shoulder gently, wresting her eyes from the school. She gazed into her student’s eyes and saw worry, concern, and guilt.

“You’re older than your years, Violet. How? Why?”

“I… I don’t know what you mean.”

“Nevermind,” Omni said, dismissing the matter with a hoof. “I just hope Quill’s okay.”

There was a siren beginning to be heard and they all breathed a sigh of relief.

“Finally, the professionals are here.”

They watched the fireponies enter the building, douse it, and otherwise make short work of everyone else who was inside, escorting them out. About ten or so ponies were still left inside; that is, those that were alive.

Violet didn’t see Quill among them for several minutes and when she grew too worried to stay put, somehow forced herself to walk to a firepony and ask, “Did you see a dark blue colt with white and gray hair?” The firepony stared and for a moment and shook his head, pointing a hoof to the west. Violet’s heart sunk and she looked in that direction. She spotted a stretcher with a small obtrusion underneath a white blanket.

No, no, no…

Tears already streaming, she rushed to the stretcher and threw the blanket aside. Several third-degree burns coated the pony’s body and its face was nearly indistinguishable but that was definitely Quill.

"Vi... vi..." he said weakly, reaching out with a hoof. Violet couldn't find any words to say, just grasped his hoof with all the gentleness she could manage and stared on in horror.

"I want you to be loud, Vivi. Live long, live full, and live loud… because, even if I was quieter than you were…” He smiled. “I was loud enough for you... and that’s enough for me.” Quill's strength seemed to fade then. He exhaled softly, began to close his eyes, and let his hoof drop from Violet's grasp.

Arc 1: Violet Sunset, final chapter

“No!” she yelled, slamming her hoof onto the stretcher again and again. She was taken from him and the sheer force of her struggling and exhaustion compounded, and she fainted. Petal watched as she was placed on another stretcher and taken away, fighting the urge to race to and comfort her. As it was, all Violet could dream about was Quill, how she had left him, and how he had died. She correlated the two unconsciously. It just made sense to her; all that made sense.

He was gone. No more security. No more belonging. No more love. Quill was dead and all she could do about it was relive the fact, imagining a million ways and more in which he could have died, each more painful and gruesome than the last; but there was one fact that remained constant throughout all of them. She would leave him and then he would die.

I left him… It’s my fault… If I had been there, maybe I could’ve saved him! But no… I had to leave because I was tired… pathetic!

Violet awoke screaming to the image of Quill burning alive. She threw aside the covers, wanting to dash to the bathroom, and gasped. There, on her flanks, was her cutie mark. It was a violet kite shield with a broken heart sigil, bathed in sunlight. The sight disturbed her. Why would, should she get her cutie mark after such a tragedy? Why did she deserve it? What, is my talent letting other ponies die? She spent much of her time pondering it sprawled over the toilet, vomiting. As soon as she could, she called a nursepony and asked how Quill had been burned. She didn’t let her escape, either. She would not be denied this.

“How did it happen?”

“Umm, well, Violet… he jumped through a burning doorway to try to rescue some fillies from a different class and…”

“Yes?”

“…after seeing the fillies through the fire, he tried to jump back through, only…”

“Tell me, nurse.”

“…Violet, sweetie—”

“Tell me!”

“…a section of the ceiling collapsed. Pinned him. He burned... the fillies kept on wailing about how they could hear his screams even on the other side of the school, but they couldn’t go back. They were too scared…”

Violet threw up more than she thought she had and returned to her bed, suddenly quite lethargic. Her parents visited her, much to her displeasure. They didn’t say much, just remained by her side, stroking her face with all the gentleness they could muster. It was when Starly spoke that Violet couldn’t stand their presence.

“If there’s anything we can do to help, let us know. We’re just so glad you’re alive.”

“I wish I could say the same.”

Earthcrest gasped, “Violet!” Starly just put her hoof to her muzzle and turned away, burying her face in Earthcrest’s chest.

“Why don’t you two just go?” Violet asked. “If you want to help, leave me be.”

Seeing no other option, they did leave, though they kept their gazes on their daughter the entire time. She didn’t meet their eyes, but she knew they were watching. “Keep going. Nobody wants you here.”

A subdued cry from Starly could be heard as they left. Not too long afterward, Petal and Juniper surprised her by visiting, not that she was pleased. In fact, she wished they had stayed home.

“Hey Violet,” Petal said at little more than a whisper. “How’re you doing?”

“I’ve only been better.”

Petal nodded and reached over to hug her. Violet wanted to but couldn’t push her away, she was too weak. She didn’t return the hug, either, though. All she did was look to the side, out the window. After pulling away, Petal studied Violet’s indifference and looked to Juniper. She shrugged and trotted forward.

“Violet, Quill—”

“Don’t bring him up,” Violet interjected, snapping her gaze to Juniper. “Please… just go. I want to be left alone.” When neither of them made a move to leave, she raised her voice and nearly shouted, “Go!” The two of them gasped and stifled tears as they left their friend. After she ushered Juniper out the door but before she herself left, Petal looked back to Violet.

“Violet, your cutie mark—”

“—shows how much of a failure I am? Yeah, go on.”

“You got it before Quill died.” Petal left before Violet could say anything. If she had waited, Violet still wouldn’t have known what to say. She pushed it away, finding it hurt her to think about.

I probably got it just for letting him go, anyway...

While she was recovering, food had no taste, liquid wasn’t refreshing, and she saw less and less reason to get out of bed. However, the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to return to her work. It was all she could see herself doing. She would be by herself and nobody would be put in danger except herself; even then, if she were to have an accident, only she would have it. Not anybody else. Never anybody else. After about five weeks of drug-induced numbness she wished would stay, she returned home. She could hardly look her reflection in the eye, much less her parents.

“Violet?” they asked in unison when they brought her home and closed the door behind the three of them.

“Just don’t, Mom. Dad. I don’t want to talk about it.” Violet trotted to her room and shut the door behind her. She only left so she could work, eat, and go to the bathroom. Otherwise, she could always be found there. A few times, her parents peeked in on her and regretted doing so the instant they did. Every time. They found their daughter staring out the window most of the time, tears all too often on her face. Other times, she was poking a hoof at the floorboards. Still other times, she was just sleeping, tossing and turning, mumbling about Quill and fire and leaving. Leaving the school. Leaving the other foals. Leaving him.

Immediately, Violet dove into work on the root farm; only, this time, the pain didn’t leave her. It followed her wherever she went with at least as much determination as Quill had.

She returned to school. She didn’t care, going about her schoolwork and homework with more fervor than ever. Petal grew worried and tried everything she could to cheer her up, even surprising her with more than one birthday party in which Juniper helped put together fervently.

“Surprise!” and “Happy Birthday!” they and Violet’s parents all shouted on her seventh, eighth, and ninth birthdays as they leapt from hastily manufactured perches that allowed them to hide near the ceiling, landing with practiced ease in the grasps of her parents’ hooves, posing on their hind legs and hoisting the fillies up above their heads. Confetti shot out from almost every direction and they panted for a moment before Violet trotted out without a word. Every time. They didn’t try it again on the tenth birthday, or the eleventh, or any after.

The only thing Violet cared about was her work but even then… she started to see Quill wherever she went. In the reflection of the mirror, in the dirt she dug up, in the picture she had been given. She burned the picture in the hopes of removing the memory but it only elicited images of Quill’s burned corpse. It brought her to tears and she couldn’t return to school for a week after that.

Even afterward, she worked. It was all she could do to have any chance of diluting the ache she had forgotten she could live without. She talked with Omni less and less who watched as the brightest filly she had ever known slowly dimmed. Dimmed… and there was nothing she could do about it.

“Violet?” Omni asked on the first day of Violet’s return to school. All Violet gave in response was eye contact.

“Are you alright?”

“No.”

Omni recoiled somewhat and narrowed her eyes, staring into Violet’s. What she found disturbed her. There was loneliness deeper than when she had first met Violet, a pain that was rooted too deep to even scratch the surface of, and a detachedness that allowed her to “live” with both the former.

Omni descended to embrace Violet but she backed away. “Don’t.” Then she turned, returned to the seat in which she had sat on the first day of school, and stared at the front of the room, at Omni, and saw none of it. All she saw was fire, death, and his misshapen face. Omni didn’t try to breach the walls Violet had erected anymore.

Violet became increasingly distanced from them all, even her parents, and preferred time with herself, the only pony that, as far as she knew, could understand her. What had been days turned into weeks, months, years.

For ten years, this perpetuated—until she was sixteen years old.

Otherwise known as old enough to be on my own.

Besides, she believed if she spent another day on that farm, she’d drive herself insane with images of the love she knew wasn’t there and yet couldn’t help but imagine. It was a cycle that ripped her from the inside out… and she was running out of blood. On the eve of that birthday, she approached her parents. They were lounging on the cool, soft grass against a tree some distance from their home, under the night sky. They had been talking but quickly hushed when they heard Violet coming and then stopped altogether when she entered earshot.

“Mom, Dad,” she said. “I’m leaving.”

Starlight inhaled sharply, but Earthcrest merely kept his gaze level and said, “Is that so?”

“It is,” Violet said. “I’ve stayed here for far too long. You were right about me needing a life outside here so I’m taking matters into my own hooves. I’m leaving.”

“And just where do you think you will you go?” her father asked. “What will you do? Have you thought this through at all, Violet?”

“That doesn’t make a difference to me. I just need to leave. Please…”

Her parents kept their gazes level, though it was an effort for Starlight Tread. One line of tears streamed from her… then another… and a third. She started towards her daughter but Violet backed away.

“Don’t touch me.”

“You’ll always be our little ‘Vivi’ no matter what…”

“No, Mother…” she said, forcing the lump in her throat down. “Don’t call me that anymore. It’s just another reminder of Qui—” she stopped, unable to continue, and looked away, tears streaming rather fast. They fell to the ground and began to form a puddle.

“Just let me go… can you guys help me gather my things or do I need to get them myself…?”

Earthcrest stood and spoke just above a whisper, “Fine, Violet. If that’s what you want.” Nodding, Violet followed her father, not even trying to stem the flow from her eyes. She kept her gaze on the ground as much as she could, lest she spot another trinket that reminded her of him and maybe relapse. It wasn’t long before she had everything, thankfully, and stood once again in front of both her parents.

“Goodbye,” she said. “I hope, one day, that I’ll be able to come back and say that there are three ponies in this family that love me.” She turned and departed slowly. Starly watched her go and opened her mouth to speak but no words came. Instead, she turned to Earthcrest to tell him to get their daughter back but halted, froze, gasped. Earthcrest’s face was marred, if only just a little bit, by tears.

“You never cry…” Starly whispered, embracing him to try to both alleviate his pain and to have something to hold onto, without which, she believed she would fall. Her legs were becoming jelly.

“I’ve never felt so hopelessly powerless and yet so wrong at the same time… Starly.” Earthcrest was able to maintain his stance and allow Starly to use him to help herself stand, but had Violet stayed for much longer… he didn’t believe that would’ve been the case.

Violet never heard the words, never saw the tears, and never looked back. The only thing on her mind was escape. Isolation. Not anybody else. Never anybody else…

I don’t care where I go. I don’t care what I do. Just, please, whoever I meet… leave before you die, too…

Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 1

Violet walked forward but hardly felt as if it were real.

What have I just done…? Maybe I should go back, maybe…

Her stomach writhed and she grimaced, fighting back tears. No. It only… brings… She tossed the thought from her mind and started walking faster until she was galloping from home. She had no idea where she was going. All the distressed mare did was follow the one dirt road from her home until she found what must have been a more common road of cobblestone. There was a sign that pointed in either direction the cobblestone road went. One pointed towards Manehatten and the other, to Filly Delphia. She knew neither of these places and decided to close her eyes, spin in place, and pick whichever one she was more closely facing. It ended up being Manehatten.

Head drooping and spirits even lower, Violet trotted.

Quill… Petal… Juniper… my fr—

She halted her thoughts, growled, and tossed her head so that her mane obscured her face.

It’s better that I leave, that they forget I was even here. It’ll be like I never existed… like I never let them down… him down…

The cobblestone road became harder and harder to see until near total darkness blanketed her vision. Violet raised her field of view until the horizon, or where she knew it was, stared back at her as if it only barely knew her… dark, foreign, and all too inviting. A tiny amount of her unease melted and she walked faster until she was running… and she didn’t stop. She found she liked it this way. Nobody knew her. Nobody recognized her, the broken heart she wished wasn’t marking her flank, the damp trails all along her muzzle that had so oft lately directed streams of tears, or the flicker in her eyes that she knew would betray her innermost thoughts and memories… a silent traitor… her worst enemy.

However, in the unbiased embrace of the night, Violet galloped. She forgot her worries, if just for tonight. She ran and skipped and bounced to Manehatten. She stopped only to waft the scents of the various flowers she wandered past into her muzzle and to admire the foliage in all their humble glory. The night’s majesty left tears in her eyes and she had to stop, fall to all fours, and gape at the sheer wonder the stars cast down upon her, each one like little gems, sparkling in the soft glow of the moon. This was her time, her kingdom, and her little slice of paradise. She questioned ever leaving it and felt the need to stop for the night, if only to just admire it as she felt it deserved. Picking a tree in no particular way, Violet settled in front of it. The cool grass was her bed, the darkness her blanket, and the stars her night light. The first contented sigh escaped her muzzle as she allowed her breathing to become regular and slow. At last, she had found someplace in which she could be peaceful… nobody else in the whole, wide world could ruin it. Several hours of peace and nighttime passed.

Violet, this isn’t your place. You need to go home.

She jerked up at the sudden, assaulting voice and screamed into daylight. Twisting and turning her head to see where the noise had come from, she found nobody. Violet shook her head and curled up on the ground. But I was peaceful… why can’t I just live like that? I don’t want to leave if all it means is a broken heart and a stretcher I have to watch wheel away… A few minutes passed before she stopped panting and wiped the sweat she had only just noticed from her brow. She didn’t want to move anymore. All she wanted to do was lay down and wait until the ache in her stomach left. Still, though, she couldn’t avoid the question she didn’t quite have the answer for, yet.

Where am I gonna go…? What am I gonna do…? Where do I belong?

She forced herself up to her haunches before she could change her mind. Manehatten loomed before her, barely visible in her eyesight. The road had not yet been touched by anybody else, the sky was clear and becoming brighter by the minute, and Violet could hear woodland critters scurrying about their morning tendencies. All was calm.

With a heavy sigh, she planted a hoof in front of her and pulled herself up to all fours. She wasn’t going toward anything that was worse than what she was leaving behind. Can’t possibly be worse.

Indeed, as Violet walked, her stomach eased little by little. She couldn’t wipe away the smile that was creeping onto her face as she made her way to Manehatten. It looked to be quite metropolitan, shiny, and inviting. It was still early in the morning, though, and there were only a few ponies outside; they were in orange vests and yellow helmets, mulling about a large section of land that was roped off by yellow tape on cones just on the outskirts of town. As Violet approached it, she read, “Construction site… do not cross…”

She shrugged and looked up to the ponies that had already noticed her arrival and were staring at her with a mixture of curiosity and aloofness.

“Umm… you alright, miss?” the larger of the two construction ponies asked, a soft gold earth pony.

Violet blinked. “Yeah… why?”

“You look rather disheveled.” Muttering a low “huh,” Violet took stock of herself and noticed her coat was actually clumping in several places, her mane was frazzled when she held her hoof up to it, and her tail was far from straight.

“My name is Zen Freemason,” the golden stallion said. “My friend is Sonorous Spiel. You really do look like you could use a place to crash… or recover from a crash.”

Violet had to admit that he had a point. “Yeah… I suppose I could use some rest and relaxation. Is there a place nearby?”

Zen tilted his head somewhat and looked to Sonorous who, in turn, looked back at him. Zen was the first to turn away and back to Violet. His eyebrows were tilted upward slightly and he stumbled over whatever it was that he was trying to say for a short while before he gave up and said with as much gentleness as he could manage, “You’re not from around here, are you?”

Violet laughed a little at that and nodded. “Yeah, you could say that.”

“You ever stayed in a tavern, girl?” Sonorous asked bluntly.

“No,” she responded, dragging the word out. “Why…?”

“Nevermind that,” Zen interrupted, taking a few steps toward Violet. “If you’re a stranger, it’s best that you steer clear of that place. At least, until you learn how things work around here. Why don’t you stay with us for a while?”

“What?” Violet and Sonorous asked in unison, the latter turning to his friend with exasperation. Zen gave him a pleading look and gestured to Violet.

“Zen, did you even think—”

“But just look at her! She could really use a place to stay that’s safe, Sonorous.”

Sonorous stared at him for a few more seconds, turned to Violet, and sighed. “Yeah… I suppose you’re right. But only for a few days! We have to take care of ourselves, too, y’know.”

“I’m all too aware…” Zen trailed off, rolled his eyes, and looked back to Violet, grinning. “Well then. Looks like you’re staying with us for a while.”

Violet shook her head ever so slightly, retracting a hoof. “I… I’m not sure…”

Zen held out his hoof, saying under a whisper, “Please, miss. I promise I have no ill will. Come on, I put up with him all day,” and he tossed his head back at Sonorous. That made Violet chuckle softly in spite of herself. Zen laughed a little as well and smiled. “I swear, friend.”

Violet looked from his hoof to his face and back several times. The sight unnerved her. She wanted to place her hoof in his. Dearly, she wanted to. But the more she thought about it, the more her stomach flared in protest, twisting and writhing against Zen’s warm invitation. If she was feeling this now, before she had even begun to reside with them, then it would only get worse if she lived with them. At least, that’s what she thought.

I’m saving you… you don’t know it… but I’m saving you.

“No…” she said at just above a whisper, enough so that Sonorous could hear, too. “I appreciate the offer… but I’ll be fine on my own.”

The two construction ponies looked at each other uncertainly but Violet started on her way into Manehatten before they could protest. She waved back at them and called out, “Trust me!” She didn’t believe herself for a moment. The only reason she had said what she did was to protect Zen and Sonorous from herself and from anything happening like what happened to Quill. It was better this way. That’s what she kept telling herself.

The less ponies that involve themselves with me… the better.

So Violet trotted from Zen and Sonorous on her less-than-merry way, taking in all the sights Manehatten had to offer. The buildings got taller and taller the more she walked, blotting out nearly all of the sky Violet had so oft looked upon with reverence and envy, and that saddened her. There didn’t seem to be any appreciation for the sky and with all the buildings obstructing nature, Violet felt quite out of place. Enough time had passed so that she saw a few ponies going about their lives with nary a glance upward or, indeed, to either side of them. One of them walked by Violet as she made her way past a building bearing a sign that read “Post Office” and didn’t even spare her a passing glance. She shook her head and sighed, looking to the sky… or she would have, had there been any real amount of sky to which to look. An ache twisted her stomach as she dropped her gaze to the post office.

Maybe you could send Mom and Dad a letter. She disregarded the thought immediately, feeling there was nothing at all to say to them after she had just run away. The ache worsened, causing Violet to lurch forward as she wrenched her gaze from the Post Office and walked to another building. This one had a sign that read “Fire Department.” Her pupils dilated and she backed away slowly, shaking her head.

“Quill…” she whispered.

A myriad of thoughts assaulted her mind as she stared at that building, each more unsettling than the last.

Is this the one that dispatched all the fireponies to my old school? Do any of them remember it? Quill? Me…?

Part of her wanted to run right then, to run as fast as she could far away from there. It was dangerous. She’d be vulnerable to a multitude of catalysts for memories from the past if there was even one pony that remembered that tragedy. But then… there was the part of her that wanted to know. Indeed, did they truly send the fireponies to Violet’s old school? If this is the very same one, do they remember it at all? Do they remember anyone? Curiosity brewed with uncertainty, mixing and churning until she couldn’t stand the stew inside her. It was burning her to carry it and the only way she saw to digest it was to answer those questions that had so rapidly presented themselves.

Violet still wasn’t sure if she was doing the right thing but she’d rather do something than nothing at all and as a result, she found herself trotting to the front doors. She didn’t notice the lack of trucks in the garage and when she pushed against the front doors, they resisted. Violet raised an eyebrow and looked around for any sign that would indicate the fireponies’ absence. It took her more than a moment to realize that they must be gone since their trucks were missing.

Smooth…

Sighing, she walked a short distance away from the fire department. Most of the ache in her stomach settled since she could say she had tried. Nobody could hold that against her. But now she was faced with the other, more prominent problem: what to do? She had nothing. Being a newcomer, there was little she could do. All she really had experience in was farming and in such an industrial city, she doubted she could do even that. Her thoughts wandered until they came upon a particular gold earth pony and his gray friend.

Zen was right, she realized. I should stay with him and Sonorous so I can learn how things work around here. I’m going blind…

Swallowing hard, Violet turned towards the entrance of the city. It wasn’t hard; all she had to do was follow the progressively shrinking buildings. The more sky she saw, the closer she was to leaving it. Before long, and when the sun was just about straight overhead, Violet found the both of them where she had left them. When Zen saw her, a grin spread on his face. Sonorous just sighed.

“Hey,” she greeted with a little hesitance. “I changed my mind… looks like I need to stay with you guys, if the offer is still open.”

“Of course it is,” Zen nodded firmly. “Our home is your home.” Violet smiled at that and an ease washed over her, dousing any fires of her discontent. Tears bubbled in her eyes and she blushed, hiding the facts by turning her head to the side so that her mane obscured her face.

“But only for a few days, y’hear?” Violet had been expecting Sonorous to say this. She knew he had the last time Zen had brought up the possibility of her staying with them. There was no reason to suspect otherwise. In fact, she had wanted him to remind Zen of this. And yet, after seeing Zen’s warm reception and even eagerness in housing her, she felt a small, painful twist in her stomach when she heard Sonorous say it.

“Y—… yeah,” she agreed, stumbling over herself. “Only for a few days…”

Violet wasn’t sure whether her smile was forced or not.

Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 2

What have I just done? Violet asked herself again and again as she continued to hold her smile. Let’s just hope these next three days are quick and…

She blinked as she saw Zen rear up on his hind legs and whinny in glee. He returned his attention to the bewildered mare in front of him and could only smile. Violet had no idea why he was so thrilled to have her company. It seemed outrageous. They had only just met! And really, what was so special about her at just a glance? Not to mention how unkempt she was… and yet, there was a warm glow in her stomach. It was foreign and familiar, like a far-off memory or a scattered dream. She drank in the feeling, letting it drip down her muzzle, all the way into her throat, and trickle through every fiber of her being. She was starving for it, she realized. Violet craved for more and almost let herself giggle, but halted herself as she remembered the consequences. Quill… I can’t let that happen again.

Her smile faded as her eyes lost their vigor and light, becoming a stare. Violet surmised that Zen must have noticed, seeing his own smile disappear. Her stomach churned. She went from blissful to wretched in the blink of an eye and she tried to hide it, forcing a weak smile.

“What’s wrong?” he asked in a whisper. Violet didn’t know what to do. Part of her wanted to run away, to run from the stress and discomfort, and stay there. Alone, she would be by herself and with the only creature that understood the kind of conflict that her head and her heart were putting her through: her. Nobody would be able to try to force her out of her shell—she wouldn’t even need her shell. If she wanted to cry, she could. There wouldn’t be anybody that could tell her otherwise. Here, there was… and she desperately wanted to cry. She struggled to keep herself composed and as a result, her face adopted an odd grimace as she dug her hooves into the dirt and clenched her tail.

“Miss…?” Sonorous began to ask. Violet wasn’t sure for how much longer she could keep quiet. Still, she shook her head and sighed as she unclenched her tail. She extended her hoof, albeit with caution, and put a soft smile on her face.

Just a few days… then I can go.

“Sorry,” she said. “I’m just tired. A little rest and I’ll be okay.”

Zen and Sonorous exchanged worried glances. The former returned his visage to the violet pony and grasped her hoof gently. They shook and stared at each other for a moment, both of them poking at the ground with their hooves and swishing their tails. Violet guessed that Zen knew more than his silent muzzle was saying. But it was still silent; and as such, she simply let the matter go.

“So… when can you show me around your home?”

Zen’s demeanor perked up at once and he whinnied. “Right now!” he exclaimed.

“Right now?” Sonorous repeated, if a bit more skeptical. “We still need to double check the ground to make sure it’s suitable for the new building.” The gray pegasus trotted up to his companion but Zen held up a hoof.

“Of course we can show her right now,” he said. “The ground is fine, Sonorous. I’ve already scanned the entire length and cleared it. Don’t worry about it.” Zen enunciated his last sentence and grabbed Violet by the hoof, dragging her back into Manehatten. Sonorous sighed and followed close behind, keeping a wary eye on Violet. The sun flared overhead and cast its ever-growing warmth on the three of them as they worked their way through the growing throng inside Manehatten.

It didn’t take long for Violet to take her own hoof back and follow on her own; although, she took to walking beside Zen rather than trail behind as Sonorous was doing. The mare’s attention was almost constantly stretched around her, taking in the many sights Manehatten had to offer, ranging from exotic restaurants to the tallest of skyscrapers that obscured a good portion of the sky. She had to keep returning her vision to her front, or side, or even, one time, to her back, to avoid knocking into somebody. The one time she had to turn around, she was bewildered as to how a pony could ride on a strange, one-wheeled bike while juggling several pieces of produce. She soon forgot when Zen dragged her forward once again, insisting that they keep moving.

He, however, couldn’t take his eyes off Violet. He smiled every time she inhaled sharply and his smile only grew when a ghost of a smile found its way upon her muzzle. When Violet mumbled a quiet, “Wow…” Zen noticed she was pertaining to the local nightclub. There were several fluorescent lights adorning the entrance and guarding said entrance were two rather bulky pegasi.

“Quite a sight,” he said, holding out a hoof to halt her, “isn’t it?” Violet nodded and turned her attention to the golden stallion. It was breathtaking—all the lights, large buildings, and ponies. She’d never seen so many ponies in one place at one time. She wouldn’t admit it, but it unnerved her. The whole city unnerved her and she wanted to retreat to someplace quiet and out of the way, where she could do what she pleased without worry for anyone else. She hadn’t gotten to do that much lately.

Sonorous interrupted her musings by walking in between them and gesturing for haste. “Can we get a move on? I’d like to get a nice, cold glass of lemonade from the fridge soon, Zen. We may not even—”

“Alright, alright!” Zen snapped, holding up a hoof and mumbling dejectedly. “Alright… miss, let’s go.” Zen started forward once more, making his way toward a small, centered building surrounded by several larger buildings. Before following, however, Violet recoiled at the display and inadvertently felt her stomach drop. Something tugged at her, but she couldn’t quite make out why. She didn’t even know why she was bothered. It was like somebody had installed a button in her, whose sole purpose was to upset her whenever it was pushed. Hearing Zen’s voice, the lack of heart or enthusiasm… her button was pushed several times, hard.

The thought to ask if something was wrong crossed her mind but it departed just as easily when Sonorous nudged her side with a hoof. She turned and stared at him, her muzzle curling somewhat. Sonorous just raised an eyebrow and pointed to Zen. “You heard him.”

Violet watched the gray pegasus follow his companion and had to resist a fleeting urge to shove a hoof down his throat. Why is he being so rude? She pondered the question while keeping a wary eye on Sonorous. Occasionally, she returned her attention to Zen. He was silent, save for the stomp of his hooves, somewhat dragged ever since Sonorous had spoken up. She also noticed that his ears were flattened and his head was somewhat down-turned. His attention had to be on the ground, navigating through sheer muscle memory.

She ground her teeth together and found it difficult to quell the rising tide in her stomach. Before much longer, though, she noticed a lack of movement from Zen. He’d stopped in front of one of the large buildings surrounding the inner, smaller building.

“We’re here,” he said, turning and nodding to the front door. Sighing, he spoke once again; this time, his tone was dripping with sarcasm. “Home sweet home.” He rummaged through his backpack and widened his eyes at once, groaning.

“Did you forget your key again?” Sonorous asked in exasperation. Zen merely hung his head and stepped to the side, leaving room for his companion to step forward and open the door. A leer was thrown Zen’s way before Sonorous approached the door and unlocked it, throwing it open and storming inside.

Violet padded up to Zen who had yet to move and growled after the grumpy pegasus. “What’s his problem?”

“Me,” Zen said with the slightest strain in his voice. He retreated inside the apartment, leaving a very confused and worried Violet at the doorstep. After a moment spent to analyze her surroundings, she slowly followed inside.

The lobby had a front desk—unattended at the moment—a staircase to the left, and something odd to the right. It was clearly a doorway, Violet knew, but it was shiny and silver, and had no doorknob. There was some keyboard on the wall next to it that had several buttons ranging from 1 to 7 and one that had the letter B. Zen and Sonorous started towards it but stopped when a small ding reverberated around the lobby; and not a moment afterward, the silver doorway slid open to either side from the center and several ponies exited quite a small, confined space.

“What is…” Violet started to ask, but didn’t finish; instead, she pointed at it with a hoof. Zen turned and followed her hoof. He blinked a few times and switched his gaze between the doorway and the bemused pony.

“You seriously haven’t seen an elevator before?” Sonorous asked evenly. Violet shook her head and the pegasus sighed. “It’s just a room that goes up and down on its own. That way, ponies that live in the upper floors with a lot of luggage don’t have to deal with the stairs. Or just ponies in general.”

Violet raised an eyebrow and started forward into the elevator. She looked around and studied its interior. The same panel of buttons on the outside was on the inside as well. Zen followed her inside and stood beside her as Sonorous took his place beside Zen and pushed the button marked with 3. The door began to close and when it did, she immediately lurched forward and had to steady herself. It seemed as if the ground was pushing up against her hooves.

“Wow,” Sonorous muttered, chuckling somewhat. “It really is your first time, isn’t it?” When Violet didn’t respond and, instead, glared at him from the corner of her eye, Sonorous continued. “Where are you from, really? What’s your story?”

By the time he had finished his question, Violet heard a small ding and the number 2 lit up on the panel. They must have reached the second floor, she presumed, which meant that there wasn’t much time left before they would reach the third floor and be on their way once again. That also meant not much time she had to stall.

“My story,” she started, raising her head and actually looking somewhat down to the pegasus, “is none of your business.”

“Right… you’re an earth pony who doesn’t know her way around a city, isn’t aware of taverns or how dangerous they can be, and hasn’t seen an elevator before in her life. You must’ve been raised in a rural location, most likely by parents who had no previous affiliation with contemporary society… you can’t be the most intelligent of ponies, much less your parents…”

Violet had had difficulty keeping herself contained. She didn’t much care for what Sonorous thought of her, but when he had waxed idiotic about her parents, she erupted in a fury she didn’t know she contained.

She darted to the side, knocking aside Zen and shoving her hoof into the pegasus’s jaw, hard. He crumpled immediately and slammed against the side of the elevator. He spat out a few teeth and glared at her. Violet leaned down and whispered through clenched teeth, “Don’t you dare insult my parents or their intelligence. They’re infinitely better ponies than you could ever hope to be and I won’t have you sullying their good name. I’ve already done that enough.”

The elevator dinged one last time and the door swung open to either side. An orange unicorn gasped at the scene but Violet merely shoved her way past the confused pony and leaned her hoof against the wall for support, grimacing. She didn’t need this. She didn’t need to be beaten up when she was already down. She didn’t deserve to be devalued. In fact… she realized, I don’t even deserve—

“Country bitch…” Sonorous muttered. Violet swung her head, tears streaming freely, and said with her head held high, “This country bitch has a name, and it’s Violet Vigil.” She returned to Sonorous, the unnamed, orange pony having long since left, and mimicked tilting back a hat. “Howdy.”

Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 4

Violet awoke from the most fitful night of rest she ever remembered having. Even more pleasant was finding Zen still snoozing beside her when she turned on the bed to get more comfortable after she woke up. The movement made him stir and he smiled when he looked upon her. She smiled right back.

“Good morning, Zen.”

“Right back at you, Vivi.” She was glad he remembered her nickname. He booped her muzzle with a hoof and she returned the touch. Then Zen upped the ante by poking her multiple times, to which Violet snagged a pillow and walloped him with it. What resulted was a pillow fight the likes of which left the both of them panting and with frazzled manes and tails.

After they took a moment of respite, Vivi smirked and threw her pillow at Zen. When he raised his pillow to block it, thus obscuring his vision of the mare, she darted after him and tackled him, landing on two pillows and the pleasantly bemused stallion underneath.

“Well then,” he said, chuckling. “Hi there.”

She poked her head above the pillows and squeed. “Oh hai.”

“What in the world is going on here?” a quite bewildered Sonorous asked at the doorway. Zen and Violet turned to him and all was silent. The mare blinked and the stallion she was on top of shrugged with a sheepish grin.

“Nevermind, just…” he trailed off and waved a hoof dismissively. “Get yourselves cleaned up. There’s a lot of work to do today.”

Zen nodded several times and Violet giggled as Sonorous shook his head and stalked off. With him gone, Violet returned her attention to Zen and booped his muzzle.

“I win!” she announced and pushed herself up from the pillows. She stretched and ran a hoof through her hair, widening her eyes at the many clumps in her mane. It was time for a bath.

“I didn’t know we were competing,” Zen mumbled before tossing the pillows aside. Violet merely tossed him a passing glance and strolled out of the room, flicking her tail this way and that. She looked to her left and saw a door she hadn’t noticed before. A quick couple steps and she recognized it as the bathroom. Perfect.

She meandered inside and shut the door behind her, locking it. It wasn’t too big, but it was well-stocked with various cleaning supplies such as shampoos, conditioners, combs, and of course… a mirror.

“Oh… my…” she breathed as she took stock of herself. The sheer amount of directions in which her hair stood up shocked her. She could have sworn her tail was bent in one spot and her coat was uneven almost all around. Wasting no time, Violet got to work sprucing herself up. It took about half an hour, but by the time she was done, she gazed upon herself in the mirror once more and grinned.

Her mane had been combed and shampooed and it draped straight down, curling slightly at the bottom. Her tail had received similar treatment and she flicked it back and forth, pleased with how smoothly her locks of hair flourished. Her coat gleamed as a fresh pane of glass against the sun. She was happy with the way she looked; in fact, she wanted to take a picture. Violet lacked a camera, however, and thought to ask Zen or Sonorous for one. Making her way to the door, she unlocked it and exited the room.

Almost at once, she found them conversing with each other on the couches, and in rather hushed tones. However, when Zen noticed her presence and turned, he made evident his surprise by all but forgetting his conversation with Sonorous. His jaw went somewhat slack and he stared. His reaction humbled Violet and she blushed a little. Sonorous nudged his friend with a hoof and rolled his eyes when he just continued gazing in awe at the mare before the both of them.

“Did you sleep well, Violet?” Sonorous instead asked.

“I did,” she said with a smile. “Thanks to your friend there.”

“Yeah…” the pegasus let the statement drift. “Hey, Violet, can I have a word with you? In private, that is.”

After failing to conceal her surprise, Violet nodded and followed Sonorous to his room, looking back at Zen. He gave a weak wave and Violet giggled, mouthing the words, “I’ll be right back,” before closing the door behind her. His room wasn’t unlike Zen’s, if a bit cleaner. With the aid of sunlight streaming through one window, she noted a bed, a couple dressers, a closet, and a bookshelf. Her attention was ripped from those objects, however, when Sonorous said in a low voice, “I’m sorry, Violet.”

She turned her head and stared at the pegasus. “What?” she asked in a whisper, disbelief coating her tongue.

“I am sorry,” he repeated. “I shouldn’t have so quickly judged you. I just saw this straggling mare from the country and I immediately thought…” he decided to leave the sentence and shook his head. “Anyway, the important thing is, you make Zen happy.”

Violet blushed once more and looked away. “You really think so?”

“Violet, I haven’t seen him this happy in months,” he said flatly. “Ever since he got laid off by his old contractor, he’s found it difficult to see sunshine even in a clear sky. But then you come along and…” he chuckled and sighed. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he could swear the sun was shining even in the darkest of thunderstorms. And I can see why.”

She gasped and faced Sonorous, feeling a surge of appreciation for the pegasus. Her eyes burned and she had to look away, searching for something, anything else upon which to look. Violet couldn’t face him, couldn’t face what he was saying. As lovely as it was—and, indeed, it was lovely—she was still nervous. Still uncertain. Still scared.

“I… I don’t…” she struggled to say. She possessed no words for what she was feeling. It was some mixture of bliss and agony, a brew that churned and ate away at each other. She could only hope that the bliss won out.

“Vivi, he cares about you,” Sonorous mumbled. “A lot. And I have to be sure you won’t do anything to hurt him.”

Violet inhaled sharply and almost shrieked, “No! I would never hurt him!” She found herself panting and struggled to contain herself. “Look, I had a friend once. His name… actually, I think Zen deserves to hear this story as well.” With nothing else, she got up and opened the door, departing for the living room.

Zen looked up from something that didn’t warrant half of her attention at that moment and was about to say something when he noticed how tense Violet was. “Are you okay?” Violet sat down next to him and sighed. “Yeah, I just have something to tell you… and Sonorous, as soon as he gets out here.”

By the time she had finished her sentence, the pegasus had exited his room, shut the door, and was making his way to the couch.

“What’s this about?” Zen asked again, worry flashing in his eyes.

“You want to know where I got ‘Vivi’ from?” she countered. Violet could tell that got his attention, judging from his immediate silence and enrapture. Sonorous had sat down by then and Violet looked from one to the other; she ended by just staring at the table. She couldn’t believe what she was about to do. Never in a million years had she even considered divulging what she was then preparing for. But with Zen’s tender care and Sonorous’s concern for his friend… she couldn’t bear to keep it to herself anymore. They deserved to know.

“Ten years ago,” she began, trembling. Even starting was difficult. Zen put a hoof on her shoulder, though, and she felt a surge of affection for him and hoped to show it by smiling. He returned it and when Violet glanced and Sonorous, she saw him grinning. Emboldened, she began again.

“Ten years ago, I started school. I didn’t want to, but my parents made me, said that they wanted me to have a better life than the root farm on which I grew up. So, I went. I hated it immediately and wondered how I would ever get by.”

Violet felt tears pouring and she made no move to stop them. It was absolving.

“Then I met this little colt named Quiet Quill…” she sighed. “He was wonderful. He made me feel better. He talked down to a bully, gave me a reason to go to school, and just… made me feel a little less lonely.”

Zen had grasped Violet’s hoof and squeezed. When she noticed, she squeezed back harder.

“We grew close. The school year passed by more quickly and before I knew it, it was January. Halfway done. But we’d had storms for a couple days and one storm decided it was just time to screw with us. A couple bolts of lightning struck the school and ignited it. We tried to get everyone evacuated but…” she shook her head and grimaced. Neither of the stallions spoke, just let her take her time. A couple of minutes passed before Violet found the strength to continue; it was Zen, again, who wiped away her tears.

“I had gotten out of the school but I noticed that not everybody had got out. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving anyone in there so with Quill and Petal Dance, another friend, we went back inside. We got as many ponies as we could out, including the filly who had bullied me before. But… we weren’t professionals. We were only foals. And I got tired. So I left and Petal accompanied me while I rested. Quill, on the other hoof…”

And here, Violet actually whimpered. Her shoulders rocked back and forth and she felt Zen’s foreleg stroking her back firmly. The motion comforted her but it wasn’t until she saw Sonorous holding her other hoof that she felt a wave of relief wash over her. She didn’t know why they were putting forth so much effort to comfort her but she appreciated it far more than she thought they knew. Taking a deep breath, she picked up her tale once again.

“Quill didn’t make it. He had gotten pinned by falling debris and burned. I got to his stretcher before he got pulled away and got to hear his last words. ‘I want you to be loud, Vivi. Live long, live full, and live loud, because… even though I was quieter than you, I was loud enough for you… and that’s enough for me.’”

Violet felt her stomach lurching but she didn’t stop. She was gaining momentum and would be over with this one way or another.

“I went into a deeper seclusion than before I had met him. I started seeing him everywhere. Almost everything reminded me of him. For ten… years… I dealt with that. By the time I was sixteen, I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to leave. I told my parents and they tried to stop me but I wouldn’t let them. They didn’t know how much I needed to leave. And I left… and then I met you guys.”

The end of her story was so abrupt and candid that the two of them gasped. When Violet looked up and gazed at them, she was astonished to find tears marring their faces as well. She had no idea her story was so powerful. Zen hugged her fiercely and she felt something wet trickle down her back.

“Why are you crying so much?” she asked, hugging him back with just a tinge of apprehension. She hoped it wasn’t because they blamed her. In fact, the moment she considered that, she widened her eyes in horror and felt her heart drop.

“Because you suffered alone,” Zen said very deliberately. Violet clenched her eyes shut, her teeth together, and her forelegs around the earth pony stallion. Something within her snapped and she felt the largest wave of pathos ever assault her. She came undone. She let go. Violet cried into his chest with everything she had, everything she had bottled up, and everything she had spent the last ten years convincing herself she didn’t have. For several minutes, she let the emotions flow, overflow, burst every last dam she had until the reservoir had emptied and she was dry. Even when she had finished, she just rested her head on Zen’s shoulder and rocked back and forth with him. She remembered her promise, however, and finally pushed herself from Zen and looked him straight in the eye.

“Quill used to call me Vivi,” she whispered. Zen’s eyes widened and he breathed, speechless. Violet looked over to Sonorous and took a deep breath.

“I would never do anything to hurt Zen, ever, Sonorous. I know what it’s like to have a broken heart. That’s why I went back into the school after it had ignited. I just thought… ‘What will those parents do if they ever find out their foal died…?’” she said, sighing. “I still don’t have an answer.”

Sonorous nodded slowly, putting his hoof on her shoulder. His eyes dropped, however, and he pointed to her flank. “Is that why your cutie mark…”

Violet blinked and looked to it. She’d forgotten about it. As soon as she processed its existence, however, something else came back to her.

You got it before Quill died, Petal had said.

She gasped and put her muzzle to her mouth. “I got it before Quill died… all this time, I thought it was a result of my failure to save him, but… I got it… before he died. That means…”

My talent isn’t breaking hearts… “My talent is protecting from broken hearts!”

Violet inhaled sharply and laughed. She laughed good and she laughed hard. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world, and she reveled in it. Zen and Sonorous looked at her bemusedly but she waved a hoof at the both of them and told them not to worry about it.

“I just… I’ve never felt so good,” she giggled again. “Or rather, I can’t remember feeling so good.”

Zen smiled and said, “Good to hear, Vivi.” Sonorous nodded in agreement. Her mind was racing. She was in such a good mood, too, that when there was a knock at the door, she rushed toward it and swung it open without a second thought.

Violet was greeted by a burly, tan earth pony who raised an eyebrow at her before shoving her aside, striding inside, and glaring at both Zen and Sonorous.

“You got my money?” he asked irritably.

Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 5

Sonorous growled and muttered, “We’re working on it.”

“We still have till the end of next week,” Zen said. “Why are you even here?”

“To make sure I get paid,” the unknown stallion asked. “Your last three payments were late. I’m getting tired of it.” He stomped the ground and pointed a threatening hoof at Zen and Sonorous. “Make sure you have my payment. Twelve days. You don’t wanna find out what happens if you don’t.”

With that said and done, the stranger turned and departed. As he passed Violet, though, he sneered and flicked his tail at her face.

“Hey!” she recoiled and almost started after him. She would have, too, had it not been for Zen holding her back. Violet turned with her ears flattened, gave him an incredulous look, and snorted.

“Don’t,” he sighed. “He’s not worth it.”

Violet looked down and grunted, stalking off to the couch and lying on it. Her mind was in a jumble and she had difficulty making sense of it all. One detail stood out to her, however, and she clung to it. That piece of paper she had read the night before, the one about the eviction notice… Does that have something to do with this? It was the only variable that didn’t quite fit into the puzzle yet to her. She sighed and wished she was more accustomed to urban life.

All was silent in the room. While Violet lounged, Zen plopped down onto the same couch and put a hoof to his muzzle. Sonorous retreated to his room and shut the door behind him. Violet unconsciously leaned against Zen.

“There’s something I have to tell you,” she whispered. Zen turned to her and nodded, putting a hoof on her shoulder.

“Last night,” she started, taking a deep breath. “I saw the calendar up there—” she pointed to it, “—and saw that your claim of forgetting to get your friend a birthday present didn’t match up with it. You haven’t even gone to the birthday party.”

Zen’s smacked his forehead with a hoof. “You noticed that, huh…? I’m sorry, Vivi…”

“It’s okay,” she assured. “I have something to confess, too. I noticed how keen you were about keeping those papers from me. I got curious. Late last night, after…” she sighed. “…our scuffle… I snuck into your room and snagged the papers. I just had to see what was so important.”

Violet saw Zen putting the pieces together. “So you knew.”

“Well… not exactly. I saw the papers, but I couldn’t make sense of one of them, the one I’m guessing is the important one. What’s an eviction notice?”

The stallion blinked and stared for a few moments before recognition dawned in his eyes. “Ooooh, I keep forgetting that you’re not from here… Well, to put it simply, Vivi… soon, we’re gonna be kicked out of our apartment.”

Violet’s pupils dilated and she gasped. “What!? Why?”

Zen gestured to the door. “You saw the landlord. We’re behind on payments. Ever since I got laid off by my old contractor… things have been rough. I’ve had to pick up any commission I could take. Sonorous hasn’t landed a job yet, either, and he’s been searching for quite a while.”

She tiled her head. “Commission? What exactly do you do?”

“Oh,” he laughed and showed Violet his cutie mark. It was a hammer and saw surrounded by a circle that was both black and white. “There. See the hammer and saw? I build houses and do other architecture. And the circle behind them is called a peace sign. Building is very therapeutic for me, and I try to make every one of my works do the same for those who live in them.”

Violet nodded and smiled. Zen returned it and nodded towards the hallway at the end of the living room. “Sonorous is a bit different. His talent is… well… reporting. He tells it how it is. If you haven’t caught his cutie mark yet, it’s a megaphone with a newspaper behind it.” Raising an eyebrow, she looked to the hallway.

“He’s tried to find somewhere in which to put his writing to use, but so far… nothing,” Zen explained. “In fact, the last job he had, he lost… and that’s kinda how we came to know each other.” This caught Violet’s attention and she snapped her gaze back to the stallion once more.

“How’d that happen?”

“Somebody who didn’t like what he was reporting—probably because the truth would have ousted him—sued Sonorous. They must have paid off the judge, because there was no way that he should have lost that case. He lost his job and got reassigned to community service to help build the infrastructure of Manehatten, got paired up with me. It’s been about a year since he’s done all of his service but… eventually, he lost his old home and I couldn’t not take him in.”

Violet blinked several times, disbelief evident in her blank expression. She felt a surge of affection for the kindhearted stallion. Abruptly hugging him, she buried her muzzle in his chest and squeezed him tight.

“Woah,” he said with a chuckle, hugging her back. “What’s this for?”

“Because you ruthlessly care,” Violet said. “Even if it puts yourself at risk, you help others. Why… why did you take me in, especially when you’re so close to losing your own home?”

Zen looked down at her and sighed, pushing her back so that he could look into her eyes. “I have a confession to make. When I suggested that, I didn’t care for how long you stayed. I was just lonely and wanted a bit of company aside from Sonorous. He’s not really that bad… he’s just been on edge lately. Both of us have been. But, Vivi…” he lost his ability to speak for a moment. Zen took a deep breath and swallowed hard before continuing. “The more time I spend with you, the less I think about building anyone else’s home… and the more I think about building our home.”

Violet gaped and failed to breathe, looking away to hide her reddening cheeks. She didn’t know what to say. Even if she had prepared for this a thousand times over, she presumed she still would’ve been speechless. How can you prepare yourself for… for compassion? For intimacy? For love…?

Zen tilted his head to one side, unsure and worried. He sighed and looked away himself. “Sorry… I shouldn’t have said—”

“No!” Violet countered and hugged him with all she had, wrapping her forelegs around him. “No… for ten years, I’ve shut other ponies out and ostracized myself. It never worked, and it never will. I know that now. I would rather…” she kissed his chest and leaned against it. “I would rather hug somebody and risk being shoved away than never… ever… getting another hug in my life.” She sighed lightly as he returned the hug, if a bit tighter.

“I’d forgotten what being hugged was like.”

The stallion didn’t say anything more, just kept his grip firm on her, resting his head on hers. They remained as such for an hour, listening to each other’s heartbeats. It was therapeutic. However, when Sonorous came out of his room, finally, he reminded them the insistency of their situation, albeit with reluctance.

As the pegasus started into the living room, he caught sight of Zen and Violet in their silent embrace. He stood there for several moments, fighting himself over stirring them. Sonorous knew they had to start searching for work if they wanted any hope of saving their home but the thought of breaking such contact gave him pause for a good, long while.

“Hey,” he said at last. “We should get going, you two. We need to finish our current job and see if we can find any more.”

Audible sighs were heard from both of them as they let each other go, but not before Zen swiftly kissed her on the cheek. Violet had just let him go but at the kiss, she embraced him firmly one last time, kissing him on the muzzle.

“Tonight,” she whispered, taking a cryptic angle. Zen’s eyes dilated somewhat and he nodded. Sonorous started towards the door, motioning for the two other ponies to follow. They did, but they walked side by side, never more than a foot apart. When they were out of the apartment complex, Sonorous turned and faced Zen.

“Why don’t you show Violet around the city some more? I can work on the current commission while you do that. See if you can find a place for her. Meet me back at the zone at noon?”

“Sounds good,” Zen nodded, curling one of his forelegs around Violet’s. “It’s a date.” Violet laughed and shoved him playfully.

“I don’t remember agreeing to this.”

“Would you have disagreed in the first place?”

“Noooooope!”

“Then off we go!” he pointed in a random direction and started off at a gallop. Violet took off after him, grinning all the while. Sonorous watched them go and stayed there, a slight grin on his muzzle. Only when they were out of his sight did he, at last, start on his way toward the front of Manehatten, and the construction site.

Zen showed Violet all he could find. He showed the mare not only jobs, but sights. They sat on a bench in a park, strolled by some of the tallest skyscrapers, and, against their better judgment, had lunch in one of the restaurants. The stallion had pressed his desire to do so and Violet couldn’t say no to that quivering lip of his.

“Yay!” he cheered, throwing his forelegs into the air.

“But only for a quick bite,” Violet said, chuckling and flicking his chin with her tail as she moseyed on inside. They entered a restaurant called “The Barn Garden” and Zen was pleased to find that there was a short line. A few minutes later, they were seated by a slick stallion that served them complimentary glasses of water.

“Will you be needing any appetizers?” he asked.

“No thanks, just give us a couple minutes to come up with our orders, please.”

The waiter nodded, placed two menus, and departed from their table. Silence permeated their corner of the restaurant, having been seated in a booth with a rather nice view of Manehatten. Violet looked all around her, taking in the atmosphere. It was calm and quiet. Soft, classical music played in the background. A silver coated mare with two-toned hair couldn’t escape Zen’s eyesight, no matter if he could dare.

“How are you doing, Violet?” he asked simply. When Violet looked back to Zen, she smiled.

“I’m doing great,” she said, placing her hooves on the edge of the table and looking down at the menu. “What shall we eat…?” Zen looked at his own menu and listed a few entrees off the top of his head. Violet’s ears perked at the mention of a daisy and sunflower sandwich with a couple diced apples on the side.

“That’s what I’m getting.”

“Yeah, it’s a popular choice here,” Zen said with a chuckle. “The apples they get are so fresh, you could swear they’re from Sweet Apple Acres.”

“From where?”

Zen blinked a few times before it dawned on him once again. “I keep forgetting how rural your life was.” But Violet waved the matter aside.

“It’s alright. I’ll learn as I go.”

The waiter returned to them, asking if they had chosen their orders. Zen gave his first, then Violet, and after offering to refill their drinks, left them alone once more. Violet found herself blushing before Zen the more she swam in his eyes and decided, instead, to gaze out the window.

“It looks like Sonorous has gotten over his initial… dislike of me.”

Zen laughed a little. “And how could he not? He was making an ass of himself. Besides… you’re a wonderful mare, Vivi.”

She looked back to him with a ghost of a smile and didn’t even try to hide her cheeks now, red as they may be.

“You’re not so bad yourself, Zen,” she responded at just above a whisper. “In fact… I’ve really enjoyed the time we’ve spent together.” Violet leaned forward to try to speak in a more private manner, despite the isolation they already possessed, and tried to quell the rising tumult in her stomach, that tidal wave that always seemed to rise whenever she found herself alone, yet… with Zen.

“And I hope we can spend much more—” she had started to say but was abruptly halted when Zen closed the distance between them and planted a firm kiss on her muzzle. He unconsciously moved around the table to get closer to her, so that he may press his body against hers, feel her warmth, and inhale her scent. Violet’s eyes widened but she didn’t pull away; in fact, she clenched her eyes shut and returned the kiss twice over, letting her hooves meander about his chest. Zen’s own hooves ran through her hair, her locks falling all about her face. They tightened the kiss, letting themselves get swept up in the throes of passion. It wasn’t until the waiter turned his attention away from a far-away table and was only one foot away from theirs that he turned his head and noticed what was happening with wide eyes. He promptly tip-hoofed away.

When Zen and Violet ran out of breath, only then did they pull apart from each other. Violet stared, panting, in some disbelief, some relief.

“Some appetizer…” she said with a smirk. “It only made me more hungry for the main course.” The mare wrapped her forelegs around him and kissed him again; this time, she pulled away quickly and kissed his cheek, then his down his neck, and ended at his shoulder, resting her head upon it.

Zen held her firmly, stroking her back with a foreleg. He caught the waiter’s gaze out of the corner of his eye, however, and there was a question on his muzzle. Zen’s eyes widened once more and Violet felt a tap on her shoulder, rousing her.

“I think the waiter is, umm… waiting for us.”

Violet looked over and noticed the somewhat annoyed look on his face. “Oh!” She let Zen go so that he may return to his seat, but not without another swift kiss. The waiter joined them and the two of them gave their orders, apologizing for their earlier… “embrace,” Violet called it.

“It is fine,” the waiter assured. “Just want to be sure of your orders. Will you be needing anything else? Refills?”

“More water for me,” Violet said. “Thanks.”

The waiter nodded and went on his way. Zen and Violet locked gazes, on the verge of yet another “embrace.” Violet, however, restrained herself and spoke three words she never thought she’d be able to hear again, let alone say.

“I love you.”

Zen stared, mouth agape, for several seconds. “I… I love you, too, Vivi.” Violet smiled at him, feeling warmth spread through her. She placed a hoof on Zen’s, who then put his other hoof on hers. Together, they shared in the silence, companionship, and knowledge that their feelings for each other were reciprocated. Violet thought she would burst, her entire body tingled so much.

When the waiter returned once more, he delivered their food and Violet was grateful for that. It gave her something else to focus on. If she had to look at Zen’s eyes for much longer, she feared she’d lose herself again. Not that that was bad thing. I just can’t stuff myself with stallion muzzle, lest I end up losing an appetite for it…

Zen and Violet ate their food rather quickly, though. Neither of them spoke much, other than asking for condiments. When Violet stole a few glances Zen’s way, she caught him looking at her. After finishing, the stallion beckoned the waiter over and asked for the bill. After receiving it, he winced slightly. Violet felt her stomach lurch but made no mention of it. Zen placed a stack of bits on the table and motioned for Violet to follow. They exited the restaurant and the stallion looked up, blocking the sun with a foreleg.

“Should be about noon, now…” he mumbled. “Guess we should return to Sonorous.”

Nodding slowly, Violet followed behind Zen as he lead the way. Neither of them spoke all the way, and Violet fought down a rising uncertainty in her stomach. That wince that Zen had done… it unnerved her. She wanted to talk about it, about any possible money issues, but then she realized that they had found no job for either of them all morning. She remained silent and her mood took a rapid deterioration. After a short while—she wasn’t sure, nor did she care—Violet recognized the post office and then the fire department. Not a couple minutes later, they were outside the city once again and she spotted the pegasus.

Zen and Vivi approached Sonorous with their heads down. Noticing this, Sonorous’s ears flattened and he sighed.

“That bad, huh?”

“Yeah…” they said in unison.

Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 6

“Sorry, Sonorous…” Violet mumbled, poking the ground with a hoof.

“Why?” he asked, turning to the mare. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

She turned away to avoid showing her grimace, pretending to be enthralled by a nearby lizard. It scurried across the ground from one hole to the next, taking refuge within the earth. When it disappeared, she took a deep breath.

“What do we do now?”

“Well… you could continue looking for jobs, what little good that will do…” Sonorous said, shrugging. “It’s better than nothing.”

Nodding, Violet turned to Zen. He hadn’t spoken at all yet, worrying her somewhat. She walked up to and nuzzled him. As she was doing so, however, she whispered into his chest, “Are you alright?”

“No,” he responded.

“We’ll find jobs soon.”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what?”

“Not here.”

She nodded, the warmth of his chest radiating and swelling within her, enticing her to lock muzzles with him once again. The desire was always hard to subdue. Zen took matters into his own hooves and pushed her away slowly. Violet looked up at him and frowned, unease oozing its way into her stomach. She wanted to say more, to say anything at all, but nothing seemed appropriate with Sonorous within earshot. The mare wanted to be alone with Zen. At length, all she did was watch as Zen walked over to the pegasus and sit in silence while they conversed.

What good am I doing here? I mean… what am I actually contributing…?

Violet felt a sudden lump in her throat. She realized that all she was really doing… was expending more of their resources without giving anything in return. She was speeding up the short window they had to pull together enough money to pay off the landlord. When she realized this, she inhaled sharply and looked down, clenching her eyes shut.

“Vivi?” Zen asked, turning around and rushing to her. When he put a hoof on her shoulder, she yanked herself away from him and sat there in silence. She never saw the hurt look on Zen’s face and moments passed in which all that was heard was the rustle of the wind upon the grass.

“Can I go back to the apartment for a while?” she asked quietly. “I need some time alone… to think.”

“Vivi, are you sure—”

“Please!” she cried and turned to face Zen, tears streaming. “Please…”

Zen backed away somewhat and nodded almost imperceptibly. Sonorous, however, called out after her. “Do you know the way back?”

“I remember,” she muttered. “But… I do need a key.” Violet approached Sonorous and held out her hoof. When the pegasus looked to the other stallion and all he did was give a vacant shrug, Sonorous sighed and gave it to her.

“Please be careful, Violet,” he pressed. Violet wasn’t sure from where the concern originated but she was grateful, nevertheless, even if she didn’t show it. Because she didn’t. All she did was turn and start on her way back into Manehatten, alone.

She paid little attention to the other ponies around her, mostly moving aside because they had to be doing something more important, more noteworthy, and more deserving of recognition. Violet didn’t want to get in their way. When she passed by the fire department once again, her eyes inevitably drifted toward the front door. The urge to go inside filled her once more, threatening to spill over the brim. She actually did start toward the door but somebody slammed into her and knocked her to the ground.

Violet grunted as she collided with the dirt but otherwise, looked behind her in an attempt to find the wayward pony. She caught a glimpse of a gray coat, blue and black hair, and…

Yellow eyes…? she wondered. Are those what I saw? The random pony gave a quick glance back at Violet and she could have sworn that they dilated in that split second that they remained locked with hers. At least, she guessed that the pony was a he, judging from the lack of eyelashes and the presence of a goatee.

He didn’t stop, however, and continued on his urgent way. Violet picked herself up from the dirt, fixed what she could of her hair, and looked to the fire department doors once more. Sighing, she walked past it.

Violet didn’t even give the post office a first glance as she passed by it and continued on her less-than-merry way. It wasn’t long before she had reached the circle of buildings that seemed obscenely tall to her. They blocked too much of the sky; however, she admired the view they gave when at the higher floors. She then got an idea and started inside Zen and Sonorous’s building. Rushing to the elevator, she pushed the button marked with a 7, the highest number she could find. Nobody else was in the elevator, so she sat in barely contained silence. When, at last, the doors slid open and she was on the seventh floor, she rushed to the stairs and was thrilled to find them going up one more floor. She made her way up them and pushed her way through the door at the top of the stairs. A gentle breeze caressed her coat and made her mane flow to the side. She tilted her head upward and took in the sheer expanse of the sky, heavily clouded and threatening with a storm. Step by slow step, she walked forward, her jaw dropping a little more with every second that passed.

By the time she got to the edge, her mouth was gaping and she stood there, transfixed. The whole of Manehatten was below her. Violet put a hoof to her muzzle and felt tears brimming. She was always one for wide open and expansive places, but this…? This was a whole new level of panoramic. She could see far more than that of what could be expected normally. It was therapeutic, being able to see everyone and everything. It put into perspective her own thoughts and feelings, allowing her to distance herself from them and examine them as a third party might.

Do I really belong here? I don’t think so, but I don’t want to leave Zen, either… or Sonorous…

For hours, Violet sat alone up there, pondering her situation and what she might make of it. The sun had traversed a third of the sky and it started becoming dark by the time she turned her attention outward once again. Sighing, she started on her way back to the apartment. She hadn’t reached a real solution that would fix all of their problems, but one thought served as a probable fail-safe option that she kept tucked away deep beneath that smile she put on when she happened to stumble upon Zen and Sonorous at the door to 3A.

“Hey guys,” she said with tried calmness. “How’d the rest of your day go?”

Zen looked to the pegasus and sighed before looking back to Violet. “Not great.” She felt part of her stomach clench but did her best to keep her soft smile as genuine as possible. “We got the base work done for the current commission, though. It’s supposed to be a news station and right outside a high traffic area like Manehatten, it makes sense.”

Nodding, Violet unlocked the front door and made her way inside, pushing the door aside for the two stallions. Zen closed the door and locked it behind them. Sonorous almost immediately retreated to his room, only taking time to mention to Violet, “We’ll try again tomorrow, Violet. It’ll be better.”

She nodded again; this time, a bit slower. Once again, Violet lay down on the couch, stretching and yawning. Zen accompanied her as he always did, lying behind her and resting his muzzle on her back. He listened to her rhythmic breathing and remained in silence. Violet found herself easing and her tension melting, a sense of serene calm washing over her as Zen ran a hoof up and down her side gently. The mare enjoyed his presence and warmth. It allowed her to think with more clarity than even atop the apartment. It also allowed her to recall something about Zen earlier. And her curiosity got the better of her.

“Hey Zen,” she whispered.

“Yeah?”

“Earlier… when we returned to Sonorous after… lunch… what was bothering you?”

She heard him sigh. “Do we really have to talk about that now?”

Violet’s stomach churned. “Well… I’d like to. You seemed worried and I wanted to help.”

“It’s nothing.”

“It doesn’t sound like nothing.”

Feeling the pressure ease off of her back, Violet turned to find Zen with a near-blank expression on his face. The one part that showed any hint of emotion was his eyes. They never evaded her.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said. Violet raised an eyebrow, confused. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“You’re not… gonna lose me,” she mumbled, shaking her head. “I… I don’t…”

“Violet, we don’t have that much time left. I want to spend as much time with you as possible but seeing as how we’re going to lose what comfort we have here quite soon… I wanted to make it special. That’s why I took you to lunch. I wanted to treat you with all the care you deserve but it only made things worse…” he sighed and looked away. “All I did was dim our chances of saving our home.”

Violet recoiled and fought back tears, fought back the rising despair, and fought back her conflicting joy since he had used the words “our home.” She reached out and hugged him, burying her face in his chest. “Please stop talking like that. I enjoyed it. I really did, Zen…”

Zen returned the embrace and cried into her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Vivi.” She didn’t know what to do. Her emotions were boiling over and with the lack of control over the situation, she cried as well. Neither of them were loud enough to rouse Sonorous but they would’ve hardly cared, if at all. Both of them were frustrated in the extreme at their predicament and took advantage of their limited time alone. They remained together until they had ran out of tears and lay there, never letting go of each other, until they fell asleep in each other’s forelegs.

Violet dreamed of sitting atop the apartment with Zen. They were both sitting and staring out at the city. She turned to him and found him staring back at her. They smiled and inched toward each other until they were within whispering distance. Violet started to say something but was interrupted, once again, when Zen pressed a firm kiss onto her muzzle. She was forced to close her eyes so she could return it, even harder. She reveled in his taste and remembered his scent. When she pulled away and opened her eyes, she noticed that they were back in The Barn Garden. Nobody but Zen was visible and he smiled widely at her. She smiled back and reached out to hug him. He did the same and they embraced for a long while. Violet didn’t pull away this time. She stayed like that for a long while, holding Zen and wishing that this moment could last forever. She did, however, open her eyes and realize that they were outside, in Manehatten. Something knocked her and Zen to the ground. Once again, she looked and spotted that drive-by gray pony. A mixture of confusion and annoyance coursed through her but was immediately washed away when she started to get up and saw the fire department. Zen had disappeared. Her heart dropped and she turned, running. She had to get away from there. Who knows what she might find? Would anybody recognize her? Connect her to the school fire? Place blame? The ground started to crumble beneath her and she began to halt, stopping just before the edge. Violet started to back up, sped up, and eventually, she turned and ran back the way she came, only to find that all the ground around the fire department had deteriorated. She cried out and bucked the air, too scared to go anywhere. Tears streamed down her face and she curled up on the ground and buried her face in her tail, wishing it all away.

Violet, you need to go home, a voice boomed all around her.

He is home! She cried at herself over and over. Zen is home… Zen… She mumbled his name over and over, chanting it against the crumble of reality around her. Zen, where are you?

Only when she started falling did she realize that all of the ground had faded and she yelled, covering her face with her forelegs. The fear was too great.

Violet awoke, screaming, and broke down into tears, not even caring that Zen had never moved an inch and was speaking to her. She heard nothing. All Violet did was turn on the couch, away from him, and let the terror flow. She cried into the pillow and hugged herself, wondering why she could never be free from her personal torment, even when she had found somebody, even when she loved him, and even when he loved her back.

I thought I was over this! Damnit, when will it end!?

Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 7

Violet did not sleep for the rest of that night. She lay awake, even if she had her eyes closed, thinking about what she might do. Zen simply kept her company, offering what comfort he could with his mere presence and gentle touch. It didn’t go unappreciated, but Violet was far from words. All she did in recognition of his efforts was stop crying and hug him back. They embraced tightly, and were embraced when Sonorous came bursting out of his room, mane frazzled and eyes wide.

“What in the Sisters’ names is going on here?” he had asked in exasperation.

“Vivi had a nightmare…” was all Zen had whispered. Nothing more was said. Sonorous’s expression softened and he joined them for a short while, hugging Violet. He did return to his slumber, however, and stood at his doorway for a moment before heading inside. The pegasus gave both Zen and Violet a concerned look and then closed the door behind him.

When dawn came, Violet rose from the couch and stretched. Zen watched her go, never having returned to sleep. She got herself a glass of water and went about other menial tasks, making sure she could still function properly. Several minutes later, she returned to the couch, Zen’s comforting embrace, and waited for Sonorous to awaken. He did a couple hours later and, after fixing some waffles for them all, addressed the both of his friends.

“Ready to go at it again?”

“Guess we don’t have much of a choice,” Violet said with a sigh. “How much longer are we going to keep this up?”

“As long as we have to,” Zen said gently. “We’re not losing this apartment.” As he said this, he switched his gaze from Violet to Sonorous. “You both hear me? We’re a family, and family sticks together through thick and thin.”

Sonorous nodded and Violet actually managed a smile at that. Maybe today will be better. Emboldened by his words, she said, “I love you guys.”

“Love you, too, Vivi,” Zen said immediately. Sonorous’s eyes widened and he was speechless for a moment; but at length, he smiled himself and said, “I love you, too.”

After breakfast, they left the apartment in high spirits. Violet even planted a kiss on Zen’s cheek. He grinned and Violet hoped he took it as a sign that she was feeling more like herself. With the last night she had, she guessed he must have been worried sick over her. Anything she could do to prove she was getting better, she would.

While Sonorous returned to the construction site—this time, in bright orange attire, which Violet guessed meant that they had actually begun the construction—the other two resumed their job hunt. The first place they tried was a street-side bakery that turned them away since they had no previous experience. While that didn’t particularly dampen their spirits—they had expected at least some resistance—the next three denials began to sully their moods.

And it continued. Violet and Zen tried every place they could find that was hiring but no matter their efforts, they were always turned down. Either Violet lacked the skills or the employer simply didn’t like the idea of “some country mare mucking up the place” as one of them stated, an owner of a small, family-oriented restaurant. Violet had wanted to shove her hoof down his throat at the blatant stereotyping, but Zen’s worried look had held her back. She had, however, mentioned to the stallion, “You know, I know a stallion who thought the same way you do. He’s now one of my closest friends.” She narrowed her eyes. “So before you go around reinforcing your own train of thought because it’s easy… take a moment to get to know to whom you’re really talking.” She even kissed him on the cheek and flicked her tail as she moseyed out of the restaurant. “You might be pleasantly surprised.” The employer was left stunned and speechless.

Even so, the two of them had no luck in securing a job for the mare. They returned to the apartment late that afternoon and found Sonorous already there, sprawled on one couch and already seemingly asleep. Violet lay on the other one and gave a heavy sigh, losing herself in though. Zen closed the door behind them and paced, his hoof on his muzzle.

At the sound of the door closing, Sonorous jerked awake and looked at the two of them. It took the pegasus a moment to recognize them but when he did, he calmed and put his muzzle to his forehead, groaning.

“Rough day at the site?” Zen asked, looking at his friend out of the corner of his eye.

“You don’t know the half of it,” Sonorous threw up his forelegs. “Solace is so specific about his news station!”

Zen visibly winced. “Yikes, that can get tiring.” He joined Violet on the other couch and lay back, sighing lightly. Sonorous didn’t respond. All he did was take a few moments to try to quell his rising headache.

Violet looked up from one of her friends to the other and rose. “Anybody want a drink from the fridge?” When both of them mumbled some variation of “yes,” the mare sauntered over to the fridge. She pulled back the door and grabbed three bottles of water, seeing nothing else but some fruits and vegetables inside. After closing the fridge, she started to walk back to Zen and Sonorous but halted as a thought occurred to her.

How much have I taken from them? Violet looked down to her water bottle and felt her stomach twist. How much more will I take…? I’m of no use to them if I can’t get a job… I don’t deserve this water.

Flattening her ears, she returned to the couch. Neither of the stallions must have noticed her pause. They simply took the water she offered them and sighed in relief as the cool liquid began to roll down their parched throats. Nobody said a word as the three of them sat and pondered what might be done. Violet found no solutions forthcoming; the more she thought, the more she could see only one solution. It wasn’t even a solution—more of a momentary reprieve. In any case, it was the only possible course of action that she saw able to be taken. And it tore her heart apart.

“I’m leaving,” Violet forced herself to say, her voice breaking.

“What!?” Zen exclaimed after spitting out his water. “Why?” Even Sonorous gasped and was hanging on to her every word.

“I’ve stayed here for too long,” she said and took a deep breath, fighting to keep herself steady. “I can’t get a job, guys… I mean, if I’m nothing but dead weight… why stay? I’m only making things worse…”

“Violet…” Zen said and found no words to say. His mouth was agape and he was obviously trying to find something to tell the distressed mare, but it was as if all words failed him for what he wanted to say.

Violet shook her head and placed her forelegs around Zen. “I’ll never forget you, Zen. You helped me open my heart again and taught me that it’s okay to leave it unlocked. You’ll always have a key to it.” She sighed and looked to Sonorous. “You, too, buddy.” To her credit, she mad managed to stay the tears all the way through her announcement. She even thought this might be easier than she had anticipated. But when she pushed herself from Zen and saw two steady streams of tears, she snapped and stared.

“Vivi…” he shook his head. “That’s not fair. That’s not… you don’t get to waltz into somebody else’s life, make yourself matter, and then waltz out on a moment’s notice!” Zen looked to the side and grimaced. He tried to wipe the tears away but gave up and looked back to her, not even bothering to stop the streams from his eyes.

“I care about you, Vivi,” he whispered; despite the lack of volume, Violet knew that these words came straight from his heart—from the deepest depths of his soul—and were every bit as loaded as a cry of agony. And possibly more.

“And I don’t want you to go. We’ll make it work, we’ll figure something out, we’ll make it happen, just…” he trailed off and hugged her again as tightly as he could manage. “Just please don’t go… I’m in love with you, Violet Vigil, and I don’t want you to leave me.”

Violet froze. She stared straight ahead, trying to process what she had just been told. She felt Zen crying into her chest, his shoulders bobbing and his tears rolling down her coat. For a few minutes, she remained as a statue. Sonorous was on the edge of her vision, speechless. Violet looked down slowly and wrapped her forelegs around Zen, tightening her grip with every passing second. She maintained her hold until Zen had finished and was again looking into her eyes. Only then did she speak again.

“I know, Zen,” she said softly. “I’m in love with you, too. That’s why this is so hard.” And if it was possible, she shed more tears, pecking a kiss on his cheek. It took all of her willpower not to lock his muzzle with her own. If she did that… she might not ever let go. So she left him there and stood up.

“I can’t possibly ask for supplies from you guys… so I’ll just… be on my way.”

“Absolutely not, Violet,” Sonorous stood himself and stomped the floor. “I won’t keep you here against your will… but I also won’t let you go without, at least, some provisions. You…” he couldn’t finish as he wiped away a few tears of his own. “You’re a dear friend and I can’t bear the thought of you going with absolutely nothing.”

She shot the pegasus a surprised look and shook her head somewhat. “I don’t get it… why? You’re already close to losing your house… why bother doing anything for me?”

“Because that’s what friends do!” Zen yelled and scowled at Violet. “They help each other even when it means hurting themselves.” He rose from the couch and stalked off to his room without glancing back.

If anything at all had hurt Violet up to that point, it was immediately squandered by the look Zen had given her. Nothing cut as deep as that did and Violet felt her heart drop into her stomach.

“Zen, I…” she stopped herself, feeling that tension in her stomach again. The same feeling she felt when Quill had died; only, this time… it was worse. Something about what Zen said latched itself onto Violet and sucked her of every last bit of happiness. If she had any hope of moving on, it was now gone. She turned to Sonorous, tears falling unchecked, and shook her head. “What did I…”

The pegasus merely shook his head and started to gather some supplies for Violet. In the time that Sonorous did this, she sat back down on the couch and reanalyzed the discussion up until it got heated, up until he had yelled and looked at her with that… What was it… betrayal?

It hurt her to even think about. So she distracted herself by fiddling with her tail and watching Sonorous. He didn’t speak and mostly kept his gaze away from her; when they did lock gazes, there was something there that disturbed Violet. Much like the look Zen had given her, there was pain evident in those glossy eyes, but for Sonorous, it was more complicated.

Don’t tell me he hates me, too… why is he looking at me like that? With… Violet knew she recognized the look. It was oddly reminiscent of her childhood and caused her a great deal of distress. But it didn’t click until her thoughts meandered to times long since gone with her parents. That’s when she understood. She put her hooves to her eyes, trying to stem the flow of tears that had seemed to flow so oft as of late.

“Come on, Violet,” Sonorous said with a discernible note of regret. It was from a different location than she remembered and when she withdrew her hooves, she saw the pegasus standing by the door with a backpack leaning against the wall. “You ready?”

Violet shook her head but got up anyway. When she reached the door, she picked up the bag, lurching forward slightly at the unexpected weight. “How much is in here?”

“Enough to last you a couple weeks.”

“Sonorous, don’t you—”

“No,” he cut her off. “And don’t even think to argue.”

“What did I do wrong?”

Sonorous chuckled and shook his head, a ghost of a smile on his muzzle. “You don’t get it. It’s not what you did. It’s what you didn’t do. Violet, I thought you were better than this, and I’m surprised to say… I’m disappointed in you.”

With that, he turned and retreated to his room. But before he made the full distance, he stopped and turned his muzzle to the side, speaking in low tones. “I hope you find somebody who knows exactly what to say to you, Violet. Zen doesn’t know, and it’s tearing him apart.”

Then he left her, standing, thunderstruck, and defeated. She welled up and ran. Violet didn’t take the elevator; rather, she ran down the stairs. At least, she tried to. Nearing the end of the second flight of stairs, she slipped and fell, collapsing in a heap against the wall. When an unknown white stallion opened the door nearby and asked what the commotion was, Violet just picked herself up and continued on her way, tears falling all the while.

I did this to protect you! she kept yelling in her head. Everything I do is to protect ponies! If I do more harm than good, why stay? Answer me that, Zen! Why keep pouring salt in the wound!?

Violet ran out of the apartment complex and through Manehatten. To her credit, she managed to avoid each pony she ran by but even if she had, she wouldn’t have stopped. She was far too preoccupied. Nearing the edge of Manehatten, her gaze inevitably drifted to the fire department as she passed by it. The sight inflicted terror the likes of which she had forgotten she’d experienced. She sprinted past it, trying to will the image burned from her mind. All the way outside of the city, she ran, and onward. She ran until her chest heaved and her hooves were sore. She ran until her tears were gone and her heart was a stone. She ran until she lost the strength to lift a hoof and collapsed in front of a small brook at the edge of the nearby forest. The sun had long since set and she didn’t see her reflection, not that she cared. In fact, she somehow managed to roll herself on her back and looked up at the stars. The sky was abundant with them. Thousands upon thousands of tiny, shining, little blips in the sky.

I’ve always watched the stars from way down here. I wonder… if there’s anybody else doing the same on any of them. She reached out with a hoof to try to touch one star, knowing full well that she couldn’t. All she wanted was some control, some power over her situation… and to her, it hardly ever seemed like she had any.

Who are you? What’s your story? Who stepped on your heart and left you to die? And just how are you going to stand back up and take what’s rightfully yours?

Violet wasn’t sure why she asked those questions, especially to nobody in particular, but she found it therapeutic to question in isolation. She dropped her hoof, sighed, and curled up, groaning at her muscles’ protests. Sleep greeted her not too long afterward—a dreamless, unmemorable sleep. Although Violet wasn’t too thrilled that the sun had interrupted her meditative slumber, it brought to light more than the forest around her and the city she had left behind. Once again, she was alone, on the road, and without provisions.

“Oh, crap…” she groaned more loudly than she had last night. She had forgotten the backpack.

Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 8

“Crap, crap, crap,” Violet mumbled over and over, pacing. “I can’t go back! There’s no way…”

If she remembered just how sore her limbs were, she ignored the burn in them, too intent on her current predicament. To go back meant facing Zen and Sonorous again, facing the two ponies with which she had become so close in the past few days. She didn’t think she could do that. Violet didn’t want to see that look in their eyes, hear the words she was too scared to think about, or feel any more allure toward one of them in particular. She utterly failed in that last regard.

“Damnit…” she said, gritting her teeth. “Damnit! Nothing is ever simple, is it?” Violet continually flicked her tail in irritation and sat down by the brook. Now that she could behold her reflection, what she found startled her and she recoiled. She didn’t care about her somewhat frazzled mane or the few patches of dirt on her coat or even the bruise she found on her shoulder that she didn’t remember getting. It was her eyes.

After she returned her gaze to her reflection, she felt a cold embrace over her heart. Is that the message I really send to ponies? Violet had, on countless occasions, read other ponies by merely gazing into their eyes. The eye was the gateway into a pony’s most protected self. But never before had she done it to herself, never before had she seen defeat, regret, and contempt for the former two in her own eyes. The sight terrified her. How could she claim to only help ponies when she couldn’t even help herself?

Slumping down, Violet covered her face with her hooves and grimaced. What can I do? I want to… I need…

The thought to return to the two stallions burned itself in her mind until she finally grunted and slammed the ground with a hoof. Violet rose to all fours and took a deep breath, readying herself, however superfluous it was. She couldn’t prepare herself—not really, not for facing somebody with whom she was in love. The thought brought back something she’d thought not too long ago.

How do you prepare yourself for… for compassion? For intimacy? For love…?

She knew now that she couldn’t. Those very feelings inherently require a lowering of defenses, and as such, can’t be prepared for. The only contingency was actually taking the step forward and embracing said feelings… and the result? It’s like stepping into a hot bath. It’s intense at first and everything is pure, raw sensation. Then, when it cools and you settle into it… you’re more comfortable and you find yourself enjoying every little bit of your body being exposed, explored, and appreciated.

Violet turned and looked back in the general direction of Manehatten. Swallowing hard, she took one step forward, and ended up tripping over a loose root. She fell face first into the dirt.

“I am…” she mumbled, “… the most graceful pony… ever.” And she laughed. Violet giggled at herself. She rose from the dirt and shook herself, throwing the dirt aside, all with a slight grin on her muzzle. It felt good to poke fun at herself and it seemed as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Sighing to herself, she started on her way back to the city.

When she reached the construction site, nobody was there. There was, however, quite a bit of cement stacked in awkward patterns and a stray, orange contraption that Violet only assumed was used for some sort of construction. Zen and Sonorous must still be in their apartment, she mused. It still is pretty early.

Strolling into the city, Violet didn’t even stop by the fire department; instead, she moseyed deeper into Manehatten. The mare took notice of the few ponies around her and was surprised to find each of them smiling—or, at least, glancing—back at her. The question then arose whether they had always acknowledged her in this way or just started to do so due to some change in the way she carried herself. Either way, she smiled back at each and every one of them, even if they hadn’t in the first place.

When she reached the apartment, she stood for a moment, hearing slight noise coming from inside the building. She slowly entered, seeing a white stallion at the front desk that turned and immediately widened his eyes upon locking gazes with her.

“Are you…” he started but was unable to continue; instead, he motioned with his hoof upward and toward the stairs.

Violet blushed and nodded some, looking away. “Yeah. I… had a bit of an overreaction.” The stranger shook his head and waved a hoof in dismissal. “Everybody has off days.”

Nodding again, albeit slowly due to the sheer nature in which she had reacted, the mare returned her attention to the stallion. “Do you know Zen and Sonorous?”

“The guys upstairs in 3A?”

“Mhm.”

“Barely. They keep to themselves.”

“Yeah,” Violet laughed. “Isn’t that the truth…? Alright, I’ll be on my way.”

The stranger nodded to Violet and returned his attention to the front desk and attendee that resided at it. Violet made her way to and up the stairs until she was at the door to 3A. She took several deep breaths and knocked lightly. Several moments passed in which there was no answer. Tilting her head to one side, she knocked again, if a bit louder. Still no answer. Against her better judgment, she pushed against the door and was surprised when it swung wide. Violet made her slow way inside the room, looking all about for any signs of the stallions. There were several bottles of water littering the floor along with a couple pillows and several sheets of paper. At once, she noticed the backpack right beside the door where she had left it. Although, she, too, noticed a stack of paper on the table. It was the one she had read from Zen’s room—the one with the eviction notice. Unease clawed at her stomach at that moment. She could take the backpack and leave right then. She didn’t even have to face Zen or Sonorous again—she could just go. That’s what she had come here to do, after all. It seemed so easy and all the more enticing because of it. However, she couldn’t take her eyes off the stack of paper. The more she stared at it, the more an idea started to form in her head.

Maybe I could find something of use in that document… something to help them.

It was worth a shot, she decided. Violet sat down on the couch and rummaged through the papers, tossing aside all the advertisements and other useless print. She reached the eviction notice in no time and when she looked at it, her heart dropped. None of the jargon in the paper made any sense to her. She could read, but she wasn’t versed in legal matters at any degree; as such, she couldn’t make heads or tails of the document.

Sighing, Violet tossed the eviction notice to the floor. Immediately, the piece of paper that had been underneath it caught her attention. In fact, she remembered there being one more slip of paper when she had first read the eviction notice—she just hadn’t bothered to look at it. Either that, or I don’t remember it was there.

She leaned forward and read. It was addressed to someone’s mom and dad—a letter. As she continued to read, Violet gasped and put a hoof to her muzzle, fighting back a hurricane in her eyes. Zen had written about her.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I hope the two of you are doing well. You can’t possibly be doing any worse than we are at the moment, but still…

Sonorous told me he got another commission. Solace Sojourn wants us to draw up plans for a news station right outside Manehatten where commercial traffic is the heaviest. Something about getting the news where it could be seen the most. It makes sense. I just care about the money. With it, we should be good for a month or two, but only when it’s finished. I wish it was sooner rather than later.

Also… I met someone. Her name is Violet Vigil. She came out of scenic nowhere when Sonorous and I were just working one day, inspecting the land on which we would build the news station. She… We talked for a bit and while she has some issues of her own, she is just a delight. I’ve found the ability to smile again and not just because we get to keep our home for a few more weeks. I smile because the flowers smell nice again. I smile because every sunrise seems a little brighter. I smile because she does.

I wish I could send you this letter now. I wish I had enough money to spare for that but until we get paid for this commission, we have to take care of the necessities. I’m not too worried, though…

Vivi gives me hope for a better tomorrow.

Love,

Zen

Violet grimaced and felt her stomach twist, turn, and writhe in agony. She almost took the letter and threw it away but she noticed something off about it. After taking a moment to focus and gather herself, she saw that bits of the piece of paper were creased and crumpling. She poked those spots and felt that they were somewhat damp. What made this wet…? It wasn’t me. I actually held in my tears. It must’ve been…

Her heart dropped. Oh, no… he can’t be far, though. Violet had to find him, had to apologize for everything she had screwed up. She didn’t even care if she still had to leave. All she cared about was patching up what she might of her relationship. Zen deserves that much.

Folding the letter and placing it in the backpack, she slung it over her shoulders and bolted out of the apartment. Violet didn’t slip on the stairs as she raced down them and out of the building, devout in her search for her friends. She had no idea where to start, though, and resorted to simply asking passerbys if they had seen a golden earth pony and a gray pegasus. After about half an hour of no results, Violet, frantic as ever, slumped against the side of The Barn Garden and sighed. The sun wasn’t quite overhead but began to beat down on her coat, forcing her to wipe some sweat from her brow.

Zen… Sonorous… where are you two?

She turned and looked inside the restaurant. At once, she spotted the booth in which they’d had more than just lunch. Longing wormed its way into her heart and she leaned her head on the glass, flattening her ears.

“I’m sorry…” she whispered and clenched her eyes shut. Violet repeated the phrase many times until she opened her eyes with the intent to look in once more and to recreate the kiss in her head. Somebody else, however, looked up at her from inside the restaurant. It was a gray pegasus, but not one of which she wanted to find. This one had yellow eyes.

Violet recoiled and tilted her head. The stranger pointed to the front door at her right and to himself. Slowly, the mare entered the restaurant and walked over to the pegasus, keeping her eyes trained on him all the while. He was a little different from any other pegasi she’d seen, however. His wings were a light blue on the top while the bottom was plain white. His chest was also white instead of the gray that the rest of his coat was. He sported a goatee, his ears were pointed due to his hair, and each of his legs had fetlocks. Those yellow eyes never failed to strike her attention, the stark contrast from the rest of his body standing out well. His cutie mark caught her attention the most, though. It was a blue quill that wrote a line of flames. She pondered all of this as she made her way to him.

“Hey Violet,” he said with a gentle smile, sitting down at the same table at which she and Zen had sat not that long ago.

“How do you know my name?” she asked with a cross look. Violet did sit down with him, but she took great care around the stranger.

“I didn’t—not really. I just guessed. Zen talked about this silver coated mare with the most gorgeous violet colored eyes he’s ever seen,” and at this, he gestured to her. “I’d say it was a reasonable guess.”

Narrowing her eyes, she looked him up and down. “Who are you? And how do you know Zen?”

“My name is Solace Sojourn—”

“—So you’re the one that commissioned them just recently…”

“Indeed. I also ran into you that one time…” he reminded and chuckled. “Sorry about that. I was kinda late to meet Sonorous that day.”

She made no movement whatsoever so Solace continued. “I was there a couple times while Sonorous worked on it. I didn’t see Zen much, though. At least, until this morning.”

Violet winced slightly. Solace raised an eyebrow and put a hoof to his muzzle, a questioning look on his face. “He did seem a bit down… I’m guessing something happened last night.”

Hardening her eyes and flattening her ears, Violet muttered, “What are you even doing here?”

“I’ve had breakfast here while I check on the construction for the past couple days.”

Silence crept its way into their conversation. A waiter stopped by the table but Solace had already picked up his menu and was mumbling to himself. “A few more minutes, please?” The waiter nodded and went about helping another table instead. Solace returned his attention to Violet and sighed.

“So, what brings you to The Barn Garden, Violet? Or rather, what brings you to its glass windows?”

Violet looked away and kept her silence. Talking about everything that had happened over the past couple of days was not something she wanted to do with a complete stranger. All she wanted was to talk with Zen and Sonorous. Mostly Zen. She didn’t want to leave more of her past in such a lamentable state. She’d had ten years too much of that.

“Well, is there anything you want me to tell Zen?”

Her ears perked and she jerked her attention back to the pegasus. “You know where to find him? And Sonorous?”

“Yeah, why? Can’t you?” he asked, tilting his head.

“Nevermind me,” she said quickly and waved a hoof in dismissal. “Where can I find them?”

“Last they told me, they were heading over to the local tavern. They wanted to drink for a bit… de-stress a little.”

“Can you show me where it is?”

Solace nodded but gestured to the table. “Can we eat first?” Violet sighed and massaged her head; after which, she shook her head.

“If you’re not coming with me, then just tell me where to find it. I really need to talk to them, Solace.”

He raised an eyebrow and stared at her for a long while. Something flickered in his eyes, Violet noticed. His gaze softened as he put down the menu and spoke in a tone both gentle yet firm. “No… I think I’ll join you.”

Violet recoiled somewhat and asked, “Really?”

“Really. You seem devoted to fixing whatever happened last night which I admire…” he trailed off, looking away for a moment. “Besides, they’re my friends, too.”

An unusual surge of affection and appreciation for Solace coursed through Violet. Nodding, she rose from the table and gestured for Solace to lead the way. He did so, stopping by the front desk to tell them he’d changed his mind about eating there. The pegasus apologized briefly about wasting their time, placing a few bits on the counter for their trouble. Without looking back, he strolled out of the restaurant, Violet right behind him.

The city was becoming more crowded and their pace slowed. The delay frustrated Violet but she kept her peace. She would reach them in time. However… she still preferred to reach them as quickly as possible. As such, she mumbled to Solace about it.

“Patience, Violet,” he reassured. “They’re fine, I’m sure.”

Violet wasn’t so sure. The very first thing they had told her when she had entered Manehatten was to avoid the tavern. And now they go there to cool down? Something’s off…

Her gaze was wandering about the city, taking in new sights since Solace was leading them to a part of town with which she had no experience. Bright lights adorned several signs for the buildings; one, in particular, had a sign that displayed a pony spinning down a pole and posing lewdly. While she tilted her head in confusion at that, Solace pointed to the building next to it. “There.”

It was a large, wooden building titled “The Hay Barrel.” Violet saw the trail on which she walked continue past it and out of the city. She guessed this was another entrance to—or exit from—Manehatten. As she entertained the thought, Violet saw, on the edge of her vision, something red, large, and on wheels enter the city and drive by them.

“Fireponies are finally back.”

Violet turned to face him for a moment and then looked back to the truck as it drove away. The realization that she wouldn’t have been able to reenter the fire department the past couple of days struck her a little less hard than did the realization that she could now.

“Violet?” Solace asked. When she returned her attention to the pegasus, she saw he was already making his way into the tavern. She began to follow him, sudden apprehension curdling her stomach; though, whether it was from the fire department or the tavern, she knew not.

The closer she got to the tavern, the more muffled noises she heard. Somebody, or something, was causing quite a commotion in there. Violet gradually flattened her ears until she joined Solace at the entrance. Solace looked a question to her before moving to open the door. He never got the chance, however. The doors were blasted aside as a very bruised, battered, and angry Sonorous collapsed against the floor in between either of them.

Groaning, he yelled back into the tavern. “We had more than a week!”

Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 9

Violet gasped and leaned down to him. “What’s going on!?”

“The freaking landlord—” he started to say as he turned his attention to the mare. “Wait… Violet?” His astonishment was as plain as his pain when he winced and groaned. “Why are you here?”

“Nevermind me! What about the landlord? Why are you hurt? Where’s Zen!?”

All Sonorous did was point inside the tavern with his hoof before he slumped backward. He then noticed Solace and grinned weakly. “Hey, Sol. Looks like all that construction work didn’t make me that much stronger after all.”

Sol laughed in spite of himself and shook his head. “Vivi, I’m gonna stay with Sonorous and get the police. You go find Zen.”

Nodding, Violet looked at Sonorous and tried to infuse all of her regret and apology into her expression as she placed a hoof around his and squeezed tight. She had learned that she was as easy to read as anyone and, in that moment, she wanted to be as open as a book. She started to shed a few tears as she rose and could have almost sworn that Sonorous put on a ghost of a smile. He did, however, squeeze back. Turning with a little more reassurance, she galloped into the tavern.

There were several crushed tables and chairs strewn about the tavern. An innumerable amount of mugs, and shattered mugs, littered the floor. A few plates also decorated the floor along with the food they had been presenting. It was nearly empty except for a few ponies near the bar at the far end; at once, she recognized Zen. He was backed up against the bar and was holding one of his forelegs up. One of his eyes was closed, swollen, and bleeding. He wore an expression of pure hatred and scowled at the two ponies in front of him, one of which Violet recognized as the landlord. The other was completely new; though, that didn’t mean he wasn’t unintimidating. He wasn’t as large as the landlord; but still, he was a huge, brown earth pony with, quite possibly, the most muscle-toned back Violet had ever seen.

Her original plan was to creep up to them and try to do as much damage as possible before they could react. However, when Zen spotted her, he exclaimed, “Violet!? What in the world are you doing here?”

She swore in her mind and froze, staring at the two offenders as they turned to face her. Zen used the distraction to spin on his good foreleg and buck the chest of the unknown earth pony, launching himself off and away from the landlord. The brown stranger recoiled somewhat as the landlord growled and chased after Zen.

Violet herself charged into the fray and picked up one of the nearby, still-whole plates with her mouth. She jumped and smashed the brown pony in the back of the head with it and as he collapsed on the floor, Violet pinned his head with her hoof.

“Don’t. Move,” she said with a deathly even tone. Even when he nodded, Violet applied some pressure, shoving his face into the wooden floor. He groaned in agony and pleaded her to stop.

“I don’t even want to hear you squirm,” she insisted. “Do you hear me?”

“Yes, just please stop splitting my skull!” he said through clenched teeth. Only then did Violet ease the pressure and turn her attention back to Zen and the landlord. Zen was putting up quite the fight, dodging what he might of the landlord’s kicks. Still, his injury caught up with him and when the tan earth pony pivoted after missing his last kick, he couldn’t maneuver as well and ended up slipping. Zen collapsed on the floor with a pained grunt.

No!

The landlord chuckled and stalked up to him as Vivi cried out and sprinted toward them. She saw the landlord’s surprised expression just before she jumped but it was too late. He spun on his forelegs and held out his hind legs, catching Violet in them and, after giving a little, pushed them back, hard.

Violet soared through the air and landed on top of a crushed table as her backpack flew off and landed at a far corner of the room. She cried out in pain and arched her back at the glass that had embedded itself in her back. Rolling onto her side, she tried to push herself back up but couldn’t find the strength to do so, no matter how hard she tried. The mare did, however, lift her head enough to see the landlord walking toward her.

“What did you think to accomplish with that?” he asked with a chuckle and hiccupped.

“I just…” she had to stop as she grimaced at the sheer agony in her back. It was several moments before she could speak again. “…had to distract you…” she mumbled, saying whatever came to mind.

“Distract me from what?” the landlord inquired once more. He took care to step around the broken glass as he closed the distance to Violet and placed a hoof on her head.

“You’re so tiny,” he said. “I bet I could squish your tiny, little head right here, right now.” Violet’s stomach squirmed and she shuddered at the thought.

“Hey, I got Zen!” the brown pony said. Violet’s heart stopped and she mumbled, “No…” She tried to push herself up once more, terrified at the thought of Zen getting hurt any more. Despite the searing pain coursing through her back, she pushed herself up enough to push the landlord’s hoof back an inch. She looked down at herself and saw several streams of blood dripping from her back onto the floor. And just as she was about to get some real leverage to be able to sit up, the landlord shoved his hoof into the side of her face, sending her back to the floor. He dug his hoof into her cheek, keeping her pinned.

“That was cute,” he mused. “But try it again, and I’ll paint the walls with your blood.”

Violet whimpered and clenched her eyes shut. She didn’t regret coming back. She didn’t regret putting her life in danger. She didn’t even regret the shards of glass that were currently sending wave after jolting wave of pain down her back. What she would come to regret, she thought, was failing Zen. That thought, above all, made tears come to her eyes.

“I’m sorry…” she mumbled.

“What was that?” the landlord asked.

“I’m sorry!” she screamed, jerking her head up enough to shove the hoof off of her face. She turned her head upward and tried to yell back to Zen before the hoof inevitably pounded her back into the floor. “I’m sorry, Zen! I’m sorry I walked out! I’m sorry I’m probably the worst pony on the planet for hurting you but I was scared! I was scared and frightened and paranoid. I love you, Zen, and nothing will ever change that!”

A few moments of pure silence passed, save for Violet’s pained panting. “Zen?” she asked quietly. If she was surprised that she hadn’t been shoved back onto the floor, then she was astonished beyond belief by what Zen said next.

“I’m sorry, too, Vivi.”

“Wha…? Why?” she asked, having to put forth great effort to speak. The pain was making her woozy and she started to fade in and out of consciousness. Violet heard him say something but she didn’t quite understand what Zen meant it didn’t matter. The pain became too great to bear and she collapsed just as she started to hear shouting coming from behind her. She heard what she thought was Solace’s voice just as total blackness consumed her in its ever-loving embrace.

Violet didn’t know for how long she slept. Time became distorted and she lost all tack of it by the time she opened her eyes once more and stared at a pure, white wall. A light blanket covered her body and part of her back was propped up. She started to look around and caught sight of a counter with several tiny, orange bottles, a stack of books, and a clipboard. She quickly lost interest in those items, though, and started to wonder where Zen, Sonorous, and Solace were. Her mind wandered until she tried to recount what had happened.

I went into the tavern, fought them for a little while, got pinned, told Zen I was sorry, and…

She didn’t know. I think… shouting… and Solace… She tried to raise a hoof to hold her pounding head but found she didn’t have the strength to do so. All she could do was sit and watch as nothing happened around her. However, before long, another pony walked in from the side. The pony was a white pegasus with rose colored hair and the most curly mane and tail that Violet had ever seen.

“Violet!” she exclaimed with a wide smile and rushed to her side. "You’re finally awake!”

“Who are you?”

“Oh, goodness me, I’ve not yet introduced myself to you,” she said with a giggle and bowed. “Heavenly Hearts, at your service. I’ve been your doctor and caretaker for quite some time, Violet.”

Violet’s stomach dipped a little and unease wormed its way inside. “How long… exactly?”

“You were in a coma for a month.”

Her eyes widened and she tried to jump from her bed but Heavenly placed a gentle hoof on her chest and shook her head. “You’re not quite there yet, dear. I wouldn’t do anything seriously taxing for a couple more days, maybe even a week.”

Slumping back, Violet looked to her and sighed. “Where are Zen, Sonorous, and Solace?”

“Sonorous is probably dealing with the closure of the lawsuit, I’m not sure about Solace, and Zen…” she trailed off and gestured to Violet’s left. When Violet turned further than she had before, she spotted the edge of another bed and, resting on it, was a golden earth pony. His left foreleg was propped up and he seemed to be sleeping, given by the fact that his chest was rising and falling at a steady rhythm. For a long while, Violet watched Zen. She wanted to get up and tackle him to the ground, hug him, kiss him, and have him do all of that to her. And as she was fantasizing, she recalled something else.

‘I’m sorry, too, Vivi.’ What had he meant?

“You care about him a great deal,” Heavenly said, drawing Violet’s attention. When she turned to the nurse, Violet saw a gentle smile adorning her muzzle with two of the softest light blue eyes she’d ever seen. She couldn’t disagree, not with such a genuine expression.

“He’s special,” she said with a sigh, and immediately felt guilty because the description seemed far too short. Violet started to say more but just gave up and looked over to him, reaching out with a hoof. When she couldn’t hold her hoof up any longer, she retracted it and held it close to her chest, closing her eyes.

“And I messed up.”

“You weren’t the only one that messed up,” a voice that was far too familiar to Violet said. She whipped her head back to the left and broke into a wide grin as she saw Zen looking back at her.

“Zen…” she laughed and felt a great wave wash over her, easing tension in an innumerable amount of places. Despite the pain that jolted through her foreleg, she reached out once more. Violet couldn’t hold back the single tear that rolled down her cheek when Zen reached out with his right foreleg and touched her hoof with his own.

Zen wasn’t smiling, however. “Vivi… I really am sorry.”

“For what?” she asked, blinking.

“When you said you had to leave… I was being selfish. What I said, I said to hurt you and to guilt you into staying. I was so desperate about not losing you that I forgot who I was really talking to… somebody I love more than anybody else in the world and who deserves somebody far better than myself. And for that… I’m sorry.”

Inhaling sharply, Violet shook her head and fought back more tears. It was becoming difficult in the extreme to keep her hoof held but she did so. She didn’t want to let him go, not in this moment.

“I… Zen, I don’t know what to say.”

“I think we need time apart.”

Her eyes went wide and she retracted her hoof—both because she was surprised at what Zen said and because she thought if she had to keep it held any longer that it would fall off. Violet struggled to form any words and instead looked away. For the first few days she had known him, she had found the first bit of true happiness in ten years and she didn’t want to let that go. Not entirely.

“If we’re taking time apart…” she whispered, locking gazes with him once more. “…then promise me that, no matter what, we’ll still be friends. I don’t want to just boot you from my life, Zen.”

He nodded at once. “Of course. I don’t want to do that to you, either.”

Violet breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at him once again. “And maybe… when enough time has passed… we can revisit each other.”

“Vivi,” Zen said and sighed. “I’m not saying that that can’t happen… but don’t hold out for me. I want you to find somebody who will treat you right. That’s just not me right now.” As he said the last sentence, Violet saw a couple streams of tears fall from his eyes. She lay there, stunned, for several moments. Only when she saw Solace enter the room from the corner of her eye did she remember her faculties.

“Violet!” he exclaimed and rushed to her side. “It’s so good to see you awake! How are you doing?”

She looked from Zen to Solace uncertainly and took a deep breath. “I’m okay.” When Solace breathed a huge sigh of relief, Violet smiled again.

“It’s good to see you, Solace.”

“Call me Sol,” he said with a grin. “All my friends do.”

Violet nodded to him and only then noticed that Heavenly had stepped out. She presumed it was to give her and Zen some privacy while they conversed and silently thanked her for that. Her attention was steered back to Zen, however, when he posed a question.

“Why did you come back for us, Vivi?”

“Oh,” she chuckled. “Well… I kinda forgot my backpack, and…” her sentence was forgotten as she remembered the letter. “Where is it?”

“Where’s what?” Solace asked.

“The backpack,” she explained. “The one that Zen and Sonorous gave me when I decided to leave. It had something important in it.”

“Did I hear something about a backpack?” a voice called out from somewhere outside the room. Heavenly reentered the room and presented Violet’s backpack with a smile. “The police ponies recovered it and when they asked Sonorous about it, he identified it as yours, Violet. It’s been sitting in my office ever since.”

Violet thanked her several times over and retrieved the letter Zen had written. Slowly, she returned it to him and watched as not only his eyes went wide, but his cheeks went red.

“As I was saying… I forgot the backpack. When I got back to the apartment, I saw the stack of papers with the eviction notice and pulled it again, wondering if I could help you two at all.” She waved a hoof and laughed. “Naturally, I couldn’t, but I saw another piece of paper underneath it… and I couldn’t not come find you guys. Zen… that letter touched my heart and I wanted to try to find you and fix… this,” she said, gesturing to the both of them. “But still, taking time apart might do some good for the both of us.”

Zen grinned, finally, but shook his head. “That doesn’t really answer my question. You could have ran when you found us in the tavern. You didn’t. Why?”

“Well…” she let her tone take on an airy feel as she looked far off into the distance. “A friend of mine once said that friends help each other even if it means hurting themselves.”

His grin widened, if it was possible, and he said, “I’m glad you did. If it weren’t for you and Sol, we would’ve been toast.” Violet looked back to Zen and giggled, blushing somewhat. Solace couldn’t contain himself and hugged the both of them. Just as Violet was beginning to wish that Sonorous was there, she heard some shouting in the distance. It was insistent and rather fed up, but just by what she heard, Violet could tell that he meant well.

“If Violet isn’t up this time,” he called out. “I’ll knock her so hard that she’ll have no choice but to regain consciousness just so she can slug me again!”

Violet laughed and called back out to him. “Don’t tempt her!”

Everyone burst into laughter as Sonorous exclaimed, “What!?” and bolted into the room, both surprised by everyone else’s presence as he was at Violet’s consciousness. “When did you…”

“Just recently,” Heavenly said with a bright smile. “You arrived at the perfect time, Sonorous.” The four of them embraced each other and caught up. The past month had been crazy, to say the least.

Violet learned that Zen and Sonorous had sued the landlord for aggravated assault and with the damage that had been caused by the bar fight—especially with the evidence of Violet’s and Zen’s hospitalization—they had won the case in a landslide. Zen and Sonorous had ousted the now ex-landlord and had received a sizable compensation for their troubles—more than enough to pay their rent to the new landlord with enough to cushion their time there for a long while as they searched for new jobs and commissions.

Solace had kick-started his new job at the news station and was busier than ever. He still visited Zen and Sonorous from time to time, though. They had their own tabletop role-playing game they played every Tuesday night and invited Violet to join. She told them she would think about it—she was more concerned about something else.

The very first day she left the hospital, she returned to the fire department with Solace, expressing a personal matter for which she needed him. As she stood in front of the doors, she turned to her newest friend.

“You recognized me the first time you saw me—when you ran into me,” she mumbled.

“I did.”

“There was only one way that could be true. You knew me from somewhere else. I had only been in one place before, and only one thing had happened that would make me recognizable.”

Solace nodded. “Very astute.”

“You knew me from the school fire,” she said without missing a beat. “The question is… does anybody else? And, if so, what do they think of me?”

“Do you want to find out?” he asked, gesturing one last time.

Taking a deep breath, Violet nodded. “I do.” She strolled up to the front doors of the fire department and, before pushing against them, looked to the side. The fire truck was still there and she smiled. With that, she pushed her way inside, Solace right behind her.

Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, final chapter

When Violet entered the building, she was surprised at how spacious it was. Off to her right was a hallway and if she went straight ahead, she’d be placed in a room that had multiple benches and booths as well as several plaques on the far wall that she couldn’t quite make out at this distance. Several fireponies milled about the lobby as she made her cautious way inside.

One of them stopped her and Solace—a rusty coated unicorn that sported a moustache. He held out a hoof and spoke in a gruff tone, “What business do you two have here?”

“Well… see,” she started, swallowing hard. “Do you remember a school fire in a rural town not too far from here? Ten years ago? I understand if you don’t since it was a while ago—”

“Wait,” the firepony said. He put a hoof to his muzzle and nodded slowly. “Vaguely… just vaguely… I was one of the new guys back then and heard all about it. Now, I have my own squad. But I remember it. There was a group of little foals that went inside the burning building and rescued tens of ponies. But… why do you wanna know?”

Violet looked down and mumbled something underneath her breath. Not even Solace caught it and he asked her to speak up. She shook her head and only when Solace put a hoof on her shoulder, kissed her on the cheek, and whispered, “You can do it, Vivi,” did she return her gaze to the firepony and raise her voice.

“I was one of the few foals that rescued all of t-them,” she said, stammering. “I d-did the best I could and I know I didn’t rescue a-all of them, but I did what I thought was r-right.” She looked away, embarrassed, and scolded various insults to herself.

What in the world am I thinking? There’s no way anybody could excuse what I’ve done. I just wasn’t good enough…

“Is that so?” the rusty pony asked, raising an eyebrow. “Who are you, then?”

“V-Violet Vigil, sir…” she said, keeping her gaze on the floor. “I was the first one to go in and two friends of mine followed me. Petal Dance and Quiet Quill. But Quill… didn’t make it.” She winced at the memory, surprised to find that it was still fresh as a wound. “But, I swear, I didn’t want him to die! I just couldn’t get to him!”

The firepony tilted his head and held up a hoof when Violet wouldn’t stop apologizing. “Woah, woah, woah, Violet, hold on. Slow down. What happened?”

Violet took a deep breath and started again, forcing herself to speak at a slower pace. “Me and my friends entered the school to help who we could but we couldn’t help everyone. I got tired quicker than them because I pushed myself more. So I exited the school to rest and Petal stayed with me because I wouldn’t leave Quill behind. But… when Quill came back outside, he was on a stretcher…” she trailed off, shedding a few tears.

“I heard his last words when I got to him and then he…” she stopped and held a hoof to her muzzle, unable to continue. Solace hugged her tight and she buried her face in his shoulder. The firepony sighed and kneeled to speak to Violet at a more appropriate level.

“Violet, losing a loved one is hard,” he said gently. “And, for you, especially hard, it seems. It’s been ten years.”

Nodding, Violet looked at the rusty unicorn. “He was special—the first friend I ever made.”

A pained expression crossed the firepony’s eyes for a moment; after which, he hardened his face and spoke with every bit of determination he could muster. “I can’t make the pain go away, Violet, but I can tell you this. I use what you did all those years ago—that bravery and determination you showed—as an example in my classes. I teach by your standard. Nobody else could have done what you did that day and there are a lot more ponies alive than there would have been if you hadn’t intervened.

“I am sorry that a dear friend of yours died,” he said without stopping. “But you can’t let that memory stop you from… well, doing. Being. Living. What would he say to you if he found you here, now, terrified to even speak of something that happened ten years ago?”

Violet felt a jolt down her spine and stared at him.

“What was he like when he passed, Violet?” When she shook her head, he impressed upon her to remember.

“I… I think he was calm,” she said. “He just told me to… live long, live full, and live loud. Because, even though he wasn’t louder than me… he was loud enough for me. And that was enough for him.”

She nodded as it came back to her. Quill was indeed calm as he passed. The sheer idea that his passing was peaceful put the whole event into a new perspective.

He… he accepted it. He came to terms with his death. And I haven’t.

Violet took a deep breath and pushed herself from Solace, finding a tiny surge of strength in herself. She thought Quill might lament her grieving for so long and she didn’t like that thought. Instead, she took it as a learning experience. No matter what she might do, she would do it in his memory—with the knowledge he had given her just before he passed. That way, there’s a piece of him that will always stay with her and, in a way, he’ll never really die.

The mettle of friendship will keep him alive.

She nodded and took a deep breath, hugging Solace again; after which, she hugged the firepony, too. The two of them thanked the firepony—who turned out to be Ardent Swell—turned, and departed from the fire department. Standing outside once more, Violet took a deep breath of air and turned to Solace.

“Thank you for accompanying me.”

“Of course, Vivi,” he said with a smile. She returned it and looked to the sky, unsure of what to do now. The mare supposed she could stay, if only for a while, until she found an actual job there. But from her past experience in job searching in Manehatten, that thought didn’t please her too much. And she still didn’t want to leech from Zen and Sonorous, no matter how generous they may be. The only course of action left, Violet found, was to leave.

When she explained this to Zen, Sonorous, and Solace back at 3A that night, none of them were surprised. To her relief, Zen was actually supportive, producing the backpack once more from his room.

“If you think it’s best, Vivi, then I trust you,” he said when he returned.

“Just don’t go knocking the jaw of every pony you see,” Sonorous said with a chuckle. “I don’t think they’ll appreciate that much.”

Violet laughed and nodded at that. She turned to Solace, waiting to see what he thought. To her surprise, he shed a tear.

“I’ll miss you,” he whispered and hugged her one last time. “I know you haven’t known me for very long… but you’ve made me so proud.”

Estranged somewhat, Violet returned the hug. “Umm, alright… why are you proud, though?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“No,” each of them said. Sighing, Solace pushed her back and looked at each of them in turn.

“I was one of the foals that Vivi saved,” he announced. “I wouldn’t be alive without her and after seeing how deeply that horrible fire affected her…” he trailed off and laughed. “I couldn’t be prouder to see her moving on from it.”

The sheer noise of exclamation that resounded in the room almost made Solace cover his ears with his hooves. As it was, he chuckled and nodded when they asked if it was true.

“I knew that you knew what happened…” Violet breathed. “But… really? That’s how you know me?”

Solace just nodded. “It was ten years ago so I’m not surprised you don’t remember me, especially since you were so preoccupied with Quill… but I’d never forget you.” He smiled wider. “Vivi, if this is the last time that we’ll see each other for a while, let me just say… it has been both an honor and a privilege to have made your acquaintance. I love you with all my heart and I hope that wherever you go, you are met with nothing but love and acceptance. You deserve nothing less.”

Violet gaped and stared at him, tears flowing freely. Above all else, above even what Zen had said to her, that brought her a level of comfort she didn’t know was possible. The pure emotion and affection in his speech was evident as he hugged her even tighter.

“You’ve helped me far more than you know, Vivi… and I thank you.”

She continued staring, barely able to return the hug this time. “Why…?” she asked. “Why do you hold such love for me?”

“Because you are.”

The hug she returned became tenfold tighter. For several moments, they embraced, clenching every muscle they could in an effort to expend all the pent-up emotion that was begging to be expressed. No matter how long they held each other, it never seemed to be enough. Only when Sol pulled away did Vivi do the same.

“You should be on your way,” he said. “If you don’t go now, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to bear seeing you off again.”

Violet nodded and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Sol. I’ll never forget you.”

“Nor I, you.”

She smiled at him and turned to Sonorous. “So… how’d this country bitch do?”

He laughed, if a bit meekly. “She did far better than I ever imagined she could. I doubt I’ll ever be the same having known you, Violet. And that’s a good thing.”

“I should hope so,” she said, her grin widening. “Otherwise, you might find yourself on the wrong end of another punch.” Violet laughed at her own twist of the joke. Sonorous just rolled his eyes.

When Violet turned to Zen, she blushed. “I guess this is goodbye.”

“I guess this is,” he whispered but held his smile. “I look forward to seeing you again.”

“Me, too,” she agreed. After a bit of soul-searching, she wondered if she would still want to return to him. She even pondered whether either of them would be the same and when her mind started to spiral in all the directional possibilities, she stopped every one of them, content with finding out when the time came.

Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. But I’ll never learn if I don’t start.

Violet leaned forward and planted a kiss on his muzzle, uncaring for the consequences because she wanted to imprint the memory of his muzzle on hers. And he returned it; though, not with too much enthusiasm. She was okay with that. When she pulled away, she took a deep breath and turned, donning the backpack with the provisions and, this time, a bit more money to last her even longer. With that and the prospect of finding new jobs and experiences in other towns high in her heart, she turned and walked to the doorway. She gave one last glance at them, smirked, and waved, leaving the apartment.

Her stroll from the building was slow and controlled, a new certainty in her step. The night sky sparkled with a million stars and more, the possibilities of the universe rampant in her mind. She grappled with them and ended up winning, a surreal calm stealing over her as she reached the edge of Manehatten. When she passed by the fire department, she smiled; but also, she stopped. Turning, Violet noted the post office next door. An old thought crossed her mind but she decided against it again. It was too early. Her situation wasn’t stable enough. And, though she’d never admit it, part of her was still hesitant to face the two ponies that still knew nothing about her and haven’t known for the past month. There was still that one part of her that held a sliver of doubt toward what her parents might think of her and the way she had left them; and though it was indeed a sliver, it only took one sliver to poison her mind.

Violet started off once more; this time, in the opposite direction, taking the northern exit from Manehatten. She walked into the confines of the night, appreciative of its unbiased embrace.

Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, epilogue

Violet strolled down the trail, thinking about past events. It had been seven years since she had first set hoof into Manehatten. Seven years since she had seen or heard from her parents. She presumed that they still resided on the old farm but just because she knew where to go didn’t make the actual act any easier.

Taking a deep breath, she brushed the thought from her mind and instead thought about the first three ponies she had met. They were the only ones that had truly stayed in her memory—the rest had either faded or left enough of a bad taste in her mouth that she had booted them from her life.

Not that she cared that much. Violet had taken the life of a nomadic pony—wandering from town to town and helping where she might. As she traveled from town to town, she stayed in various taverns, homes, and inns, all of which paled in comparison to the apartment of 3A all the way back in Manehatten.

Indeed, the more Violet thought about Zen, Sonorous, and Solace, the more she wanted to go back. Maybe enough time had passed that she might start something anew with Zen. But, like the other million and more times she had pondered the thought, she remembered that she didn’t quite have a stable enough place that suited her needs. She wasn’t even sure what exactly she needed. All she knew was that if she returned, she would want to leave yet again—which, she presumed, would be met with distaste, even if it wasn’t shown.

And as such, the mare continued on her way—a new town on the horizon. The sign that she passed about five minutes before she actually entered the town read “Stableside.” When Violet did make her way into the town, she let her gaze wander about, taking in the new sights. She found she liked seeing new houses and homes, curious of the many ways in which other ponies lived. But her gaze was drawn to one building in particular; or rather, two, but one of them was a smithy. The sight intrigued her and, never having worked in something so laborious on the hooves, she made her way toward it. However, there was a stranger sitting underneath a nearby tree and enjoying a glass of what appeared to be lemonade. The pony appeared to be a stallion with a brown and white coat, snowy white mane and tail, and a patch of blackened fur at his chin. Nothing about his appearance seemed ordinary.

This should be interesting…

Violet whipped her mane to one side and sauntered until she stood a couple feet from the stranger, stopped, and waved a hoof in greeting as she swished her tail side to side. “Hey there. Name’s Violet Vigil. Who are you that enjoys such a cool drink on a hot day like this?” When the unknown pony raised his head, Violet gazed upon the most piercing green eyes she had ever seen. He smirked and placed the drink on the ground, rising to all fours. Violet beheld the actual size of the stallion: a good head taller than her; if not, more. And when he spoke, there was a thickness to his accent that drove her curiosity wild.

“Ironshod.”

Arc 2: Unbroken Vigil, chp 3

Violet and Sonorous stared at each other for several more moments, until Zen stepped in and put a gentle hoof on the mare’s shoulder. He was immediately met with that same glare that she had given his friend, but Zen kept his gaze soft and steady.

“Come with me,” he whispered. “Let’s get you settled in.” After gesturing to Sonorous for the keys, Zen exited the elevator and turned left. With one last sneer at the pegasus, Violet departed. The door Zen unlocked was marked with 3A. Violet could guess what the denomination meant and followed the stallion inside, not giving a second thought about the pegasus still crumpled in the elevator. She entered a large room with sparse furnishings and a hallway at the far side of the room. There were a couple couches, pillows, a table, several papers on said table, a fridge, a pantry, a calendar and a window that gave a subpar view of Manehatten. Most of the view was of the lush, green lands outside the city borders. Violet felt a slight pang when she approached and looked out the window. Her gaze wandered to the path leading out of the city and the dirt road that eventually branched off from it. Maybe… could she still go back?

“Whatcha lookin at?” Zen asked quietly, taking a spot beside the mare.

“Nothing,” she muttered almost at once. The desire and thought to return home flitted away as easily as it had come. She blinked a few times and gazed at Zen, hopeful that he didn’t notice her insistency at avoiding the question. All Zen did was give a gentle smile that made Violet’s stomach glow with warmth. She returned the smile. This time, genuinely.

“So, Violet,” Zen asked, looking out the window. “What brings you here? That is, if you don’t mind me asking.”

“Yes,” Sonorous called out as he entered the room and shut the door behind him. He drew the attention of the two ponies by the window and they both saw him massaging his jaw. “Do tell us what, by the Sisters, has brought you to Manehatten.” His glare hadn’t softened in the slightest. “Because if it isn’t breaking my muzzle, I don’t see what purpose you have.”

“Oh, shut up, would you?” Violet asked.

“No,” Sonorous spoke up. “Let me make clear the situation for you. You stumble into our midst unannounced and helpless and Zen here can’t live with the thought that there’s one, single pony out there that doesn’t have a home. It seems to me that you’re completely out of cards to play so I would advise you to check whose jaws you’re breaking before lifting a single hoof.” He shook his head and flicked his tail back and forth irritably. “You’re only here as a favor to Zen. A few days, Violet. That’s all. We already have an ev—”

Zen cut off the pegasus with a frantic wave of his hoof. “Soooo, Violet, what do you want for dinner?” Sonorous merely sighed and stalked off to the fridge. Violet was forced to quell the rising fury in her stomach. As a result, she didn’t have much of an appetite.

“I’m not hungry,” she answered, walking to and lying down on one of the couches. Zen shrugged and took a spot next to her, filing through the papers. The mare stared ahead of her, looking, but not really seeing anything. Listening, but not really hearing. Her mind was too preoccupied. She didn’t quite understand what Zen was saying; neither did she realize he had said anything at all until she heard him gasp. Her mind was yanked from thoughts of Quill, her parents, and her home and she watched as Zen fumbled with the stack of papers in his hooves.

“What?” she asked, feeling a tad dumbfounded.

“Nothing, nevermind,” Zen responded, tucking the papers underneath his right foreleg. Sonorous had taken his own spot on the other couch and couldn’t help but chuckle at his companion.

“Something on your mind there, Zen?” he asked with a smirk. “Care to… share… anything?”

Violet gave him a bemused look and returned her gaze to Zen, curling her tail so she could stroke it in an attempt to calm her nerves. “What’s he talking about?”

Zen sighed. “Fine…” He looked to Violet and took a deep breath. “I forgot to get a birthday present for a friend of mine in the MPS.”

“MPS?”

“Manehatten Postal Service. She’s been a good friend of mine for years and her birthday just passed a couple days ago. I forgot because… well…” Zen shrugged. “We’ve been busy at the construction site.”

Violet nodded; Sonorous, however, sighed, got up from his couch, and stretched. “I’m going to sleep. Violet, I’m sure even you can manage to find your way around our small apartment. Don’t be too loud and there won’t be any problems. Goodnight.”

The two of them watched the pegasus depart and turn left at the end of the far hallway. There was a small click as his door shut and silence then permeated the living room. Violet and Zen looked at each other but quickly averted their gazes, the mare ogling the walls as if there were a beautiful mosaic on it, and the stallion suddenly enraptured by his stack of papers. The two of them remained as such, stealing quick gazes from the corners of their eyes, until Zen spoke at last.

“Hey Violet,” he started. The conversation gave them an excuse to lock gazes once more. Once they did, Violet saw Zen having difficulty continuing and instead spoke herself. She was surprised as he was by what she said.

“A farm.”

Zen blinked several times and shook his head. “I… I don’t…”

“I grew up on a farm. I’m here because I needed a… change in scenery.”

“Oooooh…”

Violet blushed and looked away for a moment, not entirely sure from where her words had spawned. Her stomach lurched and she felt an intense rush the likes of which made her feel more alive than she ever remembered being.

“What was it like?”

“What…?” Violet asked, returning her gaze to the stallion. His eyes were a vivid sky blue and she wondered why she hadn’t noticed it until just then.

“The farm. What was it like living on a farm?”

“Oh… it was hectic. I started young and developed strong muscles for my age.”

“From the way you slugged Sonorous?” he chuckled. “Yeah, I’m not surprised at all.”

Violet laughed as well. “The only thing is that I’m not… not a…”

“I get it.”

“My mother was a philosopher. My father was a police detective. I’m sure they had their own reasons for withdrawing so much from society but the fact is, they’re anything but unintelligent. I owe them so much… especially since…” Violet didn’t continue and had looked away before she finished the third sentence. Zen raised an eyebrow.

“Do you wanna tell me what happened?” he asked with as much gentleness as he could.

Violet looked at him and clenched her tail. Her heart pounded in her chest and she swallowed hard.

“You don’t have to,” he continued, putting a hoof on her shoulder. “Only when you want to, and are ready to.”

She winced. Of all the things to do, she winced. She could have smiled, could have said yes, and could have finally given in and told somebody what was bothering her, what had been bothering her for the past ten years and maybe, at last, achieved some sort of relief from the living hell her life had become ever since she had watched the light fade from Quill’s eyes and lost all strands of trust in herself, much less anybody else like Zen…

But no. She winced. And the moment she did, the more she hated herself because she saw a flicker in Zen’s eyes that made her heart drop which, in and of itself, astonished her. Her heart had been lifted.

“Forget about it,” Zen said, brushing the subject aside with a hoof. “It wasn’t right of me to pry.” He got up from the couch, papers still tucked away, and stood uncertainly for a moment.

“Well… goodnight, Violet. Feel free to sleep on the couch.”

Violet reached out with a foreleg when Zen turned his back and walked to the far hallway, taking a right at the end of it. She mouthed the words, “Come back… please…” and clenched her eyes shut, failing to contain a few streams of tears.

What the hell is wrong with me?

She sat there in her quiet torment, unable to process the concept of sleep for some time. Part of her wanted to tell Zen. She wanted to just get it all out in the open and hope against hope that he would understand, but how could he? He hadn’t been there, hadn’t known Quill as well as she had, hadn’t…

He didn’t feel his hoof go limp… didn’t see the life leave his eyes… didn’t hear him say…

I want you to be loud, Vivi.

Violet couldn’t suppress the smallest of gasps as the whole scene slammed into her again, as if she were actually there and being dragged from Quill’s stretcher once more. She remembered flailing something wild and vigorous, to the point that she fainted quickly.

“Violet, are you alright?” one of the paramedics asked. She shook her head for a moment and just stared blankly. The question wasn’t familiar and it ripped her from her memory. She gazed through blurry eyes at a quite concerned Zen Freemason who had bags underneath his eyes and whose mane was a mess, but he was there. That only made her think of what she must look like and she withdrew her head, embarrassed.

“Violet…” he whispered, putting a hoof on her shoulder.

“Go back to sleep, Zen,” she managed to whisper. “Don’t worry about me.”

“I… Violet, you’re crying.” Zen reached with a hoof and gently wiped away a few tears. It was a kind action in nature, but that’s what so ignited Violet.

“I said go back to sleep!” she shouted and shoved the stallion away. Zen gasped at the outburst and stared at her with astonishment. The sheer surprise and pain she saw coating his eyes made her put a hoof to her muzzle and her pupils dilate. “Zen, I… I’m so sorry…”

By the time Zen had processed what had just transpired, he noticed several new streams of tears trailing down the mare’s face unchecked. This time, he made no move to wipe them away. All he did was get up from the couch, stare at Violet for a few more moments—on the verge of saying something the entire time—and sigh as he gave up the attempt and departed for his room once more.

Violet brought up a foreleg and almost slammed it into the table. The only thing that stopped her was the thought of Zen coming out once more and offering to help her once again. She couldn’t have that, because she saw it being all too easy for her to screw up any attempts he made at fixing what just… couldn’t be fixed.

I’m just not worth it…

She lay back in the couch and curled up, her tail blocking any view of her face.

“Did somebody say something…?” A quite groggy and half-asleep Sonorous asked. Violet lowered her tail and irritably raised an eyebrow at the pegasus.

“No,” she muttered. “Go back to sleep.”

“What’s got you so uptight?” he asked and didn’t even wait for an answer as he retreated back to his room. Violet sighed and let her gaze wander, finding sleep not coming anytime soon. There wasn’t much to note, however, and her gaze wandered aimlessly for a short while before ending on the calendar. At once, she became alert and narrowed her eyes, focusing. She identified the last day of the month in particular. It was nearing late June, but it wasn’t quite there yet. She remembered leaving her parents on the 20th so it couldn’t have been more than a day later. Maybe two—she wasn’t sure. So much had happened.

What she was sure of, however, was the fact that the very last day of the month was circled. There was writing on it and it read as such:

Reminder: help Zen pick out a birthday present for the mailmare.

Violet’s stomach churned but she didn’t quite know why. Something that had been said earlier scraped on the edges of her consciousness, fervently trying to get inside.

Something about a… friend of Zen’s… he mentioned getting a birthday present…

And when it hit her, she froze, unable to move for some time. No… he mentioned having forgotten to get the birthday present! Violet’s mind raced as she tried to remember what Zen did and, maybe more importantly, didn’t do after he’d said that. The more she thought about it, the more her stomach dropped.

Something on your mind there, Zen? Sonorous had asked. Care to… share… anything?

Violet shook her head and got up from the couch, pacing. There’s also the fact that Zen had interrupted Sonorous about… something… and that stack of papers! He’d gasped at one point, and then… lied…

She sighed, her heart the lowest it had been in the past day. I have to figure out what those papers are. She crossed the living room with as little noise as she could manage. At the door to Zen’s room, she pushed her way in as gently as she could, taking care not to cause any sudden noises. The door creaked like a clap of thunder at one point, but if Zen had noticed, he made no indication. Violet eased the door open all the way after what seemed like an hour and tried to make sense of the rather dark room.

The stack of papers was on the far side of the room, on a nightstand next to Zen’s bed. Violet swore in her head and began to traverse the room, staying low the ground and taking very deliberate steps while keeping an eye on the ground, lest she step on anything. Her muscles began to burn not halfway into the trek because of the tension in her body coupled with the sheer amount of muscles she was using, but she pressed onward. By the time she got to the nightstand, still in silence, she wanted to pass out and give in to the signals her body was sending, telling her to rest. It seemed like such a good idea to just lie down and sleep.

In fact, she almost fainted as she reached for the stack of papers, but even then, she fought the urges and carefully eased the stack of papers off the nightstand. Zen, thankfully, was facing the other direction but as soon as she was about to have full control of the papers, Zen turned in his bed and faced her square in the face. Violet froze, not moving, not breathing, not even thinking. Silence permeated the room for several moments until Violet sighed in relief, sure that he was fast asleep. At the noise, however, Zen mumbled and Violet gasped and almost gasped again at her disclosure. She clamped her muzzle shut and darted out of the room, not even caring to shut the door; instead, she plopped down onto the couch, hiding the papers behind it, and fought to maintain a steady, rhythmic breathing. Zen came out of his room for a short while, examining a quiet living room and still Violet for a couple moments before shrugging and returning to his bed and slumber.

Sighing quietly, Violet brought the stack of papers out onto the couch and took a deep breath. The top paper was some sort of advertisement, and the next several sheets proved to be the same. One was an invitation of sorts, maybe for a birthday party—she realized it was from Zen’s friend—and the next to last one, nearly on the bottom, caught her attention at once.

Eviction Notice for 3A

Violet tilted her head and tried to read further but her eyelids were getting heavy. Too heavy. She decided to make sense of what she read later and gathered the papers once more, restacking them so that they were in the order in which she had found them. It was difficult, but she made her way back to Zen’s room, thankful that he hadn’t shut his door. And this time, she was more lax with her movements, sparing her muscles even more ache than they were already giving her. Violet returned the stack of papers to Zen’s nightstand and had turned to depart when she froze at the sound of his voice.

“Can I help you?” he asked quietly. Violet spun and faced the stallion, her mind racing. She had to make her presence in the room seem credible. She knew that much.

“Oh, well…” she began, stalling and looking to the side. “I was just thinking, and…” Totally not snooping. Nope. Not at all…

“Do you wanna sleep with me for tonight?” Zen asked from scenic nowhere. The question made the mare’s thought process shatter and she felt her cheeks begin to burn. She returned her gaze to Zen and stared at him for a long time, pondering the thought. It wasn’t unpleasant, and she had to admit… With him around, I don’t want to be alone.

Violet took a quick breath and nodded. “I would like that.” Zen smiled and scooted to the far side of the bed, leaving room enough for the mare. She eased into the bed, taking all the time she needed. Her natural position was to face away from Zen, certain that if she could stare into his eyes, she would all night and sleep be damned. The stallion made no verbal complaint and, instead, rested a foreleg on her hip. The contact brought butterflies to Violet’s stomach and she was ever gladder that she wasn’t facing him, else he catch her blushing madly.

“Goodnight, Violet,” he whispered.

“Call me Vivi,” she said automatically, using the nickname Quill had given her. The significance would be lost to him, but she could explain that later. She found she wanted to. But, for now, all she did was shudder as Zen said, “G’night, Vivi. Sleep well.”

“You, too.”

She had all but forgotten what she had read on that single piece of paper; even if she did remember, she wouldn’t have been able to make sense of it.