Chapters Prologue
The grey stallion stood next to the hospital bed with a concerned look on his face. In the bed was a brown pegasus surrounded by ponies who had loved him, including his wife who was on the other side of the bed. Both the stallion in the bed and the mare across the bed from the grey stallion had grey in their muzzles. They were both getting older. They all turned around when a nurse entered the room. She appeared to be about as old as the stallion in bed. She whispered something in Applejack’s ear and the orange mare broke down into tears.
“No. The princesses said it wouldn’t be a problem. They said that he would be fine!” She yelled at the nurse.
“Yes, but that was if he stayed a pony for that full time. The night he killed Nebula accelerated the process.” She said. All of the ponies nodded in understanding, including the grey stallion. The one in the bed was fast asleep. Blissfully unaware of his impending doom. His condition had put him in a coma.
After a few hours of waiting, most of the ponies had left the room, leaving only applejack and the grey pegasus.
“You do know why he’s like this. Don’t you son.” She asked in a watery voice. Her heart was breaking for the one she loved had only hours left to live. The grey stallion nodded. “So you also know that it’s all my fault he’s like this.” She said.
“No mom. No it’s not. It’s nebula. He’s the reason this all happened. He’s the reason i happened.” The grey stallion said in a sure voice.
“Don’t talk about yourself like that. You’re not a mistake. You’re perfect Hurricane. Don’t ever forget that.” She said.
“Don’t give me that. I’m the reason she’s dead. I’m a monster and you’re saying i’m PERFECT!” He said. His rage come from nowhere.
“I don’t want to talk about that night right now. And please, don’t fight with me about this here.” She said. She didn’t have her normal drive to keep going. His father wasn’t the only one dieing. His mother was losing her will to continue on.
“I-I’m sorry. Its just. Its so frustrating. Why can’t we all just be normal. Why does my dad have to have heart cancer and why am I-”
“It’s because of nebula. It’s all because of him. The reason we are in this hospital room right now, is because of him. Even in death, he curses us.” She said in a voice that was so serious, it was like it wasn’t even applejack. There wasn’t the normal warmness or humor. Just sadness and pain. It hurt to hear her talk. They stood silent for a while until there was a stirring in the bed. Hurricane had been dozing but snapped awake. Joe was moving in the bed. Only a little but more than he had in the past few days. He opened his eyes and blinked. His son and his wife stood on either side of him. A tear escaped his eye.
“I don’t have long, do I.” He croaked out through the mask they made him wear. They both shook their heads. He sighed. “Hurricane.” He croaked. His son looked at him, an unreadable expression adorned his face. “I want you to stop blaming yourself for what happened. That wasn’t you. I love you.” He said. His son cracked a smile for the first time in days. Joe looked over to applejack. “Applejack, my love. I know this is hard for you, but it isn’t your fault. None of it. I want you to keep living this life. Never regret a moment. Ever.” He paused and applejack kissed his forehead. He smiled under the horrible mask. “I can hear my father calling for me.” He said. Applejack stiffened.
“No, not yet. Just a little longer. Please.” She pleaded to no pony in particular.
“I love you both. I will watch you two until you join me in the sky. Goodbye, for now.” He said. He closed his eyes and that was it. He drifted off into sleep and then into paradise. applejack wailed and collapsed on the side of the bed her head on the body’s chest.” She sobbed and sobbed until the sun came up and she fell asleep on his cold body.
Three days later.
Hurricane looked at himself in the mirror. He was wearing his grey suit and black bow tie. Normally, he would have been glad about how he looked. But this wasn’t a happy occasion, it was a funeral. He rode in the procession, listened to the speeches and comforted his mom when she began to cry. It was an average funeral, nothing different other than the fact that it was his father’s funeral. He didn’t like funerals.To formal for him. Even his father’s he disliked for more than the obvious reasons. The most notable part was when they were going back home. He literally had to carry his mother home. She had collapsed from hunger. Apparently she hadn't eaten since the morning they went to the hospital, three days ago. He set his mother down on her bed and went to the kitchen to get some soup. He was alone in the house, except for his mother. They had moved away from the farm and into ponyville. It was nicer and closer to his dad’s former job. He mixed together his mom’s soup while lost in his thoughts. He relished in the past for no more than a minute until the aroma of the soup snapped him out of his thoughts. He stirred the pot and poured some in a bowl. He carried it to his mother’s room and knocked on the door. She was just staring up at the ceiling. Not moving, not speaking. Just staring. It was kind of creepy. He placed the soup on her bedside table and turned around and left the room. He then went to his own and fell asleep.
The next morning.
Hurricane walked down the streets of ponyville to the studio his friend Platinum and him owned. He pushed open the door to the modern facility and stepped inside. The bell chimed and Hurricane walked to the counter where all the instruments were. He set his bags down under the counter and opened up a guitar case. He came to work early everyday to practice playing the instruments. He made sure it was tuned correctly and began to strum a soft melody. He was halfway through the song when a bright blue pony with a white mane walked into the store.
“Hey Cane!” She said waving to him. He nodded to her and continued the soft riffs. She trotted over to him and sat down next to him. he set down the instrument and stared at the ground. “I’m sorry about what happened.” She said.
“Don’t be. It was inevitable.” The stallion said. they sat in silence for a little while longer until she spoke again.
“I have a friend who just moved into town. I figured you might want to meet her.” She said.
“Plat,” he said looking up at her. “If you’re trying to hook me up with somepony, I don’t want it.”
“You only have to date if you want to.” She said innocently. “Just remember, don’t buck on the first date.” She said slapping him on the back. They both laughed. It felt good to talk to somepony. Not necessarily about his problems. But just to joke around. She took her place next to him and they prepared to help ponies find their musical talents. Hurricane flipped on the open sign and as if on cue two ponies walked in.
About three hours later they were closing up for lunch when a pony walked into the store. “I’m sorry Ms but we’re closing up for lunch break. Please come back in a hour.” Hurricane said. He heard a squeal behind him and Platinum rushed up to meet the pony.
“Icedrop, you’re here.” She said excitedly.
“It’s good to see you too.” The pony said. Hurricane trotted up to the two mares. “Who’s this handsome stallion you have working with you?” She asked looking him up and down.
“Ice, this is my best friend. Hurricane.” The blue pony said.
“My friends call me Cane.” He said holding out a hoof. She shook it and smiled at him. He couldn't help but notice how pretty she was. Her coat was pure white without single spot of color for anything other than her cutie mark. Her mane was a cyan blue that hung down from her face and covered some of her left eye. Her eyes were a beautiful blue. All in all, she was gorgeous.
New Mare in Town
Platinum and Icedrop were talking excitedly at the back of the store while Hurricane stallioned the front desk where ponies would come to pay for their wares as well as consult him about music and ask to try out instruments. As the clock struck two he couldn’t take anymore of the chatting and turned to Platinum and Icedrop with a forced smile.
“Why don’t you two go get some lunch and catch up. I’ll watch the store.” Hurricane said.
“Oh, you’d do that Cane?” Platinum asked him ignoring or not noticing the annoyance in his voice. He just nodded turning back to a customer who wanted to try out the trombone. He put the rental tago on it and took the small rental fee as the two mare made their way to the door.
“See you at quitting time.” He said waving to Platinum and Icedrop. As they walked out the door he dropped his smile and picked up the guitar. He went back to the song he had been playing earlier when he had first arrived at the shop that morning. Business always slowed down at this time so he had a bit of time to himself.
Outside the the music store, Platinum were still talking.
“You have a real nice stallion working with you.” Icedrop said.
“Ya, he’s a great friend. Hard worker too.” Platinum said.
“Wait, you mean you never thought of him as more than a friend before?” Icedrop asked raising an eyebrow.
“Not that I haven’t thought about it. But his father and my father were great friends and it would just be, awkward.” Platinum said standing u and walking towards Sugarcube corner.
“So, you don’t mind if I try?” Icedrop said following her.
“I don’t think now is a great time for that Ice.” Platinum said. “His father just died and his mom is taking it rough. He’s trying to smother his sadness with work. It’s his way of coping.” Platinum said sadly. Joe had been like an uncle to her and Hurricane was like a brother. It hurt her to see him like this.
“You know I can help him.” Icedrop said. “ I’ve done it before with other ponies.”
“It’s not that I don’t want you too. I don’t think he’d want you too.” Platinum said.
“Plat, you know as well as I do that stuff like this can get bad, really bad.” Icedrop said stopping.
“He’s tougher than that Ice.” The blue mare said.
“Everypony has a breaking point.” Icedrop said.
“Here we are.” Platinum said opening the door to sugarcube corner.
Back at the shop the clock had struck five and Hurricane had started to pack up some of the stuff in the shop and clean up the sales floor in general. All the gear for tonight’s gig was already at the place so he didn’t have to worry about that. But what he did have to worry about was Platinum. She hadn’t come back from lunch and he couldn’t do a solo gig. Him and Platinum worked better together than apart, even if she didn’t like to admit it. the bell at the front of the shop rang and Platinum stepped into the shop with Icedrop.
“Hey Cane, why do you have your headpho-. Crap!” She said scrambling behind the counter. and pulling her saddle bags on.
“I see you forgot about our gig, again.” He said tapping his hoof against the ground impatiently.
“What gig?” Icedrop asked.
“Me and Platinum DJ for clubs as well as run this shop. And Platinum has a bad habit of forgetting.” He said annoyed.
“Cane, have you seen my lucky headphones?” Platinum asked.
“Try around your neck.” He said.
“Cane, i’m not stupid. they’re not around my, well look at that. Alright, lets go.” She said walking past him and out the door.
“You can come along if you want.” He said holding the door open for Icedrop. She smile and followed Platinum out the door.
At the club everything was set up and ready for them. Platinum and Hurricane were given free entry and got to bypass the line, but the bouncer stopped Icedrop.
“Only the DJ gets to get in, you go wait in line.” He said in a gruff voice. Hurricane saw this and came up next to the bouncer.
“Cool it bucko, she’s working with us tonight.” He said putting a hoof on the bouncer’s shoulder.
“Hmm, as long as I get an autograph.” The bouncer said.
“You got it.” Hurricane said laughing and pulling out a pen. He held it with his wing and signed the bouncer’s shirt. the stepped aside letting Icedrop into the club.
“Thanks for that,” She said to the pegasus.
“Anything for a friend.” He said shrugging. She smiled and walked in. Inside the club, Platinum was sitting behind the turntables with her headphones on and her eyes closed. She was in the zone. Hurricane put a hoof to up telling Icedrop to wait. He crept up behind Platinum without her noticing and poked her in between her shoulderblades. She yelped and fell out of the chair she was sitting in. Icedrop and Cane both busted out laughing. Platinum stood up and slapped him across the face.
“Don’t you ever do that again asshole.” He rubbed his cheek and smiled.
“C’mon, don’t act like it wasn’t funny. Wasn’t it hilarious Ice?” He called out to the mare across the room. She opened her mouth to speak but Platinum shot her a death glare.
“I’m staying out of this one.” She said holding her fore hooves up.
“Well, you gotta have an opinion.” He said. Icedrop shook her head and remained silent.
“Alright, lets get down to business” Platinum said casting Hurricane one last glare. He walked up and lugger his headphones into the turntables and scrolled through the playlist that he had set up a few days ago. The playlist would be altered by requests but it was base.
A few minutes later the clock struck six and ponies started to flood into the club. All of them gasping when they saw who was behind the turntables. Hurricane nodded to the floor manager and he hit the lights plunging the room into darkness. a few seconds later a set of lasers came on, dowsing the crowd in multi colored lights.
“Good evening everypony! Are you ready to have a good time?” He yelled and held the mic out to the crowd with his wing. The crowd started whooping and hollering. “Well then you should probably go to the club down the block.” The club went silent. “Just kidding.” He said with a laugh and pushed the volume slider all the way up blaring the music through the speakers making Platinum and about everyone else in the club jump but almost immediately after that everypony in the crowd began to dance. Platinum punched him in the shoulder,
“You’re good at that.”
Hangover
Hurricane’s head pounded as he slipped back into consciousness. “Wake up sunshine” He opened his eyes but wished he hadn’t as the light just intensified his headache. “C’mon Cane.” He let out a groan as he sat up.
“Dear Celestia my head hurts.” He moaned.
“That’ll teach you to mix your drinking. Next time, pick the cider or the whisky, not both.” Platinum said handing him a few pills. He took them and choked them down leaving a bitter taste in his throat. “Come on downstairs when you’re ready. Just don’t take too long.” She said. Hurricane heard her close the door and trot down the stairs.
Hurricane crawled out of the bed that he had been lying in, which he figured was her guest room, and dragged himself to the restroom. ‘This must be what death feels like.’ Hurricane thought to himself. He flicked on the light to the bathroom without thinking and near blinded himself. “Luna damned lights.” He grumbled to himself flicking the light back off.
Somewhere else in Equestria
Luna sat down “The Complete Haylo Strategy Guide Volume Four,” and looked out the window. “Blaspheme.” She hissed and went back to her book. “I will conquer the covenant.” She whispered to herself.
Back in Ponyville
Hurricane stepped out of the shower, his head slightly cleared but his bones still ached like the first time he had flown. He dried off his mane and tail and looked himself in the mirror. “I look horrible.” He said. HIs eyes were bloodshot and the bags under his eyes made him look like one of the alfalfa addicts. He sighed and shook his head and his messy mane fell into its normal ‘I don’t care’ look. He sighed and walked back into the bedroom. Now that he was a bit more awake and a bit less hungover, he knew that this was Platinum’s guest room. He could tell by the lack of free space on the walls from the multitude of posters. He picked up his glasses and made his way to through the door and down the stairs.
Waiting for him in the kitchen were Platinum and Ice Drop. The two mares stopped talking and looked at him as he stumbled down the stairs with his glasses on.
“Ahh, here comes the party animal.” Platinum joked as she passed him a cup of coffee. Black, just the way he liked it.
“You’re funny when you’re drunk.” Ice Drop said giggling. The blood froze in his veins. He didn’t have the best reputation when drunk. He cringed as he remembered that time he had gotten drunk and started that bar fight with Berry Punch’s colt friend. A mess that was.
“Could you remind me of what all happened last night.” He croaked sitting down at the table in the corner of the house. Ice Drop and Platinum pulled up chairs as well and sat down. Both with huge smiles on their faces.
“Well, it started when you decided to go get a drink.” Platinum said. “You walked up to the bartender and asked him for something ‘exotic.’” She said making a motion with her hooves.
“He mixed you up a martini with a dash of cider and pineapple.” Ice Drop said. Hurricane could hold his liquor, to a certain extent. But he wasn’t a lightweight by any means.
“Well, that’s not too bad.” He said. He usually had a martini in the bars he went to when not working.
“Cane, you had eight of them.” Platinum said. Ice Drop let out a snicker as his mouth fell open. “Then, if that wasn’t enough you ordered a tall glass of cider and drank down the mug in ten seconds flat.” Platinum said. By this point in the story, Hurricane was flat drunk. He facehoofed as Platinum continued the story. “And apparently you thought that it would be a good idea to go and dance with somepony.” Hurricane massaged his aching. head with his hooves.
“You walked out into the crowd of ponies on the dance floor, grabbed a random stallion and started dancing with him. He must have thought you were just making a joke or doing a dare so he played along until...” She paused and Hurricane looked up. Platinum and ice Drop were barely suppressing laughs.
“Until what?” He asked. Though he was pretty sure he didn’t want to know the answer,
“You leaned in close to him and said to him, ‘Kiss me you fool.’” Ice Drop couldn’t take it anymore and busted out laughing at the end of the sentence. Platinum just looked at him with amusement in her eyes.
“Please don’t tell me there’s more.” He said. She just shook her head.
“After you kissed him he punched you right in the nose. You were out cold.” She said. “And that’s the end of the story.” She said.
“How am I not feeling that?” He said. He touched the tip of his nose and cringed at the pain. “Okay, now I’m feeling it.” He said. Suddenly he started to feel kind of strange. HIs headache got worse and he felt bile rising in his throat.He made a break for the bathroom, dashing past Ice Drop on the way. She was still rolling on the floor laughing.
Hurricane burst into the bathroom and only just made it to the toilet before the coffee and anything else in his stomach decide it was time to see daylight again.
First Date
Hurricane sat with his guitar in his hooves as the clock ticked away. Platinum had left earlier that morning saying she had to take care of something in Canterlot leaving him here to run the shop all on his lonesome. That coupled with it being a very slow day gave him plenty of time to himself. Which for him meant practice.
Several music stands for different kinds of instruments were scattered around him as well as the instruments themselves. A saxaphone, euphonium, flute(Which is excruciatingly hard to play with hooves) and of course, his guitar. It had been a good day in his opinion. He ran his hoof over the guitar’s strings which produced a gentle sound that resonated through the wooden instrument and brought a smile to his face. “I’ll never get tired of that.” He said to himself.
He glanced up at the clock smiled. It was five till six which meant he could close up. He stood up and flipped the sign to closed with bit more enthusiasm than was necessary. But his happiness left him when he turned to the back of the store. Sheet music was strewn all across the floor along with instrument cases with their contents haphazardly put away inside. Hurricane sighed got to work cleaning the place up.
Just as the moon began its nightly journey through the sky, Hurricane put the last of the instruments on their displays and the sheet music back in the proper boxes. He turned to his desk which was like the back of the store but a bit more organized. He figured he’d leave that as a job for tomorrow. But he did want to take his guitar home, but the rest of the instruments belonged to the store.
He picked up the instrument and was about to put it in the case when he noticed a small piece of paper. He picked it up with his wing and unfolded it.
‘Note to self,
Ice Drop needed you to do something for her today after work. If you forget, Platinum will murder you.’
Hurricane laughed and put his guitar away. Platinum had been doing this too keep him from forgetting things that she, or her friends, wanted him to do. She always wrote note to self on the top to try and fool him that it was himself that had written it and just forgotten, but he had figured that out a while back but hadn’t told her.
“Alright, lets see what Ice Drop needs.” He said clasping his case shut and throwing it over his back. He glanced up at the clock and frowned. “I probably won’t get home till midnight.” He said. “And I need to stop talking to myself.” He said walking out the door.
Hurricane knocked on Ice Drop’s door and took a step back to admire her home. It wasn’t a huge mansion but it was a nice home. Just a two story cottage with a small window on the second floor. He looked back down to the door when he heard it unlock. The door swung open revealing a sleepy looking Ice Drop.
“Good morning Hurricane.” Ice Drop said with a yawn.
“Umm, Ice, its seven thirty.” Hurricane said giving her a sideways glance.
“That’s absurd. It’s fiv-.” She paused when she looked at the wall clock behind her. “Well that’s embarrassing.” She said stepping aside. Hurricane stifled a chuckle.
“C’mon in. I take it you’re here for that favor I asked?” She said as he stepped by her and into her home.
“Platinum said you had something for me to do. She also said if I didn’t do it she’d murder me.” Hurricane said with a chuckle.
“Oh, this won’t take very long.” She said with a smile.
“And what exactly is this ‘favor?’” He asked giving her a dubious glance.
“Oh no none of that.” She said with a blush. “The lightning rod on my roof fell over a few nights ago when Scootaloo flew into it. I was hoping you could put it back up for me. You being a pegasus and all.” She said motioning to his wings.
“I’d be happy to.” He said spreading his grey wings.
“Great. The lightning rod should still be up on the roof and the post as well.” She said. Hurricane nodded and stepped stepped outside again but leaving his guitar inside. He flew up to the roof in search of the metal rod. He found it dangling from a wire a few feet from the post. He picked the rod up in his teeth and guided it carefully over to the post that was grounded to the house.
“Lightning rods, who ever invented these things needs an award.” He slid the pole back into place. But as he slid the weighty rod into the post, a gust of wind he wasn’t prepared for blew over the house throwing him off balance and making him jerk the rod out of the post. “Luna-damned wind!” He cursed through clenched teeth.
***In Canterlot***
Luna was sitting in her private quarters accompanied by a particularly difficult match of Haylo. Suddenly, she heard a ringing in her ears that sent her off her already delicate state. She slammed her controller against the ground causing it to shatter into pieces. “Blaspheme!” She hissed.
“Luna, is everything alright down there?” Celestia called down the corridor.
“Not now sister!” She yelled back. Her private guards both took a step back away from the doors.
***Back In Ponyville***
Hurricane steadied the rod over the post for the second time. He was slightly frustrated and holding the rod with his mouth didn’t make it any easier for him. ‘What I wouldnt give to be an alicorn.’ He thought to himself. He slid the rod into the post and fastened it down tightly. “This won't be moving for a while.” He said flying back a bit to admire his handy work. Satisfied with his work, he flew back to the ground and tapped on the door.
“You’re done already?” She asked. Hurricane nodded.
“That thing won't be coming down for a while.” He said. Ice Drop smiled and stepped aside.
“Would you like to come in for coffee?” She asked him.
“Bit late for coffee isn’t it?” He asked stepping inside.
“Not when you just woke up.” She said closing the door behind him. She walked past him and into the kitchen. (I just kicked my bloody desk.) She came out a moment later with two cups of coffee suspended in her magic. “Thank you so much for fixing that.” She said. Immediately after, a clap of thunder shook the house and it immediately started pouring. “Looks like I’m gonna need it.” She said sitting down in one of the chairs in her sitting room. Hurricane sat down across from her, holding the coffee in his wing. He took a sip and smiled.
“Black, just the way I like it.” He said taking the cup away from his lips as the warm liquid spread through his body. They proceed with idle chit chat for awhile as the storm wore on. There was no way Hurricane was getting home in this weather. Hurricane was in the middle of a story from when Platinum and him were still foals.
“She steps up on the stage, slaps me across the face and starts singing.” He said. Ice Drop looked like she was about to spit out her coffee.
“It was that bad?” She said with a grin.
“I guess.” He replied with a shrug and drained his mug.
“Could you show me?” Ice drop asked motioning to his guitar.
“Oh, really?” He asked. She nodded with a smile. Hurricane stood up and unlatched his case and took out his instrument. He sat back down in the chair, his guitar resting on his knee. After a pop of his neck he ran his hand down the perfectly tuned strings. Ice Drops smile grew as he did it again. Her dad had played the guitar for her when she was younger. He racked his brain for a song to play, then one came to him, one he hadn’t played in years.
“My dad taught me this one when I was just a foal. Wasn't even in school yet.” He said.
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And after that, he played on and she joined in singing with him through the night as the storm raged on outside. It was truly, a great night.
