Chapters My head is on fire! The smashed windscreen in front frosts my vision ahead of me. My seat belt cuts into the flesh of my neck as I lay there on top of the dash board. Damned airbags! I’m happy just to be alive but at the same time I curse the workers at my garage that passed this piece of crap’s inspection! I pealed myself away from the plastic interior and leant back into my chair. Immediately my bones and muscles screamed their obvious dislike! I let out a short gasp of pain and clenched my eyes shut.
What had happened? A simple visit to the folks, then a 30 minute journey back home, Id taken it a thousand times, so what the hell had happened to me? It had been snowing. The wonderfully unpredictable English weather meant that no one had prepared for the white flakes to fall in the middle of March. Because of the weather, many of the main roads had been closed off, meaning- stupidly- that the only ways to travel were the frozen windy country lanes. I had been going down a stretch of straight road; it hadn’t been too badly frozen. And as id continued down it in the dark night I had seen a set of headlights headed towards me. I slowed to ensure any ice between us didn’t cause any problems. But then those lights never dimmed. My stomach clenches as I recall what had happened in-between throbs of my aching head. The lights had intensified until I couldn’t even see my own hands on the wheel.
And as quickly as the light’s had appeared they had vanished. My vision swam back slowly as my burnt eyes adjusted back to the lack of light. With a plummeting feeling I realized the worst thing possible. The car was still moving! I tried to slam my foot on the breaks but it was too late, I looked up just in time to see a huge tree fast approaching. And as my foot made contact with the brake pedal, so did the car bonnet with the trunk of the huge oak. I finally open my eyes, it feels like I’ve just watched the events through a TV, the memories were so vivid, so powerful!
I reach for the release button of my belt with much discomfort. My right shoulder hurts beyond all imagining, it was probably dislocated! GREAT! My vision began to swim, and a red haze began to tint everything around me. It’s the pain! It’s starting to effect my mind, I feel my inside’s churning terribly, and I know what’s about to happen. I finally find the release button, I fling open the door and I hurl my guts out over the cold wet grass beneath me. The vomit is almost vibrant against the dark colours of the surroundings, and as I look up from the ground, a sliver of vomit still hanging from my lip I look around. I’m in.... a forest? I turn to look the way I came, and a solid line of tree’s greet me, but no space large enough for a car to pass through, forced or natural. As I look the floor - spattered with sick – I see the tracks my car had made, they suddenly started in the centre of the clearing and followed to the wreckage I now sat inside.
I swung my legs out of the open doorway, and careful to avoid the brown puddle I had moments ago with the contents of my stomach I stood up into the cold breezy night air. I couldn’t hear anything, no noises of cars passing by, no voices, not even animals. Then again my accident just now probably just scared the hell out of any living thing near here into hiding. I looked to the sky, it was tinted with orange as -I assumed- the sun was beginning to rise. But that made no sense, I looked at my watch, and surely enough there it was! The digital numbers read “11:42 PM!” so why the hell is the sun rising so early?! I hear something. A twig breaking? Or was it a foot step?
I looked into the dark forest to discern what the cause of the sudden noise was. “Hello?” I called out tentatively. And as I looked to the opposite end of the clearing to my totalled car I saw the cause. Was it a deer? Or a horse? I took a step forward, and as I did the creature backed away quickly. Obviously terrified by what it saw. “Hey, it’s alright.” I said soothingly, the sight of a living thing was more beautiful than anything I could have hoped for. Even if it was an animal i didn’t care, i just needed to be close to another living thing after suffering so much pain. I tried to reach out to the small creature with my right arm, completely forgetting the ferocious beating it had received. As i stretched my fingers out, the entire arm felt like it was on fire, the sudden explosion of pain caused me to shout out angrily. The creature jumped, but this time it didn’t retreat.
I turned away for a moment and fell to my knees, tears threatened to fall from my brimming eye lids, I quickly brush them away furious with myself and my weakness. I clench my arm, and hold it tight to my chest, I took off my shirt. (I was wearing a T-shirt with a button shirt over the top) and proceeded to wrap it around my arm, I then slung the other half over my shoulder, and finished by tying the two ends together. Making a very rough looking sling for my arm to rest in.
It was purple! A dark shade of unmistakable purple! But that wasn’t the strangest thing of all, it gave me a half tentative smile, and even yet that wasn’t the strangest part! The small pony had a horn!
“HOW THE HELL DID YOU PONIES FIX THIS PEICE OF JUNK?!?!” I cried out with surprise as the blindfold was taken off my eyes to show Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Fluttershy all stood around my car, now shining and glimmering in the noonday sun. Twilight chuckled as she came out from behind me placing the strip of ribbon she had used to blind me back into her saddle bag. “Well, you need a way to get around. We can all run faster than you, and you certainly have no chance of keeping up with a Pegasus on foot.” She looked up at me and smiled. I gazed upon the car, that one thing I owned other than my clothes which was from my old world, and here it stood, suddenly the most beautiful car I have ever seen! I crouch and hug the magenta pony tightly! As I do she rests a hoof over my shoulder. I then break away from her and rush to the old heap of metal and immediately do what every man does... I inspect every aspect of the car. As I looked under the bonnet to find the new cleanly polished metal of the engine, Applejack piped up.
“Well yah see, with what you’ve been telling Twilight while staying in the library, combined with Fixit’s knowhow of machinery we guessed we could fix her up for yah.”
After my crash, and the meeting of Twilight in the forest, added to the strain my body was under with all my injuries, I had inevitably passed out. When I woke I had been lying on a soft set of cushions. Looking down I had seen most of my body covered with bandages. Combined with help from Ponnyville hospital staff, Twilight had begun healing my wounds with her magic and medicine from the helpful doctors. The reason I hadn’t been taken to the hospital itself had never been told to me but I didn’t mind. It didn’t really matter because within a week I was my old self once again. Over the next few weeks I spent most of my time inside Twilights library. In my more conscious states during my recovery she had explained how it had been her fault that I was brought here. She had been experimenting with a new spell, slightly more volatile than her usual kind. So she had headed out to the Ever Free Forest. Using a small glass orb the little unicorn had tried to use a spell to record Celestia flying over head as she brought the sun over the sky and started the new day.
However, now that I was healed and her guilt was lessened because her accident was no longer causing me physical pain, the two of us had become reasonable friends. And those few weeks were some of the happiest I’ve ever experienced. I felt like a child again, learning all the rules and laws of this world from scratch. A lot of things were similar, gravity, biology etc. But other things were vastly different (Besides talking ponies that is!) Magic, over the fortnight Twilight had tried to help me discover if I was any good, I wasn’t. We eventually gave up, and that’s when she had introduced me to the gang. Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack and... Rainbow dash. Well let’s just say that while the others welcomed me with open arms (or hooves in this case) she hadn’t been so hospitable. When Twilight had introduced me to the multicoloured Pegasus, the winged pony had been very cold and quiet towards me. After a long awkward exchange of barely any information, Rainbow had muttered something about a storm needing moving out of the way of Ponyville. As she had flown off, I had followed her with my eyes until she passed behind a cloud and left my sight. I wasn’t sure what the matter was, but my stomach felt slightly strange whenever it came to thinking of that moment.
As I sat in the driver’s seat of the newly repaired car I looked through the dazzlingly clear windshield and looked at the ponies before me. As I had suspected, Rainbow hadn’t come. But I put that slightly sombre thought out of my mind, I didn’t want to look ungrateful in front of my new friends. I smiled at them all, glad to have such caring friends after only a few weeks staying here. Twilight had written to the princess to see if anything could be done to send me home, but the reply had been less than hopeful. The princess did promise to research the matter as best she could however. So for now I just had to enjoy my time here in Ponyville while I could.
“G’ ‘head!” yelled Applejack, “Start it up! I wanna see how you use that dang thing! I’ been waiting since we went to get it from the forest!” The other girls shared the same anticipated expression on their faces. So I reached for the keys, and turned them. Perhaps it was because I’d been away from anything in my own world, or maybe because I had grown to miss this little bucket of bolts, but when the engine roared into life, it sounded louder than ever before! The gang jumped slightly at the sudden noise, but as they watched they looked on in awe as I began to move the car towards the main road surrounding ponyville. “This road goes in a full circle right?” I asked the group through the window –which received an entranced “Ooooh” as I pressed the button and let the window roll down electrically- Twilight was the one who answered.
The car handled as better than before, it almost felt as though it nearly drove itself. I pelted around the town quickly, whizzing past bystander ponies that looked on in awe at the powerful machine. I rounded the final corner fast approaching my starting point. I could see the girls were cheering me one. Apple jack was reared on her hind legs, waving her forelegs in delight. Rarity had sat down on her haunches and was applauding quietly and gracefully with her forehooves, as was her friend Fluttershy. And Twilight and Pinkie were jumping up and down on the spot, their eyes closed, their mouths smiling broadly, both cheering so loud that I could hear them through the closed doors of my car. But as I came close to where I began and I started to apply the brakes, I saw her, a flash in my rear view mirror startled me, and as I looked into it I saw Rainbow Dash fast approaching me. By the look in her eye’s she wanted to catch up with me. That strange feeling grew in my stomach again, was it nerves? No. It was something else, but with it grew a need to impress the cold Pegasus. I took my foot off of the brake and put it down hard on the accelerator, I began to pull off again, following the tracks I had made on my first circuit around the town. I looked back into the mirror, and saw Rainbow smile eagerly. Well, at least we share something, a need to race!
We followed the path I had taken before, but the Pegasus fast gained up and flew alongside the driver’s side window. She looked in as we turned a corner, I looked back and smiled, not really expecting anything back from the pony who had obviously avoided me earlier. But to my shock and surprise, she smiled and winked at me. The look took be by such surprise, I didn’t see the last corner approaching. I looked just in time to realise I wouldn’t make the turn at such a speed I slammed my foot on the brakes, the sudden change in speed catapulted Rainbow into the lead. I made the turn –just barely- and then put my foot down to catch up, but it was too late, I saw the rainbow pony reach the starting point and land beside Twilight. No longer rushing, my thunder most likely stolen, I rolled the car to a halt in front of the gang and stopped. To my surprise they rushed to the vehicle, screaming their approval at how much they loved watching me drive. I smiled at them all, but I then looked over their heads to the rainbow pony. She had a slight frown on her face, but when she saw I was watching she blushed and looked away quickly. The girls began to calm down and started to talk to each other once again. Twilight moved towards me, probably to go back to the library. But before she could reach me, I rushed up to Rainbow Dash, determined to speak to her properly this time.
Twilight watched me as I did and as she watched me she smiled, hoping that we could talk to one another properly and put whatever problem’s the Pegasus had behind us. Unbeknownst to me however, the little purple unicorn’s heart panged slightly with the slightest hint of jealousy. I reached Rainbow, she didn’t look back around at me but simply kept looking at the ground. “Now THATS what I call speed!” smile at her, she looked up and smiled sheepishly.
I turned to see Twilight watching from a slight distance, her expression was hard to read. Then again a lot of ponies faces were hard to read though very similar to a humans face in this world, the muzzle and ears made it little harder to decipher what they are thinking. She moved over towards me, she half smiled at me. “Don’t worry, Rainbow can just be a little...brash sometimes, just give her time and you’ll realise she’s the best friend anyone could ask for!” her smile widened, and I returned what I hoped was a reasonable imitation. Well it at least seamed to please her, and so the two of us made our way back to the library.
What the hell was that about?
I left my car on the outskirts of town near Fixit’s shop, there wasn’t any point driving it everywhere. It had about half a tank of fuel, and as far as I knew ponies didn’t need to use petrol here. So id save it for when I drove back home when I eventually got back to earth. I know out of every possible spell imaginable, finding one particular incantation must be harder than finding a needle in a haystack, but I still wondered if the princess would be giving her best efforts to find me a way back home. After all I’d been here for just over a month already. We got through the door just as my thoughts reached my parents, they were probably terrified of what had happened to me. Judging by how terrible the snow and ice had been I guessed that I must be counted as a road accident. Would they even be looking anymore.
“Are you ok?” Twilight asked as I sat on a sofa leant back and put my head in my hands. I parted my fingers and looked at her for a moment. Then from my hands I spoke with a muffled voice, “Of course! What could possibly be wrong?” she giggled at my silliness, which made me chuckle as well. The two of us sat there for a moment, the quiet was nice. Not like the awkward silence with Rainbow earlier, why was that? What was different between dash and Twilight that made one quiet so terrible and the other so calm and relaxed. I chocked it all up to being the fact that Twilight was my closest friend here, and dash...well dash just didn’t seem to like me at all.
Almost as if reading my mind, Twilight spoke, “You know, she will come around.” There was a strange tone to her voice, it was low and quiet and yet it carried from her seat to mine across the empty room. I looked at her, playing dumb and asked unconvincingly,
“You don’t have to let me stay here you know.” I told her, her eyes opened and she looked up at me with those big round purple eyes. “I’m pretty sure I get in the way of a lot of things you’re used to doing round here.” I continued, but she still said nothing but simply looked into my eyes. “So I’m thinking that, if I’m going to be here for a while then I need to help around the town, it’s the least I can do. So I’m going to go and get a job tomorrow?” I finished my sentence as more of a question than an actual statement. At that twilight smiled broadly at me.
“Weeeelllll maybe I should come down and do my chores a little later then, should I?” it was spike, the little dragon slowly walked down the steps from his room and smiled at me and twilight –still half embracing one another- both realising this we quickly pulled apart and looked away from one another, both of us blushing slightly.
“What the hell was that all about?” I wondered aloud to myself. And though my thoughts were for that moment on Twilight, it wasn’t long before they began to shift back to the rainbow pony. “Rainbow Dash.” As I thought her name, a slight whisper of it escaped my lips. I put my fingers to them, pondering what this feeling was. The odd feeling in my stomach had returned yet again, and as I sat there I realised when I had felt it before. It was that same nervous and tentative feeling I used to get when I was in my younger teen years. I was only 18 now, but still I realised that the feeling was the slightly immature butterfly’s you get... when you like someone, or in this case somepony. As I lay there in my small room I let the realisation sink in, I... was in love... with Rainbow Dash the Pegasus Pony, OHHH HELL!
An eventful day and night
The next couple of days continued with no truly spectacular incidents, I explored the town on my own for the first time. Yes I received a few confused glances from those ponies who hadn’t heard of me, but in general most of the gentle ponyfolk around town simply smiled and greeted me as I was one f their own. I was looking for work, to either help the community or to pay for my share of the bills now I was living with Twilight for ‘Celestia knows’ how long. I chuckle to myself at my adoption of the usual pony speak around Equestria. I really am starting to fit in around here, if not in appearance, then at least in attitude.
To my joy I discovered on the 3rd day of job hunting, how the Apple family was short hoofed this harvest. So eager to help my country friend I rushed to sweet apple acres to volunteer. I was surprised to see Applejack so eager to have me help, either she has seriously low on staff, or I would actually be more help than I thought. She told me at nearly a thousand miles an hour how if I wanted I could get paid daily or weekly, flustered beyond all belief I quickly blurted out “Daily?” and surely enough the country pony let out a huge “YEEEHHAAAAWWW!” as she pushed my straight out into the apple orchard with her head pushing into the small of my back.
Soon I was helping around the farm as if i had been for months. My opposable thumbs where a great advantage, where as ponies like Big Macintosh had to lift the barrel up with their heads and then onto their backs, then spend a few moments balancing them before moving on, I on the other hand simply had to bend down, and lift it up. The barrels were no bigger than a small beer keg back home, so I was able to take more than one at a time. For the entire day I simply moved to the barn, picked up a few barrels, and took them up to the farm house at the top of the hill. I then descended the hill and repeated the process all over again.
At first the task wasn’t that daunting, but after a couple of hours, my newly healed muscles began to creak with the sudden large amount of exercise after such a long rest. Gritting my teeth, I bore through the pain and continued until my 5 hour shift was over. It felt good to be doing something, anything which had the slightest amount of meaning. And as I sat there on the grass just outside AJ’s family home, I rested my arms on my knees and watched the sun begin to set. The orange hue tinted the tree’s to make them look as though they were ablaze! The sight was magnificent. Had I ever seen something so beautiful back home? If so I sure as hell couldn’t remember it. I heard the soft opening and closing of the wooden front door behind me. And soon enough an orange coated pony in a cowboy hat came beside me. She didn’t say anything; she simply looked into the orange ball fast dropping out of sight over the horizon.
“It sure is beautiful out ‘ere huh?” she asked me as she dropped to sit on her haunches. “I was silly to think I could leave this place forever...” she murmured, more to herself than me. Now I don’t know if it was the sheer exhaustion or the serenity surrounding me and the orange mare, but I took a deep breath of the thick country air and sighed.
The mare turned to head back inside, but then stopped. She took her hat from her beautifully blonde main, and nuzzled her muzzle inside it for a moment, and when she withdrew she was holding a small pouch in her teeth. “I almost forgot your pay!” she hollered at me as she flung it into my hands. “Now that’s a lotta pay, and that’s because of the dang fine job you did here t’day, now it won’t happen very often but I think after all you’ve been through, doing what you did today must have some real hard work.” As I felt my muscles agree with every word she said I smiled and jingled the purse at her in thanks, and with that she opened the door and entered her home.
I stood, knowing that if I didn’t move soon I could very well stay here in the warm field all night. I placed the pouch and my hands in my pockets and began the journey home to the library. As I passed under the apple tree just by the farm entrance I heard a shout, I turned to see Applejack leaning out of her bedroom window, her hoof held to her mouth so I could hear her. “I forgot! You have little visitor!” she then proceeded to giggle, and shut the window once again. I frowned for a moment, and in that same instant I heard rustling in a tree just halfway between me and the house. And as I squinted, I saw the unmistakable shape of a Pegasus suddenly fly out from its foliage and burst off into the night sky... I stood there for what felt like hours, Dash? I actually hadn’t have thought about her for the whole day, but this sudden strange behaviour of hers simply struck me dumb!
All the thoughts over the last week that had passed through my mind flashed by as fast as the speedy pony had flown away. That terrible sense of dread -in the fact that I had come to the conclusion that I loved the rainbow Pegasus- began to grow once again, it wasn’t fear out of meeting her, or the possibility of goofing up around her. It was the same reason why I had said what I had on that hill in the glow of the sunset. I didn’t want to leave, but it was inevitable, this dread was a simple thing. I didn’t want to leave a world with her, and enter a world without her. All this time, as i thought the terrible thoughts to myself, I didn’t realise the smooth and gentle patter of drops on my face. It had begun to rain, almost as though the heavens sympathised with my plight and wept for the man below them. I closed my eyes and let the cold refreshing downpour run over my face. I must have looked like some character from a John Cusack movie.
The rain continued, and I still stood there. As I stood looking up into the dark swirling sky, the rain intensified I saw the perfect fork of lightning flash in the distance. The soft approaching rumble of the thunder shook my from my deep thinking, now being caught in the rain was one thing, but being caught in a thunder storm was no help to anybody. So I hunched my shoulder to shield myself from the full force of the cold wind and moved off towards the town. My thoughts... as always, returning to Rainbow Dash.
I eventually trudged through the door of the library, the storm was well underway by this point and I had caught the full force of it on my short journey back. A studying Twilight looked up at me as I entered, her eyes filled with immediate concern, “OH MY GOSH!” she squeaked, “Hurry before you catch a cold! I guessed you must have been staying at the orchard until it stopped raining, but for you to be walking home in this weather!” she magically handed me a thick blanket from the cupboard just inside my room whose door was ajar, I hadn’t recalled leaving the door open, after all I am a very private person. I paid no attention to it however, I was just glad to be in a warm place and being shown such kindness. It hadn’t even been an hour since Applejack had given me my pay, and a huge bonus but I found myself craving more kindness. Was it because of the sombre thoughts that had passed through my mind during my journey back? Was I that infatuated by Rainbow that the thought of leaving her made me feel this helpless?
Twilight fussed around me, she guided me over to my usual place on the sofa. Only now that I was in the warmth did I realise how truly cold I was. I shook from head to toe violently, huddled up for warmth in the blanket. Even its smell seamed to warm me, it smelt of lavender. I didn’t know when i had closed my eyes but I now opened them to look up at the small purple unicorn frowning at me a look of true concern on her face. I was still shaking, but as I did a dawning idea struck me. “S-Sp-S-Sp-p-piiiik-k-ke!” I whispered to Twilight, her frown now became one of sheer confusion. She really wasn’t the best pony to have in a crisis, but I understood her confusion even in my freezing state. I moved my hands over my mouth, and exhaled loudly into them, trying to give her a hint as I could no longer bring my voice to do any work. Then suddenly something clicked inside Twilight’s mind.
“Right, I want you to stand up if you can dude.” I did as I was told. “Now put the blanket over your head, and wrap up tightly!” The small dragon commanded of me. “AND I MEAN TIGHTLY!” So I did. I was feeling rather ridiculous standing with a blanket over my head like a child while shaking all over.
All that embarrassment melted away however as I felt warmth seep in through the material on my left side, understanding what would happen if I stayed on the same spot for too long with fire being gently blown my way, I turned on the spot. To my overwhelming joy I felt the heat moving up and down as well as I turned Spike knew what he was doing. My shaking ceased quickly, and the little dragon took that as his cue to stop roasting me. I took off the blanket, feeling as warm as I had out in the sun earlier that day. I beamed at the little purple and green reptile in front of me. He smiled back at me, bouncing on the balls of his feet with pride. I took one long stride over to the little guy and pulled him into a hug and lifted him high off of the ground! Spike chuckled, at first he weakly protested with “Come on man...” and “Awww dude!” but he eventually laughed strongly as I swept him up onto my shoulders and took him for a lap of honour around the library as i cheered and chanted his name.
Eventually we stopped our horseplay (No pun intended) and Spike beamed at me before returning to his room. With sudden realisation, I jogged up alongside the steps so that my head was level with Spikes as he was about to pass me with my substantial height difference. “Look little guy, sorry for waking you for all that nonsense!” I half smiled apologetically at the little purple and green guy.
“Good morning!” Twilight cheered merrily as she trotted into my room carrying a tray of cereal and milk. I smiled at her as I sat up, propped against a good four pillows at the head of my bed. I was still sick, but the worst of the fever was behind me now. I hadn’t had any more weird dreams since the first night, and now my temperature was actually that of a normal human being again. I still sneezed and coughed at regular intervals, but to be fare it had only been three days since I had been out in the storm.
“There you go.” The purple pony squeaked with delight as she placed the tray on my lap. It looked delicious, even for cereal!
Twilight saw the happiness in my eyes, and smiled at me. “Well hurry up then if you’re so eager to see them!” At her command I began to wolf down the cereal as fast as I could, for a moment I ate the dry food without realising I hadn’t added the milk that sat next to it. So I grabbed the mug and took a large swig before pouring what was left onto my –almost gone- breakfast. The whole thing was over within a minute, and as I opened my mouth to yell for Twilight to let them in, I broke out into a huge smile! She had already sent them, in order of their coming. Applejack, fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie, and Twilight entered the dimly lit room. My heart didn’t know what to do, it soared at the site of my friends but it also plummeted at the absence of Rainbow.
“Jeez!” I heard shouted from the main library room, we all looked to the door as The Rainbow maned pony trotted in after them. “You could have told me we were going in!” Applejack sniggered,
“True,” the country pony smiled. She looked over at Rainbow Dash who suddenly looked sheepish. “I always thought that was your job rainbow! What happened that night? Get a little distracted with summit?” she looked back at me subtly without alerting any of the other girls around. I blushed scarlet!
“Yes Rainbow, darling what happened, that dreadful wind nearly blew away my gift for this strapping young fellow!” I looked at her shocked for a moment, a gift? For me? But I pushed it from my mind for a moment, I HAD to see what excuse Rainbow used seeing as only three of us in this room really knew what the truth was. The Pegasus blushed for a moment and glanced up into my eyes for a fraction of a second, suddenly I felt the need to help her (pathetic, I know). I racked my brains for something that would help her, but as I watched the mares face lit up.
“OhnoworriesRainbowdash! AfterallweallknowhowfastyoucangetsometimesyoucangetsofastthatIevenneedtorestjustwatchingyousoitmustmakeyou reaaaaallly tiredsowecompleteleyunderstandrightgirls?” Pinkie was bouncing around the room unbelievably fast while she spoke at a million miles an hour. In fact she spoke so fast it caused me a slight pain in my head to actually hear what it actually was that she had said.
The others went unfazed by pinkie’s unreal speed of speech. They all nodded in agreement and understanding. But as I watched I saw AJ wasn’t finished joking yet, a small gleam seemed to glimmer in her eye as she spoke yet again.
“I’m guessing you helped with this pinkie?” I looked at the gift as it was placed on my lap as Twilight took away the tray holding my former breakfast. The colour was obviously the party pony’s choice. “Wrapping by any chance?” The pink mare looked at me with shock plastered across her face, for a moment I was terrified id insulted yet another friend! But my fears were washed away as pinkie exploded into a fit of giggles.
“Oh I do hope you like it... umm, I picked the colours out myself from berries I found in the forest.” The small yellow pony said beaming at me. I looked at the three ponies, the platinum unicorn, the pink earth pony, and the sunshine yellow Pegasus. They had all worked so hard on a gift for me, for no reason. I smiled yet again, unsure of what to say. I caught Applejack looking at me, and I looked up towards her. “Don’t suppose you had anything to do with this did you... boss?” she laughed at my reference to my work with her.
“Oh come now Applejack, you’ll ruin the surprise! But seeing as we’re confessing who did what we may as well finish:” Rarity turned to me once again “Applejack came up with the idea, I made it and Fluttershy died it, and pinkie did the wrapping up! But we’re all outshining our friend here!” she turned to Dash, who was rubbing the back of her neck. “She was the one who was able to pay for it!” Now that surprised me, Rainbow had paid for it? I smiled at her to show my appreciation, and I beckoned her to come closer to watch me unwrap it. She did, but spent the whole time looking at her forehooves.
Yet another week had passed, I didn’t mind the waiting for Celestia. In fact the longer I stayed, the more I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t seem to be growing homesick, if anything I seemed to be growing fonder of Equestria. I had finally recovered completely from my illness now. And I was finally able to explore Ponyville yet again. It felt kind of lonely however, while I had been ill the girl’s had received tickets to the Wonderbolt’s derby in Canterlotte. And seeing as I was ill, Celestia had only sent tickets for the ponies. (Or at least I hoped that was the reason, and that she hadn’t just forgotten me completely!) Even Spike had been sent a ticket, meaning that for the few days they were in the capital I was living in the library alone. But it wasn’t all bad, yes I kind of missed the smiling faces of the ponies I had come to call my friends, but they weren’t going for weeks, only a few days. However, if at any point I felt particularly lonely I would simply wear their gift.
It was a red and black coat, it fit me perfectly, Rarity’s measurements and stitching had made so the coat hugged my entire body, and stretched enough to fasten it without being at all baggy on me. The outside was the darkest shade of black I had ever found, but the interior was smooth silk died red with the berries that Fluttershy had found which also made the coat smell sweet whenever I moved with it unfastened. I headed for the Sweet Apple Acres for my shift, still engrossed in my thoughts. I flashed back to the memory of me staring at the coat in disbelief. Under which had been, a blue T-shirt, a purple one, a yellow one And a white coloured long sleeve button shirt. They all obviously represented each of the gang. At that point I had reached out and hugged each of them with joy in my heart. Leaving Rainbow Dash until the very last. She had paid for all of this and I was truly grateful. I held onto the rainbow pony and squeezed tightly, and like every other pony, she put her foreleg over my shoulder and pulled me in close. “Thank you” I had whispered to her. I heard her chuckle at that point.
Afterwards I had turned to Twilight, “Well everypony here has had some little part in this. So I think I know just what to do to make it so there’s a bit of every one of you with me whenever I wear it!” I leant close to Twilight and whispered something into her ear. She frowned for a moment as she listened intently, her ears twitching with each change of tone as I spoke. Her mouth gaped open with sudden realisation and joy at my idea! With bewildered gazes from each of the other mares in the room, she rushed out of the room, quickly returning with one of her many books. After she found the page she was looking for, she scrunched up her nose in concentration as she levitated the coat out of its box and brought it towards her. Her horn slowly began to pulsate with magic light a slight lighter shade than her usual purple kind. As we all watched, the coat shimmered and sparkled for a moment before disappearing behind an explosion of bright white light. When site returned to everypony, they saw me wearing the coat with pride.
My thoughts returned to what Rainbow had said “you’re pretty cool really so I guess you’re worth it.” Those words now rang in my head wherever I went, filling me with joy no matter what I was doing. I felt as though I was filled with helium, light on my feet and giddy. Maybe this is how Pinkie felt all the time. I would give anything to stay like this forever. I almost glided through the town, and as I reached the entrance to the farm I saw almost through rose tinted glasses, the tree Rainbow had hidden in on the night of the storm. I smiled to myself, id never been good at picking up signals from females. But this seemed promising even for me. I saw Big Mac headed towards the barn, I called out to him as I ran to catch up. The stallion turned and saw me at the gate, he smiled and yelled at me to “Hurry it up.” I quickly stopped at the farm house to take off my treasured jacket and place it on one of the hooks just inside by the front door. Then running back out to help my fellow worker with today’s chores in the fields.
Today I was pulling the apple karts under the tree’s while Big Mac bucked them. This moved us along quickly meaning we could do twice the work it would take Macintosh to do when he was bucking then moving the carts then bucking again and repeating the whole process. We spent a good two hours working without a word. But once we had pulled in our 10th kart of apples into the barn we took a quick break. I felt a nudge in my shoulder, I turned around to see Macintosh holding out an apple to me. Balancing it on his back so he didn’t hand it me with his mouth. I blinked stupidly for a moment then took it gratefully, I was still surprised by the kindness of everypony in Equestria, even though we had barely said a word to each other while working over the past few weeks, here Macintosh was simply giving me food for no reason but help me recuperate.
“Yah know sum’in?” he asked me as I took a bite into the delicious green fruit. “I wasn’ too sure ‘bout you when you first got here.” That was all he said for a while, I was worried that the stallion was threatening me for a moment. I knew I wouldn’t win in a fight! I may be JUST taller than him, but he had strength far beyond my own. The stallion chewed on his stem of wheat for a while longer, obviously thinking. “But” and with that word every muscle in my body relaxed. “You help us round here, you keep things interestin’ and most of all make a lotta ponies happy round here.” He turned and looked into my eyes with his large green ones. “Some more than you realise... but just keep doing what you’re doing, and no one will fault yah fer that.” And with that mysterious comment he moved back into the field, break time was obviously over, following the stallion slightly confusedly I continued working. My shift ended and I left without a word except for one of thanks as Big Mac tossed me ten bits in another small pouch as my payment. Lost in thought on the wise words Mac had told me, I went home. Yes, home. To the library, if anything had decided it it was today. Knowing how much i meant to ponies around here made me sure. I was going to stay in Equestria.
The girls were back! They came home screaming about how amazing the derby had been. How the flyers had spun, dived and weaved through the air so gracefully. I felt a slight pang of jealousy when they did that, I wished that I could have gone too, but oh well too late now!
We were sat in the main dining room of Sugar Cube Corner, all of us tucking into a round of fresh and delicious cupcakes! Dash wouldn’t stop talking; she went at a pace that I only expected of pinkie pie. She gave a detailed analysis of every move the Wonderbolts had done in the show, so we were there for quite a while. I didn’t really mind though, after not seeing them for a while it was nice to see what my friends had been up to while in Canterlotte. Also this was the most id ever heard Rainbow Dash talk, and definitely the most happy I had ever seen her!
She soon began to gush about how amazing each of the troop members were, most of the names I didn’t recognize but I heard the name Spitfire. She was a fire like coloured Pegasus, who seemed to be the one who always spoke to Rainbow Dash whenever she had the chance. She sounded nice. A few more names were mentioned which just passed over my head, and then she stopped suddenly. Suddenly becoming very bashful and quiet, almost ‘Fluttershy like.’ I quickly added the names in my head, 1,2,3,4,5,Spitfire,7,8,9,10.... I was sure there was at least one other Pegasus in the flying squad who she hadn’t mentioned. I swore I knew his name he was about the only other one I knew the name of besides Spitfire.
Rarity soon confirmed my suspicions before I had a chance to ask. “I believe you’re forgetting a certain special member of the Wonderbolts there Rainbow Dash.” She reached over and nudged Rainbow’s hoof with hers jokingly. I started to wonder what was with all the joking tone in her voice.
“You see, she’s a little nervous... well... because after the show, Soarin’ came and asked to have a word with her....” she smiled girlishly at the harmless gossip. While on the inside my stomach began to twist in two separate directions. I kept my outside appearance neutral (I hoped) and continued to listen to the story as Pinkie Pie took over, this time she spoke at a reasonable pace.
If my stomach twisted any tighter it felt like it would rupture. I chuckled half heartedly, trying to keep up the facade that I wasn’t completely destroyed on the inside. I looked around at the girls, all of whom were giggling with excitement. All except for Applejack, she sat on the furthest end of the table to me. She looked straight into my eyes, and mouthed the three words, “I’m sorry darling’”
It was a few hours later, for a celebration of being back home the girls organised a night time picnic to watch the stars. I tagged along begrudgingly, the lightness in my heart that id carried for the last week suddenly gone. I had my coat, but not on. I had brought it with me to Sugar Cube Corner, and we hadn’t gone home yet. The coat was slung over my shoulder as we walked up a slight hill with a tree rooted at the top of it. (a popular picnic spot for the group apparently)
As we reached the top Rarity turned to me, with a look of shock on her face. “My dear! Why aren’t you wearing your coat?! Is something wrong with it? You have bulked up a lot since you’ve been working on the farm. I should have thought of that when I was making it!” The white pony stomped her hoof into the dirt with self frustration, sending a plume of dust over her own immaculate natural coat. Realising what she had done, she immediately shook her foreleg to lose the clinging bits of dirt.
I didn’t want to upset her, so I quickly mumbled. “There’s nothing wrong with it, I’m just...not that cold.” Rarity sighed with relief, and proceeded to produce a lavender scented pillow from the basket they had brought with them, she placed herself on top of it with pride showing in her face. Applejack stood not too far away, she caught my eye and smiled at me with a “That was the right thing to do” look. I shrugged at her, moving over to the tree and leaning against it not bothering to sit down.
Soon spike had a raging fire going in the centre of out circle, and to his joy received a grateful kiss on the cheek from Rarity. Normally id laugh at the dragon’s awe filled face, but this time I simply smiled. I felt some comfort that someone was having contact with the pony he cared about. I shook my head violently to chase away the fast developing feelings of self pity, and tried my best to join in the convocations. However as the night moved on and more subjects were finished with, the convocation turned to Rainbow and what she thought Soarin’ wanted. After five minutes of this agonizing torture I was saved by Applejack who turned to me and spoke loudly so the rest of the group could hear. “I think we should go get that car o’ yours! I bet there’s still some stuff you haven’t shown us yet!”
Even if it hadn’t have been true I still would have leapt at the opportunity of escape. The other girls began to move, and before I could think something up AJ came to my rescue once again. “Naaawww! You ponies stay here, we can’t all fit in that thing anyway. I gotta talk apples with my employee anyway.” She winked at them all, and they all laughed in response before saying a quick “See you soon” before resuming their girly gossip. As me and AJ left in the direction of Fixit’s shop circling round the side of the hill, I looked up at the group sat on top. I saw someone looking down right back at me. Pink eyes, a blue coat, and a rainbow mane. I looked away again sharply, a panging feeling in my chest... as my heart began to crack and break.
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Now it aint much to help mend a breakin' heart...
“I can’ begin to say how sorry I am for yah sugar cube.” AJ tried to put a consoling hoof on my side. I didn’t reject it but my lack of reaction didn’t encourage physical contact, so she changed her mind. We had made it to Fixit’s shop without a word, only when I went up to my car outside and leant against the bonnet did Applejack begin to speak. I didn’t bother pretending that I didn’t like the Rainbow pony, AJ obviously knew already.
“So?” I finally croaked, with a weak attempt at my usual joking demeanour. “How long have you known I have a thing for flying ponies?” It wasn’t really that funny. But the hat wearing pony obliged me and played along,
“And for all the good it does, which may not seem like a lot... she feels the same.” I looked up into her emerald eyes, forcing my own not to blur with tears at the comment. She was right, it didn’t seem to do any good at all except for blowing a huge chunk of my crumbling heart away that much quicker.
“Here.” I looked up at the orange country pony, she had a small bottle in her mouth. Her hat resting on my car bonnet, just above our heads. Did she carry everything in that hat? I took the bottle, and proceeded to uncork it. I closed my eyes, tilted my head back, and went to take a swig from it, but I was met by the feel of fur on my lips. Confused beyond all reason I opened my eyes to find Applejacks hoof in-between my lips and lips of the bottle.
“There was this unicorn in Can’erlotte, it was just on the way back from the derby. He were peddling some real silly thangs, but he also wa’ selling this for a reasonable price.” I listened tentatively at this point desperate to know what this thing was I had nearly drank. “Now you gotta understand that it’s pretty rare in Equestrai, so I dunno how genuine it is. But it’s alcohol, a lot of it. Concentrated with magic to give some real kick.” I still didn’t see why this made it undrinkable, in fact it made me want to drink it all the more, finally something in common with earth that helped me, something to numb the pain! I waited for AJ to finish speaking though, just in case there was a real reason that this stuff was dangerous. “Well with all that put together, when you burn it you get a pre’y big amount of energy. So I bought it to see if it’ll work on her!” she stood and turned to the car, taking her hat off of the yellow bonnet as she did.
The pony looked down at me and smiled with care in her eyes. “Now it aint much to help a breakin’ heart but I thought it might just cheer yah up a little.” I stood sharply, but then immediately fell to my knees so I was at her height. I embraced her tightly. I must have hugged more people in my time here than a year on earth. But it didn’t matter to me; here in this world I had become someone completely different, filled with caring, hope and joy more than any other emotions. I eventually pulled myself away from the hug. I shook the bottle in front of Applejack’s nose, and smiled at her. I took the cork and replaced it into the neck of the bottle, and placed it in my pocket.
“I’ll save it for now I think. I’ve still got half a tank. And if this stuff works, it may even give me miles seeing as its made with magic and everything!” Applejack beamed as she saw me return to being my usual exuberant and enthusiastic self. “Well,” I said, getting to my knees and opening the passenger’s door of the golden yellow car, “Hop in. They’ll realise even YOU can’t talk about apple’s for this long if wait anymore.” I winked at her. And one of my closest friends beamed at me yet again and hopped into the car.
I ran over to my own door and quickly settled myself in my old seat. It felt good to be back! I turned the key and the engine roared, met by a huge “YEEEEEEHHHHHHAAAAWWW!” from my little passenger. I put my foot on the accelerator without putting it in gear, just to hear my baby purr again. Now even without the little bottle in my pocket being used on her, she sounded pretty damn magical to me! We set off in the direction of the picnic, I wasn’t too sure what to expect over the next few days, maybe id fall apart as I saw Soarin’ flying away with my dream pony. Maybe id realise that loving a pony was ridiculous (Though I hoped not!) and decided to try to get back to earth! (I hoped not even more!) But maybe, just maybe, I’d finally build up the courage to confront Rainbow. Take her into my arms, and tell her “I love you, you damned fast Pegasus!”
Not such a pleasant surprise
The next day we all receded back into normality. I myself, rather sluggishly after another batch of weird dreams filled with Soarin.’ I’d gone back to the picnic with AJ and to the delight of everypony, I showed them how the stereo worked. I still had some CD’s in my boot so I took them out, distributed them to each pony and had them make a request based on the song names. All in all, it made for an interesting end to the evening. Amazingly each pony chose a song which I could relate to them perfectly. But when it was rainbow’s turn, she requested a song and handed me the CD case back and blushed looking down at her hooves. I had stared at her in disbelief at her choice. “Areosmith’s ‘don’t wanna miss a thing.’ Are you kidding me! After how crap I felt that night the girl I love then asks for THIS song! I obliged her, and we had all sat listening to the slow almost sad song in quiet and thoughtful silence.
We stayed on that hill for a reasonable time, so eventually when everypony went home many were so tired they retreated to bed immediately. I tried to be one of them, but it wasn’t meant to happen. Twilight didn’t seem dampened by the late night at all, she simply sat on the sofa and began to unpack the basket while asking me about what I had been doing while they were away. I didn’t want to seem rude to my dear friend so I sat and spoke to her. I explained the work I’d been doing on Sweet Apple Acre’s, how me and Big Mac had finally spoken for the first time –or at least he’d spoken to me- Twilight squealed with happiness and clapped her forehooves together excitedly.
“You really are beginning to fit in around here!” I thought about it for a moment. I really was becoming one of the citizens of Ponyville now! The thought to ask about Celestia’s research crossed my mind, but I dismissed it. After all Twilight had only just returned and I didn’t want to upset her by making her think I wanted to leave.
The convocation continued, about random and needless stuff. I envied Spike who had been able to go straight up to bed from the picnic. Maybe it was because I was older than him that Twilight felt that we could stay up longer, the thought seemed to excite her. That made me feel wanted at least, after hearing about Soarin’s impending visit to Rainbow Dash I just needed to feel as though someone still wanted me around. AJ obviously did, and so did Twilight and that would have to do for now.
I was now outside Sweet Apple Acre’s, preparing for another day of work. The sun was shining brightly and warmly, so I just took my blue shirt for the day, leaving the coat on the hook in my room. I walked through the tree’s with ease, knowing exactly where to go now. I headed for the large barn that dominated the scene of tree’s and barrels scattered around. As I passed the farm house, I heard a scraping noise from above me. I looked up in time to see Applejack popping her head out of her room window that she had obviously just opened.
I gave the country pony a joking salute –to her approval- and turned and headed back out of the farm. That was when I first felt it, a tickling on the back of my neck. It wasn’t a physical feeling, but more of a mental feeling. Almost as though my subconscious was trying to warn me about something. Was...I being followed? I turned around, and saw nopony there. Learning from past experiences, I then looked into the sky scanning for Pegasy, scanning the tree tops for the tell tale signs of somepony hiding in them. I didn’t find any. With a sudden sense of unease building in my stomach I turned back towards the town and walked over to Sugar Cube Corner, my pace suddenly a lot faster.
“Oh thank goodness you’re here!” yelled a flustered looking Pinkie Pie. The shop wasn’t particularly busy, but at the same time, the customers were ordering rather large amounts of products and the party pony was obviously struggling. I saw that her hair was dangerously close to falling limp, never a good sign with pinkie!
Wasting no time, I jogged over the room and slid under the counter. “So Pinkie, what do you need?” the pony rushed into the kitchen almost as fast as Rainbow could fly. She then zipped back out holding an empty white bag.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the random party pony. I went through the kitchen, and out the back door. Sure enough just like Pinkie had said there was a little hut situated just to the right of the back door. I turned the door handle, and it stuck. I juggled it a little and pushed harder. Still nothing, so I pushed myself up against the door hard and pushed with all my might. The door eventually gave in and I fell face first into the dark little room. I didn’t see the flour fall, but I did feel the bag fall onto my stomach knocking the wind out of me and coating me in the light white powder.
I coughed and spluttered for a long time. It felt as though I was suffocating! My hand eventually found the frame of the door way, I gripped it and pulled myself up. Now back in the light of day, I saw how ridiculous I looked. Ironically I had been wearing my pink shirt today, but now it was more white than any other colour. I was thankful that I hadn’t been wearing the gang’s coat. I had taken to not wearing it every day now, heart breaks a funny thing like that. Something you adored and treasure on day can suddenly become not as appealing as it once did. Not wanting to focus on my feelings about Rainbow and Soarin’s meating this week. I grabbed two bags of flour –not the one that had burst all over me- and tucked them under my arms. Closing the door with my foot, I went back inside to the bakery to give my pink friend a hand.
Inside the kitchen was chaos, the pony was zipping from one station to the next at break neck speed. I was worried that she was going to hurt herself, she was building up a tremendous sweat as she, took out the cookies from one oven, left them to cool on the windowsill, while she bolted over to the icing station and topped the ones that had only just finished cooling themselves. Then taking them away to the packing station and wrapping them so fast I was amazed to she didn’t give herself a hundred paper cuts!
I took the flour over to the mixing station, placing them as close to the wall as possible so pinkie had the smallest chance of tripping over them. She turned and looked overjoyed! “Oh thank you! I really don’t have time to stop though. Reeaaallly busy, but that’s all I needed I’ve got all the rest covered.” She zipped to the window and took a tray of cooling cookies off and into the oven once again. As she turned to go back to the mixing station she realised what she had done! With a loud “EEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKK!” she wrenched open the oven, and saved the delicious treats with a quick sigh of relief.
I moved back out of the back entrance, trying to think of how to help the party pony... but what could help? If orders, were coming in fast, then surly they needed to be made packed and delivered fast. I realized how to help. I ran out from around the back and headed for the centre of town, if I had to find her, there was a high chance she was there. I pelted into the town square, scanning the few clouds in the sky, hoping to see her napping on one of them. DAMN! She wasn’t there. I turned, racking my brains to think where she may be. Rarity’s parlour? No, Rainbow wouldn’t ever go near that fru-fru place. She wasn’t at Sugar Cube Corner, or Sweet Apple Acres. So that left two places, either Fluttershy’s home or the library. Rainbow never went home unless it was night time, so I ruled out her house immediately. Which would be the best place to go? Well I was in the town already, so I may as well go to the closest one, I turned and ran for the library receiving some startled looks from ponies who I passed.
As I approached the building adapted from a large tree, I looked through one of the windows. I thanked Celestia, Rainbow was in there. She seemed to be speaking to someone inside, probably Twilight. I reached the door at a phenomenal pace. I skidded to a halt just outside, whirling up dust and dirt from the dry ground all around me. I waited to catch my breath, when I was under control once again I stood up straight and began to open the door.
“I just don’t know Twilight, I don’t know what to do! He’s just so... different from me. And yet I...” It was Rainbow speaking, I didn’t want to interrupt at first so I had opened the door slowly. But now I hung there with the door only slightly agape as I looked in on my dearest friend and the girl I loved as they continued speaking.
“So when are you going to tell him it’s never going to happen with you two? You know it’s going to destroy the guy.” So Twi did know! Why was she just standing there? Just being that usual calculating unicorn she always was! She was practically signing my death warrant!
At some point I had fallen to my knees while listening, I now stood tall once again. And opened the door wide. The two Mares stared at me in shock as I entered. “I... thought you were at AJ’s working...” it was Twilight who had spoken in nothing more than a whisper. I didn’t bother smiling, I just rubbed the back of my neck, hoping they didn’t think I’d over heard them.
As I stood there in the doorway, a chill crept down my spine. That same feeling of being watched was welling up inside me. I didn’t bother looking this time. I knew no one was there, I just hung my head, and proceeded to Sugar Cube Corner miserably.
Next 2 chapter's kick the story up a knotch! Can't wait to see what you guys think! hope you're enjoying it all so far!
A decision made
Soarin’ was coming, if I hadn’t heard Rainbow announce it to Twilight loudly at 10 in the morning from inside my room. I would have heard about it soon enough, Ponies walked around with their best Wonderbolt merchandize. Waving flags, holding little toys, or even sporting a full costume of their uniform. I didn’t want to be around all the rabble, i just wanted to work. Work until my bones ached, that way I could just come home and fall straight asleep. Nopony would speak to me that way. I headed out to the farm, it was Sunday, and Twilight was surprised I was so eager to work, but she didn’t protest. As I’d walked out of the library and down the street, I heard her shout after me. “When you get back I’ve got a treat for you!” my hands were deep in my coat pockets. WHY THE HELL WAS I EVEN WEARING IT! I took one hand out and held it high above my head waving, to show the unicorn I had heard her.
I came to the farmhouse without anypony stopping me. I stepped onto the patio, ready to open the door and hang my coat on the hook as I always did, but when I brought down the handle it wouldn’t turn. I tried again, but the handle wouldn’t budge. Locked. I stood there for a moment, wondering what to do. I decided to go to the barn, yes it may get a little hay on it but the jacket would be safe there. It wasn’t like anyone would steal a coat for a human in a world full of ponies.
“Aaan’ wha’dyou think you’re doing?”
I smirked horribly “Didn’t you hear? The great Wonderbolt Soarin’s coming to town!” I gazed into those big green emerald eyes. I stopped moving, trying not to be the first to break eye contact. “It’ll be over soon, I heard her and Twilight talking. I’m getting scrapped tomorrow anyway. So I’d suggest you let me work... because...” my voice quivered slightly, I stopped and sniffed loudly, pulling myself back under control. “Because I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be much use after that!” I took the apple in my hand, turned around and flung it as far away as I could, as though the green fruit had somehow insulted me! I marvelled at my strength after only a few weeks of working here as it sailed far into the distance.
I could still feel her eye’s burning into the back of my head, “So, you going to tell me why Acre’s is all locked up?” I turned to face AJ, slumping to the ground and leaning against the now heavy barrel behind me.
“I...it... hurts Applejack.” I said suddenly morose once again. She sighed and lay next to me.
“But”-
Twilight, what are you doing?
For a long time I couldn’t hear anything except my own frantic breathing as I ran for my life, punctuated with the occasional sob. The branches cut of my skin and clothes, not deeply, most didn’t even leave marks. But the constant barrage of wooded needles was unrelenting. I finally burst out into a clearing. THE clearing. I could see the warped tree trunk on the other side of the clearing. I stopped dead in my tracks, I was back to where it had all started. I almost expected to see Twilight just under the tree line ahead of me, tentatively observing this strange creature as he knelt broken on the floor. How ironic, here I was again, just as (if not more) broken than before.
I took a tentative step forward into the centre of the clearing. Was... that a car I heard go by? What direction had it come from? I strained my ears to hear anything else. Nothing. I must have imagined it, the wind made all kinds of ungodly noises when passing through trees in Equestria, one of the few menacing things I had first noticed about the place.
I looked to the sky, Twilight had said she had come here specifically to keep a safe distance from anypony so they wouldn’t be harmed. And yet it was also one of the few places in the forest where you could see the sky so clearly. As I watched the clouds pass over, I saw...something. A little line of dark...smoke through the sky? As I watched, I began to hear a faint rumble almost like thunder. The shape was getting bigger. With a sickening feeling in my stomach I realised what it was. A pegasus’ slipstream as the flew through the sky. Only a few ponies left that kind of mark when they flew, the Wonderbolts. Soarin’ had finally arrived. I moved out of the light to ensure I wasn’t spotted, I needn’t have worried the Pegasus flew over without a care in the world. Why would he have? He had Rainbow waiting for him...
I took one last look at the site of my crash, the site of my rebirth as a new me. Maybe it was for the best, I now knew what I felt like to be cared for by so many people. (or ponies in this case) My spirit began to lift. And then I looked down. I was wearing one of the shirts the girls had given me, any other colour would have secured my thoughts how it had all been worth it. but the colour wasn’t pink, it wasn’t white with long sleeves, and it wasn’t yellow or purple. It was blue. The one to represent Rainbow Dash.
I didn’t scream, I had no voice left. I didn’t cry, my eyes were dry. I looked into the dirt at my feet, and simply decided. No matter how homely this place felt, I wanted to go back to earth. And with that terrible thought in my head, I turned in the direction to get out of the forest. I wanted to go to the library, to see Twilight one last time. To make sure she knew it wasn’t her fault. To sleep in that bed one last time. Before I went away in my car and never looked back.
As I trudged back towards ponyville, I vaguely recollected Twilight telling me she had a surprise for me. Oh dear god! I hoped it wasn’t anything big! I don’t I would be able to stand it. I’d already broken down in front of one of my two closest friends here, and I didn’t want to repeat it with the other.
I reached the library without seeing anypony in town. I didn’t mind really, it meant it made leaving a lot easier by not seeing all their happy faces one last time. I came in to complete silence, thank god the light’s were on. It showed that no one waited to surprise me with a party, as Pinkie Pie was very prone to doing. “Twi? Spike? Anypony home?” I was amazed by the strength in my voice after so much sobbing and screaming. I glanced over to the table, there sat my car keys. My hand tightened around the bottle still clenched in my fist. I didn’t want to upset Twilight, it was completely selfish to come back here just to see her again. I could just take those keys and leave before anypony came looking for me.
The crazy thought eventually died down as I calmed the storm raging inside my head. I went over to the centre of the room, placing the fuel next to the keys. I then moved back to the sofa I had sat on so many times before, and collapsed on top of it. I sighed to myself and leant my head back to look at the ceiling.
I suddenly felt two hooves quickly place themselves over my eyes. I jumped, I would have reacted more if I had the strength, but my day’s escapades left me drained. “Got you!” sang a familiar voice. After all I’d gone through over the last few days I was amazed. I was smiling. I reached up at took hold of a hoof with each hand, and parted them to see my longest standing friend in Equestria smiling back at me. Her violate eyes seemed to glow with brightness as she looked at me. I lunged up with my arms, hooking them round the back of her neck and pulling her in close for an upside down hug.
We stayed there, embracing each other for far longer than the time Spike had walked in. Her mane, I had forgot that smell, lavender. Eventually we broke apart, and Twilight came around the side of the sofa to look at me. She looked slightly worried. “Are you ok? You look terrible.” I looked at her, I almost burst out with every scrap of detail about how I was feeling right now! But the urge passed soon enough.
“So where’s the little guy?” I queried about Spike. I heard movement in the kitchen, plates were being moved out of the way of something, and I could the slight chink of glass. “He’s at Rarity’s helping with some gems they found the other day.” She sounded happy, I was glad. This is how I wanted to remember her. The usual joyous Twilight. At the sound of approaching hooves, I swung an arm over the back of the Sofa as to lean around and spot what the unicorn was doing. She was levitating two tall, long stemmed glasses in front of her and a green bottle with a golden foil top just behind her.
I raised an eyebrow at the magenta unicorn. “Is... that...?”
I nearly dropped my glass out of surprise. Barely holding on, I managed to force out a slightly garbled “Birthday?!”
I put on a brave face, and with as much gusto as I could muster I cheered “Well what are we waiting for? Let’s celebrate!” I clinked my glass against hers and took a swig of the delicious drink. It tasted perfect, and I felt terrible that Twilight had to share it with a creature like me. As the night moved on, we talked, and drank. Twilight was a bit more generous to her own glass than my own, which I was grateful for; perhaps it would mean she’d sleep right through me leaving. The convocation eventually began to grow thin, and we found ourselves growing quieter and quieter.
Twilight had abandoned her rigid posture, and was lounging out over her half of the sofa, and was dangerously close to invading my half too! When the bottle was empty, we gave one last cheer of congratulations. “Happy birthday Twilight!”
“You know...” she began, I looked down at the tired looking unicorn smiling, inviting her to continue. She pushed herself back up into a sitting position once again. “I never gave you your surprise...” she was very close. “We got so carried away with me, we forgot about you.” She leant in closer and rested the side of her head on my shoulder. She was drunk; I knew she’d probably fall asleep soon. After all it’s what drunken friends end up doing. But I let her continue, there was another breeze of lavender which travelled up my nose with her being so close. I spoke quietly,
Twilight was leaning in to me. I sat there looking dumb for a minute, before the alcohol began to cause me to do the same, closing my eyes as I did. A voice in my head was screaming! “STOP! STOP! STOP NOW!” it sounded a lot like Rainbow Dash. I opened my eyes, we were nearly about to touch, I could feel her hot breath on the flesh of my lips. But as I looked at her, I didn’t see Twilight. In my mind I knew it was her. But my heart warped my sight. Her fur was blue, her main every colour of the rainbow. And that stupid little vision was all I needed. I stopped just short of her mouth. I could feel her breath change as she tried to find my lips. I rested my forehead just below her horn. Tilting my head down as to pull my lips away from the temptation. Twilight opened her eyes.
Still resting against her head I reached up with both hands. And put them on either side of her ears. I pulled myself away, and tilted her head back into me. My lips met her forehead just below her horn. I could feel myself shaking, taking a deep calming breath I opened my mouth and whispered. “I can’t. I’m sorry.” We stayed there for a moment, heads pressed against one another’s. When she spoke, she didn’t sound as though on the edge of crying. Her voice had more of a hint of disappointment and understanding. She only spoke one word, a name.
I felt Twilight’s muscle’s slacken slightly, and soon she was leaning on me, asleep. I carefully pulled myself away from her. I lay her down gently on the padded sofa, I then moved to my room where I took out a blanket from a draw. As I tucked twilight in snugly, I noticed the blanket was miscoloured, with some patches darker than the others. It was the one she had used to save me on the night of the storm. With a bemused smile I leant in and kissed her forehead one last time. As I walked to my room, the hairs on my neck decided to stand on end yet again. I ignored it, whoever was watching me would eventually reveal themselves. I took a look at my watch. It was 4:00 in the morning. Why wasn’t spike back yet? As I stuck my head back out into the central room to turn off the lights I thought to myself. “He’s probably collapsed at Rarity’s, either out of exhaustion or a heart attack from being too close to her for too long.” I chuckled. I turned the lights off, letting the sleeping unicorn lie. I went to my bed, and sat there for a minute, setting the alarm on my watch. Id only had two glasses, if I slept for three hours I should be fine to leave. I lay down in the bed for the last time, and took a look out the window for the last time. And I fell asleep in the bedroom in the library, for the last time.
A funny time to be going 'nowhere'
It felt as though I had merely blinked. As my eyes closed, it seemed as though the alarm had already started. I quickly slammed my finger on the off button before I woke Twilight in the next room. I stood, and changed out of the blue shirt, I went into the draws and rummaged down into the very bottom. I took the shirt I had worn when I first came to Equestria, and tried to put it on with difficulty.
Rarity had been right, I had bulked up a lot over the last few months. Rarity, would she miss me? I know she never loses her composure except around royalty, but would she at least feel a slight pang of ... something? Fluttershy would be sad, I knew that, and pinkie could very possibly cry. And the unicorn in the room next door? She’d have her birthday ruined. I hated myself. But I wouldn’t suffer the pain of what was coming. I cared about the Rainbow Pony too much to let her break my heart. I would rather live loving her, and knowing she is with another, than living knowing she rejected me.
I snuck out of my room, while heading straight for the table, I took great care in keeping quiet. I picked up the fuel, and my keys and crossed the room as quick and quiet as possible. And then I was outside in the cool morning breeze. I began to head towards Fixit’s shop quickly, I didn’t want to be seen. I just wanted to get out before I hurt anyone else. “So where are you going in such a rush huh?” I stopped dead, realising who it was by voice alone.
“Hey...” Rainbow Dash sounded unsure for a moment. “Why are you wearing... your old clothes? They’re all torn! Where’s you’re coa”-“Out of the two of them, he is the one I have the least fun with.” She wouldn’t keep it, she’d most likely throw it away as soon as I was gone.
A sudden touch from a hoof onto my lower arm answered my question, she was on the ground. I stopped at the contact, I looked down at the pony I loved with all my heart and saw concern and worry in her eyes. “Wh-what’s wrong?...” her voice was softer than I’d ever heard it before. I looked away from her eye’s knowing what she was about to try and do, I didn’t want to break the contact with her but I had to get out of here, the sun was rising fast and soon ponies would be rising out of bed.
“Don’t you have something you need to be doing right now?” The sarcastic comment had come from nowhere, some dark part of me was trying to hurt Rainbow so she would let me leave. The pony was unperturbed, I felt her gaze burning into the back of my head.
I got to the car, I took the cork out of the flask. Kissed the side of it for luck, then taking of the fuel cap I poured every clear
I had woken ponies up, they stuck their heads out of their windows in anger and frustration. All wanting to know what was happening. They meant nothing now that I was away, I couldn’t see their faces, smiling or otherwise. I hit the last stretch of town road before the open country lane spread out across the land. At the end was Rarity’s boutique, nestled on the grass just next to the road. I floored it! I wanted to get passed before... too late. As I got halfway there I first saw the Platinum fashion Diva step out to see what was happening, and worst of all she was followed by a very groggy eyed Spike. I focused on the road, shutting out my two friends near the side of the road.
My window opened, not by me! I looked down to see the switch held down by magic. Looking up again I saw a distraught looking Rarity’s horn glowing softly. She obviously couldn’t stop the car or she would have, maybe it was the fuel. But as I approached I heard her shouting to me, not at me but to me. “Darling where are you going?!?” I passed her on her last word. Leaving her behind I a cloud of dirt and dust. I looked back in my mirror, I saw her stood there. Not bothered by her filthy coat, she just looked on as I kept going down the road, far away and eventually until I rounded a corner and broke both our lines of sight.
Something inside me, it couldn’t have been a heart –god no! I obviously didn’t have one!-panged painfully, as I left my job, my home, my friends, hell no not my friends my FAMILY! And most of all, my chest panged as I left the love of my life, alone, screaming for me to wait, and id just driven away.
I watched the car hurtle into the distance. What had happened? Had I done something to upset him? I felt my eye’s mist over, but I didn’t cry, that was stupid! Why cry? It’s not cool to do something like that. But yet... I dreaded what my gut was telling me. That he wasn’t coming back. He had been wearing what he came to Equestria in. And he hadn’t worn those clothes since all of us had given him his new outfit, so he had obviously a reason for suddenly adorning those rags again and leaving his new threads behind.
APPLEJACK! She knew something! She HAD something from him meant for me! I turned towards the distant farm, and rocketed into the sky as fast as I could! I was soon over the top of the farm, I angled myself into a dive, and moved straight towards the barn. I wondered if AJ knew what had happened. Or had she began her working day as normal? As I descended, I saw her. Sat on the bank just by her house, overlooking the entire orchard.
I landed a few feet behind and walked up next to the unusually still country pony. She looked over at me, with sadness in her eyes. “He hightailed it outta here didn’ he?” I nodded miserably. AJ sighed and looked back over the tree’s just beginning to shimmer in the rising sun. There was something she wasn’t telling me, I knew her too well for her to keep me in the dark.
“He told me a lotta thin’s Rainbow, others I guessed for mahself. But eventually it all came out yesterday. So yeah... I do know why he’s gone.” My heart rose slightly,
“NO, NO, NO, NOOOOOO!” I quickly exclaimed, shaking my forehooves at her to dismiss her hasty assumption. “It’s just, I saw him... just before he left. I tried to tell him...” I stopped myself quickly before I gave it away to one of his best friends. “Something, and he started acting really strange, and he said... that I should come here. That I should come here and tell you he said you had something of mine from him.” Applejack’s jaw dropped in disbelief, she began to mutter under her breath, seemingly wrestling with herself to decide what she should do. “Well?” I asked, rather impatiently.
I dreaded what would come next, but I opened my mouth and told her, “It’s my choice Applejack, I want to see what he left here.” Applejack clenched her eyes tight at my response, as though it caused her pain to hear me say it. She turned as though to head back into the barn, I almost shouted at her not to ignore me. But then I saw her dip her head out of sight for a moment. When she came back into view she had something in her mouth.
It was large, black and curled into a roll. The country pony placed it on the floor, then nudged it forward with her nose, causing it to roll and unravel. I stared in shock, as his coat lay there at my hooves. “W-why... did he say...” I couldn’t think straight, all I could feel was my soul screaming out! This was mine? So... he didn’t want it anymore, he didn’t want anything to do with me anymore. Why? What had I done?
“Now there’s no use denying it Rainbow, I know you care about this feller mighty strong like.” The orange pony began to approach me, “So what’s been going on? What’s all this stuff about with Soarin’?” I looked into her eye’s, there it was again, a glimmer of something being hidden from me. What did she know?
Applejack’s eyes grew wide with astonishment as she seemed to realise something.
“Oh no,” Applejack groaned softly, “And... then... did someone walk in on your little talk?” The realisation hit me like Manticore tail.
So give me your opinion on this cahpter! My next story is most likely a 1st person from RD's perspective. want to know if i got her attitude right xD So? what do you think is going to happen next? Next chapter at 9:00 PM
It's just so romantically tragic!
I took the coat from Applejack’s, and hung it over my left wing. The orange pony had tried to get me to stay, but I had refused outright. I just wanted to be alone. Whenever I rustled my wing, it released the scent of berries from the coat. But that wasn’t what I cared about, the smell that I loved the most about the coat. Was that it was his scent.
I didn’t know where I was headed; I just aimlessly walked around the town. I eventually found myself near the library, I felt a need to explain to Twilight why her birthday had been ruined so badly. The magenta pony welcomed me with open hooves. And when she saw the coat on my back, she realized why I was here. I looked up and saw Rarity and Spike looking back at me, they had obviously come here out of having nowhere else to go, now that he was gone, none of us felt like celebrating anything.
I no longer held back, I told the three of them everything. Some stuff they already knew, like Soarin’s true reason for coming here. But they gasped with surprise when I told them how I came across getting the coat. “You poor dear...” Rarity had said, still slightly dirty and dishevelled. “He, sounds like he... is in just as much pain as you are darling.” She began to tear up, and Spike tried his best to comfort her. Which resulted in her falling onto him and wailing in misery. “IT’S JUST SO ROMANTICALLY TRAGIC! LIKE A MODERN DAY ROMEO AND JULIET! WHYYYYYYYYYY! WHY DID HE HAVE TO LEEAAAAHEHEHEHEEEEEVE!” her last word broke up in her sobs as she gave into her emotions and cried in earnest on the small struggling dragons shoulder.
My confession took a few hours, once everything had been said it had begun to grow dark. So I took my leave, Twilight followed me to the door. And as I passed through and turned to say good night, she moved close to my ear and whispered.
Marauding around town eventually brought me to a hill. I looked around, I felt light headed with my fatigue setting in. It was picnic hill. I came and sat under the tree. Angling myself to look up into the stars, I took his coat -It smelt so much like him!- and wrapped myself up inside it. I fell asleep very soon after that, my last conscious thought was of him. Was he safe? I hoped so. Wherever he was heading, I hoped it made him happy.
Hours of endless driving, at around 80mph. There is no feeling like it, the car responded to my slightest movements in my hands. I honestly believe the magic in the fuel is making this thin come alive at my touch! My right hand is bandaged up, I had torn a scrap from my already ruined shirt and wrapped my palm and knuckles with it. It still hurt slightly when I knocked it against something, but the makeshift bandage kept out most of the pain against the burn.
The tingling. It was maddening, it had steadily built up since I had left ponyville. Now with many hours between me and the town, it felt as though someone was stabbing me with a thousand little needles! I was on an outstretch of road set into a cliff, and it was climbing steeply. As I came out to the summit, I had to slam my breaks hard to stop myself falling off of the other side. The top of the cliff was impossibly thin. The car skidded and slid on the loose stones and dirt, coming dangerously close to what –to me- looked like the edge of the world. If I’d have been going any faster I wouldn’t have stopped in time, I heard the rocks I had pushed aside slowly fall down the chasm before be.
I panted breathlessly in relief. I turned to pull my keys out of the ignition, but they aren’t in there... then I remember how once I had poured the fuel into the car, it had come to life without the keys, eliminating the need for them. I took hold of the handle of the door and pulled it open. As I did the engine died, and a deafening silence rang out over the quiet mountain summit.
I had stopped with about 2-3ft spare from the edge. I gazed down into the chasm, it was deep and dark. And like in all tall places, a small voice in my head whispered “Jump!” I fought against the urge, and looked up to the horizon. I could see the road I had taken to get here, both physical and metaphorical. While I saw the dirt track that wound its way like a snake through the fields towards the blot on the horizon which I knew to be Ponyville, I also could see every decision i hade made to get me here in my mind’s eye.
Making the friends who were so dear to me, finding a job, obsessing over Dash, nearly freezing to death, accepting their gifts, running from Sweet Apple Acre’s, throwing the jacket aside, rejecting Twilight, running like a coward, leaving those “friends who were so dear to me.” When I looked at it in retrospect, I saw how terrible my choices had become as time had went on. I had permanently blocked that part of my life away now, they would never except me there again. Was Twilight having a good birthday? Probably not. I had rejected her one night, and fled the next morning, of course she wouldn’t be having a good time, I wouldn’t be surprised if she hated me.
The tingling was still there, and I eventually gave into my maddening impulses. With a deep breath, I let out a shriek that felt as though it should the cliff face I stood on. “COME ON OUT! CELESTIA! YOU’RE THE ONLY DAMN PONY WHO COULD FOLLOW ME LIKE THIS! I THINK ITS ABOUT TIME WE FINALLY MET GOD DAMNIT!” at first there was nothing. But then i heard wings, large and heavy approaching. I turned in time to see what looked like a miniature sun fall from the sky before me. With a flash of light it vanished and left the most elegant creature I had ever seen, her multicoloured mane seemed to float on an unseen breeze as did her tail. Her horn was long and pointed, far more intimidating yet also elegant than any unicorn’s horn I’d seen. As she stood before me, she folded in her wings, which I could see were massive.
It was the first ever time I had ever found somepony here who I could look in the eye without adjusting my height. (Except for big Macintosh) She seemed to emit a slight glowing aura. I stood straight, not caring if I insulted the Alicorn when I spoke. “A letter not good enough? Or do you prefer just watching strangers suffer?” She looked at me unfazed; her eyes were small, and purple. They reminded me of Twilight. A pang of guilt throbbed deep inside me yet again, but I buried it.
“I want to go home.” I stated, almost childishly. The princess merely lifted one eyebrow at me inquisitively. And then she spoke in a voice that was both calm and mighty at the same time.
I fleetingly looked over at the distant batch of houses and trees in the distance, but I didn’t let it affect me in the slightest. I moved over to my car bonnet and lent against it, folding my arms across my chest in defiance against the grand Alicorn. “Earth, how do I get there?”
“Fear? Fear of what?” I knew the answer, deep down I did, but I needed to hear it from someone else.
“For the first time, you have truly fallen in love for a person out of the way she makes you feel and the way she acts. With the two of you from different worlds looks do not matter, the connection you feel with this pony runs far deeper because of this. It’s as much the mare’s soul you have begun to love as it is the mare herself.” She finished, and suddenly the cold inside myself I had felt for the past few days began to fade, replaced by slight warmth. The sun was still up, just peaking over the ground one last time before vanishing, so the area was still lit reasonably well.
The princess looked into my eyes, I could tell she was trying to read my face to see what I was thinking. I looked coldly back at her, and I told her the one thing I thought would shut her up,
The princess’s horn began to glow gently. At first I didn’t spot anything happening around me, then a glimmer of light shot across my face. I looked dazed up into the sky to see a glass ball, slowly lowering from the sky.
I tore my eyes away, I didn’t want to see what my desperate ploy to rid myself of Rainbow during my escape had caused. I felt a hoof on my shoulder, light, and warm. “If you do not watch the image, you will not hear what was said.” She stated calmly.
“But if he left because of that... but why would he do that? Why would he...... care?” It had been Rainbow Dash who had spoken. What had just been said before? Left? So they were talking about me surely.“He loves you too sugar cube, and he left ‘cos he couldn’t stand you sending him packin.’” Was Applejack trying to persuade Rainbow to change her mind?“I tried to tell him, this morning. That I...” the blue pony paused, and my heart seemed to stop beating. All sound seemed to shut off.“Come on now Darlin’... say it!” “I lo”- The image cut out, back to the same static as before. I shook the small orb, but nothing happened. “She... what?” I croaked quietly.
The warm hoof was gone from my shoulder, I span on the spot to find Celestia. But she was still there, she was stood a few feet back. Her wings were unfurling once again. I staggered towards her, “There has to be more!” but the Princess shook her head, still smiling broadly at me. “I NEED to know! Show me what she said! Please!” I begged and pleaded, but the princess still shook her head. Slow, and almost mockingly.
My head was racing, what should I do? There was a chance that Rainbow had been talking about Soarin’, but then why would Applejack be encouraging her knowing how I felt about the Rainbow mare... in front of me, the princess stood ready to fly. But she waited, desperate to see what my decision was. My eyes were closed. My head held down in hard thought. There was silence... The princess began to open her mouth, to send me one last persuasive comment. But before she could, the engine of the car behind me screamed into life. She burst into a smile as my baby purred to get back on the road home. She took to the air, flapping slowly to stay airborn before me. She could tell i still had something to ask.
“So, if you had this...” I held up the orb without looking up at her. “Then why didn’t you come here as soon as I arrived and sent me back?” she chuckled softly, she had a beautiful laugh. She edged closer to me through the air, and spoke to me simply.
Her magic coiled around the cloth and began to unwrap it. “If you ever believe that this world is not meant for you again, this will always reassure you... you are home.” The bandage fell to the floor, I looked at my palm, nothing had changed. I turned my hand over to the burnt side, and at my sharp intake of breath, Celestia laughed joyously and flew in the direction of Canterlotte. My... hand......my............hand...................... My baby purred behind me, no my car was purring behind me. My baby was still in ponyville. I bolted for the door, her engine exploded with fury as it touched her handle. Her wheels screeched away before I even shut the door. Twilight had tried to introduce me to magic and I had simply failed it all. But that was obviously because I wasn’t being given the right tools for the job!
A horrible scene before me
It had grown dark, I finally slowed down as I reached the quiet town. I parked her as quietly as I could, she seemed to hold her breath for me as I crept up to the only house still with lights on. The library. Once I had stopped fully, I stroked the dashboard affectionately and she died down. I then left the car as softly and quietly as I could. I moved over to the window, peeping over the windowsill I saw a terrible sight. All my friends were there, they weren’t crying, they were simply spread around the room.
Twilight sat there, on her favourite sofa reading a book. Rarity stood to the side of the kitchen entrance talking to Applejack. Pinkie and Fluttershy sat on the stairs up to the bedrooms and balconies above. The sight wasn’t terrible because of what they were doing; it was HOW they were doing it. The little details were what made the change so drastic. Twilight’s expression, instead of being exuberant at the prospect of learning something new, was glum and bored. She lazily flicked through the pages with her magic, leaving herself no time to read before moving on to the next page. Rarity’s coat was still clumped with bits of dust and mud from when I had passed her when leaving town. Her lack of obsession over her appearance was frightening.
Applejack wasn’t wearing her hat. I couldn’t see it anywhere in the room. Her hair looked alien without the usual brown leather placed on her golden lochs. Fluttershy was completely huddled into a ball, she angled her head so she could whisper to pinkie, but for her to be THIS enclosed was terrible. And pinkie...Pinkie’s hair was straight. It hung limply and lifelessly, her usual grin replaced by a terrible pouting lip as she laid her head over her hooves as to cover her mouth.
The sight was horrible, Rainbow Dash would have to wait. I loved her but this wasn’t right. I came to the door, hoping it wasn’t locked. The handle turned easily, and made a heavy clunk as it fell. I heard the hushed conversations in the room go deadly quiet, I could feel all their eyes focused on where I was about to enter. I pushed the door, it creaked slowly, I didn’t peak round the wooden slab. I just simply walked in a few steps and stood still before my group of former close friends.
Unsurprisingly they all looked at me in shock, though Applejack’s expression seemed to be more joy than furious questioning. Pinkie was the first to move. She came up to me slowly, nothing could have broken my heart more than the sight of the sad party pony slowly approaching me with pleading in her eyes. “You...left.”
The pink mare looked at me emotionless for a moment. Then I noticed her lip starting to quiver up at the corners. And then with a huge “POOF!” her hair exploded back into its old self. “HURRRRAAAAAAYYYYYYY! YOUR BACK!” she squealed, as she flung herself onto me and squeezed me tightly. I laughed, hard, and I couldn’t stop. My laugh spread to Pinkie who started to giggle helplessly as she lay on top of my chest. The laugh then spread over the room to Applejack, who first began with a nervous chuckle, but soon became that usual country chuckle of hers. Three other ponies in the room smiled, but didn’t laugh.
I stood once Pinkie proceeded to bounce off me and into the kitchen to make celebration cookies. I looked over at AJ who simply nodded at me with a smile, the glint in her emerald eyes showed how happy she was that I was back. But then I turned to the steps, Fluttershy had loosened up after all the laughter and was smiling. She watched with interest as I approached her and dropped to her level. I took hold of one of her hooves, “Fluttershy, you are the kindest pony I know, and after everything I’ve done today I would understand if you never spoke to me again. And I am so sorry for the ruckus I caused this morning it must have been hard on you to calm down all the animals after I went around like a lunatic. If I can do anything to put it right just tell me, I’ll even apologies to each creature in and around the entire town if I have to!” the yellow Pegasus looked at me and smiled widely.
I turned to the other three in the room, they all looked overjoyed. Even after everything I’d done. I opened my mouth to try and apologise, but before I began Twilight spoke. “We all know why you did it. We understand how difficult the last few days, hay! Even weeks! have been for you.” She smiled at me warmly. I knew she was thinking about last night. The devotion I had shown to a pony I thought didn’t even love me, and how I had been so careful not to hurt her feelings when I let her down. “You live here, I should have put two and two together, you suddenly got really upset after you heard about soaring, and the way you act around Rainbow.....” She stopped, stunned.
“R...ain..bow... she doesn’t know you’re back does she?” The purple pony asked me frantically. I was taken aback by this sudden change of mood,
A minute later I emerged, I was wearing the long sleeve white button shirt. I stood at the entrance to the main room, holding my arms out and spinning on the spot for the ponies still in the room. “Very debonair Darling!” cooed Rarity.
Twilight spluttered for a moment, “T-Th-that’s a...”
I ran outside, trying to figure out where Rainbow would go. To her house? Well it was worth a shot, then I realised something Celestia had said to me on that cliff. I could have returned to earth at any point ‘if my heart truly wanted to.’ I decided to see if that applied here as well. I closed my eyes, took deep breaths and calmed myself. Then I asked myself silently, “What is it you want the most right now?” nothing for a moment. Then. A cheeky wink, a beautiful laugh and a radiant smile all burst into my mind at once. Yet again, as my mind thought it, my lips projected the thought. “Rainbow Dash” I heard a click, so I opened my eyes. Nothing seemed to be different, I looked around looking for the sauce of the noise. I finally looked back at the library, my car’s light’s had switched on. Its main beam shot out into the distance. I walked over to the car and stroked the bonnet, the lights went out again.
I looked in the direction that the beam had shone, my eyes took a while to adjust to the sudden lack of light once again. But soon the shape of a tree loomed in the distance, raised up on a hill. I recognized it as our picnic spot. What had just happened finally dawned on me. My magic had worked again. Rainbow was on that hill! I tore off towards the hill as fast as I could. Finally, after so many months, to tell her how she was the only pony for me!
The hill was deadly silent as I climbed it, not even a bird made a noise, either it was because of the time, or maybe they knew what was about to happen. I finally reached the top, and I saw her. She lay next to the tree trunk, my coat was wrapped tightly around her as a blanket. I smiled warmly at the sight of the Pegasus. I then quietly moved up to where she lay. As I approached, I saw her left foreleg was sticking out from under the coat. She had obviously moved in her sleep and caused a gap in her covers. I leant against the tree and slid down to the ground quietly.
When I was sat down I reached out to pull the coat back over the sleeping pony’s leg, but as she felt the tug on the material Rainbow grunted softly, she moved her foreleg back under the covers. However her leg hooked my arm with it, pulling it in with her. I stopped myself from jumping out of surprise (barely). The sleeping pony was now hugging my arm tightly to her chest. My fingers must have been cold because she soon began to move uncomfortably. Her eyes fluttered open slowly, those pink eyes I had come to love. She looked up at me for a moment, then followed my arm to where it met her chest, still being clung by both her forelegs.
She didn’t move, or freak out. She actually squeezed on my arm even tighter, refusing to let go in case I slipped away again. I smiled down at her, taking my other hand and stroking her Rainbow mane. It felt scruffy, but soft at the same time. She closed her eyes for a moment, a look of extreme comfort on her face as she felt my hand run through her soft hairs on her head. “I’m dreaming...” she didn’t open her eyes. “I’m dreaming that you’re here.” She squeezed even tighter on my arm, almost wrapping herself around it.
“No beautiful, you’re not...” I said softly. Her eyes snapped open at the sound of my voice, she bounded into the air out of surprise as she came out of her dream like state. I didn’t say anything, I just let her get everything out of her system first. “BUT YOU LEFT!”
“So what made you change your mind?” Rainbow shuffled closer to me.
At that point I took hold of her face in both my hands, looked into her eyes for a moment, then whispered to her “I love you, you damned fast Pegasus!”
In the distance, the other 5 ponies were staring out the window. And when they saw us kiss for the first time, they all smiled. “Well it’s about time!” hollered Applejack as she turned away from the window.
Out on the hill, I was happier than ever. I was finally with the pony of my dreams. No. The girl of my dreams. We weren’t that different! We both loved speed, we both cared for one another... we both had... a mark, an image that symbolised our need for speed. Rainbow had her rainbow thunder bolt cutie mark on both her flanks, and I had a wheel, blurred with a trail of fire following behind it set against stripes of colour, set against a rainbow. Celestia was right. If I looked at it I would always know. I belong here. With Rainbow Dash. Working on a farm during the day, and being hers all night.
I belonged...I was home finally!
END Thankyou for following this story to the very end! I'm sorry to see some people didnt like it, but you cant please everyone. I hope you all enjoyed the adventure!
I'm making this little new chapter just so everyone who is tracking this story knows, the sequel is now out :)http://www.fimfiction.net/story/13086/A-time-of-sadness
A teaser (preveiw for next story)
My little dream girl ends with such a heartfelt ending, as finally Tom and Rainbow Dash share how they truly feal about one another and become the special person the other cares for above all others.
Join us now, eleven months later... as their one year anniversery fast approaches. Tragedy strikes the couple. leaving the loving world the two had began in far behind. No wings are flapping, and no tires are spinning. There is no speed, no racing, only emptiness.
Celestia say's "Everything happenes for a reason." What possible reason could there be?
Chapter 1: Leaving out now http://www.fimfiction.net/story/13086/A-time-of-sadness i hope you all enjoy it as muvh as you did this :)
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A happy mare, for a moment WARNING: slight gore for a minimal time in this chapter
I stood in the doorway to my room looking in at the strangest sight I had seen since first meeting a unicorn. The purple mare was bouncing up and down in a circle, her eyes closed and her smile wide. She was quietly humming something, I craned my neck to here without moving my feet –not wanting to disturb her- tilting my ear as close as I could. It wasn’t much of a song but more like a little chant. “He’s safe! He’s fine! His smile’s so benign! He’s friends with my dragon and he smells so devi”- the unicorn stopped dead in her tracks as she opened her eyes to see me watching. “I uhhhh, didn’t hear you a Spike stop playing...” she mumbled as her cheeks went a bright pink noticeable even in the darkness of night and the storm. My light wasn’t turned on, I reached over to the switch and flicked it up. The harsh light made Twilight flinch slightly before she adjusted to it.
I smiled at her, as I walked over towards my bed and ruffled her mane as I passed her. Finally slumped into the deep folds of the mattress and smiled. Tilting my head towards the on looking Twilight so we could still see each other’s faces I said very calmly.
The pony nodded and smiled in agreement with me, and then her blush returned. She tried to start her sentence but it was obviously difficult –impossibly- for the pony to articulate how to begin. “Well, you know...” She began, “You know that’s why I was just dancing around just now right? It wasn’t anything else but me being glad my lack of thought didn’t end up harming you, no other reason than that.” She looked at me, and at that I smiled at her, which she returned with a radiant beam as I said,
I sat there for a moment, staring at the slab of wood that separated the two of us, dumbfounded. With what seemed like my 100th sigh of the week, I twirled myself around so I lay back on my bed. “Chicks!” I grunted, and for a moment, I swore I could hear a faint voice outside the door “Boys!” And with that I drifted into a troubled sleep, filled with cider barrels, lightning, dragon fire, dancing ponies and...rainbows.
Unbeknownst to me Twilight then went up to her room, fell onto her bed and looked up into the ceiling, a thousand thoughts rushing through her head. All about me I regret to say. She laid there for hours, never dozing off or feeling drowsy. She simply lay there trying to understand what this feeling was? Why had she become so angry at an obvious joke? Was it jealousy that AJ had spent so much time with him today? No, she wouldn’t have been doing the same work as him anyway. She was sure she had the jealousy part right however. As she racked her brains to understand these emotions, it hit her. My reaction to Rainbow not seeming to like me. Twilight sat and thought hard, she wondered if she suddenly stopped acting as if she liked me, would I give her the same reaction. Coming home in the middle of a storm, nearly killing myself in the process. Would I be this distraught if it was her? She secretly hoped so.
She still looked up at the dark ceiling, listening to the rain fall on the window outside. To the distant rumble of thunder, it made her think of her friend the weather pony. Why wasn’t she doing her job? Keeping the skies clear was after all what she was supposed to do in ponyville. She could have prevented the storm easily before it had even begun to rain. So...what had stopped her? Had she been distracted? And if so, what? She turned in her bed and hung her head off of the side of the mattress, looking down at her rooms floor which was immediately above my ground floor guest room she corrected herself in her mind “And if so, who?”
Downstairs my dream was taking a turn for the worse! I was sat in the library all alone, freezing alive. I try to call out but my lungs feel as though they are filled with ice. I drag myself to my feet and move to my room, I look in to see Twilight staring straight at me, still scowling!
The scream of an engine roars into my ears, I open my clenched eyes to find myself behind the wheel of my car. I’m driving at a furious speed through the town of ponyville, I look to my right and I see Rainbow there yet again. She smiles at me and gives me that same cheeky wink. Remembering what happened last time I look up sooner, ready to take the corner properly. But there was no corner. There was no turn, just a wall. I smash into the sheet of brick head on. In a dazed half dead state I look up through the windshield, I’m in the forest, ploughed into the side of the same tree as before.
I awoke suddenly, I bolted out of my bed tangling my feet in the cover’s and ultimately ending up on the floor of my room in a heap. At that point while I was sprawled on the floor I realised that I was still screaming but as soon as I noticed, my voice began to die down. I was soaked in sweat, I felt hot, and yet my body was riddled with shiver’s and Goosebumps. Twilight was correct yet again, I had caught a cold. And a nasty one at that! I thought back to my dream, the images fast fading from my mind but the general story was still vivid. I’d never had a fever that altered my mind so much in my sleep. I took a deep breath, the sound reminded me of the dream Spike preparing to roast me alive, and I flinched almost expecting the fire to engulf me once more.
I heard hurried hoof steps behind the door, but my strength had left me. I couldn’t bring myself to sit back up or even speak, I simply lay there panting. My vision began to blur, colours mixed with each other smearing the room into one long smudge of mixed paint on a canvas. Light suddenly landed on me as I heard –almost as if a mile away- the door to my room open, and a startled gasp as Twilight looked at me. A fuzzy outline of a purple mane’d head swam in and out of my focus. Her voice sounded muffled... as I..... Slowly...........passed................out......................
Thank you all for following this story!
