Red Hearts and Crossed Strings

The day progressed slowly. Second after second ticked by, and every tick felt like an hour; Every hour, like a year. Lisbon still lay sprawled across the bed. The sun gleamed against the window and shone brightly against her eyes, making her shut them with distaste. Rolling over, she threw a blanket over her and growled an inaudible threat. A snicker from the other side of the room made her throw off the covers once again. She whirled around as Jane shook his head.

“You can’t blame the sun for your bad attitude.” He said. He held what looked like a calendar in his hooves.

“I don’t have to when I have you around all the time.” She snapped back, suddenly aware that she was being unreasonably edgy to the man that had given her his sandwich less than an hour ago. “Sorry . . .”

“What was that?” Jane brought a hoof to his ear and smirked, only making Lisbon’s bad temper sky rocket.

“Jane, I swear I will kick you and your bare flank to the moon if you so much as think about pulling that trick on me!” Glaring at him, she dared the stallion to say something, but he had already become absorbed in his own thoughts once again.

Slightly disappointed with how short their squabble had been, Lisbon departed the bed and disappeared into the washroom. Upon entering, she prepared to get rid of her clothes, but quickly remembered that she had none.

Less work on my part . . .

Sliding the still sanitary curtains aside, she leaned into the shower and started up the water. A loud hiss momentarily erupted from the nozzle before a stream of droplets poured from overhead. Remembering her not so pleasant experience with her last shower, Lisbon carefully snuck her hoof under the water and checked the temperature. Only then did she slip into the cascading warm water.

“Jane, I swear I will kick you and your bare flank to the moon if you so much as think about pulling that trick on me!”

Lisbon’s shout sounded raw in the small room.  Jane quickly diverted his gaze back to his calendar as she shot him a challenging frown. Sweat trickled down his brow as his eyes tracked up and down the page meaninglessly. Don’t say, it, don’t say it . . .

The dead silence screamed at him to shoot back a sly remark, but he forced his lips to stay closed. Thankfully, Lisbon’s tolerance was far from superb, and her patience was worse. With a frustrated sound somewhere between a growl and scream, she stomped to the bathroom and slammed the door.

“I’d like to go to the moon.”

Even though no one was around to hear his witty comeback, it made him feel a bit better inside. His tense shoulders fell, and he dropped the calendar beside his bed. Why is she so grumpy all of a sudden? With a sigh, he packed the abandoned calendar into the bedside table’s drawer and walked towards the bathroom door on light hooves. Pressing his body against the wood, Jane listened carefully to the beating water on the other side. It was time.

Dashing over to the table, Jane scooped up the money bag in his mouth, wincing at the clink-clank of overturning bits. His body froze, and the rustling bag in his teeth went still. Expectantly, he stared wide eyes at the bathroom door, expecting it to burst open any second with his angry boss stomping out wearing the face of a demon.

Seconds passed, then minutes. Gradually, Jane peeled out of his cautious trance and snuck out the door. He would be quick.

The water soaked through Lisbon’s sleek gray fur. It, rather unpleasantly, stuck between her skin and short hair instead of just rolling off. Heat boiled in her cheeks, not from her recent argument, but from her situation in general. Slamming her hoof against the tiled wall, she gritted her teeth. So what if Red John thinks he can push us around! He can’t! We have everything under control! Everything . . .

Sucking back a breath, she focused on the cascading water around her. She brought her hooves up to her mane and messaged it graciously, not stopping even after her head was cleansed through and through.

I just need to calm down! I can’t let Red John get the upper hand! We don’t know if he can see us! It’s only a possibility.

Letting her hooves fall to her sides, she stood motionless in the middle of the shower on her hind legs. Here she was stuck in Equestria with Jane while the team, her team, was back in California doing who knows what. They had been in the middle of an investigation! Now, the boss, along with the most keen member of the CBI, had vanished! They could be sending out search parties!

Warm water dripped off her dark brown mane and splashed against her muzzle and cheeks. Steady drips taped against the floor and disappeared into small lake under Lisbon’s hooves. Water swirled and pulsed as it gurgled down the shower drain. She could feel her hope faltering. She tried to grab it, but it always seemed to slip away right when she was close to being happy again.

The morning sun was still fresh in Lisbon’s mind. She had felt light and fluffy while at that breakfast with Jane, and then, she got anxious again. The covers couldn’t hide her from it either, and for once, neither could being around another person, or pony in this case. Worst of all, no one knew what she was feeling. Other agents just dismissed it as her being snappy and mean hearted; She didn’t have the confidence to tell them otherwise.

“I’m pathetic.” She laughed a little at how self-absorbed and hollow she sounded. “Just pathetic. I mean really. Being beaten by something that happened when I was a kid? And now, being beaten by some little assumption that Red John is ‘watching’ us? Wow Lisbon, you really are something.”

“That’s me, cool and calm”

“Had I really said that before?” Letting out a sight, she reached for the tap and turned it down, cutting off the water immediately. But, she didn’t get out of the shower, not even when the cold shop air began to bite at her hidden skin. Instead, she collapsed behind the curtains, and pulled herself into a ball, cradled in the corner of the shower.

Disguised tears crept down her cheeks, icy cold compared to the hot trails of shower water. The screeching of an ambulance alarm pounded in her head. She could still see the flashing light that penetrated the dark city.

Medics dragged a white gurney through the crowd of curious bystanders. The bed was covered with a dirty white blanket tugged over a hidden body. Just to the side were two crashed vehicles, along with a drunk man yelling at a police officer.

The man held out his bottle of beer, leaking at the sides due to some cracks, and laughed. The officer ignored him and snapped a pair of handcuffs around his wrists before leading him to the police car and stuffing him in the back seat.

A young girl struggled through the crowd. Bodies brushed against her on all sides, throwing her in different directions. But she needed to find her dad, or mom, or anybody! She cried out hoarsely, voice lost in the crowd that piled over her. The sirens roared in her throbbing ears. She just wanted to go home!

Like a murder of crows around a body, the crowd eventually thinned out. The younger Lisbon weaved her way around the taller men and women, before she found herself at the edge of the chaos. She could finally see what the fuss was about.

The first thing her eyes were welcomed by was the gurney sitting in the open ambulance. An arm was hanging out limply, just dangling like a worm on a hook. Quickly averting her eyes, she saw the man sitting in the back of the police car. His face was contorted with rage, not a bottle of alcohol was in sight.

Heart thumping, Lisbon just stared. What was she supposed to make of this? An hour ago she was sitting at home with a blanket and pillow, awaiting her mother’s return. Now, she was standing in the middle of a disaster zone.

She didn’t know why, but when the ambulance’s doors closed, she cried.

That was the day my mother died . . .

TAP TAP TAP

Lisbon jumped. Her head turned towards where the door was hidden behind the curtain. Quickly wiping away the remaining tears she flew out of the shower and opened the door, still dripping wet. Jane awaited on the other side. For a moment his eyes looked dark, but then he was smiling.

“Hey, I was wondering when you were coming out. The water stopped a while ago.” His voice was edgy and cautious, like he was scared she would bark at him again. She couldn’t blame him.

Lisbon shuffled on her feet. “I’m done now, if you need to go in.” Stepping to the side, she gave Jane room to pass.

“I don’t need the washroom, I need you.” He said sneakily, closing the bathroom door with his magic. “Come on, let’s go for a walk. It’ll be good to get out of the room. We can’t just stay here all day.”

Lisbon watched as he headed towards the door that led to the rest of Sugarcube Corner, but she stayed put. “I don’t really want to go on a walk right now Jane. I just want to lie down for a bit.” Without looking at him, she headed towards the bed with unsteady, and still dripping hooves. She had almost gotten to her desired location when she found herself unable to advance any farther.

What?

The world around her had suddenly been enveloped in blue sparkles and waving currents. “Sorry Lisbon, but I won’t take no for an answer. Besides, if we stay here all day we won’t ever get out of this world.”

“I just want to be by myself right now! Leave me alone!” Lisbon struggled in Jane’s magic, fighting the strange energy that had engulfed her. But fighting an aura is like trying to walk underwater. She felt herself bobbing up and down ever so slightly, but it was enough to throw her off balance. Without a floor to set her hooves on, all she could do was float.

“Will you come with me now?”

“Jane, I’m your boss! Put me down, now!” She was on the verge of screaming and crying. Frustration spilled over her as Jane only shrugged in response.

“Jane!”

The magic bubble popped and Lisbon crashed to the ground. Rubbing her head, she let out a moan and narrowed her eyes. “Alright, you win. I’ll go on a walk with you.” With a lash of her tail, she lifted herself off the ground and stormed out the door. Jane frowned before following close behind. This plan isn’t off to a great start, but that was expected.

Sunlight cut through small slits in the clouds as Jane led his less than cheery boss along the river trail. He could hear the steady dragging of her hooves; And every time she growled it sent shivers down his spine. He could feel the daggers she was shooting into the back of his head, and he gulped at the thought of turning around and facing her wrath head on.

I can’t believe I ever considered her to be the voice of reason! She’s more like the voice of hot headedness! His chest tightened and he slowed his pace, behind him the sound of scraping dirt slipped into a slow thudding. Lisbon hasn’t been the same lately . . . I can see it in her eyes. They're dark and distracted. She’s been this way for a while now . . . What kind of psychic am I if can’t tell what’s wrong with her? Oh right, a fake one. Psychics don’t exist . . .

“Jane, why are we walking the speed of a turtle?” Lisbon galloped ahead, looking down at the river. Her dull eyes followed the small ripples, and gradually lightened. A faint smile turned turned up her lips. “The river is so clear here, unlike back home.” Her voice held a far off wonder, more surprised than happy. But it lit up his heart anyway, dissolving the dark worry that had started to rope around him. He would ask her what was wrong later.

Trotting up to Lisbon’s side and staring down at the water, Jane held his breath. Beneath the glimmering lazy surface rested the bottom of the river, completely visible and undisturbed by the usual wrappers and grime that they were used to. Waving along the water’s top were their reflections, staring back at them with wide curious eyes.

“Hey Lisbon?” Jane said, not breaking his gaze away from his reflection.

“What?” She continued to stare as well.

“What if on the other side of the water their is another world, but our reflections are blocking us from getting there?”

A huff sounded beside him, and then, a laugh. “Really? You actually found a way to make reflections seem creepy? Has anyone ever told you that you’re nuts?” Shoving his shoulder teasingly. Her gaze fell back to her reflection, and she slowly moved her hoof back and forth just above the water. Reflections blocking you from another world? Hah! Yeah right!

“Usually, they call me something like annoying, or . . . That Guy. But nuts? No, not usually.”

Another chorus of laughter erupted from the pair. Reaching over, Jane scooped Lisbon up in a hug. He didn’t care that she had stopped laughing as soon as he had grabbed her. He could feel her cheeks radiating heat, and her heart thump in her chest. Her front hooves rested almost defensively against his chest, separating them just enough. But he didn’t care.

“Thanks Jane. And, I’m sorry . . . .”

He shook his head and released her from the hug, letting her slide away with an awkward smirk. She rubbed her right hoof nervously, and he reached over, resting his own against it. “I’ve said this before, but I’m here for you if you want to talk. I understand that you aren’t used to letting people in, but I’m here, okay?”

Lisbon nodded, and got to her hooves. Looking ahead, she narrowed her eyes. “Jane, we should be getting back to Sugarcube Corner. The sun is going to start setting soon.”

A cold breeze ruffled Jane’s fur, and he looked up from where he was sitting. Far off in the distance, the sky had already forfeited it’s fight against the sun; The night was coming. If only he could stop it, just this once.

In the quiet, a robin chirped, leaving a vast silence in it’s wake. It felt like they had been walking for hours. The sun left the sky a while ago, and a giant moon watched as Jane and Lisbon carefully followed the river back to Ponyville.

“Are you sure we’re going the right way?” Lisbon muttered, shaking her head wearily. Her bangs had started to droop over her face, and the usual bags under her eyes had become much more defined.

“I know it is, trust me. We’re just tired is all. So it feels longer.” Jane replied, his voice slightly wavering.

“You don’t know how ‘reassuring’ that is to hear.” Growling under her breath, Lisbon forced herself into a steady trot. All she wanted to do was get back home, and slip into bed. Her muscles ached from the long walk, and her mind felt heavy as a dictionary.

Silence wrapped over them once again. Only the sound of their hooves against dirt filled the night.

Clip-Clop Clip-Clop Clip-Clop Cli-

The world lurched as Lisbon’s hoof caught on a hidden rock. Losing her balance, she slammed hard onto the packed ground below. Jane rushed to catch up with her immediately. his hooves pounding loud in the silence.

Groaning, Lisbon rubbed her eyes clear of the rough dirt. But something was off. She felt bare and exposed. Her hooves traveled to her neck to grab her cross, but they were welcomed with nothing. There was no cross for her to grab!

“Jane! It’s gone!”

Terror pulsed right through her body and she crawled towards the waters edge. She slapped at the water, hoping that her necklace would somehow end up in her hooves, but all she could do was make things worse. The clear water turned choppy, rippled, and completely opaque.

Pulling her away from the water, Jane set her down and squeezed her shoulder. He held her there patiently, until she calmed down enough to stop squirming. Still breathing hard, she stared shakily into his blue eyes and shifted back and forth.

“My necklace. I tripped, It, f-fell. I think it’s in the water!”

As Lisbon crumpled to the ground, Jane trotted over to the water. It had regained it’s usual splendor by now, clear and see through. Squinting his eyes and scanning the surface, he searched determinedly for Lisbon’s golden cross. It had to be around, there wasn’t anything around that. Yet, as he searched, he could feel his pulse rising. The steady thud bounced in his neck and against his ribs. Hope faltering, Jane plunged into the river and dived down towards the sandy bottom. Carefully, he ran his hoof over the soft floor in hopes that he would bump against Lisbon’s beloved necklace.

Lungs screaming, and chest aching, he franticly scoured the area. With a final shifting of his hoof, he felt something solid tap against him. Recognizing the cold metal immediately, he let the thin golden chain wrap delicately around his hoof, before pulling it up to the surface.

The calm river shattered into a shower of droplets as Jane broke the surface. With strong hooves, he paddled to shore and pulled himself up. He was cold, and dripping from horn to hooves. The night air poked at him tauntingly.

Lisbon sprinted towards him, crying, and smothered him in a tight squeeze. “You idiot! You idiot! Why would you jump in like that?”

Gently pushing Lisbon away, he showed her the necklace dangling from his hoof. “I’m fine, Lisbon. It’s just water.” He said proudly. “And guess what, I got your necklace! So you owe me big time.” Raising the hoof with the wet necklace, he smiled. “Now how about we get this back on, a little tighter this time, and go on home?”

Lisbon nodded with a smile and let Jane walk around behind her. Carefully, he set her mane to the side and pulled the two strands of gold together. While he carefully adjusted the necklace around her neck, he let himself breathe in Lisbon’s scent. It was a rare privilege, and he wasn’t about to waste it. He would savor her bold cinnamon scent as long as he could. And he knew she wouldn’t interrupt him. By the way her ears twitched, he guessed that she was enjoying this too.

“You’re mother got you this, right?”

Swallowing, Lisbon nodded slowly. “Yeah, she did. I got it from her when I was little. This was the last thing she ever gave me,” Ducking her head and letting out a cough, she stammered, “Right then, we should get going. I don’t know about you, but it’s freezing out here.”  As she spoke, a cold wind broke through the air and twisted around them. But Lisbon found that her cheeks were still warm.

“Hey, I’m the one who’s all wet!” Laughing, Jane began to lead the way back to Ponyville. This time, they were guided by the faint, but warm, lights. Though their laughter filled the night, they could still hear the chirping of a robin.

The door creaked open as Jane and Lisbon slugged into the dark room, their hooves tiredly dragging on the pink carpet.

Ready to slip under the covers, Lisbon jumped onto the bed, only to find a small brown box already resting on top of the it. Grin slipping from her face, she turned to Jane who only shrugged and bounced up to rest beside her, failing to hide his proud smirk. “You should open it.” He said, impatiently poking her shoulder.

Snorting, Lisbon shoved him away and narrowed her eyes down at the box. The cardboard wasn’t thick, but there was no way to see inside. Cautiously she tapped it with her nose. Then, she slipped her hoof under the lid, and nudged it up only slightly. Nothing exploded, but a sweet smell wafted out and filled the room. It was surgery and strong, but not overpowering. Licking her lips, she threw off the lid, all apprehension lost, and squeed at her prize.

A pink cupcake, decorated carefully with candy hearts and sprinkles sat patiently in the box. Beside it was an empty ring of frosting. A sigh came from the deflated stallion next to her, “Well, I guess mine is gone.”

At his words, Lisbon felt her curiosity spark. “You knew about this!?” She demanded, glaring Jane. “Why didn’t you tell me? What’s going on?”

“Well, you see, while you were in the shower I snuck upstairs and talked to Pinkie Pie. I ordered some cupcakes and asked her to drop them off downstairs later. Then, I got you out of the room. We went for a walk, and she dropped them off while we were gone. Although I guess she ate mine . . . Happy birthday Lisbon!” Jane threw up his hooves and smiled expectantly, but Lisbon only continued to struggle with the situation.

“Birthday?”

Jane nodded and levitated the calendar from the drawer in front of her eyes, a large circle marked around the current date. Slowly, she began to realize that he was right. Wiping her eyes before they started to water, she laughed. She had forgotten her own birthday amidst the scramble of becoming a pony and dealing with her strange anxiety. But even with everything that had happened, Jane remembered.

“Thank you Jane.”

“No problem, but I think I should tell you that I spent the rest of our bits on this.”

“WHAT DID YOU SAY!?”