Power is Knowledge

Spring is a great season.  It's sunny, everypony's happy, the world seems fine...

No, wait... that's summer, isn't it?

Today it rained.  I was outside, and I refused to take refuge in anypony's house, even though many offered to take me in.  The rain is the one time I can imagine her.

Where did she go?  Are we to be separated forever?  Why can't I see her again?

Such questions are for a fool, so with that logic I am one.  She's out there somewhere, I know it, but where is the question...

That same pony from yesterday talked to me again.  She was holding an umbrella with her magic. She talked to me about going inside her house again.  I rejected, but this time I did not feel bad about it.

She told me to wait a second.  She wanted to talk to me out in the rain here.

Well, somepony's persistent.  My search was leading me nowhere yet again, so I decided to talk for a minute unless another situation arose.

I told her I'll talk to her, but she should make it quick.  She didn't ask why, she got right down to business.  She asked me where I was from.  I told her someplace she wouldn't know or understand.  Specifics were out of the question.  She asked me how I got here.  I told her I walked, like a normal pony.  She asked me why I was here.

I told her it was for a good reason, one nopony could understand. Not today.

She was displeased with my answers she asked why I was being so vague.  I looked at her, straight in the eyes.  Those innocent eyes... they remind me of that look... I told her that she was going to have to look elsewhere if she wanted information on me.

But then she asked the one question... the one question I swore never to answer.

"What does your cutie mark mean?"

She had noticed it.  Unlike everypony in this whole town, she is the first to notice that I, Double Take, am a real pony, that I exist, that I have a meaning, and most importantly that I live.

It surprised me.  Only the most knowledgeable and perceptive pony could pick me out of a crowd, as the expression goes.  However, that very fact is what scared me more than anything.

I couldn't change my name now.  If I died again, the world would know.  If I was found out about...

I had to get away.  She asked so little, but she asked too much.  I told her I was leaving, and I walked away.  She shouted at me to stop, to not go, not yet. I felt as she tried to trip me with her magic, but to no avail.  In mere seconds, that magic was gone, as no magic can touch me.

I think she began to cry.  Crying... they call it a form of weakness, but that is a hypocrite's claim.  When one cries, it makes he or she weak as well as others weak, often making them cry as well.  If it hadn't been raining so hard, maybe I would've noticed my own tears streaming down my face.

The world has to know.  They have to know what they can do, how to save themselves... but I cannot tell them. What is learned is much more valuable and memorable than what is simply told to a pony.

The rain has given me very little material to write on today, so I must end my writings here for now. As much as I will hate it, I must seek refuge and let these papers dry before my wisdom in words are lost forever.

***

The weather ponies are so rude.  They planned another rainstorm today so that the earth ponies will have good soil for planting their seeds tomorrow.  While it is necessary and good for them, everypony else is left to suffer.

It's simply dreadful.  I've been stuck in the house with Sweetie Belle from when the day began, and thus I've been warding off trouble ever since then.

However, I heard a knock on the door, and wondered who it could be.  I opened it up to see a rugged pony.  It was that homeless one. Now, usually, I would not let such a pony into my boutique, but the way he shivered and asked for shelter until the storm ended was well... quite polite, considering who it was coming from.

I let him in and this sort of... I don't know what to call it... aura, followed.  Sweetie Belle just stared at him.  She wasn't causing any more problems.  He asked if he could sit somewhere to warm up. I got him a blanket and instructed him to sit on the couch.  I needed to know what he was doing here.  He had a wet saddlebag, which I offered to hang up for him, but he denied, saying there was something very important in it.  I asked as to what it could be. He opened the bag and I saw the contents.

***

I was glad that this pony let me inside, but that also meant every social rule now applied, as opposed to me being all on my own.  I had to be kind, considerate, and overall, polite. I did not want to upset the mare of the house.  What I didn't expect was her sister.

The filly had a lot of questions.  Most of them were about who I was and why I looked the way I did.  The mare looked at her, saying it is rude to ask such things, but these questions I did not mind answering.  I told her my name was Double Take and that I lived in the town. She asked where, and I said on the streets.  She gave me this look of confusion and asked how anypony could live like that. I told her that I simply had gotten by, and that was all.

She asked what I was doing out in the storm.  I asked her if I needed a reason given where I was living, and she nodded her head.  Then she asked why I lived on the streets.  The mare of the house interrupted there, as she had something to say.

***

He lived on the streets, that part was right. His name was Double Take. He has a bag full of papers. I decided he was slightly trustworthy with how much he let on.

Oh, but I was so rude! I forgot to introduce my sister and I, so I took the opportunity to do so then.

***

She told me their names were Rarity and Sweetie Belle.  Interesting.  She said that this was her boutique, and she was a tailor. Also interesting. It made me wonder how much her costs for each piece was, as I could use some new clothing, or at the very least, a hat.

Sweetie Belle told me she was a "Cutie Mark Crusader", but I have no idea what that means.  I was going to ask, but Rarity insisted we talk about something else.  I went along with it.  However, it made me wonder if this filly was going to ask about my cutie mark... and I really didn't want that to happen again.

That's when my thoughts were broken by a loud snarl.

***

I forgot about Opal Essence!  I guess she was just waiting to play with the new pony that arrived.

***

I have to say, these ponies have quite the cat.  It growled at me throughout my stay in the place, but wouldn't touch me because I was wet.  I guess it makes sense, given cats don't like water.  I wonder how it would feel being out in the storm. Perhaps it would be more submissive if it was put out there for a few minutes.  The thing acted like it owned the place, and it did not like any visitor, that’s for sure.

Anyway, the cat wasn't a problem as much as the conversation was.  Every time I tried to think of something interesting to talk about, I drew a blank.  I guess I'm so used to short conversations I never planned on this kind of situation.  I used to be very long-winded, but having one's lung collapse, as mine did on the day of the mass-murder, it kind of takes away from that a bit.

I heard as the rain that was hitting the roof stopped making noise, and the sun began to shine through the window.

***

I bid the pony good-bye as he walked out into the sun. His mane and coat seemed cleaner due to the natural shower he had before, but his mane looked like it needed brushing... if he ever got to that.

I don't think he knew what to say other than good-bye. He didn't talk much. I just offered him a stay at my home out of generosity, that's all it really was. He's quite the strange one... perhaps Twilight would like to hear about him. He'd most definitely make for some perfect gossip!

***

The storm subsided, and it replaced with a wet, yet sunny, day.  A rainbow was in the sky due to the condensation in the air.  It's one of those things that you see and think it makes life worth living.

But when I think of life, I cannot help but think about its dark counterpart, death. The other side. The light at the end of the tunnel.

I forgot to write about all of that. Where did I leave off at...?

Ah, yes.  The nightmares.  I forgot to talk about the most important part of them. The ending. You thought that it ended with my death?  Think again.

The other side.  It is the one place where you are not safe, yet also the only place one can find sanctuary.  In my dreams, I find myself unable to control myself, walking towards the light. Of course, I would never do such a thing if it were the real situation... if one can call it that.

Then, I wake up. I wonder where I've been all this time, and sure enough, it seems to be in the corner of some alley, as always. No surprises there.

The only thing is, I don't... feel awake, but I know I most certainly am.  It's like my life truly is one big dream. I hope it isn't though. Waking up from a dream like this would probably drive me mad thinking about the inception.

Today, I ponder these things, but the next, I already know it all.  Perhaps my more informed half would be able to answer such questions.

The day hasn't ended yet, so I walk amongst those who were previously shacked up in their homes. Some of them are talking about the manticore and the losses, others are discussing the weather pony's work, and even more are talking about... rhubarb? It's hard to tell.

I got a little too close to the library again today, as I saw that purple pony eyeing me again. She won't say anything, I'm sure, but I know she still wants her questions answered. In due time, she will get what she wants. Just not now.

The reason I'm talking about this is not because I cared how she felt (not that I didn't care, just because that isn't what this is about), but because I saw that Rarity pony walking up to her.  They exchanged greetings, and Rarity started talking about something... in what looked like a very serious manner.

I should've run right then and there. Rarity knew this pony? Well, it's probably a good thing that I didn't say anything importa--

...

Shit.

It doesn't matter what I was talking about, only that two ponies now fully acknowledge my existence, and they both knew each other before now.

This is why bad things get worse: a pony makes a harmless decision that soon turns into something more than that. Just like with my brother and the forest...

Wait a minute... those two are walking towards me now. I will continue my writing when I can, but for now--

***

Finally, a little backstory on this guy. It took long enough for somepony to finally get onto this.

Rarity said that Mr. Take went her house today to escape the storm. So even he cannot handle these conditions. That should rule out the whole alien theory I was making after wasting a tissue box on emotions.

Anyway, I told her about him and his mysterious nature, and she instantly found the guy to be the biggest talk she could've heard.    She planned to take it to the newspaper and see if they couldn't make a story of it.  I don't know if it will help, but it’s worth a try.

She spotted him standing nearby, and we both walked towards him. He was writing something, but I don't know what.  As soon as he saw us, he bolted.

Now, all of this may seem very unimportant, but it wasn't the running that caught me.  It was that he was writing.  If I could just get my hooves on his notes...

Yes, that has to be where I can find out the most information about him.  Rarity said he had a bag of papers with him.  I'll search through that, and I'll have my answers.

I can't take them, though. No, that's just too... illegal, in my mind, to be stealing. I have to find some way to make him give up those notes on his own.

And from what I know, that means I need to be his friend! I came here to study friendship, and if I let this experiment run its course, I should know more than enough about it!

Now let's see... how did I meet the friends I have now? ... A party! That's right! Pinkie Pie could throw him one! Yeah, that makes enough sense, I suppose. I'll talk to her about it, and my plan will be set! Double Take, prepare to have the time of your life!

***

Every instinct inside of me is telling me to run, run as far away from this place as I can. I don't want to. I don't have to. I can't go.

I didn't go.

I found an alley to hide out in.  Not my usual place, but it will have to do.  I calmed myself.  The situation hasn't gotten that bad yet. No, no, I was only scaring myself over it.  I just need to calm... down...

There.  That's it.  I've got this... I think.  Yeah, I do...

Okay, I need a plan.  I just let two ponies about me, one after another, and they were friends, and I'm bucked!

I can't... I don't... these conditions are not suitable for writing.  I must solve this, and then continue my note-taking.  My better half will be back before I know it...

I lay my quill down here... hopefully to be picked up at the soonest possible time to write again.