"Walk With Me."
(A short story of "Nicholi.")
Quiet was Ponyville, in its silent night; clouds few; stars plenty; a fair breeze blew through the cold air
that night, as a young Foal - who was nearly the age of being a Filly - named, "Pisha," stood at the bridge,
with her dearest friend, "Mipha," who was just a little younger than Pisha.
The two walked to the fountain, and each sat - Pisha sitting on the fountain, while Mipha sat near it.
"That had to have been one of the best nights of my life!" Mipha yelled in excitement, "Do you think we'll
ever do it again?"
"Sure," Pisha said, looking to Mipha; "if my mommy allows it."
"It's good that you ask your mother's permission, first, Pisha," Mipha finished, looking up to the stars.
"Yeah," Pisha said, looking up just the same.
After plentiful amounts of star-gazing and opinion-sharing, the two stood, exchanged nods,
and said their "goodbyes."
"Thanks, again, for inviting me to your party, Pisha!" Mipha said with great ebullience.
"Aw, you don't have to thank me," Pisha waved, "I hope you had the time of your life!"
The two waved to each other, said their "goodbyes," once again, and went their separate ways.
I hope I didn't forget anything, Pisha thought; she quickly shrugged off the thought, and continued home.
When she neared her destination - her small - but comfortable - home - she noticed, to the left of their house's
entrance, another pony walking by.
It was dark, but the pony wasn't very far; Pisha squinted her eyes, and, looking closer, identified
the pony as a unicorn, judging from the horn.
What is somepony doing out, this late? Pisha thought to herself, focusing on the unicorn walking past at
the intersection. As the unicorn was nearly out of sight, Pisha thought she had seen the unicorn glare at her,
but shrugged off the idea, and entered into her home.
"Mommy?" Pisha called once she closed the door.
"Pisha?" a mare voice from upstairs called also; "Is that you, Pisha?"
"It's me, mommy!"
"Oh..."
Pisha's mother - the source of the voice - came trotting down the stairs; she greeted her daughter with open hooves, and rubbed Pisha's head.
"It's good to see you," Pisha's mother said; "Did you enjoy your party?"
"Oh, yeah!" Pisha expressed with joy; "Me and Mipha had a great time! And everypony else was there, too!"
"Ah," Pisha's mother gestured towards the stairs; "well, we'd best get some sleep now, okay?"
"'Kay, mommy!"
Pisha's mother sauntered back up the stairs, and Pisha followed slowly after her;
they said their "good-nights," and Pisha went to her room, slowly and surely, drifting to sleep.
Pisha awoke - nearly at noon.
Pisha prepared for the day, and went down-stairs, for breakfast with her mother.
"Mommy!" Pisha cried out, charging towards her mother, and welcoming her into an embrace. Pisha's mother gave
a friendly chuckle, "My, you're awake! Well, come, I've made your favourite: 'Sunny-Side-Up-Eggs!'"
"Aw, thanks, mom," Pisha said, winking at her mother; she quickly enjoyed the food served to her,
and readied herself for the day.
Pisha stood by the door, and her mother came, kissing Pisha on the cheek, and saying,
"Have a great day at school, now!"
"I will!" was Pisha's reply.
She said her "goodbyes," and departed from her home - leaving for school.
Very quiet, outside was. Is everypony else at school, already? Pisha thought; it was unusual,
but she enjoyed it: it was something Pisha did not experience often.
As Pisha neared the fountain, she noticed a gray, mysterious unicorn,
sitting by a patch of trees; he sat by a tree, reading a book.
Pisha focused off of the unicorn, and continued to walk towards the small school-house.
Is he the only one out here? Pisha thought, finding it odd that there be a lone unicorn in that
seemingly abandoned town.
Pisha was nearly at the entrance, when, coming from the patch of trees, a voice of soothing, calm,
and even poetic, tone spoke,
"Ah."
Pisha looked back to the unicorn, who had closed his book, and walked closer to Pisha.
"You must be on your way to school, I presume?"
"Sure am," Pisha answered the gray unicorn; "and I need to get back to it."
"Ah, of course," the gray unicorn said, giving a polite bow; "don't let me keep you."
The unicorn kept a straight face, his entire time speaking; he eventually looked up from his bow, and
focused his eyes upon Pisha.
"Do enjoy your day," the gray unicorn stated.
Pisha felt nervous to him, but soon managed to speak up, "Same to you."
Just as Pisha had nearly turned to walk away, the gray unicorn once again spoke,
"Oh," stated he; "and I am Nicholi...It's a pleasure."
"Oh, nice to meet you, too!"
'Nicholi' had kept his seemingly emotionless - yet worried - face, and eventually told Pisha,
"Well, please, enjoy your day, Miss..?"
"Pisha!" Pisha said, closing her eyes and bouncing with glee.
"Pisha..." uttered Nicholi; "You have a very lovely name, Pisha."
"Aw, thanks!"
There was a moment of silence, then - awkward-feeling for Pisha.
Soon, quoth Nicholi,
"Well, I apologize if I disturbed you in any way, Miss. Pisha," he said; "but...If you wish, I suppose I could help
you find whoever you're looking for."
Pisha looked to Nicholi with gentle care, saying, "Thanks so much for the offer, but you don't have to go through
all that trouble! I'll manage!"
"Very well," said Nicholi, closing his eyes and taking a breath; "if you ever need assistance, I am here."
Pisha thanked him once more, cooing and giggling.
Pisha eventually turned back to the school-house, and walked off; "Bye!" she said to Nicholi,
who remained silent.
I wonder if that's the same unicorn from last night, Pisha thought, looking through the empty classroom;
he certainly seemed nice...
Just as Pisha was nearly ready to exit the building, she heard a door creak open from behind her.
She looked to the door, and her teacher - Mrs. Stander (Lite Stander) - was walking out from the room
that was behind the door (a storage room), and then quickly noticed Pisha at her left.
Mrs. Stander jumped back in shock;
"AH!" She then soon saw that Pisha was the one there, and sighed, "Oh, Pisha...Don't scare me like that!
Goodness..."
Pisha took a step closer, chuckling nervously, "Heh...Sorry, Mrs. Stander!"
Mrs. Stander soon calmed, and stood straight, saying, "Phew...Well, can I help you, Pisha?"
Pisha gave Mrs. Stander a smile, and said with seeming chirp in her voice, "Well! I was actually
curious where everypony went!"
Mrs. Stander exchanged a confused look, squinting one eye; eventually, she said, "Pisha...
You know that today is a break-day, right?"
"Uhhh..."
"Oh, it's all right; although, you know, if you want to...you can always do studies on your own!"
"Well, thanks for your help, Mrs. Stander!"
Mrs. Stander nodded with a friendly smile, and Pisha turned, walking away slowly.
Nearly coming to the exit of the school-house, Pisha slowly turned back to Mrs. Stander,
and, with seemingly glistening eyes, said, "Are you sure...we can't just have *one* lesson..?"
Mrs. Stander let out a short, hearty laugh, shutting her eyes;
she then re-opened her eyes, gave Pisha a gentle face, and said in a caring voice, "Pisha...come here.
I want you to see something."
Pisha gave Mrs. Stander a smile and walked back towards her, and Mrs. Stander led her to the storage room,
where she took off a shelf an old, dusty-looking book, and, looking to Pisha, said, "This...was my mother's.
It's a book all about family, friends, and how dear love is...I want you to have it, Pisha."
"Really?" Pisha inquired, extending her seemingly squeaky voice.
"Yes," Mrs. Stander replied, closing her eyes half-way; "I feel like...it would be best fit, for you."
Pisha stood, rapidly darting her eyes between Mrs. Stander and the dusty book that she held, her jaw practically
dropped. Soon, Pisha's seemingly glistening eyes shined, and she jumped with excitement, keeping her voice low,
but having an inner-voice screaming with glee, "Ohh, thank you, Mrs. Stander! Thank you so much; that's so nice!"
"Hoho!" Mrs. Stander chuckled; "No need for thanks...It was made for you!" she finished, gesturing the dusty book.
Pisha took the book, and the two discussed old memories as they both walked back - towards the exit of the
school-house.
Pisha left the school-house feeling practically in love; she held the book like a trophy in the air,
and said her "goodbyes" to Mrs. Stander; she then went back towards her home to inform her mother of the
'break-day.' She noticed on the way home that 'Nicholi' was nowhere in sight.
At some point in the day, Mipha had come over, and Pisha's mother made a large dinner for the three of them,
to which they spoke, laughed, ate, and enjoyed each other's company.
The sun eventually reached dusk.
"Well," Mipha spoke up; "I need to be getting home, now; wouldn't want my mommy getting upset!"
Pisha and her mother laughed, and sent Mipha on her way, with leftovers from dinner strapped to her
back in a pouch. Mipha thanked them, and went on her way.
Pisha and her mother overlooked old memories through their family portraits.
After a little while, when the sun had nearly completely set, Pisha asked, "Mommy, would you wanna see the stars
with me?"
"Ah, that sounds lovely, Pisha!" her mother agreed, and when the sun set, they watched the stars together.
They sat together near the bridge next to their house, and gazed up at the skies.
Only a little later, Pisha and her mother heard from behind a soothing, poetic voice - familiar to Pisha,
saying, "Hello again, Pisha."
Pisha and her mother turned to see Nicholi, who stood not too far behind, the night covering his fore-head.
"Nicholi!" Pisha said with glee in her tone.
"Ah, you two know each other?" Pisha's mother inquired.
Before Pisha could speak, Nicholi stepped up to her mother, saying, "Yes. I am Nicholi. A pleasure to meet you."
He kept his face straight, without shining any different expression.
Pisha's mother at first flashed a confused look, but soon replaced it with a smile and squinted eyes,
saying as kind as she could, "Well, I am Pisha's mother; it's good to meet you, Mr. Nicholi."
"You, too," Nicholi said, focusing his face dead-on Pisha's mother; "...You have a very kind daughter."
"Oh? That's very kind of you to say! Pisha," Pisha's mother looked to Pisha; "you could've told me that you
were friends with such a kind soul!"
Nicholi kept his attention towards Pisha's mother, even when she turned away.
Pisha's mother looked back towards Nicholi, and eventually walked back towards their home, saying, "You two talk!
I'll be right back, Pisha!" She then went back into their home.
Nicholi waited until he heard the door close, and then he focused his attention on Pisha.
"Nice to see you 'gain, Nicholi!"
"Are you having a good night?" Nicholi asked the second Pisha had finished her statement.
"Well...yes..! Would you like to join us?"
"That sounds lovely," Nicholi replied; "but I'm sorry. I can't. I'm going to be preoccupied, tonight."
"Oh...Well, have a good night, Nicholi!"
"...You, too, Pisha."
After moments, Nicholi turned and walked in the other direction - towards the near forest.
A little later, Pisha's mother returned, asking, "Where did he go?" to which Pisha replied, "He said he
was 'preoccurpied.'"
They watched the stars, as Pisha thought uncomfortably, thoughts of Nicholi clouding her mind.
I wonder why he's so busy, Pisha thought; well...he did have what looked like a cutie-mark for a writer...
The night passed on, and the next day arrived.
When Pisha had finished her school-work for the day, she informed her mother that she was going for a walk,
to which her mother replied, "Don't stray too far!"
Pisha exited her home, and looked in the direction of the near woods.
Nicholi stood at the entrance to the woods, looking at her with his seemingly emotionless face,
from at least five (5) meters. Pisha felt uneased, noticing that Nicholi's pupils seemed dilated.
Nicholi eventually walked slowly towards Pisha, and spoke, "Hello, Pisha. Are you feeling well?"
"...Huh?" Pisha finally noticed what Nicholi said; "O-Oh, yeah! Yeah, I am! What 'bout you?"
"...I am well; thank you for asking." Nicholi said, sounding more dead than alive.
Eventually, Pisha reluctantly inquired, "Um...Nicholi, are you okay?"
Nicholi stood silent for a small time, eventually stating, "...Actually, I can't quite get my mind off...
that book I noticed you had that day."
"Huh?" Pisha said, confused.
"I would love to read it. Would you mind bringing it to my home, sometime? I would take it now,
but I'm far too busy. No rush, of course; I was simply curious, Pisha."
"...Ohh! That book!" Pisha realized; "Hold on just a second, Nicholi!" Pisha finished, rushing back into her house.
Pisha then returned with the dusty, old book that Mrs. Stander had given her.
"This book?" Pisha asked, showing it to Nicholi.
"Yes, that's the one. Whenever you have the time, please bring it for me."
"I can now!" Pisha said; "Where is your home?"
Nicholi stood silent for a moment, then told Pisha, "Its location is difficult to describe, but
I can lead you there."
"Alrighty!" Pisha told Nicholi; "Lemme go tell my mommy, first!"
"Of course."
Pisha entered her home, and informed her mother that Nicholi had requested the book, and her mother said,
"Aww, maybe you two can read it together!" her mother said thoughtfully; "It's nice that you're making so
many friends, Pisha...Don't stray too far into the woods, now!"
"I won't!"
Pisha said her "goodbyes," strapped the dusty, old book to her back, and set out with Nicholi - towards
the near woods.
As Pisha and Nicholi walked the trail into the woods, Pisha occasionally looked up at Nicholi, and thought
that, for a second, she almost saw him smiling.
Eventually, Pisha spotted a small cabin, in the distance of the woods, nearly blocked by slight fog.
As Pisha and Nicholi walked closer to the cabin, and Pisha occasionally noticed Nicholi twitching,
to which she inquired, "Nicholi, are you all right?"
"...Oh, yes, Pisha...I'm simply not used to company..."
I suppose that would explain a bit, Pisha thought as they neared the cabin's entrance.
Once they were at the cabin's entrance, Nicholi opened the door, and stood aside, giving a polite bow
to Pisha, saying, "Welcome to my home, Pisha. Make yourself at home, please. What's mine is yours."
Pisha noticed that Nicholi's eyes seemed to dilate as she entered into his cabin, and she felt worried for
him.
Nicholi closed the door behind himself after he entered, and then turned back to Pisha, who still held
a worried expression.
"...So, may I get you anything?" Nicholi asked with a smile on his face.
"U-Um...Some water is fine, Nicholi."
"Very well."
Nicholi walked through another door within the cabin, which seemed to lead into a small kitchen; he
hummed a slow tune as he entered into the kitchen. Afterwards, Pisha took a deep breath to calm her nerves,
and 'made herself at home.'
Within the cabin was a green, somewhat new-looking couch, placed in the cornor, near a window, from the
right of the kitchen door. It was a very wide room, without much furniture or accessories. There was also
a fairly-large desk, opposite side from the green couch, which held upon itself papers, closed books, open books,
a lamp, a few quills, and other miscellaneous materials. There were windows with somewhat new-looking curtains,
a dresser right of the desk with a box atop it, and another door (which Pisha assumed led to a closet) just next
to the dresser. Besides other miscellaneous objects, that was mostly all there was to the room.
Pisha was sitting upon the green couch when Nicholi returned with a glass of water in-hand.
"Here you are," Nicholi said cheerfully, handing the glass to Pisha.
"...T-Thanks," Pisha nervously stated, taking and quickly sipping the glass of water.
"Ah, and I see you brought the book," Nicholi added, hinting towards the bag wrapped about Pisha's back.
"Oh, yes, I-I did!"
"Ah, lovely! Just...leave it on my desk," Nicholi finished, closing his eyes and lifting his hoof - gesturing
towards his desk.
Pisha did just that - she unwrapped the bag from around her back, and placed it slowly onto Nicholi's desk;
Nicholi watched with great care.
"Wonderful! I shall read of it later..." Nicholi stated, sighing with happiness at the end of his statement.
They stood silent for moments, as Pisha sipped of her glass of water, and Nicholi hummed tunes. Eventually,
Nicholi said, "Pisha...Come; there's something I wish to show you."
Pisha was almost a little frightened when Nicholi said her name, but soon said, "Okay, Nicholi," she stood up
from the green couch; "What is it?"
Nicholi walked towards the door which Pisha assumed to be a closet, and opened it. The door led to a small, narrow
hallway, lit by only a small candle that sat on a desk against the wall; there were two doors: one opposite from the
door which Nicholi had opened, and the other opposite from the small desk - left from the door that Nicholi opened.
I wonder where he's taking me, Pisha thought.
Pisha followed Nicholi, who led her to the door at the end of the short hall, and opened it, and Pisha followed him
into the night.
Nicholi walked to the center of the cabin's backyard, and Pisha followed, occasionally stepping on two small
pieces of land - which stuck further up than the rest of the ground. Pisha looked back to the particular pieces
of ground, while continuing to walk. Why's that? Pisha thought; It looks like something was buried there...
"Look, here, Pisha," Nicholi said, gazing up to the stars; "Beautiful, yes?"
"Y-Yeah," Pisha replied. There was then silence - awkward for Pisha.
"Um...Nicholi?" Pisha asked, nudging against Nicholi. Nicholi looked straight at Pisha.
"Yes?"
"I was wondering...What's up with those...bumps in the ground, there?" Pisha asked, lifting a hoof to the 'bumps.'
"Hm?" Nicholi looked to the 'bumps' that Pisha pointed to; "Ah, those..? Well, you see, two of my friends
recently passed away, and I decided to bury them here, as they enjoyed this cabin very much."
"Well, w-why aren't there stones?"
"...I'm afraid I'm not the richest, Pisha...It is difficult to afford such things - or buy the material for
it - I'm afraid..."
"Oh..."
"Well, don't trouble yourself with my troubles, Pisha; it won't make me any better."
Nicholi's expression then changed from a 'dead, emotionless' face, to a smiling - almost maniacal,
to Pisha - face. Pisha grew worried. Is he oka--
"Come now, Pisha," Nicholi said before Pisha could finish her thought; "be cheery! It would do my soul
no favour to see you upset!"
Finally seeing Nicholi cheer up soon brightened Pisha's heart, and she smiled, and said, "Aw, thanks, Nicholi!
You be cheery, too~!"
Nicholi and Pisha laughed together, and looked up to the sky.
"Now, won't you come back inside, so we can read the book together?" Nicholi said to Pisha, as he walked back into
the cabin.
"Comin'!" Pisha replied, dashing into the cabin with Nicholi.
Pisha sat herself at Nicholi's desk, and Nicholi told her, "Make yourself comfortable, Pisha; I will be right
back." and he then walked back towards the kitchen-door.
Pisha sat with her eyes closed, and sighed with glee.
I'm happy to have made such a great friend, Pisha thought. Some time passed before Nicholi returned.
Pisha heard the kitchen-door open, and heard Nicholi say, "Are you ready?"
"Sure am!" Pisha replied, without looking back to Nicholi. She heard his footsteps come behind the
chair - where she sat. Moments passed with silence, and Pisha, worried, said, without looking to Nicholi,
"Nicholi..? Are we going to read the book, now?"
"...Pisha," Nicholi said; his voice sounded 'darker,' now; Pisha quickly turned to him, and gasped.
Nicholi held a large knife, a friendly smile on his face; his eyes squinted.
"Nicholi, what are you--?!"
"Hush, Pisha," Nicholi said; "It's not good to yell at a friend!"
Pisha jumped away from the desk in shock, looking at Nicholi, as his eyes quickly dilated. Nicholi's grin
increased in size as he gazed at Pisha.
"No, Nicholi, don't do this..!" Pisha pleaded to Nicholi.
Nicholi smiled, "I'm sick of waiting, Pisha; now, please, I promise this will be over quickly."
Pisha stood, shaking with fear, both confused and terrified. Soon, her teeth chattered, and she turned around,
dashing for the door.
Nicholi did not move, but Pisha knocked the door open, and nearly tripped jumping outside; she looked back.
"PISHA!"
Nicholi slowly stepped closer, and Pisha whimpered.
"Please...don't run away from me," he said; "Come, be by your dear friend!"
Pisha began to cry, preparing to slam the door closed. "I-I'm sorry," she said, quivering; she slammed the door,
and turned its lock.
It was silent.
Pisha at first dashed from the cabin, but soon quickly walked, after noticing the silence. Before Pisha could think,
"Piiishaaaaa~!"
N-No, Pisha thought; though she wanted to run, something in her still stood there, trembling. It was silent for a
moment.
"PIIIIISSHHAAAAAA~!"
Pisha's adrenaline spiked, and as she turned to run, she heard something - like a bladed machine - begin to switch
on, and power up.
A flash of a moment later, a telepathically-lifted chainsaw burst through the door, causing splinters and
wood-chippings to fly in different directions. Pisha ran away - with all the might she had. As she ran,
she soon heard the door break down, with a now maniacally laughing voice,
"Pisha, don't run away from me!"
Pisha continued to run, breathing quickly with each step, looking back nearly every second to see Nicholi
and a magically-floating chainsaw.
Pisha ran deep into the woods, and, looking back, tripped on a twig, and quickly stood up again;
the motor of the chainsaw had become distant...
Pisha began to walk through the dark woods, hearing owls chirp, and taking quick breaths to regain her
stamina. She walked and walked, and soon didn't know where home could be.
Mommy's surely worried about me, now, Pisha thought, wiping her tears. The owls tuned out, and all she could
hear were her own quiet footsteps, with the whispering crickets faintly in the background...
Why? Pisha thought; Why would Nicholi do that?!
...I want my mommy back...
Pisha walked and walked, and, eventually
heard a twig snap. She looked to where she heard the noise, but it was too dark to see. Pisha stood in silence,
and nearly turned to walk again. Pisha turned, and Nicholi was in front of her, smiling; Pisha gasped.
"Pisha," said Nicholi; "...why did you run?" His face was now 'dead and emotionless,' again.
Oh, no, Pisha thought; Please, no...
Pisha remained silent.
"Pisha," Nicholi said with a caring tone; "please, don't worry; we can be perfectly together, now."
"No..." Pisha whimpered.
Nicholi smiled, and said, "So, come to me, Pisha..."
"Together," Nicholi said, almost giggling; "you will see, our friendship is meant to be.
You can't escape me, Pisha...
Pisha slowly stepped backwards, and Nicholi levitated the chainsaw from behind a tree,
and revved it up; his face slowly changed from maniacal to blank.
The chainsaw running, Nicholi quickly hovered it towards Pisha.
"No, Nicholi, don--"
..............................................................................................................
Nicholi finished covering the hole with dirt, and then he walked into his cabin, and sat at his desk;
he levitated towards himself the dusty book that Pisha brought over.
"Now," he said; "let's read this, together, shall we?"
