Make Your Echo Create A Wave

Dead falls over a family like a vale made of steel,

overcome with the weight, making it harder for wounds to heal

CHAPTER 4: GROWING PAINS

The cool breeze of the evening temperature welcomed my awakening. Opening my eyes and looking around, I was relieved at my surroundings. Purple and white, I was in my bed at Rarity's house...but she wasn't looking over me this time. As I looked around, what I saw couldn't help but put a warm smile on my face. It was Rainbow Dash. She had fallen asleep at the edge of my bed,curled up and breathing softly as she had her head turned to me. She must have brought me here and was too guilty to leave. She was obviously here waiting for me to awaken. She had a frilled blanket covering her lower body, probably left by Rarity when she realized Dash had fallen asleep.

While I would have loved to just fall back asleep with her so close by, I couldn't let myself do it. Getting to my hoofs lightly, I trotted over a few feet and went to nudge her awake. She was so delicate, but I could tell even through her gentle exterior, she was, as Twilight had said, a hot head. I knew we would be friends, but I'm not sure we could stay friends. We obviously got along well enough, or she wouldn't have been so distraught over my state-of-being after the fall. If I pursued what my heart wanted me to. . .I don't want to know how she would react. The last thing I want is for her to stop being my friend because she doesn't feel the same way I do.

I pushed the thoughts away, to deal with them when the time came. Slowly nudging her awake, she blinked her beautiful eyes at me sleepily, lifting her head towards mine and smiled as she bounced up with a newly acquired spunk. "YOUR AWAKE...I...I mean, I'm glad you're awake. I brought you here as soon as I could. Twilight said you were going to be fine and that I shouldn't have been so advanced in my teachings..." Her face turned away slightly as if to signify the guilt I knew she had. "But hey... you're up, and you seem fine. If you want...we could try again tomorrow...on stable ground." While upbeat on the surface, I could tell she seemed honestly remorseful in her tone, and I wasn't going to let her stay sad.

I didn't know why, and if you asked my in the future, I'd do it again. I pulled her into a hug, wrapping my hoofs around her midsection and hugging softly. "You didn't do anything wrong. Twilight said you would be brash, I should have seen it coming. I hope we can continue tomorrow after we meet the last two of you and Twilight's friends." I smiled as I let her go, taking a step back as she smiled.

"Thanks, that means...alot. And hey...if you ever go to a dance party, hit me up, we could use you as a disco ball." That line confused me but before I could ask, she made a rush out the window, ducking through it and spreading her wings as she took off from the ground, spinning with energy as I sighed. i had been asleep for most of the day so even as the sun was beginning to set, I wasn't at all tired.

Heading downstairs, I ran into Sweetie Belle, who nodded at me as she ascended the staircase, smiling as she escaped my view. Turning back to the main area of the house, I was pleasantly surprised when Rarity popped out from wherever she was sitting, hugging me tightly before backing up and beaming at me. "Jacob I'm so glad your alright. You...my word, you look lovely. So bright and, well, dashing." Again I was confused. I rushed to a mirror and gasped as I was almost blinded by a pair of glowing orbs (not like that you sickos). They were my eyes. Everything that was violet on my body, the tips of my hair, my hoofs, my eyes, and my tail tips were all glowing a vibrant shade of deep lavender. It was like someone had dropped an open glow-stick on me. I was so confused."It seems you glow at night Jacob, can't say I wouldn't enjoy it, but subtly will not be your friend when the sun sets darling."

She was right, but I had another hour left before the sun was gone, so I decided to at least meet one new friend of the girls. Her name was Applejack, and Twilight was talking about her work on some type of orchard, or farm. She said it while we were walking to Rarity's house, so It seemed like a good time as any.

Arriving at Sweet Apple Acres, I was immediately drawn through the paths towards the large wooden house. It was much larger that I would have thought, and just like the rest of the orchard, it had a lovely aroma of apples. As I approached the country style home, I felt it strange to just knock. Maybe I should wait until someone comes out I thought. No, I could be waiting out here for hours with that idea...guess I'll just go for it.

As I brought my hoof up to knock, I heard ruffling, followed by the whack of an apple breaking upon impact with my head. "Y'all think you're gonna steal from us while me any my family are working our hoofs off?" It was obviously the pony Twilight was referring to as she burst from behind a tree. She galloped as fast as she could and knocked me down hard, pressing a hoof to the side of my head and pressing down. "Now you've got about five seconds to explain yourself before I turn your head into that apple I just threw."

Panting hard and curling up as the hoof is still pressed to my head, I just yelled the first thing I could think of. "APPLEJACK DON'T..." She instantly let her hoof off and stepped back.

"Boy, how do you know my name? You're following me or something?" Her tone was just as rough and bitter, but this time it was peppered with a bit of curiosity. She was an orange shade with a blond mane and tail. She had a cowboy hat on and her tone made her southern upbringing obvious.

"I...I don't know anything before a few days ago. F...Fluttershy found me and Twilight patched my wounds. She told me to meet you, but I though you would have already gone inside for the evening." With a sufficient answer, I heard a sigh of relief as she walked back towards me and helped me to my hoofs.

"Gosh, I'm sorry I had to be so rough on ya, but we've been dealing with quite a few looters in the past few months, I guess I'm just kinda fed up with it. If Twilight thinks you're a good fella, well, I suppose I do too. Hope you understand why I was so brash." Her voice was much more calm as she helped me up, smiling as she filled me in to what happens at the acres.

After an hour of talking about our mutual friends and their traits, I bid her goodbye and made my leave, maybe hoping to meet the last friend Twilight and Applejack talked about the next day.

Stepping inside the beautiful boutique, I noticed an eerie silence in the dark. I had only been gone a bit under two hours, so the utterly quiet tone made me uneasy. I slowly ascended the stairs to my room in the dark and headed to my room as I felt something plastic hit my face. It was a balloon, but it was fully inflated. Suddenly a rush of hoofs clopped around me as the lights flashed on. It was everyone I had met so far and another pink pony. Rarity was sitting on my bed, Fluttershy was in the corner smiling nervously, Spike and Twilight were popping party favors and tossing streamers, and Rainbow Dash had just barely flown through the window with Applejack in her hoofs as the lights has turned on. The Pink pony was bouncing around like she had been on a serious sugar high. She tackled me and smiled with the biggest grin I'd ever seen.

"HI, I'M PINKY PIE AND I AM SOOOOOO HAPPY YOUR HERE. FLUTTERSHYWASSCAREDYOUWOULDN'TMAKEITBUTIJUSTKNEWYOU'DCOMEIMEANYOUHAVETOIT'SAPARTYAFTERALL..." Her words strung together faster than my mind could comprehend them as she just kept talking at me, even as Dash lifted her off of me and sat her down.

"Well Jacob" Twilight started saying, "since you don't have a memory or anywhere elts to go, we hoped you would stay here. Once your fully healed and we can fix you'r horn, we could teach you what it's like to be just like us."

Rainbow Dash piped up soon after Twilight had stopped. "Yea, and maybe this time we can start off slowly...ya know, the basics." She ended her sentence with a big smile as all of them joined together into a wall of smiles looking at me, waiting for my answer. I didn't know what to think. I gazed around and saw just how much they cared about me. I'd never felt as happy anywhere but here, and I realized that they were not only able, but willing to guide me step by step through this transition. They didn't know everything, but they wanted to help. I don't think i could have asked for anything better. My life was never great, and now, getting a chance like this, I wouldn't screw it up.

As i thought all of this out, what followed left everyone shocked...I started crying. I sniffled quietly as tears hit the floor, followed by an audible gasp from the group. Fluttershy and Applejack backed up, while Rarity and Dash rushed forward and looked at me.

"Jacob...what's wrong, we thought this is what you wanted." Dash said as she put a hoof on my shoulder.

"It...it is. I didn't realize how much you guys cared, and...this just means so much to me." I sniffle lightly as Rarity takes some cloth and wipes my tears, a smile growing across my face as I sit down and open my arms (so to speak). "Now...how about a hug...friends."

I was instantly rushed as Rarity and Rainbow Dash smashed into me, followed by everyone elts cluttering around me and hugging tight. Only Spike stayed back and grinned as I was hit with an overwhelming amount of love and smiles. They all laughed loudly as they helped me up, heading downstairs as Pinkie Pie headed to a box and kicked it with her hoof as music started playing. I expected to hear pop, or something classical, but instead I was knocked back by heavy dub-step blasting out of the seemingly magical box.

I didn't know how to dance on all four hoofs,but I ended up just rocking out as usual. Everyone laughed at first, but ended up copying me, smiling as I was tossed from partner to partner, spun around and dizzy as I let the rhythm of the bass rock my body. Twilight had me first, prancing around me as I spun my head to watch her before Applejack yanked me to her. She was much more brash as she danced to the beat, spinning me around and almost knocking me to the floor as she moved. Next was Pinky Pie, who moved so quickly I ended up just sitting there as she bounced from wall to wall around me. I was so dizzy I couldn't even think as I saw everyone take a step back. They all looked at me as I watched Twilight push Fluttershy next to me. She was shaking lightly as she looked into my glowing eyes and made a high-pitched "meep!" I slowly giggled as I decided to slowly dance, taking one of her hoofs with one of my own and humming between beats. She wore a timid exterior through the dance, and dropped out and hid as soon as possible. Rarity took her place and continued the waltz. Smiling at me as I spun her lightly. She was about to get close as the music turned up a notch and Dash lifted me off my feet (literally). She flew back and forth, always in control as I laughed like I was on a roller coaster. Everyone was exited and having fun, joining in the middle of the dance floor as Rainbow Dash let me go.

Dancing like maniacs, we partied until at least three in the morning. The party thinned out until it was just me, Pinky Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash laughing over a bowl of punch. We all yawned as Pinkie turned off the music and led a conga line of only herself out the door and home. Rainbow Dash left next, giggling as her body shook from an overload of dancing and sweet beverages. She took off and tried to fly straight as I heard her curse loudly as she smacked into roof.

As me and Rarity made our way up and to our rooms, we smiled at each other and parted ways. I crashed hard onto my bed, finally tired as I stretched out my wings one last time, then folded them again as I laid my head on my pillow and drifted off.

How long would this last? I didn't know, and I didn't care, but I knew it wouldn't be anytime soon.

END OF ACT 1