The Laws of Life.

Chapter 3: Lifes curve-ball.

Lunch and the rest of the day went smoothly. I was able to talk to Artsy a lot more. Apparently her brother, Crispy Craft, owns Crisp & Cream’s with his marefriend. The reason she was nervous about going is because her brother and father aren’t on the best terms recently. Nothing she could go into detail about, but I respect that. She decides to join us anyways though. So, after the gang meets up, we all head towards the town center. Strolling through the doors into the cafe. “Oh hey!” I hear Crisp call over to us. “Haven’t seen y’all in here in a while.” He stops talking abruptly when he notices Artsy. “Hey Artsy-Craftsy is here too!” He waves to his sister, and she sheepishly smiles.

We take our spot at our normal table, and just talk over the day. Though, it seems a little different now. Spiral and Spinner, twin unicorns that I met in the 4th grade, seem to be off. Spiral speaks up, her tone almost malicious as she speaks to me. “So, how’s the blank flank doing? Still trying to fit in?” Normally it would have been just light teasing. But this seems just mean. Spinner speaks up, his voice also carrying a malicious tone too. “Yeah, I’m surprised they let a blank flank like you into middle school. Should’ve kept you in elementary.” I glare between the two of them. Blitz speaks up before I can though. “What’s wrong with you two? That’s just mean.” They both laugh, and Spiral continues speaking.

“Yeah well, it’s meant to be. We’re just tired of hanging out with a baby blank flank.” She laughs more. “Like you two are ones to talk! You two only recently got your’s.” They both shrug. “So? We still got ours. before middle school.” I want to fight for myself, but Blitz just pushes forward. “God. You wonder why you used to not have any friends? You two are lucky to have somepony as nice as Ink to be your friend.”

“Yeah. Well, maybe we don’t want a blank flanks friendship anymore.” Spinner says. “Yeah. And we definitely don’t need the friendship of a shut in and an adoptee.” Spiral adds.   “Who needs you then? Just leave.” I finally speak out, my tone full of rage and anger. No pony insults my friends. They give me a nearly confused look. “Ha. Look at that sis, the blank flank thinks he can tell us what to do.” Spinner lights up his horn, and pins me to my seat. “Hey. . Lemme go!” They laugh more, and I feel myself start to raise out of my seat. “Not only are you a blank flank, you also can’t even fly yet!” They laugh more and more. But, all of a sudden, I feel myself fall back into my seat.

I see both Spinner and Spiral tapped and a cream brown magic aura. “If you two are going to act like this in my cafe, then you two shouldn’t bother coming back.” I her a mares voice say. And then, both of them are swiftly flung out of the cafe. “Th-thanks. “ I say to the mare. “Oh, it’s no problem. I’ve had some problem with them before. Once I saw them picking on you, I finally had enough. No one should pick on a friend like that. Anyways, I’m Cream. I see you’ve already met my sister in law.” Sister in law? I thought her brother was only dating this mare. Oh well, none of my business. “Thanks again, Cream.” Is all I can say. She gives a smile, and walks away, back to the back area of the cafe.

“I can’t believe those two.” Blitz says. “I don’t see why we were friends for so long.” I give a shrug. “Sometimes, I wonder that too. But I wanted to give them a chance.” I hear Artsy sigh. “Some friends, eh?” She giggles, and me and Blitz laugh. “Yeah. We won’t see them much, so don’t worry.” She nods, and grabs her milkshake, taking a big drink of it. Wait a second, that was my milkshake. “Hey!” She laughs, and sticks her tongue out at me. We continue on like that, laughing and joking around with each other. But, even though we are having so much fun, my mind keeps wandering back to Spinner and Spiral. I knew they could be bad.

We’ve seen them before, and how they would pick on other ponies. Me and Blitz never joined in, but we never stopped them either. But, this time they've crossed the line. We are. . . Were all friends. They knew every line they shouldn’t have crossed, but crossed them anyways. I start to think harder about Spiral and Spinner, ignoring the current conversation with Blitz and Artsy. Sometimes I wish those two would just disappear. Just vanish and leave everypony alone. But, here they stay. I already know that this world is unfair. And unforgiving. But one can wish that there is some form of justice out there.

I shake my head. I hate having those thoughts. I don’t mean to, but I do. “I’m heading home.” I mumble as I set out my bits on the table. I leave in silence as both Blitz and Artsy look at me, both equally confused. I walk down the long dirt road, heading back towards my home. But, instead of heading inside, I continue on words, into the backyard, and up onto the hill. This hill gives the best view of the town. You can see all the way to the edge of the town. But, the other side of the hill views right towards the forest. I reach into my saddle bag and pull out the sketchbook that Verity gifted me. She said to use it to get in more practice. I smile and open up the sketchbook to the first page. I slide the pen out of my bag, and get ready to start drawing out the forest.

“Look Spirall, the blank flank’s in our spot.” Oh no. Why did those two have to show up? I sigh, and turn to face them. “Can’t you two just leave me alone?” I say between the pen. They laugh a little, and come up to me, one on each side. Spiral speaks up. “Oh dear Ink, you really think it would be that easy?” I slide my sketchbook and pen back into my saddle bag, and try to walk away. Unfortunately, they both hold onto my shoulders. “Back off.” I shout to both of them. “No need to be so hostile, Ink.” Spiral continues speaking. I feel both of them give me a shove, making me roll down the hill. Right at the entrance to the forest. “You know, when we dared you to go in here, we thought you would never show up again. That was the plan. To get rid of an annoying little foal.” I glare at them as they finish there walk down the hill.

“Yeah,” Spinner picks up the speaking role now. “But since it didn’t work the first time, maybe it will work the second time.” I laugh at them. “What makes you think it would work this time?” The share an evil glare between themselves. “Because this time, we are going to make sure it works this time.” Spiral speaks with a cold, cruel tone in her voice. I frown. “Really? Is that was this has come to. What ever happened to the times when we were friends?” They both laugh again. “We never thought of you as a friend. Just a tag along, being pulled by our rope. Well, now we are cutting that rope.” I frown more, and finally stand back up again.

“Well. If that’s how it’s going to be, can I at least sketch you two out? Just one last sketch, please?” I plead with them to try and buy some time. Maybe I can devise an escape plan while I draw. “That’s stu-” Spinner starts to speak, but Spiral cuts in. “Fine. Let’s give him his last wish.” I smile and take out my sketchbook and pen again. I open up to the first page. “Feel free to pose if you want.” Spinner just stands there, a solid glare on his face. But Spiral shifts sideways, still facing to me, while she puts her hoof to her chin. I sigh, and start drawing. I keep my eyes level with the two of them. But, as I stare, I start to see something. They both have this. . Aura around them. I think.

It glows, just slightly. I feel myself drawn to looking into that arua as I draw. I start to feel something, a feeling I haven’t felt in a long time. I’m drawing in their emotions. I can feel all of it, happiness, joy, from all the cruelty they have caused. But, as I stare deeper, I start to feel something else. A sadness. Sadness from neglect. Sadness from abuse. I start to see into what life has thrown at them so far.

A mother who is always at work, always too busy to care for, or about, her children. A father who is a belligerent drunk, that constantly beats on them if they don’t listen to him. The bullies they used to face in elementary school, with no pony hearing their cries for help. Each and every bit pours out of them and into me as I draw. I drop the pen, and stare down at my drawing in. There, in black ink, is both of them. Both of them are laying on the ground, bruised and bleeding, trying to shield themselves from the several ponies standing to their side, either laughing, not caring, or raising a hoof to continue beating them. . . I remember this moment now.

The day we met, they were being beat up by some older ponies at school. I stepped in, and made them stop, and Blitz helped. That’s when we became friends. I sniff a little. “Does this really have to be it, you two? Remember the day when we met?” Both of them shake their heads. “No. I don’t” They both say in unison. “Maybe this will remind you, then.” I turn hand over my sketch book, Spirals magical aura taking it from me. They stare at it in silence. Eventually, Spiral rips it out the sketch, and drops my book. “Let’s go. He’s not worth the trouble.” She walks away, leaving her brother and me. Spinner looks up at me. A look of confusion on his face, next to a look of regret. “I’m. . I’m sorry.” He says then runs off to his sister.  Had they really forgotten? Or were they just repressing memories from a darker time.

And, thats when it hits me. They picked on us, not because they hated us, because they felt some ounce of jealousy. They wanted so desperately to be like me, because when they got their cutie marks was the day the got the most attention from their parents. Attention that wasn’t bad. they wanted to be in a new home, like Blitz. A home that they would never leave, like Artsy. Another reason is they picked on us, is because it finally felt good to be on the other end. But, I guess my drawing reminded them of the side they used to be on. I pick up my sketchbook, and a feeling jolts through me. I feel a glowing sensation, a warm one. I look down at my flank and see a inkwell pen start to appear. An inkwell pen resting against a small bottle of ink.

I smile. I finally found the one thing I am best at. Something that separates me from the rest. Something that makes all my other ‘skills’ pale in complexion. . . . Something that is a remnant of what I used to be. My new found talent is just a passive ability that changelings had developed over time. An ability gained through the use of magic. Magic that I could never use. Changeling magic. I let out a long sigh, as I pack up my sketchbook, and head back home. Am I always going to be reminded of what I was? I just want to be a normal pony now. Changeling magic used to forsake me, but then it gave me this new life, and now it’s basically my talent? Changeling magic is a strange and it works in weird ways.