Vapor Trails

Chapter IV: Resolute

The trip home was much more joyous than the one going to Las Pegasus. Cinder was engaging in idle chat with everypony, of which were floating topics. Daisy was sitting comfortably and her big brother’s side, putting in her opinion only when prompted. It seemed that was she was being very in control of herself, which was the antithesis of what she usually was.

My, my, she has grown up.

Cinder laughed at a remark Rainbow made, shaking his head slightly afterwards. He knew she was doing her best to lighten the mood, and it was half way working. Rarity and Applejack were squabbling about something related to fashion, Cloudchaser and Fluttershy were discussing birds, Flitter was chatting with Daisy and Twilight was reading. Cinder’s mind began to wander as he reflected on the past two days’ events.

He closed his eyes, breathed a deep sigh, and cracked a slight smile. While it was extremely traumatic for Cinder & Daisy, they tried to make light of it the best that they could. But a looming thought kept poking at the back of Cinder’s mind.

Now that they were gone, he was Daisy’s only family left and that meant that he was deemed her caregiver. Even though he was her brother, he felt a little nervous bringing her home to Ponyville. She was a strong filly, more than capable of holding her own when it came to arguments, but she wore a fragile heart under her tough exterior. He wondered how she would react to meeting the Cutie Mark Crusaders or Diamond Tiara.

The colt shuddered at that thought, dismissing it completely. He didn’t want his little sister to meet Diamond, because he was almost certain that she would be immediately teased for her lack of a cutie mark. Either way, they had to stand tall and fight through it.

He threw a glance at the clock mounted on the opposite side of the train car.

12:17PM

The train wasn’t due into Ponyville until late tonight, although it might be delayed until tomorrow in case it needed to stop for fuel.

Either way, Cinder was excited to get back to Ponyville anyway. He yawned, stretching his wings and cracking his back, glancing out the train window again. He felt a nuzzle on his neck as his little sister looked up at him, her sky blue eyes full of energy.

He smiled. While his mind was still elsewhere, he was amazed that his baby sister was able to feel cheerful and happy in this dark time of their lives.

So memories were coming to the surface of the young colt’s mind, of a different time in his life.

Ruffling her red mane, he pulled her close without saying a word, letting his wing fall over his sister. This prompted her to snuggle up close and let her eyes fall.

Cinder did the same, slowing slipping away from reality.

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He stirred, and lifted his head from the window sill. It was night, the stars twinkling in the sky. He glanced around, seeing that everypony else was asleep as well. Even the little white filly at his side was gently snoring.

The colt had to fight the temptation off of gently kissing her on her forehead. It was just too cute. He slowly got out of his seat, stretching again. He caught a glance of the clock as he strode for the exit.

9:54PM

He chuckled silently to himself. He’d been out for about 8 hours, and if the train arrived in Ponyville that night, he wouldn’t be able to sleep. He’d be up all night.

As he walked from his car to the next, he looked inside. All the other passengers were sleeping as well. He chuckled and climbed the ladder to the roof of his car. He walked softly, making sure that his hoofs would not wake everypony below him.

Looking along the train, his eyes scanned the Equestria that was flying past him. They were back on the Great Reigns and the night sky didn’t have a cloud in it. Feeling the wind rushing through his black and white mane, he took a breath of fresh night air. He closed his eyes and let his mind wander. Many things had been plaguing his mind recently.

His family, how Daisy would adjust to Ponyville, whether he should tell Flitter it’s time to find a house. After all, the apartment

Cinder was using was already cramped with the two of them in it. It would be hard to accompany Daisy’s energetic lifestyle in such a small space. A house would be a suitable upgrade, and the couple had been saving bits for a while now.

The scenery of the crystal clear night whizzed by, Cinder casting his gaze onto the distant mountains. There was a a dirt grassland on all sides of the train, running resolute on the tracks. He sighed. It was so picturesque.

“Lovely night, isn’t it babe.”

His ear twitched to hear his lover’s voice and hooves drawing slowly closer to him. Her mint green mane was flowing in the night’s breeze, and her eyes seemed to glow with love for her colt. She sat down next to him and gave him a nuzzle on the cheek. Neither pony said anything for a while, soaking in the surreal silence accompanied by the droning of the train as it sped along the tracks.

Flitter was sitting close to Cinder, like always, mostly for warmth, but she could sense the colt needed some comfort as well.

“Do you wanna talk?”

The lavender mare was looking at her coltfriend with an expression of love worn on her face, with hints of concern. Anypony would be concerned for someone who had just lost a loved one, let alone two.

Cinder smiled and opened his eyes, meeting his mare’s gaze. He snorted, continuing to smile.

“What’s there to talk about Flit?”

“You’ve been really quiet since we left. Everything ok?”

She knew everything wasn’t ok. He had a lot to cope with and she could almost immediately tell he was emotionally strung out.

He shook his head slowly, turning to face her. “No everything’s not ok. I’m scared to be honest with you.”

“About what?”

Cinder shrugged. “Daisy is the only family I have left as of now, and I’m concerned how she’s going to adjust to Ponyville life. I just want to make her happy…” his voice trailed off as he spotted a cactus flying by.

The mare nodded in agreement. “I have to agree with you, I’m concerned as well. But not about her. I’m worried about you, babe.

You showed some much emotion when you first got the letter, but now you rarely react to anything. What’s going on?” The mare scooted closer and took her coltfriend’s hoof, her velvety fur brushing against his.

He closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

“I…I just don’t know what to feel Flitter. I feel sad because of my parents, but angry that I couldn’t be there for them. I’m glad that my sister is safe, but frustrated that she has to go through all this…” His voice was stopped by a gentle hoof on his mouth.

“I can understand Cinder. I lost my mom when I was just a foal. It felt horrible, like something had sucked the life out of me and I needed my friends to help me through it. That’s what we’re here for.”

He caught her by surprise with a tight hug, his head draped over her back. Flitter swore she caught wind of a sniffle, but she returned the embrace, holding him close as the rise and fall of his chest comforted her, prompting her to nuzzle.

“Thank you Flitt, for everything. I love you,” he said, leaning in for a kiss while still holding her hoof.

“I love you too, and never forget that,” she replied returning his kiss. The two sat there in silent embrace for a short time.

“There is... one more thing I need to ask you,” he added nuzzling his mare. “I’ve been thinking. The apartment we have is getting a bit cramped now that you and I are living together, and I think it’s time we upgrade.

A surge of energy went through the mare as her eyes seemed to light up. Her eyes seemed to light up with enthusiasm as her mind chewed over what her coltfriend had said. He was right. They needed to find a house if Daisy was going to live with them.

Cinder chuckled as the returned their attention to the fast moving landscape as it passed them. It was whirling past them at an alarming rate, a constant plume of smoke above their heads. It almost looked like something out of an artists’ depiction of beauty.

Cinder had always loved the night and darkness, because he found comfort in it. Flitter didn’t fully understand, but she tried her best.

Not responding verbally to his thought, she nodded and hugged him again.

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The two had no idea what time it was, all they knew was that Luna’s moon was high in the sky, and there were still no clouds to be found. They continued to sit, talking about small things for the most part: errands they had to run when they got back to town, how Daisy would adjust and just life in general. It was small talk really, anything to do to pass the hours.

It was 12:16AM the next time Cinder left to check the clock, and both ponies were wide awake. They knew that they were going to be up for the entire night, which would throw off their internal clocks. It didn’t bother the colt as much; he was used to staying into the early hours of the morning.

Looking around, he allowed his mind to wander yet again, thoughts coming and passing like herds of buffalo. He felt a yawn coming on, and couldn't stop it. This caused Flitter to giggle.

“Tired?”

The colt nodded.

“Let’s go down and get some rest. We have a big day ahead of us”

The colt didn’t say anything in return, rather smiled and got up, Flitter close behind him. They walked into the car, everypony else was still asleep. Coming to their seat, Daisy Flare was still quietly snoring, curled up in a little white ball. It was adorable to say the least. Flitter had to stifle a chuckle as to not wake everypony up. They hopped up onto their seat, Flitter curling up after giving Cinder a kiss. It took the young colt a couple minutes to get comfortable, for his mind was still moving. All the thoughts and emotions that were brought up in the last two days were suddenly coming to fruition. Now all that was running through Cinder’s mind was how he was planning on getting through it.

I know I did the right thing, he mused feeling a shuffle as Daisy felt for Cinder. But why does it feel like I’m missing something…

He eyed the still sealed letter that Rainchaser had given him, tempted to open it then and there. But, he refused to do so. He made a promise to the coroner that he would not open it until he and Daisy were in Ponyville. And that was one he had to keep. His mind continued to wander as he felt his body grow heavy.

Maybe all this happened for a reason. It sounds horrible, but maybe it was just supposed to happen. I don’t know what’s in that envelope, but we’ll find out tomorrow.

He used the term tomorrow loosely, as it was 12-something in the morning, so technically it already was tomorrow. He shook his head, dismissing the thought. The young colt’s body grew heavier, as his eyes were beginning to slip shut. The thing he remembered before he fell asleep was a nuzzle from Daisy, as she repositioned herself close to her brother, his wing falling around the filly. Darkness fell as he slipped from reality.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

He opened his eyes to see a familiar sight. Princess Luna was off to his right, a warm smile on her face, but with flashes of concern. Her gentle eyes greeted the ash colored colt’s, a smile spreading across his muzzle.

“We meet again, Princess.”

The dark mare nodded, closing her eyes. “Indeed, but here call me Luna. I am in your dreams after all.” She reached out with one of her hooves, gently touching the colt under his chin.

“How are you coping child? I saw much pain in you when you first slept. I didn’t visit because I didn’t wish to disturb you. You seemed damaged enough at that point.

Cinder looked down at the fluffy clouds they were standing on. She was right. He had felt emotionally damaged at that period of time, his heart numb from the intense pain.

“I feel much better now Luna, now that Daisy is with me. She and I have had each other to lean on recently.”

Luna nodded. “I can understand, child. Loosing somepony who is close to you is never easy.” She shuddered slightly as old memories resurfaced.

“Does it ever get easier?” Luna lowered her head, nuzzling Cinder on his cheek.

“No,” she said bluntly. “There will always be trials in a pony’s life, some bigger than others. To overcome these trials, now that’s a show of true resilience.” She smiled, beckoning the colt to walk with her.

They walked along the cloudy landscape for a few moments in silence, before Luna’s gentle voice broke.

“Have you thought as to what are the contents of that letter, Cinder?” The colt gave her a quizzical look, his mind snapping when he realized what she was talking about.

He closed his eyes and bent his head down. “Honestly Luna, I don’t want to. I know it’s going to be emotional for me and Daisy when we open it, and I’m not ready for that yet. A pony’s heart can only take so much pain…” His voice trailed off. Glancing at the princess, her smile was still present, eyes beaming in the soft light.

Luna nodded. “Fair enough young one. Your friends are also there for you when you need them. Trust me when I say that they will be a great asset to helping you get through this.”

Cinder smiled, nuzzling the Princess as the dream world started to fade, his shoulder and neck beginning to ache.

“Remember child,” her voice echoed across his conscience. “Experience is what you get, when you don’t get what you want.”

The world fading faster now, he closed his eyes, ready to greet the real world.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

His eyes slowly slid open, to be greeted by a tiny white filly, her blue eyes wide with excitement.

“Wake up wake up bro! We’re almost there!” She hopped off of him, rubbing his eyes and stretching his wings.

He glanced at the clock.

8:46AM

The train was due at 9 in Ponyville, which meant they had stopped for fuel. Daisy was darting around the train car, chatting with the other ponies. Twilight was fascinated with the filly’s energy, asking casual questions, which were met with a simple nod of shake of the head. Her big eyes were wide with wonder, always eager to explore and learn.

The young colt smiled & chuckled at his younger sister, as she flew around the train car for Rainbow, who was scrutinizing her wings, body posture and other aspects. Landing in front of the cyan mare, her mouth wide open in a huge smile, eager to hear her input.

“Well squirt, I can say you definitely take after your brother,” she said. “However, has anypony ever taught you how to preen your wings?”

The filly blushed, and pawed at the train floor with her hoof.

“No not really. Big bro & Dad used to do that for me, I guess I never learned how to myself,” she responded with a giggle. Rainbow’s picked up movement from Cinder, as he hopped off his seat and sauntered over to the pair.

“Morning sleepyhead,” she said with a playful wink at the colt.

The other mares caught Cinder’s eyes as well, who was met with warm grins and smiles.

“Hiya girls, what’s up?”

Twilight stepped forward, her bright purple eyes meeting his. “Heh, we were just chatting with your sister. She’s quite the energetic one...”

“And a good flyer at that!” That remark caused the filly to blush. Rarity stepped forward, batting her eyes twice at the colt.

“Darling I must say, as a friend, you look irresistibly cute with your mane that length.”

“Ah’ll say,” piped up Applejack.

He blushed, running a hoof through his mane. He allowed it to grow out, long enough that it was allowed to flow in the breeze.

“Thanks girls, but I think I need to get it cut when we get back home.”

Rarity nodded and raised an eyebrow. “Oh of course! I might suggest keeping the length and have it tidied up just a bit.

“I agree Rarity. He’s quite the handsome colt,” a voice added. He turned his head to see Flitter hopping off the seat as well, joining in the conversation.

His blushed deepened as the mares shared a collective giggle, as Flitter came to his side and nuzzled him.

Their antics stopped when the conductor came into the car.

“We’re approaching Ponyville. Please take your seats.” He then exited.

The group proceeded to do as instructed, Daisy joining Cinder and Flitter. To add, she jumped on his head, looking out the window. He cast an annoyed look at his sister, who stuck her tongue out as a retort. The siblings giggled as the train entered Ponyville station.

The colt glanced out the window at the gleaming town, ponies casually walking every which way.

He smiled and plucked his little sister off his head

“Welcome home, sis.”