Chapters Hard To Live, Easy To Die.
Chapter 1: Hard To Live, Easy To Die.
Clouds. I could stare at them all day if I had the kind of time. They flow in whatever direction they wish. They have the one thing I wish I could ultimately have; freedom. Clouds exist in their own world where the sky is their habitat and there are no limits. . . No worries. The blue sky, being lonely itself, fills its void with clouds, being its only friends. They're lucky. They don't have to face the challenges we humans face. They don't need to worry about food, clothes, shelter, or water. That's what's wrong with today's society. We always say those things are needs, but without any money, they're merely wants.
The economy has taken its toll on my father and I. We've had to pawn most of our possessions just to eat. While I am 18, I've only had one job. It seems like the only way most people can get a job these days are through relations. Ironic how my name is Jesse, Hebrew for rich, which I am not.
While lack of funds is my first issue in my life, being lonely is next. I've had many loves in my life, which of all failed miserably. At this point, I've been left hollow on the inside; drained off all my emotions for the opposite sex. Tough I haven't officially given up, I don't try. Of course I have amazing friends in my life who care about me and support me, but I feel they can never give me what I truly want in life.
If I had to compare my mind to anything, it would be like the Earth. From within the atmosphere I'm a complete emotional mess. Rains of depression here and winds of hardship there. But from space, the outside, I seem like a perfectly normal day in life, which is the case. Most people see me as a pretty outgoing guy, but few of them actually know the storms that brew within me.
Lastly, I have no regrets in my life. For me, regretting my past just means that I'm not thankful for the present. And because I have no regrets, I have no fear of death, but I'm not suicidal.
At this moment I snap back into attention after staring into space for a few moments. Nature always soothes my body and makes me forget things. Currently I'm making my down Tropicana to our local Smiths to pick up some things for me and my dad. It's a typical warm day and I usually wear skinny jeans with band shirts. Today was no different.
Dirt and rocks crunch under my high top boots as I make my way up the dirt lot that coexists next to the shopping center. I take in a deep breathe and shove my hands into my pockets, situating them on top of my phone and keys. Cocking my head back, I stare into the sky while warm air breezes run across my face. I'm envious of those clouds, If only I could one day enjoy their experience, or to even fly among them one day. But I would probably just fall and hit the ground we call reality.
Cars whiz by faster and faster every moment I'm stuck within my dazed cloud stupor. When I finally reach where the sidewalk meets dirt, my attention is brought back. and I carefully make my way across the parking lot to the store entrance.
If I didn't live so close to the store, I wouldn't have picked up more than I have, but the details aren't important. I can't wait to get home and nap after the 2 mile walk, especially since I have a few bags to carry. My inspiration usually comes fourth when I'm alone in the dark. The lonely feeling the darkness gives me helps me understand things in my life sometimes. If humans didn't have to sleep, I'd still do it just to think.
As I make my way down Tropicana and turn onto Grand Canyon, I focus my eyes on the mountains in the distance. Mount Charleston seems close, yet when you take a visit, it takes hours to get there. Funny thing is, even though it's warm down here in Vegas, Mount Charleston has snow.
It's only snowed in Vegas 4 times since I've been born. It's easy to say I love snow, but I don't see enough of it, not as much as I'd like to anyway. One time, when me and my father took a drive up there, snow covered every inch up there. I had him stop the car in the middle of nowhere, just so I could take a 20 minute walk within the snow. It was peaceful, and the first time I've ever felt so peaceful and relaxed. Of course it didn't last long since as some point I had to turn back.
I'm almost home. One more block and one long stretch of side walk and I'm there. I rearrange my bags within my hands and wait at the corner. The cross streets don't have any lights, just stop signs, so I have to wait for my turn just like everyone else. I take one last check within my bags to make sure I have everything, I don't wanna go though this intersection 4 times in one day. I shudder in surprise when the car next to me beeps, implying that I should go already. I grasp my bags and walk out into the street.
The screech of rubber on road squeal from my right. I turn my head to glimpse what would be the last possible second of my existence. A loud thud, then bones shattering and cracking, and my breathe escapes my lungs before I could even make a sound. My head slams into the ground and blood oozes from my skull, and darkness set in.
“It's over,” is my last thought at the moment. My whole world is dark, never did I feel as lonely I am now. Shouts are the only thing I can hear. Things like “Are you okay?” and “Someone call 911,” are the only things I can make out. I force my eyes open, even though dizziness is my current state. Somehow everything changes. My whole body is cold and numb, my eyes can only make out darkness, faint faces, and what I can only make out as small, white, dust-like particles; and the shouts of people change.
“Everypony get him inside, Now!” I hear before my eyes close and I slip into darkness again.
Chapter 2: Ponyville Triage.
My personal world existence in quietness seems to last forever. I can't see anything, hear anything, feel anything, nor smell or taste anything. My thoughts are the only thing that keep me company. I wasn't afraid to die before the accident, but now I want nothing more but to escape this hell.
Time passed slowly for me and insanity crept its way into my head. The only thing I can do is search for something to feel; to sense. I finally get my wish when my body begins to slowly bring back its ability to feel. Numbness surrounded my body but I could still sense it. My body remains still as I open my eyes slowly. Everything is fuzzy and blurry at first. The first thing I see is a candle lit lamp hung upon a black, metal pole standing across the room, giving everything a dull light.
“He's awake!” I hear a woman shout to my left. A person's, or creature's, face appears in front of me. A cold sweat washes over me when I realize she's not human. She's obviously a nurse of some sort, considering she has a first aid symbol on her uniformed hat. Her skin, a pale white, confuses me, her large blue eyes surprise me, and her light pink hair, set back in a bun, somehow soothe me.
“Are you okay? Say something,” the nurse whispers to me, placing her hand on my arm, except; it didn't feel like a hand at all.
“I . . W-where am I?” I say weakly, my voice cracking.
“You're in Ponyville,” she runs a clothe over my forehead.
“Ponyvi-” I am interrupted by another voice.
“We found his I.D within his jacket, nurse.” a male voice announces.
“What's his name?” the nurse looks away from me to my right.
“Sun Shower.” he answers.
“You're going to be okay Sun Shower,” she says, looking back down to me.
“Whose Sun Shower?” I whisper.
She looks away from me to my left again. “I think he's still dazed, possible suffering from amnesia.”
“Maybe he hit his head on something?”
“Hmmmm,” she looks at me and I feel something come in contact with my head and run through my hair slowly. “He doesn't have any swellings, so I doubt it.” she finished.
“Ah, well. He was out could when we found him, and it's been a few days.” I hear him say as I hear foot steps leaving the room.
The nurse's face leaves my vision, and as she does this, I notice that I'm not in a room, I'm actually inside a tent. I try to turn my head but pain surges through my body, so I decide to stay still. I close my eyes and allow myself to calm down in order to assess my situation.
“Sun Shower,” The nurses voice disturbs my thinking. “You may not remember, but Royal Guards found you outside the parameter of Ponyville buried in 3 feet of snow. You always froze to death, if we didn't find you as soon as we did, you have have died from hypothermia. It says here you're from. . . Las Pegasus?”
Everything she says is confusing me. Snow? Ponyville? Las Pegasus?
“No, I live in Las Vegas.” I confirm.
“No, Sun. It's Las Pegasus.” she assures.
“My name is not Sun. Stop calling me that.” I demand.
“That's not what your identification says.”
“I don't even have an I.D! Look, I shouldn't even be alive. I-” I realize at that moment that I shouldn't be alive at all. Not from what happened to me. “. . .Shouldn't even be alive.”
I turn my head to the right, ignoring the pain I experience. There are more beds to my right, I figure I must be in some kind of triage. But why a triage? I should be in a hospital. I roll my body over and fall off the bed and hit the dirt ground in a thud. My bodies numbness takes over so I don't feel much. I attempt to stand by first lifting myself with my arms thus getting on my legs.
I lift my head up, my eyes slowly make their way up to what I see is a mirror. There stands a horse, but smaller. The horse has white mane, as white as clouds, Blue mane as light as the sky, and yellow streaks as bright as the sun. This confuses me because of how unnatural that is. As I move towards the mirror, I see the horse move as well.
“What the. . .” I whisper to myself.
I left my right arm and so does the reflection.
“When. . .How. . .Who??”
The nurse stands next to me. I notice that her muzzle is smaller and skinnier than the other horse's is. I turn towards her and notice the tattoo she has sketched onto her right flank.
“Why am I a horse? Why do you have a tattoo? How can you speak, especially English?” I ask frantically.
She turns her head toward me, lifting her right arm to point at her flank.
“We're ponies, Sun and this is my cutie mark, silly. I am a nurse after all. Also, we've been able to speak since the beginning of time,” she giggles.
“A what?” I ask, my eye brow raising to such a silly statement.
“A cutie mark. You really did suffer some kind of memory loss, didn't you? A cutie mark represents what you're good at and it's a part of who you are,” she smiles proudly and raises her arm to point behind me. “You have one too of course.”
I turn my body to the side and look at my reflection in the mirror. I somehow have a tattoo, or a cutie mark, on my flank as well. A white cloud with rain drops is marked upon my body.
“I don't understand. When did I get this? How is the cloud white if there's rain?” I ask, rubbing at the mark with what I now have as a hand.
“You probably got it when you were a young colt and I don't know what it means. That's something you'd know.” she tells me.
“Wait. . .” I notice in my reflection that I have wings. I look closer at the side of my body and see them just sitting there. “I'm a Pegasus?”
“Okay, now you're just being clueless.” she coldly states.
My first response is to move them, and as I think of this, they spread out behind me.
“Whoa, that's kinda cool,” I say to myself.
“Now that you've 'discovered' yourself, you should get back in bed and rest some more.” she demands of me.
I look to the opening of the tent that's thirty feet away. “No, I wanna go try something.” I make my way to the exit, hoping that with my new found wings, I could fly, something I've always wanted to do and can finally achieve.
“I advice against that, Sun.” she runs up in front of me but I swiftly move around her and keep going.
“I don't see why,” I say. The whistles of wind leaked through the tents exit. No light came in so I assume it's night time. I open up the tent and I'm instantly pushed back by the strong force of cold winds. Snow fly's into the tent as I cover my face with my arm. I push my way outside and examine the area.
Darkness stretches out. Wind and snow furiously ravage everything. Buildings are destroyed and their remains are covered in snow. The only light that made anything visible is the light from the moon that penetrated the gray storm clouds above. Cold air stings my face and body with a thousand tiny prickles. Tents are lined up on both sides of the one I'm in now, ranging in sizes and shapes. Snow covered much of the land and dead trees, forming hills in certain spots.
The nurse comes up next to me, pushing me back inside, and closes the tent securely.
“That's why,” she says as she puts her hands, well; hooves, on my chest to prevent me from trying again.
Chapter 3: Doctor Who?
“You can't leave the tent, Sun. Not yet anyway. You need to eat and stay warm,” she warns me.
I don't wanna stay inside, but I figure I could at least have something to eat and sneak out later when she retires to where ever she sleeps; whenever she sleeps.
“Fine,” I mutter.
I turn around, my body shivering and aching from sudden chills from the outside weather. I lay in bed and cover myself within the blankets I am provided with - leaving my forearms out. Warmness surrounds me and comfort relaxes my body and mind. Maybe I won't sneak out after all, but I'm still curious as to why I'm forced to stay within a tent. Surely they have some kind of hospital in this community.
The nurse comes to my side, tucking the blankets under my body securely, and sets up a metal plating that slides up from the side of the bed and over my body to serve as a table. A heavily clothed pony then comes in through the tent's opening with a metallic tray – closing the tent behind them – that floats within mid air, surrounded by a dull, opaque lighting.
“What the. . .” I whisper to myself, watching the juggernaut clothed pony approach me, setting the tray down in front of me. I instantly notice another light source, similar to the one surrounding the tray, coming from what looks like a slender growth on top of their forehead. They light disappears and the pony turns and exits. I take a few moments to think about what I just saw then look at what I had just received.
“Apples and hay,” the nurse informs me.
Obviously the knock off hospital would have nothing better than simple foods, but I can't complain. I lift my right hoof to grasp the apple and take a bite, chewing slowly to what I knew would be an average taste.
After I finish my meal, the nurse comes and takes the tray away, repositioning the table-like metal slab to the side of my bed. She then tells me that she's going to go to sleep and that the replacement nurse would arrive shortly. This is my chance to sneak away and find out where I really am. Once she leaves, I roll out off the right side of my bed – the edge of the metal tray cuts into my left leg just above my cutie mark – and I quickly stand and cringe to the stinging sensation. I ignore the cut completely and focus on my current task.
I know how cold and harsh it is outside, so I must find the clothing they found me in first. I obviously had heavy clothing and an I.D like everyone else, I just need to know where it is. I look to my left and scan slowly from left to right. Nothing but desks, medical supplies, and machinery that obviously have no function. I stop when I spot a tall, metallic box big enough to block a doorway. My stuff had to be in there. I run over to it and pull it open. Jackets, helmets, goggles, shirts, pants, vests, socks, and shoes in all colors and sizes tumble out and scatter onto the floor. I dig through the pile and notice that every article of clothing had a medical first aid symbol on it. I discard those to my side, picking out every thing within the pile until I come upon pieces of clothing. Turning them over and examining them, I confirm they belong to me when I realize that each clothe has my cutie mark imprinted on them.
Quickly, I put each piece on in layers. It's a very heavy suit, I literally felt like I was a juggernaut suiting up to go off into battle. I debate whether I should find my I.D but I'll be back so It doesn't matter to me right now.
I brave my way out into the wind and snow. Every movement was a battle to push forward, with both the suit and wind and what not. My goggles are the only thing allowing me to see, keeping the blistering cold from freezing my eyes shut. As I journey farther from the tent, darkness engulfs me, and the only thing visible to me is what's five feet in front of me. The wind pushes me back and I struggle to keep my balance.
I search every direction for anyone else, all I see are ravaged buildings covered in snow. In the middle of nowhere, I stop to look around. I've always loved snow so much, to me it was always peaceful and quiet, but now it stings and destroys. My eyes cringe in confusion and slight sadness but I push on.
Buildings now became more common. Everyone of them toppled over and buried. Homes and storefronts are now piles of trash hidden by white masses. Furniture thrown about here and there. A tall round building stands tall in the middle, half of it on the ground while the other half struggles to stay up right, and in front of that; a stone statue as tall as three grown men stood tall, covered in snow and frost.
When I come up to the statue, I wipe the frost off my goggles to get a better look. Six ponies stood tall with an inscription engraved in gold. I life my hoof and rub the snow away, letting it fly off into the distance. I squint my eyes and slowly read to myself what's been written.
“Rainbow Dash – The Loyal. Apple Jack – The Honest. Rarity – The Generous. Fluttershy – The Kind. Pinkie Pie – The Laughter. Twilight – The Magical. We shall remember them for their courageous act and sacrifice they made to our community. Though there efforts where in vein, their memory lives on in us.”
I don't understand. What sacrifice? Who are these ponies?
“They sure did sacrifice a lot for us!” I hear shouted next to me which startles me, causing me to whip my head to my right.
A male pony with dark clothing and an hour glass cutie mark symbolized on his attire stood there, staring up at the faces of the statue.
“What happened!?” I ask him.
He didn't look at me. “Nightmare Moon happened!” He said.
“Who!?”
“Nightmare Moon. You must be new here so let me explain. About a month ago. Nightmare Moon returned from being trapped in the moon to bring darkness to all of the Equestria forever. Well, she succeeded and these six brave mares failed. Nightmare Moon used her practiced magic to trap our princess – Princess Celestia – within the sun. At first everything was fine, but nights grew colder and colder and now, snow and wind attack us twenty-four seven. Buildings and crops were destroyed. We can't rebuild because we don't have the time just to sit out here, and the unicorns refuse to help us, they're too busy with Canterlot. The Pegasi are powerless and can't control the storm at all, lucky for them they live above it all in Cloudsdale. Lucky them,” he explains to me.
“You're kidding, right?”
“I wish I were.”
“And who are you?”
“The names Doctor.”
“Doctor what?”
“Doctor Whooves.”
“What are you doing out here in the first place?”
“Not like I have anywhere to be. Besides, I have time.”
“Shouldn't you be in the triage helping others or something?”
“I'm not a literal doctor.”
Apparently anyone can get the name “Doctor” without actually having a medical degree.
I don't say anything else and turn my head back to the statue. The whistling of the wind in my ears fills the silence between us. I feel very awkward at this point, not knowing what to say.
“What's your name?” he breaks the silence and looks at me.
I look at him and tell him,“Oh um, Jes- I mean, Sun Shower.”
I don't think my real name would make much sense to them at this point.
“Ah, Okay. Well, I'll be seeing you around Sun Shower. Can I just call you Sunny?”
Before I can answer, he nods and walks off beyond my vision, fading away into the night of darkness and snow. Nothing but me and the sound of wind funneling its way past my ears to create a deafening squeal that even my thoughts can't surpass. I look up to the sky and suppress tears that start to form in my eyes. I don't know why I feel like this, maybe because I was all alone in the darkness, in the cold – alone in the snow that now caused so much destruction in this once, probably, peaceful village by the very thing I myself once found peace within.
I have so many questions. How did I go from being hit by a car being stuck here? Why is my cutie mark a raining white cloud? When did something so peaceful become so destructive? That makes no sense. I mean, I like the dark, but not like this.
Snow begins piling up on my goggles so I reach up to wipe it off. I take one more glance at the honorable statue and begin my trek back to the camp site. Only problem is, I don't know where that is. Every foot step I took so far is now covered up under another layer of snow.
The Quiet, And The Not So Quiet.
Chapter 3: The Quiet, And The Not So Quiet.
Okay, I can admit it. I'm lost. Maybe I'll just go in the general direction where I believe I came from. So, I do. It doesn't take me long until I find my way out of the monopoly of carnage and rubble. Returning to the triage is not an option for me, I refuse to go back, and I must know more about Ponyville, Nightmare Moon, and the one they call Celestia.
My energy is soon depleted and now I'm relying on my will to carry me on. They found me once, maybe they can do it again, but I'm not willing to take the chance. A faint light comes into view, as if a sprite were mocking me in the distance, letting me know of its existence but not its form. I lower my head and continue on, stumbling here and there. As I get closer, the dark silhouette of a light orange-lit tent comes faded in from black.
I'm finally 10 feet away from the tent when a head pops out and calls to me but is blocked out from the howling wind. A hoof comes out from within the tent and motions for me to come in quickly. I use whatever energy I have left to trot to safety and warmth. When I'm 3 feet away, the tent entrance is brought apart. I jump into the tent, landing just on the other side, and take deep breathes, gasping for air. I would have passed out right there on the floor if I wasn't being helped up.
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” I repeat over and over in vague whispers in between breathes.
“You're welcome,” a female voice whispers in my ear.
I feel my body become lighter as I realize she started helping me out of my suit. First I take off my goggles and then my helmet, setting them carefully on the floor next to the jacket she had helped me out of me.
“How do you feel?” she asks me.
Turning my head to her, I see the first joyful thing since I've been here. A light cream colored pony stares at me with huge blue eyes and a generous smile.
“Oh, I'm fine,” I say when I break out of my mini trance. “Just, fine.”
“Oh, that's good. I'm glad you're okay. I'm also glad you came, I was feeling sorta lonely since Lyra left.” she tells me, rubbing off the snow in my hair with her hoof.
“Lyra?” I ask.
“Don't worry about it right now, she'll be back, and when she arrived, I'll introduce you.”
“Eh. . . Okay, I guess.”
“So are you new here?” she asks, skipping happily over to a brown couch made for three, possibly four. The tent was larger than I expected from seeing just the front view. Next to the couch sat a book shelf with plenty of books, and next to that, a wooden desk with stacks of paper and quills. It looked like they lived there, as if they moved everything from their home into that tent.
“Yeah, I'm new,” I reply.
“Well, I'm Bon Bon, come take a seat,” she says – smiling – and pats the seat next to her.
To me it was obvious she was french, she did have velvet hair with a pink french curl. Not that I knew about womens hair styles and what not. Slowly I walked to the couch, turns around, pushes off the ground with my forearm and found myself falling back onto the couch. I instantly felt comfortable, more comfortable on this couch then the hospital bed. Typical.
The comfort and warmth I felt distracted me from answering her.
“Oh, Sun Shower is, apparently, what I'm called.”
“Ooooh. I really like that name. I feel I've met you before, but I couldn't have, you're obviously knew. I really am happy you came, although it may have been awful for you to be out there alone like that. I feel terrible that I didn't see you sooner. I also feel hungry, I wonder when Lyra will be back. Are you hungry?” she blabbered on, keeping her hooves in her lap, and smiling at me the whole time.
Silence falls between us for a second before I realize she stopped talking.
“-Yeah, I am,” I answer.
“Good. I think Lyra should be back soon with food. We can always give you some. Are you okay? I feel like you're confused. I mean, that's okay if you are. You look like you were out there for awhile. Where are you from by the way? I swear I feel like I've met you before. Oh, and what's your special talent?” she stopped, looking at my cutie mark. I'm kind of annoyed at this point. All she talked about was how she felt and asked me questions that I don't even know.
I try to play off her questions by pointing at her cutie mark. “Candy?”
“Bon Bon's.” She says, “french for 'candy'.”
Real original I guess.
“Hey, you never answered my question! You're trying to hide something, I can feel it,” she says suspiciously, looking at me like I've stolen something.
“I-”
I'm interrupted by the sounds of foot steps and the crunching of snow.
“Here she is.” Bon Bon says as she turns her head to the opening.
A new pony comes in. Bags float mid-air, shrouded by a light blue glow. The bags are set down upon the desk and the pony undresses. It's a light blue female with a – harp? - cutie mark. A horn-like feature jutted out from her light blue spiked hair.
The pony; Lyra, smiles at Bon Bon then the smile fades into a death glare to me. As if I had no business being here, which I probably didn't.
“Lyra, meet Sun Shower. Sun Shower, meet Lyra Heartstrings.” she says, switching her glance to both of us.
“Uh, hi?” I say.
She doesn't reply and just nods to me, showing me no real sign of recognition as a person. Lyra turns away. The blue glow appears over her head and around the bags. She then scavenges through them, taking out apples and hay.
“She's a quiet one, she is,” Bon Bon giggles and whispers to me. “I'm glad you're back Lyra. I missed you a lot. I hope you're trip went well.”
Lyra looks to her, smiles, and nods. She takes out a place, placing an apple and hay on it, sending it over to Bon Bon with the magical blue glow.
“How is she doing that?” I ask, realizing how stupid of a question that must sound.
“She's a unicorn, silly. She can use magic,” she says.
Well that makes more sense. I know what a unicorn is, but it never occurred to me until now.
“Oh, yeah,” I say, rubbing the back of my head.
Bon Bon picks up her plate and munches on the hay.
“Hey, may I have some?” I ask, looking at Lyra, who completely ignores me. My irritation is brought back by how rude that is.
“Lyra, be a dear and give our guest something to eat?” Bon Bon mumbles with food in her mouth.
Lyra quickly and lazily throws together a quick meal of an apple and hay, floating it over to me, and letting it fall onto my lap.
“Yeah. . .Thanks. . .” I say. My eyes narrowed as my irritation grew. I hear snicker and then glare back at me.
“Why you-”
“So how do you feel?” Bon Bon interrupts me just before I burst with annoyance.
I turn my head to her. “Like I said before, I'm fine.”
“No, I meant; how do you feel in general.”
“I, Uh. Kinda confused I suppose.”
“About what? I feel confused a lot, I don't know why. Then again, the only time you're ever confused is when you think about things that don't make sense, then my head starts to hurt. Anyway, just tell me how you feel. About why you're confused, and anything else you can think of.”
Is she some kind of psychiatrist? She is really, really annoying me at this point.
“I'm just, lost, Okay? Nothing more to it.” I grumble.
“Oh, come on. Be honest with your feelings. You can tell me anything. I feel like we can be really close friends,” she continues.
My arms tense as I try to relax. I feel like I'm being examined is what I feel.
“You don't trust me, do you?” she asks.
I can't take it anymore. She won't stop talking!
“Look! I've only been here for at least an hour and a half and I'm confused, annoyed, and cold. I don't know what's going on, I don't know anyone here, I don't even know who I am, as a pony. I just wanna go back where I came from for good- and no I'm not talking about anywhere in this country, So don't bother asking. I mean really, you've been blabbing on and on ever since I got here. You wanna know how I feel? I feel angry and confused! Simple as that,” I say, crossing my arms and leaning back into the couch. I can sense the hate emanating from Lyra from what I just said to Bon Bon.
I hear a giggle, something I didn't expect coming from Bon Bon.
“I'm glad you shared that. I won't ask you where you're from but please, if you have any questions, just ask.” she says, smiling at me, happy with the fact she got me to open up.
Are you kidding me. . . I sigh, relax, and sit back up.
“Okay. . . I have a few. Who's Nightmare Moon? Who's Princess Celestia? Who's Doctor Whooves? And what happened specifically to the ponies on that statue in town?”
Her smile fades as her lead lowers. She rubs her hooves together and takes a deep breathe.
“A month ago, we were welcoming Princess Celestia to Ponyville. Princess Celestia is – was – our princess. She raised the sun and ruled over Equestria. At least until she went missing a month ago at the festival. When Celestia was supposed to be introduced, she never showed up. Instead, Nightmare Moon appeared, but none of us knew who she was except for Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle and the other five ponies on the statue supposedly ventured off to stop Nightmare Moon. Oh, Nightmare Moon, she used to be the princess that raised the moon, but apparently she didn't like how things were and Celestia sent her to the moon,” Bon Bon shrugged. Lyra stands facing us, munching on an apple and listening to the story. “Her name was Princess Luna. Anyway. Nightmare Moon swore to bring darkness to Equestria forever. The six ponies tried to stop her, but failed.”
“So are they. . . you know. . . dead?” I ask.
“Unfortunately, yes. No one knows how they were killed. Their bodies were found in some sort of temple where the Elements of Harmony were supposedly hidden. They failed to stop Nightmare Moon, and now we live in darkness. Everyone is suffering from the cold, even the Pegasi. Even though they live above the mess, they still have the cold to deal with. The Unicorns are too busy up in Canterlot to give much thought to us. We're mostly Earth ponies, but there are a few Pegasi and Unicorns here and there who decided to stay. And Doctor Whooves, I'm not sure. He's just another resident.” She finishes. “I feel bad for spike though. . .” she whispers.
“Whose spike?” I ask.
“Twilight's assistant. He's a baby dragon. I don't know what happened to him, I think he went back to Canterlot.” she says.
“Oh. . . I see. That sucks for him.”
“Yeah. . .” she says, then looks at me and smiles.
“I'm glad I was able to help you out though and I'm glad I met you.”
That statement amazes me more than anything. She finds things to appreciate even after all of this, and on top of that, she isn't afraid to share her feelings, even with a complete stranger. I feel like she has no regrets about any of this, like living in this tent with Lyra and meeting me is everything to her now and nothing in the past matters. Just like me.
“Yeah, thanks.” I say.
I look at Lyra and nod. “Thanks for the meal as well.”
Lyra just shrugs and finishes her apple. She picks up the empty plate on Bon Bon's lap and shoves it into a plastic bag filled with other trash. Either she's rude, or Bon Bon's slave. Maybe Both.
“So. . . “ I think of something to say. “How do you both sleep here if you only have a couch?”
Bon Bon giggles and blushes. “Well, you know. When you only have one couch and the only way to keep warm is huddle together. . .”
“- I don't wanna know.” I interrupt.
Chapter 4: Hate, Music, And Faith.
“Bon Bon? Lyra?” I hear a female new female voice call from outside.
“Another there?” another unrecognized voice appears.
My eyes shift vaguely to the entrance.
“Come on in,” Bon Bon says, hopping off the couch. As Bon Bon approaches the entrance, the soft blue glow of Lyra's magic engulfs the zipper, pulling it up slowly to prevent the plastic fabrication from ripping. Cold air blasts threw, creating a high-pitched howling whistle.
Two sentient slowly make their way in, nodding to Bon Bon, who now stands next to the gaping hole, ready to close it at moments notice – and Lyra, who stands patiently awaiting for what they have to say. The pony on the right is obviously a unicorn while the other is a – what Bon Bon calls – an Earth pony. The Unicorn's suit is different. Instead of the standard jet black suit that everyone else had, hers is white, with a double eighth note cutie mark. The Earth Ponie's suit is the standard black with a treble cleft cutie mark. Being a musician myself, I want to know more about the two.
“What do you need?” Bon Bon asks, closing the wind tunnel behind them.
The unicorn speaks first, glancing at me then to Bon Bon. “We're wondering if you have a spare generator for us too use. Ours short circuited.”
“Lemme guess, playing with your equipment again?” Bon Bon asks coyly.
The Earth Pony takes her turn to speak as she raises her hoof to theb ack of her head, rubbing the back of her helmet as if her head were exposed.
“Well, you know. . .” she says. I can imagine her blushing beneath those goggles of hers.
Bon Bon smiles then nods to Lyra. A metal box with multiple gauges is levitated out from under the desk and placed in front of the unicorn.
“Before you go,” Bon Bon says, “meet Sun. He's new here to Ponyville and doesn't have a place to stay, considering we only have one couch here. Would you two happen to have extra space?”
My eyes shoot side to side in awkwardness. I hope the ponies don't assume I asked Bon Bon to try and badger them into taking me in. I swear I can feel them debating within their minds whether to take me in or not, which makes me anxious.
“Sure,” says the unicorn.
“Good, good. Sun, I'd like you to officially meet Vinyl Scratch and Octavia,” Bon Bon says to me with her hoof aimed towards them.
“Hi there,” says the unicorn who I assume to Vinyl.
“Hello,” says the Earth Pony in her formal voice. I'm guessing she's Octavia.
“Uh, hi. Thanks for letting me stay with you. I'll try not to be a bother,” I whisper shyly.
“Don't worry about it,” says Vinyl with a smile.
“We should get going,” Octavia interrupts.
Vinyl glares at Octavia and Octavia glares back at her, then they both look at me.
“Get your suit on Sun,” Vinyl says before turning away.
“We'll see you two later, Bon Bon, Lyra,” Octavia announces.
“I'm glad you came by. Take care,” Bon Bon says. Vinyl and Octavia step out after Lyra opens the tent.
Quickly I set myself up in my suit. On Bon offers to help but I assure Iher I can handle it. Once I'm set, I exit the tent and follow Vinyl and Octavia. Wind howls and whistles into my ears. Vinyl illuminates the area with a spell, causing the snow that's falling around us to shine like sprites dancing in the air, only to group together on the ground.
They book look back at me, making sure I'm still here; then nod. I nod back as a gesture that I'm ready. They turn to the right, Vinyl goes first, then Octavia, then me. Vinyl leads the way while I focus on following Octavia. Vinyl and Octavia occasionally look back to body count. We have been walking for 5 minutes and already my body is shivering uncontrollably.
We slowly come across a small ring of huddled tents, none of which are lit. The still ness and emptiness radiates an eerie feel. Once we reach the middle, the beat and crunch of hooves impacting snow come from every direction. Pitch black figures emerge from and behind every tent slowly.
“Halt!” one yells. All three of us stop mid-stride. The figures around us stand around us in a complete circle, huffing together all at once.
“What do we have here?” a male pony steps forward, circling us, then stopping next to me. His voice is deep, deeper than any other I've heard.
“We don't want any trouble,” Octavia says. The light illuminating from Vinyl did nothing to show the features of any of them, but it was apparent that none of their suits had cutie marks.
“It looks like we have a pegasus among us,” the leader says, looking around to his followers. He looks at me and whispers with anger in his voice. “What,s your name, colt?”
“Don't answer him,” Vinyl interrupts.
“Shut up, Vinyl,” he screaches at her, “I said, what's your name, colt?”
“I-It's Sim. Sun Shower,” I answer.
He laughs obnoxiously at me, probably my name.
“Sun? That's it?” he laughs again and waves his hoof to his followers, at which they begin to laugh as well. I nervously laugh to myself when suddenly; he stops, turns to me, leans in and whispers, “Why don't you fly back up to Cloudsale? You are not wanted here in Ponyville.”
“I can't fly. . .” I say, regretting that I did. He scoffs and so does everyone else. Before I speak again, I see Octavia pushing the leader back away from me.
“Leave him alone. He's with us. Just let us be on our way,” she demands of him.
“Why are you defending him?” he asks as he looks past her and points at me.
“Just let us be on our way,” Vinyl chimes in.
“Fine,” he says, “but if we ever see him again. . .” His voice fades out as he raises his hoof to his neck and motions a clean cut.
“Okay guys, let 'em through,” he turns to the direction we plan on going. The ponies break the circle, creating a narrow opening.
“Thank you, Macintosh,” Octavia thanks him, then follows Vinyl. I closely follow Octavia. I can feel them glaring at me with a burning passion of hate just for me.
“How do you know him?” I whisper to Octavia.
“I'll explain later,” she says without looking back.
My heart sins at the though of being hated, especially for something I didn't have a choice in. I loop up to the sky, hoping that I'd at least see one peaceful cloud, though I know there isn't. If the sun ever returns and the sky clears, I'll be the first to fly, even though I've never done it before.
The two ponies we must pass stand close together, narrowing the path even more. When I pass, one should bumps me into the other, who pushes me into Octavia, If there weren't so many of them back there, I'd be throwing down with those punks.
Bon Bon's tent can't compare to Octavia's. If Bon Bon's tent was twice the size, it still wouldn't be as large, though; neither are as large as the triage. Dj equipment and stringed instruments of all kinds filled their tent, leaving little room for three beds, but somehow it worked. This place I could really get used to. Vinyl and Octavia had set up the generator when we arrived and now light and warmth fill the rom. I take off my suit slowly, still in awe.
“Like it?” Vinyl asks as she takes off her helmet and goggles. I guess she's the Dj, her spiked hair reminds me of techno junkies in an odd way, not to mention her punk goggles.
“I sure do,” I almost squee in joy.
“Do you play anything?” Octavia asks. Her formal voice and hairstyle lead me to believe she's the orchestra type.
“I played Cello awhile back, but not for long. Now I play guitar, acoustic and electric.”
“I think we have an acoustic somewhere,” Vinyl says, turning away from me and placing her hoof on her chin. “There it is.” With her magic, she levitates a classical guitar from the back of the tent, hiding among other instruments. It looks like my old brown fender at home, except this guitar was made by Coltson.I try to hold it and play it but one thing prevents me from doing so, my hooves. How can Octavia play these things with hooves?
“I can't pla like this,” I say, setting the guitar down.
“I understand, you're hooves must be freezing,” Vinyl says, placing the guitar back. Octavia picks up the closest instrument - a viola - and beings to play it. It surprises me how well she can play with hooves so majestically.
“What song was that?” I ask Octavia.
“It's not a song. I just improvised,” she tells me.
Wow.
“That's impressive. I've been playing for four years and I could never come up with something on the spot. Could you give me some advice possibly?”
“Well. . .” She places the viola down gently and holds her hooves up. “The best advice I can give you is to believe in yourself and your ability's. Believe that the next note you play will be the right one and the results will surprise you.
Well that wasn't helpful. “Ah, okay.”
Vinyl fades his from the background with clapping hooves. “Beautfil.”
Silence fills the room for a moment, then a question pops into my head.
“So. . . why did you two let me stay? I mean, to just let a stranger into your home?” I ask. Vinyl steps up next to me with her head tilted in my direction.
“Good question. I don't know why, but you seem like somepony we can trust.”
“Yeah, but don't you think that's a but unsafe?”
“Sometime, but on rare occasions; if you trust in somepony or something and they come through for you, it was worth it.”
“Does that mean you trust me?”
“Well you haven't done anything wrong, so yes. Unless you plan on stealing from us.”
“I-I would never do that!”
Vinyl giggles and then Octavia joins in.
“I was kidding, Sun,” Vinyl says.
My cheeks turn a light pink. “I knew that.”