Chapters Doodle Heart looked at her messy mane, trying frantically to split the deep blue strands from the dark brown, to little avail. She scrunched her lips slightly and furrowed her brows. Her hazel brown eyes for once encircled with mascara, the blackness of it made it glare out from her lime green coat. Her thigh was adorned with a cute little red heart with black linings over it, often obscured by her wings. Her lips had the same color as her heart after some lip-gloss, and as she looked at the mirror, she saw somepony alien, the only thing recognizable was the mane shooting out in every direction. That’s what one gets for never combing, she thought before she once more began the quest to regain control of it.
Her grooming came into a steady rhythm as she tried her best to let her mind fall calm. Why would he invite her to such a fancy place? Surely he knew that she preferred to do silly things such as going to the fair, or simply loitering around at home with lots of food. She stopped her thoughts, of course he didn’t know. After all, he had been gone for most of her dating life, not that there were many stallions to add under that life, but still it was something. He had lived in Canterlot for the last years, surely all the ponies there preferred fancy restaurants and such things on dates. She cocked a half smile, he just did what he thought everypony would like, to be treated somewhere nice.
Doodle’s calmness vanished, for a moment she had forgotten the time, her slow grooming turned hasty and almost violent. After several flinches, some loud yelps and unwilling tears she managed to fight it into a braid. Never having cut her mane more than once, and that was because of an accident, it was far too long for it to look good. It wormed down her neck and rested plainly on the ground, sloping up every single little piece of dust as it moved. Surrounding her neck with it didn’t work either, that made it look like an overgrown scarf. With a defeated sigh, she unwrapped the braid and let her mane fall again; at least now it was combed. Her tail still remained in shambles, the colors mixing like water and sprouting rogue pieces everywhere. While she started to brush her tail she glanced at the time and stopped. She was going to be late.
Her tangled tail forgotten, she stampeded quickly over the dark wooden floor of her small house. Entering her bedroom she lunged past her sketching table and night stand. She flung open the doors of the dresser by the foot of her bed and began tossing aside clothing, it was only one dress she would wear tonight and the fool that she had been had forgotten to get it ready. Soon, her whole wardrobe was in a pile upon her already messy sheets as she dug deeper and deeper into her small collection. She scowled with frustration as the last gown flew from her dresser, then, turning so fast that she almost tripped in her mane, she began a new assault; this time on the pile on the bed. Finally she held out a gown dark as the night itself, with strong blue shade at the end, adorned with stars resembling the most pristine nights of summer. It was a dress she held dearly, and decided it was only fitting for her to wear it on an occasion like this. Once on, she made sure the top hugged around the base of her neck just right, only tight enough to sway along with her natural curves, but never constricting. The loose fabric attached to her swayed above her back and flowed seamlessly behind her like a slow moving river upon chiseled rocks.
She ran towards the front door and opened it, then froze as she saw the sun still shining greatly over the horizon. She allowed herself to stare at it for a short while, seeing the bottom slowly dip downwards, giving the first signs of night room to settle. Closing the door, she took a second look to confirm that she had looked wrongly at the hour. She let a relaxed sigh escape her lips and she instantly felt her heart’s pace slow down, no longer threatening to jump out of her chest.
Doodle walked over to her favorite chair, a shabby looking old thing with pieces of cotton sprouting out from hole through the red fabric; but it was the best chair she ever had. Feeling her restlessness dwindle away as she sat down her attention turned to the table next her. Having spent most of the day worrying, her mind had taken refuge in the memorabilia she had from him. A smile crossed her lips as she shifted away a box to reach a piece of paper with doodles over it, a copy of one of her first proper drawings, he had the original after all. It resembled a pegasus foal sitting upon a rock, watching intently at the sky above him. She closed her eyes and smiled wider, she had nothing to worry about tonight, they knew each other, for better and worse.
*~*~*~*~*
Doodle let her eyes wander to the sky, the blue depths were only interrupted by a small cloud now and then, letting the sun shine with all its glory and warmth above the land. Underneath Cloudsdale one could see foals and fillies trying out their wings properly for the first time, some only managing to float, while others, gaining much more haste as their muscles built up, flew properly, mocking those who didn’t in their childish manner. Some part of her wanted to join them, she could fly with little issue, but she preferred to sit down in the soft grass and draw what she saw. Her talent for art was the reason her parents decided to move to Ponyville. It was impossible to find a teacher in art up in Cloudsdale, as all of them were unicorns, and thus not able to live in the sky. Her current teacher had been baffled that she managed to draw so well without any aid of magic.
Then, something caught her attention in the corner of her eye. A pegasus sitting on the ground looking skywards like her. Till now she was sure she was the only pegasus living in Ponyville. Scrunching her snout slightly, her young mind attempted to make sense of it. Tilting her head and furrowing her eyebrows, she was sure he had not seen her yet.
She wanted to talk, she really did, but she couldn’t quite figure out how to approach him. After a few seconds of intense problem solving she let out a small squeal of delight. With trained carefree motions she plumped her thighs down to the grass and took forth her drawing kit which she had neatly packed together after today’s lesson. Her whole being radiated of concentration, eyes moving quickly from the paper to the scene in front of her, taking down the details as they came to her.
She sat like that for a long time, and the thought came to her as to why he sat so unmoving. She quickly brushed it off, whatever it was she could wait with figuring it out, for it made drawing him so much easier. She sat still, focusing on him intently with every fiber of her mind, the pencil moving elegantly from the trained motions she had. Soon the paper evolved into the vast landscape she saw in front of her, but the focus remained on the small foal sitting upon the rock. Soon she pulled her head back gleefully, looking at what she considered her best work. She neatly packed all the items back in her bag, except the drawing, and began to move towards him, proudly, with the sheet of paper in her mouth.
As she got closer she finally saw his colors properly. Dark gray coat, almost dark enough to be called black, it shone clearly in the midday sun. His mane was messy and wild, a silver gray touch that stood out in stark contrast to the coat. His wings were kept neat, gently folded to his sides. The sound of her hoof steps must finally have reached him as she neared, for he slowly turned his eyes to her. The clear, deep blue eyes looked at her as she came closer, compared to the darkness of the rest of him they could remind her of ice lit up within the dark. He smiled carefully at her as she approached him.
Doodle returned the smile and jumped next to him with such efficiency that it made him jump to the side in reprimand, gawking slightly at the abrupt intrusion. “I made you this!” Doodle exclaimed excitedly as she gave him the drawing.
He took the offering with a somewhat skeptical frown emerging over his face and thin lips. Doodle’s smile grew wider, if not constricted by natural laws it would have gone from one ear and all the way over to the other. Her heart raced in joy as she saw his wrinkles slither away, turning into amazement.
“Is that me?” He curiously asked.
“Yep! Do you like it? You can have it if you want!” Doodle returned his question with cheer in her voice.
“It’s great! Thank you!” He said, looking around. He stretched out and meticulously placed small stones upon the corner of the paper, taking the time to place each of them perfectly, making sure the part where it touched the paper was clean. When finally pleased with his assortment he turned to her and smiled again. “Now I don’t have to fold it.” He explained, seeing her baffled expression.
“Why aren’t you flying with them?” Doodle asked and pointed up at the sky where the pegasi flew. Like many of her spontaneous outbursts, she regretted the bluntness of it. This time even more, as his smiled dwindled to a mute frown and his eyes shied away from her.
Her mind raced, she didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but now that she had she needed to fix it; she thought with a determined frown. She unbuckled her saddlebags and jumped up, stretching her hoofs out along with her wings.
“Come, let’s fly together.” She chippered to him.
“No, it’s fine.”
Doodle took his hoof, “Come, fly with me!” she tried once more, as cheerfully as she could.
He instantly retracted his hoof, “No… it’s…” he tried to stutter forth. He took a deep breath and looked away from her again. “I can’t stand to fly!” he whispered, almost too low for her to hear it.
“Okay, then we can sit here for a while, I don’t mind.” She said and placed herself next to him again.
The stallion looked at her curiously, she didn’t mind much though. Her mother had taught her that just because somepony was slightly different didn’t mean they weren’t nice. Neither of them dwelled long on her reaction to his admission and soon they started to play around with sticks and stones, pretending to be whatever their fantasy told them. In the small world they created there was no limits, they took down dragons, and made wonderful inventions to help all of ponykin. They ran around and pretended to fly high up above, again she wondered why they didn’t do just that, for they both had wings; but again her mind did not dwell on it and rather joined in with a cheerful laugh.
As dawn was coming, it became time for them to depart. Doodle attached the saddle-bags again and rose. Then she realized, neither of them had introduced themselves.
“I’m Doodle Heart, my friends call me Doodle, so you make sure to do that!” she smiled at him.
He beamed up at her, “I’m Savant, nice to meet you.” He answered in clunky politeness most likely learned from watching the elderly talk to each other.
Doodle nodded, attached her saddlebags, and began to canter home with a wider smile upon her face. She made a friend today, she was sure, and she was already looking forward to seeing him again.
Doodle let a smile adorn her lips, gentle as it always was when thinking back on easier times. How innocent they had been back then, the troubles they had were small and insignificant. They made friends and remained at each other’s side through the middle school. Through thick and thin, neither got any coltfriends nor marefriends at all during those years, after all, they had each other in a way.
She closed her eyes and began to tie her mane up in a bun, experienced hoofs gathering it all up quickly. The sun had almost given in completely to twilight, and it approached the time when they were to meet. Her heart began to beat slightly faster, but yet a calmness veiled her mind. Remembering the past together with Savant let her insecurities over tonight skitter away like it was a scared critter; and she welcomed it like she did when the last rays of the sun kissed her cheeks goodbye for the day.
She took a deep breath and made for the door, the steps coming like a fleeting motion. The sound of hoof upon wood was barely noticeable, and before she made note of it the door clicked behind her. The calm breeze whiffed up smells from around her, the rain this morning made it all smell strongly. She tied her dress up so it did not touch the ground, very un-lady like, but it would have to do until she reached her destination.
The sound of gravel crumbling came bidding to her, pressuring forth a sense of recognition. It had been like this before, her walking alone down the road soon to be engulfed by the night’s magic; to meet him. Before like friends… now, perhaps something else?
*~*~*~*~*
Doodle walked forward with a fast pace, a brown hood covering her head. It seemed out of place together with her black gown and the blue shaded outlines with stars spread over it. Her tail swept after her, brushing over the leafy ground. The moment she saw somepony else approach her, she slinked her head down, making sure to hide her face. She didn’t mind how odd it looked at first, as long as they went away shortly after.
Hearing their steps becoming distant again, she looked up and sighed. She did not wish to go today, the prom was supposed to be someplace she would feel great in a brand new dress. To be happy, to laugh together with her date , she couldn’t see how she would manage that now, not tonight. Just the thought of what happened yesterday made her chest sink, and the frustration of it almost brought tears to her eyes. How could she have been so foolish to allow herself to set her mane on fire, just two days before one of the most important nights of her teen life? Her mother had managed to save a little of it, but she still looked like a stallion, she thought to herself.
She scrunched her lips upon seeing the first poster about the ball hung up on a house wall. She knew her date wouldn’t care much, after all they did go as friends, and only that. Both being looked at as slight outcasts of the class due to being the only pegasi there had made it hard for them to get a date otherwise, for nopony wanted to relate to any of them now that they had reached their teen years. It didn’t bother her that much, as long as she had some pony to dance with, for she did love to dance from time to time.
She did want to cancel tonight, and did send Savant a message, however, he had refused to accept it and had stormed to her home to get an explanation. Only after he had almost begged her to open the door did he understand why. Yet he managed to convince her to come, if only with a promise that no pony would care for her mane in a mess like it was. She didn’t believe him at the start, but agreed to keep her promise to him; he felt so confident about the whole ordeal. But what hope was there for that actually happening? Even Savant struggled not to laugh when he saw her short mane. Granted, she thought, when he saw her the brown and blue of her mane was covered in sooth and charred tips, along with puffy eyes from her the frustration of that day. After several showers it did come out better, but still…
Her heart skipped slightly, between the soothing streetlights she saw ponies from her class walk towards the school. As the girlish laughter of the mares in the group echoed to her she froze, and again uncertainty came to her. She quickly hid in the shadows till they had gone away, then slowly emerged out onto the cobbles of the road.
Just a bit further she saw the school around the corner. She swallowed hard. Round paper lights marked the entrance like a path of fireflies. A white banner hung over the door, welcoming the students to a night of festivities. All over the red walls hung small electric lights, from a distance it could remind of stars hanging low. She knew it was meant to be festive, but for her it seemed like an approaching terror.
Again as the laughter of her classmates hit her, she froze. Her mind was in shambles, very much unable to push her forward to meet Savant. It took everything she had to not turn and run home, she was sure Savant would forgive her if she did, for he was far too kind like that.
“Doodles, everything alright?” Came a kind, familiar voice in front of her, making her jump in place. It was only one pony that called her that.
Savant looked at her with a worried frown, his black tuxedo clinging sharply to his body, a red rose in his front pocket and a silver scarf hanging from his neck. A black hood was draped over him, perfectly covering his mane. Within the ever enclosing dark that fell over the town, only his icy blue eyes became clearly visible, standing out like two pristine opals in a clutter of gray stones. And in one of his hoofs a blue rose was tied, matching his eyes perfectly.
She blinked, taking deep breaths to calm herself down, surely her heart would pop out of her chest if she didn’t. Only now did she see how dark it had become, and how no more of her classmates walked towards the school. How long had she stood here? Unable to act, it must have been a long time for Savant to come out and get her. Even now she wanted to bolt away, run far from this place and hide till her mane could be shown again.
As he sensed her body trembling, Savant smiled slightly at her. “Didn’t I tell you that you wouldn’t need to worry tonight?”
Her ears flopped back instinctively underneath her hood, “Yeah, but what will they think when they see me?” even as she said it, she knew it might seem like such a trivial thing to fuss over for him, but to her it was important.
“I can assure you that if they look towards us, it will not be because of your mane.” He reassured with a confidence rarely seen in him.
His smile did in fact reassure her for some odd reason she couldn’t explain, and a smile came to her quickly as well. Feeling slightly better about what was to come, he reached forward and took hold of her hood, then stopped as she flinched. He knew how she disliked any pony touching her mane, and did not move further before she nodded to him. She was fine with it when she knew the one touching it, and it wasn’t sudden.
As he removed her hood, the cold night winds touched upon her in areas they rarely did, her blemished mane left her fur open underneath. He leaned forward and placed something above her ear, gently touching the short hair, and smiled again. “Trust me, you don’t look bad, it’s just unfamiliar to see, but that blue rose does help, you’re pretty as ever.” He reassured then took a stance next to her, offering her a hoof to hold onto. “Shall we?” he said and smiled at her, the hood still covering his head.
Out of habit her hoof rose to pull at her mane, as she always did when nervous, and frowned when she touched nothing. She took hold of the offered hoof and nodded, determined to make the best out of the night regardless of her state, after all, Savant did deserve it.
“Close your eyes, would you?” He said as they approached the school. “Don’t worry, just hold onto my hoof, I’ll guide you.”
She cocked her head slightly, uncertain of what he had planned. Taking place closer to him, she did as he asked. There was no reason for her not to, of all the ponies she knew, Savant was the only one she trusted completely without fault. As the world turned black she heard the shuffling of cloth, then they began to walk.
Doodle walked as best she could, as she occasionally stumbled a few times, thankful as Savant caught her. Once she felt the wooden floor underneath her hoofs her heart beat furiously and her whole body tingled. From everywhere she heard gasps, and some them snickered. It was just this she feared, the ridicule of her class, and now her eyes began to burn as she tried her best to keep her composure. What a fool she had been for letting Savant talk her to come.
“Doodles, open your eyes.” He said and let go of her side.
Hesitant, she once more did as he asked, she guessed no more harm could be done tonight. Savant stood still in front of her, turning towards her, a big grin was upon his face. As she looked around the room she saw ponies looking towards them from all parts of the room. But it was not at her at all.
Savant had dyed his silvery mane crash pink, it stood out against his black fur like a beam of light in darkness. She was unsure whether to laugh or not at the sight. Before she could compose herself enough he took hold of her and pulled her in, carefully putting a hoof around her neck and began to move together with her in the dance they had been taught. Each step carefully trodden, both of them had a deep concentrated frown at the start, but soon it vanished as they got into rhythm. It allowed her to once more focus her attention on the crash pink wonder she clung tightly too.
“What did you do?” she asked, immediately feeling stupid for asking, but it was the first thing that popped out of her.
“I told you, it will not be you they look oddly at today.” He answered with a warm smile.
“B-b-but…” she stammered.
“Let’s have a fun night, alright?”
They continued to move in circles, and eventually the eyes that had frozen on them moved away, finding other objects to look upon. After the first song ended, so did their dance, and they both went out to get some fresh air. They ended up on a bench located behind the school, and each time light came from the windows, the pink of his mane lit up. Tears came unbidden to her eyes, earning her a worried frown from him.
“What’s wrong?” he immediately asked, his hoof barely touching her shoulder.
Shaking her head, she blinked the moisture away. “Nothing… nothing at all, thank you.” She said and quickly hugged him.
Savant took her at hoofs length and smiled again, “Hey, what are friends for?” he said as he rose from the bench, again offering his hoof to her. “Shall we go in and dance again?”
Doodle nodded and rose, taking the hoof offered, “Yeah, let’s.”
For some reason unknown to her, she kissed him on his cheek. He turned to her, cheeks quite red against his black fur. She offered no explanation and just smiled.
The Time we Said Good-Bye
She let her eyes wander to the sky, it was still the best night she could remember. She was so happy that night, and all because of something as simple as Savant dying his mane for her. She wondered, why didn’t she see it back then? Was it because he as well looked at her as just a friend? They had after all almost been like brother and sister at one point.
The prom was mere weeks before Savant took his goodbye with her. That day she spent hours alone in her room sulking, feeling lonelier than she had ever done. Seeing him leave was heartbreaking in its own sense, even when he made a promise to return.
*~*~*~*~*
Doodle stood idly, watching as Savant bid goodbye to their classmates. It was the usual between the stallions, lightly striking each other in the shoulders, ending it with a hearty laugh. They all did that to Savant, but he didn’t return their strikes, he never did. He merely flinched and laughed warmly. He would never take his hoofs up and hit somepony else, not even when it was just for pretend.
The mares in their class all embraced him, wishing him well, and a few gave him small gifts for him to hold on to; which he promptly put in his saddle bag. Doodle felt a small tug in her chest seeing him swarmed by them, but she ignored it and waited until he was done with his goodbyes. Finally, he managed to get away from them and came over to her.
She tossed aside her irritation, after all, she didn’t really know where it came from. Seeing him walk towards her with pink still remaining at the tips of his mane made her smile as a warmth grew inside of her. If she didn’t know better she would say she perhaps blushed slightly. Once he came within reach she jumped around his neck and hugged tightly, regardless of her conflicting emotions she knew for certain that she did not want him to leave. If she had the ability she would hold on to him for as long as it took for him to change his mind and stay. But she, as well as him knew that he had little choice.
The cutie mark he gained early in his teens required him to travel to Canterlot to make proper use of it. They all thought it odd that he, as a pegasus, had gained a mark that resembled magic, or even just the study of magic. A brown book adorned with a blue swirl of magic was upon his thigh. So of course he got contacted by Celestia’s school of magic, just so they could figure out what it meant for him. As she understood it, they planned for him to be there at least four years.
She clutched him even harder around the neck, who knew what would happen during those four years? What if he decided to not come back? What if he forgot her? The thoughts that swirled around her head made her choke on a disgusting lump that grew in the back of her throat. She felt tears come unbidden to her again, and as they did she buried her muzzle as deep as she could into the groove of his neck. She didn’t want him to see her like this, and she was sure that he knew. For he didn’t say anything, he simply let her hold grow tighter around him and returned it as well as he could.
He stroked her mane carefully, “Hey, I won’t be gone forever you know, I promise to come back, and it will all be like before.” He reassured.
“I know…” she answered, not believing a single word of it. “I still wish you wouldn’t leave though.”
As if he sensed her insecurity, he lifted her jaw up. “Hey, I promise to come back, if not I’m a liar. Are you saying you think I’m a liar?” He chortled as best as he could.
She struck his shoulder, “No, but you better keep it.” She answered and swiped away a tear rolling down her cheek.
He returned her strike with a half smile, the same half smile he had on their prom night. He dove into his saddle bag and withdrew a locket from it. It was made of pristine silver, the edges made with an orange shaded metal, and on one of the sides it was adorned with gems of red and blue; glimmering beautifully in the early morning sun. He took her hoof and gave it to her.
“Don’t open this before I’ve left, promise?” He said quickly.
Doodle gazed upon the locket, it was far lighter than what she imagined. Then she was struck with a heavy guilt, she had no gift for him. In her stressful days with exams and everything else she had completely forgotten it until now. From the way he looked at her, it seemed like he didn’t expect anything from her.
The flute of the train whistled loudly about the train station, making both Doodle and Savant startle. They froze for a moment as they both turned to each other and locked eyes. In that moment she felt the tips of her ears and her cheeks warm up. Perhaps he did the same, for he broke the gaze and flopped his ears.
“I guess… I have to go now.” He said, his voice hollow and melancholy, filled with a sense of regret.
“Yeah…” she answered, her heart still beating fast.
They turned to each other again, but locked in an embrace. Neither really wanted to let go, for both squeezed tightly. But as the whistle blew again they broke apart. He picked up an additional bag and took a step before he stopped. He smiled slightly and placed a kiss on her left cheek before he waved her goodbye.
The kiss left her in a trance, simply staring out in thin air as he left. Her hoof wandered to her cheek and felt the dampness left there. Only when the train engine gave a roar did she look at it. Seeing the black hoof wave out the window at her, she waved back before her hoof fell to her cheek again.
Once she saw the train vanish in the horizon, her whole body sulked together. Who knew how long it was until they would see each other again. Her hoof turned to the locket he gave her, feeling the contours of it, surprised at the excellent quality. Caring little more for the locket itself, she carefully opened it, finding only a paper, neatly folded in the silvery silk on the inside.
Finding a seat, she made way and sat down, unfolding it. She choked her breath as she realized it was the very same drawing she had given him the first time they met. The paper was in such a good condition that one would think it had been in a frame until now. She felt the lump grow within her throat again, amazed that he had held on to it for so long.
Looking inside the locket again she saw yet another paper, this one was much whiter and looked like it had never been used before. She took a deep breath and regained her composure, folding the drawing back as it was, she put it in the locket again while she withdrew the other paper. Her hoofs were shaking as she unfolded it, having no idea what to expect, for she could not remember any other drawing given to him.
Within there was a message, and as she read it the lump came to her again, but this time she failed to hold it back. She didn’t know why she did it, she only knew it felt good in some sense to release the pressure built up inside of her. It was not a violent release as it would be those times she was hurt, rather it was a grateful release. And the more she read it, the more hopeful she got, she knew for certain now that it would come a time where they would laugh together again.
“This drawing is very important to me, I trust you will give it back to me once I come back. ”
She sniffled and began to walk home, a lonely pit within her chest grew, but it was kept from growing by a small seed of hope.
He smiled at her, “You look great.”
“Thank you, so do you.” She answered, and finding it oddly true.
Upon his black fur he had put on a pearl white tuxedo, and around his neck there was a tied purple bow made in a shining material that gleamed slightly in the dull light. His normally wild mane was combed neatly and pertinently.
They stood still for a little while, both seemingly taking in the sight of the other. Doodle let her eyes wander over her childhood friend, again marveling just how much he had changed in appearance since last they saw each other. Or perhaps not, she thought. It had after all been many years since they had said goodbye that day. It could of course be that it was her own vision and maturity that finally came to show. She found that she cared little to figure out which it was. Their eyes met in an instant and both froze, and both averted their gaze with a slight blush coming to their cheeks.
Savant cleared his throat, “I’ve ordered a table in the corner of the bottom floor for us, is that okay with you?”
She nodded in retort, perhaps a bit too energetic for her own liking. There was a question ringing inside of her while Savant guided her forward through the buzzing restaurant. She knew him, she knew him all too well, so why did this uncertainty cling to her? He was still the same pony she had watched leave that train station so many years ago.
Pulled out of her haze by the sound of a scraping chair, she saw him standing ready with a chair for her, she smiled and thanked him before sitting down; startled slightly as he pushed her close to the table. Quickly he sat opposite of her. Neither said a word, nor did they look directly at each other. Soon Savant began to fiddle slightly with a salt shaker. It seemed that he struggled a little at the change in their relationship, even if it was his idea. Talk had come so easy when they first met again, then two days later he had summoned the courage to ask her on a proper date. It was then he began to fumble his words, often stuttering his sentences, and it lasted till they said their goodbyes and agreed on a time and place.
She dared a quick glance at him. She didn’t mind the change between them at all. It was only after she had gone home and after he asked that she had recognized the feelings she felt at the station. Thinking back at that she blushed slightly, Savant noticed, for he returned the blush with one of his own, then an uncertain smile. She had indeed been a little love-struck that time, and so had him it seems.
The waiter came to them and took their order, and as soon as he left, silence came again. It reached the point where it soon became awkward. Then she remembered something she wanted to ask him earlier. The bracelet he wore, it was made with clean silver and had three brightly colored diamonds in it. It didn’t seem like something he would use.
“Savant,” she began, “that bracelet of yours, what is it?” hoping it would help him that she started the conversation, normally she was accustomed to the other part doing just that, Savant seemed to be a little befuddled over it all.
He blinked, then smiled at her question. “I use it for my work,” he started then leaned forward. “It’s somewhat lengthy if you want to understand it, do you really want me to bore you with this on our first date?” He asked with a careful tone.
She quickly nodded, what caused her to do just that was the eagerness she sensed in his voice the moment she asked about it. If anything it might break him out of the shell he had around him.
He smiled even wider. “Have you ever wondered how it is that unicorns and alicorns are the only ones able to harness and use magic around us?” He triggered something in the bracer, making it glow slightly. He got a slight mad glint in his eyes and continued without waiting for her response. “You see, I had a theory, that all ponies have that magic in them, but the unicorns are the only ones able to use it because of their catalyst,” he leaned forward and almost whispered ominously while pointing at his forehead, “the horn.”
Doodle giggled slightly at how comical Savant made himself out to be as he explained. The way his voice rose in pitch and even when he tried to whisper. She saw passion aflame in his ice blue, tender eyes; and she loved what she saw.
He clicked once more on the bracer, “The pegasi are the clearest example, we’re the only race, together with gryphons and alicorns, that can walk upon clouds, yet we utilize nothing to do it.” He stopped, his features growing solemn.
Letting her hoof stretch out, she barely touched him. “Savant… anything the matter?”
Shaking his head, he smiled again, “No, nothing at all.” Then clearing his throat he continued where he lost his train of thought, but this time in a much calmer state. “As I said, we pegasi walk on clouds, and I believe it is because of the natural magic all of us has inside. That’s why I got granted funds from Princess Celestia to create this prototype.” He pointed at the bracer again and clicked the last gem. “A catalyst for non horned ponies.”
As he said it speckled dust flowed out from his hoof, whisking itself in the air in a beautiful mirage. It had no solid state, nor solid clear color, it shifted between all the known pallets. A deep frown grew over his forehead and the aura sparked, letting off tiny explosions. Doodle jump back in surprise, letting a small gasp escape her. Savant blinked, and then laughed. And as the initial surprise blew over together with the vanishing aura, she laughed as well, it was a hearty laugh, one she hadn’t had in a long time.
“Right now it is quite useless,” He said as he turned the bracer off with another click. “It just makes pretty colors for a neat trick, the reason I’m wearing it is because my body needs to get used to it to utilize it.” He took a large gulp of water and looked at her. “How about you? Are you still creating art as you did before?” He asked with a genuine curiosity in his voice.
She nodded, “Yes, I’m saving up bits so I can open my own studio. Till then I’m working freelance and taking up orders while traveling from place to place.” Her eyes wandered and her mind became distant, “It’s not the best paying job around, but I enjoy it, and I do make enough to save.”
“That’s good, I’m going to have to get you to draw me again.” He chuckled slightly, “I feel that I have grown a little since you last did.”
She smiled warmly at him, glad the awkwardness he had began to fade. She also agreed, for she had not drawn him since the first time they met. Now that she thought about it, she didn’t know why. She had practiced all through their foalhood, but never on him. He had never asked either, so she was not entirely to blame, she concluded. She only knew that it would have to change soon. Stealing a quick glance over at him, looking how the thin muscles moved underneath his clothing. Her cheeks warmed slightly and she immediately became aware how her mind had jumped to a risque portrait of Savant. She wouldn’t mind of course, but for now she pushed the thought back and tried to regain focus.
They fell in to old habits, talking about anything they could think of from their foalhood together, laughing about the smallest things. For anyone looking at them from the outside, they must surely have looked like mad ponies. As the waiter arrived with their order they were talking about the night Savant had gone with a pink mane for her, cheerfully dubbing it ‘the dawn of pink’, they struggled to contain their mirth long enough for the waiter to walk away again.
The food beckoned them to taste its wonderful flavors, but it remained almost untouched as the evening went on. They were too busy with each other’s company and laughter to touch it. They spoke about things high and low, of hurts and fears, about joys and happiness. The longer into the night they went, the more their company turned natural. Savant eventually began to relax and let out his goofy side, while explaining how a student at his old school had managed to set fire to his coat. He managed to activate the bracer again, sending torrents of small uncontrollable magic waves over the table. Again, once the initial shock passed over them, they giggled and laughed, he over his clumsiness, Doodle over the face of surprise that came over Savant.
Eventually, as they began to look at each other with a sense of endearment, the other ponies in the restaurant glanced at them with annoyance; they decided it was about time to leave. He insisted on paying, after all, he said, it was a date so it was only proper.
It was only now she realized how much time had passed. The moon no longer rose, it stood up on the sky offering the little light it could to the town underneath. Streetlights showed the path between the houses, but the fog and darkness made it look like a passageway between canopies lit up by rays of sunlight breaking through a leafy roof.
She felt how he carefully embraced her under his wing as they began to walk, it only nestled on top of her back, and she could easily pull away if she wanted. Taking a deep breath, she let out a content sigh and smiled to him, and he smiled in turn. Her thoughts wandered forward in time, how would it be if they became more than friends? Would it be like this forever? The feeling of sincerity and comfort she now had underneath his wing, would it always be like that?
“Do you want to go up on the hill there?” He said and pointed to a large rock secluded behind the town. “I’ve heard from some locals that the view is great during the night.” He said, blushing slightly as he did.
Having been up there plenty of times, she knew what the locals were talking about, it was a place she often used for her paintings, but never had she been there at night. “Yeah, let’s!” She answered, with perhaps a little more excitement in her voice than what she planned, forcing reddened cheeks to come to her.
Savant laughed with her at her excitement, and they began to walk forward at a greater pace. Perhaps she should have tied her gown up again, like she did before when she walked to the restaurant, but she didn’t care about it at that moment. The climb was steep and tiresome, much more so than she remembered.
At last they reached the top, both having a slightly heavier breath. Perhaps not the ideal thing to do on a date, she though, not for Savant at least. After all, she preferred this over sitting cornered inside of a restaurant all night. Perhaps he shared the same view on it, for he only smiled wide as he regained his breath.
She stood next to him, taking in the vision of the town under the cover of sleep. Nothing moved there except a few ponies walking home from a night out like them. They saw the light of a night train passing through, only the red light and damp sound echoing loudly, only interrupted by the warm gales of the summer night, along with the occasional howl of a wolf from the forest only visible in the horizon.
A gust swept over the hill they sat atop, pulling her mane out from the bun she so neatly had put up. At first, she whimpered slightly in surprise, then she began to fumble, trying to gather her mane up again. As the wind still swept over, it was effort in futility. Her heart jumped as she felt a hoof touch her own, holding both of them still as the red band she had used to tie it up was held firmly in it. Her mane enveloped both of them, and one could almost marvel at the mere length of it. It danced in the wind like a carefully guided stream, not whipping nor lashing. She turned to face Savant, who was still holding her hoof. In the blanket of brown and ocean blue that was her mane, he smiled warmly at her.
“Leave it like this,” he said and closed his eyes in recognition, “It looks much better on you.”
Once again she felt her cheeks warm up, but this time it didn’t stop there, she felt it all the way to the tip of her ears, radiating warmth against the much chillier wind. She tried to respond, but words remained distant and difficult for her at that time. She felt like no matter what she would say, it would become superfluous and would in no way manage to transfer how she felt at this moment.
If her lack of a response bothered him he didn’t show it, for once more she felt his wing touch her. This time it didn’t remain just nestled to her, he pulled her in closer, so their bodies shared a common warmth, and a common heartbeat, within the empty night. Still as her cheeks almost burned up, she nestled her head in the groove of his neck, feeling how his muscles tensed and shifted.
Doodle knew now that she liked the thought of him being there for her, in ways more than a friend could. The way her chest and cheeks burned by his touch, how gentle his every touch of her was. The way her stomach tingled just at the thought, she knew that it would be fine for them to try at least, and she knew they would make it far; perhaps even to the end.
“I often imagine…” he started, a solemn look coming to him again while he gazed longingly to the moon. “I often imagine how it is to fly up in the sky, among the birds, to wander along the winds as they carry you to places you perhaps have never been.”
Doodle blinked at him, there was a certain sadness about him as he said it. No matter how much he had changed, his fear of flying did not. She wanted to laugh a little, for it was quite comical someone with wings had a fear of using them. But she did not even utter a giggle, nor a chuckle, for it saddened her to see the look on him as he said it.
Then an idea struck her, and a wide grin made its place over her lips. She broke free from his wing and stood in a confident pose in front of him, once more seeing the confused blinking she had seen from him a couple of times that night. She took hold of his hoofs and guided him forward, he raised a brow in question.
“Come, fly with me.” She said in the softest voice she could muster.
Instantly she saw panic take hold of him, his eyes darted and he withdrew his hoofs. It was almost like she could see the terror in him, she was certain his muscles trembled underneath his coat.
She stroked his cheek, “Do you remember that night at the prom, Savant? I was so terrified of going because I was afraid to show my mane, burnt to a crisp by a silly mistake.” His pulse raced under the hoof that touched him, but he nodded in answer. It seemed like just the thought of what she tried to do with him had paralyzed him. “You convinced me to come, even though I didn’t want to. I was much like you are now, paralyzed.” She leaned in and placed a warm kiss on his cheek. “I trusted you back then, now I want you to trust me. For that night turned out to be one of the best nights I can remember. This night has already been wonderful, Savant, please trust me and let’s make it unforgettable.”
She could see how his thoughts raced, struggling between his fear and his trust of her. He closed his eyes, and she feared she might have ruined this night for him by pushing too far. Then, after minutes of painful silence, he opened his icy blue eyes and stared intensely at her with determination. Slowly his wings unfolded, arching behind him majestically, his wingspan was so much greater than hers, if not for the body he could have been mistaken for a griffon purely based on the wings.
At first she was a bit awestruck by how he looked with his wings spread out. Then she smiled, filled with joy over how he trusted her enough. Then she began to flap her wings, hovering just above the ground waiting for him to grab hold of the hoof she offered. Once he did, they trembled, and the large wings did a few trying bats. Even if he had never used the muscles before, the motions came to him naturally. He started and stopped more than once, all while she waited patiently for him to gather the courage. It seemed that this time he was determined to not stop, for slowly his wings beat faster, inching him away from the ground, and she followed him slowly, never letting go. Soon they were rather high, he never looked down once, his eyes was locked to hers.
She realized quickly how challenging it was to fly backwards. Doodle hoped her smile cheered him on, for she dared not to speak, in case it might break his concentration. At first it was slow, but the ascent quickly sped up, and before he knew it they were high above the ground. It was not before they almost touched a cloud he noticed, and his face lit up in a horrified joy.
“I made it!” He squeaked, clutching her still.
She smiled at him, it was almost like she could see her foalhood friend resurfacing. “Yes, you did.” She said tenderly. She pulled a little on his hoofs, “Come, and let me show you how wonderful the ‘natural’ magic you spoke of is.”
They began to speed ahead, never really fast though, for she never let him go. They crashed into a few clouds, sending a barrage of mist around them. With each cloud they broke his laughter became greater and more joyful. For a moment she forgot that this was his first time flying, and joined in his laugh, heartfully, again a laugh she missed for so many years.
Soon they came to a large cloud, and she decided to rest. Again she guided him, and again he followed her with complete trust. She looked behind her, making sure she was at the very center of the cloud, and she let go of him. She allowed herself to fall, and then landed comfortably with her back on the soft fog that only pegasi could walk upon.
Savant flailed his hoofs, but landed right next to her. He remained stiff as a board, collecting himself from the shock of her sudden release. He carefully poked the cloud with his hoof, making sure that he could still remain safe even if he moved.
“That scared me,” He said, and put out a mock pout.
“I’m sorry,” she said, and giggled, “I couldn’t resist, and I wasn’t sure if I could convince you otherwise.”
He nodded and silence fell between them again, all the time their gaze never left each other. The silence was not like before, it was appreciative, and it was something she welcomed.
He stretched out a hoof and stopped by her mane, “May I?” he asked thoughtfully.
Doodle nodded, “I don’t mind when it’s you.” She answered and immediately felt his hoof touch her.
Savant inched closer to her, never letting his eyes break from her, and his hoof stroked through the base of her mane, playing lovingly with it. A smile came to him and he pulled a feather from his wing, using the red thread he caught earlier he tied the feather to a lock of her mane that flowed so wildly behind her. As he finished tying it he let his eyes fall down to her, she felt her chest rise in anticipation, their muzzles were close enough for the soft fur upon them to touch. The last step between them, and she let it all be up to him. Doodle decided she was ready to try if he was as well. He slid back, and she felt a sense of disappointment come to her, wondering if he had second thoughts.
Then he stood on all fours legs above her, surprisingly steady for his first time on a cloud, his eyes looked at her with a tender gleam in them. “You asked me to trust you, and so I did. You were right, what I feel now is… this night…”
Again her chest rose with anticipation, waiting for him to finish. As his ears flopped back and his cheeks became red upon his beautiful black fur, she knew that he as well struggled. Just as she had, he surely felt how superfluous the words became and could never put words to how he felt. Her heart almost jumped out of her chest as he descended towards her, and her breath became heavier as he stopped just above her lips. So close did he stop that his breath tickled upon her muzzle, making her lower lip twitch slightly in anticipation.
Then, his lips finally touched hers, rugged but soft, they moved over with ease and care. The warmth from her chest spread slowly into every bit of her body. She closed her eyes and returned the kiss, they moved together in a loving dance, both taking in the scent and touch of the other. His hoofs still played with her mane, and soon hers embraced around his neck, beckoning him to stay as close as possible to her, and he did. He descended further, letting his chest touch hers. It was like time stood still for them, and if it didn’t, it did not matter. Their hearts sung out in a beautiful symphony, one which they had sung only half of alone until now.
He broke their embrace, tenderly stroking her chin, smiling as he did. “…Wonderful.” He said before he let his lips touch hers once more.
Author's Note
Doodle Heart belongs to http://dragonfoxgirl.tumblr.com/ http://dragonfoxgirl.deviantart.com/ ) she arts very hard sometimes.
Cover made by: http://ask-that-brown-pony.tumblr.com/ many of you might have heard of him.
Special thanks to http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Chimpso for helping me with the grammar on this one, I was in quite a pinch.
And as always, Enix is in charge of pre-reading.
She stopped in her path, catching herself touching her cheek, smiling at the thought of how it was done. Back then she didn’t think much more of it, but now it meant so much more for her. Perhaps it was the first step Savant dared to take, one he perhaps wanted to take at the prom, but didn’t dare because she was so flustered over her mane. Or perhaps it was just something he wanted to do for no reason? She did take a mental note to ask him that once she arrived where they had agreed.
It was odd to her, how this event did unwind itself. Just a week ago all she wanted was to see her dear old friend again, one that had been away from her for so long. How could she have known that he had grown so much in those years? He was still Savant though, still the caring smile, still the thoughtful nature that was him. She snickered, and still the only pegasus with a fear of heights.
She stopped, seeing the restaurant rise up in the distance. Seeing now that it was one of the fancier ones in the town, it even had its own personnel to take care of any coat the guests might have. Through the window she saw how candles upon each table danced with the small winds coming through. It was also rather full, seemingly each single table was occupied, except the one Savant had ordered she figured. Taking a deep breath, she untied the gown, letting it fall down behind her. Blood rushed to her cheeks and ears, and her heart beat in a heavy rhythm. Summoning her courage she began to walk forward, each step feeling odd.
At the entrance she saw the form of Savant, waiting patiently for her in the dusk that fell outside the lamps from the restaurant. As she approached the entrance, he turned towards her, eyes locking onto her, making her freeze, but his gentle smile thawed her. As he hugged her, her smile matched his.
*~*~*~*~*
Around her the porch buzzled with life, ponies wandering home from the train, or ponies waiting to board as it emptied. From above it must have seemed like an ant hill of life, and the loud buzz of incoherent voices rang high. Every now and then the sound of the flute signaling the arrival of new trains broke through, and each time it made ponies waiting turn to the plate which showed where the trains came from.
Doodle tried to collect her thoughts in the midst of it, but failed to do so. Her heart beat furiously in her chest and she clutched tightly to the locket she brought with her. Each time the flute sounded, she looked around a little more, before turning her nose to the block of paper again when the train she sought didn’t show.
She finally put away the paper and opened the locket, smiling for herself as she inspected the drawing folded neatly inside of it. How long had it been now? Four years? She wasn’t really sure exactly, but it had been too long. Her mane had even grown out properly, longer than it ever had been, now she needed to tie it up in a bun to stop it from swabbing the floor as she walked.
Once more the flute sounded the arrival of a train, this time, she put the locket and block of paper down in her bags and began to push forward. The hour was right, so was the number, all she needed to do was to find a suitable spot to wait. She slinked between the crowd moving against her, the amount of ponies overwhelmed her slightly, but she managed to keep her eyes focused on an open space near the train arrival station. It was like a small island in the midst of a raging sea, where the winds of a storm calmed to a thoughtful breeze.
She stood patiently, watching as ponies emerged from the train. Every now and then she jumped up slightly to get a better view, almost everyone around were a head taller than her, she did so in hopes to see the wonderful silver mane of Savant. Not many had that kind of mane, so he would be easy to spot. As time went on and the train became more and more empty, her spirit dwindled slightly, could he have been delayed back home? Or had she just missed him?
The last pony left the paddock, leaving her alone again. She looked one last time at the locket she had in her bag and sighed; surely there must be a good reason? She thought.
“It’s great seeing you again, Doodles.”
Doodle’s heart skipped a beat, the voice was as she remembered; soft and calm, yet still masculine. She quickly pulled her gaze from the locket and turned to find the source of the voice, a wide smile split her lips as she saw the black pegasus standing in front of her. The ice blue eyes looked at her warmly, as they always had. His mane was just as she remembered, a silver gray color, half long and disorganized. He was still slim, but something had changed. Although still a kind face, he had a handsome jawline, followed by a muscular neck. He had grown from a foal to a handsome stallion.
“Savant!” She squeaked after a while, Still somewhat awestruck, she jumped forward and embraced him like she had done when they said their goodbyes.
It was still the same welcoming warmth that greeted her, which was taciturnly returned on her approach; just as before. As he responded this time though, she felt how her cheeks heated up slightly, and her pulse responded in fashion. She cared little to ponder upon what these things meant, right now she just wanted to hold her long gone friend till the very end. He, as well, seemed to fall into that train of thought. For soon there was another hoof around her, pulling her even closer in the embrace, squeezing her tightly.
