The Cynic

Another day of science classes and military drill came to an end the Aiken Community college and Military Academy. Our little cynic happens to be a member of the Wondercolts Reserve Training Corps. Although just a humble earth pony, his mechanical skills landed him a position as member of the trainee ground crew. It isn’t entirely his cup of tea, but it keeps him away from home longer than a regular day of classes.

Things had been running through the status quo at this point. Go to physical training – go to class – go to drill – go home – dance on the edge of a knife as you maneuver around a crazy stallion – go to bed. However, things would turn out a little differently while walking home on what he would have thought to be an uneventful day. As he was making his way down the old dirt road leading to his parent’s house, he noticed something rustling in the leaves a little ways off the side of the road. Amidst the trees behind a bush he noticed a lanky but heavyset figure laying face down in dirt. Surprised at seeing a young colt lying passed out in the faceplant position, he stepped back staring blankly. But surprise was soon overcome with curiosity. He nudged his hoof into the face of the awkward butterscotch earth pony and waited for a reaction. Nothing happened. He nudged again. The second nudge proved successful. A long heavy sigh escaped the colt’s muzzle. “Okay, okay” he said, as the inebriated colt in question wearily lifted himself up from the ground. His long legs seemed almost a necessity given the size of plump little belly. It was then the two made eye contact. His bloodshot eyes exposed a history of unfortunate events and a longing to forget the past. Slipshod found himself looking at his own reflection. But the eternal silence of an awkward stare was broken as the colt’s bloodshot eyes suddenly lightened up; a burden was lifted at the mere presence of a young Slipshod. But why?

“Slipshod? Slipshod Barcilleo? Is that really you?” exclaimed the dizzily delighted young colt.

“Wait a minute… I’d know that round belly anywhere! Zak Buttersworth!”

“And I’d know that dumb white spot on your forehead anywhere!”

“I had forgotten you existed!”

“So did I. But now I remember that I do exist. It’s all cuz’ the magic stuff has worn off so now I have been thrust back into the cold, cold encapsulation of life known as reality.”

“Oh my”, Slipshod muttered. “What stuff are you talking about?”

“Ya’ see, there’s like this magical plant… in the Everfree Forest. And you like, go and find it. And when you do find it, you eat it. And then you forget all about the treachery known as life. It’s a miracle of modern science.”

“Ummm… That doesn’t sound healthy”, he retorted.

Zak gave a half serious half dizzy look at Slipshod. “Naw, it’s cool man. The zebra in the woods said it was okay. She’s awesome. She’s like, an ethnic Dr. Seuss or something.”

“I’ve never heard of such a doctor”, he uneasily replied.

“Neither have I. But that doesn’t matter. You’re here and that’s good enough for me.”

Slipshod gazed wonderingly at his old friend from school. He clearly had changed quite a bit. “But then again, so have I”, he thought to himself.

The delighted look in Zak’s eyes soon faded back to a tired gray hue. They fell into that treacherous territory known as self-awareness. It’s a look rarely seen in the eyes of any living creature; it’s a territory too frightful for Slipshod to enter.

“Slip”, he said. “I really need a friend right now.”

“So do I, buddy. So do I.”