Mirror Images

It started out as any other day in our life. Six guys and one girl is about as gets around here without getting into trouble is normal. I stepped out to get the newspaper as normal with a cup of coffee in hand I picked it up. Turning around and jogging up the steps careful not to spill my coffee, I looked at the door to see a paper taped to it.

I mumbled, “Must have come around when we were out last night.”

Stuffing the paper under my arm, I opened the letter. “Dear Residents… blah, blah, blah.” I paused at the last sentence mostly because it had a giant-ass EVICTED on it. Going back inside I set the paper on the coffee table I shouted. “Blitz, Barry, Jack, Elusive, Scotch, Spines get your asses down here NOW!”

I heard my sister Spines stir from her bed and yell back. “Dusk, have you had your coffee yet?”

I had a very bad history of blowing things out of proportion especially if I don’t have my coffee in the morning. “Yes I did now get up and get moving!”

Now they were worried I started shouting everyone started to haul to the kitchen. Blitz was always first down the stairs. Jack turned on the lights and Spines started another pot of coffee.

Elusive was the first one to speak up. “Dusk, what is the problem?”

I took out the piece of paper and threw it on the counter for everyone to see. “We’re being evicted.”

It was so silent you could hear a fly fart. Jack, with his country boy accent spoke up. “What‘re we going to do now?”

In all of friend’s I had he was always brutally honest. It’s part of the reason he lost his farm.

I sighed “What we always do when we need to move. Whose turn is it?”

Spines came back with six and answered my question. “Yours bro, so you better be a good ass throw this time.”

I grabbed my KA-Bar military knife. Looking at a map of Equuis I cocked my arm back and threw the knife like a tomahawk and it hit.

Blitz looked up and asked. “What’s the verdict?”

I thought about it for a while before talking. “I got good news and a question. First I actually good ass throw to make it on the map. Second, what the hell is a ponyville?” I looked back at everyone and they shrugged even Spines. I finished my coffee in one big gulp and looked at them once more. “Then let’s get packing.”

Two hours passed and a pair of box trucks and Jack’s range rover were pulling up. Blitz got out of the first one and slammed the door. “I win again Jack, like I always do.”

Jack was angry at this point. “How many times to ah to tell ya Rainbow. Not everythin’s a damn race.”

I was standing on the porch just watching them argue. Blitz was smaller and thinner due to his running track and field in high school. Jack was the larger more well built due to he and his family owning a farm. Jack was just insulting Blitz’s name and his hair color which was a tussle of more than one color.

“Are you guys going to make out or help pack because I’m fine either way.” I shouted both of them looked at me and turned back to each other, then walked back to the porch to start picking up boxes.

Blitz mumbled “Hick.”

Jack retorted under his breath. “Gay pride flag.”

Leaning on the doorframe, I shook my head and looked at the empty house. I stepped inside on more time looked around and it was deserted.

“One chapter ended, Time for a new one.” Spines, Scotch, and Elusive were staring at me I spoke again. “I’m going to drop off these keys to the landlord and we head out to our new destination.”

Barry was halfway outside the window waving at our old hometown. “Bye trees, Goodbye Bridge, bye clouds. Bye.”

I grabbed him by his belt and pulled him back in. “Barry just stay in the car so I can concentrate.” Without even faltering, he just nodded and started to play his PS Vita. I look at the passenger side as I noticed the sign that said we were leaving the state. “Okay now.”

Barry put down his game and wave out the window. “BYE STATE.”

I glanced at him and asked. “You good?”

Barry sat back down with the biggest grin on his face. “Yeah I’m good.”

Three days later, we stopped at a gas station. Jack and Blitz huddled around me looking at the map and the route I drew out. Elusive couldn’t care less as he was sketching in his notebook. Scotch was cuddled up with his stuffed bunny sleeping. Barry and Spines were in the store, they were in charge of snacks I opened the Range Rover and shook Scotch’s knee to wake him up. He looked up and slurred. “Wats goin on?”

I told him. “Last bathroom break before we hit the road again to better go do it.” He replied by getting up and going in the store.

Elusive already took notice of this, put his stuff in the truck, and followed Scotch. Then Blitz, Jack, and I already went and gassed up the three trucks Jack asked. “Ah’m gonna regret asking this but how much longer do we have before we get to where we’re goin?”

Folding the map, I answered his question. “Five hours left and it’s 4:00 already. By the time we get there it’ll be past daybreak.”

Blitz started to chuckle and then said. “Baltimare to Ponyville in three days it’s gotta be some type of record.”

This time everyone was back at the trucks and Spines was handing out coffee and donuts. “Don’t thank me boys I just like the silence.”

I sighed and gave her a side hug. “I love you sis.”

I piled in the Rover and turned over the engine all of the others guys piled in their trucks and the rover and buckled up. Then I spoke to the backseat at Barry. “Hey maybe when we get to our new house you can throw  us a house warming party.”

I looked at the rearview mirror and I thought he was going to explode. Passing the sign it said ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ New chapter of our lives here we come. I didn’t know I could be blown away by such a small town in the middle of nowhere. I looked for the address and found it almost immediately. The place was huge more than big enough to house seven people everyone was getting out and we stood in a group in the front yard.

Blitz patted my shoulder and said. “Good throw Dusk.”

Now here I am in the middle of a town knowing nobody not knowing anything about this place in front of a practical mansion. Spines broke my train of thought and asked me.

“Dusk how much did this cost?”

I shook my head and looked at her “You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you.”

She sighed. “Then enlighten me please brother.”

“Solaris.” Everyone looked at me then all of them had an angry look. I had to clarify at this point or I’m in neck-deep shit. “Before we had our falling out I had finally gotten my doctorate in astronomy. He was so proud he gave me his old summer home. He gotten a new one and gave me this one. I knew I heard of Ponyville before but it didn’t strike me until now.”  They didn’t have that angry look in their eyes anymore. I checked my watch and I knew that the stores were opening by now.

I ran past all the guys and up the stairs, and thus we started our tradition of claiming our bedrooms. I ran past all the doors in the upstairs hallway to the master bedroom, jumping and falling on the bed. Claiming my spot in the house now it was time for the next part, unpacking. I passed Jack in the hallway he was carrying a box of his stuff he put it down and tapped on my shoulder.

I turned and said. “What is it Jack?”

Leaning on the wall catching his breath then spoke up. “Scotch is going to be bunking with me ah jus’ wanted to let ya know.”

Scotch did have a reputation for being scared shitless of his own shadow. I’m just glad Jack understood the reason why and offered to let him bunk with him. I looked over the railing to see Barry ransacking the kitchen like he always did whenever we moved into a new house.

“Hey Barry what are you doing down there?”

He stopped and looked at me then shouted.  “Hey Dusk, this is the best kitchen I’ve ever seen. I’m making a big batch of cupcakes for the party tonight and I’m going to invite everyone in town!”

That point everyone stopped in their tracks as soon as they heard that Barry was throwing a party.

Spines spoke up first. “You’re going to let Barry throw a party.”

I looked at her walked down the stairs, grabbed her into a side hug, and told her. “We just traveled across the country in less than a week and didn’t kill each other in the process. I’m more than sure that all of us have stress from the move and we need to let it out which is why I’m letting Barry throw a party.” I grabbed the keys to the rover and headed out.

Spines shouted “Where are you going!”

I shouted back. “To the local library I need to read!”

I pulled out of the driveway and turned onto the road. It didn’t take me long to reach it the locals said look for the building that looks like a giant ass tree. Pulling up I stared at the building and mumbled to myself.

“Well they weren’t wrong.” The sign in front said ‘Golden Oaks Public Library’ I opened the door and heard the ringing of the bell and saw a teenage boy about Spines age. He was filing away books then took notice of me.

Then he shouted over his shoulder. “Twilight customer!”

I heard a woman’s voice reply. “Alright Spike I’m coming down I was just writing a report.”

She stopped when she looked at me and my train of thought just slammed on the brakes when I saw her. She was a spitting image of me except for the parts that she was a girl.

Then she started to laugh. “Okay Dash very funny now come on out getting someone to look like me is a very good prank you got me.”

I started to look around as she was searching behind the bookshelves. I was worried about her mental stability I spoke up. “Who the hell are you talking about?”

She paused in her search composed herself and looked at me. “Wait, you weren’t sent here by a slim athletic girl with rainbow colored hair.”

I had a big look of confusion on my face now. “No I wasn’t sent here by anyone I just moved here from Baltimare and needed to relieve some stress.”

She blinked once then twice. “You came to a library to relive stress?” she asked.

I nodded yes then I asked. “Do you have a section on astrology and a position open for a job because I really need one.”

She looked up and down at me then pointed at shelves of books and asked. “Do you have a resume?”

Walking over to the shelves she followed me I started to file through the books picking my favorite titles. I paused turned to her and asked. “What was your name again?”

She replied. “It’s Twilight.” I grimaced when she said that.

She looked at my face and asked. “What is it?”

I turned back to the shelves and said. “It’s nothing.”

It was something and she knew so she said. “I know it’s not just nothing now tell me.”

I stood up turned back to her and said. “It’s your name.” She looked at me like I had just insulted her. “What is wrong with my name.” Yeah she was angry so I explained. “It’s the same thing as my name and my name is Dusk.”

Her expression went from angry to shocked at the drop of a dime. Then she was blindsided by a very fast pink blur for a second I thought it was Barry since I was so used to his antics I just sidestepped her when she was launched forward. The blur turned out to be a girl. With pink puffed hair and had party balloons grouped in three on her skirt. She was shaking the Librarian and talking a mile a minute.

“Twilightwakeupmypinkiesensewentoff.”

Twilight shook her head and asked. “Okay Pinkie what happened, slower this time.”

The Pink haired girl took a deep breath and talked slower. “Well, I was baking a batch of cupcakes and suddenly got a big combo of itchy hair, a right winking eye, wiggly nose and an tingling left ankle. That could only mean two things first it’s going to rain bowling balls or second new people moved to ponyville!”

Who knows when it could be the first one. I started to chuckle the pink haired girl looked at me the looked back at Twilight. Then she asked the librarian. “Did you try to make a male clone of yourself again Twilight?”

It wasn’t the fact that we looked so similar it was the part of when she said again. Now not only am I dealing with a female version of myself but she’s also a pervert, great. “I’m going to leave before I start to get probed.” I rushed out the door dropping the books taking out my keys getting in the rover and driving as fast as possible without breaking the speed limit. I pulled up opened the  door and rushed to the house as fast as I ran when I left the Library.

As soon as I opened the door, it was dark then the lights were thrown on and I was almost given a heart attack as everyone yelled “SURPRISE!!!!!!!”

I stopped everyone was looking at me is silence and then I said. “That’s it I’m dead.”

I dropped to the floor and Barry ran up with a bucket full of water.

He said this. “In case of fainting emergencies.” Then he dumped it on me I woke with a start as cold water was dumped on my face.

“What happened?”

Jack spoke up “You fainted.”

I stood up and then said to the guys. “You wouldn’t believe what happened to me at the library. It was so damn freaky I saw a girl version of myself.” I looked at them and was handed a towel.

Elusive spoke up. “Okay Dusk you may be in a state of shock but now is not the time to make up stories it’s unfitting of a gentlemen.”

Drying myself off covering my navy blue hair, flossing it with the towel then setting it on my shoulders and said. “Elusive I swear to you, the guys, and the fucked up guy in the sky I’m not making this up.”

Blitz was instantly at my side crushing me in a side hug. “I believe you D, I’ve heard of crazier things happening to people It’s just like military school.”

I’m glad one of my friends believe me or I would’ve gone crazier, I think. Blitz let me go and I said “Sorry guys I just need to go to bed before anything blows up.” I fell asleep as soon as I hit the bed. I must’ve been more tired than I thought. I woke up the next morning as usual it took some time, but I finally figured out  how to work the coffee maker. I was sitting on a white recliner searching the web when I heard a tiny tap on the door I looked around. “Must’ve been the wind.” I heard it again but a tiny bit louder this time. It was almost like Scotch had locked himself out and was trying to knock on the door.

I got up to investigate when I got to the door, there was a banging on it like someone was being hunted down. I opened the door to find a 5’2 pink-haired girl that was wearing a green skirt and a yellow turtleneck. Beside her was a blonde girl wearing a Stetson a button up white short sleeve shirt, jean skirt, and cowboy boots. The blonde was a whole foot taller than the girl in the turtleneck. I heard the shorter girl speak up she was holding something in her arms.

“Yes… um, would you like to volunteer at Ponyville’s local animal shelter?” She was trying to hide herself in her sweater.

This point the cowgirl was angry. “How many times to ah hav’ to tell ya Shy you got…”

I took the paper that ‘Shy’ was offering and said. “Sure, I have a friend that loves animals I’ll be sure to give it to him.” The cowgirl looked confused, while ‘Shy’ was beaming with a smile.

The girl in the Stetson asked, “Wait ya mean to tell meh you actually understan’ her?”

I looked at her and said. “The same friend that loves animals is also soft spoken I had to adjust fast to it so yeah.” I turned to go back inside when I realized something so I looked at the girls again and said. “I’m sorry I didn’t get your names.”

The cowgirl tipped her hat up with her thumb and said. “My name’s Applejack. This one is Fluttershy.” Fluttershy waved.

“Alright back to job hunting.” I said then I heard an explosion out front. That stopped me altogether I got back up and looked outside to see an old blue rusty tuck smoking from the hood. I opened the door and shouted to the two girls. “Do you need any help?”

My shouting scared Fluttershy and Applejack waved back and yelled. “Naw! I’ll get the ol’ girl rollin’ again!” I went back inside and got back on my computer 15 minutes later I heard stomping up the porch and banging on my door, I opened it to find a certain farmer covered on mud. “Well Mr.…?”

“Dusk.”

“Yeah, well ah’ve got the engine fixed up but now we’re stuck. Could you please help us out?”

I thought about it then answered her. “Hold on a sec’ I need to get my friend up he’s the best when it comes to heavy lifting.” She nodded and sat down on the steps.

I ran up the stairs right up to Jack and Scotch’s room. Opened the door and flipped his mattress he stumbled out of it, shot up and yelled “What in the blue hell was that for!” Scotch stirred the rolled over and mumbled something about puppies.

My hand was right over the mouth of the yelling farmer then I whispered. “Two girls are stuck in the mud in our driveway and need some heavy lifting done and one of them looks like you, so shut the fuck up and come with me.” I left the room to let him get dressed. He came out in blue jeans, wearing a flannel shirt and had his long hair in a high-rise ponytail tucked inside his favorite, you guessed it Stetson.

Following me down I opened the door and introduced the girl on the porch to my friend. “Applejack meet Jack. Jack meet Applejack.”

The instant He looked at her his stopped in his boots. Like I said earlier Jack was a big guy but to this girl he only stood three inches taller than her.

The girl spoke up first “Well ah’ll be.”

Then Jack said. “Took the words right out of mah mouth, Ah’m here ‘cause mah friend ‘ere said ya needed help?”

They walked down the stairs and talked while I followed sipping my coffee. When we got to the truck, Applejack started to speak. “Well, ah’ve got the engine working again but ah’ve seemed to ‘ave dug some holes like mah dog.”

Jack looked at the tires of the truck scratched his chin for a moment and then hopped back up. “Put the truck in neutral an’ ah’ll push it out.”

Applejack looked dumbfounded the she spoke. “Now ah know that people are strong and ah don’t doubt that ya ain’t, but it seems kind of impossible.”

Jack looked at her and asked. “Do ya own a farm?”

She put her hands on her hips and said. “Yeah, but what’s that got to do with anythin’?”

Jack pointed his thumb at the truck and said. “If ah can get the truck out of the mud by pushin’ it you’ve got to give meh a job.”

The farmer spit in her hand and said. “Deal.”

Jack returned the favor and said. “Get in and when ah say drive you drive got it?”

The truck door opened and slammed and the truck started and was put in neutral after a thumbs up from the driver window Jack started to push. First, nothing happened. Applejack poked her head out the window to say something, but cut off when the truck started to move. Jack red in the face and with one final push he shouted. “NOW!”

The truck lurched forward and then moved down the driveway. The farmer got out of the truck and then said. “Ah guess ah owe you a job Jack. Ah’m sorry ah doubted ya. When you’re ready come in to Sweet Apple Acres next Monday and ah’ll get ya filled in.”

I looked at the hole that Jack was standing in then asked. “What are we going to do about that?”

Jack looked at me and said. “Get Rainbow to do it I just lifted a damn truck.”

Applejack stopped in her tracks as Fluttershy got out of the truck the girls started to walk up to Jack and Fluttershy asked. “Did you… just say Rainbow?”

Jack was tackled to the ground by Applejack and said. “Fluttershy go get Rainbow ah’ll hold the big on down.”

Fluttershy meeped and ran inside the house. Me in all of the confusion just went back inside following the scared girl. She was barely speaking above a normal voice. “Rainbow? Where are you?”

I put my coffee down then shouted. “RAINBOW GET YOUR ASS UP!”

The girl in front of me meeped again and uncovered her ears she was about say something when Blitz was rubbing his eyes he sleepily asked. “What izz it?”

Picking up my coffee again I said. “Apparently these girls want to kidnap you from us.”

By this time, Applejack was in the house and Jack came in stomping after her. “Fluttershy where’s Rainbow?” She answered her question by pointing at Blitz. The second time today the farmer seemed dumbfounded she said. “Ah think ah need to make a few phone calls.”