The Ballad of Glass: Summer
I sat on the train back to Ponyville. The few ponies sitting around me were either asleep or watching a movie on some little tablet. I leaned back and relaxed. I had waited long enough to go home, and summer was settling in quickly. I had ponies to help, apples to harvest, work to do and a mare to head back home to.
I felt a soft smile tug against my face as we chugged down the mountains towards Ponyville. I'd be home soon enough, I could spend the night with a mare in my arms, and I could finally settle in and find out what was on the drive my father had given me. I could wait and enlist all the help I needed to help get my brother back, all I had to do was wait.
A soft tapping caught my attention. I turned around to find a thin satyr mare with blue-green hair standing behind me. "Hey...."
I looked her over. She wore a thin tank top and a pair of jeans, but there was something off about her. Something I couldn't describe, but something that sent a nervous itch into my shoulder. "Hello."
She looked up at the ponies sitting around me. "You got a second?"
"For?"
The mare tapped her fingers on the wall and scratched the ground with her hoof. "Magic trick." She offered her hand. "It's not like, weird, it's just a secret."
I looked at her pale hand, her fingers were thin. "Why me?" I looked up to her, catching bright blue eyes burning a hole through my skull.
She looked towards the ponies stuffed into a bench watching a movie. "Reasons.... You don't have--" She stopped herself and pointed to the seat next to me. "Can I sit?"
I looked down to the chair. "No one is stopping you."
She nodded and sat down. She took a second to settle in before looking up at me. Her eyes shifted green. "Like I said, it's a magic trick." I lost myself in her eyes. She jostled me, pulling me back into my own head. "Glass...." Darcy was before me, tanned skin, orange and black mane, bright green eyes.
"Darcy?"
Darcy smiled and turned away. A flash of green turned her back into the blue eyed mare. She cringed slightly and stood up. "Sorry. Felt good though." She rubbed her arm and looked down at me. "Really sorry, I knew it would be pretty nice to feel that...." She grew a bit pink and looked away. "You really like her don't you?"
I looked down at the mare's legs. Pits and holes pocked her hooves up to her jeans. "Change--"
The mare shook her head. "Still not really super welcome...so...shh."
I felt bile settle into my chest. "So why do I care?"
The mare ran her finger through a strand of hair, pushing it behind her ear. "I guess you don't."
"You were in Storm Side." I shifted to the isle seat. "That was you, in the hall with the professors." I looked over at the ponies, still lost in their movie. "Have you been following me?"
The mare bit her lip. "Kinda. I'm actually going back to Canterlot, I was gonna ask before I did that...but--"
I huffed and scooted over. "Sit down."
"Uh, what?"
"I said sit." I crossed my arms and looked out the window, watching the moon slowly rise as we hit the lowland outside of Ponyville. "Sit and turn into her."
The mare sat down and crossed her legs. "You sure? You seemed--"
"You feed off emotion...right?" I took a deep breath. "Just turn into her."
A soft hiss came from her side of the seat. She cleared her throat. "I don't really know what she sounds like."
I turned to look her over. "Breasts are too small, voice is too hick, missing freckles." I reached out and hugged her tight, pulling her against me hard. I pressed my cheek against the top of her head. "...Too short too...." I squeezed her tight. Her hair was soft, her hoof knocked against my own. "...Kinda like this better when she's short." I pulled away and scooted over to the wall.
The mare coughed and scooted away. Another small hiss and she was back in her own skin. "Um, that was warm...kinda sweet." She licked her lips. "Like, ice cream sweet."
I sighed. "Good for you." I rubbed my arm.
The mare swung her hooves off the edge of our bench. "You miss her? It hasn't been that long since I saw you two together--"
"Three days." I stared out into the budding night.
The mare brushed my leg with her hoof. "You really miss her, don't you?"
I felt a frown flash over my lips for a mere moment. "Shouldn't you go? You got what you wanted."
The mare sighed. "I guess." She stayed seated next to me. "Should I go?"
I shook my head. "Up to you. It's a public train." I dug my fingers into my thigh. I turned my hand upward and held it open. "Emotion eating bugs...."
The mare took a few moments, but eventually took my hand. "Half. I guess it doesn't matter." I squeezed her tight and thought of the tanned skinned beauty I had waiting back home. "...Still warm."
"I'm sure."
The mare's hand shifted. "Fuzzy." I shifted to my friends, to Misty, to Mason, Striker, all of them. "Friends are nice, right?" She laughed and leaned back into her seat. My mind zipped through to Goldie, constantly asking me about her Birthday. "Uh...kinda hotter, mean hot...." I shifted track to her brother, to Techno. "Oh--oh...that's really...really cold." The changeling mare squeezed my hand. "You okay?"
I licked my lips and watched as the first lights of Ponyville started to pop up. I flexed my hand around the mare's. "Being away from her makes me nervous."
"You don't trust her?"
I turned to the mare, now sporting Techno's face. "I trust her, it's him I don't trust."
The mare lit up in green and quickly turned back to normal. "Sorry."
I let go of the mare's hand and pulled it away. "Bug." I rubbed my eyes.
"Kind of a jerk thing to say. I offered to leave." The mare stood up.
"Sorry...okay?" I looked up at her, still caught up with her hair color. "Just a long night, I'm tired, and seeing that guy doesn't exactly make me feel better."
"It's fine...."
I turned away. "I just-- Wait...weren't you supposed to get off at Canterlot?" I snapped back to find the mare's eyes wide as dinnerplates. "...You missed your stop, didn't you?"
The mare tapped her fingers together. "Balls...."
"Was it me?" I stepped out of the row of seats and stood with her. "Was it because of me?"
The mare scratched her arm. "Kinda. You're really emotional, and it's not like I can't tell!" She pinched her nose. "It's coming off you like crazy, just a whole bunch of happy and sad all mixed into something kinda lukewarm and plain."
I leaned against the chairs. "Lukewarm and plain? Thanks."
The mare shrugged. "Hey, you want me to lie?"
I felt my frown tug at my cheek. "I guess not. Still rude though." She pushed her hair out of her eyes again. "So, your name's Glass, right?"
I nodded and held on as the train started to slow. "Yep."
She scratched her shoulder. "Shouldn't you ask me mine?"
"Why?"
"...Nice." She shook her head. "I'm Miss. She turned to face the door out into Ponyville as we rolled to a stop. "Just for the record."
A pony in a hat walked from the small attendant area and pulled the door open. "Ponyville main hub."
I took a deep breath and stepped out. "Hmm." The mare stepped out with me. "Well, I suppose it was nice meeting you, bug skin aside."
The mare rubbed her arm. "Nice.... Well, see you in hell then."
I snapped around and watched her sulk off towards the ticket booth. "Wow...I-- Hmm. I suppose it is somewhat of a racial slur." I scratched my head and walked towards the dimly lit street. "Kinda deserved that, but still." I stepped off the platform.
Darcy was waiting for me, standing under a lantern on the side of the grassy road. She looked up to me with a tired look about her every step. I walked to meet her. "Darcy, what's wrong?"
She stood off with me, standing in the darkness, her head backlit by the lantern. "Glass. We need to talk."
I felt my skin grow cold, my stomach churn at her words. "About?"
Darcy stepped forward, her face illuminated for me. Her eyes were red, her frown heavy. "He asked me back." She scratched deep against her arms. "We need to talk."
I took a deep breath. "It didn't take long." I looked down to the ground. "Does he make you happy?"
Darcy stepped forward. "Glass, we need to talk." She reached out for me. "Please, I just want to talk."
"Do you love him?" I looked up at Darcy, eye to eye. "Do you love him?"
Darcy's eyes started to water. "Glass, we need to talk."
My world went dim as a heavy wind snuffed out the city lanterns around us. I took a deep breath, my heart a bit weak. "Do you love him?"
The black silhouette of Darcy didn't flinch. "Glass, please. We can talk in the morning."
"What did you tell him?"
"That I had to talk to you."
I stared out into the deep black that stood before me. "You didn't say no." I felt my hands start to shake. "Darcy, does he make you happy? Did he make you happy before?"
"Glass...."
"Answer me." I reached out, brushing her hand softly before taking hold of her. "Darcy, do you miss him?"
The air grew cold as a heavy wing drifted through. "I do...."
I let go of her hand. "Then go." I felt myself start to tremble. "If he makes you happy--"
"Glass don't!"
"Then that's all I want."
"Glass!" Darcy reached out and grabbed my forearm. "Talk--"
"Let go." I heard myself speak in an unused tone. It was deep, where I was not, it was forceful where I was not. I yanked my hand away. Darcy stood there, hand hanging in the air where I'd pulled away. "Don't. This isn't a game Darcy, not to me."
Darcy stepped towards me. "Glass, I haven't done anything. I just wanted to talk with you...." She clasped her hands together. "I haven't left you...." She took another step towards me. "You and I... you're my friend.... Techno and I...."
"You love him." I shook my head. "Just be honest." I stepped backwards, back towards the light of the train station. "You helped me so much Darcy, I can't be mad at you." I grabbed my own hand as I backed into the light. "And if you still miss him enough to hesitate--"
Darcy stepped after me. "Glass, please...don't just walk away." Her hooves thudded loudly against the ground. "Glass, I haven't done anything yet! I just wanted to talk...."
I stood on the steps up to Ponyville station. "Then I'll do it."
Darcy let out a sharp whimper. "Glass, I'll grab you!"
I shook my head. "No you won't." I took a deep breath, my voice quavering slightly. "This isn't a game. This isn't you dragging me to a party." I rubbed my arm. "We both knew this wasn't permanent...what did you say? Try to date other people, and see what works."
Darcy stepped up to the base of the stairs. "Glass, I don't know what's going to work! I just wanted to--"
"But you considered it." I stood tall, my entire body rushing with heat. "You considered it, Darcy, and that's okay. I have had...the greatest season of my life with you, but I know you care about him."
"You want me to miss you too!?" Darcy stepped up to me, face illuminated. Her eyes were streaked with tears, her face was twisted up as she tried to fight herself. "Glass, I don't want it to end like this."
"What is the better way?"
"Talk to me...we can find out." She reached out and grabbed my wrist. "Don't hate me, please. Please, don't leave."
I yanked my wrist away. "If you still miss him, then I think you should try." I looked towards the ticket booth, watching as the mare closed down and the last train back to Canterlot got ready to leave. I looked back to Darcy's silhouette. "Be happy Darcy." I walked back into the train. I found a seat and watched as Darcy walked into the light. Her face pulled at my heart and seared my muscles.
Her voice was muffled as she spoke to me. "Glass, wait."
I shook my head. "I can't." That's all I said. I could fill a novel with what I meant. I could scream my rage, I could sit and listen to every explanation and complaint, I could wait in limbo as she decided who she loved more. But somewhere inside I knew, the way she talked about him, the way she held me. She missed him, and maybe if I returned, I'd find her waiting, but I couldn't stand knowing I pleaded against something that should have been. I could only wait, and hope against it all she forgave me.
I couldn't stay. I couldn't yell at her, I couldn't let myself be angry. Knowing that me leaving her sad for a moment, would mean she was back with the one she truly loved, the one she talked about, the one she preened over, then I would be okay. I had to believe that, because after everything she'd done to help me, to save me from myself, to socialize and care for me, I owed her everything.
A soft hand landed against my shoulder. "Oh god...are you okay?" Miss looked down at me, her face twisted into a horrid frown.
I looked up at her and shook my head. "I don't know." I put my hand on my now fluttering stomach. "I don't know...."
Miss stared at me, then in a flash she ducked down and pulled me against herself. "Stop. This tastes bitter, just stop it."
I felt myself start to tremble as the train lurched forward. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't move, I could only sit there and watch as I silently broke. "I did the right thing, right?"
Miss let me go and stepped away. "You didn't say goodbye, did you?"
I felt my heart snap in two, my stomach sank along with the rest of the wreckage. "Better she hates me. Better she moves on."
"You can't lie to me." Miss sat down on the floor of the train next to me. "You're cold...really cold."
I breathed slowly. "I've got things to do in Canterlot. I have things to fix."
The summer heat was here, yet as she said, I'd never felt more icy.
Author's Note
Believable?
Gonna find a way to work this...breakup well.
