Author's Note

I feel like this chapter isn't that good and, if it is, I'm sorry. I just wanted to get more info in for the character and I didn't really know how to make it flow and... stuff. So, yeah. Sorry if it sucks. Just comment about it and tell me how I can improve. Enjoy if its good enough!

A Surprise Meeting

Leaves began to rustle on the ground, running away from the cool autumn winds that blew at them. The sun’s light began to dim as the end of the day drew nearer, making ponies rush to get home before dark. One pony, however, was itching to stay out for just a bit longer.

“...195 ... 196… Come on! ...197! ...198! ...199!” He took in a deep breath and pushed up. “200 wing-ups!” He shouted enthusiastically. “Now for the last exercise for the day…” he smiled as he placed his goggles over his eyes.

This is how it was every day with White Cloud when he got a day off. It was always breakfast, lunch, chores and groceries, and training until the end of the day. The rest he spent on his comfy couch reading a book under a soft, warm blanket.

“Time for the Danger-Close Dive!” He said, flapping his wings and taking off high into the darkening sky. The routine was always the same: a walk, jog, and sprint around the park, sit-ups, wing-ups, and a special trick that he learned for pegasi working for the Weather Patrol.

He hardly ever did anything else during the days. He didn’t have any friends to see, any family to visit or write. he just enjoyed his alone time. Even during working hours he kept to himself by getting his work done and heading home. It just didn’t seem to matter for him to have any friends.

Climbing to the correct height, White Cloud stared down at the ground far below, calculating the angle that he would need to make to fly along the ground. “Okay, you’ve done this trick a million times now. There shouldn’t be any errors now.” It was true. He had been attempting this trick since he had first learned it back before he took the job.

Slowly, he turned himself downwards, letting his center of gravity lead him where he needed to go. With one strong flap, he rocketed toward the ground at a speed that would make Rainbow Dash proud. “...3 ...2 ...1” He counted down the seconds as he fell, feeling the pull increase in kind. “...and ...now!” Suddenly, his wings expanded, catching him a few feet before he hit the ground and he began to glide, pulling up and looping before landing with a sigh of relief. “Made it.”

Flipping his wet mane out of his face, White Cloud trudged forward toward where he had laid his blanket, towel, book, and bottle of water. He sat down and took in a deep breath, feeling the air fill his lungs, then leave them with his exhale. He picked up the towel and began to dry his mane, ruffling and shuffling the towel all over it.

After he was done, he laid the towel aside and grabbed the book that he’d been excited to start. He started reading until he noticed he had forgotten something. “Oh!” He exclaimed, “I forgot to take off my goggles.” He quickly took them off and chuckled at his own silliness.

This is how he would wind down after training: with a nice book and something cool to drink. He wasn’t exactly the strongest and toughest of pegasi, but he still liked to keep in shape so he could continue to work hard and do his part for the town.

Anyhow, over all, he enjoyed the calm serenity of the park around sunset. It was when the foals and their parents went home for dinner and left the area for the animals of the night to do with it what they wish, which wasn’t anything more than as they usually did.

He had always preferred the night to the day. It didn’t have anything to do with which of the sisters he liked most, but the celestial bodies that they controlled. He was always fond of the moon and how it glowed enough to bath the land in light, but not enough to blind anypony, unlike the sun, which bathed the land in light and heat and was not particularly easy to look at. But, that was just his opinion.

Glancing up, White Cloud noticed that it was getting late and that he had been reading for more than half an hour. So, he gathered his things in the saddlebag that he had carried them in and set off for home. He didn’t live for from the park actually. He lived next the the marketplace, which was very convenient.

He lived in a one story house with one bedroom and one bathroom. It was meant for two ponies, but he didn’t care to share it and he had no reason to even consider a mate or foals. He liked living in solitude. He enjoyed the quiet and calm nights with no shouting or crying or anything of the sort. It’s what made him content with his life, no matter what anypony else thinks.

Shaking his head a bit to dispel some thoughts, he finally arrived at his small home. He smiled as he entered, feeling the calm energy wash over him like silk. Shutting the door behind him, he decided it was time for his shower. he walked to the hallway, passing through the living room and by the kitchen, and into the laundry room where he tossed the offending towel he had used into a basket of other used clothes. Then, he grabbed a fresh one before walking to the bathroom across the short hallway. “I really otta do my laundry.” he thought out loud as he set the towel on the counter and stepped near the shower to turn the knobs.

The colt grimaced as the cold water came first. He pulled his hoof away and quickly turned the other knob, sighing as the luke-warm water cascaded over it. After checking the water again, confirming it was the perfect temperature, he stepped in, groaning as the calming water flowed through his fur and over his aching, tired muscles. “Oh that hits the spot…” He said, standing there, enjoy the feeling for the moment.

When the relief had passed, he began to wash his mane and tail, making sure to get any dirt or grime hidden. Afterwards, he poured a generous amount of body wash f onto a luffa and began to scrub his body of anything unwanted, taking care not to scrub too hard. Once everything was done, he stepped out, dripping wet and squeaky clean.

Walking over to the counter, he grabbed the towel he had left and began the process he had done after training. He dried, his mane, tail, and the rest of his body. Finishing that, he tossed the towel into a nearby bin to be taken to the laundry room later. Then, he used a wash-cloth laying on the counter to clean the mist off of the mirror. He sighed sullenly as he gazed at himself in the mirror.

He had never been fond of the way his appearance. He was born looking like a filly, but had the parts of a stallion. The only way one could tell, without checking under his tail, would be either his voice, the way he acted, he if you just knew him in general, which hardly anypony did.

When White Cloud was young, he was teased for looking the way he did. He was bullied, teased, and even beaten up sometimes. His parents assured him that things would get better eventually and that he was wonderful the way he was. Things did get better throughout his life, but, back then, it only seemed like it was getting worse.

Now, however, he just held himself in minor disdain of his appearance. He didn’t exactly care what he or anypony else thought. He just focused more on what was required to keep living.

Shaking his head, he set the wash-cloth back down and left the room, heading through the living room and now into the kitchen. He hadn’t been eating well as of late, so he aimed to make himself a daisy and daffodil sandwich with a side of potato chips and a glass of apple juice. He was never a good cook, so he stuck to simple meals or take-out to sustain him.

Walking into the living room with the plate and glass balanced on his back, he carefully set it down on the coffee table and took a seat on the couch. Normally, he would eat sitting at a dining room table, but, due to how small the house was, he had no room for one. So, he made due with enjoying his meals on the couch. (At least it was comfy.)

After finishing his meal, doing the dishes, and cleaning up a bit, the colt was finally able to take his place on the couch with his favorite blanket and a nice book to read while winding down before bed. He was reading the next book in the Daring Doo series, which he had started only a week ago. He had just finished the third book in the series and just bought the forth the day before. However, his work had kept him from actually starting it, so, it being his day off, he decided to finally get to work on it.

Then, before he settled, there was a knock at his door. “Huh?” He muttered, wondering if he had actually heard it. A second knock told him that he didn’t. With a sigh, he slowly got up and walked to the door. “I wonder who that could be.” He said before putting his hoof on the handle and turning it, allowing the door to open.

When the door was fully open, White Cloud stared at the pony who had interrupted his time of relaxation. It was a dark colored pegasus stallion, who he knew worked in the Weather Patrol in a part away from where he works. Even though he had only heard of him and seen him a few times, he knew immediately who this stallion was.

“Thunderlane?” The colt asked, astonished. “What are you doing here?”

“Hey…. White Cloud, is it?” He nodded. “I was… Well… You know that storm that we worked on most of this week?” Thunderlane asked, looking a bit nervous.

“You mean the one that is supposed to start soon and will last until tomorrow night?” He returned, the stallion nodding. “What about it?”

“Well, I was running some errands and I lost track of time. So, now they are telling us to get in our houses and stay there until its over and I don’t think I’ll be able to get to my house before it starts.” He looked sheepishly away, expecting The colt to get the picture.

“And you want to know if you can stay at my house until the storm passes.” White Cloud finished for him, sighing a bit at the thought of having another pony in his house.

“Yes, everypony else is asleep and your house was the only one with the lights on, so… will you let me stay?” He asked, giving him his best pair of puppy-dog eyes.

“Look, Thunderlane, I barely even know you. We’ve never talked before and it seems clear to me that you never planned to. So, why should I?” He sounded harsher than he had wanted to, but it was enough to get the point across.

“I know, but you’re the only one that can help me right now. C’mon, I’ll pay you back.” He said, actually beginning to beg a bit.

The colt sighed and face-hoofed. “I can’t believe I’m doing this, but fine. You can stay. But, you have to follow my rules and behave.” He turned around and walked back in, hearing the stallion shut the door behind him.

“Thanks, Cloud. I promise I’ll pay you back when I can.” The colt nodded as he took his place on the couch with his blanket and pillow, curling up and ignoring the stallion for the moment. “This is a nice place you have here.” He commented after a moment of silence.

“Thanks.” White Cloud said. “By the way, help yourself to what you need. The kitchen is there if you need food and the bathroom is the door on the right you need a shower or something.” He gestured to the respective rooms, before going back to his book.

“Oh. Thanks again.” Thunderlane replied, heading toward the bathroom, stepping in, and closing the door.

About an hour or so later, Thunderlane had taken a short shower, eaten a meal he had cooked himself, and had gathered a pillow and blanket for when it was time for bed. Now, however, he was sitting on the couch with White Cloud, enjoying a book he found in one of the shelves in the living room.

“So…” Thunderlane said, trying to start up a conversation.

“What?” White Cloud asked, wondering what the stallion was getting at.

“You like to read, huh?” He asked, gesturing to the shelves of books that took up a decent portion of the living room.

“Oh, yeah. I go to the Palace of Friendship every once in a while to get more.” He said, turning to the next page of the book.

“Wait, you’ve actually been inside the castle?” Thunderlane asked, looking shocked.

“Yeah. Its open to everypony. Or, at least, certain parts of it are.” He shrugged as he closed his book and got up to put it in its place.

“Oh, okay. So, have you met the Elements of Harmony and Princess Twilight then?” He seemed to get excited at the mention of either of them.

“I’ve had tea with all of them before actually. They are all really nice.” He began walking back to the couch before stopping and shivering a bit.

“How are you not famous then? You’ve hung out with them and are friends with them!” He jumped off of the couch, waving his hooves in the air. (Like he just don’t care!)

“Well, I wouldn’t say we’re friends. We just talk every now and then and have tea.” He shrugged and yawned. “Anyway, I think its time for bed.”

Thunderlane looked confused until he looked at the clock. “Oh. I guess you’re right. Well, I’ll see you in the morning then.” He said, grabbing his pillow and blanket and settling on the couch.

“Yeah. Sleep well, Thunderlane.” White Cloud replied, walking to his room at the end of the hall.

When he got there, he shut the door and immediately started shivering and trembling. “Oh ponyfeathers!” He muttered, walking to his chest of drawers. “Looks like its gonna be another hard night.”

Sighing, he opened the bottom-most drawer and took out two pairs of black and white striped socks. They were made of fine silk and covered his legs completely. “Maybe someday I’ll be able to wear these for reasons other than medical.” He spat, putting them on as quickly as possible.

After walking around a bit, getting used to the fabric sliding and clinging to his coat, he hopped into his bed and sighed. “Maybe one day I’ll be normal…” With that, he turned out the light of his lamp and turned over, waiting for sleep to take him into the land of dreams.