Pain, Train, Gain
By Myles Black / TheBlueGamer
Manehattan was the result of a few rich kids making a permanent settlement and a trading post. At least that’s what I've been told. Eventually, the post grew as people set down shops and homes, and soon it became a rich, bustling city. However, not everyone was rich. There were what was referred to “lower class”, but they were treated the same, unlike some of the other cities like Fillydelphia and Dodge Junction. Manehattan was almost the definition of a utopia, if it weren’t for the occasional pony in a bad mood and ticking off everyone he makes eye contact with.
Like I said, It used to be a trading post (i think) so there were all types. Earth Ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns alike. and they all lived in harmony. The unicorns would do delicate work using their magic skill, the pegasus would run errands for the town that sometimes required delivery, and Earth Ponies invented ways to make life easier. Almost anypony that moved to Manehattan would feel better. Of course, some people were extraordinarily rude.
And that’s where my story begins.
My name is Running Loose. A long time ago, when I was just a colt without a cutie mark, I decided to walk around town. My parents went missing a year ago, so I was alone, just me, just a little Pegasus. I had a nice, blue skin with a teal and Royal Blue mane that hung over my head. It went down to my neck and hung over my right side. My tail was a sharp blade that darted out from the tail area and was about a foot long. I also wore a watch I was very good at reading, and I never took it off. Sometimes I would be referred to as “Special”, “Klutz”, or “Clumsy” that I had wings but didn’t know how to use them. However, I was very fast and agile. I had a scooter I was very good at maneuvering, and I used that to get around town since I got tired easily. I was riding through the town when I say an orange earth pony with her head down walking through town. Definitely clean enough to be housed, but had a sense of a farmer. She was walking through when suddenly;
“Hey! Outta the way you rube!”
She almost cried. Her eyes filled with tears, but her working spirit told her not to. I went over to her and comforted her. She cried and I cried with her to comfort her, but when I asked where she was going, she didn’t respond. After a few minutes of crying and comforting, she spoke.
“I’m sorry. I’m just a little new here,” she said with a slight smile, either trying to cheer me up or cheer her up. It didn’t matter, as long as she felt welcome to the bustling city.
“It’s alright,” I said with a smile. “I think you’ll be welcome here. Make yourself at home.”
“But my home…” She seemed lonely. “It’s a little far.”
“Hey, you’ll be alright. What area do you live in?” By this time we both stopped crying.
“Oh, I’m a farmer at Sweet Apple Acres”
Welp, that’s a checkmate. I’m a fan of those apples and I personally thought they were the best. “Wow. My favorite kind.”
“Heh, thanks…”
“Where are you going, a hot date?”
We both broke up into laughter. Neither of us felt bad anymore.
“Ah, just my parents.”
“Parents? Are you homeless too?” Well then, I think I just told her I was homeless. Oh crud...
“Nah, I live with my grandma, Granny Smith; my brother, Big Mac; and my little sister, Apple Bloom. Wait, are you homeless?”
I had to make a decision here. Would I lie after I just hinted the truth, or would I tell the truth and run the risk of losing a new friend? I thought that the truth would sting, but a lie would hurt.
“Yeah, it’s a tough life.”
“How did you lose your parents?”
“Man, I don’t know. They told me they were gonna be back and they never returned.”
“Aw, shucks. Nice scooter, by the way.” At this point she saw that we had something in common. I could almost read her expression.
“Heh. Thanks, Applejack. Need a ride?”
“Sure…” She obviously knew I was trustworthy. I don’t think she thought the scooter was.
“Yeah, get on! Where are we going today?” I said willingly. She had been walking for at least two hours, as her legs almost buckled on the scooter.
“Oh, just keep going for about five miles here. Thanks, Running.”
Five miles? That’s quite a lot for a filly. Then again, she’s a farmer. But then again, ponyville is very far away, and she needed a lift anyway. We rode the distance, turned left like she said, and arrived at the apartment complex her parents lived at. I dropped her off, we said goodbyes, and I fell asleep near her position that night in an alley within viewing distance of her house.
“HEY! GET THE HE-MMMMPPHHHH!”
The breath coming out of somepony’s mouth was steaming hot, and you could almost smell the mints in her breath. Whoever she was, she was rich. Then, I saw Applejack come out and shout at this pony.
“Hey, that’s my friend, ma!” Applejack said. She was scared that her mother may evict me, hurt me, or maybe even report me to the Manehattan police force. I've been there before because I was wrongly accused of stolen property, and that place smells like a doctor’s office, sterile and strong. However, her mother saw that it was, indeed her friend. She wanted me to get away from the property without hurting her daughter’s feelings.
She snapped back and said, “I don’t care if you’re her friend, ya lazy, poor bum! Get the hay out of my area right now, ya dirty little colt!”
Well, I was wrong. Applejack started crying. She ran back inside the house. Her mother ran back to comfort her too, cursing under her breath. She looked back at me and said something about the police, and went in.
I had no choice but to run. I went on my scooter, and rode it up a ramp onto a ledge I prayed to Celestia wasn’t Applejack’s. But of course, only with my luck, it was. However, it was Applejack’s personal room her parents never entered. We chatted for about an hour, and she looked up in the sky. She told me to scoot over a bit, and I ended up moving over for her, just out of her peripheral vision. There was a loud boom. A rainbow came and went over Ponyville, and it was a sight to see. I then realized I had fallen. I heard a loud ‘RUNNING!’ and I was out.
I woke up about a minute later, Applejack reviving me. She had gotten the scooter from the roof, and walked up to me.
“Running Loose, I have to go where I belong!” She was teared up, and I could tell that she was crying before she came to me.
“Eh? Back where?” I was still tired.
“PONYVILLE! Now get that scooter and get me a lift.”
“Ah! I can do that,” I said cheerfully.”
“Aw, man. Thanks!” She was anticipating the ride, like yesterday. She poked her head out like a dog poking her head out of a carriage, soaking it all up.
“Here we go! Hold on!” The scooter started out slow, and went faster and faster until I was able to get off the sidewalk and in the street. Soon, we were out.
I was able to get to Ponyville (at her direction, of course) and get some supplies. We then rode to Sweet Apple Acres, and I dropped her off about a mile away, so she could get her exercise. It was almost an hour to get there, and I could imagine how long it would take her assuming she walked at about one-quarter of the scooter’s speed. We bidded goodbyes. I rode back to Ponyville to get a snack. I was exhausted to the point of complete exhaustion and tired of life in general, it seemed like. I heard ‘do you need help?’ and I was out.
I woke up in room. I looked up. I saw a ceiling with a nice, white design on it and I took in a deep breath. I noticed there was something on my chest. I tried to put my hand on it, but I noticed a sharp pain when I tried. In my joint about halfway down my right front hoof, I noticed a sharp needle in it. I looked behind me. I was very glad there wasn’t a needle in my neck, so I was able to look freely. There was a bag being held up by a stick with a cloudy white liquid very slowly draining in it. I looked to my left and I saw Applejack.
“NURSE! SHE’S ALIVE!”, she said with a grin from ear to ear. She was obviously very happy, but about what?
“Eh…? What happened? Wh-” I covered my mouth with my left hoof and felt an intense pain jolt through my back left leg. Not only was my leg different, so was my voice. It was a little deeper than before I was here and it felt… right.
“Aw man! Nice to be back on this world, we thought you were out for a long time, Running!” She said. I noticed not only her deeper voice, but also her cutie mark- three apples in a triangle.
A long time? “Applejack, just how long was I out for?”
“Almost a year, sir!”
A year? “A… a… ye… e… I… What?” It couldn’t come out of my mouth.
“A year. Also I got my cutie mark!” She said it with cheer despite my condition.
“Erm… okay.”
“Nurse Redheart, over here!”
“Nurse Redheart? Who’s that? We had a nurse in Manehattan. I don’t remember her name for I was only there once when I was beat by another pony. It was Nurse Something-heart.”
“Hello Applejack.” The pony said. She was a mare with a powder-pink color mane with an even softer shade as her hair. Her cutie mark was a red cross, signaling she was good with medical things. “And i’ll assume you’re Running Loose, eh?”
“Yeah. Nice to meet you. And i’ll assume by the name AJ here called you, you’re Nurse Redheart?” I got a little more understanding. For example, I realized I was in a hospital. Personally, I hate needles, but i guess I didn’t feel it because I was used to it by now.
“Yes. You’re a real observant one, aren’t you?” Nurse Redheart said.”
My city instinct told me to say “Yeah, ma’am obvious.” But she probably was the one who rescued me, so I decided not to say that.
“Yeah, I’m from Manehattan. Quite the city though.” I said, trying to cheer myself up.
“Ah. But you’re not that clean. Wait, were y-”
“Yeah, I was and I am homeless.” I had to cut her off. She was going to say ‘homeless’, as long as it’s not a question.
“Ah, I’ll find you a home.” Applejack said. She pretended to be oblivious about the situation, and did a good job while at it. A great job. Except I didn’t know why.
“Hey Applejack, mind giving running this poor thing a home?”
She brohoofed me without me knowing. The amount of persuasion was real, so real she convinced a pony in authority to live with her. I was overjoyed. Living with my first real friend was going to be real nice.
“Hey Running, on a scale from one to ten, ten being the worst pain you’ve ever felt in your life, how do you feel?” Nurse Redheart asked.
“Hrm… two? Yeah, Two is pretty accurate.” I said.
“Alright. We’re going to remove these needles…”
“Just get it over so I don’t wimp out.” I said.
“It’s alright. It will be okay.” She was able to seduce me away from the worry and removed the needle in my arm. It didn’t even hurt that much, only like a pen being stroked across my arm.
We had a pleasant walk to the barn where she resided, and I met her family. There was Big Macintosh, a large stallion; Granny Smith, an elderly (when I called her old, she yelled at me)mare, and Applebloom, a filly. Big Mac and Applejack were brother and sisters, and their parents lived in Manehattan still. Granny Smith was the grandmother. While they were introducing each other, I noticed a green pony outside, another filly.. Applejack went outside and told me to hide. The window was open from the other side, and I heard the conversation:
“Who is that, a filly friend of yours?” The bright green one beamed.
“No, it’s not a friend, and it’s none of your business, Neon.”
Neon. Pretty appropriate name.
“Alright then, see you later, AJ!”
“Bye…”
I woke up the next morning to the sound of a rooster and a train whistle.
She walked back in. She told me it was clear. It was apparently her mean friend, she always bullied anyone she never met. She decided to walk me a nearby tree, and said “Do you know how to kick?”
“Uh, no?”
“OK. I’ll get you in the barn”
I checked my watch. 5:53 AM. I flew up to the roof with the scooter assisting me, and I got a very satisfying look at the whole farm. It was truly a sight to behold. For almost five miles, there was nothing but brown, red, and green. There were trees south of the barn as far as the eye (or at least my eye) could see, and to almost emphasize the landscape, there were lots of hills. I could only imagine how much profit they get each year, and some east for about half a mile. About halfway to the other end of the farm, I saw a little Orange Speck. She was working even though she was a filly. I saw her kick a tree and saw all the apples fall down simultaneously. What a hard worker for a small body. She was obviously very fit from this daily workout. However, about seven feet(the distance was hard to tell, since she was on a flat landscape almost two miles away) near her, there was a railroad track. She tried to jump a small fence to get over and fell down. She was injured. I screamed “HEY! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?”
“Yeah, i’m okay sugarcube. I’ll get up in a minute.”
She was face down and panting. She had probably sprained or bruised her right front foreleg. I was using my scooter to get over to her, and was doing so with haste. I was about eighty yards away. and I heard a chime. Not a bell. But almost like… a whistle. I looked to my right and about a hundred yards there was a train.
“Hey, are you alright?” I yelled with my outdoor voice. By now I was close enough to see her cutie mark, but not close enough to talk with my normal voice.
Nothing.
“Applejack!”
Nothing.
I was now close enough to see a very sizable bruise covering her leg. I realized it that she was out. If she wasn’t, she would have moved. I rushed. I worked my wings to do my bidding and they almost flew off. I looked to my right. I was fifty, the train was seventy. I couldn’t make it. I rushed anyway. Turns out I may be able to push her out of the way.. When I was at ten feet the train was at five. I jumped off the scooter and pushed her out of the way. I looked to the right and noticed my unavoidable fate.
********************************************************************************************************
“Hey, he woke up! It’s 9:08, record it! ” I couldn’t see, but I could tell that was Applejack.
I couldn’t open my eyes, as there was a bandage over it. I was probably hit in the head and chest. “Hey what happened?”
“Oh, you’re alive. This is the second time this week, bud. Thanks for the save though. hey, wanna look at your backside- oh, you can’t look, can you? I’ll leave it a surprise.” Again, I couldn’t tell, but that was definitely Nurse Redheart,
“Hey, how am I alive?”
“You were hit at about six ‘o clock. The minute and hour hands were stuck together. When you were hit, the glass broke and the hands flew off, and cut off circulation to your wrist, where you were hit.”
I looked over, the bandage removed allowed me to see. There was a large bandage and a pair of pliers near it. I looked at my cutie mark. It was a cracked silver spear going into a shattered shield, a silhouette of a pony on the other side.
“The the hands cut your wrist where the vein was, and the back face went in and lodged into your front leg, cutting off circulation to the vein in your lower arm, and putting pressure.”
“Hey Loose?” Applejack said.
“Yeah?”
“I knew a pony with a watch was trustworthy.” Applejack said. I smiled. I couldn't all the way because of a bandage on my mouth, but it was visible.
"Thank you for being such a dear friend." I tried to say without crying.
"Thanks..." Applejack said. We both burst into tears and she hugged me for comfort.
“Hey Loose, we have something to say,” Nurse Redheart said.
“Go on ahead, mate.”
“Running Loose, you have been saved by your wristwatch.”
And so, I lived in Ponyville. I'm currently 24, and I am proud of myself. But more importantly, I'm proud for friendship existing on this glorious land.