Chapters Chapter 2 Tolerance and Pain
Colors could be seen from all angles, his eyes blinked as the rays of light from above covered his field of vision. He Squinted his eyes. With one motion, he brought his hoof up to his forehead, shielding his face from the blinding light. He found himself laying flat on his back watching the gray clouds moving slowly across the sky. He mentally took note of his surroundings, the gray tiled floor was still below him, the walls did not move and like before. The ceiling was still missing. But instead the bright moon, it was replaced with the bright yellow orb that hovered in the sky, taunting and annoying the tired pony. Looking to his left he found a wall- Which was extremely higher than the others- with shade. The stallion crawled across the stone floor making his way towards the cold shady floor. Pain quickly shot through the stallion's back, small sharp knives dragged down his spine as crimson blood poured down his back staining his coat, the gray sweatshirt the stallion wore, and the floor. He rolled over onto his side then flat on his chest. Coyote, again winced in pain as the sharp knives dug deeper into his hide.
The glass!? He quickly recalled.
The stallion looked back at where he was recently laying down and saw a large portion of his blood, sticky and dried up in a puddle. It looked like somepony had tried to clean up crimson paint with a mop. The stallion slowly rose to his hooves and looked around for anything useful to help cope with the searing pain. Out of the corner of his right eye he saw light reflect and shine.
He eased closer to the shine and found a large metal crate sitting next to one of the crumbling stone walls. The metal object stood two meters in height, towering over most of the props in the old looking castle. The stallion limped over to the ominous box. That's when he recognized the rectangular metal structure. It was a large Military heavy duty crate made from aluminum and iron with long pieces of rope wrapping around it. The pony moved to the right side of the crate and found a small gray crowbar dangling from a hook that lay drilled into the top corner of said crate. The stallion removed the crowbar from the hook and Jammed it into a small opening in the silver object.
He pulled back on the crowbar, the side of the crate opened up as it's door fell to the ground with a loud clank. Inside were a variety of knives, clothing, ground tools, survival tools, and large folded tents. But the most important tool in his life was the L shaped stick that lay in the far corner of the storage container with small flat rectangular clips, attached to the walls next to it. He walked around the crate, further examining it. Printed in white on the left side of the crate was his name,
Coyote Scavenger .
Coyote trotted back into the crate, pushing and moving objects out of the way. He took a sheet of paper from the clipboard that hung on the left side of the wall near the open breach. He placed the paper on a flat surface in the container, brought out a small pen from his hoodie and made a check list. He wrote down the simple standard object in the container.
Water, Knives, Shovel, Green Canteen, Tents, Ammo, Compass… The list went on. MREs, First Aid Kit, GPS… He wrote another word down in large letters but afterwards scratched it off as confidential. He looked back at the L shaped stick and sighed with relief. He placed the piece of paper next to the weapon and smiled.
Grunting in pain, he walked out of the crate, picked up the iron door and placed it on the opening of the container. It was heavy but he managed put it up while powering through the uncomfortable pain. He put a hoof above his eyes, covering them from the blinding sun and looked to the sky, trying to pinpoint his new location.
His mane was black and somewhat short, his eyes were blue with a scant of gold in the far corners of his iris, hardly visible, his coat was a deep brown. His voice was that of a young male, his limbs and muscles were strong and a mark never appeared on his flank.
Coyote ventured through the lush forest with light pouring through the leaves of the dark trees. His eyes wandered the surrounding area searching for any source of life. As he wandered down the dark forest, he came across a wide dirt road. On the side of the road was a thin pole with signs nailed to a wood beam which pointed in multiple directions. From where he stood a sign at the top of the wood beam pointing left wrote “Ponyville” while another sign below that one pointing to the right read “Dodge City” and the last one the very bottom pointing behind him wrote “Bogg”. A drop of water hit the end of Coyote’s snout. The stallion looked up and found dark clouds forming above him. He had to choose before the rain caught up with his travels.
He Choose Ponyville. He walked the path he was given and started to slowly trot, picking up speed. Again, pain shot through the stallion's back as he moved. He cringed, grinding his teeth together as if he were biting on a chew toy. It was then, the rain started to pick up. The trees acted like a roofs but only for a short time before the leaves could no longer support the water’s weight and fell on the forest’s floor with a splash picking up dirt alongside the water. Blood poured off the stallion’s back, the rain mixed with his blood making small pools of transparent crimson everywhere he walked. The stallion grabbed the back of his sweatshirt and threw his hood over his head, covering his eyes and his mane. He walked through tall branches and bushes, the long titanium chain around his neck jingled and swayed back and forth as two small squircle shaped discs smacked against each other at the rhythm of his steps.
Lightning struck the soil below him. Coyote jumped, startled by the loud sound. He cautiously watched the sky. He ran off the road and sat next to a tree. Poking at the ground, he waited for the rain to stop and the storm to calm. In the distance hoof steps slammed against the wet floor, with each step it held a rhythm and a beat. Coyote looked up and found a hooded pony trotting along the dirt road with a cloak and what seemed to be a basket of flowers and branches.
Coyote sat up. A living pony!? He thought.
The pony stopped in their tracks and looking at Coyote. The hooded pony’s eyes seemed to glow yellow under its cloak. The pony walked over to the brown stallion and greeted him with a bow.
“What have we here, why does this pony fear if I may ask my dear?” She said in rhymes.
Coyote stood straight, his size a little over her’s. He raised his left eyebrow. Does she know? “I’m not anxious?” He announced. His head dropped, and his ears flattening to the side of his head. “But” He paused. “I am lost,”
The mare walked closer, she stopped and stood in front of him stricken with fear. She watched the blood pour off the stallion's back and onto the muddy soil. She reached over to the stallion and grabbed his hoof. Coyote did not have time to react as she brought him ever closer to her. She examined his spine, the mare grabbed the stallion’s hoof once more and dragged him the opposite direction of Ponyville.
“You must worry! We must take care and hurry!” Said the hooded mare, galloping over to the road with the stallion.
“H-Hey!” Coyte pulled his hoof away from the strange mare.
The mare was taken aback by this. “We must help treat your wound with haste, and act fast before it is too late!” The mare again, reached for the stallion her teeth clench down on the stallion’s sweatshirt, she keeps a tight hold on his garment and tugs on it. “Please...” She pleaded. “Do not be rude, instead let me aid you!?”
The mare lead Coyote farther into the forest, he questioned whether the mare was helping him or leading him into a trap.
Saws and chains rattled in his head. *”HELP!!!” The voice played out in his mind. The chains stopped and the the saw seemed to hum loudly.*
His face saddened at the ever-lasting thought.
Time passed and they came across a cobblestone pathway which lead to a strange tree with stick windows and wood door. They entered the strange tree and when the Coyote examined the room, he found it to be hollow. Inside were a variety vases, bottles, and masks hanging from the ceiling and walls. The furniture was attached to the walls and floors, carved and made from the wood of the tree. A covered cauldron stood in the center of this room with ingredients scattered around it.
Coyote saw many potions and drinks on the shelves with the exception of a book or two. When the stallion turned around he found that the mare had hung up her cloak on the rack next to the door and when she stood in the light, he found that the mare was not a pony at all but instead something of different origins. Her coat and mane was black and white with stripes, her eyes were dark blue and the mark on her rump was a large sketch of a spiraling sun. She wore gold rings that wrapped around her neck, left foreleg and one gold ring that was pierced into her ear.
The mare pointed towards the stool that sat next to the cauldron. Coyote sat in the stool, slouching towards the large stone pot. “How tragic” She said looking through one of her draws “what made this so graphic?”
Coyote tapped his chin with his hoof, remembering the event that transpired in the castle, the broken and scattered glass. “When I was venturing into a strange castle I fell on some glass and almost broke my spine” The tweezers fell from the mare's mouth in shock. She knelt down and grabbed the tweezers again with her teeth and places them next to the stallion. Coyote turned his head around with eyes of concern. “Is there something wrong Miss?”
She walked over towards another table and brought out an aluminum pan “For such an injured back, surely you must feel rack?” She brought the pan next to Coyote and placed it on the floor.
Coyote turned his head back towards the cauldron and closed his eyes, flashes of repressed memories flooded his mind. “I don't want to say?”
The mare nodded in understanding. She gripped the tweezers with her teeth and motioned them towards Coyotes back. “May you remove your garment please, It will allow me to work with ease” She asked.
Coyote put his hooves near his hip pocket, he hesitated as he carefully pulled his sweatshirt off his torso, blood stained glass fell off the garment. He then proceeded to throw his sweatshirt to the ground.White cloth bandages wrapped around his upper body, dry blood covered a portion of the cloth. A small uncovered oval shaped scare exposed itself. Coyote quickly covered it with a loose piece of cloth.
The mare’s eyes widened in terror. “How did this happen to you, these wounds are nothing new?” She asked, gesturing towards the covered scare.
Coyote looked away from the Black and white striped mare. “It’s personal,”
The mare paused, saying nothing to the seemingly young stallion, instead, she gripped one of the many pieces of broken glass with the tweezers and pulled. Coyote flinched as a shard of glass was ripped from his hide. The mare put the shard in the aluminum pan next to her and repeated the process multiple times. After two hours of pain, the last of the glass fell in the silver pan with a loud clang. The mare brought Coyote a new roll of bandages. She offered to help replace the cloth but Coyote objected and asked for some privacy instead. When Coyote came out into view his sweatshirt had been picked up and given to him by the mare who helped. Coyote smiled and put on his garment.
“Thank you” He said soft-spokenly. His eyes focused on the kind creature he stood by. “What's your name?” He asked with the same gentle tone.
The mare walked over to one of the shelves and brought out a small dark green bottle with a brown cork on the lid, she put the bottle high above her head, next to her ear and shook it. “I am Zecora, a shaman of Mora” She smiled, giving the bottle to Coyote.
Coyote took the bottle from Zecora’s hoof and raised his eyebrow in confusion. “Uhmm?”
Zecora held Coyotes hoof to comfort the stallion. “Do not fear, for it will soon be clear” Coyote put the tip of the bottle to his mouth and took two sips. He placed the the bottle on the table next to him and stood in place, waiting for the bottle to take effect. Zecora laughed as she saw the stallion wait for the effect of the bottle to ensue. Zecora walked to the table Coyote stood next to. Picking up the bottle, she walked to the exact shelf she removed the potion and put it back in its proper place. “Your voice is soothing and soft, may I ask who talks?”
“Oh, my name is Coyote-”
Three knocks made their way to the front door of the hut. Zecora and Coyote looked at each other with bewildered stares, seeing as they were both in the middle of the forest where no pony would ever go. Zecora walked over to the door and opened it. To Coyote’s surprise, a young purple female alicorn stood in the doorway of the shamans home.
“Hi Zecora!”
I see so many breath through broken lungs when fighting for what they believe in,
but never have I seen a stallion or mare fight with a missing soul
S.C.
”When will you be back?” The small filly asked, her words echoed around Coyote’s ears.
“Are you ok, Sir?” The mare next to him questioned.
Coyote snapped out of his train of thought. He glanced over to his left, walking beside him was a purple alicorn, her mane was purple and violet with a pink streak running down the left side of her mane. Her Cutie Mark was a dark pink star surrounded by five smaller white ones. She also wore a face of concern and guilt which worried Coyote more than ever. He shook his head, realizing the foal he knew and cared for was not around. The stallion walked beside the young mare, following her on the gray gravel road they traveled on.
Coyote scratched the back of his ear with his hoof, fearing he may be hearing things once again. “What did you say Miss? I thought you said something?” He asked the purple mare beside him.
“I asked if you were ok, Mister. You seemed… Fixated, on something?” She urged in a worried tone.
Coyote closed his eyes and slowly shook his head up and down, informing the mare he was sound in nonverbal communication. The purple mare nodded in understanding, knowing that the stallion did not want to talk about his situation. As they progressed through the dark forest Twilight grew impatient and irritated regarding the stallion next to her. Not planning to wait until they reach Ponyville, Twilight focused her eyes on the stranger and spoke in a charming tone.
“Soooo…” She started. “My name is Twilight Sparkle, what's your name kind Sir?”
The stallion looked at the mare with curious eyes almost as if he had never been asked this question in a long while. “M-, My name?” He hesitantly asked.
“Yes, your name?” She smiled.
The Stallion stopped and brought out a hoof for Twilight to shake. Twilight turned around and inspected the hoof with joy, she calmly took the hoof and shook it.
“My name is, Coyote” He said. “Coyote Scavenger” He repeated.
“That’s an odd name? It’s a pleasure to meet you, Cot-ioy? Am I saying that right, Sir?” She asked in an apologetic tone.
Coyote laughed “Close,” He proceeding to walk on the road beside Twilight Sparkle. “Its, Kia-oh-Tee.” He explained and corrected her.
Twilight giggled. “Sorry, it's just a bit hard to pronounce with-” Twilight stopped mid sentence as her eyes scanned over the rump of the stallion.
No Cutie Mark was seen on the stallion’s flank. It was barren and deprived of any sort of symbol. The mare’s eyes widened with surprise. Coyote followed her gaze and quickly caught on to what the mare was surprised about. Coyote only smiled at the concern face of Twilight, now knowing that the mare cared for the ponies around her. To him. It was a very rare site.
“A cutiemark?” He directed his attention to his blank flank. “Yes ma'am, I have no mark,” Coyote Smiled, eyes focused on the road ahead.
He had mixed emotions on the subject. It was not common that ponies wouldn’t bare a cutiemark or some type of symbol. It was actually rare to see a pony without one. But most would push it to the side and say they have not found their talent or just simply find one. That or the other...
“I’m sorry!” She immediately and quickly responded to Coyote’s comment. “I’m just not used to seeing a pony without a Cutie Mark, It’s… different? Did you not find your talent?”
Instead of answering the mare’s question, he ignored her. Not in cruelty or anger, but in shyness. He was never jealous of the ponies who bare their own mark. He thought of not having a mark as a gift. It could mean he had more than one talent, or he was special in some supernatural way. Either way. It was a strange site to see.
They continued their walk without any words. Twilight felt guilty for asking such a private question. But in the end it was only instinct. The two travelers reached the end of the dark scary forest. Light from the sun dipped behind the mountains, blinding the stallion for an extended period of time. Not long after the flash of unexpected light, Coyote’s eyes adjusted to the bright environment.
The land was white and lush, the water that lead through the town was cyan and clear, and the air was fresh with the scent of tree sap and freshly watered grass which invading the stallion’s sense of smell. It was powerful. It all was a sense of change for him. He was, to a great extent, stimulated and excited. When looking down at the world he felt color blind. It was just too bright with lights and colors being very vivid. He felt like he was in a different world. And in a way he was. Was this truly their once fantasized home?
Coyote’s thoughts were interrupted by a clapping of hooves.
“Welcome to Ponyville!” Twilight greeted. “A friendly place with friend to make and ponies to greet!”
Coyote smiled at the mare’s joyous demeanor. “Well it sure seems, friendly” He pointed both eyebrows at the mare.
The two laughed with happiness in their souls. The laughing ceased after a short intake of air. The two ponies made their way down the now changing dirt road, into the brightly lit town. Twilight held the look of thought while Coyote stared in awe at the localized area that glowed in bright colors.
“Sir?”
Coyote turned his attention at Twilight. “Huh?”
“If you don't mind me asking. Where are you from? And what were you doing in the Everfree Forest?”
The pony cringed at the question. “I’m from Doug City, I took a shortcut” He lied..
“A shortcut?”
“Yea?” He chuckled “A shortcut?”
“Huh…” She looked away, ending the conversation.
The two ponies entered the town without question. The town was beautiful in the eyes of Coyote. He was fascinated by the colorful things he saw. The layout of the buildings, the size of the population, and the area all together. The ponies in the town appeared clean and sane. From a distance, the ponies also seemed friendly and nice. They cared for one another and they always display a smile across their face. He could not get over the feeling, it felt different, it just felt so different! Like a dream. Like a dream that was too fake to be real.
Was he actually dead and hadn’t noticed it yet?
He turned his head back to Twilight, afraid to find her missing and lost. But she was there, well and alive. When turned back, he found himself standing in front of a large tree like castle. The tree’s bark? was made from some sort of crystal and the door was made of gold with silver outlining.
What the―
“Well? I guess this is where we depart!” She sheepishly smiled, tapped the tip of her hoof against the steps of the castle.
Realizing the large temple that stood in front of him was the young mares home, he stepped back and off the white marble stairs. “Right! Sorry to bother you,” He said scratching the back of his head with embarrassment.
“No problem. Anything to help a fellow pony. Uhmm, can I ask you one more question?”
“Yes ma’am?”
“Did you bring any saddle bags with you by any chance?”
The brown stallion instinctively reached for his back and patted his side,feeling for his belongings. In next to no time, he became conscious that he had left his bags and his knives back in the forest, in the hut the two recently came from. His eyes widened, he sprinted away from Twilight’s home and off towards the dark forest. “Wait! Where are you going!” She yelled.
“I forgot my belongings at Zecora’s hut!” He called back. “Don't worry ma’am! I'll be back in Ponyville later tonight!”
As the stallion fell out of Twilight field of vision, she sighed and shook her head left and right, knowing that the stranger would take some time before he returned to Ponyville. Twilight let the scene pass her by and entered her new home.
He re-entered the forest. Running pass bushes and trees. He came to a stop, seeing the all too familiar cobblestone road that lead to the hut of his fellow helper. He knocked on the door with his dirt covered hooves and waited for a response. Time passed and the door opened slowly, he was greeted by the same black and white striped face of Zecora.
“Greetings friend, as we meet time and time again,” She stepping aside for the stallion to enter her hut.
“Thank you, Zecora” He panted, regained his breath from the long run. “I think I left my belongings here ma’am?”
Zecora nodded. The zebra walked over to nearest table and brought out a small sheath and a single strap daypack. In the sheath were three metal objects though they were hard to judge due to how well hidden they were. She gave the daypack to its respective owner but kept the sheath. She held the black fabric in front of Coyote and took out one of the three objects in the Sheath. It was a small knife with no supporting handles. She rotated the knife in her hoof, it shined in the light. Sweat dripped down the stallion’s left forehead, rationalizing an excuse to say to the shaman. Zecora put the knife back in the black fabric, into the holster. Giving the sheath back to Coyote.
“What is your profession, if I may question?” She ask with a brooding expression.
If only I could tell you the truth, would you understand “I..” He thought. “Used to be a hunter…” Again, for the second time of today. He lied.
Zecora, was flabbergasted. Coyote knew that he, and like the rest of his equine kind, did not eat meat. They were herbivores. But it is true that some ponies could hunt for food for their dogs or cats. That much he knew, but he was uncertain if those rule applied in this world, It was not common though.
“I understand, but was it unplanned?” Zecora walked over to her cauldron and uncovered the top. it was empty.
“No,”
“What task, if one were to ask?
“I don’t want to say…”
The shaman nodded in understanding. She walked to one of her many shelves with books and potions. It was an awkward moment. Coyote strapped his belongings to his daypack and threw said daypack over his shoulders, landing perfectly on his back. Coyote totted over to the front door of the wood hut and tapped its rough surface.
“May I leave?” The zebra closed her eyes and nodded her head. Coyote took another glance at the mare before exiting her strange hut. “Can we keep this between us?”
Zecora looked back at the stallion with soft eyes. “Yes we may,” She smiled. “It will not weigh,”
With few words said. He left the hut and in the direction of Ponyville. He pulled his hood over his head which covered his eyes and his features.
She was very understanding...
The night air was cold and quiet, the moon was hovering over the mountains and the sky was littered with twinkling stars. His hoofsteps did not echo like they normally would when at home in luna’s night time. The streets were empty, the lights above lit the yellow dirt road, and the houses were asleep. Coyote became paranoid. Not because of the dark, but because of the empty silence. It was eari. It was different. It was change as said before. but he could not get that through his head.
Coyote winced at the sudden sound to his right, he brought his right hoof next to his chest by habit. Where the sound came from, was of the utmost surprise. The building next to him was a haven of candy. Its walls were made of dark brown graham crackers and It’s roof was made of frosting and cakes. Decorating the sides of the home was chocolate and more frosting. The sound that emitted from the strange structure were laughing ponies. It could not be any more obvious with the high pitched voices.
Coyote glared at the architecture with a raised eyebrow, wondering why somepony would make a home made entirely of candy. The light that came from the home flickered on and off. The shadows from inside the house danced and twirled in different directions. It was nothing more than a mares party.
He looked away from the house and walked further into the town with his daypack in tow. His walk was short, and his mind grew tired from the stress of memories. The sound of water fell.
A fountain?
He moved his head over the pale concrete wall and gazed into the clear liquid. It was clean and his reflection showed, behind him was the bright moon. Coyote unclipped his daypack and threw it to the side. He sat down on a wood bench that lay close to the fountains side, he opened said daypack and brought out a small rectangular photo.
In the picture were two earth ponies, a small filly whose mane was long and black, her coat was white gray with gold rings wrapped around her four hooves and her eyes were a bright amber. In the photo, she was sitting on the shoulders of a stallion. The second earth pony was a pale brown stallion. He wore a large red winter coat and a large hat that covered the top of his head, hiding his ears and mane. It was mostly used in the winter times. In his left hoof, he held a large bottle. On the side of the bottle, written in bold letters were the words “Alcohol”. And the pegasus, was him. Supporting the little filly on his shoulder.
He smiled at the fond memory.
Coyote placed the photo back in his bag, putting it between his 3 packs of MREs and his canteen where a small plastic bag was sitting. He opened the plastic bag and placed the photo inside. He took out one of the MREs and placed it on the wood bench he sat on while still rummaging through his belongings. Pink hooves made their way into Coyote's line of site. He quickly reached for one of his knives in his daypack but kept it out of view from the pony. He slowly looked up, grip still held strong to the weapons handle.
“HI!” The pink pony smiled, her white teeth and blue eyes seemed to shine in the dark. She was dressed in dark pink pajamas with different color candies decorating its surface. “What’cha doin!” She asked, her smile seemed to grow.
He stared wide eyed at the pink female. Who is she!? He asked himself, panicking over the bizarre situation. How did she sneak up on me, I didn’t hear any hoofsteps!?
“Pinkie! Darling! What are you doing!” A more adult figure interrupted, the voice was feminine and seemed to show a more mature volume unlike the pink pony whose voice was high pitched. Coyote quickly put the knife back in its sheath and sat up. A mare whose mane was dark blue and coat was white approached the two and just like the pink pony, she was also wearing pajamas. “What did Twilight say!”
Twilight?
“She said not to bother him?” The pink pony sheepishly shrugged her shoulders.
“Thats right!” The white mare said, lifting her head up high. “And what are you doing!”
“Asking him why he was about to eat out of this strange thingy that looks like a box?” She held up the MRE.
Coyote looked back at the bench where he assumed his dinner was, but was now in the hooves of the pink mare. Coyote quickly stood up on all fours and snatched the plastic covered food from the mares grip with insecurity. “Tha-That’s mine!” He choked.
“Pinkie Pie!” Another voice jumped in. It was Twilight! She like the other two females, was in pajamas. “I am so sorry, Coyote!” Twilight apologised, lowering her head. “I didn’t realize, Pinkie would come up to you at such a late night!”
Coyote was confused, and scared. The situation he was now in, was very sudden. He placed the MRE back in his bag, zipped the one strap pack close and throwing it over his shoulder. He trotted away from the three mares and further into the town. The pink pony yell as he trotted farther, and farther away from the group...
It was silent. It was quiet. Either way it was described, there was nothing other than the large sphere in the dark sky and the lamps that showered the streets in light. He was nearing the center of the town. Across the street was a Town Hall. Coyote trotted over to the porch of the Hall and sat down, hoping to get some rest after the stressful scenario.
Repeating the same actions as he did at the fountain, he opened his daypack and brought out the MRE. He opened the MRE. Inside the brown bag was lettuce, crackers, bread, salt, and many other substanince, but a very small amount. Enough to leave his belly full for half a day.
Coyote stared down at the food he held in his hooves. He was hungry but the scene from before had left him in thought and unenthusiastic about his dinner. “It's just change, Coyote?” He told himself. “They were just trying to be friendly,”
He picked up his fork on the side of the plastic plate with his right wing and dug it into the salad. He brought the fork to his mouth and ripped the dry plant off the black plastic. There was no taste in the food he ate. He repeated the process twenty-seven times until the plate was deprived of food. He opened his bag once more and brought out his green canteen. He taking a swig of the fresh water, washing down the left over food in his throat..
He threw the now crinkled up plate and MRE container into the nearest trashcan. He walked back to his spot on the porch, gathered his luggage and tucked them under the steps of the wood foundation. leaving behind his personal effects and venturing further out into the dark streets of the town.
...No yelling...
...No screaming...
...No agony…
Even in the dead of night, the world was silent. A silent world with peace. He had to climb higher and discover the sky, see if it was as clear as the stories said they would be. He opened his wings and threw them towards the ground, sending him skyward. The wings he flew with were enormous and wide, the sheer size would send any Pegasus to envy such beauty. He dodged the clouds with ease, the liquid contained in the gray would soak his sweatshirt in H2O. leaving him to shiver in the cold.
He pierced the gray textured cotton and above up was a large portion of open space where the free could roam and fly. The stars around him twinkled. It was a dream, a gift from… Somewhere.
Letting his wings relax, he drew them back to his side. His full bandaged and scarred body fell. He approached Equestrian ground at high speeds. The wind that past him made him feel weightless and powerful. In the first time in his life, he felt like he was actually alive. His wings opened. He avoiding the ground by mere inches, Coyote found himself gliding two feet above the ground.
Deciding to get a better view of the village. He propelled himself into the sky once more and took flight, away from the humble town. He gazed down at the village near the outskirts of Ponyville. His eyes caught the sight of a steep cliff, he glided down towards the cliff. He touched down on the soft grass, he watched the town from said cliff while also feeling a strong breeze. Coyote unzipped his hoodie and hung it at the edge of a tree branch where it flapped in the wind. He walked further towards the edge.
Coyote opened his wings and closed his eyes, he could feel the same wind that blew around his clothing, brush against his bandages, coat, and mane. Tears poured down the stallions cheeks leaving a dark stain down his face. The heart that kept this stallion alive pumped blood through his veins. The feeling was indescribable. The wind, the air, the light. It was nothing he imagined.
His knees gave out, he sat on his rump and lied down feeling the soft grass under his hooves. Coyote smiled and his mind wandered the dreamscape.
Sleep came rather quick for the stallion…
One cannot say that his or her life is better just from a glance off a mirror or window
one must experience that life first hoof before you start to judge somepony on their lifestyle
then you will learn the truth behind that lie
S.C.
Chapter 4 A Missing Future
When Coyote awoke, he found himself cold with his body shaking and shivering. His form slowly rose to a sitting position were he found himself deprived of his clothing. Coyoty frantically swiveled his torso left and right, eyes fixated on the green grass searching for his beloved Sweatshirt. Jumping to his hooves, Coyote opened his imposing wings and stretched them as far as the could reach. He drew his head close to the soil and flew to the sky before diving off the cliff and explored for his longed garment. After a short legwork, Coyote managed to find his personal garb atop a lush bush. It was never a difficult search, seeing as the world was painted in a colorful scheme of light colors and his life was more accustomed to dark and gray. The day was still beginning, the sky was decorated in a gray-blue texture and the moon was slowly fading behind the large crystal like mountains in the far distance. It was a beautiful start to a new day.
Coyote drew higher to the sky before descended towards the town hall where he last left. His hooves touched the ground gracefully while picking up a small portion of dirt and throwing it a few centimeters away. He walked up to the steps of the large building and grabbed his belongings that lay under the wood platforms of the Town Hall. Everything was in its respective spot. He opened the daypack, nothing was unruffled. But a certain plastic bag was lacking. The only noticeable object that seemed to be missing was the picture between his canteen and MREs. He rummaged through his daypack. The photo was not found.
Coyote grabbed the side of the pack with his teeth, zipped up the pack, and threw it over his shoulders. The heft landed perfectly on his back. He trotted back to the fountain from last night where he met the three mares. He walked around the fountain, but nothing was found. He began to panic. He reached the top of his head with his hoof and scratched his scalp.
“Where is it, where is it!?” Coyote quietly mumbled to himself with worry. “Where!”
From behind, a small bell rang along with the sound of a creeping door. He turned around expecting to see the same pink mare from last night only to notice Twilight walking out of the pastry shop with a saddlebag over her back with a sleeping bag hanging out of said saddlebag. She stopped to look back into the shop before waving a hoof to an off scene pony. Coyote found himself face to face with the purple alicorn from yesterday.
“Hello, Coyote!” Twilight Sheepishly smiled, waving a hoof at the stranger.
“Hey, Twilight” He waved back at the mare. “Have you seen a photo around here?” He calmly asked, pointing a hoof at the ground next to the fountain. “I Lost a photo of my friend and family?”
“Yes!” She quickly answered. “Pinkie has the photo, Pinkie said she was going to keep it at Sugarcube Corner until she found you!?” She said, walking closer to the stallion.
“Thank you,” He sighed with relief, knowing that his only source of memory was in safe hooves. “Do you mind directing me to Sugarcube Corner ma'am?”
“Of course?” She smiled.
Even as she pointed to the building across the road, Twilight still decided to follow the brown hooded stallion into the bakery. As the door to the bakery opened, a small bell rung above their heads, signaling the owner of the shop of their presence. The pair walked up to the counter. A pink blur exposed itself from behind the glass case with a large smile and open arms.
“HI!” She yelled, startling Coyote. “Are you looking for this~!?” She said closing her eyes, grabbing the photo from her cotton candy mane with her hoof and waving it in front of the stallion.
Catching the pink pony off guard, Coyote quickly snatched the photo from the mare's hooves and placed it in his bag at lightning speeds. Both Twilight and Pinkie held the look of astonishment.
“Thank you” He nodded. “And Thank you, Twilight,” He gestured to the purple mare, walking towards the front door of the building. Away from the two females. “I think I should go now,”
“Wait!” Pinkie Pie Dramatically yelled, raising her hoof in the air. “You didn’t have anything to eat!”
As if on cue, Coyotes belly rumbled. He clenched his stomach with his hoof, cringing at his irritated organ. He looked back at the pink mare. Below her, in the glass casing were a variety of cakes and sweets. Saliva dripped from the stallion's mouth, he could almost taste the strange treats that taunted him behind the glass cover.
“W-Well…” He hesitated, watching the sweets shine and glitter inside the clean counter. “I guess?” He walked back to the counter and put his daypack down next to a random seat in the store.
“So What would you like!” The pink pony jumped up and down with excitement. “You can do it!”
“I-I…” Another stressful situation for the stallion.
“I’ll have a muffin, Pinkie.” Twilight cut in, proceeding to point at the brown pastrie behind the glass counter. “Just one please” She smiled
“One muffin coming right up!” She shrieked, running into the kitchen and make every possible noise she could.
From out of view, Pinkie grabbed Twilight and pulled her to the side, away from the brown stallion. A private conversation started between the mares as they whispered to one another.
This gave time for Coyote to think to himself and ponder what he would eat so he may exit the strange pastry shop. All the sweets seemed delicious and obviously tasty. The smell was also enjoyable. Nothing caught his attention, not even the cake, seeing as all the pastries were large. He was never one for sweets. He could not eat a single one, not in the amount of time he wanted of course. That, and he did not know the currency of Equestria. He decided the take the same item as the purple mare. A muffin.
“What!” The recognizable voice of Twilight yelled.
Coyote directed his attention towards the two ponies to find that Pinkie had a wide grin while Twilight’s cheeks appeared burning red. Twilight moved her head away from the stallion and back to her friend, whispering angrily. There conversation quickly came to an abrupt end, Twilight walked back to the counter, next to Coyote where she would receive her treat. Pinkie rose from behind the counter with the same wide grin.
“I’ll have the muffin too please?” Coyote said with composure.
“Two muffins coming right up!” She yelled, pulling out two brown paper bags from behind the counter, placing them gently on said glass counter in front of both Coyote and Twilight.
Coyotes left eyebrow arched. Amazed at the pink ponies quickness and stealth.
“Thank you Pinkie,” Twilight smiled. The brown bag was suddenly enveloped in a purple aura which slowly rose from the solid surface and hovered over the body of Twilight.
Coyote was astounded by the display of magic potential. Coyote grabbed his order with his mouth, clenching the end of the bag between his teeth. He trotted over to the table where his pack lay lazily next to and placed it on the table. He looked over at the front door where Twilight waved her hoof back and forth, bidding farewell to her cheerful friend.
“Ms.Sparkle!” He called to the mare. Twilight turned around, looking back at the hooded stallion with an appealing expression. He struggled for word. His throat began to itch and ached, his voice was scratchy and his hooves were shaky. He shook his head, shaking the feelings off as just shyness. “May you sit with me Twilight?” He asked. Coyote stood up, pulled out the seat that posed on the other side of the small round table, making it difficult for the purple alicorn to decline.
Twilight, as well, hesitated with words. The alicorn looked back at her pink friend for advice. She drew her head back with surprise and glared at her with frustration. Coyote turned around, finding Pinkie with both of her front hooves on the counter, giving off an innocent look while looking up at the ceiling. Coyote turned his attention back towards Twilight who was still pondering his words. Twilight nodded and trotted towards the table.
“Sure” She said with a smile.
Sitting down, she placed her bag on the table and opened the wrapped paper revealing a brown muffin. She dug her teeth into darkened piece of bread. Coyote took his pastry from the bag as well and bit into it. It was amazing, delicious, fantastic. If Coyote could use the best word to describe the greatest dish. He would have no hesitation using it on this one treat. About ready to inhale the bread, he stopped himself and took a normal bit. He took out a napkin from inside the brown bag and carefully placing it on the table, treating the small paper as a fragile piece of art. He place the muffin on the napkin making sure not to let the pastry touch the clean table.
Coyote anxiously tapped his hooves. I need a plan His mind drifted to thought. Twilight is next to you, so you need to think fast. You need information on this world and its contents. The best place to find this is either in a library or an info-tower! He looked up at the mare, ready to talk to the purple alicorn. “Ummm… So Twilight” His voice was scratchy and sore but also gentle and soft. “Can you possibly. Help me around ponyville?” His gaze motioned to his left, keeping eye contact to a minimum.
“Of course!”
Coyote glanced back at Twilight. Her instant reply towards his request was unexpected. “Really?” He contested. “A-Are you sure that won't be a problem?”
“I’m sure. I may be a princess and all but that doesn’t mean I can't help a fellow pony around Ponyville” She calmly smiled. Crumbs from the muffin fell from the mare's lips as she took another bite from the pastry.
Coyote's eyes widened and his jaw slightly dropped. A princess! He was flabbergasted. The princess of equestria was here in front of him!? He was astounded how such a high royal could be in such a town without guards protecting her or even spying on her for that matter. Was this alicorn a royal descendant of Celestia, possibly her foal? It was a mystery. Questions rolled around in his head, the only Princesses he knew of were Celestia and Luna. The true rulers of Equestria. While he did not like the idea of having this mare be Celestia’s daughter, he needed to keep his mind set on the mission at hoof. Finding information about the world he stood in was more important.
A purple hoof swung up and down in Coyote’s field of vision. He shook his head wildly, bringing himself out of his daze and back to reality. He stared at Twilight who seemed to scan his emotions. “I’m guessing you~ Just found out that I was a princess” She giggled. “It’s ok though. I get that look a lot ”
“S-Sorry!” Coyote apologised.
As he rose from his seat to bow to the newly acquainted princess, Twilight struck her hoof out, signaling the stallion to stop where he stood. “It’s ok!” She hollered, jumping out of her seat. Twilight immediately noticed the stallion stop and swiftly sit back in his chair with a neutral stare. “That was close,” Twilight sighed with relief.
Coyote tilted his head, confused by the situation that happened before him. “Uhm?”
“Please. it’s ok. I don't need ponies bowing for me” She said shifting her wings. “Let's just pretend we are normal ponies having normal breakfast. Ok” She said clamping her hooves together while closing her eyes with a smile.
A princess who is not acquainted with royalty? He thought to himself indecisively. His previous thoughts on the mare were now neglected, seeing as she was sceptical about him bowing to her. She also did not seem comfortable about royal greetings? Is she really a princess? He hesitantly questioned. He drew back to reality and reversing to talking to Princess Twilight Sparkle. “Sure” He said after moments of silence. “So” Coyote started. He scratched the back of his head with his hoof in embarrassment. “Can you help me?”
“Of course I can help you Mr.Scavenge. What do you need help with?"
"I was wondering if there was an information tower around Ponyville, or maybe a library that could tell me some history on Equestria?"
Twilight’s eyes somehow shined in the semi-dark shop. She gasped with excitement and leaned forward. “A library!” She screeched.
The brown stallion leaned back, keeping distance between the mare. “Y-yes?”
Twilight quickly noticed her intrusion on his personal space and sat back in her seat. Her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. “Sorry,” She apologised. She put her hoof near her neck and cleared her throat. “So you said you are looking for a library!?”
“Yes ma’am”
Twilight giggled with excitement, her chilling body shook with passion and joy. “Well you're in luck sir. Ponyville does own a library -- Well. Used to own a library?”
“Used to?”
“Well Yes, but now I own it,” she pointed a hoof at herself, indicating that she was the new owner.
“I, don't understand ma’am?” Coyote shook his head with confusion. His bangs swaying left and right. “Why did you mention that Ponyville used to have a library?”
“W-Well”
“Becausetwilightwashavingasuperduperawsomedaythanonedayabigmeanywentaroundhutingalotofponiesastwilightwaslikenoansthwbigmeanyblewuptwilightdhomewhichisthelibraryyouwantedtoseesowedefeatedhimwithrain-”
Her voice seemed to suddenly appear over their conversation and heads. The pink pony’s mouth was then struck with a purple hoof which belonged to the bookworm alicorn. She appeared from under the table when Pinkie started her one word story, her mouth was quick and fast when explaining. Most of it, Coyote could hardly understand.
“Pinkie” Twilight sheepishly smiled with a hesitant giggle. “That's a bit personal,”
“Oh sorry, I was just really excited to tell the story Twilight!”
Coyote slightly rose his hoof from behind the table, signaling the girls next to him.
“Oh! Right!” Twilight perked up.
The princess gently pushed herself away from the light colored table, she placed all four hooves on the floor below her and approached the exit of the pastry shop with a hysterical smile. “Come on, I’ll show you!” She said, trotting out the door and into the open world.
Coyote quickly shoved the remaining crumbs of the pastry down his empty mouth, unable to savor the taste and flavor before throwing his daypack over his shoulder and strapping it to his back. Using one wing, Coyote sweeped the remaining trash on the table into the crumbled brown bag he held in his hoof. Making his way towards the door, the pegasus threw the brown bag into the nearest bin. He opened the front door, exiting the pastry shop. When he stepped hoof out into the early day, the light from the yellow sun distorted the stallions sense of sight. Squinting, Coyote placed a hoof above his eyebrows to shield from the burning sun. Seeing the towing drowned in the disgusting sun made his bones shake.
“Are you ok sir?” Twilight asked with a voice of concern. Her hoof ready to reach out to the male if he stumbled, but thankfully this did not happen.
Coyote opened his muzzle and continued to follow Twilight. “I’m fine ma’am?”
“Are you sure, you look like your not use to the sun?”
“No ma’am, I’m not,”
The pony gasped as he quickly slammed both hooves on the ground, pushing himself away from the stone tiles he laid on. He stood up on all fours for a second, then fell down on his back. The stallion scratched at his throat as he tried to grasp the air around him. His breathing slowed as well as his motioning of limbs. His eyes examined the area around him taking note of his surrounding. The trees were dark, long green moss hung from the branches that stuck out from the large masses. Both hooves touched the ground below him feeling the same cold stone from before, around him were stone walls with cracks scattered a crossed its gray surface.
There was no ceiling and the moon was out, high above the dark trees its blue light illuminating the world around him. the stars stood in the dark sky not moving an inch all shining a bright white in all different sizes. his gaze shifted to an opening in the gray wall were stained pieces of glass were scattered in a more open area. As the stallion stood up his vision blurred for a short moment then returned to its normal state. He walked closer to the opening, his left fore hoof missed the edge of the opening and fell 10 feet into the lower part of the area.
He groaned in pain as his back made contact with the sharp stained glass that lay on the gray tiles. He took in a deep breath then exhaled, suppressing the pain he held inside of him. The stallion slowly began to stand taking a defensive position. limping, he walked over to another opening where a large fountain that sat in around a circular room with windows taking half the wall. The stallion fell quick and clumsily over a crooked tile, landing face first into the cold stone. Blood streamed down his nose, the stallion nodded his head back and forth as his vision turned black.
Did I make it? His last thoughts escaped his mind before he slowly succumbed to the dark depths of sleep.
