Wilted

"It's all about finding the calm in the chaos." - Donna Karan

Omen always saw herself as a simple pony. She only had simple desires, simple needs. She merely wanted a place where she could eat and drink without being turned away. The rest she could make do by herself. She knew it didn't seem that way to many ponies, but it was the truth. Being robbed of her sight, hearing, taste, and smell did not mean she was utterly defenseless. There was always the sixth sense, the one she hid, the one which lurked inside her and whispered to her. Sometimes, it brought the future. Most often, however, it simply warned her of anything dangerous in her path. She could always manage to avoid the obstacle, so long as the sixth sense was there. So long as she wasn't completely helpless. So long as she had her guide.

A guide most were afraid of.

It may have made little sense when you think about it, but ponies were afraid of Omen. Deathly afraid. They knew she was blind and deaf with no sense of taste or the ability to smell, but they also took notice of how she seemed to know where she was going regardless. While that wasn't necessarily scary, considering there were other ponies who were also blind and deaf with this ability, it was the way she did it. So effortlessly, without a second thought, like she could see where everything was. But she couldn't. And that made even other unicorns wary. No magic existed that could grant a pony like her with these abilities. At least, none which any user of light magic knew of.

In many towns, this eventually forced her to leave. She would tire of feeling the suspicious looks directed at her, or when she was turned away by a pony who didn't want them near their place of business. It is here where we once again find Omen. She travels down a narrow dirt path, her dark grey head hung as she walks slowly but steadily towards whatever destination the road may lead her. Her dark brown mane, accented with streaks of dark purple, is tied up in a messy, spiky bun, with loose bangs drifting down to cover her face. Her tail is done in a much neater fashion, being brushed to a slightly wavy curve at the end, though the purple streaks in her tail are wound together in a braid that settles over the top of the brown. The unicorn wears only two things, one of them being a plain silver choke necklace, and the other a dark indigo cloak which settles over her body like a weight. The hood of her cloak is down, and this allows for any passing pony to see her plain midnight blue irises and pupils.

Not that there was anypony else walking down the lone country road as the sun began to set. It would have been a rather surreal sight for any who had been coming or going, seeing the blind pony walking ever-so-calmly on the trail which bordered the Everfree, seeming to not have a care about the fact that the creatures of the Everfree were about to come out and play.

Omen was well aware how weird she appeared, but there wasn't anything to be done. This was the smallest path within miles, and she'd rather avoid any big roads, just in case. While she hadn't done anything to most ponies, there were some ponies she had managed to tick off in certain places, and she had no desire to run into them once again while traveling on the road alone.

Sighing, Omen attempted to clear her head of these thoughts. Bringing up her enemies certainly wasn't going to make her any more comfortable with the idea of settling at the next town she came across. She just hoped she didn't make the next town hate her again. Though she sort of knew it was going to happen. It always did. Where could she, someone who to most ponies appeared to be a dark cloud which blocked the sun, find a place to belong in a land of innocent and joyful ponies?

Omen knew that she'd eventually reach a conclusion to that question, but it was an answer she was almost afraid to find at the current moment. Maybe when she got to the end of her options she could give it serious thought. For now, there were still a few more places in Equestria she wasn't shunned in.

Suddenly, Omen stopped. Something was up. It wasn't just her sixth sense telling her that, it was her gut. Lifting her head, it took Omen five seconds to sense eyes on her. She couldn't tell if they had good or bad intentions, but all the same, she tensed up, prepared to run at the slightest hint of danger.

In front of you!

The screech in her head had her leaping backward as something shot in her face, stirring the fur on her chest and her mane. "Who's there?" Omen asked, steadying herself and setting herself in a defensive position. "I cannot hear or see you, so if you are friend, stomp the ground once, if you are foe, twice."

After a small pause, Omen felt the ground under vibrate under her hooves once. Taking a second to make sure there wouldn't be a second vibration, she contemplated trusting whether this pony or creature was telling the truth. Though if it was an animal trying to attack her, they would have simply attacked her instead of complying with her request. Same with anypony that was truly trying to hurt her. So, Omen had to believe they were telling the truth.

Settling down, Omen straightened. "Do you perhaps know Moor code?" She felt the ground vibrate several times. "Good. Now, what exactly is it that you felt the need to get so excited about that you got up in my face?"

There was hesitation in the reply again, and pauses between each tap, but eventually they started to speed up, which slightly confused Omen. This was the fastest response in Moor Code she'd ever felt. She could make out what was being said, but it was making her realize she should have just continued on. This pony was apparently called Pinkie Pie, and she lived in the nearby town of Ponyville. She was also saying something about knowing everypony there, and that she had never seen her before. What came after was a bit garbled, though Omen was pretty sure it was concerning a party of some sorts. Yes, definitely, the word party kept coming up. Wait, hold on. She wanted to throw Omen one? To welcome her?

That statement caught her completely off guard. She had never had a party before. Ever. Not exactly sure what to say to the presumably pink pony, Omen stood there awkwardly for a few minutes, rubbing her right foreleg with her left. A party. To welcome her. Two completely alien things to Omen. And probably something that would end badly.

Taking a deep breath, Omen shook her head. "I'm sorry, Ms. Pie, but I do not think it would be a good idea. I am just going to get this out of the way, to avoid any awkwardness later. I am not a normal pony. I cannot hear, see, taste, or smell, and I have a sixth sense which is very odd and which could have been caused by dark magic."

There was no reply for a long time, so long Omen thought Pinkie may have gone, and the unicorn was about to continue walking when she felt the ground vibrate again. 'Like my Pinkie Sense?'

This inquiry also shocked Omen. Pinkie Sense? "It depends. What is your Pinkie Sense?" This got a very swift reply, and what Omen received as an answer made her go stock still. After several more minutes of silence, Omen finally spoke. "Well, yes, it is sort of like that, though a little more powerful. And I don't have my body twitch. I can not believe this. I thought I was the only one with this sort of thing."

'Nope!' Pinkie Pie tapped in Moor code. No doubt she was grinning. Still, despite what Pinkie Pie was telling her, Omen wasn't sure she quite believed the mare. This could just be a trick. Though for what purpose? It was making her head spin.

As Omen figured out whether she could trust Pinkie or not, a breeze tore over them. Suddenly, she felt Pinkie slam into her, and they both ended up rolling away from where Omen had been standing. About fifteen seconds later, Omen felt the ground shake as something slammed into it. Both equally curious and angry, she asked, "What exactly was that?"

Again, Pinkie tapped away at the ground in a super speedy fashion. The answer she gave Omen confirmed that the energetic pony was, once again, telling the truth. She had apparently saved Omen from getting crushed by a large tree branch her Pinkie Sense had warned her about. While there may not have been a danger if Pinkie hadn't stopped her in the first place, and the fact her sixth sense would likely have warned her a few seconds in advance, she was still grateful. And at least she knew now. She was not the only one with an inherit sixth sense. After having traveled all over Equestria, she had at last found someone who understood her in that regard.

Though that didn't mean the town she lived in would welcome her. Had they even accepted Pinkie's sixth sense? The mare either knew what she was thinking, or had wanted to move on to her previous topic about the party. Pinkie began to talk about Ponyville, and how everyone there was so nice, and that they always listened to her about her Pinkie Sense, and that-

Before Pinkie Pie could say anymore, a howl came from the Forest, and the pink mare stopped abruptly. Judging by the sudden feeling of unease she was picking up on, Omen guessed that something bad was going on, and that she needed to get out of there. Before she could, though Pinkie suddenly grabbed her and started running.

Obviously, these actions confused Omen greatly. She couldn't sense anything dangerous happening around her, though Pinkie was running like Nightmare Moon was on her tail. Maybe the pink mare had heard something from the Forest. Yes, that made sense. The Everfree was a dangerous place as far as she knew, especially at night. Which, judging by the cool air whipping through her fur, mane, and tail, she assumed that either it was very late sunset or nighttime already.

Just as suddenly as Omen had been picked up, Pinkie dropped her back onto the ground. She could feel a sense of relief coming from the other mare, and Omen knew that they were safe from the possible threat. Where exactly was she though?

Turning to her sixth sense, she waited for it to give her any clues. For the first time in forever, though, it chose to remain silent. Once she had realized this, Omen felt the ground vibrating under her hooves again, and knew Pinkie must be speaking once more.

While she had caught into the tapping a little late, she pieced together that they were gonna have to stay at someplace called Sweet Apple Acres, in the care of her friend Applejack. Omen had no real care for this. At least she'd have a roof over her head tonight.

Meeting the Apples was interesting, to say the least. They introduced themselves vocally, unaware of Omen's plight, and stood there awkwardly waiting for a reply. Pinkie had gone off somewhere, Omen was not quite sure where, so she had no idea that the Apple family was waiting for her to respond. After another few minutes, Applejack narrowed her eyes and came up, jabbing her in the chest and commenting that she was being rude. Omen only felt the jab, which she recoiled from in an instant. Great. So much for open and friendly. Looks like they wanted her gone too.

Just as she was turning to leave, though, Pinkie reappeared and fixed the situation. 'Hey, where are you going?' she tapped in Moor code. Omen shook her head and sighed. "Where do you think? They obviously don't want me here."

Pinkie looked at Applejack for confirmation. The apple farmer, however, appeared just as confused as Pinkie. "What is she talking about? We introduced ourselves and were bein' friendly." Pinkie face-hoofed as she said, "Ooooooh, silly me, I forgot to tell you! She can't hear or see you! She also can't taste or smell, but that doesn't really have anything to do with why she didn't greet you back! Hehe! Anyway, you have to talk to her using Moor code!"

Applejack looked at Omen again, and now that she really examined her, Applejack noticed how her eyes were a dark blue which extended over the area where her pupils should be, and that her ears gave no real sign of movement to track even the tiniest of sounds. "Oh, well, we're mighty sorry. We didn't know, honest!"

Pinkie Pie face-hoofed again as Applejack once more vocally spoke, but then translated it for Omen after explaining the situation. Omen turned to fully face the Apples and the Pie once more. "It is fine. I've just grown used to ponies jabbing me in the chest as a sign to get lost. I am Omen. It is nice to meet you, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Big MacIntosh, and Granny Smith."

Omen wasn't normally so formal with ponies after she thought they were sending her away, but she understood. Mistakes happen. Misunderstandings occur. She had had more in her lifetime than someone like Applejack will ever have in hers. After 'chatting' for a bit with the Apples, with Pinkie acting as a translator, Omen finally decided to retire. Apple Bloom guided her to her room, and showed Omen the bed. While she appreciated the young filly's help, she knew it was not necessary. Not that she would tell the filly that. She wouldn't be that mean to a mare so young she didn't even know where foals came from. Just cause the world treated her wrong didn't mean she had to treat it the same. She might actually have found a home by now if ponies weren't so judgmental about her innate abilities. Well, maybe. There was still the premonition thing. Sometimes she got warned about things at the last second, and ended up helping a pony, sometimes even saving their lives. It was another reason why ponies were freaked about her. While it didn't happen often, it happened enough to where a lot of ponies knew about it. At least, on the west side of Equestria. She hadn't really graced the east with her oddly unsettling abilities yet. Thankfully, it appeared she didn't have to worry about what the east thought, considering they welcomed Pinkie and her Pinkie Sense without a second thought. This might actually be the place she could settle and make a home for herself.

This thought hit Omen like a brick to the head. She might actually be able to settle in Ponyville. She might actually be able to get a life. It all depended on what her sixth sense did, and if the ponies here were as accepting of that sort of thing as Pinkie has claimed them to be. The Apple family seemed to have backed up that statement thus far. When Pinkie undoubtedly took her into town tomorrow, she could gauge if everypony else was just as nice as the Apples.

For now, though, she really ought to rest. Today had been a long day. It had started even before dawn, with the local baker of a small village several miles from here pushing her out the door and onto her back. From there, she had been punched in the shoulder, and told by the local librarian, who knew Moor code, to get out of town. She had listened, cause what else could she do?

From there, she had wandered the roads all day, taking the back trails, even if it meant more walking and less time to stop and relax. Omen hadn't even meant to end up near the Everfree. Sure, she knew she was sort of drifting that way, but she hadn't thought she was that close. Guess  it was a good thing she had been on that trail though. Because of her slight error, she may have just found the one place in Equestria where she could settle down. Stop wandering the roads. Take a break. For the rest of her life.

The thought brought such joy, Omen found herself unable to sleep. Getting up, she allowed her hooves to guide her towards what she assumed to be a wall of her bedroom.

As she stopped in front of said wall, the entire world suddenly opened up before her. She could see everything. In front of her, sturdy oak planks made up the walls of her room, and behind her, a modest full-sized bed was pushed up against a corner. There was also a nightstand with a lamp on it next to the head of the bed, though the lamp was off, casting the room in utter darkness. The door to the room could also be seen from the corner of her eye, appearing to be made of a fairly darker wood than the normally light-colored oak. Pine, perhaps.

However fascinating these small facts were to Omen, they were not the thing which held her attention. No, it was the window which was implemented into the wall her hooves had led her to. The window itself was as simple as everything else about the farmhouse, square in shape with white moldings. What was revealed by the window, though, was not quite as plain.

Down below and to the west, the apple orchard stretched out as far as the eye could see. The barn rest right next to it, towering over the trees and spreading a rather sinister shadow over the orchard. That was still not what drew Omen's attention though.

Down the hill and to the east, the little town of Ponyville lay bathed in the moonlight. Its many buildings were oddly shaped and differed in height, but compared to a lot of other towns Omen had pictured in her mind, it was by far the most beautiful little village she had seen. The addition of the moonlight shining off the glistening rooftops and washing the roads in silver didn't hurt the town's appearance either.

As she stared at this, something suddenly flew into Omen's line of sight, blocking her view of the city hall. Distracted, she shifted her gaze from the town to the flower which ever-so-gently floated down onto the windowsill outside. It appeared to be one of the flowers from the orchard, one which had been very late in blooming, and now would never get a chance to grow into an apple. The thought sightly grieved Omen for some reason. She wasn't really sure why. It just felt like a tragedy to her.

As she thought about this, something odd began to happen to the flower. A gentle breeze stirred its petals, and suddenly, brown began to appear on the edge of each petal. Omen noticed this, and watched in shock as the brown spread and the flower began to wilt. In no time at all, the flower had turned to dust, which was carried away by another breeze.

After this, the world returned to complete darkness. Omen wasn't worried though. She sometimes had visions like these. Though none of them had ever been so long and vivid, nor had she ever seen something so weird during one of them. A flower wilting? What could that mean?

Troubled, Omen headed back to the bed and climbed in. Perhaps she could figure it out tomorrow. Right now, she really should get some sleep. The next 24 hours were most likely going to prove to be long and full of surprises. If she didn't get any proper sleep, she might miss something important. Something which could reveal whether her vision had been a sign of good tidings- or bad.