The life and times of Lafayette Ryder

“Here we are.” Twilight’s voice brings me back to reality; I’ve spent the entire walk from the school just daydreaming. I wish I could have fought the bullies I knew back home like I fought Tiara and Spoon. No, no I actually wish I could have just killed them slowly and made them suffer for all the shit they put me through.

My mind ceases to wander as I follow Twilight into a small cottage filled with animals.

“So is Fluttershy an animal hoarder or what?” I don’t mean to be rude but there must be a hundred different animals in the house, even more outside.

“No, she’s a veterinarian. Most of the animals here are sick pets that she takes care of, the rest are either farm animals or strays from the Everfree.” Twilight offers me a seat, which I refuse, and calls for Fluttershy. Pots and pans clatter in the kitchen and I turn to see a light blue mare with a multicolored mane. In an attempt to be polite I wave and introduce myself to the mare.

“Hi Fluttershy, I’m Lafayette.” Twilight had warned me of Fluttershy’s shyness (I never would have guessed) so I put on a warm smile and speak softly. Fluttershy looks at me and then to Twi and back to me. Damn it, did I say something wrong?

Before I can apologize Fluttershy breaks out laughing and points a hoof at me. What the hell did I say?

“You think I’m Fluttershy?!”

“Well yeah, this is her house and you’re the only Pegasus here.”

“Hah! I’m rainbow Dash, fastest flyer in Equestria, future WonderBolts member, and coolest pony around.” I listen as Rainbow brags and I silently hope that her ego doesn’t inflate any more; it might burst if it does.

Twilight interrupts Rainbow’s boasting and asks where Fluttershy is at.

“She went into the Everfree to get some herbs or something like that. She asked me to keep an eye on the place while she was out.”

“Well we need to talk to her so I guess Lafe and I will just go find her.” Together Twilight and I leave rainbow to her chores and make our way to the forest to find Fluttershy. No one noticed but I might have grabbed a few apples off of the coffee table back at Fluttershy’s. I’ll pay her back later; right now my stomachs growling and I want some food.

Twilight seems nervous as we enter the Everfree, I don’t know why; it’s just like the woods by the house I grew up in, though her wariness is obvious she doesn’t say a word as we trek thought the dense foliage.

After a mile of walking we hear a shriek from our left.

“Fluttershy!” Twilight shouts and runs in the direction of the shriek, I quickly follow.

I run for a few minutes (only falling once) and find Twilight next to a river bawling. A hundred feet downstream is a yellow mare holding onto a branch and struggling to stay afloat.

I toss my rifle and iPod to Twilight and dive into the freezing water.

From what I can tell its probably late fall in this area but damn this water is cold. I swim as fast as I can until I reach Fluttershy, I assume this is the real her but now’s just not the time to ask. I grab a hold of her and doggy paddle towards the shore.

There’s just one problem; the shore is fifty feet away. Wait, no make that two problems; I can’t breathe. We hit a white cap and water flows through my open mouth and into my lungs. My legs start to go numb as I force myself to go faster. The Pegasus in my arms is terrified, so am I.

I don’t know how I make it but the next thing I know we’re on shore. I let go of Fluttershy and start vomiting up some of the brown river water I had ingested. I keep heaving but no more will come out. I still can’t breathe.

I can’t breathe.

I collapse, gasping like a fish out of water as Twilight rushes over.

The first thing I saw when I woke in the Ponyville hospital was an angel with purple skin and a horn, it’s fitting that she’s also the last thing I see as I fade into darkness on a beach in the Everfree.