An Owner of a Lonely Heart

“There you go sir. Now, is there anything else that you might…”

Looking up, I catch a glimpse of the blue and red tail highlights of my most recent customer through the door, right before it closes shut with an audible “bang”. I slump against the counter.

Sigh…

It had been awhile after I… recovered from my self-inflicted food poisoning. I had gone back downstairs and taken my place at the counter. Then, I waited for my First customer.

And waited.

And waited.

And, waited.

Finally, after almost an hour later, a rather rude stallion showed up and asked me for something to deal with his headache, and I obliged him. Yet, he didn’t even have the courtesy to say anything and just slammed some bits on the counter and ran out through the front door without even a “thank you”.

I suppose I should’ve expected this, the ponies who inhabit the slums of Canterlot are not exactly the type you would categorize as “friendly”. After all, they’re in the same boat as I am.

But that doesn’t mean they can’t be polite about it.

I crouch down and grab a small pouch from under the counter with my mouth. Trying, and mainly failing, to ignore the taste. I place it onto the counter and I hold it still with my hooves. I now use my teeth to bite onto the small rope keeping my money from falling out.

It comes loose, and so I let go of it and, very carefully use my hooves to lift each individual coin and drop it into the small bag with a “Ching” of each coin hitting each other. And, after getting through the extremely annoying process, I tie up the bag again, put it back in its place, and lament quietly over how many times I have to go through it every day.

Cloth doesn’t taste any better the thirty-eighth time than it did the first.

The rest of the morning had gone along quietly, with only a few other ponies stopping by to purchase some painkillers and sleeping aids; the usual over-the-counter Trivial drugs and the like. Soon enough the Morning Rush had changed into the almost completely lifeless Afternoon.

I once again hear the swish of the door opening, breaking the silence. Putting up a smile, I look up to greet my newest Client.

“Hi! Welcome to- “

I don’t get a chance to finish. My face blanches under my coat. The expression of the pony across from me, however, seems to be just as shocked as I am, although with relief rather than fear. Her cyan eyes lock onto mine.

Aurora Shield, my sister.

She towers over me by… at least six centimeters. Her stylized Mane is done up into a ponytail that drapes down to her shoulders, her green and blue locks interwoven together. This, combined with her pristine white coat and perfect figure, makes her one of the most beautiful and sought after mares in Canterlot… At least that’s what all the colts from school seemed to think. She hasn’t changed at all since I last saw her, when I-…

“Twisted?”

Her Inquiry jolts me from my thoughts. She looks at me, expectantly and eyes full of hope.

“oh! uh…”

Too late now… you already confirmed it by responding. You can’t back your way out of this one.

“uh... hi… sis, um… long time no see?” I say awkwardly, adopting a nervous smile.

Her expression however, does a complete flip.

“Hi? Hi?!? You run away and disappear for four years and the best you can come up with… is Hi?!?”

That… I did not expect. Her high-pitched tone and angry glare cuts into me like a knife. And I wilt under her disappointed gaze.

“Mom and dad were so worried about you! I was so worried about you! And when me and Breeze couldn’t find you, they were scared half to death that you had been kidnapped… or worse!”

“I-I’m sorry” I blurt out, too scared and confused to form a real response.

“You’re-?!” She stops as she takes in my response, and her face softens upon seeing my fearful expression.

“Twist I-, it’s been so long… I-I just can’t Believe it’s really you!”

Her face shifts into one of joy, and tears begin to form at the corners of her eyes. She trots up to me and attempts to hug me. But I instinctively take a step back.

Hurt flashes through her face.

“W-What’s wrong? Are you okay??” She says, voice dripping with concern.

“I-I’m fine. I’m just… Surprised to see you as well.” I reply, a little more casually then I’d Intended.

“Twist, where have you been all this time?? What have you been doing? How- “

Sis started firing off question after question, her words blended together into a garble of sound. Panic creeps slowly throughout my body. So, before I got overwhelmed, I decided to stop her before she really went off kilter.

“Stop! Look, why don’t we situate ourselves down in the kitchen and I’ll get us some drinks and then we can talk in a more… private area?” She followed my hoof as I motioned it towards the clear glass windows at the front of the shop, where just outside ponies where running about their daily routines and generally putzing about. She nodded in understanding.

“Alright… but I’m expecting some answers” She replied with a stern, but caring tone.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am happy that she’s here, and its actually kind of nice to see, no… feel, like somepony cares. But… I don’t want to have to lie to her, I also don’t want to have to face her with the answers I know I have.  Nevertheless, this conversation is probably going to be awkward, regardless of what I choose to do.

Well, let’s get this over with, I guess…

I guide her over through the kitchen door. But, as soon as I close it behind me, a pungent odor decides to assault my nose. The source of it is easy to spot, the already disgusting oatmeal from earlier has seemed to have gotten even worse. Beside me, Aurora’s muzzle scrunches up as well.

“uh… sorry, sis. Let me just clear that off the table first.”

I walk over to the table and grasp both sides of the bowl and lift. it’s reasonably heavy, so I struggle a little to get it off the table. But then the fizzling sound of magic fills my ears, and the bowl is wrapped in a light blueish glow.

“Here Twist, let me help you with that.”

I’m perfectly fine on my own, I don’t need your help!

I quickly shove that response back down my throat.

I hate it when she does this. I know she’s just trying to help, but her constant coddling of me always makes me feel… useless. I’ve tried telling her, but she. never. gets. it. So, for now, I bite down on my tongue and reluctantly let her “help” me.

She dumps the contents into the trashcan and looks back to me.

“Where do you want me to put this?” she said

“Just put in on the counter…somewhere. It doesn’t matter”

She levitated the bowl and dropped it onto the counter. I make my way and sit down, she quickly follows, and sits down across from me on the opposing chair. She looks around, finally taking in her sparse surroundings in earnest. Then, she turns back towards me with a puzzled face.

“Twist… What is all this?”

“It’s my house…” I reply, confused

Her expression turned shocked

“Twist how-?”

“Oh, I just, you know… got a mortgage from the bank”

Her face Morphs into an expression of horrified…concern?? Oh-kay what did I do now?

“What?”

“You’re in debt?!?”

She shrieked directly into my face, and by the time my ears stopped ringing and I could focus again, she had already started off again.

“Twist, why in world are you in debt?!?

“W-well I needed someplace to live…”  I say, shrinking ever so slowly into my seat.

“Why didn’t you just come back home then???”

“I-I uh…”

How the hay am I supposed respond to this? oh WhatdoIdowhatdoIdowhatdoIdoOooo?!?!

“I-I Don’t…know?” I say fearfully, shrinking as far into the chair as I can

The next couple of seconds are nothing but dead. Silence. The tension between us so thick, that a knife would break if it made contact. Her Shock then ends abruptly as she facehoofs and sighs.

“Twist, I-I can’t believe you’d do something so… so stupid as this!”

…

…

…

“I’m sorry”

The Whimpered words were barely above a whisper; tears were beginning to gather in the corners of my eyes. I feel absolutely terrible. I knew she was going to be upset, but I never thought she would be this mad… The disappointed stare, the yelling, the panic, it is all too much for me to handle. Guilt begins to claw at the back of my mind, and I begin trembling uncontrollably. She must hate me now, And it’s all. my. fault.

For a second, Everything. Stopped.

It’s all my fault

It’s all m-my fault

It’s all my fault

I-it’s all my fau-

I’m knocked out my stupor when two white legs are suddenly wrapped around my barrel. I had failed to notice her getting out of her chair. I reach out and hug back as tightly as I can. And, for a while, we just stay like that, Hugging each other Tightly. I can hear her soft heartbeats as we huddle together. I slowly calm down, all my thoughts fade away, and retreated to whatever dark recess within my mind that they spawned from. Until the only things left are me, and her…

Ba-Bump…

Ba-bump…

Ba-bump…

Ba-bump…

Ba-bump…

Ba-bump…

I wish we could stay in each other’s hooves forever… or at least a little bit longer. But, I suppose nothing good can last forever… After a few Minutes of enjoying our embrace, Sis yet again is the one to break the silence.

“I’m sorry for yelling at you Twist. I didn’t mean to scare you…”

I look up at her as she lets out a large sigh.

“Look… why don’t we talk about something else for the time being? Is that okay with you?”

I nod softly in response

“okay then… um…So, how have you been?”

“oh, I’ve been…fine”

And that’s how we took off into conversation. We got to talking about our lives and what we were doing, what was going on at home, what I had been doing for the past four years, the list goes on and on. Every time she asks me something about the latter however… Nopony ever wants to admit to not exactly doing well money-wise, and so whenever she ask one of those questions, I would…omit certain details about it.

“Are you okay sleeping here? It’s a bit cold in here…”

“I’m fine! I have a fireplace that I can use and besides, the house is insulated” I said, my voice becoming a little shrill.

“where is it? I didn’t see it out front…”

“oh, well, it’s just in the basement” you know, the basement I don’t have.

This back and forth conversation lasted for at least an hour. She’d ask something, then I would answer her, then we would switch turns and I would ask a question. This cycle would repeat itself again and again until we… well, ran out of things to talk about. And so, after a brief tour of the house and after yet more assurances that, yes, I was fine, and I’d be warm enough in the house come December, and no I wasn’t… lonely... or anything…  I found myself escorting her through the kitchenette and right to the front door. Once we stepped outside, Aurora walked towards me with forehooves outstretched. I returned the gesture, and we embrace.

“Thank you for staying so long Aurora, I-it was nice to see you again.” I say stumbling with my words as I break the embraced.

“It was nice seeing you too Twist, Although…” She paused and looked at me uncertainly, as if her words were getting caught in her throat. She bit her lower lip, and by the look on her face, I could only assume that she was mulling over what she was going to say. Then, she clears her throat.

“Twist…about the mortgage…” she said. then she sighs.

“We’re going to have to get Mom and Dad involv- “

“No!”

She was quite taken aback by my sudden interruption. Her expression quickly adopted the same sternness and disappointment reminiscent of a mother scolding a child. A look that I’ve grown to hate…

“Twist, look… dealing with the mortgage is going to be a problem beyond what you or I can do, we need to- “

“I don’t recall asking you for help, Aurora” I interrupt again, but this time with a bitter tone. She looks at me incredulously.

“You can’t be serious! Twist, your too young to be Dealing with this sort of thing on your own!”

“I’m Twenty-one!” I retort, my voice rising in pitch.

“That’s still too young to be on your own like this! And besides, regardless of any of this you still need to come home- “

“Aurora I am not- “I interrupt her a third time. But before I can rebuke her, she suddenly snaps, and her face lights up in anger.

“No Twist, you need to listen to me! Mom and Dad have been worried sick for you ever since you’ve disappeared on us. I don’t know what happened between you, Mom, and Dad… but they have been crying over you ever since you decide to leave us wondering…”

I feel both surprised, and a pang of guilt, as she said that. I’ve never heard of them crying before… let alone over me… I Didn’t think that I’d hurt them. At least, not that much…

“They need to know you’re alright Twist! You’ve hurt all of us…” Her expression shifts to sorrow

“Please Twist, they deserve to at least know that their Daughter isn’t dead…”

I look away as I feel the stabbing pangs of guilt in me, as if I had been stabbed in the heart with a knife and it’s being twisted over and over…

“Come back with me to the house, Twist. They miss you…”

Everything inside me tightens up, my entire body feels like its Twisting -

“I miss you…”

At that moment, everything inside me explodes, I am stunned into silence as guilt tears at my heart and rips it to pieces… My thoughts run rampant, but even in all the chaos, a single thought manages to break through the confines of my mind.

Maybe... maybe it wouldn’t be so bad…

…

It’s been a long time… maybe they have already forgiven me…

…

Maybe… it’s time to go home…

I begin to swirl the idea around in my head, and I begin to imagine just what might happen when I finally meet Mom and Dad…

I guess it wouldn’t be so bad. I could go back with her. Sis would knock on the door and Mom would answer it, she’d be so surprised to see me after so long. She’d invite us in to the living room and we’d talk for a while. Then, undoubtedly, she’d send Aurora into the kitchen to make tea for us. And then…

And…then…

Something in the back of my mind suddenly clicks, and my thoughts begin to darken…

She would look at me with that all so smug smile…

“So, you finally came crawling back home, what, was begging too much for you to handle?”

My face Twists into a scowl.

“Or have you finally given up on your Childish venture to be…what was it again? Ah, yes alchemy, I thought I told you that worthless profession won’t get you anywhere… well, except *here*…"

I can feel my body begin to shake with rage.

“You caused your father and I a lot of grief with your little stunt, so you’ll be paying us back for every bit we spent trying to find your sorry little flank, so be a good little filly and-…”

“Twist, are you okay? You’ve been silent for- “

“I am not going back to those, those Stuck-up, Pompous, PLOTHOLES!”

I Shrieked angrily, I hadn’t the concentration or patience to think through what I had just said. Aurora was shocked into silence. I glared at her with anger and contempt, I was completely caught up in my hateful thoughts. For a while, we just stared at each other, the only sound between us being my angry labored breaths… Her face turned sour.

“Fine then, keep giving everypony who cares about you the cold shoulder…” She turned around and started walking away from me, she turned her head back over her shoulder and locked eyes with me.

“When I get home, I’m going to tell them you’re alright... I’d hoped you would’ve seen reason but I guess I was wrong…” her bitter tone would’ve hurt me before, but now, it only added to the fire…

“Fine then! While you’re at it, tell them I don’t want to see them again… EVER!”

“FINE”

“FINE”

She stormed off without another word, I watched as she stomped down the street. I began calming down, but then, I finally realize what had just happened. And my face lights up in horror…

What…what have I done?

I take off running down the street, fear and desperation consuming my thoughts.

“Wait Aurora! I didn’t mean It!

The wind whips around my head as I gallop down the road. The stony pavement beneath me digs into my hooves, and my legs begin to burn in exhaustion. I reach the end of the street and I whip my head around and try to spot her.

“I’m so sorry Sis! I didn’t…”

I desperately thrash my head around in every direction, but I can’t catch sight of her. The street that I came onto is populated by a few ponies, milling about their general day, some of which are now staring at me… I lower my head and try to hide beneath the black locks of my mane.

“I didn’t mean it…”  *whimper*

Tears begin to fall from my face as I trot back to my house. I feel an array of different emotions whirling inside of me, guilt, shame, fear, sadness, anger, it all blends together into a disfigured mush that clogs up everything… I reach the open door and I practically leap inside. I slam the door shut behind me and lean against it, slowly sliding down until I’m sitting directly up against its base. I cover my head with my hooves and curl up into a ball. Even though I’m alone, I feel like I have all of Equestrian looking down at me…judging me... I lay there for at least a minute, crying and shivering, but throughout it all one lone thought makes itself apparent to me…

I didn’t mean it

I didn’t…mean it

I…didn’t…mean…

I sob into my hooves, the tears soaking into my mane and coat.

*growl*

I am interrupted from my mental breakdown by the sound of my stomach begging for something to sustain itself. It begins to cramp, the aching pain made worse by my emotional turmoil. I didn’t have anything for breakfast, and I had gotten so caught up earlier that I had forgotten to have anything for lunch… I pick myself up from my spot against the door and wipe the tears from my ears.

I’ll… deal with all this later, I…I need to eat something… *sniffle*

I make my way into the kitchen and try my best to focus on getting myself fed, and I put all of my feelings aside…

At least…for now…