It was a warm summer night in Canterlot. The final train for the night pulled into the station as its only passenger got off. A young white bodied Pegasus with a black and grey striped mane stepped out. As the train departed, he looked around with confusion. This isn’t where he was supposed to be. He walked over to a nearby bench and sat down, and removed from his bag two items. One was a map of the surrounding area, and the other a train schedule with a ticket attached. The train route he needed was 437. As his eyes moved to his ticket, he sighed. It read 473. He returned the schedule to his bag, and began to open the map. It was then, when he heard a voice in front of him. “Hi there. Is everything okay?” When he looked up he saw a red bodied, orange mane female Pegasus. “Yes” , he replied, “But I seem to be lost… I accidentally got on the wrong train. Where am I anyway?” “Why you are in the Canterlot garden. I’m Flame Wing.” She extended her hoof. He returned the hoofshake with replying with his own name and putting the map back in his saddle bags. “I’m Ghost Saint, but you can call me Ghost for short.” He glanced at his watch and was surprised by how late it was. 1:30 in the morning. “Excuse me Miss Wing…” “You can call me Flame. Mr. Ghost.” Flame laughed to herself about her little joke. Ghost smiled slightly at that. “Now what did you need?” “Well, since it is very late, do you know somewhere I can stay? It is too late to wait for another train to come through here.” Flame thought for a second. Ghost seemed like a nice Colt, and she didn’t want to send him to a crummy motel. They were in Canterlot, but even the nicest of cities have those… bad areas. “You can stay with me if you don’t have anywhere to go. I was planning on roaming the Canterlot Garden for a little while longer, but there is always tomorrow.” “Thanks, but I don’t want somepony I just met doing that for me. Honest.” Flame smiled at the resistance. “Nonsense. It is no big deal. I’m quite lonely, being by myself and all.” She seemed to sigh at this and began trotting out with Ghost following behind.
As the short trip progressed, Flame got curious about Ghost. She couldn’t seem to put her hoof on it, but there was something about him. “Hey Ghost, if you don’t mind my asking, where are you from?” Ghost replied with a far-away look in his eyes, a look that appeared when Flame asked the question. She immediately wished she hadn’t when she saw his face. “It’s fine, I don’t mind but it is a lengthy story.” “Well, if you want we can talk about it when we get to my house. It’s not that far from here. Maybe a few minutes” The look in Ghost’s eyes seemed to disappear, though Flame could tell it was still there. “That’s fine. Lead the way.” He tried to make a joke of it, but there was still a hint of sadness in his voice.
The duo reached the house moments later. Ghost looked upon it. A small one story house stood in front of him. As she opened the door, Flame looked at him and said, “Well, let us go inside shall we?” Ghost followed her into the living room, as she sat on the couch. She motioned for him to sit next to her so he did. “Now, about that story you owe me.” As she looked upon him once more, the far-away look was in his eyes again. He stared at the floor as he began his story.
“I’ve been wandering around Equestria on my own for about two years now. In search of my parents.” Ghost seemed to look more at the carpet in the living room more than her. “In Cloudsdale, the unimaginable happened. Parasprites swarmed over the city. Blanketing the sky. Some groups even eating other ponies. In all the confusion, my parents and I got separated. Something hit my head after that and that is all I really remember. I came to, I don’t even know how long I was out. But I noticed that the entire city was emptied. Of Pegasi and Parasprites. I ran back to our house, thinking this was just a bad dream. But the two story house in which me, my mother, and father reside in: Was empty. There was no trace of anypony in there. I found my way down to Manehatten, and checked myself into a therapist office for about 6 months. Tried to push back the memories.” Flame interrupted him, “So that’s why you had a far-away look in your eyes when I asked?” Ghost looked up at her and replied with a simple nod. His story continued. “It was a long hard search. Had to fight and steal to survive. Nearly got arrested a few times, but please don’t judge me for what I did.” He inhaled and neared the end of his story. “I kept to myself a lot. Staying in a city for a few days at max. Sleeping under bridges when it rained, under a tree when it was a warm night. Hell, if I hadn’t met you, I’d be sleeping in an alley. And for that I want to thank you. I still think I will be a burden on you.” Flame got up, walked in front of Ghost, pushed his face up, and looked into his eyes. “I sorta know how you feel. Not being able to live without parents. My parents died of natural causes a few years ago. Since then I’ve been by myself. But I have closure. Knowing where they are. Not knowing, is the worst part. But I want you to know this now: You are not a burden on me. You are welcome to stay here as long as you want.” The two ended this conversation with a long hug. A hug of understanding.
When they parted Ghost looked back at her. “You know, I had never told anypony about that story before. Well, except my therapist. But having somepony there, who kinda knows what I’m dealing with… Really comforts me.” Flame got up and grabbed Ghost’s hoof. “Now come on, there is a guest bedroom you can stay in.” She led him down a narrow hallway and opened the first door on the left. Inside the guestroom was a queen sized bed and a small desk. Ghost tried not to stare at the bed and Flame walked in the room. She opened the closest and pulled down 2 pillows and a blanket. She turned back and saw him still staring at the bed, obviously trying not to. Remembering what she said she asked him a personal question. When she started talking, it snapped Ghost from his trance. “Umm Ghost, I remember you were talking about your sleeping arrangements. But umm, when was the last time you have seen, or even slept on a bed?” Ghost looked at her, and she could tell he was trying hard to remember. “About eight months ago. I crashed at a friend’s place but as I said before, I had to keep moving. Other than that, the ground was my bed.” As Flame made the bed, with some help from Ghost, she was still staring at him. She had a playful smile spread across her muzzle as she walked behind him. She bit his tail and dragged him onto the bed. She gave him a good night hug, a hug that seemed to last forever. Ghost was surprised when her mane started to grow hot. He opened his eyes and saw that her mane and tail started to catch fire. He jumped back surprised as she only coughed as it was extinguished. “W-What the hell happened?” She looked at him, and then realized he was not used to that as she was. “Oh, it only happens when I get really happy or really excited.” She began to shake out her mane. I’m not sure why it does that. My father, mother, or any Canterlot doctors knew. So we just accepted it.” Flame turned and walked towards the door. She turned around and said, “Now if you need anything. Anything at all, I’m down the hall and to the right. Good night Ghost Saint.” “Good night Flame Wing. And thank you.”
Ghost awoke next morning in a daze. He rolled over, thinking he was on the ground, and fell onto the hardwood floor of a bedroom. He quickly got up and remembered. He was in Flame Wing’s house. He sat down on the bed when he heard a thud coming from the living room. Then he heard a faint voice say “Oops, my bad.” Ghost walked out into the living room and saw Flame returning to the kitchen holding some mail. Ghost looked out the window and saw a blonde mane blue-grey Pegasus fly away. Flame returned and noticed the Pegasus standing in her living room. “Oh, Ghost you’re up. In case you’re wondering, that is the Mail-Mare. Ditzy Doo is her name I believe. Anyway I hope you….” She looked up and started laughing. Ghost looked puzzled, so she walked him into the bathroom and showed him his reflection. Ghost chuckled a little bit. He had Bed-Mane. “Not to worry Ghost, there is a comb on the sink if you need it. Well, I must go continue breakfast. Hope you like scrambled eggs.” She walked out the bathroom still lightly laughing to herself about his morning appearance. Ghost combed his mane, and walked back to the kitchen to see Flame setting the table with two plates. Normally he would object, but he knew that she would insist.
After breakfast was done, he took over the dishes while Flame did her morning routine. She returned a few moments later looking a little shy. “Hey Ghost, I was wondering if… You could accompany me to the market?” Ghost smile and agreed. They stopped for some lunch, but something was off. Flame noticed Ghost had that far-away look again. She asked if everything was okay, and he simply said yes. They returned to the house later that night, ate the dinner that Ghost had prepared. Flame was surprised at his cooking talent, and the meal was delicious. All though Ghost did not seem to be himself. After dinner, was a goodnight hug and off to bed.
Flame was the first one up in the morning and began to make breakfast. Ghost was still not up when it was done, so she went to the Guest Room. She knocked on the door, which opened because it was not latched. Inside the bed was made, and there was an envelope sitting the bed. She slowly walked in the room and opened the letter. 20 bits and a piece of paper came out. Pushing the money aside she read the letter. Halfway through reading it, she look to be on the verge of tears.
Dear Flame Wing,
I appreciate everything you did for me. If you remember what I told you that night in the Living Room, I cannot stay in one place too long. I am very sorry for leaving. The money is yours to keep. A pay for your hospitality. What you did for me, was more than anypony had ever done. Or would have done for that matter.
I hope one day, our paths may cross again
Yours truly
-Ghost Saint
Flame set the letter down and went to her room. She lay upon her bed; face buried in the pillow and just cried. For almost a week she stayed in her house. Never leaving. Even Ditzy Doo was confused when nopony came to accept the mail. She was absolutely heart broken
A week had passed since Ghost had left Flame’s house. He just sat at the train station. He stayed there because it was their first meeting place. A place he would never forget and hoped she wouldn’t either. Guilt ate at his heart because of what he had done. He knew he had to fix it. Finding his parents could wait. He had something he needed to do.
Saturday morning, Flame got up and walked slowly into the kitchen. Ditzy knew something was wrong when she delivered the mail, but thought nothing of it. Flame returned to eat her breakfast, and went to the bed room to lie down. But she did not go to her bedroom, but to the guestroom instead. It was there she had been sleeping since his departure. It saddened her even more.
A few moments later she heard knocking at her door. She dismissed it as her brain just wanting to hear things. More knocks rang out and she got out of the bed. She walked to the front door, opened it with tears still blinding her. She didn’t know what was happening until she was grabbed and forced into a hug. She looked up and saw a black and grey striped mane. Ghost did not pull away, even as he felt her mane grow hot….
-End