Story of Maverick

Story of Maverick- Chapter 5: Ignition

Maverick laid on his sister’s bag, staring through the window. The moon was a little lower in the sky than usual. I guess the moon heard us all the way up there, he thought. I hate how quiet it gets at night.

He got up and walked around the shack before stopping near Scarlet Plume. Maverick nuzzled his mother affectionately.

“Love you, Ma.”

After taking a few steps away from Scarlet, Maverick looked over to Silver Dust’s spot and found it empty. What the hay?

A soft, light gray glow directed his attention to the door, which glowed as it closed.

“Silver?”

Maverick exited the shack and whispered his sister’s name. Oh bats. What if she’s leaving? I’ve got to find her before she leaves Farron!

Maverick flapped his wings as hard as he could, gaining altitude until he was ten feet off the ground.

“Silver! Silver Dust, where are you?”

He felt his wings burn with fatigue and his body starting to fall. Oh crap, this is really gonna hurt.

He shut his eyes and waited for the pain of the hard ground kissing his face, but the sensation never came.

“You don’t need to break your neck to get my attention, Maverick.”

Silver Dust held her little brother over the ground with her magic, staring at him with sisterly concern.

“Honestly, you nearly made me die of fright. For a little colt, you’re certainly a big hoof full.”

Silver set him down gently and the two of them went to an old, bare tree near the edge of Farron.

“So, trickster, when did you start flying?”

Maverick gave her one of his big, mischievous grins.

“I’ve been flying since the last time you visited. Surprised, sis?”

Silver Dust ruffled his mane and Maverick playfully pulled her tail in return. The two talked, laughed and played by the old tree just like they used to five years ago when everything was simple and clean. When Silver Dust was always home and Maverick had his best friend to talk to. However, those days were long gone and both of them knew that they would never return.

“You were going to leave, weren’t you Silver Dust?”

Silver Dust wrapped a foreleg around Maverick’s small body and held him close.

“Of course not, Maverick. I was just—“

“Stop.”

Maverick pulled away and looked his sister in the eyes.

“Don’t lie to me so I’ll feel better. Or because you think it’s better I don’t know. Ma does that and it never works. Failsafe and other grown-ups lie to me and other fillies and colts because they think we’re too young to understand.”

Maverick stood up, his ears pressing against his head.

“I hate it when grown-ups try to hide stuff from kids when something’s wrong. I’m sick of it! So don’t you lie to me too, Silver!”

Tears rolled down Maverick’s face and he sobbed.

“I’m sorry, Maverick.”

Silver embraced her little brother in a warm hug and rubbed his back. They sat there in silence for what felt like ages before Silver Dust spoke up.

“Yes Maverick, I am leaving. My being here clearly isn’t making things any better. Other than you, there’s nothing here worth staying for. This time, I’m not coming back.”

Silver looked down at Maverick, expecting disappointment on his face. Instead, she saw a wide grin.

“That’s just fine for what I have in mind, sis! I could go to your magic learny thing with you!”

Silver Dust stared in surprise.

“Wait, what? Maverick, you can’t come with me. What even put this idea in your head?”

“I know I’m not a Unicorn and I can’t learn magic, but it’s okay, right? I don’t even have to stay in the same room! I promise I won’t get in your way Silver!”

“Maverick, I’m telling you that you can’t come with me—“

“Why not? Why can’t I come with you? What did I do wrong, sis? I’ll do whatever I have to, just—“

“I’m not learning magic anymore, okay? I tried my best and worked hard for five years, but it wasn’t good enough.”

Maverick lowered one ear and tilted his head.

“I don’t get it, sis. What does that mean?”

“It means that I failed, Maverick! I didn’t cut it, I flunked out! I did well at first, but after the spells got more advance, I started struggling to stay afloat.”

Silver Dust sighed and hung her head. Maverick felt something wet fall onto him and looked up. For the first time in his young life, he saw Silver Dust cry.

“I had to take remedial lesson after remedial lesson. After a year, I was so far behind that my teacher gave up trying to teach me anything else.”

I want to understand, Maverick thought. But I just don’t get all of this school stuff.

“I don’t understand, Silver. What does this have to do with me going with you?”

“When I was learning magic, my teacher allowed me to live in a house in the city. When my progress stopped, he told me to gather all of my things. He said ‘anything of yours that’s left will be burned.’”

“Sis, I—“I don’t even know what to say.

“That’s why you can’t go with me, Maverick. I don’t have any work, I don’t have a place to stay and I won’t stay here in Farron. I can’t provide you stability in my situation, let alone food or shelter.”

“I don’t care, Silver! I don’t need to know what’s coming next or when I’ll eat again! I just want to be with you and get out of this dead village!”

Maverick looked up at his sister with desperate, pleading eyes. Take me with you sis. You have to take me with you!

Silver Dust hugged Maverick tightly and ruffled his mane, making him smile and sigh with relief. Before he could get comfortable in his sister’s embrace, he suddenly felt weightless.

“What the—“

“I’m sorry, Maverick. I can’t take care of you and myself.”

Silver Dust levitated her bags close to herself and looked at her beloved brother one last time, her eyes apologetic and sorrowful.

“Silver! Don’t leave me here, Silver Dust! Sis! Sis!”