Help In The Form of A Hug
The sun was setting again on another day in the city of Manehattan. The few clouds that dotted the red and yellow sky above drifted softly in the winds above the skyline care free as could be. If only that same untroubled mindset could be shared to some of the denizens below. A grey bat pony with an indigo mane moved slowly down the sidewalks sniffling occasionally and desperately trying to hold her composure.
Silver Wings dragged her hooves on the hard pavement fighting to hold back the torrent of emotions, daunting thoughts, and tears from pouring out right there in front of dozens of ponies like an angry waterfall. It was a losing battle to say the least as a fresh batch of anguished tears ran down her face.
Stupid, stupid, stupid job... She thought angrily. This was the third job in the last 9 months Silver Wings had tried to hold and had left for various reasons, but this most recent one had stung the most out of all of them. She chocked back a sob as her mind replayed the events of this evening again against her will.
Silver Wings placed another can of diced fruit onto the shelf with a soft thunk as her third hour into the night ticked by. She had been apart of the evening shift at some little quickie mart for three weeks now and the work itself wasn’t too horrible with keeping the shelves stocked with snack foods and energy drinks. The wages were just enough to keep Silver Wings off the street if she really budgeted herself.
There was just one problem with the place...
“Hey Silver Wings, how’s it going?” She sighed out a groan and rolled her eyes at Frying Pan, her co-worker, making his forth attempt to flirt with her that night.
“Hey Frying Pan.” She responded to the burnt orange earth pony in a monotone voice knowing what was to come next.
“So, don’t mind me if I’m being blunt here, but how often do you work out? Because I’d love to go to the bank to cash that flank!” Another co-worker in an adjacent isle snorted at the delivery of the pickup line.
Silver wanted to slam her face into the shelf she had been working on restocking. Frying Pan had been trying to hit on her since the first week she had started at the store; but Really? This was the pickup line he wanted to open up this conversation with?
She resigned to letting out another ragged sigh. “Did you spend all night trying to think that one up?” Still keeping the monotone voice.
“Nope, came up with that one on the spot!” He puffed out his chest proudly.
Your mother must be so proud of you, Silver Wings thought.
“But, I thought I would just start with complimenting you before I would try asking you on a date,” continued Frying Pan. “Sooo, do you think you and I can-”
“No.” Came Silver’s hard response.
“But why no~ot?!” Whined Frying Pan sounding more and more like a foal with each syllable.
“Because I don’t want to.”
“Aw come on, Silver!” Called Quick Tab, a purple unicorn from the cashier’s desk. “I thought bat ponies were pretty open to trying anyone to find the perfect one!” The rest of the workers in the small shop who were listening to the chat go down tried to stifle their laughter and were failing miserably.
“And who told you that, Tabs; some of your ‘Bros’ from the kiddy table at your favorite Cheesy Chester’s Restaurant?” Silver Wings quipped back an edge creeping into her voice. There was an “Oooh...!” from another co-worker.
“Oh, puh-lease!” One of the mares piped in, “Everypony knows that bat ponies are as loose as a bum’s shoelaces and will do anything to get their feathers off.” A pink and gold maned pegasus stepped in from the end of the isle wearing a sneer on her face.
“Nice one, Cherry Blossom!” The pink ring leader exchanged a high hoof with a friend.
“Aw, don’t be so mean, guys!” Frying Pan defended. “Silver is really pretty, and nice, and looks really... what was that fancy word you used, Cherry?”
“Promiscuous?” She offered.
“Yeah, Promiscuous! That’s it! She’s really promiscuous!” The entire shop burst into laughter at Frying Pan’s unbeknownst insult. Silver Wings gripped the can of goods that was unlucky enough to still be in her hoof like a vice.
“Frying Pan, you are the biggest idiot and loser I have ever known!!” The shop ceased it’s cackling and an eerie silence fell as all eyes turned to the bat pony.
Frying Pan stared at Silver Wings with confusion. “Wha-What do you mean? I thought that was a compliment?”
“I can’t tell if you are playing stupid or if you are just that dumb. Do you even know what promiscuous means?” He shook his head quickly. “It means loose, easy, quick to bounce between ponies, a filly hopper, a colt jumper, a Whore! You tell me what that means!” Silver’s hooves quivered from trying to restrain herself from punching that stupid, blank stare off Frying Pan’s face.
He stood there processing what he had learned for a moment, then a lewd smile stretched across his face. “Oh, if that’s what it means, then maybe you’d like to skip the introductions and go straight to the fun stuff!” He approached with outstretched arms making a smooching face.
The bat pony recoiled in disgust. “You Pervert!” Silver reacted instinctively.
THWACK!!!
There was a gasp from everypony as they stared between Silver Wings and the dazed Frying Pan now laying on the floor.
“What’s goin’ on out here!?!” A big, burly, burgundy earth pony came stomping into the shop from the back. Mr. Crates the manager towered over everypony by at least a full head and had a glare that could melt through metal walls.
He eyed each pony in his shop. “What’s goin’ on; why aren’t you all workin’ right now- Frying Pan!” The colt in question let out a moan still laying on the floor. “Did he slip and knock himself out on the floor again?! Augh, why did I even bother hiring you?”
“No, Silver Wings threw a can at him and knocked him out!” Cherry Blossom pointed an accusatory hoof at the bat pony still shaking.
Mr. Crates turned his glare. “Silver!? I thought I said no more starting fights or you’re done!”
“No!” Silver shouted back. “I told you about this! I told you that I was being harassed by everypony here you and didn’t listen to me! Frying Pan has been trying to hit on me since I started here everypony else thinks I’m just some bed hopping bat pony trying to make a quick bit!”
“And what if you are!?” Mr. Crates words stopped Silver in her tracks. “So what if you might be a colt jumper? I’ve had convicted criminals work for my store and I never got a single peep of a complaint from them; they were just happy to have the job! A few jokes here and there shouldn’t be causing this many problems. Now, all of you, get back to work! And you,” He pointed a large hoof at Silver, “Not another word from you or you’re fired!”
Mr. Crates snorted and turned to go back to his back office to finish up some paperwork- “NO!!”
He turned back to see Silver Wings standing defiantly. “If your not going to do anything about everypony being bullies, then this job isn’t worth it! I’d rather find a different job than stay here!”
“Well go on, then!” Mr. Crates fired back. “Go on and quit; I’ve got a dozen other ponies looking for any kind of work right now and I can have you replaced by tomorrow morning!”
“Fine!” Silver Wings yelled, “I Quit!!” She ripped off the apron she had been wearing and ran out the front kicking the doors open and into the evening sky.
“If you broke these doors, you’re paying for new ones!” Mr. Crates shouted after the bat pony, but his threats fell on deaf ears as she galloped down the street.
She gave a powerful sniff and scrubbed at her puffy eyes some more as she now walked back to her apartment; her cold, empty, and lonely apartment. Looking back on it now, she kind of wished she didn’t quit even if the rest of the ponies were bullies and idiots. She stopped at the end of a sidewalk waiting for the traffic to go by and be allowed to cross. Without a job now, how was she going to afford food, rent, or those tickets around Equestria she had been dreaming about? To travel the world and see all kinds of new places, things, ponies, better ponies then the grumpy and rude ones of Manehattan.
Silver choked as she felt another wave of tears come. She didn’t want to cry right now, but everything that had been said in that store came rushing back again. Was she really that easily replaceable? Was she just another bat pony trying to make a quick bit? Is she as bad the as the rest of the bat ponies that the stigma was based on? Was she going to have to resort to hopping in and out of beds just to make a living?
She clenched her eyes shut trying to hold back the tears pouring down her cheeks and onto the pavement below. Maybe-, Maybe I am just as easy as everypony said, She thought as the knot in her chest squeezed even harder. Maybe I am just another, promiscuous, bat pony, just like they said...!
“Hey, Silver Wings!”
Her eyes shot open and she looked around. Silver had been standing there in the middle of the sidewalk for so long that she missed her chance to cross the street. She looked over her shoulder as a green pegusas was running up behind her.
“Hey Silver, it’s me, Summer Storm!” He smiled.
“Oh, h-hey Storm...” Silver sniffed turning back trying to hide her tears. Summer Storm was a friend she met in one of the local flying groups that met regularly for short trips and stunt practices. He was goofy at times and even a little weird, but he seemed like a nice pony. They had even spent a few times meeting up just to talk about things like how he wanted to join the pro racing circuit, or how she wanted to travel the world, and how flying was one of the few things that truly brought them joy.
But right now, not even flying could lift Silver Wings spirit’s up.
“Sooo, I just saw you as I was coming out of that store and I wanted to see what you were doing?” He asked trying to sound casual.
“I’m heading h-home right now.” She said still not facing him.
There was a pause from Storm before he continued. “Heading home? Don’t you usually work right now?” He cautiously took a few steps closer.
“Y-Yeah, usually...” Was all Silver could manage saying without breaking.
“O-kay...” Storm sidled up beside Silver Wings looking at her from the corner of his eye. “How come you aren’t there now?”
“I don’t feel like talking about it.” The bat pony said weakly.
“Okay then; are you just taking the day off?” The pegasus asked innocently.
“Look Summer, I really, really don’t want to talk right now.”
“Okay, okay, I get it. I just thought you- wait, are you crying right now?”
“No...!” Silver sniffed and tried to wipe her eyes dry. “I’m not crying; I’m fine...!”
She could see the concern fill Storm’s face. “No, your not fine, Silver. What happened; are you okay?”
“I’m fine! Just leave me alone!” She stepped off the sidewalk to cross the street ignoring the light saying to wait. Why of all times did Summer Storm have to show up and start acting like he cared right now? Nopony cared about anything but themselves in this city and for all she knew he probably saw her as another bat pony jumping beds too. That thought alone was just adding more grief to an already crumbling dam in her mind.
“Silver Wings!!”
The bat pony stopped and looked back at Storm still standing at the edge of the sidewalk. The concerned look had melted away and had been replaced with a firm sternness emanating from his eyes. It was so uncharacteristic of the normally happy pegasus; all the merit and joy that usually twinkled in his eyes every time she saw him was gone without a trace.
“W-What...?” Silver’s voice quivered still trying to hold it’s composure.
“I get that you don’t want to talk about it right now, but will you at least let me help you?”
Silver Wings scoffed. “And how are you going to help me?” She said incredulously.
“Well, if you come back for a minute I can show you.” She stood there in the middle of the road for a second gauging him. He still held that determined stare in his eyes, but he didn’t look like he was trying to force her to do anything. She sniffed again; what did she have to lose?
She felt like a misbehaving foal returning to her parents, but she put herself right in front of Summer Storm. “Well, what do you want to show me?”
Slowly, he put his arms around Silver and pulled her into a hug. “How about a hug to start with?”
“And what’s that supposed to do?” She choked out between held back sobs.
“Make you feel better.” He stated flatly as he held her in his firm embrace.
“W-Well, ih-it’s n-n-not wor-ork-k-hih-ing~!” The tears were somehow flowing freely now. “Your stupid for hih-thinking that and I hate you and I bet you- you just se-hih-e me as a-hih-nother one of thos-hih-se colt hopping bat ponies-hih-es!”
Storm tightened his grip on her and began stroking the top of Silver’s head down to her neck a rhythmic fashion. “Ssssshhhhhh, it’s okay. it’s fine; you’re still you, Silver. You just need a friend to help right now.” He cooed. Summer Storm was now helping hold the bat pony up more then just giving her a caring hug.
Silver Wings sobbed into Summer Storm’s shoulder hanging onto him like a life line in her emotional storm. She hated the fact that she was crying in front of everypony on the streets of Manehattan, and that she was a bat pony now out of a job, and that she really, really needed this hug. While Silver would make sure to hit him hard later for embarrassing her like this, he was right about one thing:
She really did need a friend right now.
Author's Note
A friend of mine asked if this was me projecting. My response to him was, "Eh-yeah; yeah; yeah, this is definitely me projecting." I don't care if the feelings and emotions seem cliche or forced in the story; I wanted to write this.
I've been going through a really, really rough two weeks right now, and honestly, I could use a hug. So, this is me asking to you, the reader: please send hugs. I need one. If not, send a hug to someone in the comments.
