I sat in front of the T.V. screen. Tears would slowly trail down my chin. As I stared at the blankly at the blank screen. My front hooves wherein a white cast as I sat in a wooden chair. The room I was in was small. The walls held small pictures the size of small books that I would sometimes imagine them alive with wonder and the joy the would bring to my imagination, but not today as for today I was sad. There were several other wooden chairs in the room spread out because they needed space for themselves.
There were also assorted pictures on small tables on the sides of the room in their small picture frames. The things that used to fascinate me don't anymore. I felt useless and like a waste of space...
I sniffled in my chair. Wishing for one thing... a friend... but I knew that I just... I....
I let out a breath as another tear leaked down my muzzle. I heard the door open behind me as I heard my mother walk in. She had a black coat and a black mane. She opened her mouth and spoke.
"No more sitting in this room. I let it go on long enough." She said sternly as she was crying softly trying to be strong. For who? I don't know...
I stared harder at the blank T.V. "I'm not getting up anymore, I'm not getting hurt again." I said quietly. I felt like I was wasting my mom's money taking me to the doctor when we had so little money. My dad left mom when I was born... and I knew the reason why... "This would be the last time, I told you," I said turning to face her. My Light brown coat and sandy brown mane seemed so sad and dark in the depressing room. I turned back to the T.V. sadly.
"You can't do anything about that." She said trying to reason with her son as her love for her son was too great. She would never dream of abandoning her baby. "You might fall between that chair and that television. If that's what God has planned for you, then that's what's going to happen. You can't hide from it sitting in the room." There was a pregnant pause before I spoke.
"They call me Mr.Glass at school because I break like glass," I confessed to my mom trying to make her understand.
My mom's face softened as she kneeled beside me. "You make this decision now... to be afraid... and you will never turn back..." She looked into my eyes as I avoided her gaze as I glared at the blank T.V. screen. "You're whole life, you will always be afraid." I slowly turned my head to face her as we stared into each other's eyes. I could see crying as she talked to me. There was another silent pause before we stood there staring into each other's eyes. After a minute she stood up she sniffed quietly. "I got a present for you." She said softly.
"Why?" I asked not really believing it.
"Forget why." She said. Then there was a three-second pause before she spoke again. "You want it or not?" She asked with a small smile. I slowly started to raise my head. "Well go get it then."
"Where is it?" I asked my mood still feeling down.
"On a bench, across the street." She said slowly.
I got up as my mom helped me walk over to the open window as we peered out. There was a park with kids playing. Somewhere playing jump rope, some sliding down a slide and others playing ball and tag.
"Someone's going to take it," I told my mom a little scared that I wouldn't get the present that my mom got for me.
"Then you better get out there soon." She said giving me a kiss on the forehead.
I don't know what it was but I felt a strong pull on my very being telling me to get the gift my mom was trying to give to me.
I walked out of my room and down the stairs. Walking across the street and up to the bench with a box with blue wrapping and a white ribbon. The other kids seemed to be oblivious to the box. I sat on the bench beside the gift. Gently picking it holding it with both hooves in front of me. As I used my mouth the undo the ribbon that was shaped into a bow freeing my gift from its prison. I ripped off the wrapper discarding it as if it was nothing. Now instead of the blue paper, I was holding a small plain cardboard box rectangular shape. I held it horizontal before I lifting off the cardboard lid. Before I slowly moved the wax paper hiding my gift under it like a magician.
Inside there was a something flipped upside down. I slowly lifted my gift and slowly turned it in a 180-degree slowly to see the picture better. What I saw was a dark grey pony wearing a black trench coat with a silver scarf around his neck, and he also wore a fedora with a silver ribbon around the base of his hat. He held a Tommy Gun in his hooves in a heroic pose.
My mom sat beside me trying to gauge my reaction. "I bought a whole bunch. There will be one of these waiting for you here, every time you want to come out here." She sniffed quietly. "They say this one has a surprise ending." I looked over at my mom as she got me curious. I slowly looked down at my gift. I smiled... something I thought I would never do. But I did.
Author's Note
Did you get he movie?
Chapter 1: Shattering Problem
I had to sit in my gym class not allowed to play because of how brittle I was. The school feared that if I broke again... I would surely be dead, and that they would get sued by my mother. I watched as all the other kids played with a sad expression. Knowing that I would never be able to get a friend… only kids who played seemed to get any friends. Ponies were scared to be near me. Fearing that I would break and that it would be their fault. Even when I tried my hardest to convince them. Nopony just seemed to listen to me.
Some played buck ball, Hoofball, Soccer, and even racing against each other; seeing who was the fasts of them all. I watched bored out of my mind. Well, I would have been if I wasn't thinking about my favorite character of them all... "The Silver Shroud".
What wasn't there to like about the crime-fighting hero? He has a sick flank Tommy gun! And don't get me started on his awesome outfit! I always imagine myself as a hero!... because who wants to be lame... fragile...
"Hey, Mr.Glass." My ears pinned back at the name. Everypony seemed to make fun of me for being fragile. I'm even the butt of a joke for a teacher to use in front of a class. Just to keep their boring lesson interesting.
I had no friends... but... when I would daydream in class I would always have friends... that weren't real... but they felt as so.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!" The colt shouted at me again startling me out of my thoughts. "Mr.Glass!"
I blinked my eyes frantically trying to get my eyes moist, as they got dry staring into space. "What do you want?" I said in an unsure tone my voice hitching on a high note.
"Give me one of your stupid comic books." He said rather menacingly in my face. His weight making him look like a saggy bag of shit with his flabby dark brown coat.
Some of his spit splashing onto my face. Making me cringe in disgust as I leaned back. Trying to get away from his ugly mug.
"I didn't bring any today... sorry," I said with a sheepish smile. Making him narrow his eyes at me making me let out a nervous laugh.
"Oh, really now?" He said taking a few steps back.
I didn't bring my comics fearing that someone stealing them. They were just too precious to me! I had my whole collection of them! I just needed the special edition ones! But those... were heavily priced too much for even my mom's bit purse. I envy rich ponies.
"Well... you know how it goes..." I said before quickly getting up and running through the gym. As fast as my little legs could carry me.
"Hey, get back here!" He shouted running after me. His shout reminded me of the stereotypical bad guy. I felt like a hero making his getaway. I didn't have any tools to deal with him. So running was all I could do.
"Hey Strange Newbie what are you doing running!" My coach shouted frantically. Then spotting the fat colt chasing me.
I didn't look back as I felt my legs starting to hurt from the running. My bones just didn't seem to be able to keep up with my body. Growing up with this made me know my limits. And I was almost at my limit. I started to slow down as to not slam myself on the gym doors. I didn't want to die! Comic books gave me a reason to live!
I slowly pushed the heavy door open. Only partly so that I could squeeze through. I went through as I turned a corner and started to run again. My legs started to hurt as if my bones were slowly cracking from the workout I was having. My body is just too weak!
"Mr.Glass get back here!" Shouted Heavyset the pudgy colt and former bully.
I ran outside into the day with ponys walking around. School; was about to be over. As gym was my last class for my school day today. It was scary and exciting to be chased by someone who hates you just because. I would never understand that fat colt.
I turned my head back to see him gaining on me. My eyes widened bigger than saucers. Okay very scary!
I weaved through ponys surprised how I did it with ease. But My legs started to feel a splintering crack in my leg bones making me yelp. I ran into an alley doing parkour in my fragile state. I need to get away! If I fell... it would be game over and most likely life over.
I hopped onto a row of old used cardboard boxes. I ran on top of them not making them cave in due to how lightweight I was. Most likely due to my weak "glass" like bones. I then jumped onto a sleeping homeless stallion who had his back against a dumpster. I hurriedly climbed on top of his shoulder as I had landed on his soft lap. I then climbed onto the dumpster trying to get breathing room from the bully. Who looked out for blood.
He tried to climb on top of the homeless stallion's shoulder, but his weight just seemed to pull him down. "What are you doing hiding Mr.Glass!" He taunted. Trying to get me down. I knew what he was trying to do. Having read tons of comic books. I was the hero... I had to play it smart to get away from this... Villain! I was actually hyped. Which was very odd...
"I'm not Mr.Glass! I'm a hero! Not a villain! You, sir, are a villain since you are tormenting the weak!" I declared trying to make my voice deep as possible. I tried mimicking the Silver Shroud to the best of my ability.
"You're not the Silver Shroud you idiot!" Heavyset insulted me. But as the hero, I had to be the bigger pony... even if he was bigger.
I was also lucky that he was an Earth Pony just like me.
"No... I am not! And I am no, Mr.Glass. For he is a villain like you evil-doer." I said like a superhero. But I had no powers that I knew.
"I'm going to shatter you Mr.Glass! Until you start to live like this hobo." Heavyset motioned to the homeless man who had his eyes snap open.
"What did you say you, little runt!" The Homeless Earth Pony snarled easily offended.
"Huh! Oh, sir, I am so sorry! I-I-I I didn't mean it!?" Heavy squeaked. As the skinny Earth pony snatched the cubby colt. Strangling him.
"You're going to pay you little piece of trash!" The stallion slammed Heavyset to the alley wall knocking the wind out of flabby colt.
I stared in horror the brutality that was unfolding in front of me. I gulped as I stood frozen in shock.
The stallion then proceeded to beat the crying colt with his hoof. "Take that you little scumbag! How does it feel to be insulted huh!?" The stallion laughed with a crazy look in his eyes.
Heavyset began to cry loudly in the dark alley. I could see ponies passing by without a care. It was as if nobody could hear.
The crazed stallion then dropped the bloodied Heavyset to the ground. Slowly and almost demonically turned his head to face me with a manic grin plastered on his face. The only thing that came to mind was "drugs".
He started to slowly stalk towards me slowly making me take a step back. We started to slowly match each other's steps. But what I didn't notice. Was that I ran out of dumpster to walk on, resulting in me falling.
Everything seemed like slow-motion as I fell. Then everything went black. But before I did. I heard a loud bang. Accompanied by a sicking crack. I could almost hear the sound of glass shattering... but I wasn't glass...
Chapter 2: Meeting In Darkness
I slowly... fluttered my eyes open. With a searing pain in my back and head. I felt my bones... they felt as if they had cracked... I tried moving my body wanting to get up...
"Come on you stupid body," I said weakly pushing my hooves up in the air. As if was stretching but the pain made me cringe lowering my legs back to myself. I took in a quick breather to recover from the pain. I felt so weak... NO! I can not give up! I'm a hero! I said rolling onto my side painfully making me growl as I clamped my jaw shut. I was now going to go for another roll but a voice stopped me.
"Say, You up small fry?" A woman said from behind me. I froze in my spot in terror. Who, wouldn't? Waking up in a darkness all by yourself; when a stranger starts talking to you.
I stayed quietly petrified in fear. As I pretended to be dead like an Opossum.
"I saw you moving you know." The woman spoke again. "I took a glom at you, and I got to say, kid, you're a coward." The woman said walking close behind me making me start to tremble in terror. "I really wanted you to go climb up a dragon's thumb, but the rest of the girlies said otherwise." She said with a Manehattan accent. I didn't have an accent even when I did live in Manehattan. I grew alone with my mom for most of my life. She reminded me of my comic books... especially with all the slang they used.
"I-I-I'm s-s-sor-r-ry.... If-f-f I c-c-caused an-n-ny trouble!" I stuttered out afraid of making the mare mad.
She proceeded to walk in front of me sitting down in the darkness with me. I began to quicken my breathing. Her hoof steps echoing in the large building we were in. But... it was odd... I could see a high roof... with the walls not reaching said roof... it was like I was in a box within a giant box! The only reason I noticed this detail was because I could say small traces of light. That would Illuminate the outline of the walls of the small room I was in inside a huge building with a roof nopony could seem to reach.
"One of the gals took care of that goon for yea. I'm the high pillow here and you will address me as such kiddo." She gently picked me up and placed me on her lap startling me. Making flinch but she soothed me stroking my mane with a hoof. "Kale took care of the jasper for you. Mugs like that jasper are just the worst." She said nuzzling my head.
I began to slowly relax in the mare's grasp. As she soothed me with her touch. But I felt the urge to say something. I had too... my mother would be worried sick! "M-mrs.." I asked shyly a bit relaxed though.
"I got ears kid." She said in an annoyed tone. "What is it that you want to ask?"
"Where am I?" I asked timidly.
"In Equestria." She said vaguely confusing me with her answer.
"What?" I said tilting as I looked up at her. Even if there was no light I felt the need to look up at her.
"I can't snitch on my own." She said with a stern tone. Looking down at me. Even in the dark, I could feel the intensity in her gaze.
My ears pinned back against my head.
"Anyways the girlies want to get to know you especially, Kale. She is the one responsible for jester being pooped." She said nuzzling Strange Newbie known as "Glass Colt."
"Say, let's see the gals right now." She said picking me up and placing me on her back. I was so confused on why she was helping me. Why would someone be so nice to me? Everyone made fun of me for being so fragile...
I rode on her back as she carried me out of the room without a roof. A weird room if you ask me. We walked into a big opened space room that seemed the dwarf the small room without a roof in comparison. There were floodlights around the gigantic room. Illuminating most empty space, but there was a corner with quite a few crates. Pony seemed to be looking through the contents of the crates. looking towards the left side of the room... well my left anyway. I could see giant metal doors that made gawk in awe.
I knew where I was! I read this in my comic books! I'm in a warehouse! With... little crates?
"So you brought the kid with you." A mare said with a nice suit on. She had a white mane and white coat. With a nice black two-piece suit and a black fedora. With her ears sticking out of holes just big enough for her ears to stick out of the brim of the fedora.
"Wanted the little fella to meet the family." The mare carrying me said with a huff. The so-called "high pillow" didn't seem to like me very much. But why was she being nice earlier? Was she trying to trick me? She laid down on her stomach as ushered me off. "Now off! you're ruining the suit kiddo!"
I swiftly got off her back not wanting to anger her further by just existing. The mare began to leave back into the darkness leaving me in the illuminated part of the warehouse. With the other ponys that were all "girls", she did say gals after all. As she was leaving I caught a quick look at her appearance while she was illuminated for the time being. She wore a white clean suit that seemed to shine even as she walked into the darkness. She also wore a white fedora with a gold band with her ears tucked in nicely into the hat.
"So, kid what's your name?" The mare with the black two-piece suit asked me as I was facing away from her. Quickly observing the "high pillow".
I quickly turned back around to the mare wince in pain.
"You alright kid?" She asked me concerned.
"Yeah! Fine-fine!" I said not wanting her to feel sorry for me. I just wanted to be normal.
"Ooookkkkkayyyyy?" She said working her mouth thinking of something to say to change the subject. "You're... uh... name?" She asked with a nervous laugh.
"My name...." My mind stopped. Some was actually asking for my name! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! "I'm Strange Newbie at your service!" I said with a giddy grin.
She smiled chuckling at my enthusiasm. "Hehe, nice to meet yea Stranger." She said giving me a nickname. "How about I call you Stranger? It kind of has a nice ring to it don't you think?" She asked with a slight tilt of her head. Her eyes gazing at me curiously.
I quickly thought about the name... it sounded actually pretty cool! No one was ever really nice enough to ask my name so I agreed. Nodding my head enthusiastically.
"Great! The name's Time Bomb by the way!" She said with a wide smile as we shook hooves. "Anyway let's meet mostly everypony here." She said leading me like if I was a new colt at school. Which I most likely was here. By the looks of it, these mares looked like gangsters with their suits. That almost exactly mirrored the comic books he read. Except stallions were usually the goons.
She started to introduce me to the others but not giving any names. I respected their secrecy excited at meeting gangsters just like in my comics books. Everypony I met were all mares. I was actually started to wonder what they stole or did.
"Hey, where is Kale?" I asked Time Bomb.
"Oh, her? She's working on a project of ours making it more... how should I put this? Reinforced..." She said with a sly smile.
"I just really want to thank her for saving me!" I said making Time Bomb burst out laughing.
"No way! Kale would never save anyone!" TIme bomb said gasping for breath as she rolled on the floor in laughter.
"Hey what's so funny!?" I said in shock and kind of angry that she was laughing at me.
"It's! It's just! It's just! That Kale doesn't help anyone! Like at all! You're lying kid! But that was a good joke! I got to say! You got me, good kid!" She said confusing me even more.
"I'm serious!" I shouted as the gangsters that overheard me laughed as well. I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment.
"Are you?! It seems very far-fetched to me!" Time Bomb said trying to suppress a laugh.
I face hoofed shaking my head. "Please, just take me to her," I said hugging her front legs giving her puppy dog eyes.
"Sorry... but that ain't going to work on me kid," She said nuzzling my face. "You're adorable... but sorry." She said with a shake of her head. "My daughter does that all the time. I have grown... immune..." She said with a mischievous smile making me groan. "Hey, kid don't you have to get home?"
"Home?... oh Shroud! My mom is going to be so disappointed in me!" I said panicking putting a hoof in my mouth to try and calm myself down. As I started pacing around in a small circle.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Time Bomb spoke as she pulled me into a soft comfortable hug; nuzzling my mane as she stroked my cheek. "It's alright... I can... take you home..." She said trying to wipe my fear away.
"Then let's... go?" I said feeling butterflies in my stomach. Shaking in place with a skittish response.
"Alright, alright..." Time Bomb said with her Manehattan accent. "Follow me Stranger." She didn't seem to use as much slang as the "High Pillow". She led me across into the dark part of the warehouse.
"Why are we doing here?" I asked walking blindly as I just leaned into Time Bomb.
"The exit is this way," She spoke softly.
"Why in the darkness?" I asked scared of the dark. Starting to shake more.
"Don't worry..." Time Bomb said trying to soothe me. "The darkness isn't as bad as you think it is." She spoke softly.
"But it's scary!" I squeaked.
"The darkness can hide the ones not wanting to be found." She explained. "The darkness is our ally. Shrouding us in darkness, hiding us from our enemies.."
"Our enemies?" I asked as we continued walking.
"Yes, our enemies." She said as we walked up to a black wall. Before stopping momentarily seeming to hesitate.
"Why did we stop Time Bomb?" I asked her making her looking down at me. I couldn't see her face as it was concealed by the darkness.
"I'm so sorry..." she said as something was forced over my head. As the darkness, I saw was now pitch black. I started to hyperventilate as I heard a high pitched whine of the metal door opening. I got lifted off my hooves as my breathing hitched in my ears.
I was so scared I didn’t know what to do and I didn’t know where I was either. I was being carried blinded by the pitch black bag over my head. I was in an automobile. As far as I could tell. By the sound of the nice cushion seat and the humming engine. I could feel the momentum as the car carried me around aimlessly. Then… it just stopped.
Then a few seconds later I heard a light metallic sound. Then the engine went dead. Silence filled the automobile making me suffocate in the silence anxious to get free!
Then a metallic screech filled my ears with what I could assume was the door open. The pony driving the car got out leaving me alone for a minute. Then the door right beside me opened up with the same metallic screech roared in my ears. Making my ear fall flat against my head. Even still with the pitch black bag over my head.
“Kid, would you please shut up,” Time Bomb said scaring me making me whimper as I was grabbed by the earth pony. She placed me on her back grabbing onto her suit with my hooves.
I only whimpered quietly in response. Shaking in fear being taken by the scary gangster.
I then heard her hooves seeming the reverberate on the pavement floor. Well, it was only what I can assume it to be. When I would walk across the street for my new comic book every day. That my mother would set on the bench for me. I would sit down on the bench reading my new comic book. When I was done I would usually just close my eyes and listen to all of the sounds around me. Hearing the children talk, laugh, and play. Just hearing all of them happy would bring a smile to my face. The sound of their echoing hooves… hitting the pavement floor…
“Where am I?” I squeaked quietly. Wondering why I was chosen to get foalnapped by some gangsters.
“I said shut-up!” Time Bomb snapped making me shake harder on her back. Making her sigh in content. Not knowing that he was giving her a nice back massage. “I’m going to let you go know Stranger,” She said as she laid down on her belly slowly.
“Okay...” I said trying to force myself to stop shaking trying to calm myself down. I felt myself get lifted by the earth pony as if I was a foal. Taking me from under my belly and laying me down on the “Pavement” sounding floor. I then felt the bag get lifted off my face startling me for the briefest of moments.
When I looked around the first thing I spotted was Time Bomb in her black two-piece with matching fedora. That her ears stuck out of the brim of the hat.
“Where am-?” The words caught in my throat as I quickly scanned the area around me. “I’m.. I’m at the park!” I said with a smile that started to grow but then quickly pauses when I looked back over at Time Bomb. “How… how did you know?” I asked her wondering how she knew I lived close by. I looked up at the older pony.
“I saw you here countless times,” She explained with a neutral expression. As she turned around to face the apartment buildings. “Well, time to tell your family that you are alright.”
“Wait, huh!” I said wide-eyed as I started to get worried hearing the word “Mom”. “My mom! I almost forgot! She must be worried sick!” I said urgently. “Yes, we must go right away!” I said walking the apartments quickly passing Time Bomb as she had seemed to have been rooted to the ground. But quickly followed seeming to have noticed me pass her.
“Don’t be so hasty kid.” Time Bomb said as we walked to the apartments building.
I couldn’t seem to run with my sides and legs burning from cracking or fracturing or whatever… I was just in pain because my bones were so brittle.
“But my mom!” I said as we entered the building. I groaned as I looked up the stairs and opted for the use of the elevator. I was forever scared of stairs after I well down a flight of them. I hit the button impatiently waiting for the doors to close and for the elevator to take me to the fourth floor. The elevator then began to play some lift music.
“Don’t rush things, it’s better to handle things smoothly and with care.” Time Bomb said cooly. As she leaned against the wall. After a few more seconds the elevator doors opened with the floor number above the elevator doors. I walked out with a groan feeling my abused bones hurting again.
“Are you alright kid?” Time Bomb asked with concern in her eyes. As she hugged me softly to her side confusing me with her “gangster” intentions. I didn’t know what she wanted or needed with me. Because I was pretty sure almost all and any gangster would have done something horrible and bad to me. But she and the ones I met didn’t seem to have a bone to pick with me. I was also still wondering who this Kale fellow is.
“Yeah, just feel a bit woozy is all,” I said as we walked together in a narrow abused hallway. Which had pictures of houses and farms that hung on the walls beside doors. That had a number right beside the doors. We walked until we stopped at room 1408. I had Time Bomb knock on the door as we waited for a response.
But no response came, so I spoke my concern to Time Bomb. “Maybe she isn’t home?” I said in concern written across my face. My question was interrupted when the door flew wide open inwards to show a griffon. Who looked roughed up he even appeared to have a few feathers plucked out of his wings here and there. He even seemed to have a musky smell to him that made me want to puke. He wore a yellow scarf with a green fedora.
What Time Bomb did startled me. She leaped into action plumbing the griffon to a pulp.
“Time, what are you doing!?” I squeaked in shock as she ruthlessly beat the griffon. Seeing the brutality scared me. I froze up as I watched wide-eyed. I started to breathe deeply and shallow. Seeing the griffon's blood fly and paint the floor with his blood.
“Kid trust me on this!” She shouted as she continued to beat up the griffon. I ran inside the door he left open. The door that was my apartment and my home. I saw picture frames shattered on the floor with vases and even the T.V. was smashed with glass littering the floor. The couch was ripped by some sharp claw marks. I looked on over at my mom’s room door.
It had seemed to have been knocked down. The splintering wood peppered close by with debris. I looked on the bed and was greeted with a torn bed with dried blood on the master bed. The sheets tossed around the bed making the bed messy. There seemed to have been a struggle. But where could mom be?
I then checked the restroom seeing some more glass on the floor sprinkled all around. “Mom are you here?” I asked aloud hoping that somehow she would hear me. I took a look into the closet and didn’t find her in there so I took a look into the bathtub moving the shower curtains out of the way. What I saw made my blood run cold.
Inside the tub was my mom… but… she wasn’t moving not even in the slightest. The tub seemed to be filled with a deep dark red color. I could only assume it to be blood. The stillness of her body was unnerving. It made me feel sick to my stomach. I felt like turning away, but I just couldn’t turn my back on mom.
I don’t know for how long I had been staring at her cold lifeless body that seemed to be glued to my mind. I didn’t even know that I had been pulled away from her to be face to face with Time Bomb.
“Kid we got to go!” She said loudly in my face.
“But…” I said trying to come up with something to say.
“We got to go quickly before we get copped!” Time Bomb said urgently.
“But what about my comic books!” I said with my eyes widening.
Time Bomb looked out a window checking for any cops. Before looking back to me. “Where are they?” She asked with a raised brow.
