Heed My Warnings: {The Tutor and The Advisor}

-"Goodie four hooves."-

She grasped the hooves of the trembling mare

trembling mare

Who was—

Wait, wait no that...that's….

-"Do ya wanna be friends?”-

She could just...just tell him… TeLL HIM! tell him to find somewhere different

please

She can...she can…she can't… why can't, why, it's

You'Re

not working

Her mouth it's….

-*Snort* "Hahaha! She can't even lift a simple tome!”-

Why won't they just

Please

Take them out yourself!

She can't

She can't

She can't

why not….

-"Angel, look! I got my cutie mark!"-

Sign Right Here on the….

-"Blank flank!"-

….

-"It’s a talent show! Let's enter it together!"-

We didn't win

We can't win

-"What's wrong with you?"-

….

-"We're gonna win this!"-

It's...It's all my f-fault

-"Failure."-

-"TRAITOR!"-

R u n

"NO!" Angel jolted awake, body stiff on her bed; breath strained upon awakening from the dream…
dream? Clenching her eyes shut, she rested her hoof on her chest to calm herself.

*sigh*

She opened her eyes, only to furrow her brows staring into the darkness that was the ceiling. Darkness…
Darkness…
Darkness?....

She blinked as something cold came in contact with her muzzle. Huh? Touching her nose… well she couldn't feel her nose, H-Huh? What? but a cold bag. Wait, wait! Eyes widened as she pushed down on the bag, only to flinch from the shock of pain.

But then that pain brought back the horrible, strained, and tense events from last night, Why had I even bothered?

I...I was so nervous! I should have said I was fine! I should have remained calm from the beginning! I should have never asked!! she rolled over on her side to take hold of a pillow, clutching it close to her chest as she curled, and hid her face in its softness. I...I don't want to do this anymore. I want everything to go back to normal! I...I don't want to lie to him! Not to his face, and not to him ever! He...He doesn't deserve that!

No pony does…. Her teeth were ready to sink itself into her bottom lip, but just applying a bit of pressure made her squeak loudly in her pillow. “Owow,” suctioning her lip to numb the pain, she squeezed her locked eyes. I...I deserved that….

Pulling her face out of fluff heaven, Angel sat up, back slumped, and posture given no consideration at all. What to do…. Rubbing her eyes and massaging her forehead, she glanced into the darkness that was beyond the hoof of her bed. Turning to where her desk should be, Angel peeked an eye on her left and squinted to see the blaring red numbers of her clock. “Enough time.” Sighing, she pulled her blanketed hind legs in close to her chest and buried her ice bagged-face in her knees. Enough time…. Lifting her head up towards the ceiling of darkness, she dropped her body back into slumber.

*Sigh….*

Staring up at her tinted white ceiling that shined in the morning blue light, Angel glanced over at the plain wooden box resting on her right nightstand.

She sat up, and carefully opened it to see the pocket watch. Remembering the guard at the gate, her lips tightened. Why do I need something so small to identify myself?...

She frowned. No. Shaking her head, she slid out of bed and trotted towards the window to pull back the blue curtains, I shouldn't be…. only to blink up at the fuzzy light gleaming into her face. “Huh.” Shrugging, she opened the draw, pulling out a small journal and pen. Flipping through the pages, she stopped at an empty page. Enough time… enough time for what? Jotting down the dream she had… a dream she had, Angel hissed as her hoof gave out, dropping the pen on the desk. Not now! A sore pain pinched at her legs, pulsating a surging heat wrapping around them.

Quickly, she made her way into her bathroom, turning on the facet to run the freezing cold water on her hooves and forelegs. Looking up into the mirror, Angel flinched at how the wrapped ice bag appeared to take over her whole bottom half of her face. Do I… take it off now? Blinking, she lifted her bangs away, only to cringe at the developing dark patch under her eyes, And I said Mr. Whole Blend needs more sleep…. her lips twisted to the side, How exactly am I going to help him? He's been pushing back his scheduled sleep and isn't committing to his agreement to at least take Thursday's off.…

Useless.

Pushing back her bangs, she squinted her eyes at the small scar above her brow. *Sigh* She slumped down and laid her forelegs on the sink, resting her head, quietly listening to the running water. He...He wasn't even supposed to be at Mr. Joe's yesterday… and...and yet I still served him coffee. She hid her face in her hooves, What was I thinking?! I shouldn't be wasting!... wasting such precious time… and sighed.

Turning off the facet, she shook her damp mane, making it and her bangs fall back in place and fluff out. Unwrapping the ice bag from her face, she leaned in closer to the mirror, Mr. Clockwise and Miss Gumdrop aren't going to like this one bit.

Her lip wasn't swollen thanks to the ointment Seaweed had applied to it, but it was still busted and would be obvious to anypony who would gladly go up into her face. I need to stop this lip biting or I might just bite off my lip. She shivered at the thought then blinked. Grazing her freezing cold discolored nose, she huffed. Maybe I could not meet him at the door when he brings the boys…. She shook her head. No, then he'd ask where I am, then Seaweed would definitely tell him I fell off the bed and that I'm hiding and— Her eyes widened. Sweet lights! Then Father will hear it! Her heart thumped against her chest, Okay, no hiding, no hiding, should I tell him not to tell Father? and face fell. No! He's not Miss Gumdrop! He won't listen to me! Aagh! Dropping her forehead in her hooves, What am I going to do? she grumbled.
Opening the medicine cabinet packed with small glass bottles containing a yellow substance, Angel grabbed one, pulling the cork off and downing the syrupy liquid. I'll think of somethin—

*Gasp!* She choked on the stinging bitterness of the medicine that warmed her face, from the ringing sound of the doorbell. *Cough!* WHAT?! Already?! Turning on the facet to rinse out her mouth and switching it off, she slammed open the bathroom door and hurled out her room. They can't be here! It...It's too early! It's too soon!

Not now! Not now! Not now! Not now! Not now! Not now!! The letter says 8:37!! Not...not…. She skittered to a stop and looked behind her questionly. Wait, what time is it? Trotting back a few steps, she glanced at the grandfather clock next to the window. It's seven.

“O—”

“EEK!” jumping, she snapped her head at her brother standing behind her. “S-Seaweed!”

His eye squinted. “Good morning?”

“....” Her cheeks warmed her numb and cold nose, I can't believe I was frightened from that.... “Um…” she rubbed her leg, “good...good morning….”

"...."

"...."

"Did you sl—"

They blinked as the doorbell rang again for the fourth then sixth time.

“Let me go get th—”

“N-No!” she blocked him and smiled, “I...I can g-get it.” I have to meet him first. Just get it over with.

"...." His nose scrunched and he looked at her, scrutinizing her from head to hoof, making her slightly shrink under his gaze. “First you should—”

*Dingdongdingdongdingdong*

“....”

“....”

He sighed and her lips tightened with a subtle hum.

Seaweed calmly trotted around her. “Go straighten yourself up first Angel, your mane is a mess.”

Wh-What? She lost him once he turned ‘round the corner. Blinking, she bit the inside of her mouth.

She was actually getting a good look at her tangled mess of a mane in the mirror, and so she sighed a sigh similar as her brother's from last night. What was I thinking? To go get the door when I haven't even straightened myself?! Mr. Clockwise would think I'm not keeping up maintenance!

Pulling a curly strand away from the tumbleweed, a huff left her nose, There's no way this is presentable, I even forgot to brush my teeth and clean my face!

I know he'd drag me back from something this small. Her cheek twitched. Grabbing her toothbrush from the cup, she stopped and stared down at it, a frown beginning to make way to her muzzle as her eyes widened with furrowed brows.

Liar

"...." Toothbrush reaching its destination, cleaning away the potent bitterness edged deep in her throat, she clenched the cold metal handle, the mintiness of the toothpaste irritating the open, healing wound on her lip.

Liar

Freezing temperatures shaped her face and neck, from the splashes of water, forming prickling needles to dig down into her skin, renumbing her nose and relieving the pressure pounding against her eyes.

Liar

And a whimper escaped from her cold, quivering lips as she stared, and stared, and glared at her soaked reflection. With her drenched wet, parted bangs matted against her forehead, and her dripping fur dragging down her body to fall to her pristine, and clean white tiled floor. She held her face in her icy hooves, pushing desperately at her eyes to hold back the burning hot drops of rough pebbles that refused to not roll down her face.

Liar

Her mouth cringed open and shut, bounding the developing high pitched squeak into a thick forced gulp. And she covered her mouth, ignoring the pain of her lip and the coldly hot pounding in her chest, swallowing the remnants of the heavy stones and sighed, shakily, but still sigh.

Liar.

Standing back up on her own hooves, Angel wiped away the rest of her tears, and sniffed.

Bending down to open the cabinet underneath the sink, she picked out one of the tissue boxes and blew her nose. Placing it back with the others, she discarded the tissue and took hold of her brush resting on the stand by the sink, and sat down on the white wooden stool by the tub.

*Sigh….*

Breathe in, breathe out.

*Sigh….*

Each brush was a breath, brushing her short curly mane.

Calm down.

Each breath was a trembling brush, scrunching her face from tears tickling the corners of her eyes and wetness forming in her nose.

Calm down Angel, calm down.

And each trembling stroke of her brush resulted to her tears to finally break her barrier, trickling down her drying fur.

Please.

She fervently rubbed her eyes and breathed in the snot, not bothering to flinch when she made constant contact with her bruised nose.

P l e a s e… StOp.

Brush dropping to the rug soundlessly, she covered her face, hiding away from the rest of the world behind her hooves.

I'm so pathetic. Happy thoughts.

I shouldn't be feeling this! Happy thoughts.

You did this to yourself! Happy thoughts.

You choose this! Think happy thoughts.

Then why am I crying?! You're stressed. You need rest. Happy th—

I hate this! The sobs of lament penetrated her ears, as low and muffled tremors against her chest from the back of her throat revived the bitterness she thought had been washed away. How...How am I supposed to be a psychologist if I can't even apply my own studies to myself? I can't...I can't even help one pony when I'm by myself! She squeezed her fetlocks.
*Hic* Useless. Closing her eyes tight, Angel blubbered out one last cry, as she had used up the last of her tears, no matter how much she forced more to flow down and carry away the rest of her regrets, regrets? I don't want to leave. Burying her head between her hindlegs, she relaxed in the warmth of her own fur.

*Sigh*

I have work…

...I still have my internship…

…I have to spend time with the boys...

...and I promised.

And you promised so much.

Standing once again on her own, she picked up the brush, and trotted to the stand to place it back where it belonged. Facing herself in the mirror with her laid down bangs, she frowned. Thank Asphodel for them. He doesn't need to…. She whimpered, He doesn't need to worry more about me, averting away from her reflection, I've caused too much trouble already….

"...." Angel faced her reflection, breathed in, and huffed.

Leaving the bathroom, she turned to her bed and held her saddlebag with itching, swollen eyes. I need to make sure I have everything….

Opening the left compartment, she pulled out a large, metal med-kit, checking the contents to find that she was low on ointment and salve… ointment. I...I have to go downstairs…. Seaweed's downstairs. The blood from her face drained, yet her heart pounded with the violent beats of the drums against her chest. Why does he have to always keep the good stuff downstairs and not in his room? Biting her gums, she glanced down into the organized sections of the kit, the small corked tube bottles glistening in the sunlight from her window, and the variety of bandages sorted by their effective uses. I can't leave without them….

"...Mmgh."

Sucking up her fear, she placed the kit on her back. *Sigh* "L-Let's go," she nodded.

Exiting her room, Angel wasted no time in reaching the stairs, but did stop to admire the old family portrait again. I wonder how Wisteria's doing?...

What...What would she think if she saw me like this?

Would she...Would she think it was somepony else's problem? Looking over at the soft violet coated filly, she giggled weakly at the heroic stance her elder sister had, Well… she's just like Father… a worrywart, a wooden sword was floating near the young and bored Seaweed's head. She then smiled a small smile and hummed, I think...I think I can do this. Turning, she made her way down the second flight of stairs, with just a small lift on her heavy heart. But, she paused at the returned cleanness of the lounge; though most of the furniture had been replaced, even if it was just the coffee table and the vase that was ruined.

She trotted around the new cinnamon sectional couch set, which before had been a pair of peanut chesterfield couches. Weren't these in the basement? A frown surfaced her face, I know he likes everything clean, but did he even get any sleep? He didn't look any different upstairs. she rubbed her leg, I wish I could have helped him…. *Sigh* Angel trotted towards the double doors, but her ears sparked up at the laugh from behind. Eh? She blinked. That's Brother's laugh! Angel galloped back towards the other direction and to the doors leading into the dining room. She pressed her ears against it, only to catch a distant muffled conversation, which could distinctly be identified as both of her brothers voices, her heart dropped. Wh-Why is he here? Shouldn't he be in Manehattan? And that was him at the door?! She rubbed her chin at the thought. But… there's no way he would be here without a reason… huh… she removed her ear from the door and trotted behind the couch, maybe he's here to surprise the boys, yes, yes, she warily smiled, he definitely surprised me… I-I can see Larkspur and Foxgloves reaction, snorting at the idea of the young ones shock and the oldest squeal of glee, Angel went to peek her head inside the kitchen. She hummed seeing it and the breakfast nook around the corner empty, Miss Bow Top doesn't seem to be here. Then she's probably with Seaweed and Brother. This is much better, now I won't run into anypony!

Turning around, she made her way into the entrance hall, I'd rather leave for a little bit, and return when Seaweed's gone so I can get the boys. Great idea! He usually leaves later than nine…. and entered the room from across, just to be smacked in the face by the wafting, peaceful smell of herbs and books, Hmmm. Her hooves were light, uneasy, and face was full of motherly warmth for a small second.

*sigh….*

Closing the door with as little noise as possible, Angel took a good look at the small library, At least it smells nice out here, and made her way to a door at the back of the room. Sucking in a deep breath, she opened the door, AGH! This smell is suffocating! Holding her breath, she searched around the large, 'medicine cabinet', passing by shelf, by shelf, by shelf, Why didn't he just open a pharmacy! Unable to hold her breath for long, she instead took in air by her mouth; the smell so strong, she tasted something both sweet and rotten… like dead fish. A shiver traveled up her spine at the taste, making her want to gag. But relief stopped that thought when she found what she was looking for, Finally!

Closing the kit, she sighed. What happened for that smell to get stronger! Is he stocking more?

*Ugh* She shook her head and set the kit comfortably on her back, No, no he gives them away, so they won't be there for long… but why can't all pills not have a smell!

Huffing, she left the library, ready to return to her room, Angel paused at the sound of her brother from behind the door. Shoot, they're done talking.

"...is taking mighty long up there, Seaweed, I wouldn't expect that from her."

Her head leaned in closer to the door. Wait, is he talking about me? And, I can't spend a lot of time in the bathroom?

"You shouldn't be the one talking," Seaweed replied for her, the hooves coming to a stop.

….

That just called a laugh, "Seaweed, Brother this is Mansia we're talking about—"

HEY! She snapped a glare at the door.

"—she may have fell in the toilet again, for Asphodel's sake!"

Oh no

please

not that story.

"Snakeroots," annoyance replaced his happy tone, "she was two."

"Yes," she heard a grin growing on his face, "but it happened again."

"…." Her heart broke past her ribs when the voice of Miss Bow Top came instead of Seaweed's.

"Again?"

"Oh yes, Bow Top, would you like to know the story?"

No she doesn't!

"Snakeroots, are you serious?"

Yes, yes he is! Stop him before he does!

"Aren't I always?" he chuckled.

"Uh, why don't I... go check up on her."

Wait! Wait no! She's going to think I was foalnapped! Angel was ready to open the door, until Seaweed spoke.

"You don't have to, Bow—"

"Yes."

Angel cringed at the uncomfortable feeling she was getting from the silence penetrating through the double doors and into the hall she stood in.

The silence was broken however, by Seaweed's sigh, "Never mind, I'll go."

Oh… um… well….

"Oh! Make sure she didn't fall in!" Snakeroots laughed.

Angel merely shook her head ...I guess, no pony changes in a short amount of time…. then quietly, oh so quietly leaving the double doors, she sighed. I guess I really am leaving without saying goodbye…. Would...Would he think I'm upset with him? No, I left without my bag, I never leave without my bag, should I wait it out? No, when he sees it's there, he'd think I'm still in the house. Would he? Well I do have my kit, so maybe… wait, is he going to check my bag? She paused at the front door, but shook her head, No, no, I had put all my notes and bag safely in the closet, after he pestered me to clean up my desk last night, no need to panic, no need to panic.

*Sigh*

But did you?

Did I?

What would stop him from finding some clue to help you? To know what's going on? Who's to say it won't happen today? Tomorrow? Right now? Already, he is—

He's not!!

Everything hurt… for only a little while… a little while… a little while.

Angel shook her head. I...I um… I'll just wait out...outside. She gulped, and peeked behind her. A-Alright, you can do this, you have this kit at least….

*sigh….*

Angel stood in front of the door... to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the outside, to the eyes.

Angel only noticed the door had grown considerably in size when her rump felt unusually sore, and there were voices, so many voices, and the weight of the kit had magically disappeared! What a spectacle.

What a spectacle indeed.