Chapters Glass Never Breaks in Equal Shards
The winter was hitting Ponyville pretty hard tonight. It was colder tonight than average. Barely twenty degrees. In fact, Pinkie Pie closed Sugarcube corner a little Early tonight. Business was quite slow. The last customer was almost 3 hours ago. The raging snow wasn't making business any faster either.
Pinkie Yawned heavily, It was 8:30 PM, but she was still quite sleepy. "Well, early to bed, early to rise, I guess." Pinkie said to herself, giggling afterwards. She trotted to her open/closed sign. She went to go flip it. After her hoof had the sign slightly in the air, she looked outside. There was at least 8 inches of snow tonight. She almost turned away from the window, but something caught her eye in the immediate distance, about 20 feet away actually. She noticed someone with a large coat over their entire body outside on a nearby bench. She immediately observed this figure for a few more seconds. Then it adjusted it's position, trying to keep the coat around them to stay warm.
Seconds quickly turned to minutes. Pinkie just stood there inside her shop, observing, and contemplating what to do. When the coat was almost blown away, she saw that it was a young stallion. He couldn't be more than 14 years old. Pinkie began to slightly grit her teeth, and move her eyes in thought. She had to help him. She couldn't just leave him out there to freeze. She grabbed a coat off the coat rack, and trotted outside.
Pinkie shivered violently as she opened the door. A large cold breeze flew through her coat right as she stepped outside. She shook it off after the breeze slowed down. Pinkie was quick to find the young stallion. He noticed her, and turned the other direction. She sat down next to him. He scooted the further away. Pinkie didn't try a second time. She sighed, and began to speak. "What are you doing out here? You'll freeze to death" The stallion was silent. He shook a few times, but no words escaped his mouth. "Are you OK?" Pinkie was trying to sound more sympathetic. The stallion shook his head. "What's happened to you, that would cause you to be out here? Where are your parents?" Pinkie quickly regretted asking that last question. She heard the stallion sniffle and cry a little bit. Pinkie got up from the bench, to try and see his face. He quickly covered his face with the last available space in his large coat. Looking at the coat from up close, it was really big for him. As if...It was his father's or mother's. Pinkie began to frown. Every second that passed by, Pinkie wanted to help him more, and more. "Can I please see your face?" Pinkie asked softly. The stallion shook his head a little slower than last time. His face was covered by this large coat.
Pinkie wanted to help this young stallion. Weather he wanted her to or not. Pinkie was quick to think. She reached, and gave him a large hug. He cried a lot harder. He reached his hands out of the coat, to return the embrace. Pinkie noticed his legs were cut up with many different scars. Many looked new, or recent. There weren't many old ones, or so it seemed. Pinkie didn't dare ask about them. If she did, He might trust her less. She looked back to Sugarcube corner. "Don't you want a warm bed tonight? I have a spare room you can use for awhile." The stallion nodded. I guess he trusts her a little bit now. The stallion got off the bench, and grabbed what looked like an instrument case. They walked back to the shop. Pinkie attempted to put his coat on the proper way.... He refused to cooperate. Pinkie didn't argue. She was trying to help him, so this was quite a good start.
He walked in, and he sat down in a nearby chair, separating from Pinkie, who was putting her coat on the rack. He, as well took his coat off. He set it on the table. He had pure black fur, and a pure white mane. Pinkie looked over to him. She was mortified. His legs, chest, and face were covered in scars. Mostly his legs. A few on his chest, and face. Pinkie tried not to stare, but she couldn't help herself. The stallion looked away, trying to ignore her gaze. Pinkie broke the silence that was held for about 3 minutes now. "Why...are you covered...in scars?" She held an emotional stare as she spoke. The stallion sighed. And he spoke, for the first time "It's quite a story. A sad one at that. Don't worry about it.... But thank you so much for the opportunity to have a bed. It's been almost a month now since........never mind...I'm sorry. Forget I said that." Pinkie's sympathy grew more and more for him by the minute. "I'm sorry, I never got your name by the way." The Stallion's eyes seemed to dry up. His emotions were the same, but He was trying to hide it. "I'm Pinkie Pie" Pinkie said, slightly pointing to herself with her hoof. "Nice to meet you Pinkie, I'm Walker...Walker Strings" Pinkie nodded, trying to smile. "I really hate to rush the favor, but where's the room at?" Pinkie was able to smile a little bit more. Gaining his trust so quickly was quite surprising. It's as if She solved a long puzzle with only a few moves. The way he acted at first. His resistance. It was quite the egg to crack.
Walker was shown to his room, with his oddly shaped luggage and his coat. He thanked Pinkie again for helping. Pinkie dismissed herself for the night, and Walker sat on the bed with the lights off, and just stared out the window, and began to gather his thoughts. He quickly passed out from exhaustion. Tonight, he could sleep warm.
Walker woke up, almost not remembering where he was. He quickly recollected the short term memories of the previous night. He examined his scars. They didn't hurt anymore. He reached for his luggage, and unzipped a tightly closed pocket, and pulled out a small razor blade. He aimed for a spot on his front right hoof. He hesitated. He sighed, and lowered the blade before putting it back into the case, and zipping it back up. He thought that, maybe he could start on a new path. Not exactly a clean slate, but finding a better path for now. A stranger's compassion has given him something to cherish for a short time.
He looked to the case again, and unzipped the large side of the case that opened the bulk of the case. He took out a guitar. He began to strum a chord progression, and began to sing.
Something took my life and trashed my heart
a force of unknown, world's far apart
A stranger came and gave me hope
a skill to learn how to cope
My happiness is far from reachable
sadness cruel, and tears so capable
of causing pain, leaving scars
something to let faaallll apaart
Pinkie heard his playing from the next room, she opened the door, and gazed in amazement. "Wow!" She exclaimed. Walker was startled. His hoof hit the strings accidentally, and his whole body jumped slightly in surprise. "oh...sorry." Pinkie said. "Oh, that's ok. Don't worry about it" Walker assured Pinkie. "When did you write that?" Pinkie seemed quite impressed. "I never exactly wrote it, I kinda just made it up about a few seconds ago." Pinkie progressively became amazed. "I sung it, because...I felt it...The words that need to come out....just...come out faster in song for me..." They fell silent. Walker looked down, and his ears pointed downward as well. "Tell me...." Pinkie started. "Wha?" Walker questioned. "Tell me everything that has happened to you. I really want to help you, in any way possible. It's hard to help when you're not aware of the details." Walker thought deeply. He almost teared up. "...Okay.... I'll tell you...Everything.....I'm not sure what you can do....But here it is......"
Glass Never Breaks in Equal Shards
Scars, and Thousands of Tears
Walker sighed very heavily. He was actually going to tell Pinkie his history. He felt uneasy, but he began to speak. He tried not to make too much eye-contact with Pinkie. He wanted to speak it, not converse about it. He gulped one final time, and his story began...
"It started about a year ago. Hardest winter Manehatten had had in a long time. Which is where I was living at that time. I was about 12 years old. My Father and mother were quite poor. We lived in a dirty part of town, in a broken down apartment. My mother didn't have a job. She was quite the painter, but never was able to hold a job, or get enough painting gigs. She had business cards for her "Painting movement" as I called it. She called herself "Manehatten sky Murals." She was occasionally painting people's rooms, business walls, restaurant walls, etc. They were always stunning. She got a good amount of money to pay a few bills if she needed the money, but nothing more than that. She wasn't called by enough companies, or pony families to keep the business consistent.
My dad was...Well, he was a drunk, an alcoholic if you will. His problems were invisible to his own eyes. He'd come home every night at least a little drunk. He would continue more and more as the night progressed. My mom and dad hadn't loved Each other for many years. In fact I'm sure my mom regrets marrying him. I don't really have a lot of good qualities to describe about my dad.
They fought a lot. Never physically. It got close sometimes, but not close enough. Sometimes, He'd threaten me, if my mom wasn't home. That always sucked. He'd find anything to argue about, or bring up. If he couldn't think of anything immediately, he might make a problem out of something. Like cleaning, or the TV remote, or who knows what. I think he drinks because he knows We're not happy as a family. To attempt to forget. Of course, he causes most of the despair, but he doesn't see that in himself.
One night, He got really drunk. He was at a party instead of the other half of work. He must have drunk really strong stuff. A lot of it. He came in, and started arguing with my mom right at the front door. She tried to ignore him, but he soon got the attention he wanted. I still have no idea what they were fighting about to this day. I spend time every night wondering, and trying to draw a conclusion.
I was in my room, pretending not to listen. I couldn't make out most of the words, but their voices got louder and louder. I began to tear up. I got one of my pocket knives, that I used to collect. I tried something that I heard people do, cutting.... I had to think about it, but my thinking abilities were clouded by my emotions at the moment. I opened the knife, and cut my lower foreleg quickly. It was a pain I wasn't exactly used to. I focused on the blood coming from it. It burned.... And for the few minutes it bled, I wasn't thinking about what was happening in the next room. I realized that THAT was the objective with cutting... The pain makes you not think about what's happening right at the moment. Instant gratification I guess. I began to focus on the fight again. And I heard my mom crying....and...being hit..... I froze for a little bit....Dad actually began to get physical.... I ran out of my room, he was beating her furiously. Her nose was bleeding, and she was on the ground. My dad did not stop. My mom was able to break free for a little bit, and escape his grasp. She ran towards me. She said "Walker! Come on, let's get out of here!" She tried to grab me while she could....But.....It didn't work out so well. My dad growled right before he tried to grab her again....But he didn't exactly grab her.....My mom was stopped in her tracks....and a blade was coming out the front of her chest.....My dad, stabbed her.....She fell to the ground......"
Walker began to weep. He kept trying to talk. Pinkie was tearing up herself. She walked over to Walker and hugged him. She was rocking side to side in the embrace, like rocking a baby. Walker was able to speak again through his loud sobs. "My dad walked away from my now dead mom. As soon as he turned around, I jumped on him, and punched him over and over again... He tried to escape, but I would not let him. His face was extremely bloody, and I was still punching him, while sobbing. I think he was eventually knocked out from a couple punches ago. Someone must have called 9-11. The police were outside. They broke through the door. I told them about the whole night. And thankfully, one of the next door neighbors knew it was my dad....If the neighbor didn't say that, they would have blamed me, because my dad was beaten, and my mom was stabbed to death. I was the only one who looked like I did something. They understood the situation fortunately.
Later, I moved with my grandmother. I was scared. I hated her. She was quite the mean grandmother. She didn't like me either, but she was the closest relative I could live with.
It was quite hard to live with her. She always insulted me whenever she could, as well as treat me like trash. I hated living with her. I got a new scar almost every day. I just cut, and cut, and cut. One night, I got tired of it, I ran away.... I went into her room when she was sleeping on the couch, and grabbed a couple hundred bits. I packed nothing but my guitar that I had been practicing, and this old coat that my mom had. I got a train ticket to Ponyville. It was random. I chose a town that was far away.
After arriving, which was bout a month ago, I had to find somewhere to sleep. I had money, but I didn't spend any on lodging. I only spent money on food when needed.
Sleeping was hard. Usually, I didn't sleep, because I had nightmares most nights. Mostly about that last moment of my mom's life. She tried to grasp me, and take me away from my dad. When you hugged me, It reminded me of her. It felt like she actually was able to grab me, and hug me before we escaped... But then I remembered where I was. Which is why I cried.
The first night of trying to live homeless, I played my guitar for a long time, and sang as well. I sat at a park bench, where no one would hear me.... And then I passed out....Once I woke up, I saw that I got my cutie mark. A guitar. I didn't think about it much. No one was there to care. I kept going on living homeless. As the winter came in harder, It became harder to sleep. All I had was this large coat. Right before you came to help me, I thought about killing myself.........." Pinkie's eyes widened, and she put her hoofs to her mouth in shock. "I thought about possible ways. I thought about jumping, but then, you came to help me..........."
.......................
Walker finished his story. Pinkie was about to cry. She hadn't met anyone like this. Especially a young stallion. Someone this young should not have to experience homelessness or seeing his mother die. There was a large silence... Pinkie was lost for words. What would she do? "Would you like to live here?" Pinkie broke the silence. "Huh?" Walker heard the words, but he wasn't sure if he believed what he heard. "Live here. I mean, As long as you need. I'm going to help you, in whatever way I can." Walker nodded. He smiled. But then his smile turned to a thoughtful face. "I have a question, Pinkie." He said. Finally making eye contact again. "What is it?" She responded. "Why do you want to help me? I mean, I definitely am grateful. But Most people just walk by, and forget I'm visible. Or just not care at all. It's odd that a stranger would help me...." Pinkie was quick with a response "I help everyone. I'm the pony with the reputation to help, and make everypony happy. I've always been that way, and I always will. No exceptions" Walker smiled. "Thank you...."He said softly, with a smile.
Glass Never Breaks in Equal Shards
Walker had been living with Pinkie for almost 2 weeks now. She's been telling her friends about Walker. He's hesitant to meet them. Would they be as nice as Pinkie? Would they judge him before speaking to him? What about all the cuts he had? Did Pinkie mention those? He always ran questions like these through his mind when Pinkie brought up meeting all of her friends. In fact, Walker tried to be in his room or not visible when Sugarcube corner was open during the week. He'd eat, but not too often. Only sweets gets old after awhile. His appetite is definitely not like Pinkie's.
Walker was writing music in his room. He heard footsteps coming towards the direction of his room. It was Pinkie. He could tell by how the footsteps were quite heavy, and separated. Pinkie always hopped around, so you could always tell if you payed attention to it. Pinkie knocked on the door. "Hey, Walker, I need to tell you something." Pinkie said through the door. "Come in" Walker said after a small sigh.
"It's almost winter wrap-up. Well, kinda close, and school will be starting soon. So, I signed you up for Ponyville Middle." Pinkie's words made Walker's stomach hurt. He was anxious when he heard them. Anything about school made him nervous.He hated school. "WHAT?! I....I hate school..." He said looking down at the floor, over the guitar, still in his hand. "You hate school?" Pinkie began. "Why? What don't you like about it?" Walker scratched his head, while widening his eyes, and releasing a large breath. He was about to say a mouthful pretty fast. "It sucks, people make fun of me, I get tormented a lot for no reason, most of my scars were BECAUSE of school. It makes no sense to me, I hate having to wake up to have my time wasted, and have teachers tell me I'm stupid, and then ask what's wrong after a couple days when my head is down, or I look depressed. Bullies are everywhere, in any middle school, and I DON'T WANT TO GO!"......He inhaled heavily, and exhaled, catching his breath. Pinkie sat there. She didn't look like she questioned his complaints. "Aw, come on! That's only in the movies! School is fun...." Pinkie brushed it off. Walker's expression was quite a mixture of anger, and the thought that Pinkie COULDN'T have ever been to school before. "Yeah...No, it's real....I'm actually living proof if you didn't hear that part." Walker didn't like to disrespect Pinkie, seeing as she's the closest thing to a parent right now, but he couldn't take her seriously right now.
"It might be different here. This IS more of a peaceful town you know." Pinkie said. Walker agreed with that sentence. But he couldn't shake off the fact that it WAS school...MIDDLE school at that....Hormone valley...
Walker sighed. "okay...I'll give it a try. Not like I'll have a choice or anything." He said. Pinkie rushed out of the room, and instantly came back in with a thin folder. It had some admission papers. Walker filled out what he could. Which was pretty much only Birthday, and name. Everything else was pretty much the parent/guardian's responsibility.
The few papers were signed, and she closed the folder. "Alrighty then, I'll turn these in tomorrow." Pinkie said. Walker wondered if pinkie took HIM seriously anymore. Sure, he was quite a dramatic pony, but lots of people feel differently when it's them, instead of someone else from outside of the experience.
........................
Pinkie and Walker went to find Walker a jacket that ACTUALLY fit him. but first, Pinkie had to ask Twilight a favor for Walker's benefit.
"Hey Twilight!" Pinkie greeted after the door was half open.
"Hey Pinkie! Is this Walker?" She asked.
"Yep!" Pinkie confirmed with a smiling nod.
"Hello." Walker said stone faced. Walker obviously wasn't the most excited pony.
"Hi, Walker, nice to meet you." Twilight said in a friendly tone.
"Can you do him a favor for me?" Pinkie asked.
"Well, what is it?" Twilight asked.
"Can you use a spell to get rid of all his scars, and cuts?" Pinkie shot back.
"What are they fro-" Twilight was cut off by Pinkie.
"Don't ask." Pinkie said getting slightly serious.
"Well, sure......One second." Twilight's horn started to glow, and she aimed it at Walker. In about a few seconds, Walker's scars were no more. Completely invisible. Gone!
"Whoa! Thanks!" Walker smiled, and thanked Twilight.
"Your welcome!" She replied. "Is that all you guys needed?" She started again.
"Yep. Thanks!" Pinkie replied.
Pinkie and Walker trotted off to the local store, to find a jacket. Walker found a nice black and white one rather quickly. It was on sale for 50% off. They bought it after Walker tried it on. Quite an easy sale. "Thanks Pinkie." Walker said to Pinkie. "No big deal." Pinkie replied.
It was an anxious last few days. Walker got up around 7:30 AM to go to school. He hated school, but he was slightly more hopeful this time. If Pinkie was right, he might make some friends.
"Hello, class! We have a new student, today." The teacher began after getting the class to quiet down. "Introduce yourself, dear." Walker was silent for a short moment. He managed to speak. "Hi, my name's Walker, and-" He was cut off. "Oh, stand up, please, so everyone can see you, darling" The teacher said. "Hi, my name is Walker Strings." He sat back down. "Do you have anything else you'd like to say?" Walker shook his head. "Hobbies, anything?" Walker shook his head again. A student next to him, a young mare, spoke. "Your cutie mark, it's a guitar right?" A few students were chatting about it. Not much excitement there, but whatever. :Uh, yeah. I do play guitar, and sing." Walker wore a nervous smile. He wasn't into talking to the whole class, or being open to strangers for that matter. He was quite the introvert. At least he tried to be.
The first class finally ended. Time to meet the next group of people he won't try to converse with on most occasions.
Walker soon found himself in the middle of a crowded hallway. He walked rather slow. "Hey! New kid!" Someone called out. A slightly deep, unfriendly voice came closer as the sentence finished. "Oh, great..." Walker thought to himself. He tried to walk as if he didn't hear him. This large stallion blocked Walker's path. "Not on the first day..." Walker thought again. This large stallion was like a slightly taller wall compared to Walker. "So, you got money?" He said. "I'm broke." Walker said sternly. "Well, I guess you'll be paying in blood then." Walker tried to walk away. "Sure...whatever." He pretended this wasn't happening. To try and sound somewhat tougher than he was before. "Well, I'm in your way again, aren't I?" The stallion blocked Walker's path again. "Dude, please, leave me alone." Walker said, attempting ignore this guy. "Fine! I'll just go Fuck your mom then!" He said. That got to Walker more than it would to most people. Walker turned around, and wore a serious, angry face, "My mom is DEAD asshole!" The stallion smiled more. "Oh! Sorry, your dad must of killed her for being a total whore!" He laughed. That was it. You don't make fun of that, EVER! He was enraged. Walker gritted his teeth, and got close to the large stallion while he was laughing, and bucked him right in the face. Perfectly square in the nose. Walker felt it break. It began to bleed. The stallion gripped it in pain, and started to tear up. Walker wasn't finished. He bucked the stallion again, and knocked him to the ground. and stomped on his face, over, and over, and over. Years of sorrow and grief just flowing out of Walker, directed to one unlucky pony. Walker could feel his teeth crack, and his jaw break as he kicked him. Walker's hooves were covered in this stallion's blood. students, and some teachers just watched as Walker destroyed this pony's face.
Eventually, A police officer grabbed Walker, and cuffed his front hooves,meaning he had to walk on his hind legs, so he couldn't buck anymore. The ambulance took the stallion who was beaten mercilessly, and carried him to the emergency wagon.
Walker was then escorted to his home. Luckily, the police knew where sugarcube corner was. "Ma'am, Is this your son?" He asked Pinkie, as she stepped outside. She had seen Walker from out the window in cuffs, and walking with an officer....This must be a mistake....
Glass Never Breaks in Equal Shards
Earlier today, Walker had quite a confrontation. That's the nice way to put it. Pinkie was scared for him. He was brought back home by an officer, with his hooves covered in blood, in cuffs! The police officer just saw the last couple seconds of it. Walker had "the right to remain silent" at the moment. He wasn't threatened with jail. He could have been. But he was quite lucky. Pinkie attempted to sort it out. It didn't take long. She bugs bunny'd the officer. She has skills at that.
"So......What...Happened?" Pinkie said. It sure took a minute to get out. She didn't know what to make out of this. Walker sighed heavily, and began to speak. "This big dude, threatened to beat me up and such. I tried to ignore him, but he made fun of my mom...Usually, that shouldn't hurt. But my mom is dead. And I mentioned that. And he laughed, and insulted my mom's death...It infuriated me. So I let my hooves do the talking. I let out years of anger that was just waiting to explode...I just...." Walker began to weep. He tried not to think about his mom. When he did, he always got emotional. Pinkie went to his side of the table they were sitting at, and hugged him real tight. He wept for a few minutes. "Maybe you should take a nap, and just relax in your room or something...You won't be allowed back there for awhile." Walker released the embrace. He wiped his eyes. "okay...I'll be in my room I guess"
Walker closed the door, and sat on his bed. He thought....and thought...and thought deeply about his life, and his possible future....and what might happen, and what if this? And what if that? He mourned on everything he possibly could to strike sorrow into his soul. He wanted to just end it all...just DIE... He put his head down on his pillow, and tried to sleep. Before he knew it, he was awake again. It was like he just blinked, and time went by. He looked at the clock. 1:08 AM. "Geez.. No guitar I guess....I don't want to wake Pinkie..."
His stomach growled. "Midnight snack, I guess." He looked in the his mirror, and brushed his mane....Something looked different though....He turned his lamp on to be sure... His eyes....They weren't aqua-marine....They were dark blue. "That's weird....My eyes don't change color..." He told himself quietly. He managed to get a snack from downstairs, and go back to bed.
The next day, he saw something on the news. "Local middle school student beats bully mercilessly." He knew that was him. Apparently someone recorded a video of it. He looked at himself. And...He noticed something else....His eyes...They were blood red. "What?" He thought. Pinkie walked in the room. "Hey Walker!" She started with a morning greeting, but noticed something different. "Have your eyes always been violet colored?" Walker was puzzled. "So, it's not just me seeing it." He said. "Pinkie, can you hand me a mirror?" Walker asked. "Sure, here" He looked...They WERE violet purple. "Wait...... During the day I was cuffed, my eyes were red, apparently, when I woke up from my nap yesterday, they were dark blue...Now there PURPLE! What's going on?" Walker was confused. "Wait a minute....Like my Pinkie sense..." Walker didn't know what she meant. "Pinkie sense? what's that?" Pinkie realized she hasn't needed it recently. "I can sense the future, by hints that my body gives me....My tail twitches when something is about to fall, my right ear flops when I have to say goodbye to somepony... There's some more, but you get the point" Walker thought for a second. It didn't make sense. No future was needed to be told he was doing everything RIGHT then when his eyes changed. "My natural eye color is aqua-marine...but that doesn't really help"
Pinkie made a conclusion, or so she thought, "Red. The color of anger....Dark blue, the color of deep depression" It clicked. "So, my eyes change color based on mood? But that doesn't exactly explain purple.... I was confused, but that's not exactly what the color means...." Pinkie thought about it as well. "Maybe your body just gives them a tone. If you have naturally aqua marine eyes, then your eyes probably get darker when your mood is darker...As for anger...Your never really physically angry. So, it could just be rage itself. Purple is an off color from your eyes. Maybe that's saying that you're unsure, so you're eyes aren't blue......Blue is probably definite.... meaning that if your unsure, or feel out of control, your eyes might be too...."
"It makes sense....But how did this happen?......." Walker investigated the thought a little more. "Wait....My mom told me that my eyes were brown when I was little....Therefore, dull, and not experienced...So, maybe aqua-marine just means neutral, somewhat long term sadness.....That period of my life is when they changed to aqua marine. Once I began to feel sadness. They were aqua marine when I was brought here yesterday right?" Walker tried to justify this. "Yeah." Pinkie replied quickly. "So, when the emotion changes, it immediately changes my eyes...Does it mean anything though?"
"My Pinkie sense seems silly to some people too. But there's times when I'm able to use it to my advantage. Maybe, It's for other people's advantage, to help you. Look at your eyes, and tell how you're feeling" Pinkie's right. That could be a good use, but not too much really.
Somehow, I'm discovering myself more and more.....But for what?.... Is there some higher purpose?
Glass Never Breaks in Equal Shards
The same dream every night for a week in a row. A flashback of Walker's mom being stabbed.... Every night, he just thins about his past, and mourns on his past sorrows....He can't go back to school....People would think He's psycho.... "I'll never fit in....I'm so weird, and worthless...I...I just...Need to get this done....and end the pain. In fact, Walker had been cutting again. He'd cut himself almost 5 times in the last few days. All because of his mistakes, and the past.....Not only that, charges were being pressed against him from beating up that stallion. The public hates him...Calling him crazy. That he needs to be in a straight jacket, or beaten up so that he can feel it too... The news failed to mention why He'd beaten him. Due to his insult to his mother's death. But hey, propaganda sucks big time.
The present, and the past now rang in his head. He was tired of it.... It was time to act....
He walked around, for the first time in awhile. Outside of the Shop, and into the public. He was looking for a tall enough building. "That one will have to do....." He told himself. It was a three story store....It would work. He managed to get to the top, by going to the third floor, and climbing on the guard rail, and reaching the roof.
(Meanwhile, with Pinkie, and her friends at the park)
"Lovely Potato salad you've made, Fluttershy!" Rarity complimented. They were having a nice picnic, and Twilight was curious. "Hey, Pinkie, Why didn't you bring Walker? I thought he'd like to meet everyone, I mean, he seems a little too much to himself, you know?"
Pinkie nodded. "Yeah, I know, he refused to-......" Pinkie was cut off by her Pinkie senses. Her tail twitched, and her ear flopped at the same time. "What could possibly fall on top of us, we're in an open field?" Twilight asked jokingly.
"Oh no..." Pinkie said.
"What? What happened?" Twilight asked. Everyone else was silent.
"I gotta hurry!!" She said. She sprinted down the field, in a hurrt.
"Pinkie!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
"C'mon Y'all! We gotta help her!" Applejack said.
Everyone ran right behind Pinkie. "What's happening?!" Twilight asked running next to Pinkie.
"Falling...Falling......Ear flopping...ear flopping...."
"What's going to fall?!" Dash asked.
"It's not WHAT!, It's WHO!"
"Uh-oh...." Applejack said.
They managed to find a crowd near a tall building. Pinkie saw Walker... "WALKER!! NO!!!"
Walker didn't hear her, but he saw her, right before he jumped... He leaped off the building, and closed his eyes, tears in the air as gravity was pulling him down.... "I'll be there soon, mom...." Walker said to Himself...
Glass Never Breaks in Equal Shards
Walker opened his eyes.... There wasn't any air in his face, so he must have stopped....He didn't feel hurt... There was some sort of light... It got brighter, and he was in what looked like an afterlife.....Heaven, maybe..... "Hello there." An angel said to him..."I'm here to see my mom" Walker demanded. The angel simply shook his head. "I'm sorry Walker." "You...You know my name?" Walker asked. "Of course." The angel said. "But, about your mother..... You shouldn't assume someone's location, until There's written proof of heir presence there." Walker was confused....."What?" The angel continued. "This isn't your time yet.... Don't end it just yet. Enjoy the chance while you can.... For they only remember what you were like, before you die....Well, Goodbye, Walker..."
................
Walker woke up, his eyes were extremely heavy. He was in a hospital bed... His vision was blurry at first.... "He's waking up" The voice sounded like Twilight.... "Oh, thank goodness." He hadn't heard this voice before. It was very soft.
His vision was finally clear. He looked at his bed. He couldn't really move. "Where am I?" He groaned. "You're alive." Pinkie smiled. Her mane was straight. Her skin looked a little darker. He knew it was Pinkie, but it took a second to realize it. Pinkie hugged him as much as the medical equipment would let her. Without causing pain to Walker of course. "ow..ow..." Walker was hurt pretty bad. Pinkie nuzzled his head. A few tears leaked out in the process. "Pinkie, What's with your mane?" Walker said. "When I get extremely sad, or depressed all of a sudden, my mane becomes thread straight, and my skin turns a little darker. It's a sign of my mood.
Pinkie stared at Walker for a little bit..."Walker, Your eyes....." He was curious, but he couldn't grab a mirror or anything. "What color are they?" He asked.... She smiled a little bit before showing him the mirror. "They're...yellow..." He looked in the mirror that was put in front of him... "What?....That must mean.....happiness....." "Wait, wait wait...What are you guys talking about?" Rainbow Dash butted in. "His eyes change color based on his deep feeling for the world, or his life. They're usually sad colors, like dark blue. But..Now they're a happy looking, soft yellow."
"So....He kinda has a Pinkie sense...in a way..." Twilight inquired. "I guess so." Pinkie replied.
"I had the weirdest dream right before I woke up....I think, this is what made my eyes yellow.....I don't believe it myself...But I saw an Angel in heaven.... And I asked where my mom was...He said that I shouldn't assume someone is located there unless It's written in proof....I hope that means...she's alive somewhere...." Pinkie's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. "Really?! Wow! What if the angel is right?!" Walker nodded, and smiled an actual, sincere smile.
Glass Never Breaks in Equal Shards
REAL Friends...REAL Family!
Walker had broken out of his shy, introvert shell. He broke the emotional walls of his depression. He let in friends... In fact, He didn't even go to school anymore....Once his suspension was up, Twilight offered to tutor him, as well as get rid of his newer scars..... She wasn't exactly a teacher, but he was given all the work from home. So his school DID send work, ant He couldn't ask for a better teacher. He had made friends with all of Pinkie's friends. He helped them out in the winter wrap up, and did all that he could to help Pinkie, and all his friends.. Yep...He called them friends.....And he ACTUALLY meant it. With all his heart, he meant it.
In fact, Princess Celestia Included a 7th ticket for the Grand Galloping Gala this year.
"Hey, Walker!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"Yeah?" Walker replied.
"How would you like to join us in the grand galloping gala! All 7 of us have tickets, thanks to the princess!" Pinkie excitedly stated.
"WHOA! How?" Walker had never been invited to anything. This was interesting.
"Twilight knows the princess personally! She has connections." Pinkie giggled.
"Well.." Walker began. "I don't have a tuxedo, or a suit, or anything of the sort." Walker said, disappointed.
"Don't worry, darling, I'll make you one, free of charge!" Rarity said.
"Wait, for free?!" Walker exclaimed, almost not believing it.
"Of course, I make free attire for all my good friends!" Rarity said. Walker smiled gracefully.
"Thank you, so much!" Walker hugged rarity, and thanked her.
.......................
"Well, what do you think?" Rarity asked. Walker had just put on the suit that Rarity made for him. It was black and white, simple, but very nice looking. "I'm used to dresses, but I hope you like it."
Walker examined himself in the full body mirror. He turned around, and looked at his hooves. It was just the way he liked his clothes, black, white, and simple. "I love it!" He said sincerely. "I wouldn't be able to wear anything other than black and white, and I like the yellow rose you used here!" Indeed. Walker's eyes were yellow still...They had been since the hospital. It's as if he knocked some sense into himself....Or an angel did.......
.....................
It was that night. The grand galloping gala was tonight. Walker was sure to bring his guitar, to make a few tips. I mean, with ponies pocketing THAT much money, I'm sure he'd get some good tips. He actually wrote a few songs out. As well as rehearsed some of his improvised lyrics, that he never got to make full songs, making sure he could continue. He was a great improviser.
But he thought about it. The way he played guitar best, was during a state of depression. He had made most of his old songs with depressing lyrics, as well as felt every word of them. "I'll have to try it anyway" He told himself.
The train to Canterlot. It was a long ride. "Get comfortable, It's a lengthy ride." Pinkie said. "I'll be Okay. I have my guitar, I can play while we're riding. And so he did. This was actually the first time He'd touched his guitar since before school. He still knew how to play everything. All the memory was pretty much in his hands. He sung one song that he wrote after the hospital....He named the song, "Awaken to Hope. Breathe into Life"
I felt my soul giving up
no one to care, no luck
I've had my troubles, day and day
but now it's okaaay.....
It's okaaaaayy X2
I felt my world crash before me
A song to sing never will be
happy or satisfied
My heart was cold inside
I wasn't what I said I was
I wasn't where I wanted to be
This wasn't how I planned it
I didn't want to look and see
Look and seeee X4
I've broken the walls
come out of my shell
It was far too long
You could tell
I've broken the seal
And Now I can feeeeeel
Happiness
Past the shame
Past the sorrow....
Past the grief,
And past the sadness......
And I'm okay......
........................
The gang clapped. They liked it a lot it seemed. Walker felt really good about himself. He couldn't help but smile. His bright yellow eyes were always a good sign for Pinkie...And everyone else for that matter.
....................
It was getting close to the half way mark. The train stopped at a station in Manehatten. Walker looked out the window. "This is your hometown, right?" Pinkie asked, even though she knew the answer. "Yep." Walker said. The train was now done boarding.
One of the passenger's caught Walker's attention. She sat in the row across from Walker. A few seats down. Walker observed her. She was A familiar looking mare. She had a white mane, and a dark blue coat. She was reading a thin book. "Dealing With Runaways. Help Your Child Come Home" A flash in Walker's mind came into view. He DID run away. But from his grandmother's house. She had a scar on her chest. It had stitches. They looked quite old. Quite ready to come out. Another flashback. His mother getting stabbed.... "No....It's not possible..." He told himself. The last thing he saw that looked familiar, was her cutie mark. A paint brush, and a color palette. His mother was an amazing painter, and THAt was HER cutie mark.
Walker was completely nervous, and afraid at the same time. What should he say? She was looking for him! She might even notice him any second. He had to act now.
"You okay?" Pinkie asked. "You look worried." "I am....." Walker replied softly. Walker got up slowly. And went to the mare....He was near her. She didn't notice him just yet........
"Mom?......." He said. Almost tearing up.....
Glass Never Breaks in Equal Shards
Walker stared at this woman for a minute. she looked up at the sound of his voice. "...Walker?......Is....Is that you?" She asked. She touched his face with her right hoof. "Yes....It's me" He said tearing up with joy. He sat down and gave her the biggest hug. They cried into each others clothes. The rest of the gang was watching from a short distance. They were trying not to cry themselves. Walker and his mother kept tightening their embrace, never wanting to let go. It had been almost 2 years since Walker and his mother saw each other. "I thought you died, mom I was so scared." Walker mumbled in between his sobs. Just enough for his mom to pick it up from up close. "I thought I'd never find you, honey. I'm so happy!"
It was a great, heart-warming feeling for Walker. Catching up would be quite detailed. So much has happened between the 2 years. Walker went from sorrow, to it's peak, to happy, to friendly, to seeing his mother again! "Mom, how did you survive?" Walker asked. "I thought that stab would have killed you." "I did too" She said. "They took you away too early. Once you were taken away. The medic arrived, and I had a pulse. They were sure I was dead too., but they were able to get me to safety, and on life support, as well as seal the wound. It was close to my heart. It missed my heart by just a couple inches. I'm quite lucky... I recovered after being in a coma for months. I had to recover, so they wouldn't let me leave just yet. That took a couple weeks. After I left, I tried to get you. Your grandmother said you ran away, as if she didn't care. I was infuriated. I went home and cried. She said You'd been gone for almost two weeks. I know how far someone can get in two weeks. I put up missing flyers all over manehatten, no response, I tried to call the police. They couldn't find you either. It seemed like I was out of options. I had to just try myself. I tried the train many times. I went from city to city to try and locate you... This morning, I tried Ponyville. They had no record of you, and they said that there was a Walker strings who beat up someone at a school...I KNEW that couldn't be you.... So I tried Manehatten one more time...And...I'm here."
Walker's mother finished her statement. Walker felt sorry for her. She WAS alive, and she WAS looking for him. Walker sighed. "Mom, the Walker strings that beat up the kid, that WAS me... I got so angry at this dude I didn't even know, he insulted your death. Well, I thought you were dead...It pained me so much. I just snapped. The years of anger were just released in those few minutes. When I ran away, and managed to end up in Ponyville, I met someone who took care of me to this day. Pinkie Pie." Pinkie looked up, and smiled. She also waved, and said "Hi!" In her fun sounding signature Pinkie voice. "She saw me sleeping on a bench in the middle of winter, trying to use one of your old coats as a blanket. She convinced me to stay with her. She made me feel safe for the time I was there....She signed me up for school, she did her best, and I appreciate it so much....In fact, I still managed to practice guitar. I ran away with it...In fact, I got my cutie mark with it...during the time I was homeless. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be here, and I wouldn't have changed to a more upbeat, happier person...I've changed for the better mom. I'm completely mentally transformed. Which is where the different eye color came from. My eyes change depending on my outlook on life. The brighter, and warmer the color, the happier, and more positive I am. My eyes are yellow. They've been yellow for awhile now."...His mom and him caught up on life. They shared their stories and grief.
"In fact, We're on our way to the Grand Galloping Gala." Walker said. His mother was shocked. "What?! Are you rich now?!" She said jokingly. "No, but Twilight here knows Princess Celestia very personally." Twilight nodded in agreement.
"It's funny, I was on my way to canterlot actually. It was the only place I haven't gone to yet."
The train arrived to Canterlot. It was time to walk to the Gala...Once they all arrived, Walker and his mom agreed to meet at a nearby book shop in around an hour. His mom loves books. She would always go to a book store on her birthday. Nothing special. Just take a break from stress, and read all day.
The gala was packed. They all eventually departed from one another. Pinkie Pie stayed with Walker, seeing as He'd never been here before. Pinkie went, of course, to the nearest place that sold sweets. While Pinkie Pie was loading up her sugar arsenal, Walker Played his guitar a little bit. He noticed a young mare looking at him, about his age. He looked back, but she looked away. He went back to strumming. It was out of tune. He looked to the tuning pegs, and he saw the mare look at him again. He tried to return the glance...The mare looked away. Walker waved at her, to try and seem friendly. It worked.
She walked over to him. "Hi there." She said softly. Her voice was like a younger version of Fluttershy. It was adorable. The mare was very cute as well. "What's your name?" She asked. "Walker strings" Walker replied. "How about you?" He returned the question. "I'm Rose Butter" She said. "Oh, that's a very cute name, Rose." He said. She blushed. "Yours too." She smiled. "Would you like to walk around with me?" She asked. "Oh, sure. Let me just tell Pinkie." He said. "Who's Pinkie?" She asked. "She's kind of like my chaperone for tonight." He said.
"Hey, Pinkie, I'll be walking around with Rose for awhile, okay?" He said. "oh, who's rose? She asked. "I just met her, we're going to get to know each other I guess." "Okay, try to be within 45 minutes. Your mom will be waiting, okay?" "Okay." I nodded.
Rose is very nice, and pretty. They both talked the entire 45 minutes away. Walker avoided sob stories, although it's mostly what he had. He didn't share too many personal experiences. "Well, I gotta go meet Pinkie back there." He said. "It was nice meeting you Rose." Walker said. Rose gave Walker a goodbye hug. Right before she ran off, she gave him a kiss on his lips as well. "Bye!" She said joyfully, and trotted off. Walker stood there. He was quite happy, but he didn't exactly know how to explain what just happened. "Awwwwwwww!!!!" Pinkie said right as she was out of earshot. "ha ha, very funny." Walker tried to brush it off. "That's weird." Pinkie said. "What?" Walker was confused. "Your eyes!" Pinkie's eyes got wide, and a little too close to Walkers face. "What, about them!?" He asked. "They're.... PINK" Walker was stunned. ".....Mirror..." He looked in the nearest reflective surface...They were indeed pink. "Well, Walker, you're in love!" Pinkie said a little too happily. "Well.....okay, so?" Walker tried to play it off.
......................................
Walker and the rest of the gang walked over to the book store to meet Walker's mother after their time at the Gala. "Hello, Walker, how was the Gala?" She asked. "It was fun." He said, to put it simply. "Do you want to do anything else around Canterlot, Mom?" Walker asked. "Well, I'd like to see the Gala from afar, not up close, just from a nice distance." His mom was always one for landscape, and nice views.
They arrived back to the castle. "It's beautiful!" Walker's mom said. "Isn't it?" Walker agreed. The gang was a little farther back, letting them enjoy some time together.
It was a great night. But there's always that one moment, that spoils it all....."I finally found you both." This voice was all too familiar...No, it couldn't be...It unfortunately was. Walker's father. Drunk as ever. "Revenge is about to be a pain to you both." Walker thought he was in jail, but besides that, Walker stood his ground in front of his mother, protecting her. "so, you come in a nice suit, and try to protect your mother after your both re-united huh?" Well, let's all be a family...and DIE as a family!" He's crazy. He has to be.He's pure psycho.
By this time ponies around the gala, including Pinkie, and everyone else, were staring down the horror about to go down. Walker's father trotted up quickly to Walker. Walker tried to punch,but his father dodged it, and Walker was stabbed through an opening. Time slowed down as the knife pierced Walker's skin. It stabbed him quickly, but it was felt slowly. The knife was dragged down his chest, making the wound bigger. Walker screamed in pain. It was happening too fast. the knife was removed from Walker's chest. He fell to the ground.......
.........................
When he fell, The light appeared, and he followed it...... He saw the angel again. "It's my time isn't it? This time, it IS My time." Walker said angered. "It's your time alright...Time to Save your mother..." He said. "Your eye color ability can be used as a special ability. Like a super power.....Pretty much a super power" You'll be able to fly like a pegasis, as well as do magic like a unicorn, but You'll be more powerful, based on emotion. Your anger, your love, your depression, your happiness can all combine into one thing.....One single color......Take my hoof, and you shall go back to reality, and save your mother with the knowledge I am about to grant you."
Walker grabbed his hoof. And their hoofs shined a blinding light.... In reality, he started to move. His dad was puzzled. He looked back. "Still alive huh?" He said. "Yep..." Walker said, still on the ground. As he progressively got up, he spoke. "There's something you don't know about me, dad...Something that makes me different.....My eyes change color based on my emotion, and outlook towards life....Happiness, love, anger, depression....It's all correlated dad....Because The intensity of all these emotions combined, create the greatest, and strongest color there is...." What does that matter? They're just colors." Walker's head was the last thing to show. He lifted his head, and opened his eyes. "White! The color of PURITY!" He opened his eyes, and they shot rays of blinding light. Walker's dad had dropped his weapon. "This color is like a super power......" He said. Walker flew in the air, like a pegasis, without wings... And conjured magic, without a horn... He aimed his hoofs towards his dad. "Goodbye, father...." A large ray of light blasted his dad. He vanished. Walker blinked, and descended on the ground slowly. His eyes turned back to their previous color. Yellow. Everyone's jaw was on the ground.This random pony just went super hero. His mother ran to him, and embraced him. "We're safe now, mom."
"Indeed. We could use powers like that here." Said the royal Princess Celestia. She trotted before him. "Your purity and your emotion combine together to give you great power. You're an earth pony, yet you have the strength and ability of an Alicorn. "Thank you, Princess." Walker replied. "I'm glad to hear such nice words, from the goddess herself."
I hope you and your mother will accept my offer, as I have a large house in Canterlot I can give you both, all you have to do is help me if we need it. Purity, and ability like that may be needed for the elements of harmony some day. My treat."
Princess Celestia JUST gave Walker, and his mother free housing in the greatest town in All of Equestria. In fact, I've heard your mother paints very, very well....I think We'll have a good spot for her talent.
.....................
3 years later
"Alright, mom, Catch you later, gonna go see Pinkie, and my friends!" Walker said. "Okay, honey, be safe." Walker was now able to completely control his ability to fly, and conjure magic. His eyes almost never change another color besides white, and yellow. His mom is now always able to display her talent somewhere in Canterlot, where people from everywhere check it out, and purchase it.His dad was banished to, you guessed it, the moon. He didn't know at first why it's there, but He figured it out after Luna went there, and saw him. He managed to get somewhere with Rose. She plays music as well. She's extremely good at drums. Walker actually also picked up electric guitar. They might start a band of some sort, but who knows.
And to think that all this happened, because Walker happened to choose to sleep on the bench by Sugarcube corner..... over 5 years ago....