Murder I Wrote

Murder I Wrote

Chapter 8

Tiring Antics and Cheating Games

Recently, I've been getting around to practicing magic. I've been avoiding practicing in front of Twilight or the other ponies, because I don't enjoy looking like a dumbass in front of everyone. It's just how I am; it’s how any sensible person is, I suppose. Anyways, the book Twilight gave me was jam-packed beyond belief with information.

It starts off with the basic levitation Twilight taught me. I've practiced further and further with that, mostly, and have gotten used to lifting some decently-weighted items. As of recently I've delved into more ‘apprentice-level’ magic. It mainly seems to focus on ‘alteration’; literally altering the states of objects around you. To me, that seems a lot more advanced than anything else, but to ponies, I guess it's fairly simple.
I've been attempting to morph a teacup into a teaspoon. So far, no luck. But, this is all in the past, really. I've spent a week doing this. To move on into the present, I'm sitting in the living space with everypony, Pinkie Pie sitting next to me. I'm still a bit uncomfortable sitting near her, due to the fact about a week ago she basically asked me out. God, it's a bit more awful than I thought.

"So, 'Flashy, what've you been up to in your small room lately? All I hear is you cussing in there," Dash's scratchy voice trails over to me.

"Mmm," I respond. I don't like sharing things too much. Especially when I haven't taken my pills for about a month, at this point.

I let out a soft sigh, hoping nopony in the room hears. Dash just huffs and I see Ferrum whispering in her ear. I squint over at them and observe their minor argument. Hope I didn't cause that...God, I'm such an idiot.

Ferrum sighs and looks at me. "Shadowflash, what've you been doing in there? We're all friends here, you can share it with us. We’re just a little worried, that’s all." He gives a kind smile and I shrug.

"Stuff." I close my eyes, leaning back on the sofa as I would've as a human, hind legs dangling over the edge and my forelimbs behind my head.

I see Dash's brows furrow deeply, and then everyone begins to stir. Rarity starts to scold me how I'm being ‘overly secretive’ and that what I'm doing in their residence needs to be shared. Twilight says something to Dash that I can't comprehend. Pinkie Pie is poking my forehead, annoyingly, uttering about candy or something. Applejack joins in with Rarity, bringing up being honest with them.

As I continue to remain silent, they continue to pester me more and more; Pinkie’s incessant poking doesn’t help. I want some goddamn privacy! It's time to smack some bitches back in their place, for Christ's sake!

"Would everyone kindly shut the fuck up?!" I yell at the top of my lungs, expelling out a breath of distaste afterwards in the silence that falls over the room.

"Pinkie Pie, for the love of all the holy gods in the universes, stop poking me!" I smack her hoof away from my forehead and then glare at everyone else in the room.

"Look, I was raised in a democracy. My privacy is allowed and is my right. Mess with that, and I can take this to some court or other bullshit. Otherwise, would you all kindly piss off for a while? Jesus Christ almighty!" I stand up, walking to the door at my far left, twisting the handle with my magic, opening the door, and slamming it shut as hard as I can.

"Fucking Christ...!" I utter under my breath and decide to head down the three flights of stairs.

After a good while, I made my way to the foyer of the large hotel, opened the golden doors, and stormed out into the streets of Ottipaw. I glare up at the night sky, gazing over its hazy-blue coating, the distant white and red specs that gather around the open space.

"I need another place to stay...this is insane..." I decide to walk off to the left, towards where Ferrum, Dash and I went for dinner.

My hooves make sharp a clip-clop as they come down on the cobblestone roads. The sound is annoying, but it brings an odd feeling of release. Now it seems stupid for me to have just stormed out for something as little as that. At the same time, having to deal with an invasion of privacy on top of being in a body that isn’t mine, having virtually nowhere to go and having to rely on others to stay alive, and not having my pills...well, those seem like really good reasons to be pissed off.

I sigh as I continue my journey to nowhere in the deepening night. I feel a slight chill run up my spine, likely from wind that is starting to pick up. I glance upwards at the sky and see many pegasi pushing dark clouds around in the beautiful night. I squint to see what they’re doing, and watch them start kicking the clouds. Some of the clouds above me start to drip water down on my coat.

I turn my head to see a small, dark-grey patch now. More water starts to drip, and soon, it's a full downpour. Thunder starts to boom as I look ahead, seeing many ponies heading indoors. Many ponies are accompanied by companions, and it starts to make my heart sink.

I hate being alone...I feel so worthless... I sink to the ground, laying on the freezing cobblestone. I feel my hooves start to freeze, and my core grow hotter. Interesting that this equine body would do such a thing. I guess all mammals are the same, I muse offhandedly.

I curl up, feeling numb and dead inside. I start to cry, placing my cold hooves against my freezing muzzle. The thunder cracks louder, as if some supernatural force wants no one to hear me...or maybe it's just because I'm tired and angry....and alone.

I lift my head and look back. The rain is blurring my vision, and all the lights have went out. I look up above, letting the rain drip into my eyes, mixing with my salty tears. Maybe I should just shrivel up and die...like I'm of use here. Clearly wasn't of use back on Earth, was I?

I continue to sulk, keeping my eyes closed. Eventually, I feel a heavy weight upon them, as if I had small sandbags pulling on them. I feel my crying cease, and the noise from the rain stop. I must be...falling asleep...

*

All I can hear is the sound of giggling, as well as my own thoughts. I feel as if I can't open my eyes, and everything is still cold. Am I still in the streets? Does anyone even care? I feel so stupid right now...whining to myself. Never got me anywhere. Instead, I decide to open my eyes.

I am greeted by Pinkie Pie staring down at me with a bright smile on her face. I look at her in confusion, and see her pull away from me. I sit up, finding myself tightly wrapped by a blanket. It doesn't stop me, though.

"Nice to see you're awake!" Pinkie giggles, and I shake my head dazedly.

We're in a room; my room, it seems. The small environment is lit up by the light that I usually keep off. Pinkie Pie is sitting on a small stool, glaring at me. Her grin seems to disappear as I raise a brow and she starts frowning. I look around the room a bit more, seeing nothing has changed, and start to speak.

"Uhm...hi...?" I say, still fairly bewildered.

Was that all a dream?

"I decided to wake you up this morning! You've been waking up at crazy times, so I wanted to wake you up early...! Why're you looking at me like that?" She grins as she speaks, but it soon fades into a frown of question.

"Uh, what happened last night?" I ask her in a confused tone.

"Well, you were holed up in your room--" Yeah, I remember that. Practicing magic... "-- and then we all gathered to have a little talk together. You were mostly just staring at your hooves, and then Dashie asked what you've been doing in your room. You didn't answer, and then Ferrum asked the same thing, you just said 'stuff', and th--" I stop her, raising a hoof.

"I stormed out. I remember. Why am I here?" Why would they let me come back?

"Well, everypony was calling you mean names, but I decided to follow you because I knew you were just frustrated." She frowns deeply, and I see a little bit of her mane fall down and flatten out. "Sorry for poking you, by the way." I nod and let her continue. She frowns further in distaste.

"I saw you lying in the street when it started raining. I got closer, after you turned your head a second time, and I heard you crying. I didn't know we upset you that much, 'Flashy. I'm sorry. I really am." Now her mane has gone all straight. I see a tear drip out the side of her eye and I sigh.

"You don't understand, Pinkie. I don't think you will. I'm ...different, okay? I really am. I just want you to know that it isn't your fault. I'm just...really stressed. I can't vent on anything. All I have is my privacy, and I don't want it invaded." She's still crying as I say this, and I slide over in the bed, patting the spot next to me.

"Come here, I want to tell you something." She sniffs and hops on the bed, laying next to me.

"Mind if I tell you a story, Pinkie?" I watch her nod, and I can't help but smile, "Close your eyes for me, then." I turn my head to see her eyes closed, and I place a hoof on her chest.

“There once was a King. A very fair King; one who earned his right to be said King. He fought through many battles, defended small towns, villages, and even cities. He was anonymous for a while, until he was called to the throne by the many villagers and chieftains he saved. The King rightfully lead the kingdom in prosperity, sending the vile to his dungeons and keeping them locked in there to protect his villagers and his family.

“One night, after walking through the streets and talking to his subjects, a Dark Warrior infiltrated the guard's barracks, and forced the gates open. He ran inside, placed an explosive near a prison wall and released all the thousands of prisoners from their cells. He ran away, in glory to have caused such mischief. Unfortunately for all the subjects, they were targeted. Monsters attacked them, left and right, until they were all gone, and eventually, eliminated the King's wife and child.

“The king ran as far as he could, until he had to sacrifice himself; jumping off a large cliff-face, only to survive in a gush of water. He had to visit the city the next day; to watch it crumble, to watch it fall, and to watch himself sit in torment as he lost everything. All he worked for. Just to lose it in a night.”

Pinkie sniffs quietly. "What's it supposed to mean?" she asks.

"It means you can rise through hardship, and no matter how much you succeed, there'll always be something to stop you from being successful," I answer truthfully.

Her eyes open, and she turned her head to me, "what's it have to do with you, 'Flashy?" Pinkie sniffed again.

"I want to be successful, Pinkie. It's a lot different here than where I come from, which you'll probably never understand. But, Pinkie, it doesn't mean you have to blame yourself. The King never blamed himself. It was an accident that could've happened to anyone. Many kingdoms fell to the Dark Warrior, I promise you that." I smirk lightly, but it fades quickly.

"But...if the Dark Warrior kept doing it, what did the kings do?" I smiled.

"They formed a new kingdom. Together. Bonded as one. They all lost their kingdoms, Pinkie, and formed one so mighty, that it became an Empire. The Empire expanded into the deserts, the winter-lands, then outbacks, the forests. It was so big, that the Dark Warrior couldn't overcome it all. He succumbed to the massive change, and they eventually ended him." Pinkie stops sniffling as I finish.

I can see the redness in her eyes from wanting to cry, but she’s holding it back. "'Flashy, am I holding you back from succeeding?" she asks, and I shake my head immediately.

"No, Pinkie Pie. None of you girls are. If anything, I’m probably holding you all back, freeloading off you and all. But, what am I going to do? Live on the streets? I have to start small. Soon, I'll be my own King. But, it's a big goal. I need support. All the Kings had support. The villagers, townsfolk, et cetera." I take in a breath, sighing.

"I need support from all of you girls, and Ferrum, even if it means you don't know everything about me. Pinkie, what I'm tr--" she puts a hoof to my lips and wraps her forelimbs around me. It surprises me quite a bit, and I just pat her shoulder lightly.

She softly pushed away, looking at me again, "I understand, 'Flashy...I’m still sorry that I didn't help...I can be so stupid at times. It's what made me nearly lose all my friends, ‘cause I rush to conclusions, and that I can't handle being emotional and I'm always happy, an--" I stop her this time.

"At least you're happy, Pinkie. It's what makes you unique; being happy at the worst of times. I bet your friends are your friends just because of that, because that’s who you are. But, I don't know them too well--" Which is true. I’m not a brony about to Google everything about all the ponies on the show. "--and you do." I sigh softly, and I feeling her head move to my chest.

I gently stroke her straight mane, knowing she's still upset. I hear more sniffling, and am aware of a wet splotch appearing from where she is. I keep my forelimbs around her, to show I am here for her.

Reminds me of my girlfriend back home. Gets upset really easily, but always wants me to keep her happy.

"Pinkie?" I raise question to her, unexpectedly.

"Y-yes?" she stutters softly. It’s kind of cute.

"You understand that I'm different, right? How I was raised differently, and how I'm not from here, right?" I hear her muffle a cry in my chest, and then speak.

"Y-yeah...I-I understand." She lets out another sniff, and I stop talking.

After a couple more minutes of this, she stops sniffling and crying, but I can still see her body expand and retract from heavy breathing. I gaze down her sides, eliciting her curves and flank. I can also see something that one shouldn't be able to see. Well, good ol' Carl findin' more candy, eh? I can't help but stifle a laugh at this, and just look back at Pinkie.

"'Flashy; where are you from? And why don't you have a cutie mark?" Pinkie asks so softly, I can barely hear her.

"Well...it'll take a bit to explain. But, if you want me to tell you, I will. Just...you have to try and believe everything I say, okay?" I see her nod, and tighten her forelimbs around me.

Looks like I have yet another story to tell...God damn it.