Devastation After Devastation. No. 1
The clatter of metal brought along the distant sound of shattering porcelain. Pretty stained-glass windows and silk fabrics stood still. The high ceiling that held murals of gods and goodness touching the sky held the echoed cries from down below. Musicians stopped their melodies to hold their instruments close to their bodies. Mares and stallions faces unmoving from the bewildered leers reacting to the show in front of them. Even the guards covered their mouths like the bystanders around them.
A mare's mouth erupted with sound. Her lungs reached for any bit of air they could grab on to. Her eyes red with heavy tears that flow like waves down her cheeks. Reaching out, her hooves trembled. Taking in a dry raspy gulp of air.
"Help him," she yowled, "why are you just standing there!"
The mare made direct eye contact with the guards. Her chest heaving up and down. Placing that hoof down, she pushed her body up. Her bones swayed side to side. The statin and shear dress that fell from her sides was now stained with teardrops. Her pink eyebrows furrowed as she kept her eyes locked on the gray stallion wearing a golden get up. Sneering, her teeth grinded together. She could taste the salt and snot from her smeared mascara.
"He's hurting him," she begged, "please do something, anything!"
All the gray stallion could do was to struggle to keep his sharp breaths in. Turning her head, she felt more tears swell up inside her. Biting on her lip, she pulled oxygen into her nostrils. Her eyelids stayed glued together as she rammed the side of a blue coated pony who was looming over a white unicorn. She pushed her legs onto the floor as her hooves slid on the tile. She stayed silent. She could hear her heart banging against her cheat, and she tried with all her might to push the other over.
Slowly, the seafoam colored pony moved its head up. Blood dripped from the corners of its mouth. Chunks of fur and fat were stuck snug between its teeth. Opening its maw, it latched onto the back of her neck. Without a second of hesitation, it pulled a lump of flesh from her body. Her fluffy white coat began to drip deep shades of burgundy. When the jaw unhinged again, he bent back down to sink his teeth into her. It felt like a fire on the back of her neck; to the point it made her choke.
Moving only made the shell of a pony shake its head. It was like something was wrapped around her. Every time her bones shifted they were weighted down like heavy blocks of iron. Bringing up her hoof, she hit the other as heavy as her hooves would allow her to do. It only shifted, beginning to pull away again from the muscle and bone of the young mare. That's when a spear pierced through the back of the creature's skull. The metal head of the spear pierced out of the thing's eye. That's when it was twisted and pushed deeper.
An earth pony mare, who wore gold-plated armor, was standing on the other side of that spear. Pulling that same spear out, she watched The seafoam blue coat stallion hit the floor with a thud, right next to his white unicorn counterpart. Sweat fell off of her like steam.
As for the mare, she felt her eyes grow heavy. A different unicorn from the crowd pushed herself close to the other. With a magic mist, she took her scarf and wrapped it around the neck of the mare. Holding it there in a desperate attempt to play a doctor. The mare leaned into the stranger, her eyes still wet with tears. She was hugged in a welcomed tender kindness.
"That's enough," stated the guard as they dropped their spear, "Carry on."
Quickly the crowd was assured out. At the very back of that crowd there was a yellow coated mare, with a cerulean colored mane, named Lemonhearts. Every time she tried to peek over to see what the commotion was all about, another head shifted between her sight.
The halls were deathly silent. Only a clatter of tile from the moving herd that bounced off of lonely rooms could reach Lemon's ears. They were all pushed out of the castle into the gaze of the moon lit sky. Deep blues and deeper purples, masked under the light of the sleeping city. Many stared blankly, staring at the tall metal gates that held together in a seal tightly. The points too blurry to see from where the yellow unicorn stood.
That's when everypony disbanded. The streets didn't hold a soul, then. Signs outside of restaurants read closed on the sides of doors and windows. Now that the prim and proper weren't flooding the highways, it gave Lemonhearts time to appreciate the road. The pavement under her feet caught the light from up above. Smooth, and shiny, it let her walk on what felt like the milky way. Taking a deep breath in the lonesome mare sighed. The castle's shadow loomed over the city, as the moon raised, leaving the streets a deep black haze.
Her train wasn't due until morning. So it was better to go back to her inn, and take the loss at face value. Her wallet was near empty from this giant let down. All she could look forward to was hours of labor for her unpaid vacation. Her train would come by morning, so there wasn't a point in napping.
The peaceful setting was blanketed over a crawling sensation. That same sensation dug its claws into the back of the young pony. Moving away, she looked back for the last time. Wondering how long it'll be until she could walk these streets again. The prices for train ticket always rise up for insane banquets like this one, so chances of it being soon was dim.
Back in Ponyville, Lemonhearts was sitting down on her forest green sofa. The bags under her eyes stained her completion; it only reminded her how she needed to fix her sleep schedule. Her fluffy wavy mane covered most of her sight as she leaned back so her back would be laid flat on the cushion. Her head throbbed in pain, as she squinted at her stomach. She was barely able to make out the hairs on her underside.
Swooping her tail over her belly, she began to braid the lighter and darker shades of blue in a mindless daze. The only light in the room was the peering sun that looked between her front facing windows. As for the noise, there was only the heavy banging on her door… Wait, banging on her door?
Her tail hit the arm of the sofa; completely murdering her dainty braid she just created. Quickly she rolled over to stand on the floor. Her legs quivered under her weight, but she pushed on as she trotted over to the wooden door. Swinging it open, she watched a stallion draped in a black robe and wore a long bird-like mask. The entire figure of the pony was covered in cloth. They held their head high as they walked to the next house with a file of papers, nails, and a hammer, placed neatly in a one swing over the saddle bag. Looking at her neighbor's house in front of her, she saw the berry colored mare look at her with confusion; That's because she just watched her very own masked shape stroll away to hammer a sheet of paper on the next home over.
All Lemon could do was shrug at her.
Lemon opened her mouth wide to yawn. Then she turned her her head towards the paper that was nailed to the door. Leaning over, she grabbed it with her muzzle to pull it from the nail. The heavy duty sheet let go of its metal rather easily. Holding it in her mouth she could taste a smooth metallic like trim with her tongue.
She moved back inside her property. The door closed with a gentle thud. Dust was thrown into the air, before it danced slowly down to the panel floor. Walking up to her window, she placed the paper down on her desk.
Looking up, she saw the picture of a purple maned and lavender body unicorn. The cheeky grin on her face was blinding to the point it lit up the room. Lemon brought her face closer to the picture. Tracing how her two toned mane flown down to frame her face. When the glass fogged up from her breath, that's when she finally pulled away. Furrowing her brow she took her hoof to place the top of the picture frame. Moving it, she slowly placed it down flat against the table.
Lemonhearts shook her head. Sliding the paper forward into the light that creeped around her curtains; she began to read.
"Dear subjects,
"As you know, there have been frightening statements in our recent news. Last night's Gala was interrupted up by a shocking display of violence.
"Ending in the department of two loyal subjects and the injury of one.
"A disease called Magnoliophyta Disease has taken over the lives of many already. Numbers are increasing by the minute, and they would further to do so without widespread quarantine. Please, understand this is for yours and your other pony folks safety.
"Don't be alarmed. This is all under control. Our most resounding scholars are researching a cure.
"We do not know much about this disease right now but rest assured you are safe. You are all to stay home until further action and a cure is inevitably created.
"You will not leave your house.
"Rations will be given to you.
"You'll be informed when you can leave.
"Take care my little ponies,
"Queen Celestia"
Flashes of when she was watching the crowd stand there stiff like a wall entered her mind. That couldn't have been that right? Why would a disease cause a murder, and who would be dumb enough to cause such a commotion that close to the two sisters? It all seemed so distant from her. The fact that it was just a few feet away from her made her jitter in place.
With a gulp, she turned the paper over to see a blank page. Letting out a huff, she flicked her and mane out of her view. Quickly she tossed the paper back to its front to study its contents. She stared right through the sheet of paper. Every moment she spent on each word, her face inched closer right up until her nose touched the page.
The mess of a mare snapped her face away. She found her face looking up the window. The dirt road only held the fresh hoof prints from the duo of masked strangers. Then there was the wasteland of a sky. Nothing fluffy or white was up there. It was unlikely the milkmare would come today.
Folding the paper, she placed it in her messy drawer. To then take that hoof and pull the curtains open fully, letting the entire warm hug of the sun in. Only then did she see how messy her studio was. A plate and a wine glass laid neatly in the sink. The bed was rumbled and disheveled, her pillows looked at one another from across the mattress. Her suitcase laid flat on the floor. Its contents displayed, spiraling onto the ground.
That's when she began to unpack her things. Pulling out her periwinkle dress, she felt her heart sink… The long flowing lace dripped down from the saddle that was held together with a rich pink trim. Little hearts were embroidered on the side that flew all the way to the chest. Too bad she never really got to show this dress off for too long. Maybe she could wear it again for a dinner date? Brushing the fabric with her hoof, she took a deep breath in. Following the waterfall of fabric, it led her eyes to the two golden tickets. One had a hole punch in it shaped like a horse shoe, the other looked brand new. Slamming the case shut, she stomped over to her closest. Cruely she shoved the dress onto her hanger so it could live in her closest. On a repetitive pattern she took the little she had and organized her room.
After that she opened her fridge to eat something… There wasn't much. An apple and a few dandelions wrapped together with a brown paper, and a half of an empty glass of water. It was still something. Taking it out she set it on a plate. She had another, but the use of it seemed dim. After eating, she went to bed. Leaving a small mess for future Lemonhearts to worry about… it's not like there will be very many exciting new things for her to do now anyways.
Day two… or one depending on how you'd like to look at it.
Lemon was awoken by the thunderous thudding of the door once again. Forcing her body up, she moved her blanket over her face to wipe away her sleepy tears. Hooking the blanket on her muzzle, she pivoted her hips towards the hickory.
"Huh?" yawned the equid.
"Your portions are at the door, I will go, you will count back from ninety, Got it?" The voice snapped like a piranha. It was like talking to the teacher, nopony wanted for class.
"I-"
"Got it?"
"Yeah!" Lemonhearts screamed out.
Taking her left hoof, she rubbed her eye. Tracing the bags that began to form from her new horrible habits. She dragged that arm to fall on the bed, having her body drown down with it.
Her squinted eyes hit her ceiling. She traced the architecture of her measly cottage. How the wooden beams crossed over one another. The corners were too small to reach the dust. To the mortar covered the bricks that made up her walls. The thatched roof stayed strong under the swirling sky.
It had to be about ninety seconds by now, right?
Pulling herself from her warm burrow of happiness. She stepped into the cold dead draft of the world. Meandering over, she went to open her door. Immediately her head dropped to look down. That's where her eyes were pitifully rewarded with a brown paper bag on the floor. Wow thanks, I love it. With a few grumbled words of quiet rebellion, she bowed her head. Opening her mouth, she picked up the bag with her teeth.
"Howdy!" spoke a voice from the unicorn's right.
"Mmm," she muttered out.
The other pony was a younger blue pegasus mare. Her eyes round like a puppy dogt; they were also colored and bright like orange slices. For her mane it was a dyed soft brown. Looking closer you could see her roots beginning to grow a platinum blonde. She only smiled at her from afar. It was wide and could reach from her house to the one three streets over. Her head pointed down towards the deep yellow unicorn. Her long body swayed in its place. She opened her mouth and closed it, like a fish, as she tried to put together a few new words. Pausing in her place, she held a bit of air in her mouth. She seemed to be staring right through Lemonhearts.
"Our windows are pointed to one another," her mouth stumbled from her speed, "open it, so we can talk!"
With that said she didn't even give Lemonhearts a moment to say no. The pegasus was already long gone into her house. It was as if she was made of wind. The door didn't even make a sound, she was just gone!
Lemonhearts was confused at first on why she was in such a rush. The unicorn's neck curved up. Her face was blank. When she turned her face she saw a spooky bird-pony glaring back at her. That's when her ears slammed flat against her skull. She pulled away as she turned to zoom into her own home.
Once inside, she was greeted by a piercing silence. Moving over, she placed her bag onto the counter. The sound bounced off the crevices of her walls. Taking four steps, she met the other mare by her own window. Pushing the glass on its hinges, she watched the baby blue Pegasus wave.
"There you are!" she cheered nearly leaning out and falling over.
"Yeah," the unicorn coughed into her hoof to silence her awkwardness.
"I'm Sassaflash by the way," she began, "you probably know that, ha! Small town..."
"Yeah, odd we never really met, I'm Lemonhearts," she nodded, shifting her body to stand more comfortably.
"Are you married?" Sassaflash's wings brushed the frame of the windowsill, as she leaned further out the window. Her happy citrus pupils were stapled onto Lemon.
"No, I'm not," a soft uneasy laugh came from the unicorn.
"I am," she began, "my husband is actually one of those patrolling guys!"
That felt like she just trotted into a trap. Of course, she's married! She's seen the two walking in and out before. Shaking her head, she began to think. It was strange to actually believe those bird-ponies are anything but oddball creatures. Then at the end of the day, they have families. Considering how young Sassaflash was, she wondered how old one had to be to do this strange job. Least now she could get some answers from the pegasus. The two stared at one another for a moment. Sassaflash impatiently waited for her to start the next conversation.
"Why is he wearing that?" Lemon asked, retracing her words.
"He's a doctor," the young mare giggled, "isn't that wonderful?"
"Why would they have a doctor out there?"
"Most of the ponies out there are medical workers!" exclaimed the rambunctious pegasus.
Lemonhearts nodded. Not only did that answer nothing, it just made her question everything more. Maybe she was looking too into everything, but she had to figure out something. Her entire life was taken over by a giant game of sit in place with barely any clues to why.
She focused on the other mare's hooves. They were fully immersed in her window plant boxers. The rhododendron and marigolds crushed against her hooves. Then there was the wolfbane. He was barely able to make it unscathed by hugging the side of the flower pot. Poor flowers would cry for mercy if they could.
Shaking her head out of her trance. Lemon let out a mighty yawn.
"I wonder how long we're going to be stuck here," the unicorn sighed, letting her body slide down the wall.
"Everytime something bad happens, the princess always comes through for us, right?" Sassaflash finally gave her flower box a break.
"I guess," Lemonhearts rolled her eyes.
"Even when the princess was kidnapped" she rested her shoulders, letting her wings close to her sides, "somepony came through for us."
Lemonhearts stretched her head up, so she'd be peeking right over the wood.
Right then her eyes met a pegasus who made of smile material.
How small she must look to be getting a pep talk from a filly. Her huff from her nose was enough to blow her bangs out of the way. With a shift of her shoulders she flipped herself over with a wham. Now her back stayed parallel to the wall as she was face to face with the end of her bed. Her two tones tail curled around her right back leg. Twitching with its unique constrictive way.
"Yeah, I can see your viewpoint," replied Lemon.
"Thank you!" that's when Sassaflash placed her hoof on her chest, covering herself with dirt, "oops."
This became common practice in the day to day life of Lemonhearts. Every Wednesday she'd be woken up by a stallion or mare. They'd always demand her to repeat a few words she by now have memorized. To then receive her rations of food. Then she'd set the bag on their table and unpack a few metal containers of sour alcohol-tasting applesauce, a different container containing a pint of an unrecognizable substance, crackers, a few pieces of stale bread, and some peanut butter. What was really important and what Lemonhearts always looked forward to; was the few cups of pudding they always placed in. It almost tasted like the stuff she'd could have gotten in Sugar Cube Corner. Truly it was salivating.
With every thin brown paper bag came a piece of paper explaining the news for the disease. On the back of that paper you'd get a comic that was reused from previous papers. It was always childish in nature, but the few squares of drawings became the only form of entertainment one would have. The paper these were printed on was always incredibly flimsy. One wrong fold the paper could tear into two. There was nothing about the weather or what the mayor may have or haven't done. Nor was there anything about how much longer they'd be living like this.
Only a week in, pony's got stir crazy. Lemons was beginning to decide if it was worth going out or not. Having only one pony to talk to, it became a life of always sleeping. She felt like a less fluffy version of a fat cat. This cat wasn't lucky enough to be born in a rich family. Instead, the cat was one step over from living in a box.
This Saturday she heard the jarring far off bickering. Following the harsh words of the two, she found herself peeking outside her window closest to her front door. Her eyelids went wide as she studied the two figures. One looked like a normal everyday pony. His mutton chops could poke somepony's eye out. The other was those creepy bird horses. Even though she couldn't see the face of the bird pony, she could smell the fumes coming off of them from here. Who wouldn't be annoyed from being yelled at by an old horse?
Following down the body of the bird pony, she noticed a shiny metal object. The silver barring she only seen on book covers had to be what she'd thought it would be. Her guess was right, because it was illuminated by a yellow glow. Floating the gun from its leather holster, the bird pony pointed the barrel at the other.
Immediately the maw of his locked up shut. They looked like a statue planted in place. Not even his shoulders moved to breathe.
Lemonhearts pulled the fabric of her curtains together. Staring straight at the color, she could only listen.
Bang!
Stumbling back, she tripped over her own tail. She ended up falling backwards flat on her ass. All she could do was to hold her mouth shut. Otherwise, it would never stay closed. The bubbling feeling of a puke could be tasted from the back of her tongue.
Pulling her hooves over her head, she curled her back into a ball. Her eyebrows tightened with her shut eyes.
If anypony is listening. Please, please let this be a bad dream.
The time moved forward without her. Day after day until the sunrise and sunset blurred into one another. She didn't know who to turn. Talking about something she knew she didn't want to touch was swept under the rug. Even if its nails were three inches deep into the carpet. She could feel Sassaflash always skipping around that subject. So she did her best to let it go.
The month will always move on, again and again, one, two and three, a, b and c.
Week twelve.
"C-three?" Sassaflash asked.
"Miss," replied Lemonhearts, "G-one."
"Fiddlesticks! Sink," the other whined, "you win again!"
"You know you don't need to put all your ships on the sides," she offered some advice as she held in her cackle.
"Well they need to hold onto the wall," replied Sassaflash, "otherwise they'll get scared!"
Lemonhearts could only chuckle back. Who knows how far off the end she'd be without this friendly pegasus. Absolutely no one to talk to sounds like a death sentence. She already wanted to bang her forehead against the wall from the lack of physical attention. She didn't think she'd ever miss the awkward flank bumping she's got from crowded places. Well, there she was missing that exact same thing.
"Are you a virgin?"
"Okay, that's incredibly out of the blue, even for you," Lemonhearts nearly choked on her tongue, "why on earth would you ask that?"
"Well, I'd check the library if I could but…" she moved up so her chin would rest on the windowsill. Her tropical colored eyes focused on top of the other's head. She studied her messy growing mane and fluffy blue ears. She even focused on the indented swirls of her horn. It's all she could have done because Lemon's face was out of sight.
"So you're asking me?" replied the other as she laid close to the floor, completely cutting the view from her pegasus friend.
"I don't really got a lot of options," she forced out a ha, "I've been having trouble with my husband."
Lemonhearts could only listen. Once Sassaflash knew she wouldn't get a peep from Lemonhearts, she began to speak again.
"He hasn't touched me. It's gotten to the point where he won't even kiss me goodbye when he heads off to work.
"It's… so frustrating! I saw myself having foals with him in the future. Of course after everything blows over. When we met back when we were foals we both agreed to have some one day. Even if we had no idea this would happen.
"I know I haven't been able to do as crazy of workouts as I used to do. Mostly because I'm always stuck at this prison. I also know that- I- I'm a little annoying, having only two ponies to talk to, I tend to go all out.
"But does he really not find me attractive anymore?"
Lemonhearts blinked. Shifting up, she copied the position Sassaflash was in.
Sassaflash's eyes were glazed over, as she stifled out a sniffle.
"Sounds like something you should talk to him about," Lemonhearts guessed, "he's like a crazed bird doctor now. Who knows what kind of hours that gives you?"
Silence washed over the two. Then Sassaflash nodded. Gulping down a dry wad of spit, she finally answered.
"Y-yeah, I will."
The next night, Lemonhearts awoken to another gunshot. Her chest quickly raised up and down, following the dangerously fast beat of her heart. Gasping she grasped onto her chest with the sole of her hoof. Burying that hoof into her pelt. Gulping, she leaned over herself. Her pupils took a moment to dilate to the sunless room. Shifting over her bed, spring croaked under her mass. Touching a dial, she flicked it and her oil lamp lit up in contained flames. The blaring light that illuminated that corner burned the shaky eyeballs of the mare.
She turned to face forward. Staring straight at her window. The same place where she remembered the sound coming from.
Click!
She felt her heart plummet to the bottom of the earth. Forcing herself out of the bed, she started to race to the door. Tripping over herself and her blanket that was caught onto her foreleg. Hitting the door open, she nearly raced out
Lighting strikes of images of the pony screaming, who met his fate from a barrel of a gun, hit her thoughts. They forced her back into the house. Galloping over to her window, she opened it to see Sassaflash's closed window. The flower patterned curtains made it difficult to see through them.
"Hey!" she hollered out to a wall.
Dammit! Walking up to the doorway. She lingered in time. Taking a step forward, her face was brushed back with a cold frigid breeze. She felt the sand pull her in until it was quickly stable. She looked up and down the road. Luckily no pony was there. Quickly she ran to her neighbor's house, banging on the door with all her might.
"Sassaflash!" she cried as she turned the doorknob.
The copper door knob refused to be anything but stay stiff. So she began to ram the door, but no matter how hard she banged her shoulder against the body of wood, it stood strong.
"Sassaflash I'm coming in!" she promised, "Hold still, okay?"
Moving away from the door, she ran up to the window. Pulling it, she was rewarded with the warm, stuffy air of the cottage. Pulling back the curtains, she forced herself through the opening. Having the dirt catch itself in her hide, as she crawled over the flower box planter and the wooden frame. That's when she soon found herself standing on a smooth surface. The cracking of a dying fire hit her ears as the still room left her alone.
"Sassaflash?"
Author's Note
Sassaflash IS NOT a child. She's like 18-20. I know I used the word "filly" but that was an exaggeration.
(Lemon is like mid 20's if you're curious.)
Fun fact!
This chapter was based off quarantine in covid 19 if that wasn't obvious enough.
(But I doute anyone will see this besides the poor guy who had to accept this story weese)
Criticism is always welcomed. I'm trying to get better.
Their house brought hers to shame. Dark and dim, everything was spotless. They had a second floor, and a spacious design. In front of Lemonhearts was a staircase that held snugly against the wall. Some wooden bars were chipped, but they were still cleaned and polished. The wood creaked under her with every movement she made to get closer to those stairs.
On Top of the staircase was a door. It was cracked, just enough so the inside of the room was completely invisible.
That’s when she went up the first step. The staircase was tight. The unicorn’s body could touch each rail if she shifted her weight from side to side.
Sniff.
Her head jolted to look to it’s left. Right there she saw a wooden table. It was set up with pretty saucers and folded napkins. One was pushed over on its bottom, the other chair was still pushed in. On that chair’s leg were long strands of a tale. The soft brown locks tangled were tangled around the wood. Leading all the way.
Lemonhearts removed herself from the first step of the long staircase.
Investigating further the blue haired mare leaned down. She finally met the top of the Pegasus’s head. Her heart was pit at ease. That’s when she gasped out letting the lingering tightness out into the air.
Sassaflash legs and firearms arms were pulled all the way into herself. Her gray blue wings were out and curled around her face. The long feathers were in need of pruning. In-between each bristle she could barely make out the face of the other. Her eyes were puffy and red; they were locked onto the floor. Her nose was red. Only the glean that admitted from her chest made her release that she was carrying a piece of silver. The name silver that coated those pistols.
Lemonhearts glued herself to the floor. Her own hooves held together in front of her. Until she left the comfort of her own body to gently place it out for the other mare to take it when she was ready.
All Lemon could do was watch as the other retracted into herself. Sassaflash sneaked glances at her eyes. Then she let her wings ruffled out of the way as her head moved up to brush the top of the wooden ceiling above her. Taking her own hoof out, Sassaflash couldn’t get her hoof to stop slipping from the others.
But Lemon was there to curl her food at an angle to hook onto her hoof. With all her might she helped her stand her ground from out under that table. The pegasus had a few inches over her, even with her slouched appearance.
Brushing her brown mane back she gently placed her arm around her to hug her. The Pegasus gulped to rest her head on the unicorns shoulder. No matter how much it felt like her heart was being crushed with the claws of a griffin, the well in her eyes feel dry.
“Where’s your husband?” asked Lemonhearts.
Sassaflash’s voice box was withered. Her lips stuck to one another like tree sap. Her forelock covered her eyes but with the way her head tilted, Lemon could tell she was motioning to the stairs.
The yellow mare pulled her friend towards the door. Each step she could feel how light the other was. She was practically carrying her with how much of her weight was pushing on her. When she made it, she saw through the yellow tinted glass. Many of their neighbors faces were seen through the square and circular cut-outs made to see through each home. Lemon twisted the lock to open the door. Pushing it out she shuffled with the other basically on top of her.
It didn’t take too long to get to her own abode. The door was already side open for her. Inside the house Lemon slipped Sassaflash off, so she’d be gently placed onto her green sofa. The cushion welcomed the mare in by slightly conceiving.
All Lemon could do was stare, even when stepping back away. She studied her features… The faint sight of freckles were sprinkled on the other’s cheeks. Her nose was small and proper, her cheeks were round and soft. She looked like a stormy cloud.
That same cloud shuffled into her side of the sofa. She became one with the inner corner of the green cushions. The gun that never left her chest was coddled like a newborn.
Lemon moved so she could close the door. The sudden sound made the pegasus jump in her seat. Those eyes were wide as her wings formed a little of a shield above her body.
“Sorry!”
“It’s-” Sassaflash took a deep breath in “-okay.”
Shifting away from the door. Her mind buzzed like a swarm of bees. She finally made it to the other side of the Sofa. Almost in slow motion she placed her butt down. Letting seconds go by before she finally lowered herself enough to let her weight be off her floor boards.
Like always, she just silently stared. Looking for any sign of thought. It was like someone strangled the life from this winged pony. The other’s eyes didn’t bear to peel themselves away from the blank space. When her chest moved and her mouth quivered, that’s when Lemon closely paid attention.
“They’re going to kill me”
“Don’t say that,”
“He got it.”
Lemonhearts leaned her weight on both of her sides.
What if she caught it too?
In all, she didn’t have the puzzle pieces to finish this puzzle. They already hugged, and now she’s in her house. So there probably wasn’t much she could do now.
Lemon watched the pegasus shiver. They watched how she ground her teeth together as her face scrunched up and tightened. It looked like she was struggling to keep her head up. Lemon’s ear twitched tilting to the other.
“I- I need to go back,” Sassaflash moved her neck to stare at the other, “so you don’t get in trouble too.”
“No.” Lemonhearts got up.
Insane as in a state of mind which prevents normal perception.
That was the word that perfectly described the Lemon colored unicorn as she pulled her saddlebag from her closet shelf. Down fell boxes and socks from the tug, but she stepped over it racing over to her refrigerator. Shoving the door open, she took everything out of it. Placing it all on her counter top. Opening one of the latches she began to pack all the things she had.
The disgusting applesauce that was stored up because it burned the back of her tongue, all the way to the single cup of pudding she still had. Turning her faucet she ran water over her silver where, to toss it in there as well. She even grabbed her can opener. They might have a use for it right?
“Where’d we go?”
“I don’t know.”
Running to her bathroom, she stood on top of her toilet seat. Opening the cabinet she pulled her depressing first aid box out. Only a few band-aids and some neosporin. The handlebar was wrapped in cloth to keep it from pinching the top of her mouth. It wasn’t pretty but it was something. She also made sure to grab her toothbrush, and hairbrush (even if the latter was barely used.) Walking back to her kitchen counter the box didn’t look like it would fit in the food part, so she opened the other compartment. Shoving the box on their snugly.
“What if we got hurt?”
“Better than dead.”
Taking the bags she placed it on her back. She hoped to make it slide further down her shoulders, so it would fit her right. That’s when she began to tighten the girth ring, so it wouldn’t easily slip away.
“You don’t have to do this.”
“There’s probably like a few witnesses,” Lemon guessed, “it also just makes more sense to stick together. I mean what’s a few more mindless conversations about dusting going to do to us?”
“Drive us to the point of no return?” she wiped her tears away.
“Yeah,” she spoke quietly, looking over her shoulder with the softest smile.
Lemonhearts took a step back. Looking around at the mess she just made, she circled in place. Taking the images into her brain, trying to take every detail in. Right before she got too dizzy, she turned one last time to face Sassaflash. With a deep breath in she forced out a smile.
“Ready?”
Sassaflash nodded. Nuzzling the gun, she brought it to her right wing. Placing it under her inner feathers kept it snug against her. Holding the edge of the couch she pushed herself off. Having to travel a little to find her footing. Forcing herself she began to walk past the unicorn to leave the comfort of the house.
Lemonhearts began to walk out. That’s when she saw her desk. Placing her hoof on top of it, she brushed the top of it. That’s when her attention was pulled to the picture frame that was faced first down. Looking at the outside world she glanced back at the picture frame, she popped the backing of it off, so she’d get to the picture. Taking it she placed it over her heart. To then fold it, placing it into her bag, she lashed the leather straps, so they’d not let go of its contents.
The mare went out to meet the other who kept her face staring down. Her frame was posed out besides her door.
The freezing air froze the tip of her ears and the top of her snout. Her eyelashes felt heavy from the gentle brush of soothing melody from the air. The cooing of birds was to her right and the wind carried a swirl of dust to her left. Along with that swirl was a leaf being carried along the way, until it fell to the floor. The world rippled like a lake.
It was hard to tear her attention away from it, but she pushed forward. Looking back to make sure the other would follow, which she did.
The leaves were changed and different, they fell on places they never did before. The colors stayed the same but only now did she notice how they complimented the different shapes of the hay topped cottages.
Glancing down at Sassaflash she was brought back into reality. She moved over to pat her back. This of course made her tense up in her spot. Swooshing her hoof back to her side, she gave her a bashful toothy grin.
The feeling was new but still familiar under her frogs. She missed walking over the pebbles and stones. How the floor changed depending on where the carriages rode down the road. Even the smell of the pine trees was a welcomed change. Even with her tracking in this change she felt eyes stare to the back of her neck from each side of her. Right at the edge of town they could see the ending of the town as the houses began to space out.
“Where are you guys going? You should know you can’t go anywhere unless everything is safe,” a stranger spoke out from the top of her own hay topped cottage.
Sassaflash ducked down behind Lemonhearts. Lemon brain just shut off. That voice was so strange how it wasn’t yelling at her. Blinking her way out from the depths of her mind she reminded herself
Rolling her neck she moved on. Waking into the longed grass field. She already felt her caves begin to itch but she continued. Sassaflash stayed close.
She nearly tripped over a hunched over dead tree. The stock long left its leaves in the dirt. It’s branched twisted around one another like snakes. All of it was hiding in the grass like it was purposely trying to graph her. Was that always like that? She couldn’t even find a stump. Lemon pulled herself over the tree. She wasn’t willing to find the top or bottom of it to go around it.
“Where are we going?” The pegasus asked as she easily glided over the tree with a single wing.
“I don’t know,” repeated Lemonhearts.
She already felt her legs become tired. The lack of exercise really did a number on her physical health. Who knew how many calories one could burn in customer service? Then again they were going up a dreadful slope.
The grass began to dissipate. That’s when there was metal shiny back at her. Train tracks! Well, they didn’t have anywhere else to go. It also beat having to swim in that field of grass. So, hopping over the rusted metal that was hammered into the dirt. Her hooves landed on a creaky wooden beam.
Turing she began to move again. That’s when she began to hear the distant songs of little robins and other songbirds. The caw-cawing of crows complimented the underlying melody. They all kept a chaotic tempo. The grass began to rustle from the entire side of her, as grasshoppers popped up like little popcorn kernels. That’s when she noticed soft drew drops that flicked on her ankles from their prances.
Only then did she realise the sky began to morph.
The abyss opened up with a ray of orange and pinks. The lack of clouds made the colors beam greatly. The oranges turned to red as they pushed away the moon, becoming a bright shade of blues as it rose higher and higher up to the painting of the sky. The sun reached up to hold onto the incoming blue that held it up on a platter.
Her moment henced. How long has it been? Birds expanded their wings I’ve read. The honking of geese that swooped to change who’s ahead in their arrows flew up south. Pollen reached high, immediately attacking her nose but even with her surrendered sneezes she melted because of it.
The great ceiling-less roof expanded further. Keeping her in a trance as she studied the wild life wake up to race alongside the never coming winter.
All the way up to the few hills that gently flowed up and down on grass beds. Wildflowers of poppies and cornflowers were painting the side, running from the grasp of purple weeds that were littered sparingly on top of it.
Sassaflash gilded passed her leaving the other in her little day dream.
“How have I’ve never noticed this before?” Lemon whispered to herself.
“It’s always been there ,” replied Sassaflash, “probably forgot it.”
This time following the pegasi she studied the other’s behind. Not in a gross way, of course. Even if her mind tried to wonder that way. She would simply grab it with a chain and strangle it under a pillow. No, she was just surprised. She never imagined it actually looked like this. This was also the first time she really got a look at the other’s cutie mark. Two yellow lighting bolts parallel to one another. The baby pastel yellow matched the ingrowing mame coming from her.
Sassaflash flicked her tail. It nearly hit the unicorn in between the eyes. Jolting away, she shook her head, and looked to its side. With a gulp felt her soul twist. Was she really doing this now? Wow she really became a degenerate from being locked up that long. Raising her head high she pushed forward. So she’d be walking alongside her.
It took a moment to get used to. The metal beam got in the way, so she had to waddle with it in between her untils he got into the groove of the pace they were at.
Sassaflash couldn’t lift her head up. Her body was sinking, but somehow she was able to stay afloat. Lemon couldn’t blame her. The day has been long and it was barely a newborn.
“Are you okay?” Lemonhearts tilted her head, trying to catch the sight of the other.
She really didn’t need to because Sassaflash turned her own head. The orange eyes stared blankly through her, instead of at her. They were so loose, as she saw her hair drip down away from them like a waterfall. Her soft cloud like features were shown to the world to see. Still, her ears were loose like a limp fish.
Lemonhearts sucked on her own tongue. Her own ears began to deflate. Still she pressed.
“We can talk about it. I think we should talk about it.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Sassaflash forced the corners of her mouth up. Shakly stayed strong for a moment before she turned to walk again.
“Really, I’m here if you need me,”
“Let’s just drop it, please?”
Lemonhearts froze. Letting the other leave her side, she moved off of the tracks so she’d be treading in the dirt. Pushing over the small amount of grass that wanted to peep their heads out.
Hours ticked by as the tracked up the repetitive pattern. Up and down hills and valleys, the long mindless hike. Each step felt like their hooves were pushed deeper and deeper to the core of the earth. Then the sun’s light was caught on top of the hill. Squinting at it she could make a boxed shape. The light was sitting on top of the horizon, placed graciously on top.
“Is that a train?”
Sassaflash looked up, twisting her head to its side; she tried to make the shape out as hard as she could. After a amount she gave up.
“Don’t know what else it would be.”
The two inched their way over to it. Following the uphill battle to stay up right.
It was in fact a train. Many of it’s carts were tossed off its track. The last box cart was completely off the tracks. It laid on its sides. The red paint chipped off the corners, revealing it’s true colors. Most windows were broken in having piles of glass trying to play themselves off as rocks. Tread marks lead up to it, that made a tiny pit from where it was pushed aside. The doors were locked fleshed with the box cart.
Closer inspection on the bottom of the train could see the latch that connected each box was twisted around. The pulled iron curled like tornadoes until the snap where it let go to the now sideways box cart. Each subsequent box cart after the one that was still connected had a sheet of hard metal that folded like an accordion to keep it pushed together.
Sassaflash began to walk up to it, well prepared to go in. Yet, Lemon had different plans.
“We should leave it.”
“Might have some stuff.”
“We don’t need it.”
“Might later on,” she said with her eyes beaming.
Lemonhearts rolled her eyes. Walking up to the bottom- or well now side of the box cart, she began to climb up it. Pushing her hooves in the bars that connected the wheels together. Forcing with all her might, with no help from Sassaflash, he finally made it to the top. Hot air was coughed up from her stomach when she finally was on all fours once again. Walking to one of the only windows that stayed firm, she bent down to peek inside.
Oh sweet Celestia.
Leather was pulled lightly on what looked like display hospital beds that were bolted to the corners of the wall. Bodies laid loosely on almost each bed. Some of the leather was torn away, letting these bodies to turn from their original position.
On top of each bed was a plaque. Grain into each plaque was some very hard to see letters and numbers.
These bodies’ bottom hooves were either tied or nailed. As the torsos were wrapped in statin, twisted to the point it was impossible to breath. The ones whose heads weren’t crushed into paste faces were tied in these metal muzzles that looked like they were seen into their flesh. Speaking of their flesh, it looked like there were hard metal rods that made their skin pop out and bruise. Those piping looked to have smaller protrusions that branched out, similar to the tree she tripped over hours ago.
One, who was in the far corner, was stiff. It’s head tilted to its side. The right cheek of his face was pulled out as it’s skin was stretched to keep a golf ball sized spread under. The fur on top of this, was wilting away. This tore some of the stitching the muzzle used to hold on. For it’s eyes, they looked washed over. She could barely make out the blue pupils that were coated in a thick layer of blinding white. There was a deep cut spamming from its neck to it’s chest. Color spilled out red that was already brown in the statin wraps.
She could see hoofs dangling from the sides. Chunks of meat and bone sprinkled across the area oddly there was little to no blood, unless it was being soaked from a piece of cloth attached to the bodies...
Lemon pulled away her head. She tasted the vile that ran up her throat that she swallowed to keep down. Her own face was very much pale, like it was almost the color of a lima bean. Taking her eyes away from the sight, she let her sled wonder to the distant fields. Even that looked like a rotting riot. Moving away, she went backwards to climb down the box cart. Hopping half way, so she wouldn’t have to carry her own weight for too long.
How could a pony do this to somepony else?
She went to the lobsited boxcar. Most of it was pushed off the tracks, but at last it stayed upright. Stepping up onto the platform she felt the sound rumble beneath her, shaking the luggage it carried that was lucky enough to still be with it. The humming of the machine reminded her that this might be a summer idea than she first thought. She looked at the door right in front of her. Aiming for the latch she found that it didn’t want to budge.
Sassaflash got up with ease. Walking up next besides her she noticed how every push her friend made didn’t seem to make any progress. So then, she began to frown. The small glimmer in her soul was punched out as quickly as it came.
“Thanks for trying for me.”
Lemonhearts looked over to her. Opening her mouth, she knew she wouldn’t be able to let this puppy dog down. That’s when she noticed the ladder next to Sassaflash.
Moving passed her, she climbed up the ladder to the roof of the box cart. She looked around. The few steps she made were stopped by her hoof getting caught on a square outgrowth. Looking down her face brightened up.
Sassaflash joined her, but fist she had to remove the gun from under her wing, to place it into her mouth. Having a stictor hold, the pegasus spanded her wings. Flapping, she made her way towards the top. This made her be ahead of her freind who was studying the floor.
Lemon looked up one more time towards Sassaflash. The mare shook her body like a lion with a mighty mane. With a simple kick on to floor, the trap door flew open.
The unicorn shifted to see what the box cart had in-store for them. Of it was worth going in at all. But somehow to stayed dim and dark the only light that lit the area up gave her a sense from where the ground was. The sound of banging was oddly there.
Stretching her body, she could feel the pats of air on her back from her freind, who flew herself up to look over her shoulder. With a smile, the unicorn jumped down the pit of unknowing.
Her legs where holted my a jolt of shock. Unlike to the delicate feather like touch, Sass came down to.
The two were hit with the most revolting smell. Spoiled milk and lighter oil was the closest thing she could compare it to. What was worst it that there was a smidge of burnt shugar that was fastened to the smell.
Lemon felt the chilling touch of wire on her flank. Her rump dropped low, and she nearly flew herself, right into Sassaflash. The poor pegasus nearly fell over.
Looking back over her shoulder she saw the muzzled build of a fellow pony, or what used to be one. It shook it’s head and pulled with perseverance. Yet the leather straps that was fitted flesh onto them kept them close to the virtucle bed. Growling it snaped it’s teeth in the air making, trying to get through the metal bars containing it.
Sassaflash brought her gun up. Shooting, one, two, times she carved a nice hole into the monster.
Her breath shot from her nose and Lemon wasn’t doing much better. With a gulp the made sure none of the other beds were alive.
The following beds laid barren. The straps frayed at the edges from the hastily cuts the straps insured that somepony did.
Lemon held held tight onto the other. Looking behind her shoulder she noticed how the door was swung open, and so was the other that leg to a stagecouch. Inside there were of these now disfigured ponies slamming against a cooper door.
The cooper door didn’t look doing too well. The metal was already indenting in, and the window shades were already stomped on to no return.
The two stayed perfectly silent, as they wondered what the best course of action was.
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!”
“Lemon!” muffled Sassaflash.
“That wasn’t me,” said Lemon.
