The Grit and Tear of Teeth

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.