“Full Tilt, let’s run!”
Without a question, I bolted out of the Appleoosian corner store, with my partner in crime, Poppy, the one who had just decided to say that, next to me. Her obsidian eyes scouted the barren desert landscape for any sign of policeponies, and I ran along, trying my best to keep up.
We had just robbed an old corner store, and the salespony had called for help, any help, to stop the impending robbers, us.
My eyes darted around, doing just enough to dodge out of the way of oncoming pedestrians, who were all likely very curious at why two mares were bolting down the streets with a bulging bag of Celestia-knows-what, but not doing enough to scout the area completely, and that would be my undoing this time.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Poppy’s eyes widen in shock, she looked directly at me and lowered her voice down to a whisper.
“Full Tilt, on three, we need to duck behind that train station.” She flipped her head, and her unwashed mane with it, toward a brick and mortar building right up the road, and turned to me. “I saw them.”
I nodded in affirmation, Poppy was usually correct about a lot of things.
“O— three!” she shouted without warning, pulling me with her as she rolled behind the train station.
We tumbled to a stop a few hoof-lengths from each other, I felt my cheeks getting hotter, and in response, quickly turned my head to watch the hooves as they flew by our hiding spot.
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, and turned to look at Poppy again. The sand had ridden up on her, caking her fur with a dusty coat of tan, and the bandanna we had used to rob the bank with was around her neck, as was my own bandanna.
She smiled and lugged the bag between us, taking a peak inside. “We really got a big haul this time. Starting to rob someplace other than Ponyville and Canterlot seems to be doing us some good.”
I looked in the drawstring bag with her, and saw various knickknacks, some downright antique.
“These will probably go for a pretty penny. The only problem is that we have to get out of here, and back to a place where they either forgot about our crimes or have a black market,” Poppy mentioned, closing up the bag for safekeeping.
“Do you have any place in particular, Poppy?” I asked, eagerly.
“No, not really, do you have any, Full Tilt?” Poppy responded in kind.
“Probably not any better than any you have on your mind,” I said, trying to hand the reins over to Poppy again.
“Oh come on,” Poppy laughed. “You’re the brains of the operation, you’ve come up with all our plans. Including that one. Sure, that one didn’t work exactly as intended, but there’s been plenty of plans that did. Besides, that one was so meticulously planned out, by you can’t plan for every contingency.”
I blushed a little, compliments from Poppy always made me nervous, I never knew how to respond to them, especially with those piercing obsidian eyes and that smile like a midday sun.
“Come on, don’t blush, I know it, you know it, now, where are we off to?”
I quickly pondered over possible ideas, and upon realizing that we’re still lying in the sand, I sit up and attempt to brush the sand off of me.
Neither of us were anything but earth ponies, and sometimes that led to a lot of complications, among them being ease of stealing. Unicorns could levitate everything and teleport away, and pegasi could just get up and go, but as earth ponies, we had to physically do everything. I couldn’t say I hated it, especially with a partner like Poppy, who made everything better.
That being said, the scraping off the sand with my bare hooves didn’t work as intended, but it was really a small mess compared to the one we were getting into if we didn’t hightail it in the grand scheme of things.
“I say,” I began, “we hitch a carriage, head north to wherever it takes us, and then sell our belongings. Then, maybe we can finally settle down.”
I knew who I wanted to do that with, and Poppy’s eyes lighting up in front of me, or well, below me, she was still lying down, always reminded me of who it was. The amount of heists we’d performed together, all the things we’d done, they all had one thing in common, Poppy.
“That sounds like a good idea,” Poppy said with a smile. “Let’s get out of here and hitch a ride.”
I helped her up, Poppy slung our pilfered possessions across her back, and we started heading out to wherever the road would take us.
I instinctively knew that our wanted posters were going to be up tomorrow. So, I had Poppy pull up her bandanna, as I did with mine. We made our way between buildings out to the open road, as far away from our pursuers as we could muster. While Poppy was pretty powerful physically, that drawstring bag wasn’t light, and even she had her limits.
While Appleoosia was far behind us, Poppy and I sat patiently, waiting for a carriage to hitch. A part of me said that I should tell her how I felt at that moment, but I simply couldn’t bring myself to. Instead, we made small talk, or attempted to.
“Where do you think we’re going to hit next, Poppy?” I asked, slightly muffled from my bandanna.
“Well, you mentioned settling down, and I think that would be a great idea. I don’t want to steal, but we kinda have to in order to survive,” Poppy responded in kind. “However, this Appleoosian bounty could be all we need. Who knew a Southern Equestrian town could have so much stuff to steal?”
I nodded. “Well, they did, for one. So, are you going to find a mare to settle down with once we reach where we’re going?” I added to the conversation.
“Or a stallion. Anypony will do.” Poppy answered. “I’m not picky.”
I nodded again. Well, I couldn’t force her.
I looked at Poppy, staring into the distance with a half-smile. She was fearless, fast, and honest. Considering I was none of those things, she felt like a great compliment for me. A pony I’d love to be with. How long had we been doing robberies and heists? It had to be at least 4 years, but I had to admit that it wasn’t a business partnership anymore, we were two peas in a pod, Poppy and Tilt, what all the newspapers called us.
There weren’t really any additional topics to pursue, so that was all we said. We spent the next while just enjoying each other’s company. Soon, the sun was setting and a carriage finally arrived.
It was a stocky stallion, two saddlebags balanced precariously on his shoulders, a pair that was probably too small for him at this point.
Poppy rushed in front of him to stop him. I was worried about our chances, because he came out of Appleoosia, and that could be disastrous.
Even more so considering that Poppy wasn’t the greatest liar.
I rushed up beside her, lowered my bandanna, and smiled.
“Hey,” I said. Lying was as easy as breathing for me, which wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Perhaps lying to myself had gotten me attuned. “We’re two travelers looking for a ride to anywhere you can take us. Could you, possibly, do that?”
The stallion looked up in the direction away from the sun, and thought about it.
“Sure, Ah’m headin’ to Neigh Orleans,” he said. “Ah don’t see why you can’t hitch a ride. Hop in you two, though mind it’s a lil’ cramped in there.”
I let out a massive sigh of relief. Either our wanted posters weren’t up yet, or this stallion was incredibly dense. Alternatively, he just didn’t know who we were, which was rare, but a possibility. However, I couldn’t complain; it was a ride.
I hopped onto the carriage, and Poppy soon followed. The wooden suspension wobbled beneath us in response, and the carriage started moving at a steady pace forward.
The amount of knickknacks that stallion had on his little carriage was something to behold. There were a couple bales of hay, a barrel topped with a dim lantern, and a guitar, which likely hadn’t been tuned for days, wedged between the wall and a couple stacked crates.
There was very little room for me and Poppy to get comfortable, and when we managed to achieve that position, we were awkwardly close to each other.
Not that I really minded, but I’m not sure if Poppy was the same way. I couldn’t look into her eyes, I could feel the heat rising up to my cheeks.
I mentally cursed myself. Full Tilt, what’s she thinking? I thought. It was probably exceptionally awkward for her, not that I could see her face because I wasn’t looking at it.
In my frantic scans, I noticed the guitar nestled between the wall and the crates. Pushing Poppy aside as much as I could, I lifted the guitar out of its cramped position, and strummed a few shaky chords.
The guitar was out of tune, as expected, but regardless Poppy was all ears.
“How long has it been since you’ve actually played a guitar?” she asked, a lopsided smile across her face.
“I haven’t really had a chance to play,” I said, strumming the guitar twice more. Half lying, I added, “Just don’t want this ride to be too boring. Mind lending a hoof?
Poppy nodded ecstatically, “What’re we playing today?”
I thought about it, but no songs came to mind. Uncertainly, I glanced between Poppy and me, and came up with an idea.
I stuck my head out the carriage door and shouted loud and clear, to the pony pulling the carriage, “Hey, know any songs!?”
The quieter voice of the puller travelled through the arid air and eventually reached me. “Equestrian Folk Songs, got any of them?”
I turned to Poppy within the carriage again. “Poppy, remember Celestia’s Lullaby?”
“How does that one go again?” Poppy said.
I tapped my hoof on the ground in a waltz rhythm and started strumming the chords.
“I’m sure you’ll remember, it’s a classic.”
Poppy started tapping along, and before I knew it, inside of a bumpy carriage, I started singing a song, to anypony that would listen.
Lay down my sweet sister
And go back to sleep.
Among the mist or
The beds of the reeds.
Be with me always
And never you leave
For in all these hallways
We ever will be.
It was about the moment that Poppy joined in. Her endearing off-key voice complementing that of the out of tune guitar. The carriage became part of the very rhythm, the jostles and clops of the puller’s hooves adding to the lullaby. Poppy swayed to and fro to what I was playing, trying her best to keep a straight face and sing along as I cracked a smile as well.
With the next bump of the carriage, I started swaying as well, singing as best I could.
My dear little sister
Sleep now and go fly
And listen to my lullaby.
The sun, was now disappearing below the horizon, and thus, the inside of the carriage was getting ever-darker. I could still make out the faint form of Poppy in the darkness. She didn’t move, and while I couldn’t make out the smile on her face, I could still hear it as she continued singing.
Lay down my sweet sister
Do not be perturbed
I too do miss her
It must be endured.
Be with me always
And never you leave
She’s in these hallways
If you do believe.
My dear little sister
Rule now and go fly
And listen to my lullaby.
Everypony was singing along now, me, Poppy, the carriage puller, all as the sun descended below the horizon and the moon took its place. I wasn’t facing the moon, but I knew very well that the marelike image burned into it was now overlooking us all. All that was noticeable in the carriage was the dimly-lit lantern. Now, the darkness obscuring pretty much all else.
Lay down my sweet sister
The mare on the moon
The sky that had kissed her
He’s dark and so blue
I’ll be with you always
And I’ll never leave.
For within these hallways
We ever will be.
My dear little sister
Just go now and fly
Let me sing you my lullaby.
As I strummed out the last chord, Poppy stomped on the ground in cheer. Celestia’s Lullaby was one of my favorites, a beautiful little song about love, loss, and mythology, just as a little extra. The writer unknown, but likely Celestia, who had experienced all those things. I wondered what she was thinking when she confronted the pony the song was about? Did she kick herself for never telling her sister she loved her, or did she just wish that she could’ve handled it better? Whatever the case, Equestria will never know.
I turned to face that mare on the moon, and poked my head out the window again, addressing the puller. “Hey, are you stopping anytime soon!?”
Again, the quieter voice yelled back, “Ah hafta keep goin’, just to make it there by noon.”
“Well,” I said, putting the dim lantern in between me and Poppy. “Any other ideas?”
We continued singing throughout the night. By the end, we’d probably sang every single folk song that driver knew, but we did make it to Neigh Orleans. Albeit, it was a little later then noon, but we had made it all the same.
The town was a charming port town, ponies of all shapes, races, and sizes hustling around. The wooden buildings stood proudly against the horizon which continued on past the sea. I could hear the sound of a Jazz band playing in the background, the distant cries of the trumpet in perfect harmony with the saxophone, the drums sticking the band together like feathers on a wing.
I stepped out of the carriage bleary-eyed as the puller unhitched and wandered our way.
His face showed no signs of tiredness or weariness, a direct contrast to the way Poppy’s face looked, and what I presumed my face looked like as well.
The sunset-furred mare was next to me, had bags under her eyes, and was stifling a yawn. She dug at the ground absentmindedly, trying to keep herself awake and occupied.
“Thanks for taking us Mr…” I began, then realized that I never got his name.
“Forest Ranger, Ma’am.”
“…Forest Ranger. We appreciate it,” I said, slurring my words a tad. I decided not to tell the stallion he was carrying around two wanted criminals, though if he picked us up in the first place, he deserved to not know.
Forest Ranger trotted off, and I was left standing half-asleep in front of the carriage with Poppy.
Poppy went back into the carriage and lugged the bag out, stumbling as she carried the bag that felt heavier to her all of a sudden.
“We’re splitting this 50/50,” Poppy said. “Then we can settle down.”
I blinked my eyes, and shook my head to refocus in on the mare in front of me. Even when incredibly tired, she was still beautiful.
“Let’s get some sleep first,” I said.
“That’s probably a good idea,” Poppy agreed.
We fell asleep right in the middle of the road, with no place to stay. Night passed quickly, and after a deep, dreamless sleep, I woke up. Poppy was still asleep. The bag was lying between us.
By then, the late morning had arrived, so, I shook Poppy awake. She looked at me with a face of irritability. Even in all our times traveling together, one thing was clear, she never was much of a morning pony.
However, I also couldn’t carry the bag by myself, and I needed Poppy with me for those matters.
“Hey, Poppy,” I said.
“What?” Poppy growled, clearly having none of it.
I flashed a nervous smile, and hastily replied, “We should sell our goods.”
Poppy, still tired, frowned at me. “Where?”
I sat down, truly feeling the stony ground beneath me free from all warped perceptions of tiredness, and thought about the plan of action. “Well, preferably somewhere that gets all its goods directly from sea, as we’re only Equestrian, and hopefully even get some place that only sells local goods.”
Poppy smiled, different from the expression of minor anger she had when she woke up, and looked directly in my eyes. “I knew you were the brains of this operation for a reason.”
I could feel my cheeks getting hot, looking directly into those beautiful obsidian eyes. Trying to redirect any questions Poppy might throw at me, I added, “Quickly, we should get going.”
Poppy got up and slung the bag across her back, and we started heading towards the ports to sell our goods.
The ports were busy and bustling, with all manners of ponies from all walks of life trying to sell to us and buy what we had. In the rowdy crowd, I noticed a few stores that had no ponies in front of them. The vendors often seemed bored, just waiting for the next customer to come and sell so they could get back to doing nothing.
I pushed through the crowd to chance one of these vendors, Poppy hot on my tail.
After a lot of pushing, shoving, and even some weak apologies, I had trotted up to an earth pony the color of the deep sea, and coerced Poppy to lay the bag on the counter.
The earth pony stared at the brimming bag with a blasé expression, just another couple of ponies showing up at the stand.
The earth pony started digging through the bag, remarking, “Wow, this sure is a lot of stuff. What store did you rob to get this?”
Me and Poppy stood completely still and stared at each other in slight terror. Had he figured us out?
However, the earth pony didn’t really care at all, when we didn’t respond, he just looked right back into the bag and started pulling everything out.
After a stiff few moments, the earth pony put the bag behind the stand, and started laying bits on the counter.
“Could you split those 50/50?” I asked. “We’re new here in town, old partners, and we’d like to get a house here.”
“Partners, how?” The earth pony asked.
“Old marefriends,” I said, hoping it to be the slightest bit true. However, a cursory glance at Poppy, who very clearly did not care in the slightest, reminded me that there’s only so much you can lie to yourself before it all comes crashing down. “Never mind,” I added, sadly. “We’re just old friends.”
Did I really love here? Was it a schoolfilly crush? Was I interested in the only pony who ever guided me? All these thoughts and more swirled in my head as the earth pony counted out all the bits.
After an awful moment of being lost in my thoughts, the earth pony finally cleared his throat, bringing my attention to two neat piles of golden coins on the table.
“Your change, mares,” he said. I took half, putting it into a nice cup I’d made with my bandanna, and Poppy took the other, doing the same.
I turned to Poppy.
“So, I guess this is it, huh? No more crimes?”
Poppy nodded.
“Well, I suppose I have a house I need to be buying. Unless you want to move in…”
Poppy shook her head. “I’m good on my own, besides, we can always meet up again.”
“I suppose,” I decided. “I’ll see you around, then.”
Poppy nodded once again, and was starting to walk away from me, when I called, “Poppy! I want to tell you something.”
Poppy turned to me and looked at me straight-on, her obsidian eyes focusing in on mine. I looked directly at her.
Lying has always been as easy as breathing to me…
“I… just wanted to wish you the best. Find a nice mare or stallion, or whatever,” I said, tentatively not adding, ‘I love you’.
Poppy smiled, “You, too, Full Tilt.”
With that, my partner of at least 4 years turned tail to me and walked away, down the pier, absorbed into the mass of ponies.
I never saw her again. We never met up. I knew that she would if I asked, but I just didn’t. She had taken me in when everything else seemed grim, when I was living on the streets, kicked out for some reason or another. She was the one who pulled me off of them. We became criminals, sure, but I at least had someone. She saw me as a sister, I saw her as more.
I got a house, a job, and never returned to my criminal ways.
Poppy, however, wasn’t so lucky.
I was reading the local news one day, the obituaries, when I learned that Poppy had died as she lived. It seems like the criminal life was the one for her, and she couldn’t easily escape it, despite what she told me during our final heist.
So naturally, I’d tracked down the gravestone, in the Neigh Orleans cemetery, to say goodbye one last time. It wasn’t a particularly grandiose headstone, an oddly empty one with only her name scratched on, but nothing else. No date, no epitaph, just Poppy.
I’d brought my guitar, to sing one last song to the one I loved the most. A song of loss and love, another Equestrian folk song we sang on the ride to Neigh Orleans. The lyrics being slightly modified.
At Saturday I’d gotten married
Me and my mare settled down
But now me and my mare have parted
I’m gonna take a stroll downtown.
Poppy, goodnight.
Poppy, goodnight.
Goodnight, Poppy.
Goodnight, Poppy.
I’ll see you in my dreams.
Stop your ramblin’
Stop your gamblin’
Stop staying out late, late at night
Go home to your mare, and family
Sit down by your fireside bright.
Poppy, goodnight
Poppy, goodnight
Goodnight, Poppy
Goodnight, Poppy
I’ll see you in my dreams.
I love Poppy and got new, I do
Still the sea runs dry
If Poppy turns her back to me
I’m gonna take hemlock and die.
Poppy, goodnight
Poppy, goodnight
Goodnight, Poppy
Goodnight, Poppy
I’ll see you in my dreams.
Goodnight, Poppy
Goodnight, Poppy
I’ll see you in my dreams.
The final chord petered off into the night.
Author's Note
Celestia’s Lullaby is my own writing (it’s in 3/4 if you’re interested), and Goodnight Poppy is based on Goodnight Irene, which is a folk song in the public domain. I have based the lyrics off of Leadbelly’s version (which is in itself in the public domain).
I think this might be one of the best things I’ve written. I might be jumping the gun, but I am exceptionally proud of how this came out. I spent most of the month working on this, and it ended up as my longest one-shot.
As always, more will be in the supplementary blog post, but as for now, I hope you enjoyed!
