There's a place i want to be
A certain town that's dear to me
Home to Mohawks and GEs
It's called Schenectady
I was born there and i'll die there
My first home i hope to buy there
Have a kid or at least try there
Sweet Schenectady
And when i'm married
And when i'm dead
Upstate worms will eat my head
For every person that you know
Once you say goodbye and go
Think you'll see them soon but no
You won't see them again
There's always a last time
That you'll see everyone
There's always a never again
...Again.
Auburn Dreams woke up to the sound of Canterlot's finest songs through 97 FM. The soundwaves crashing into his ears like waves hitting rocks on the shore, slowly lulling his still sleepy mind awake.
" .. It's a wonderful Autumn day! Meteorologists say the weather is about to get cold, and for the cold weather we have nothing but the freezing poetry of Midnight Skulls. What do you think of the Autumn, Midnight? "
" Well, it is but a changing season. " A thick Russian accent poured out the speaker. " Like life and death, Autumn has it's own beautiful way of changing death into life. To think that we are like the trees, that occasionally die only to be reborn is an accurate depiction of life. Sometimes, the path that leads to the cure is the sickness. Most ponies with chronic deathly diseases often give up because they don't know they can yet be reborn. "
" That's a very interesting take on- " Auburn placed his hoof over the alarm button, shutting the radio up and groaning as he slowly moved and sat up. Rubbing his hoof over his eyes, he stood up and got into the bathroom to unload his bladder, then walked out of the room and down the stairs towards the kitchen, where the sound of plates reverberated over the walls. A mare slumped on the couch, talking away with some other mare on the phone.
Auburn walked to the fridge and pulled out the milk, giving it a whiff.
" ... Milk's expired. " He spoke slowly, voice crackling only for his message to fall in deaf ears, as nobody looked up.
" Mommy, i'm done! " Called a young voice from the bathroom. " My doo doo is green! "
" Hang on Clarity, i'm coming Violet! That is weird.. Must've been something you ate. " The mare got up and rushed to the bathroom.
" Mommy am i gonna die? " The filly asked.
" No sweetie, you're not. "
Several minutes later the mare walked out with a filly and placed them on the table, alongside Auburn, who was eating dry cereal with a cup of water.
" I don't want Oatmeal! " the Filly complained, looking up at her mom.
" But you said you wanted Oatmeal. "
" I want cereal like daddy.. " The Mare sighed, grabbing her bowl and eating the Oatmeal instead.
" Fine. But you gotta eat quick, or you'll be late for school. "
" ..I'm sorry mommy.. "
Auburn stood up, and placed the dishes on the sink. If nobody washed them he'd do it later. Walking into the bathroom once more, Auburn got his small trimming machine, setting the blade height to 2, so as to not completely cut his fur. He carefully dragged it over his chin and jawline. The faucet suddenly started to make noise. Puzzled, Auburn inched closer to examine it when the water pressure became too much, shooting out the faucet right above Auburn's eye, who screamed in pain as a mix of water and blood began cascading down to the bathroom's white tiles.
" Auburn! Are you alright?! " The mare's voice sounded from downstairs, hoofsteps approaching the bathroom door.
" I-i'm-- Gaah!-- " He spun around blind, before managing to grab a towel pressing it to his face and sitting on the toilet, the white towel soon dotting a new colour to it's coloured pattern.
" ..Mommy daddy has blood.. "
" Go downstairs Winter. " The mare walked forward to aid the bleeding stallion.
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The smell of alcohol and the soft hum of fluorescent lightbulbs filled Auburn's ears. The doctor idly sutured the gash caused by the faucet. Once done, he grabbed a flashlight and shone it over Auburn's eyes, observing his pupils.
" Will there be a scar? "
" Probably, it looks like a mud flap. "
" Cause i'd prefer it not to be a scar. "
" Well... " The doctor shone the overhead light onto Auburn's face, noticing the pupils wouldn't contract. " ...Change in bowel movements? "
" It's a little more yellow than usual, why? "
" Yeah, i'd like you to see an ophthalmologist. "
" A Neurologist? "
" What? No. Ophthalmologist. Opht. " The stallion doctor, clicked his hooves near Auburn's ear. " Can you hear that? "
" ... yeah. " Auburn nodded. " Was it the bump to the head? "
" No. " The doctor answered, turning to file in some documents in his computer. " Could be. See an Ophthalmologist. "
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" ...And today is tuesday. Mommy is today tuesday? " the little filly said, as the carriage swayed forth and back due to the change of levels in the rocky pavement
" No honey, today is Friday. So, what exactly did he say? "
" That my... pupils weren't properly opening and closing. "
" Dilating. "
" No. "
" Yeah. "
" I don't think that's what he said. "
" Yes. "
" That's not what he said. "
" Is it the bump to the head? "
" He doesn't know. Maybe. He said he doesn't think so, but maybe. But he doesn't know. But maybe, who knows? "
" Okay, Celestia, Auburn i got it. "
" ... Sorry, i'm a little anxious. "
" Did you have to get a shot, Daddy? "
" No, honey. " He turned to his wife. " It's the start of something awful. "
" Do i have to get a shot? "
" Course not. " Auburn answered.
" Did you tell him i have green doo? "
" It's fucked timing. " he turned back to his bethroted.
" Call the plumber- Hey... Not in front of Olive.. "
" Sorry. I have rehearsal. Fuck. "
" Hey, come on. "
" Sorry, sorry. Everybody, sorry. Sorry Rose.."
" How many years until i have to get more shots? " Olive piped up.
" Not for a really long time, babe. "
" A million years? "
" Remember what Doctor Woodland said. " Auburn spoke, dialing the number to call a plumber.
" Dad, what's a plumber? "
" He's a- He's a stallion- " The stallion started only to be interrupted by his wife.
" Or a mare, Dad. "
" Right. He's a stallion or a mare who fixes sinks and toilets and... Do you know what pipes are? "
" No? "
" Hey Clover. I had an accident- "
" Like to smoke out of? " Olive innocently asked.
" No- Uh, different kind of pipe honey. " Rose Charm quickly answered to defuse the situation.
" Houses have pipes, and they're made of ... They're like tubes, behind the walls, under the floor, they're everywhere- " the more Auburn spoke, the more uncomfortable Olive looked, as she started shying away from the front of the carriage.
" What's the matter honey? " Rose Charm asked.
" Every single where...? "
" It's okay honey. " Auburn tried to calm Olive. " They just carry water to and from sinks and toilets. It's like in your body, you have veins, capillaries.. filled with blood. "
" I have blood? I don't want blood.. I don't want blood, i don't want blood. " Olive wailed in the back of the carriage.
" Auburn, what are you doing? "
" I don't know, trying to explain plumbing. "
" Stop. "
" I can't do this now. "
" Don't worry, you don't have blood. " Rose turned back and told Olive, as she kept wailing.
" I don't think you should tell her she doesn't have blood. "
" Auburn stop it- "
" I don't want blood. I don't want blood! "
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" Thanks for getting me in right away. " Auburn spoke to the doctor, who ignored him. " ... Was it the bump to the head? "
" No. " The doctor spoke, turning back to jot down some information on a sheet of paper. " I'm going to have you see a Neurologist. "
" A Neurologist? "
" It's a brain expert. "
" ...I know what a Neurologist is. " Auburn said, inhaling softly. " I just thought you said Urologist. "
" A Neurologist. Neurologist. " He clipped his hooves making noise, watching for Auburn's reaction.
" .... Why would i see a Neurologist? " Auburn slurred after a few moments.
" Just for a look-see. He can tell you what is wrong with your eyes, since the eyes are part of the brain. "
" ... That's.. not true is it? "
" ... Why would i say it if it's not true? "
" ... It just... doesn't seem right, like, accurate? I guess? "
" ... Interesting. See a Neurologist. "
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As i stood in front of the Lighthouse, i looked down to see the waves crashing on the shore, further away from any type of civilization. Alone. It was then and there that i realized my mistake of not having lived life to it's fullest before having been stranded here in this isle in the middle of the Coltic Sea; and that now i'd never ever have that chance brought back to me before. It is a misconception that most people have. You're not alone. There are thousands of people around you, but the fact that they don't care about you or what you do is what makes you think you're alone but you're not. You just feel alone, and this is what inspired me to paint this piece. That feel of loneliness. That desolation, the nothingness that extends way beyond the horizon.
" That's a lighthouse? " a random pony asked in the crowd, Auburn looked at them and nodded.
" Ah, yes. See, this is a Surrealist style, it's not really meant for depicting things as they are- "
" Why does it look like a penis? " The Surrealist Artist stopped for a moment, mouth hanging open before it slowly closed with a click. He turned back and looked at his piece, finally seeing what the pony meant. " You can't expect to just paint a penis and become famous overnight. "
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" No signal.. " Auburn walked back and forth in the lobby of Canterlot's art school, moving his horn up and down, trying to connect over a telepathic message to some hospital lobby.
" Signal's oddly good inside this cabin.. " Said a smiling unicorn mare, inching closer to the table, looking at Auburn. She grabbed a stapler and pierced several sheets of documents together, before filing them into their respective cabinets.
" Horns, am i right? Are you going to see my new presentation on the museum? I tried to do something different, regarding flowers. " The stallion asked, walking to the doors leading outside. The mare simply smiled.
" I'd love to. " With that Auburn walked outside, watching as the leaves fell down around him.
" Yes Doctor Hanks told me to see a Doctor Scoriano? A doc- What? No, i said Neurologist. Neurologist. My- My pupils don't work. " Sitting on a bench as the line went dead, the unicorn stallion could only sigh in defeat.
" You ever read 'Flowers where your face should be'? It's a romantic book about two ponies who are madly in love but can't seem to figure it out before one of them dies. " The mare walked and sat beside Auburn. It was the same receptionist from the school.
" You done with work? "
" Shift ended a few minutes ago. "
" Ah..."
" ... 'Troy, i cannot hide it any longer for each minute without you i can't fathom a way of surviving. You are the meaning to all i am, you give me hope to see the tomorrow'... " Auburn scoffed, smiling along as he watched the mare recite the romantic scene word by word, letter by letter. " Come on, you're supposed to say... 'Infact Hazel, your eyes are very bright...'"
" ...Alright, alright.. 'Infact Hazel, your eyes are very bright, and you're very smart, though i seem to... " he looked at her searching for any signs of confirmation. A nod. " ... be lost in the starry field that is your irises. "
" There we go, aren't we a little actor?~ " She giggled.
" Ok, ok. You got me. What do i say next? "
" I can't say what then you say next.. "
" Why? "
" Because it's dirty. "
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" So, what changed, after you had Olive, Rose?
" I don't know, i expected... I expected something to change but it didn't. It's all the same.. "
" Good, what about you, Auburn? "
" I'm very grateful for our little daughter. "
The marriage counselor jotted some information down on paper, indeed she was an Alicorn and one of the princesses. How Auburn lucked out in having the Princess of Love herself give advice to his marriage was beyond him. Maybe even-
" Can i say something wrong? " Rose sniffled, rubbing her nose.
" There are no wrong or right answers. Go ahead, get it out of your chest. I'm sure you'll feel better. " Cadance spoke calmly.
" I've fantasized about Auburn died. " The cracks finally opened enough for her soul to seep out. " Being able to start over, with no regret. " She sobbed a little, rubbing her eyes.
"... How does that make you feel, Auburn? "
" Bad. " The stallion answered, hoof over his mouth, eyes watering slightly as he tried his hardest not to cry. They burned. They were wet.
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Auburn walked into the bathroom where the plumber was currently working on the sink, he raised a hoof making a waving motion.
" Can you.. Can you step out for a second? I gotta use the toilet.. "
" Go ahead. I've seen boy parts. " The old scruffy earth pony answered, going back to work. Auburn stared at him for a while before walking out and downstairs to the basement. He walked over Olive's tiny painting, and on to Rose's microscopic one. She used a small pair of lenses to be able to paint on minuscule canvases.
" Can i take a piss in your sink? " he whispered, to which Rose scoffed.
" Sure. " The unicorn stallion walked over to the sink and started to relieve himself, the coffee coloured urine being swallowed by the ever so hungry drain.
" ... Auburn i'm so sorry, i just... I can't come tonight. I've got two canvases to ship tomorrow, i know it sucks-- "
" It's opening night. "
" I know, i just.. I would if i could... I wish i-"
" I've gotta get ready. "
" Tomorrow- "
" I have to get ready, i don't know what i'm gonna wear. I have to figure out what i'm gonna wear. "
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Auburn walked over the rows of chairs filled with people, looking at the artists on stage who were currently giving off their presentation. A bunch of wanna-be impressionist fools who painted only what they could see. A mare on the third row catched his attention. It was Hazel. She smiled and waved at him from afar.
At the end of his presentation, Auburn soon found himself being greeted by many nobles who only paid him any kind of attention because he was there. Big town polite, he supposed. Slumping over a table, he waved a waiter down for some drinks.
" I loved your work tonight. " Hazel trotted by, sitting by his side. Auburn smiled.
" I knew you would. It takes a special type of person to understand the emotional behind surrealist art. Not everyone has that power. "
" I specially liked how you painted me. " Auburn scoffed.
" You said you liked the book. 'Flowers where your face should be.'. I just painted you as the character you were impersonating. Of course, a few changes here and there but... in essence, that was it. "
" You're so sweet! " Hazel giggled softly. " Say my friend, do you get... high? "
" .. Uhm, you know.. Sometimes.. " Hazel grinned.
" Cause i have a stash in my car...~ "
" I don't know... i get... wrong when i'm high.. "
" Wrong? How so? "
" You know... bothered? Hot? "
" I see~ I see~.. Well, would you like to at least try a little of my stuff? " Hazel inched closer. Auburn looked at her smiling a little.
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Hazel sat in the carriage swaying back and forth, tears filled her red eyes, as she rubbed her muzzle with the back of her roof. Only the sound of the rain softly pitty-patting on the roof of the carriage seemed to calm her nerves a little.
Auburn sat in a bar table with yet another unknown mare. This one a pegasi. She leaned over his shoulder.
" When are the reviews gonna get here? " Auburn asked, toying with the veins under his coat.
" ... Don't know. "
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It was 6:10 AM. Auburn opened the door to his apartment to find that Rose was high, and had a friend over.
" His best friends finger two babies... " an unknown voice trailed off from behind the couch. " And, one this big, one this big, and two kittens. "
" Hey. " The stallion called.
" Hi Auburn, how'd it go? " the same mare spoke. Auburn looked at the earth pony.
" Hi. " He nodded to Rose. " It's late. "
" Hi. " Rose answered. " Coconut came over to keep me company because uh.. And we just lost track. I got everything done. But i'm sorry i missed your presentation, how'd it go? "
" Great. " Auburn answered after a minute of staring at her, tears threatening to fall from his eyes. " We're a hit. " Rose smiled, though it seemed to lack brightness. Honesty. " Reviews are great. Times said they was brilliant pieces, how they revealed ponies side they didn't knew existed. "
" That's great Auburn, good for you. " Coconut called out.
" I can't wait to see it tomorrow. " Rose Charm spoke, looking at Auburn with a longing gaze. " That's... tonight. That's great. "
" Wow it's really late... EARLY. " the earth pony said, laying back on the couch, laughing out loud. " It's late. EARLY. Hey, i'd love to see it too! "
" You're stoned. "
" I mean, a little. " Rose laughed nervously. " It's you know... I don't know. "
" I just wish you could have been there to tell me what you think. "
" I mean... It doesn't matter what i think. "
" Absolutely Auburn. It's all about your... artistic satisfaction. " Coconut added.
Auburn stared at them for a while, before pumping his hoof in victory, humming softly. His face betrayed his actions.
" Congratulations. " Rose spoke, watching as he walked upstairs.
" Yeah. " Was all he answered.
Author's Note
Wow. Rose's a bitch.
