The impact of hate... and friendship
Izzy trotted through the lush forests of Bridlewood, searching for a branch. She was seeking an old piece of wood, preferably long dead, for a special unicycling project.
She came to the edge of the woods and found the old keep-out signs torn down. Alphabittle had said that they were due for a bonfire. Finding a particularly thick and short pole, Izzy tapped it to be sure it was still solid. Alphabittle hadn’t said anything about not being able to unicycle a pole! Having found her wood, Izzy hurried home.
It was nearly Nightmare Night, and everypony knew that on Nightmare Night, you stayed inside and didn’t come out. She didn’t usually pay attention to the superstitious nonsense which the other unicorns believed in, but tonight was different. Strange things happened on Nightmare Night.
Izzy cut the pole in half. She now had two round blocks. Two attempts. She sanded down the old, weathered surface and placed a hammer and chisel on her workbench.
Tap tap, tap tap!
A soft knock sounded, and Izzy bounded over to open the door.
“Violet!” Izzy hugged the pony there. “Come in! You don’t want to be outside tonight.”
“Trust me, I know.” Violet grumbled. She stepped into the light, her wispy dark purple mane contrasting with her pale purple body. “My brother was calling me Violent again. It was funny before… that night… but now I can’t stand it.”
“Trying out a new mane style?” Izzy asked, waving her hoof through Violet’s mane.
“Yeah, it’s called washed and brushed.” Violet said with a wry smile. “What are you up to?”
Izzy frowned slightly. “I’m making a pony figure… I found out who the pony from… that night… was. I want to make sure everyone knows who he is, and that he wasn’t scary.”
Violet’s eyes teared up. “I…”
“It wasn’t you! We both saw the earth ponies running off. We heard them trying to frame you!” Izzy said firmly, tipping Violet’s head up with her hoof so Violet could look her in the eyes. “It. Wasn’t. You.”
“If you say so.” Violet muttered noncommittally. “I’m going to catch a nap. I could make tea later?”
“Don’t feel like you have to.” Izzy called after Violet. “Also, good luck sleeping with the noise I’ll be making! I love you!”
A figurine of an earth pony stallion was starting to take shape. Izzy admired her work, every now and then glancing to the photo of Argyle to compare. Taking up a smaller chisel, she started to detail the pony.
“That’s so detailed, I had no idea you could chisel wood like that!” Violet watched over Izzy’s shoulder. Her eyes fell to the photo. “So… that’s what he looked like?”
“Yeah.” Izzy made a face in intense concentration. “When I saw the photo, I couldn’t recognize him. It was hard to notice anything on that night. But when Sunny told me her dad vanished on Nightmare Night, it wasn’t hard to make the connection.”
“Wait, Sunny? The Sunny? Her dad?!” Violet’s eyes widened. “I-”
“You didn’t. They did.” Izzy stated firmly, before thinking back to the Nightmare Night only so many years ago. That Nightmare Night.
Violet and Izzy were reluctant acquaintances. Alphabittle had tasked them to right some of the signs at the edge of the wood, so they had been out all day repainting faded letters, replacing posts, and straightening boards. Izzy wanted to see more of the forest, so they chose the scenic route home.
As they walked through thick brush, Izzy gazed about in wonder and Violet scanned the area warily, jumping at every twig snap.
“I tell you Izzy, we need to go back to the path! I heard something and it’s not safe here! What if a pegasus comes and hurts us? I’ve heard stories…” Violet hissed, nudging Izzy’s side in an attempt to go somewhere else.
“We’ll be fine! You probably just heard a squirrel or something like that. Harmless!” Izzy marched on, ignoring Violet. Violet huffed but stayed close.
There was a sudden crack to the left, along a small animal trail. Izzy kept marching on, determined not to show fear. The sound of pounding hooves filled the air.
There was no screaming, no shouting. Just an earth pony being chased by two more earth ponies. One viciously stabbed the fleeing pony. With a quick yelp, the injured pony stumbled to the ground in a nearby clearing.
“He’ll never survive that.” The pony with the knife told their companion, and they started to stalk away. Izzy walked forward, panic visible in her eyes. She brushed by the clearing and broke into a swift trot back towards the village. Violet followed.
Just as Violet brushed past the clearing, a voice split the air.
“MURDERER! The unicorn killed him!” The two earth ponies galloped away, their attempted framing complete.
Violet froze, fear filling her eyes.
“You didn’t… don’t… feel…” The dying pony wheezed, before breathing out his last breath.
“I did it?” Violet gasped. “Did I?”
Izzy ran up to Violet and tugged her along by the foreleg.
“Come on! We can come back for him later!”
They galloped to Izzy’s home, and Violet followed Izzy blindly, filled with fear and disbelief.
“I’m sorry.” Izzy said, looking up from her nearly complete figurine.
Violet blinked and looked up from the photo. “What?”
“I’m sorry that I insisted we take the long route home.” Izzy clarified. “Also, were you staring at that photo the whole time while I was carving and remembering?”
“Yeah.” Violet gently picked the figurine out of Izzy’s hooves. “It’s hard to believe that the pony who I didn’t really know was a father. I suppose, it was likely, but…”
“You just never thought about it?” Izzy filled in.
“Yeah.” Violet said. “I’m not sorry that we went the long way.”
Izzy stared at Violet.
“Even though it was terrifying, it meant that Sunny’s father got to be buried with respect. Not just… left for the animals to eat, or for some innocent fillies to find.”
Izzy hugged her friend, sensing that tears were coming.
Violet continued. “I can’t shake the accusation, but I can’t bear the thought of somepony not being found. Especially when they have family.”
She shuddered and sobbed. “It’s so sad and scary.”
After holding Violet until she stopped shaking Izzy went back to her carving.
She finished a few fine details and carefully inserted a ring into the figure’s back before painting the carving. Using her magic to accelerate the drying process, she found the sealer and applied two coats, just to be safe. Inserting a string through the figure, she picked up her hammer and a fine stone chisel.
“Shall we go hang this up?” She asked Violet.
“Now?” Violet looked at Izzy in disbelief. “When it’s nearly midnight?”
“Why not? The others are our friends, and if anyone comes along to do nasty things, I’m going to tell them off!” Izzy proclaimed with confidence.
“Okay… why the hammer and chisel?” Violet stepped towards the door.
Izzy opened the door, stepped outside, and held the door for Violet. “To inscribe his name.”
Violet tied the knot securely as Izzy carefully tapped away below. The figure hung just below a wooden disc with a star shape cut out of it.
She stepped back to look at her work. Izzy got up, dusted herself off and smiled when she saw the figure. Violet peered past Izzy, examining the marker. Underneath the shooting star image, Izzy had inscribed:
Argyle Starshine
The two acquaintances, no, friends, embraced, quietly reflecting on the night.
“Argyle… you taught Sunny not to fear unicorns, didn’t you?” Violet said, leaning into Izzy. “I’m glad I met you. Even for such a short time.”
For a while, the two unicorns sat in silence in the peaceful clearing.
Violet looked up to the stars. “I’m sure your actions will go a long way… towards healing.”
Author's Note
Part two of a series.
This series has been about exploring a theory and stretching my comfort zone, so if you have any constructive feedback, it would be welcome.
