Chapters This is my first fic so critisizing is accepted, comment about what you think and tell me if I should continue with this fic!
I stirred and twiched in my bed, again I was having nightmares. Nightmares about ponies chasing me, calling me ugly names. I was always considdered for a coltcuddler, but in reality I was into mares. But they never listened to me. I don't have any friends, or family, or long lost relatives, I was alone in my flat.
Today was the day that I pack my stuff and head out into Ponyville by flight. Because I couldn't stand it anymore, the often sessions of torturing, of mood breaking ponies. I had enough, I won't stay another single day in this wretched place. If only I was different, If only my mane wasn't multi-coloured, everything would've been fine.
I opened my eyes and was greeted by the morning sun rays, I hated morning, I wanted to stay in bed all day, but I knew I had to get up no matter what. I shifted my hooves towards the carpet and landed with my fours. I walked up to the mirror and observed myself, the cyan coat that I hated so much was still there, still glowing strong, my rarely used wings were folded neatly against my sides, the two things that I hated most, my mane and tail. They were ugly, that's why I was considered a homo. Because they were like rainbows, rainbow themed, each colour was there. I stared back at my own magenta eyes, filled with boredom and pain. I looked away from my own image and began my descend of stairs.
I ended up in the living room, the couches and tables were covered with a thick dust cloud, I didn't even bother to use them. I trotted up to the kitchen and grabbad a juice box, I put the straw between my mouth and sucked, the cold liquid quickly flowing down my dry throat. I smashed the juice box and threw it in a bin. I trotted around to house and spotted a medium brown suitcase that held my primary items, which I packed last night. I picked it up and flew out of the door, leaving my house behind, all of my items were already sold, so there wasn't a real price on what's left in the house. I began flapping my wings faster and harder, increasing my speed.
After hours of exhausting flying I stopped and slowly landed on some soft grass, I leaned the suitcase against a tree and sat under it myself, the tree shadow hiding me from the sun's glow. I felt tired and needed some rest, slowly I was dozing off. Until uncounciousness overwhelmed me as I fell asleep.
I awoke at the soft nudging on my side, slowly I opened my eyes and saw a pink blur, it was mumbling softly.
"Dashie, is that you? You look...different."
My vision began to concentrate and I saw a pink coated mare with puffy hair, I groaned and sat up.
"Who's Dashie?" I asked, clearly confused, I was surprised that she didn't mock me of my rainbow style or anything, maybe she had a rainbow friend like me! But I wasn't her friend. The pink mare slowly backed away, her head hung low.
"Oh...sorry, I thought you were one of my friends and, you look just like her, only your muzzle is different." she apologized in a low tone, I tilted my head and spoke in a soft tone.
"No need to worry, ponies make mistakes like these, I'm sure you'll find your friend sooner or later."
The pink pony smiled at me, she lifted her head and up and began walking towarads a cobblestone path. Then something clicked.
"Hey wait! Do yoy know which direction could take me to Ponyville?" I stopped her, she turned around, the pink pony was wearing the widest grin I've ever seen. It was wide my own cheecks began to hurt.
"Oh yes I do! That's where I live! Come with me!" she waved a hoof for me to follow her, I quickly picked up my suitcase and threw it on my back. I began following the pink pony who was now bouncing. It seemed exhausting. We began our trot/bounce towards the town of Ponyville. It seemed that this can be a good day after all.
Our trot/bounce to Ponyville was long and exhausting, my hooves were already trembling, but the pink pony was still bouncing, that giant grin was still on her face. How much energy and lung capacity does she have? I was very curious.
"Hey, I didn't get your name properly, I'm Rainbow Pick, what's yours?" I asked in a dry voice, the pink pony continued to bounce with her eyes closed.
"My name's Pinkie Pie! I'm Ponyville's number one party pony! I like candy and mushy stuff! Also my very best friends!" she almost yelled, Pinkie Pie, how original. Seriously I bet she's softer than a cloud. "Your name almost matches with one of my friends'!" Pinkie said again. Still bouncing.
"Which one of your friends?" I asked, eager to find out their name.
"Rainbow Dash!" she yelled.
It was almost the same as mine, except the second part, I'm Pick and she or he's Dash. Honestly both of our names sounded girly and not as awesome and cool as I thought. I didn't bother saying or asking anything else, because it will result in more shouts and screams from the pink matter. I honestly think that she's taking illigal drugs and stuffing them in her poofy mane, wouldn't be a surprise if she was. Well it will be, kinda.
After a few more minutes of painful trotting and happy bouncing, we reached a small cottage. Plain simple cottage that looked like a hut from a distance, but as soon as we began to near it, the details were made out. There were lots of animals though, all scattered through out the entire area. There was a yellow pegasus with a pink mane, petting a very unamused rabbit. Pinkie approached the pegasus.
"Hey Fluttershy!" she screamed, the pegasus quickly turned around, her cyan eyes locking into mine, she eeped and ran behind a bush, trying to make herself as small as possible. I tilted my head in confusion at what she was doing, seriously I haven't seen somepony that shy, her name matched though. Flutter Shy, Fluttershy. Hm.
"Aww, don't be scared! It's just Rainbow Pick, my new friend!" the pink pony announced, trying to lift the shy pegasus up. And succeeded. Fluttershy slowly looked up to me and quickly hid her eyes between her pink mane. Somewhat I found that adorable, on the other side it was quite irrotating.
"Oh...um...hi...I'm *whisper*" she said in a very, very quiet tone, I barely heard her. But my ears were trained to listen to the slightest sound. I waved a hoof at her and smiled, trying to be polite as possible, that was hard.
"Hello there Fluttershy, I'm Rainbow Pick." I said in a calm and collected tone, the shy pegasus only rectracted more, taking a few steps back. Pinkie bounced in.
"Don't worry 'Shy, he won't bite you! He's a friend!" she bounced in a circle around the shy pegasus. That was disturbing. Fluttershy lifted her head and spoke softly.
"H-He looks alot like Rainbow Dash..." her voice trailed off. "Only the muzzle is different." she added.
Seriously, is that the only differnce I had from a mare? Did my body looks like the exact same copy of a slim, fit mare? If I didn't have my...colthood...or whatever they call it. And the shaped muzzle, I may be considered for a mare! I didn't like that. Ponies back at Phillydelphia used to pick on my becuase of my body shape. I was trying not to gain too much fat, I trained alot. I even tried to join the Equestrian Military, but just imagine a rainbow soldier in the battlefield, the enemies will die of laughing. That's why I didn't sign up. I wasn't flying alot either, so my wings were kinda stiff right now, a few ruffled feathers here and there, nothing noticable, only a small scar under my left wing. That was from another of those assaults. The scar simply wouldn't go away. That pony just cut with a butchers knife and that's it. A lifelong scar.
I didn't notice until now, that the two mares were staring at me, their muzzles a few inches between mine. Fluttershy was looking at my left wing, the ruffled and displaced feathers revealed the deep scar. Pinkie was staring at my magenta eyes. I hope they don't mock me.
"Oh...my, that scar looks horrible, come inside, I know how to remove it!" Fluttershy said with a more confident tone, she pointed her hoof to the direction of the cottage. I looked towards Pinkie Pie, she had stopped bouncing, but that grin still remained, seriously this was starting to creepy me out, she looked like a cold hearted serial killer. She nodded in aprooval, I sighed and followed Fluttershy inside. As I found out, these two ponies were nice to me considered the ones back at Phillydelphia, at least Pinkie didn't to try stab me in the back, or Fluttershy had greeted me with a stab in the face. Ouch.
As I took my first step into the house, I noticed something blue, something cyan and magenta staring right at me, it was like a reflection of my own self, except for the bandaged left ear, and the muzzle shape. It had the same coat colour, the same rainbow styled, wind swept mane. It was like a mare version of myself. I guessed this is Rainbow Dash, no apples Sherclop. Magenta stared back at magenta. Or pink, whatever colour that was. She opened her mouth.
"Woah...you look like...me!" she put a hoof to her chest, staring in awe, I was staring back too, it was like a twin sister! But I knew I didn't have any relatives.
"And you look like me too!" I said, we both trotted up to eachother and examined outselves. It was all the same, the eyes the mane and tail, the coat, except for the cutie mark, hers was a white could with a multicoloured bolt shooting out. Mine was a...well...a dark blade. Rainbow Dash cringed at that. Looks like some history is coming up.
"Why is your cutie mark a blade?" asked Rainbow Dash she leaned in on my flank, the dark blue, curved blade that adorned it, she took too much intenrest in it. I still couldn't believe that I met somepony that looked like me. I bet she was picked on too.
"Can you stop staring at my butt please?" I began to move away, but Rainbow Dash snatched me by the neck with her hooves, and it hurt, this mare didn't know her power, but she loosened her grip as I winced in pain.
"Are you a relative of mine? 'Cus you lookexactly the same as me." she began inspecting every inch of my body, which was distrucing and uncomfortable at a high level. Didn't she have any manners? Or was she just a wasted street pony? Rainbow Dash then noticed the scar on my side. I began to shift my wing to hide it by Dash snatched my wing and pulled it up. A pegasus' wings are the second most sensitive part of the body. And she fiddled with it like a toy.
"Hey watch it with my wing!" I warned her, but she continued to stare at my side, at my scar.
"Where did you get that scar?" she pointed her hoof towards it.
"I'll tell you if you let go of my wing and stop staring at me!" I almost yelled in frustraition and anger, she was poking her muzzle where she souldn't be, arrogant I say. Rainbow Dash sighed and released my wing, I quickly tucked it neatly at my side, covering the scar this time. We trotted to a white couch, Pinkie Pie was sitting on the floor with a cushion under her rump. Fluttershy was nowhere to be seen.
"Take a seat you two." Pinkie happily pointed to the couch, I gladly sat down and made myself comfortable, butsomepony was rude enough to just jump on the other side, like she didn't care about the others, which I highly doubt.
"So tell us about yourself Pick." Dash rested her hooves on the back of her head, exposing her armpits (hoofpits? I have no idea) a very, very, disturbing smell assaulted me nose. Sweat. The smell of sweat made me cringe, it was so unhygenic. I bet she hasn't taken a shower or a bath in weeks. And pegasus ponies use alot of energy. I covered my nose with my hoof, Dash just shrugged it off, not even opening her eyes, as if she was taking a nap.
"Right, where do I start off." I began, slightly shifting away from the sweaty smelling pegasus. "I was born and raised in Phyllidelphia, just as I turned three, the locals began to whisper among themselves. That didn't bother me. As I turned into a young colt, rumors began to spread around the town where I lived. Those bothered me, but then I had to go to school, as every pony has, at my first day..." I looked down. "I was beaten up for no reason. The teachers and the other students didn't to anything about it. They just let it happen, I was beaten until I bled. Then the whole school began laughing at me, calling me names like, coltcuddlers and gay. Just because of my rainbow mane and tail." suddenly Dash jumped up in the air, her wings spread and she looked at me with disbelieaf.
"Your rainbow mane?! They called you gay?! They called me a lesbo for the same darn thing! But I remained awesome and cool!" she sat back down, this time she didn't lift her hooves, thank Celestia. I continued.
"Anyway as I was saying, I stopped going to school for this matter, but then I got into trouble with my parents, they weren't like me, so they didn't care. The shouted at me, then my own father had beaten me to sleep." my eyes began to water as I clearly remembered those moments.
A whipping sound came, as if wood was hitting against fur.
"Ouch! Dad! Please stop it hurts!" yelled a small rainbow filly.
"You failed! You could've done good!" the brown stallion yelled as he delivered another hit with the wooden paddle.
"Oooouch...Dad...please stop...I'm begging you stop ple-AAAAAH!" the filly cried as it fell limp on the bed.
I broke from my trance, realizing that it was seconds before I had stopped, I spoke up again, my voice crackling with visible fear that flowed freely through my eyes.
"Then when I was old enough, my own parents kicked me out, saying that I'm old enough to take care of myself. I wondered through out the streets of my town, cold and hungry, thristy, beaten and dirty. When I asked for help, the by passers shut spat directly on me, the didn't care, they hated me, for some reason that is unknown to me. Then I found a part time job at an old bar. It wasn't the cleanest, but it payed a fair wage. As soon I sat exited the bar that night, four stallions and two mares stood before me, with various weapons in their mouths. I ran as fast as I could, but a stallion with a knife sliced my side, now this remained." I shifted my wing and showed them the scar, Rainbow Dash hissed. I tucked the wing back neatly.
"After that night, I bought an apartament, I spent there months, not even leavin the complex, then the years passed, my young time was wasted in depression and fear. Fear of being killed. Then I decided where I should go next, where I would find me perfect place. Then I found this little town, Ponyville." I looked back and forth between Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash, Dash had a thin dark line starting from her eye and stopping at her chin, her lip was quievring, I looked at Pinkie again, she wasn't smiling, she wore a sad frown. Dash chimned up.
"All that trouble, just for your colours?" I nodded in response, the next thing she did was surprising to Pinkie and me. She leapt up and wrapped her hooves around me, tightly hugging me.
"Don't worry, you'll be perfect for Ponyville, this place is really friendly, unlike those suckers!" she released me and wiped a tear from her eye. "Welcome to Ponyville, Pickie." she smiled for the first time I saw her.
Picke, already giving me nicknames huh? Well, this 'Ponyville' seems friendly as she said. Maybe I can finally live my life with happines. But Dash seemed right, all that life trouble just for the colours of my mane, are those ponies back in Phillydelphia crazed? Or zombie ponies? Never thought about that.
At the time I was lost in thought, Fluttershy stepped in the living room, balancing a tray of cups filled with tea in her mouth. She put the cups down and smiled, she pointed to a blue cup.
"Pick this is specially made for you. It will ease the stress." Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie already picked up their cups and left only the blue one. I picked it up with my hooves and sipped, delivering a sweet, berry flavour to my tongue. I sipped more, soon I found myself with an empty cup. I touched my stomach, it was warm. I sighed and leaned back on the couch.
"Thank you, Fluttershy, that was wonderful." I smiled at her, she shot me a wink and sat beside Pinkie.
Soon I found myself drifting off from time to time, I was having a bit of a problem keeping myself awake. My lids fully dropped and I dirfted into a deep, much very needed, comfortable and relaxing sleep. I haven't felt like this in my entire life. Knowing that there are ponies who cared about me and my own being.
I didn't even get to tell them how I got my cutie mark, but that would wait, I was sleeping now. With some new friends by my scarred side.
Thank you for your support guys! The readers themselves give me inspiration! Some of you suggested that I edit the old chapters, I might do that in my spare time, which is a week. I can give it a shot!
I awoke at the sound of creaking wood, normally I was a heavy sleeper, but the sudden change in temperature caused me to shiver, once it was warm, now it was cold. I opened my eyes, only to see the coloress ceiling above me, I brought my head down and looked forward, the enterance door was bolted shut, probably locked with a key too, it was dark in the room, and outside. It was nighttime. The fireplace wasn't burning, it looked like as if it wasn't used for years if not decades. I looked up the stairs, I swear to Celestia, every step was getting darker and darker, finally at the highest point, I couldn't see a damn thing, it sent a shiver down my spine.
I lifted a purposly placed blanket off my body and stood up from the couch, I walked in the center of the living room. Fluttershy's cottage was so grim and dark, the wooden floorboards had dark cracks allover, the windows were dirty and cracked too, letting some of the night's breeze in. The stairs metaphoricly dripped with darkness and evil, as if somepony was there, waiting to snatch me. My amnesia came into action.
I felt as if somepony was behind me, ready to stab me with something, I panicly turned my head around, only to see the peeled off wallpaper. This isn't what it looked like when I first entered. It was colourful and warm, there were many little critters playing around. Now as if all that was swept away. It was so quiet, not even a sound produced, it was like in the undergound. As if somepony had muted everything. All I wanted to do is run out of this place, and so I did.
I bolted to the door in panic, I forgot it was bolted, I un-bolted it and pulled, it didn't budge. I pulled again, the same result. The fear began to rise. I looked behind me again, no pony. I felt sweat run down my forehead, my breathing became faster than usual.
"F-Fluttershy...?" I spoke out her name in a barely audible whisper, no response came, I said her name again, still the same. I looked down at my foreleg and bit it with my teeth, I felt pain. This wasn't a dream, you can't experience pain in a dream, you would wake up immediately. What the hell is this then?! Death? Hell? No, worse than those, it was like a ghost story, where the victim is trapped and...
I cut my thoughts short, I didn't want to think about murder or paranormal activities. Ghosts don't exist in Equestria, they're just a foal's tale. They weren't real. Ghosts and zombies aren't real!
I was shouting in my own mind. I looked around the living room again, the colours were darker than before, the couch I was laying in had schorch and burn marks all over it. I looked out the window and saw Fluttershy approaching with a orange mare, who wore a cowpony hat. My eyes lit up as I banged against the window, screaming Flutteshy's name. She looked at me, her face was expressionless as she sprinted towards the door. I was releafed. I heard it unlock, and there was a sight I would remember for quite some time. Fluttershy was whispering for me to get the buck out. Strange for her to curse, but I payed no mind and quickly exited the haunted, or whatever in the world was happening in that cottage. I looked at Fluttershy, I needed some answers.
"'Shy, what's going on?" I asked, a hint of fear and shock had remained in my tone. Fluttershy sighed and walked towards the orange mare, who was frowning.
"I...I'll tell you later, we need to get out of here..." her voice was barely audible, but I understood. The two mares began walking down the path, I followed suit. I was still scared out of my mind, that cottage was simply...haunted, or that's what I thought. Those stairs, whatever happened there, I never wanted to go back, never back to that dark place. It was like a nightmare within a nightmare. Double the creepiness. The orange mare wearing that hat spoke.
"Ah'm Applejack, nice ta meet ya at this time." she spoke in a western, or southern accent, I didn't know which one, so I chose the latter. Applejack didn't even look at me while she was introdusing herself.
"I'm Rainbow Pick, and may I ask, what the hay just happened there?" I introdused myself too, trying to keep cool and not freak out. This was scarier than the crowd which forks back in Phillydelphia. The two mares sighed in usion.
"It's a long story, we'll tell you later, we just need to get to safety, the library." Fluttershy pointed out, how is a library safe? Well whatever, better than that cottage. It still sends a shiver down my spine. I simply hummed in agreement and walked beside Applejack, she smelled of apples. As her cutie mark was three delicious red apples. How original. Her mane and tail were done with a red ribbon at the end. Quite nice.
We walked for ten minutes, only passing rocks and trees. It was dead silence, neither of us three spoke a single word as we trotted along. I could just tell that something was bothering Fluttershy, her face wore disappointment and sorrow. Sad sight. I wonder where Pinkie and Rainbow Dash had run off to. And how did the whole cottage change? I guess Fluttershy had the answers, but she wasn't in the mood to answer them now.
We eventually came upon some buildings, and a sign that said 'Ponyville', the metal rectangle shape was rusted and bent in a few places. The town itself had a few running lights, but most of the unicorn kept light was out. Fluttershy, Applejack and me came in front of a giant tree-like house, with a door and a balcony, with a few windows. All the lights were out, it was dark inside as it was outside. Fluttershy brought her hoof up and knocked on the door three times. Sounds of clicking and metal sliding against wood came from inside, as the door opened, revealing a purple unicorn with a darker purple mane, which had a streak of pink on it. As soon as she saw me, she frowned. The purple unicorn turned to Fluttershy.
"Fluttershy, again?" she asked her, I didn't know what it ment, so I kept my mouth shut. Fluttershy hung her head low and nodded weakly. The unicorn sighed and gestured for the three of us to come in. We gladly did.
The library itself was empty, safe for the thousands of books on many shelves. The unicorn used her horn as the whole room lit up in a weak, purple glow. I made out a few cushions near a still burning fireplace. The unicorn gestured towards the cushions, and we all sat down, Fluttershy and Applejack were between me, and the unicorn right in front of us, her back facing the fireplace. Nopony spoke for a few minutes, so I decided to break the silence. I cleared my throat, their ears perked up.
"So ah...about Fluttershy's cottage." I reminded them, Fluttershy seemed to bury herself in the soft cushions, as if trying to hide away from me. The unicorn was the first to respond.
"Yes, Fluttershy's cottage, you see, about five years ago, there was an accident in Fluttershy's home. One of her siblings, died in a very gruesome way..." she trailed off, how could she talk about Fluttershy like that? Doesn't she have any manners, no pony should mention somepony else's death, that's just...wrong. I decided not to interrupt, so she went on. "After the body was disposed, the spirit came to haunt Fluttershy."
"For what? Has she done anything wrong?" I asked, quite confused by that, I mean come on, spirit of a dead pony? It's just foal's tales as I said before! Or maybe...
"No, Fluttershy is an innocent being, but she was there when her sibling died. So it came back for her, well, not exactly her, it came back to her home. So every Monday night, the cottage's appearence changes. And it murders anypony who is inside." she looked at me right in the eyes, as if telling me something was wrong.
"But Fluttershy came right on time, and you were saved from death. You cheated death, and the spirit doesn't that too kindly. I'm sorry to say this Rainbow Pick, but you will be haunted in your days, nights and even dreams, until your death." she finished with a huff.
Alright, what is this crap? Haunted until death? Oh come on! I was already haunted by mad crowds for being considered gay, and now by a bucking ghost, who was Fluttershy's sibling? They've got to be kidding me!
"Are you serious, just for staying in her home for a nap? I am now haunted by a ghost?" I raised an eyebrow in disbelief. The unicorn nodded. I looked at Fluttershy, who was practicly showering the cushions with her own tears, they were flowing freely, she was crying.
"Fluttershy, is it true?" I asked her, trying to look into her eyes, she simply nodded and sobbed. I let out an annoyed sigh. This is just what I needed, first Phillydelphia, then some nice ponies inviting me to a haunted cottage, knocking me out with some shitty tea, and then leaving me alone in the bloody place! Did they want to kill me?!
"Then why did you leave me there?" I asked again, looking at Fluttershy, she sobbed harder, "Why did you leave me when you knew?!" I almost yelled, she whimpered and buried herself futher, I lost it. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?!" the next thing I did was shocking, and I quickly began to regret it, I thrusted my hoof at Fluttershy's temple. Bad mistake. She fell limply on the cushions, she was out like a light. Applejack tackled me to the ground, raining hooves on my face and body. The purple unicorn was just sitting there, mouth agape, eyes wide like saucers. I just hit a shy pony, who was supposed to be sweet and kind, and it wanted to get rid of me, I wasn't sure on that, but I already made my move. Applejack wasn't showing any mercy, I began to feel numb, her strikes began to feel like tickles. I couldn't move. Fluttershy was still immobile, same goes for the purple unicorn. After a few more strikes from Applejack, I began to lose conciousness. Then after two more thrusts, I was out.
This is worse than I expected.
Sorry for the cancel thing guys, my mind was locked on CoD. So there, I'm continuing it again. I hope for the best, I think.
I was in the dark library, Applejack was staring daggers at my beaten up face, my lip was split and my ear was bleeding, it stung. Fluttershy was somewhere upstairs, sobbing her head out for all I care. That pony tried to get rid of me by leaving me alone in that haunted cottage of hers! I still couldn't believe it, I mean, ghosts? Come on, everypony knows that only a foal's tale or something else, I didn't think they would exist, and right now one of them is haunting me until my bucking death! And I shouldn't have hit Fluttershy, it felt...wrong to do such a thing to such an innocent looking creature, innocent if it wasn't possesed.
The purple unicorn was nowhere to be seen, probably upstairs with Fluttershy, trying to calm her down. This was an unexpected turn of events, I planned on entering Ponyville, get a normal job, get some bits together, buy a house, live my life. But nooo, something had to change, purposly! And that stupid Applejack had some strenght too! I wasn't planning on a conversation, but Applejack started one.
"So...Rainbow Pick, ya related to Rainbow Dash?" she asked flatly, in all honesty, I hated that orange pony, I really hated her. I crossed my hooves in irritation and let out a breath of air.
"No, I'm not." I responded as flatly as the question was asked. Applejack cracked her neck and turned away from me, facing the fireplace. Which was still burning strong. I turned to face the source of heat and warmth too.
What the hell was I doing here anyway? Just to be told that I'll be haunted by the rest of my life? No, it was something else, there was something more to it. I could just feel that unicorn wasn't telling the full story. Applejack sighed.
"Ah'm sorry for beatin' ya up, but ya shouldn't have hit 'Shy like tha', she's sweet and kind, you just come in and place one on her face. Ya should be ashamed for hittin' a mare like that!" Applejack wanted an aruguement, so I'm going to give her one.
"Ashamed? SHE should feel sorry that I'm going to be haunted by her sibling or whatever in the world she has! She just killed my life in two seconds ya know? And you couldn't even feel sorry for me! It looks like you don't give a buck!"
"Well ya shouldn't have come to Ponyville then-"
"Shouldn't have come to Ponyville, you say? What then?! Stay in Phillydeplhia till I died from angry crowds? No thank you! You don't even know me and you're taking a negative point of view! You stupid farmer animal!"
Applejack stayed quiet, she just stared at me with a blank expression, for a moment there I thought she was gonna beat my ass again. But she remained seated. She didn't move, and stayed quiet after my outburst. And why did I guess that she was a farmer? I couldn't care less, I couldn't care about these ponies anymore! I wanted to be alone.
But I don't, what about the ghost, I needed the warmth and presence of another pony. I didn't want to be alone. That would be stupid. I decided to apologize to Applejack.
"Applejack, sorry if I offended you in any way, I take that back." I tried to look into her eyes, but she closed them. I tried again. "Applejack I'm sorry, alright? Sorry for calling you a...you know." I almost spoke in a whisper, Applejack sighed and opened her eyes again, there was a small smirk plastered on her muzzle.
"Don't fret it, Pick. Ah'm not offended. C'mere." the next thing she did surprised me. She leaned in and hugged me, wrapping her hooves around my chest, her head rested against it. I cringed, but then decided to return the gesture. I placed my hooves on her and hugged back. I could feel the head from her body radiating into mine, it was warm and soothing, her coat was ever so soft. One thing I noticed that her hat was gone. I closed my eyes. We stayed like this for a few minutes, not letting go.
I haven't recieved a hug in a long time, but now I knew that hugs are comforting, all my worries melted away under Applejack's body warmth. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't like her, I did like her, she seemed like a nice pony, in a way. Sometimes she was stubborn, sometimes she was aggresive. But now she was friendly. A small smile broke it's into my muzzle. Applejack started nuzzling my chest with her cheek. I take back what I said, I don't hate this pony, I can't hate her.
After a while, but that while felt like hours of hugging, we both broke the embrace at the same time, Applejack just smiled at me, I smiled back. At least I sorted things out with her, now I just need to apologize to Fluttershy. I bet she's so mad at me.
It began to rain, I knew it because from the barely audible raindrops and thunders in the distance, I always liked rain, it somewhat made me feel relaxed. Applejack began to dose off, I was still wide awake, I couldn't even think about sleeping after those events, I still needed to apologize to Fluttershy, I feel ashamed now for hitting her, a mare especially, I couldn't even think of hurting another pony, but I just lost it then. Guess I can't keep my cool all the time.
The raindrops and thunders became louder and faster, it looked like a storm was already here, as I said before, I love rain. Sometimes it even drove me into a calm nap, but not today, my senses were still on alert.
The purple unicorn and Fluttetshy didn't come down for a long while, I've been waiting for hours here with Applejack. I decided to get myself comfortable. I placed a cushion in front of me and lay my chin on it, and placed my right hoof on it too.
The library seemed lifeless, the only light source was the lighting outside and the fireplace inside. I turned to see Applejack deep asleep.
I shifted and lay on my back, hooves sticking up in the air, I streched, the bones delightfully popping.
It was probably past midnight, it was just a guess, I didn't know exactly. There wasn't a clock nearby, well there probably was but I couldn't see it right now.
I closed my eyes, and opened them a second later, the corners of my vision began to turn red, I blinked a couple of times to clear it off, but the red became stronger with every second. A bright flash and a loud boom made me jump from the cushions, my tail shot up and spazzed, so did the rest of my body. I probably jumped a couple of hooves (feet?) in the air. As I descended back to the cushions, I was shaking furiously, I was so freaked out by that boom. I curled up to a ball and placed a cushion ontop of me. Loud noises always scared the buck out of me. Thankfully Applejack didn't wake up from the loud noise, I sighed and relaxed.
There was a doorknock, I removed the cushion from myself and stood up, I walked towards the door and turned the doorknob, outside, stood a very soaked stallion, with a white coat and a blue mixed with green mane which covered his eyes, he was trembling in the cold. I knew what I was supposed to do in these situations. I fully opened the door and gestured for him to come in, I never wanted to leave a pony out, especially in the rain.
After he entered the library, I shut the door again, the stallion made his way up to the fireplace, he was rougly my size, maybe a few inches taller, also his body was more muscle toned than mine, mine looked like a mare's, and I was not happy about it!
I made my way up to him and placed a few cushions for him to sit on, he gladly did, I recovered a blanket from a couch and placed it over him. He stopped trembling and smiled up at me then stood up and faced me, our faces inches away.
The next thing he did almost made me pass out.
I just stood there in shock in front of the evily smirking stallion.
"What's the matter Pick? Afraid of your old horse?" he mocked and laughed, the mare didn't talk or move, Octavia was still asleep. The stallion stepped into the train's room, sending a cold ice spike down my spine, I felt like he was gonna snatch me or something, but he only stood there, smirking at my face.
"W-what do you w-want?" I was practicly shaking by now, he was so larger than me, in height and weight, and muscle more importantly. I just wanted for him to go away and leave me alone, forever! After I left Manehatten I thought I would never see him again! Did he follow me all this time?
"So where do you think you're going?" he asked, I looked up at him, he was standing right in front of my trembling being! When I didn't answer, he raised his hoof and smacked me on the side of the head, I was simply pushed back by the force, making me collide with the table, I rubbed the assaulted area, it was like stinging nettles, but worse. Thankfully, the crash woke up Octavia, she first yawned and the rubbed her eyes, I'd say it was cute if I wasn't in pain right now.
"H-hey...what's going on?" she diverted her gaze to me, and gasped afterwards. "Oh my! Are you okay Pick?" she jumped out of her bed and started checking me for any injuries, when she saw the red hoof mark on my head, she gasped again. "Who did this to you? You didn't smack yourself did you?" she turned to see the mad stallion. "Oh..."
"Oh hoho! Looks like you've got a new friend, eh Pick. I thought of you as a loner, an outcast from everypony else, but somepony actually cares for you." he finished with a huff. I was too scared to get hurt to be mad, I just sat there, holding the side of my head in fear. When the stallion, well, call him my biological dad, approached me, I lifted up my free hoof in defense against anything he did and lowered my head to prevent anymore injuries. Or brain damage.
Now I can feel his breath on my hoof, I peeked open to see his evil, glowing eyes.
"Boo." I actually eeped and curled up to a tiny ball, the stallion just laughed loudly. "We must make up for lost time." he said, and then, cracked his neck. I quickly shot up and buried myself in Octavia, she protectivly put her hooves around me.
"No! Dad please don't!" I almost yelled, I didn't want to get beaten by him again, once I was, then I couldn't walk for a week. I didn't want to experience that pain again. Unfortunetlty, he somehow pushed Octavia aside, exposing me completely.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The next thing I knew, I was severely damaged, most of my ribs were broken, I couldn't breathe right, my nose was broken and bleeding, my left eye was completely...damaged, in a sort of way, I couldn't see with it, probably swollen, or worse, half of my coat was covered in my own blood, I couldn't move, my broken limbs just twiched. I moved my right eye to see Octavia passed on the floor, thankfully without any injuries, at least that made me feel relieved.
The stallion kicked my side with his hoof, making sure I wasn't dead.
"Still alive, well, that's a surprise, I gave you a good beating to remember for a few years eh?" he laughed again, then, he took Octavia by the hoof and dragged her to the bed, I know what he was going to do.
"I'll have some fun with her, dear could you watch for anypony coming?" he turned to the mare, she nodded and began scanning the hallways. I looked back up, the stallion was already pinning down Octavia, thankfully nothing happened yet. I tried to get up, but couldn't. How could even his wife agree to such a thing? They're just messed up, and deserve Celestia's dungeon for the rest of their lives. I tried to move my limbs, but ended up spilling out more blood, I still haven't passed out, that was surprising yes, but I didn't want to, I wanted to protect Octavia from this monster of a pony. I tried to lift my back hooves but ended up scratching bone against bone, it made me sick, and I almost puked.
I couldn't do anything, Octavia was helpless, I was helpless, my life was helpless, I just wanted to get up and beat that stallion of a father senseless until his thick brain barrier breaks. Easier said than done. I began to cry, yes, I cried right there and then, I was bawling my eyes out, well eye, my nose dripped with different mixtures of fluids, I was sobbing auidbly. I didn't want to see what was about to happen next, so I closed my eye.
Then I heard something, like a little faint voice in the dark.
You have to try... Unless you will die... The road doesn't stop... Just continue walking, you will get, to your destination... You have to go on, you need to be strong... They're your friends...they need your help, go on...
And there it was, the voice ended, it was like a riddle or a song, or a speech. I did what it told me to do, I stood up, easily. I gasped at my own self, I still did feel the pain, but it didn't come in large amounts like before, I could open my other eye, but felt a little trickle of blood come out of it, I spat a tooth out and faced the bed, the stallion was about to...insert it when I whistled. I felt a new source of power, I didn't knew where it came from, but I know that it was powerful. More powerful than him.
"The hell?!" was all he could say before I snatched him up and threw him on the ground, all I wanted to do is just beat him like he had beaten me for all these years. Before he could say anything, my left hoof connected with his jaw, making a slight crack sound and sending a few teeth out of his gums. He started scrambling away, but I got a hold of his tail, I pulled it as hard as I can, he yelled out in agony, his tail was about to be ripped off, but I let go of it. I stomped his right rear leg, it crunched delightfully under the pressure, and again another yell of pain.
"Stop it!" he shouted, I picked up his head and smacked him directly in the nose with my hoof, as he fell he connected his head with the floor, he placed his hooves on his face and rolled around, it was actually a funny sight to see. Before I could make my next blow, that mare of a mother connected with my body, making us both roll around on the floor. As I guessed, my mother ended up on top, it felt awkward if it wasn't a life and death situation. She tried to choke me but I gave her a good hit in the chest, making her lose all her breath in her lungs, she gasped and fell to her side, choking for air.
I trotted up to the stallion and bucked him so hard in the chest it made me recoil, he was sent good across the room, smacking his head and back into the wall. I turned my head to see my mother laying there, motionless but breathing, probably passed out. I smiled at my new strenght...thing...
I approached my father once more, now he was afraid and shaking like me, I was going to beat him like a foal now, but a mare's voice stopped me from beating my own father.
"Hold it! What do you think you're doing?!" it was the blue suited mare, she ran into the room and restrained my front hooves somehow. I flailed around but couldn't get out of her bucking grasp! I threw my head back, connecting with her muzzle, finally she released me and held her hooves up to her nose to cover the bleeding. She was a nice mare, so I didn't want to hurt her, I simply snatched Octavia from her bed and placed her on my back, her stomach applying pressure to my spine, her rear legs were limply hanging out on my right side, and her front hooves on my left. I quickly made a dash for the door.
Unfortunetly for us, the train was still moving fast. By fast, I mean, I couldn't even see the trees, only a dark, green blur.
I was pacing the train hallway, I couldn't make the bloody metal thing stop, I needed to pull a lever or some kind to stop it but the lever isn't there and I don't know what to do and HOLY BUCK three suited stallions are coming right at me! They were at the end of the cabin, at full galloop towards me and the uncouncious mare on my back. I turned to face the three charging bulls, well stallions, a wave of anger washed over me as I stomped my hoof in frustration.
One of the stallions reached me and made a leap towards me, I swiftly took a step sideways, making the stallion face plant. I turned to the other two, to my surprise and shock, one of the was cowering underneath his hooves, the other one was just standing there, staring at me or something. I took a careful step back, avoiding the face planted pony on the floor.
Eventually the standing suited stallion ran off, yeah just like that, he ran off like a foal, the other one kept cowering under his hooves, the faceplanted one was still planted. What just happened? I looked around for a moment, the train was still moving at high speed, but everything looked normal as it should be. Eventually my beaten up father came out of the room, holding his bleeding nose, when he turned to face me, his eyes went as small as needles, he slumped on his rump and started backing away.
"The buck happened to you?!" he shouted, he then turned tail and began a full galloop towards the opposite direction. I didn't make a sound, I couldn't make a sound, my throat was completely dry, my body hurt allover, I was exhausted by the beating and fighting, I looked over my shoulder and saw Octavia still unconcious. Now that I realize, my father's face was full of shock and fear, like he'd seen a ghost or something. Ha! Imagine me a ghost, but there's no time for lame talk now. I have to get out of this train and reach Rainbow Dash in Aydin, this was like an objective mission in one of those magical games. I shook my head violently, my mane rustled up and reformed to it's original, windswept style.
Now I can make a comment about trains: I hate trains. Yes, from now on I won't climb a train unless its important or something, but get that out of the way! I need to get off, somepony will start chasing me again. I trotted up to the train's enterance and guess what, it was open, yes there wasn't even a door, it was a simple erm...doorway. I could see the zooming blurry trees. I looked around, and there wasn't anything like a red lever saying: Emergencies Only, or some other relative writings.
I thought about jumping off the train, sure if I was alone that would be a great idea, but with Octavia on my back...eh I didn't really want to hurt her in any way, physiclly or mentally, she's my new friend afterall. I tried to wake Octavia up, but she simply won't move, she just lay there, but still breathing.
I looked through the train's enterance and saw the white, fluffy clouds zip past by, I got the feeling that I should fly now, but I can't leave Octavia behind, and I can't wait here until the train stops at the station, the authoroties will have my head for what I've done. I wish Dash was here to help me out, she's a strong pegasus, stronger than me even, if it was for her, she would get me out of this situation in ten seconds flat! I paced around some more until I couldn't take it anymore!
I gently and slowly tried to get a hold of Octavia with my hooves, but it was hard and awkard! I extended my wings and with a couple of flaps I gained some altidude, carefully holding Octavia throughout the whole proccess. I neared the enterance. With a couple more flaps, I was outside, just then when I wasn't expecting it a large mass amount of wind blew my body, it knocked half my breath out, I stumbled around in the air, my wings failed to comply for a few seconds, but then went back to normal operation. I looked down to see Octavia curled up to me, still unconcious. I tightened the grip between us and slowly ascended to the sandy landscape. The train had long gone already passed us, now there was me, a railtrack, Octavia and a sand landscape. Now guess what, walking, I folded my wings neatly to my sides and placed Octavia on my back again, she felt like a bag of potatoes, but those potatoes are a living thing and has feelings.
Now I have a choice, go back to Ponyville, or continue walking towards Aydin, Ponyville was now far away I guess, same goes for Aydin. Okay, Ponyville had a murderer, riots were nearby the town too, so...Ponyville is out, Aydin! Here we come! Allyons-y!
I don't know where I heard that, but it sounds pretty cool I should say.
I observed the dusty landscape, no trees or grass or any civilization for miles, I decided to follow the rail track because it will keep me on track. (no pun intended). I began my slow trot, slow because I was tired to the maximum, I wasn't even breathing freely, towards Aydin. The dry air was whipping against my already dry lips so badly, that I started gulping my own saliva to keep my throat partly hydrated. It wasn't long before my hooves were starting to get sore, all these rocks and sand under them made me feel uneasy.
I was already starting to pant slightly, man I was so exhausted, I just needed a rest, thankfully there was a little grass on the ground, I carefully set Octavia onto it and slumeped on my rump. I took a few deep breaths in and out, just to calm myself. I looked over to Octavia, she looked so cute with a disheveled mane and tail, there were little dirt patches on her coat too, she wasn't moving at all, only her chest was raising and falling, how hard did she hit her head? Or was she just a delicate mare.
Right there I felt something wet on my right hoof, I took a look at it and found a still fresh blood patch, and then another came down, and other, I crossed my eyes and looked at my nose, it wasn't coming from there, I checked my ears and lip, nope, not from ther either. Soon I found out that my left eye was bleeding, the one that was swollen, I quickly closed it and pressed a hoof against it, I didn't feel any pain, but I didn't want to pass out from blood loss. I felt the liquid trickle down my cheek and into my coat, man, I bet my whole body was covered in my own blood. Eventually the blood stopped flowing through my eye, I removed my hoof and blinked a couple of times, all was fine, well yeah except for the stinging sensation.
I seriously needed a glass of water, or a whole galloon of it, the sun and wind were so dry, that when I licked my lips they immediately turned dry. I picked Octavia and put her on my back again, she wasn't actually that heavy, a lightweight pony. I again began my trot towards Aydin, now that got me thinking, is it a town or a small village? Was it a big villa, or a secret vacation place for Rainbow Dash? I have no idea. I could seriously use some music now too, a little metal or rock. Wait, was metal and rock the same two things? I never paid any mind to that, I just liked to listen to music. I actually started to hum a little beat, then I included the little bass farts, well thats how I call them, bass farts, yeah I know, its silly.
I stopped humming and trotted quietly.
After about twenty minutes of trotting and observing the sandy landscape, I saw a little wooden shack in the distance, it wasn't that much, just a little shack with rotting wood and a little entry door. As I got closer to it, a really nice smell assaulted my nose, like somepony was cooking something, I wasn't into food myself, but everypony's gotta eat to stay alive. I approached the shack's door and inspected it carefully, the wooden texture was actually peeling off, the door looked like it was damaged or something, on the top left corner, there was a small dent. I took a step back and knocked on the door.
It slowly creaked open, but nopony was inside, it was completely empty of life, there was a cooking spit, a single tattered bed, a bookshelf with lots of books, a table with lots of parchment and inkwells, there was also some kind of magical floating light ball at the ceiling, it illuminated the whole inside of the shack. I heard a cough.
"Who's there?!" I took a defensive position, I readied myself for an attack, but none came.
"You can't see me?" asked a worn voice, it sounded male to me.
"Umm...n-no. I don't." I replied.
"Rats!" I cringed at the sudden outburst, but I calmed down. "Just give me a moment!" there was a spectrum of light right in front of me, after the light were gone, a grey stallion with a white mane, and a blue aura ball was standing in front of me, his green eyes locked into mine.
"Hello there youngster! My name is Jericho! Welome to my little testing spot! Do come in!"
Wat?
The grey stallion closed the door with his magic and approached a bookcase.
"Oh and you two must be hungry! Please, make yourselves at home!" the old stallion was walking around the room, trying to find something. I gently set Octavia on the bed, and made her comfortable. "So what's the story with you two?" he asked, I turned my head to look at him and saw him supporting himself on the bookcase, trying to get a book out. I decided to go with the short story.
"Well, we were on a train, then some thugs came to us, I was roughed up pretty badly as you can see, but Octavia here doesn't have a scratch." the stallion looked, specificlly my eyes.
"Was your eye always like that?" he pointed to my left eye.
"Always like what? It was bleeding earlier." the stallion's horn charged up and in a flash of blinding light there stood a floating mirror in front of me, and my own reflection, which was completely covered in blood, but there was something else. I looked up, and saw my normal magenta eye, I shifted my gaze left, and saw a dark, red circle instead of the normal magenta, black and white eye. I blinked a couple of times, but it was still there.
"N-no, it wasn't always like this." I guess when my father punched me in the face, something happened inside. The mirror in front of me disappeared with a pop, the stallion went over to the cooking spit. I turned around and faced Octavia, I just wanted her to wake up and know that she's alright.
"Hey Jericho?" I asked out, without look behind me, but I heard him trot over.
"Yeah?" he stood beside me and looked at the sleeping mare. "Let me guess, you need me to check her status?" he took the words out of my mouth, I simply nodded and continued staring at the mare. Jericho's horn glowed a dull grey color, so did Octavia's chest. The light ceased, and Jericho sighed. "She'll be fine, your friend will wake up in a few hours, but for now let her rest." I nodded respectfully and left Octavia on the bed.
Me and the old stallion sat around the table on some wooden chairs, he began reading through some kind of spell book, he then closed the book and levitated two wooden bowls and two silver spoons, he poured some soup from the cooking spit and gave me a bowl.
"Here, eat, you need to get your strenght up." I did as I was told, I grabbed the spoon and began to eat slowly.
As I finished, I set down the spoon and thanked Jericho, but he just stared at me, his eyes completely blank of any color. Then my ears picked up a strange sound that seemed to be coming from my own brain.
(The sound )
The shack's colors actually turned darker, and...the walls seemed to be extending, this is impossible! I directed my attention towards the grey stallion, his eyes were still blank, and there was strange, black liquid forming around his mouth and nostrils. I shook my head and squeezed my eyes, when I opened them, the stallion was gone, along with Octavia, but there was something different to the shack, something grim. The wooden walls weren't wooden anymore, they were solid concrete, and there was a long, dark, not illuminated hallway where the entrance was. There was some writing on the wall behind me, it was written in blood, splattered in blood, actual blood, when I began reading it, I heard a sound that made my spine turn into an ice spike. I completely froze up, I couldn't move or think, I was scared for dear life. What the hell just happened?! I think something is coming from the hall, no! I hid under the table, hooves over eyes, I curled up to a ball and thought about something, but my thoughts were interrupted by the same sound, but higher pitched. It was like a wolf or something, but that wasn't a howl, it was more of a...I don't even know what it was! God! I think its approaching me! No! Go away! I don't want to be here! I wanna go home! If it means seeing my dad again I will! I need somepony's help! HELP! NO STAY BACK!
I just knew something was approaching me, because I was hearing the sounds, they were right next to me! Oh god, it's breathing on me! Buck this! Aaaagh!
I zipped off like a bullet towards the dark hallway, I kept running and running away from the monster that was next to me a few seconds ago, I could still hear the ear piercing sounds, they were all around me, I couldn't stop them, now I can hear something buzzing! Aggh! Stop it!
I just kept running and running, I couldn't see anything, but the hallway was straight, thank god, it was pitch black, I couldn't even see my own hooves in front of me. No! The sounds were getting faster and closer, I coudldn't outrun them, I ran with all my strenght, hoping to get away, but it wasn't working, I simply wasn't too fast.
I felt pain, excrosiating pain at my forehead before the sounds stopped completely, it was dead silence, not even any ambience.
(Stop the video)
"Pick? Pick wake up!" I heard some yelling, it seemed like a mare's voice. I wanted to open my eyes, but my lids simply refused to comply. "Pick! Come on! Wake up!" I heard the voice yell again, I tried to open my eyes again, it worked, but they only opened halfway, I saw a grey coat, purple eyes, and tears, then a gasp.
"O...Octy?" I tried, but my voice was crackling and shaky, it sounded like a whisper. I tried to get up, but my body was too exhausted for that.
"Pick, how are you holding up?!" Octy was really worried, I moaned, my head hurt so much, as if an earthquake occured inside. I couldn't keep up much longer, the grim memories of the dark hallway and creepy sounds were still fresh in my mind, my body fell limp and my eyelids closed by themselves as I passed out cold.
This chapter, is short I know, but I have a lot on my hands right now that needs to be dealt with, I promise longer chapters, and the creepy part? Those were just Pick's hauntings, I guess. And I would appriciate if you comment your opinions and views on this, that will definetly give me a boost.
I was awake. As far as I know, I was lying on the bed that was previously used by Octavia, now she was talking with Jericho, near the entrance. I felt a tug of disappointment when the door opened and she left, probably to her urgent place. After the door closed, Jericho approached the side of the bed, and stared down at me.
"Octavia will be gone for a while, but don't you worry, she'll be back soon."
His words were not that reassuring, I didn't trust him, he was hiding something from me, and I just felt that he'll do something grim behind my back. After he trotted away to a bookcase, I tried to get up from the bed, but the sheets were noticeably wet, I was sweating.
As I set my hooves on the wooden floor, I felt a bit of pain that shot down my spine but I ignored it, I probably hurt my back when I fell. I stood to my full height, and looked around the small shack. I remember when the walls changed, I looked at the direction where the non-existent was, but it was replaced by a book shelf.
I trotted over to a little window, I had to place my hooves on the wall to support myself to see what is outside, because the window was too high for me. I looked out the window, and saw the rail track, plus the desert, or whatever this place was. I sighed and set my front hooves down. Jericho approached me.
"So, let me ask, why did you exactly travel on that train?" he asked me with a bit of concerned, he didn't seem to trust me, neither do I.
"To meet with my friend." I replied simply, he seemed to accept it and turned away from me, I thought there was going to be more questions. I turned around and stared at the shack's door, wishing that I could walk out, but I have to wait for Octavia.
"You are free to go." Jericho stated from behind the cooking spit, I craned my head to him. "Yes, you can go, Octavia won't be coming back." he seemed to frown.
"So you lied to me?" I raised my eyebrow and scratched my cheek.
"Yes, now go." he went behind a bookcase and hid his head behind it, after his head appeared back with, he had a brown saddle bag. He trotted over me and placed it on my back. "Some supplies for the travel." he smiled coldly and gave me a pat on the head, after that he trotted away from me again. I simply turned around and left the shack of his.
It was mildly cold, and slightly dark, but visible enough for me. and there wasn't a single cloud in the sky. I decided that trotting would be slow, so I strapped the saddle bag that Jericho gave me tightly and extended wings, after a few flaps, I was in the normal flying altitude. I began flying towards Aydin's general direction.
As I was flying, I saw a little black dot in the distance in front of me. A flew a bit faster, trying to catch up with whatever was flying. When I reached a bit of distance from it, I saw that it was the shape of a pony, I couldn't see the details about it because it was dark. I flew a bit faster until I was by the pony's side, it turned it's head to me, and I saw that it was a mare, I recognized the gender by the muzzle shape. Her light green eyes locked on mine.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" she seemed a bit shocked, I cleared my throat.
"Just flying." I stated simply, she raised her eyebrow.
"Well yeah, would you mind yourself please? I'm already running late." she looked away from me.
"Oh? Where are you going?" I asked, getting a bit cocky.
"None of your business." she shot forward like a bolt. I simply shrugged in the air and continued on my way.
The air started to feel hotter and drier, the landscape was changing to a crisp like texture, I looked up to the sun, it was closer than before, I tried to ignore the heat but it was simply too much of it to take, I decided that trotting would be better.
I set my front hooves on the dry land, my hind legs followed, I folded my wings neatly by my sides and opened the fake leather saddlebag, there was a worn out black compass, a simple plastic bottle of water and something round wrapped in cooking foil. I took out the bottle with my mouth out of the back and brought it forwards, I then uncorked the cap while holding the bottle with a hoof. After drinking a third of the water I put it back in the saddlebag, then I started trotting towards my direction instead of flying.
The quiet rustle of air was around my ears, I looked forward, there was not a single building in sight, in fact, there was nothing at all, I started doubting myself, I sure didn't get lost, I was flying in the right direction all this time, I think.
I was getting frustrated with this, I can't find anything, at all! I flew up as high as I can, but still, nothing! I thought about running, but that would only waste my energy, and I don't have enough water. Oh great, now I have to worry about resources. I didn't come here to learn how to survive in the desert! This isn't even a desert. It is some Celestia forsaken land.
I sat down to rest my legs for a bit, I lied down after a few seconds of sitting, to be honest, I was thinking of going back into the shack, and make my way to Ponyville from there, stock up and get some means of transportation throughout this dry land.
No, no I had to press on, going back would be a waste of time, and who knows how long Dash's temper can last. I didn't want to test that.
I opened the saddle bag and took out the worn compass, the direction which I was facing right now was east, and Jericho never told me which way to go. Hooray for that, if I end up in some... canyon or a weird place like that, I'm going to have the old stallion's head.
Not... really. I would never.
I shoved the old thing back in its place as I stood up, gazing at the burning land, the heat attacked my eyes for too long and I squeezed them shut, I felt them watering at the same time, too. I reopened them, blinking away the tears as I started my trot towards the unknown, trying to take my mind off of this wasteland.
Hmm... Ponyville was a nice enough town to settle down, have a life... but I'm not the one for settling down, oh no. My thoughts drifted over to Jericho, the old buck, currently lonely in his shack, doing Celestia knows what. How old was he exactly? Why hasn't he moved to somewhere else? Did he have a family, daughter, son, wife. Eh, probably not a part of my bussiness. But what about Octavia? The grey cello player. She has the charm to attract any stallion or mare. And a proffesion that earns you honest money...
My thinking had ignored the black incoming train a few miles away, I didn't turn around until I smelled fumes, oil, wet wood and burning coal. The coal-powered train was shoveling the sand away with its tracks, revealing the old concealed rail line. It was the same train I rode on a few hours back... so I escaped and... went all this way for nothing when I could have taken the train again? Goddesess... I felt stupid.
The train continued to ride on the tracks without stopping, I saw the last cabin, with that common ladder just sticking out like a flare in the dark. I took my chances by running up to the last cabin as the rest of the cabins passed me, the train wasn't fast, but faster than me. So I made a small jump, desperetely grabbing onto the obsidian-like ladder, slowly pulling myself up as I put my hindlegs on the ladder, hopping to the left and onto the tiny platform where the door was.
Whew, good thing there was a metal fence of some kind else I'd fallen off right then and there.
I slowly popped my head up and looked through the window, numerous crates of various sizes were all lined up against the walls, blocking out the windows on the sides and causing it to be dark. I pulled the door open anyway, it was unlocked, good. I closed it shut behind me as I entered the dark cabin, wiping off some sweat from my brow. I slumped down to the floor, taking in deep breaths as the small amount of adrenalin from chasing a damn train wore off. I stood up, shaking my head.
"Come on, Pick... calm down." I said to myself, inhaled deep a few more times before resuming to breathing normally.
The blocked out windows gave the crates an unnatural orange outline, filled with an eerie silence that was outright creepy. I began trotting past the crates, my eyes locked on to the next door, I saw it, it was a passanger cabin, two mares sitting on green seats, one brown with a light yellow mane and the other light yellow coat, with a brown mane. Sisters, I presumed. The yellow one was leaning on her sister's shoulder, sleeping. I looked the other way, and saw a seat occupied by a large blue stallion, quietly laying and napping on the seat. I didn't see anypony past that, so I slowly pushed the door open, the awake sister looked at me the moment I stepped in, but quickly looked away. I picked a seat behind the napping buck, carefully setting the saddlebag next to me as I lifted my hindlegs up and rested them, folding my forehooves in front of me.
Surprisingly, I wasn't tired. Just... exhausted from the heat and running. So I lay my head down... thinking of nothing, just listening to the buck's audible breathing, and the train. I was so out of it that I didn't notice or had time to react as I slowly dozed off.
Waking up with snot and spit in your mouth isn't very pleasant, trust me, and getting your hoof mucky in the proccess isn't nice, either.
Or neither is finding your angry father staring down at you, his face battared to pulp by his son. I think I whimpered and quickly jumped up, covering my face with my legs, crying for mercy, like, "Don't kill me!", or, "Spare my face!".
But no hits came, for that I was really grateful. I carefully reopened my legs, looking at the battered face of the stallion who gave me life, he had a sour look on his face.
"D-Dad..." I stuttered, afraid to even look him in the eyes, "...dad, look, I'm sorry about... about the things I did in the tra-" he cut me off by surprisingly gently setting a hoof to my mouth, speaking in a low tone.
"This is not about you or me. This is about the place that you are going to, Aydin." his knowledge about where I was going shocked me, just a tiny bit as he pulled his hoof away.
"How do you know?" I ask curiously, he simply sighed and looked away.
"It doesn't matter, I will just tell you to be careful, look after yourself, stay safe..." I closed my eyes, not wanting to tear up, "...take care, son." after those words I didn't hear anything else, I reopened my eyes, but my father wasn't there, as if... he just disappeared.
"Dad?" I looked around and behind, but there was no trace of him, "Dad?!" only the two sisters and the now awake stallion occupied the cabin, no pony else.
I finally slumped on the seat, rubbing my eyes. Hallucinations, great, maybe from the heat, or I was losing it. Argh, don't think about that now! It sounded silly. Rainbow Dash was waiting, and I did not want to upset her by making her wait more. I just wanted to get to Aydin and see what she needs, or wants. Was Aydin, anyway? A city, village, town? I'll know soon.
But my father appearing out of the blue and disappearing without a trace? Somepony had to be playing around with me, that was for sure...
Just as I crossed a foreleg across my stomach I felt a light tap to my left ear, I looked up and saw the blue stallion's face upside down, shiny emerald eyes stared back into mine, his long ember mane tickled my nose, so I wrinkled it and pushes some of his mane out of my face.
"Hey, you alright? Heard ya sayin' something about your dad," he asked, tilting his head. I think I blushed, because I felt my face heat up as he looked down at me. I scooted away and turned around, looking at him normally and not upside down.
"Y-Yeah, I'm good, thanks for asking." I stuttered because he was so close to my face a few seconds ago.
"Where're ya heading to?" he asked another question, I simply replied by saying "Aydin." He didn't question anything else, but he did ask for my name, "Pick, my name's Pick." he extended hoof, grinning widely.
"I'm Cano, nice to meet'cha, Pick." I stared as his blue hoof for a few seconds before taking it into my own, giving Cano a little greeting shake.
"So, Aydin ya say? Well, as it turns out, I'm going there too, I have a little bussiness there so I can trot along with you, Aydin's a boring and lonely place without somepony by your side, whadd'ya say?" he offered me. Let's see, having a really good- er, a really strong looking stallion with me in an unknown place, or be alone in that unknown place, who knows, he might help me out if things get ugly with somepony. So I smiled and nodded.
"That'd be great, Cano, welcome aboard." I added a bit of sarcasm to the 'welcome aboard' part. Cano chuckled, brushing some of my mane out of my face with his hoof. I cringed back at the touch, not really okay with stallions touching me up, yet.
"Calm down, Pick, what's wrong?" he asked with a little concern in his voice, pulling his hoof away.
"It's nothing..." I turned away and slumped down on the seat, but Cano vaulted over the seat and sat beside me, my saddlebag seperating us.
"Pick, come on, I wanna be good friends, y'know. I know that you need more friends." I sighed and slowly moved the saddlebag out of the way, he immidiately scooted closer to me, "I guess you're right." I muttered, turned my head to him and already found him gazing at me, those shiny green eyes just... staring back at me, he was smiling, a warm, friendly smile, the one that Fluttershy gave me before in her cottage. I... wanted to reach out, touch his coat... but before I could do anything else the train abruptly stopped, almost throwing me off my seat.
"We're here."
"We're here?"
"Yes, we're here," Cano repeated himself a second time, already taking his leave off the train. I followed close suit, not intent on losing my new friend or getting lost in...
This maze.
Aydin was a maze, I gazed and gazed up, and I could still see the city's peak. But I couldn't see anything inside because it was all concealed by a towering obsidian wall, it was probably high as Celestia's own tower! How did I miss this!? At the front, there was a giant, as tall as the wall, wooden door, but it seemed darker than any wood I've ever seen. That monster door was flanked by two obsidian guard watch towers. Was it my imaginton or could I see tiny white spark resonate from the windows? Not important. Everything seemed to be made out of that dark, grim material, obsidian, except for the rotten monster door.
"First time to Aydin? You're gonna have a hell of a time in this second Hell," an old rasped voice sounded beside me, I turned my head and saw an old green mare, face wrinkled to the max, limbs and body frail.
"Second Hell?" I questioned curiously, the old pony huffed.
"Go in, do what you need to do and get the hell out of here before you end up a lifeless body." well that was a hell of an assumption to make, I shook my head and looked away, back to the enormous door.
It unexpectantly began to creak open, from the sound of it, its hinges weren't oiled in decades, small bits of saw dust falling from here and there. But the most funny thing about the giant door that it was single, most doors big as this were double. It slowly began revealing the city, houses, which most were old, rotten or crumbling to the point of extinctsion.
What would, a fast flier, determined and tomboyish mare like Rainbow Dash, would be doing in this obsidian craving city? It was time to find out.
Me and Cano trotted through the monster door, me keeping close to him, I did NOT want to be alone right now, not later, not ever in this spine chilling place. If he went somewhere, I will go with him.
As we entered, the door slowly began closing, I gulped, feeling shivers creeping on to me, like a dozen of tiny spiders. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I heard a faint, distant, evil laughter as the door shut, cutting me off from the rest of the world. And who would climb these walls?
I felt a damned sensation in my head, so I leaned on Cano's shoulder, groaning, he immidiately snapped his attention to me.
"You alright, Pick?" he was worried, I could hear it in his voice.
"I'm fine, Cano, just... got a little lightheaded for a moment." to be honest, my new friend and companion felt strong, the muscles on his shoulder shifted as he balanced me on my hooves.
"What are you two colt cuddlers doing outside? It's almost night." I turned around, and the female voice belonged to... a heavily armored mare. Her dark blue helmet hid most of her face, but I could see the yellow mouth and horn, her eyes were covered by a pair of weirdly shaped goggles. Her whole dark blue body armor, from shoulder to hoof looked quite bulky and heavh to carry, and on her left side, strapped to her neck, was a worn out combustion lever rifle, the ones that spits lead.
"We just arrived here, ma'am, we'll be on our way," Cano just stole my words, the mare huffed and opened her mouth in a smile.
"Outsiders, eh? First time to Aydin? Don't answer. Look, some free and friendly advice. If you find a place which has walls and a roof, you'll be safe, if you stand out here through the night, you'll be bones in the morning. So I suggest you go to the Rosebur Inn. Now." and with that, she finally trotted off into the city. I looked at Cano.
"What do you think? Should we go to Rosewhatwasitagain Inn? Inns give beds, right?" Cano looked troubled, worried, and one I did not expect, scared. Fear was setting into me too, the way she described that we'll become bones if we stay out.
"Come on, Cano! Let's go, please." I begged, frowning in worry. The stallion shook his head, looking down at me and smirking.
"Yeah, sure, let's go to the inn, night's coming." with that we sent out to search for the inn. Looks like Rainbow Dash would just have to wait a bit more.
After minutes of searching, passing old buildings and seeing an old hospital off into the distance, we finally arrived to our destination. Rosebur Inn. A sign labeled with the inn's name was rocking back and forth on a piece of wood. Me and Cano cautiously entered.
The interior was again, dark and grim, like the rest of this city. There was a counter on the far left side, a pony's head could be seen behind it, reading through a newspaper. As I and Cano approached the counter, I could see that it was a ember mare, maybe in her middle ages.
"We'd like to rent a room, please," I said politely as I could, the mare simply gave out her hoof and said "Ten."
I searched through my... crap... I've forgotten that I left my saddlebag on the train! Going back would be bad, and the train hsd already departed... crud.
But Cano saved us a night outside by placing ten bits in the mare's hoof, she smiled, revealing yellow crooked teeth, she threw a rusty key up, Cano catched it.
"Second floor, second door on your right." so we followed her instructions.
We reached the second floor, there were four doors, each on either side, Cano slid the key into our room, opening it with a creak. It was a square shaped room, one lightbulb in the center with no switch to be seen, a single bed on the far left side, a window with intact glass, thank Celestia, a drawer next to the bed and four wooden boxes in another. Shockingly, there was only one bed, Cano and I had to share, a stallion sharing a bed with another stallion, doesn't sound bad.
As soon as Cano closed and locked the door, I quickly put up the four boxes against the door.
"What's with the boxes, Pick?" Cano was curious, I flushed a little.
"Safety measurments, if somepony enters, without a key." Cano chuckled and jumped on the bed, laying out on his side, his back facing the wall behind him, I closed the window and bolted it shut. He was impatiently tapping the empty space in front of him.
"We'll figure out if that mare was telling the truth, we can't take any chances now."
Then, with a nervous gulp, I lay down on the bed, too, next to Cano, my back facing him, I flushed again as he put his foreleg around my waist and stomach, pulling me in from behind as he threw the white blanket over us. And before me saying anything about him keeping his foreleg around me, his muzzle met my ear.
"Goodnight, Pick."
"G-Goodnight, Cano," I couldn't argue, I felt safe, warm and comfortable in my friend's embrace.
Well, it didn’t make me faint.
“Thanks bro.” The white stallion released me from his embrace, I actually didn’t even expect a ‘thank you’, but a hug, a friendly that is, is much appreciated. As he looked into my eyes, he smiled, he seemed happy that he has a new friend, so am I. I never had any stallion friends, and didn’t plan on having any, but Whitestar is one now.
“Oh…y-you’re welcome Whitestar.” I tried to smile, but it ended up in a nervous smirk. He sat back down in front of the fireplace, he seemed comfortable under the fire’s warmth, I thought about his needs.
“Are you hungry Whitestar?” I asked him, he looked up at me and chuckled.
“Nah man, but thanks anyway.” He turned his head back to the fire, I didn’t know why I did it, but it felt great. I sat next to Whitestar, he didn’t even bother saying anything against it.
“So Whitestar, you from Ponyville?” I started, he shook his head.
“No, I’m from Manehatten, I traveled to Ponyville for business, you know, tradin’ n’ stuff.”
“I see, so what do you work?”
“I create different types of protective clothes for the army, most of my inventions were thrown in the bin, but there was a suit that made its way to the market.”
“Illegally?”
“No man, the government approves, the army wears those multi-tasking suits now.”
“And how much does it cost for one suit?”
“Roughly six to eight thousand bits, depends on the mark type.”
“Don’t you think that’s a bit expensive for a simple suit?”
He looked at me as if I was the dumbest animal on the planet.
“Do you even know what those suits do?”
“No.” I felt embarrassed.
“Exactly, if the wearer gets injured, the suit automatically uses stored in unicorn magic to heal the injured wearer. If thirsty or hungry, the suit provides you with items. If you die…you get a second chance…”
That caught my attention.
“Wait what? If you die you get a second chance? You mean the pony that died revives?!”
He nodded shamefully, why wasn’t happy about it? That’s a great feature!
“But at a cost.” He said plainly. “I shouldn’t be really talkin’ ‘bout my inventions further.” He turned away his head. What a killjoy that revive thing is interesting. How could you resurrect a dead pony with a simply suit? Or maybe Whitestar’s suits are not simple.
“So I’ll take you as a richcolt?” I asked, he nodded proudly. Damn, he must be making millions, if not more. Good thing he earns that money, not like some ponies that cheat and kill for bits. I’m glad that my new friend isn’t like that.
I think that Applejack is waking up, by the noises that she makes, moans, do ponies moan when they wake up? Or being rudely awakened. Whitestar was talking quietly; I don’t know about myself, I never knew what my tone was like.
“Agh…P-Pick?” she asked for my name before even opening her eyes. When she did, she was greeted by a white stallion; she jumped up in the air and almost screamed. When she saw me, she relaxed.
“Sorry for the scare Miss…” Whitestar tried to apologize; Applejack rubbed the back of her neck.
“Applejack, jus’ call me AJ, or whichever ya want.” She smiled awkwardly. Applejack finally calmed down. “And who might you be?”
“I’m Whitestar, Pick’s new buddy, right?” he nudged my shoulder, I nodded with a smile. “We met this night.”
“Hey, Ah heard that name before, ya that suit feller right?” Applejack asked, tapping her chin and observing the white stallion.
“Yep, that’s me, glad to see I’ve still got some fame.”
“Say Pick did Twilight and Fluttershy came back down?” AJ asked, looking towards me, I shook my head slightly. I was seriously getting tired of those two; I decided that I should go investigate myself.
“Applejack, Whitestar, wait here till I get the girls.” With that I trotted off to the stair’s direction, I began to ascend, finally I reached the top and knocked on the only door. After about a few seconds, it opened, revealing Twilight with a disheveled mane, was she fighting? Wow.
”Hey Pick, come in.” she pulled the door only halfway, allowing me entry, on the bed, I saw Fluttershy curled up into a ball, it broke my heart to see a pony like this, well not really, I’ve seen worse, but still, it’s sad to see a crying pony. Twilight tapped on my shoulder and whispered in my ear.
“I think you should apologize to her.”
I sighed through my nose and approached Fluttershy, at seeing this she began scrambling away.
“No no! Fluttershy please, don’t be scared, I won’t hurt you again.” She stopped scrambling and relaxed her body, thank Celestia for that, but she was breathing heavily, her cheeks were wet, and eyes bloodshot from crying, she didn’t even dare to look at me. Fluttershy gasped when I placed my hoof on her hit cheek ever so gently.
“I-I’m sorry for t-that Fluttershy, I d-didn’t mean to do it…please, don’t be mad at me…” I couldn’t hold back a sniffle. Not expecting for what to happen next, Fluttershy placed her own hoof on mine. I looked directly into her pupils, they were beautiful. No scratch that, her eyes were the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. As if her irises gave off a green glow.
“I forgive you…” her voice was so sweet and calm. I couldn’t help but let out a single tear, it splashed on the bed sheet. She then wrapped her hooves around me, tightening an embrace, I happily hugged Fluttershy back.
After minutes of holding each other, somepony cleared their throat, me and Fluttershy broke the embrace and faced Twilight, and she had an evil grin on her face.
“Okay, now that’s sorted, we can go further, Pick, since you don’t have a place to live in, you can stay at the library, I will lend you the spare guest room.”
“But what about Fluttershy? She can’t go back to that haunted place!” I informed, Twilight tapped her chin for a second.
“If you don’t mind sharing a bed with her or sleeping on the floor. I guess she can stay.” She said flatly, as if she didn’t care. I gave a look of disbelief, she giggled. “Okay, okay! I was just joking; of course that Fluttershy can stay. I’m her friend!” she stopped giggling and gestured for us to follow her. The three of us descended downstairs and into the living room, there was Applejack and Whitestar talking about business or some other stuff. We trotted right past them and entered a room at the far end of the living room. There was a simple double bed with sheets and pillows, a nightstand and a lamp, there was also a big mirror at the corner.
“Well this is your room until all that ‘haunted’ stuff is sorted out.” At the ‘haunted’ sentence she rolled her eyes in different directions; it was quite funny, and cute. “Goodnight!” with that she closed the door and left us alone in the room.
“Feel like sleepin’?” I asked, I wasn’t tired myself, I wanted to do something, something to take my mind off this, and I didn’t know what. “I’m bored…”
“Me too…” Fluttershy complimented in a very low voice, as always. I trotted over to the lamp and turned it on, at first it flickered but then it fully turned on a bright yellow color. I jumped on the bed and began to bounce softly, but then stopped. Usually I’d have a mad crowd of ponies chase me through the night, but not today, or ever again.
I haven’t used my wings in a long time; I forced them open, revealing all their cyan glory. I flapped them a couple of times to get the blood to circulate.
Now I was starting to value life, meeting new friends, talking with other ponies, being happy, being bored, all those feelings of a normal everyday life, I didn’t value them while I was being tortured by my own family. But now I do, I have friends to rely on, to help, to be assisted. But in the end, everything has its end, life has death, start has an end, and so on. In a few years I probably would’ve forget about Fluttershy, Twilight, Applejack and Whitestar, every soul takes its own path. But why am I blubbering like an old hag in my own mind? I should enjoy my lifetime, as much as it’s hard. I would probably find a nice mare…or stallion, to be with or something. I don’t know, I’m not a druid to know the future!
I was so lost in my own thought that I hadn’t noticed that Fluttershy had already fallen asleep; she must be tired as hell from all that crying. I gave her a really small peck on the cheek and left the room. Applejack was sitting next to Twilight, playing with some objects; Whitestar was nowhere to be seen.
“Have any of you girls seen Whitestar?” I asked them, they quickly turned all their attention to me, Applejack was the first to respond.
“His nature called.”
Nice to know.
I approached them and saw that Twilight was shape shifting random objects, magic was so awesome, but I’m a stupid Pegasus with these useless wings that I don’t use. I frowned, Applejack noticed that.
“What’s the matter sugarcube?” Sugarcube? What does that even mean? Whatever.
“Bored is all, there’s absolutely NOTHING to do.” I sighed and sat on my rump, “Fluttershy fell asleep, and now I’m ten times bored than before.” I thought of Rainbow Dash for a moment, she had somehow invaded my mind.
“Has anypony seen Rainbow Dash around? She just left like that.” I asked, looking throughout the girls.
“Ah think she left ta go see her parents or somethin’.” Applejack replied, great, another good pony gone. “She also said somethin’ ‘bout you an’ tha train station.” I lit up. I hope that Dash is going to visit me there! I was gleaming with excitement. “Woah, why y’all got so worked up fer it?” Applejack giggled. “Ya like Dash, don’t ya?” I gulped, Dash was a nice pony, fast and strong, but I don’t know if I have something towards her.
“Yeah I like her, as a friend.” I stated, now I felt pretty tired for some reason, is it because somepony is waiting for me? I yawned, “’Kay, I’m goin’ to sleep, g’night everypony.” I waved them off and entered the room again, Fluttershy had shifted herself to the other side of the bed, purposely making space for me, and she’s such a sweet pony. I really didn’t mind sharing a bed with her, what’s the worst that could happen? I covered half of my body under the bedsheets and closed my eyes.
Now for some reason sleep didn’t take me away, I just lay there in the bed for minutes, I couldn’t fall asleep. Those minutes added together made an hour. I opened my eyes and stood up from the bed. I looked behind my back and saw Fluttershy peacefully asleep. I swallowed and choked on my own saliva. Damn.
I stood up and walked to the door, I opened it and saw Whitestar asleep on the cushions, and Applejack was nowhere to be seen. I guess she left. I walked into the kitchen and saw Twilight drinking a glass of water. She put it down and faced me.
“Oh hey Pick. Couldn’t sleep could you?” she asked with a smirk, I nodded slowly. “Well I know that there’s a spell that can make you tired. If you want I could try it.” She suggested I just shrugged.
“Okay, why not?” she touched my forehead with the tip of her horn, and then it lit up in a purple glow. I felt nothing. Twilight withdrew with a smile.
“How do you feel?” she asked, I shook my head a couple of times, I didn’t feel any changes.
“The same.” I replied. Twilight got a look of disappointment.
“What do you mean the same? That spell should make you tired.” She said. I shrugged yet again.
“I don’t know ‘Twi, I feel the same.” I stood there with an awkward smirk. Twilight looked as if I just slapped her across the face. “Somethin’ wrong?”
From out of nowhere some kind of book popped in front of Twilight, she grabbed it with her magic and began reading. After a few seconds, it disappeared with the same pop.
“Looks like you’re resistant to some negative magic, and the sleeping spell is considered negative.” She explained.
“Wow…that’s nice.” I said, “I’ll go for a walk.”
“In the rain?” Twilight asked concerned. I simply nodded and trotted outside. It was pouring, my mane, coat and tail quickly got soaked wet. I don’t know why I did that. I began walking around town; there were ponies with raincoats and hoodies. Some of the stallions were giving me weird looks when I passed by them.
Scratch that, all the stallions were looking at me, creepy. I continued walking until I bumped into a gray colt with a brown mane. He turned around and faced me with his orange eyes.
“Well hello there sexy boy.” He said and wrapped a hoof around my neck, my eyes shot up and my jaw hung loose. “How ‘bout we go back to my place eh?”
Is this guy serious? Taking me for a coltcuddler? He’s just like those ponies back in Phillydelphia, but worse, they wanted to kill me, but THIS one wanted me. No pony around me made a move or a sound; they just stood there, staring at me and the stallion that had a hoof wrapped around me.
I felt something tugging my tail; I turned my head around to see a white stallion nibbling the tip. Then a red stallion came over to my side and started playing with my wings! And then another, and another. There was a whole group of them on me! I was about to scream when suddenly something black and meaty forced its way into my mouth.
I screamed in terror, my whole body was drenched in sweat. I shot up from the bed, and immediately took inspecting of my body, it was all fine, and there wasn’t a single stallion it on. I never had a dream like that, or any sex dreams either. I didn’t remember going to bed either. Oh my gawd…
I looked outside the bedroom window; it was almost dawn, damn that went fast. I sniffed the air, sweat. I smelled like sweat. I can’t stand sweat. I quickly exited the bedroom and found Twilight reading a book. I approached her.
“Hey Twilight, can I take a shower here?” I asked her, she turned to me and smiled.
“Sure, the towels are in the cupboard to your left in the bathroom.” She then turned back to her book. I thanked her and made my way to the bathroom.
I entered and there was a bathtub and a showerhead attached to the wall. I looked to my left and saw a small cupboard; I opened it and inside was different towels with various colors. I closed it and approached the bathtub. I clicked a metallic switch and turned on the hot water tap, along with the cold water to mix it. Water began running out from the showerhead, I tested the water with my hoof and it was a perfect temperature. I stood under the showerhead and let the water run through my female-shaped like body. I seriously needed to get some exercise, and muscles. I wasn’t toned even a bit, like a delicate mare’s body. Plus the rainbow mane and tail. I tried dyeing them, but ended up making them brighter, same with my coat, other colors simply wash off. It was like a curse, but I adapted to my appearance.
Finally the scent of sweat was washed away, I turned the tap and stopped the water, I slowly made my way out of the bath and opened the cupboard, taking out a green towel.
I was wondering what I’ll do in the future; I didn’t have any plans or something. Oh wait, Applejack said a thing about Rainbow Dash and the train station, but which one? Meh, I’ll find out eventually. Whitestar is my new friend, I don’t know about Twilight though, she seems a bit…nerdy, to say the least. Fluttershy is kind and sweet, caring and loving. Whitestar, I don’t know anything personal about him. I’ll figure out.
I finished wiping myself and threw the towel in a nearby basket. I exited through the bathroom’s door and made my way to Twilight who was still reading a book. But there was something green and scaly burping out a letter with a ‘C’ stamp on it. The little scaly thing handed the letter, which I think it was royal to Twilight; she opened it with her magic and began to read.
After seconds, she threw the letter away and gasped so loudly it made my ears ring. Twilight then began galloping around the room like a madmare, picking up suitcases and books and other stuff. She then approached me and planted a small peck on my cheek.
“The princesses need me for a few weeks, I’m leaving the library in your care!” with that she sped off outside with a few suitcases on her back, there was a golden-silver carriage waiting for her outside the library. I just stood there, my face flushed red. I wasn’t expecting that from Twilight. The green little dragon laughed.
“Oh man, you should see the look on your face now!” he laughed even more and shoved a mirror in front of my face; my irises were so tiny I could barely see the magenta color, my cheeks were practically burning red. I shoved it away with my hoof and sat on my haunches. So the library is in my hooves now eh? Right.
“So yeah, who are you anyway? I haven’t seen you around here.” The dragon started, I looked at him. “Oh yeah sorry, my name’s Spike, nice to meet ya bro.” he extended his claw for a shake; I gently took it and shook. “Man your touch is soft.” He pulled away and looked at my hoof. Then he looked back at my muzzle, and then at my flank. “Dude…you need some serious exercise. You look like a mare.” Well that’s a comment I haven’t received in a while, and this little guy had the guts to say it.
“Yeah I know.” I said shamefully and hung my head. He placed his claw under my chin and lifted it up.
“Hey don’t worry bro; at least you look…” he struggled with his words. “Attractive.” Wow, what a compliment. He withdrew his claw and lazily jumped on the couch. I guess he lived with Twilight or something, meh, I couldn’t care less. I decided to check on Whitestar first and then Fluttershy. I slowly trotted up to Whitestar, he was sleeping like a foal; his mouth hung open, tongue over lips and saliva dripping out, his hooves were sticking up in the air. That was a funny sight. I chuckled and made by way to the guest room. Fluttershy had placed her hooves on the window pane, her eyes darting off into the morning distance.
“Hey Fluttershy!”
She eeped and flew into the bed sheets, I giggled and uncovered the trembling Pegasus.
“You get scared easily ‘Shy.”
She looked up at me and grinned sheepishly. She jumped out of the bed and faced me.
“So ‘Shy, would you like to go with me to the train station?” I offered and she then frowned.
“Oh sorry Pick! I have to pick Angel up from the cottage, he must be scared to death by that stupid ghost in there!” at the last sentence, the floorboards above us creaked. I shrugged it off.
“You’re going there all by yourself? Isn’t that a bit…narrowly thought?” I was a bit concerned about Fluttershy going back to that haunted cottage, seems stupid and unplanned.
“Oh no, the cottage goes back to normal at daylight, so there’s nothing to worry about, it’s safe.” She reassured me, “Sorry but I can’t go to the train station with you…if…you don’t mind…” she hid her eyes behind her pink mane.
“Oh I don’t mind, I’ll go on my own then.” I walked out of the guest bedroom and into the living room, where Whitestar was still sleeping like a foal; I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t a cute sight. I walked out of the library and was quickly greeted by a grey Pegasus mare, her eyes were all looking into different directions, but I got the feeling that she directed that gaze on me, she was smiling too.
“I brought you a letter!” she ruffled in her shoulder bag and took out a small envelope; she handed it to me and flew off. I opened the envelope and read.
Dear Rainbow Pick
I insist that you take the train to a place called Aydin, this letter will arrive on time, meaning that you should make your way to the train station now. A train will come with a “Combine” writing engraved into it. I will directly meet you when you get off. Oh and one more thing, don’t take any stuff with you, it will slow you down. Also don’t keep me waiting; I’m not the waiting type pony.
Yours sincerely, Rainbow Dash
PS: Oh yeah, one more thing you should know. You need some exercise. You look like mare.
I swear that Rainbow Dash had laughed at the PS part, why do ponies keep making remarks about my body? Whatever. I threw the letter in a nearby bin and walked into Ponyville. I asked a red stallion who was carrying loads of apples for directions. He pointed south, I thanked him and walked the pointed out direction.
Did I just agree on taking a train to another town? Yep, I did. But wait, how am I going to pay for the trip? Darn, never mind, I’ll try my luck.
I was in front of a building, and a rail track behind it. I entered and trotted up to the ticket thingy pony. It was a brown mare, with a golden mane and blue strips along it. She asked me for my name.
“Rainbow Pick.”
She smiled and pointed me to the boarding platform; I was confused but complied anyway. I went to the platform and sat on a wooden bench, waiting for the train to arrive.
There weren’t many ponies on the platform, just me and two buff stallions, one red the other blue, talking to each other about lifting weights, and the brown mare with a black mane and a purple musical note who sat beside me. She had a cello case on her back, it seemed heavy but the mare didn’t show any exhaustion.
“So you’re waiting for the Combine train?” she began a conversation with a very thick Britannic accent. I looked at her.
“Yeah, I am.” I answered.
“So am I.” she then broke eye contact.
I leaned my head back to rest it on the wall, and then I heard a screech. I lifted my head up and focused on the incoming train which was pulled by four, buff strong stallions, darn I was jelly. As the train stopped and I got up from the bench and boarded it. As I entered and turned to the right, there was a long hallway of closed sliding doors. I didn’t expect this. A mare with a blue uniform and a hat approached me and pointed to a door numbered ‘12’. I nodded and slid it open. There were two single beds on each side, and a coffee table between them, also a window above the table. Was I going to have a companion for the trip? As on line, the same brown mare from the bench earlier stood beside me and sighed. I eeped and jumped away from her, she chuckled.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” She made her way inside and leaned the cello case against the right wall.
“Guess we’re trip mates for now.” She smirked.
I made my way to the left side bed and sat my rump on it. I guess the trip will take a few hours or so. I’ve never been to Aydin or whatever the town or village was named. I seriously didn’t have good memory for things.
I felt the train pull harshly, and accidently the brown mare fell in my lap, but I caught her on time before she slammed in my stomach. She looked up at me and smiled awkwardly.
“Sorry…”
“Don’t fret it Miss…”
“Octavia.”
“Nice to meet ya Miss Octavia, I’m Rainbow Pick.” I released her and she sat beside me.
“Please, just call me Octy.”
Octy, sounds like octopus. Wow. What a name.
“So you’re headed for Aydin?” she asked, I snapped out of my thought and faced her.
"Yeah that’s right, one of my friends invited me there, never been there though.”
She stood up and trotted over to her bed. We sat there in silence, facing each other but without making any eye contact.
Time goes fast, I thought.
“Bored?” Octy asked I didn’t bother looking and only nodded in response; she didn’t say anything else but simply lay down on the bed, her back towards me. I lay on my back, hooves sticking up in the air. I was bored yet again.
After a few minutes of lying on my back, I soon build up bladder levels. I stood up from the bed and made my way to the door; I slid it open and encountered the same brown mare from before.
“Excuse me, can you tell me where the restroom is?” I asked politely, one thing I learned that that you should to be polite to strangers, or you’ll get stabbed in the face. The young brown mare smiled and pointed down at the end of the trailer, I thanked her and trotted up to a door that had a ‘WC’ on it and a stallion shaped pony. I went inside and did my business.
After I flushed the toilet I heard some hisses and moans, I creaked open the stall door. The sight in front of me gave me a chill down the spinal cord. Two stallions were making out. The green one had pinned the red one against the wall, kissing and nibbling his neck. I covered my mouth with my hoof and slowly closed the stall door, when did they come in? Guess I should wait out till they’re done with their…session. Ugh, disgusting.
I wasn’t a colt cuddler myself, I didn’t even think of kissing another colt until now, and what would it feel like? I haven’t even kissed a mare yet.
The two colts finally finished their private session and trotted out of the restroom, leaving me alone. I sighed in relief and opened the stall door once again, I made my way to the sink and turned on the tap, I let the water wet my hooves, to wash the bacteria or whatever, and then I turned the tap off and trotted outside.
The brown mare with the blue suit was sitting on a chair, writing on a clipboard, the pencil in her mouth, she then looked at me again, how did she knew that I was there, and winked her right eye.
“Death…”
I heard that from nowhere, I looked at the mare, she was still smiling with the pencil in her mouth, and I shook my head.
It was really faint, barely audible, maybe I’m just hearing things. Or maybe it’s just the ghost that was supposed to haunt me? Either way, I defiantly heard that.
I made my way to my designated room; Octavia was already asleep, in daylight? I guess she’s a heavy sleeper, seeming how she’s not awakened by the train’s bumps. I safely closed the door and bolt shut it, then I turned a metal thing that slid in and locked the door in several places, I didn’t want anypony intruding in our room.
I sat down on the bed and reached out on the table for a newspaper, it was Pony Times, newspaper that gives the latest news and whatnot, the first thing that caught my pony eye.
GRYPHON ATTACK ON THE PRINCESSES WAS A FAILURE AFTER TWO YEARS OF PLANNING
Five gryphons, unknown names, attempted at assassinating the royal princesses, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, thankfully their assault was a failure. They were stopped on the way by a guardspony named Auduwin Checkstar. He was proudly rewarded.
Damn, I didn’t think that anygryphon would be THAT stupid, I mean trying to kill the Princesses? Stupid thick brains they had.
I turned to the other page, another interesting story.
BULGARY ON SUGARCUBE CORNER STORE
Mr. and Mrs. Cake were the victims of a burglary that happened on October 13th, every piece of cooking equipment was stole, therefore they had to close shop, and poor Ms. Pinkamena Diane Pie had to leave Ponyville, reasons were not given, but reports give that she had to leave her best friends behind. No further details given or shown.
Wait, Pinkie Pie? Oh Celestia, she had to leave Ponyville? Where was she going to go?
The next page made my blood run cold.
SERIAL KILLER ON LOOSE IN PONYVILLE
Twenty five deaths were reported on Friday the 13th, many famous ponies had lost their lives in this killing spree, and many had scars on their bodies. The killer hasn’t been brought to light yet, but Ponyville’s best investigator, leader of them was Twilight Sparkle, are trying their best. Rumors had it that they even get support from Canterlot in their search for the killer.
I turned to the next page.
RIOTS IN MANEHATTEN FOR NO EXPLAINED REASON
The citizens of South Manehatten are rioting, breaking into shops and hurting ponies on the way. There hasn’t been a reason, but local police force is working to get an answer. No casualties, yet.
I threw the newspaper away, who wants to give bad news to ponies? These news are not bad, they’re bucking crazy! Assassinations, poor Pinkie had to leave her home and friends, bucking serial killer, and riots! It’s like the world is going upside down.
Then on a bad queue, some voices came from the other side of the door.
“You sure he’s in there?”
“Yeah hon, I’m pretty sure.”
The second voice sounded like a mare’s, I couldn’t recognize them, but it made my stomach twist. They knocked; I stood up and hesitantly unlocked and opened the door. There were standing, a yellow mare with a light blue mane, green eyes and a rose for a cutie mark, and a deep orange stallion with a white and red mane, cutie mark of a howling wolf. The stallion opened his mouth; a fresh scent of mint came his mouth.
“Hello, Pickie son.”
Authors Note: Sorry for the chapters, I moved houses and didn’t have any internet for a few weeks. Oh and sorry for the short chapters, future chapters will be 1500+ words. Thank you guys for your support! I still regret about cancelling this before. But now everything’s back to normal and this story continues! :L . Also…I took an arrow in the knee…And yes those were Pick’s parents.
