Preordained

The world was a cruel, uncaring place, there were no such things as fairy tales, and life was always a struggle - three lessons Leech had known for as long as she could remember. She’d never known who her parents were, nor why they’d left her at an orphanage, but those things didn’t matter - not when she had bigger, more pressing matters to worry about. As the wind blew through her shaggy, unkempt mane, she hunkered down behind a trash can and put herself to work.

Living on the streets was hard, yet the freedom it afforded was better than being under the callous hoof of where she’d grown up. Most of the ponies running the orphanage couldn’t care less about the fillies and colts under their care, viewing the foals as little more than a burden, so she’d decided to leave. If she wasn’t wanted in her home, the same home her parents had abandoned her to, she’d find somewhere that she truly belonged.

She aimlessly drifted from street to street, then from town to town, suffering hardships she hadn’t thought possible - still, in spite of it all, she took joy from even the smallest things. A warm breeze across her coat, a half-finished meal left outside a restaurant, or the chance to play with foals her age at a park - each and every one bolstered her resolve and brightened her spirits to impossible heights. With each month she spent on the road, learning from fellow vagabonds and kindly passersby, she grew and adapted, yet one of her biggest hurdles was still ahead of her.

Having left the orphanage in early spring, waiting until the chill of winter had subsided, the beginning of her journey had been easy, pleasant even, though that was going to an end. Each passing day got cooler, the leaves began to turn, and autumn was fast approaching, marking an end to tranquil, welcoming nights under a star-filled sky. Young and relatively naive though she was, she realized she would need to prepare for the upcoming winter months.

Glancing to her left and right, up and down the bustling boulevard, she seated against the nameless building’s wall, grabbed a discarded cup from behind herself, and got comfortable. Begging was simply a part of life for her, though this wasn’t simply to get a meal or tasty snack. Even though she’d found the perfect place to hunker down through winter, the underpass of a bridge just outside of town, she knew she was going to need supplies.

Levitating and invitingly waving the cup at the ponies that trotted by, she met their judging eyes with a hopeful smile. As far as she was concerned, the business district was the perfect place for her to linger; packed with restaurants, shops, and even a hoofful of banks, the area was abuzz with activity from sunup to sundown - that said, it came with a number of risks. On more than one occasion, the royal guards had been called to shoo her away, prompted by some callous soul, yet she was undeterred.

For three hours - three long hours, she sat and held onto her hopes that she’d raise enough to afford a warm sweater or possibly coat from a thrift store, but things weren’t looking too good. As the sun rolled overhead, feeling and hearing her stomach grumble, her optimism began to wane. Regardless of how many bits she ended up getting, if she got any bits at all, she’d need to find something to eat sooner or later.

Try as she might, even having penned a sign for herself using one of her precious few crayons, she’d only managed to get two bits by that afternoon. As her cheer began to fade, moments from deciding to pack up and move to a different location, the most unexpected thing happened. Looking up, past the stallions and mares who came and went, she spotted a colt.

With a crimson mane and creamy coat, nibbling on a freshly baked roll, he studied her as he trotted alongside his mother. It wasn’t the fact that he was well-fed or cared for that caught her interest - it was that instead of looking at her with disdain, he gazed upon her with pity. Giving him a smile and a wave, the only things she could give him, she watched him stop dead in his tracks, turn to face her, and trot in her direction.

“Uh -” he uneasily began, brushing a lock of hair away from his face, “hi.”

“Hi,” she replied, her smile growing.

An awkward silence fell over them, as they inspected one another. Though they had much in common, being roughly the same age, they were from different worlds entirely - nevertheless, curiosity seized them. The dirty little filly, her mane a mess, stared at the bashful, inquisitive colt, while he slowly cocked his head to the side and peeked down at her hoof-written sign.

Scrunching his nose, he offered his hoof and the bun he held. “You want a bite?”

“If…if it’s ok,” she hastily replied, her hunger getting the better of her.

As she extended a foreleg, her mouth watering from the sight of the warm bread, an angry muttering caught her ear. Faster than she could react, his mother marched up and snatched him away. It was something she’d grown all too accustomed to, watching parents ferry their children away, yet it never seemed to lose its sting. Seeing him dragged off, listening to the mare berating him about talking to vagrants, she doggedly held her smile until he looked away from her.

This was simply how things were. No matter how harmless or kind she was, there would always be those who viewed her contempt. With a heavy sigh, telling herself that things would get better, she lifted and shook her little cup. She’d manage to get by, she always seemed to, and there’d be plenty of chances to meet somepony who would show her a bit of compassion.

Unfortunately for her, try as she might, her day was eventually squandered. By the time the sun was dipping toward the horizon, she was cold, famished, and had only three measly bits to her name. As tempted as she was to spend her meager funds on a decent meal, she knew better. A full belly would last her a few hours at best, but clothing would be far more valuable.

While she got to her hooves and neatly folded her sign, keeping it in the hopes of using it again tomorrow, an odd sound drew her attention down the sidewalk - the noise of hooves on concrete. Glancing over, fully expecting to find some business pony rushing by, her eyes widened. A colt, the very colt she’d met earlier that day, was scampering straight toward her with a paper bag in his mouth.

She held her ground and waited, unsure of what he wanted or where his intentions lay, until he came to a halt and panted before her. Aside from the mysterious parcel he carried, he had a small blanket tied around his neck, not unlike a makeshift cape. As she offered him a wave and a cautious smile, he plucked the bag from his muzzle and panted.

“H…hi,” he wheezed, wiping sweat from his brow.

Unable to control herself, she giggled. “Hi.”

“You - um - you want to sit?” he asked, glancing from the spot she’d occupied to her face.

She nodded and stepped aside, making some room for him as she eased herself back to her haunches. It was only then that she noticed he was alone - his mother absent. Looking over at him, while he seated himself beside her, she quirked a brow. “Where’s your mom?”

“Who? Oh!” he blurted, snickering to himself. “That was my aunt! She lives right down the road!” he explained, shifting and pointing down the street. “I’m staying with her for the week. Here…”

Fiddling with his improvised cloak, he untied the fabric, shuffled closer to her, and draped it around the both of them. The comfort the blanket afforded, warmed by his body, was like a gift from heaven, but the generous little colt wasn’t done. As she sat mute, he sat the paper bag down, opened it, and retrieved a small loaf of bread.

“I lost it,” he stated, carefully splitting the loaf in half. “Aunt Mayberry won’t get too mad if it was a mistake - besides, you look chilly.”

Realization dawned on her, and her heart swelled. Though he didn’t know her in the slightest, he’d risked getting scolded for a perfect stranger. Staring down at the blanket, she felt torn. On one hoof, having something to keep her warm would be a blessing - on the other, the last thing she wanted was for him to get in trouble. Apparently sensing her unease, he shook his head

“Sorry about earlier,” he added, passing her the first bit of food she’d had her hooves on all day.

“Sorry for what?” she countered. “You didn’t do anything.”

Holding up a hoof, he chewed and swallowed a mouthful of bread. “I know, but my aunt said I’m not supposed to talk to ponies on the street, even if they’re foals.”

Leech nodded, reminded that her freedom came at a price. “That’s probably smart.”

Though she truly did wish to chat, the wonderful smell of the bread proved to be too much to bear. First she took one small bite, then another, until she was merrily feasting away beside him. The taste was incredible, fresh and still just a touch warm, and the crispy crust was absolutely amazing. Hearing him give a lighthearted snicker, she felt a tightness in her chest.

“Is it good?” he inquired, keenly watching her.

She nodded and swallowed, having to restrain herself from taking another bite. “It’s really good.”

“I helped make it at my uncle’s bakery,” he proudly stated, holding a hoof to his chest. “Are you gonna be here tomorrow?”

Unsure of how to answer, she paused. She’d actually planned on moving to another spot in the morning, since she’d made next to nothing that day, yet his question piqued her interest. Having given the matter a moment’s thought, she nodded yet again. “I can be ~ why?”

“Because I help with deliveries in the morning. If you’re here, I can probably sneak you a muffin or two,” he responded, playfully elbowing her side.

His selflessness rocked her to her core. She looked away, tears forming in her eyes, as a lump formed in her throat. Just like that, the tone of her entire day had turned on a dime. As he leaned against her, continuing to munch away at his snack, she kept her hooves crossed that he wouldn’t see her cry.

Silent minutes passed while they ate, before he glanced to the setting sun and got to his hooves. “I should probably head back.”

Guilt wracked her, as she pulled the blanket from around her shoulders and held it out to him. “Don’t forget this…”

“Nope,” he tutted, pushing her hoof back, “it’s for you! Wrap up and stay warm ~ okay?”

“O…okay,” she muttered, unable to meet his gaze.

His smile never wavered, as he reached out with a forehoof. “You promise you’ll be here tomorrow?”

Tapping her hoof to his, after wiping her cheek, she sniffled and grinned. “I promise.”

And with that, he turned away and departed, dashing back in the direction of his aunt’s home. As disheartening as it was to see him leave, he’d given her something more than a blanket and a meal - he’d given her a tender moment she wouldn’t soon forget. Pulling the blanket around herself, with what was carrying what was left of her bread and the sign she’d made, she trotted towards a nearby alleyway.

There was no guarantee she’d see him again, yet she clung to what he’d said, that he’d visit her in the morning, but therein lay a problem. Her camp was set up outside of town, nearly an hour’s walk away, which would make getting up and making the journey back an arduous one. As she entered the narrow backstreet, scanning the area, she found just what she’d been hoping to find.

Sleeping in boxes was nothing new for her, so finding an empty cardboard crate was perfect. Seeing as how she’d rather not leave town only to hike back in the morning, she did what she always did under such circumstances - she got resourceful. Shifting what would be her home for the night, turning its opening toward the wall and away from the wind, she scurried inside, laid down, and pulled the blanket close.

As she finished off her bread, her mind wandered off to the friendly little colt who’d come back to visit her. She couldn’t help but wonder who he was, where he was from, or what he was doing at that very moment. Though it wasn’t exceptionally uncommon to meet fillies or colts her age, it was rare for her to actually get to know them. Remembering his soft features and broad shoulders, smelling him on the blanket he’d given her, she made a mental note to ask him something important in the morning, something she’d completely forgotten about until that moment.

Between her meager meal and the long day of panhandling, it wasn’t long before her eyelids grew heavy. Sheltered from the breeze, warmed by the blanket, and with a smile on her lips, her excitement gave way to exhaustion. She had no way of knowing exactly when her newfound friend would be coming by, but she was going to make sure she would be waiting for him. More content than she’d been in a long while, having something to look forward to, she drifted off to sleep.

…

A sudden noise shook her awake, wrenching her back to the conscious world. Holding her breath, grappling with the confusion of being shaken from her sleep, she remained still and listened. There were perils to camping out in or out of a city, but there was a reason she preferred the solitude of being away from the hustle and bustle. Without any warning whatsoever, her box was sent tumbling and collapsed.

Her startled yelp was reflexive, borne of fear and shock, as she scrambled out of her cardboard shelter - a move she quickly came to regret. With the blanket over her shoulders, she froze when she noticed two large, ominous silhouettes backlit by the street behind them. She couldn’t say who they were, what they wanted, or why they’d come into the alley, but the wolfish grin that crept across their muzzles made her blood run cold.

“Told you I saw some runt skulking around here,” one grunted, stepping forward to loom over her.

The second figure stood motionless, staring at her with a sneer on his lips. “What’re you doin’ back here? You waiting to break into my shop?”

“N…no!” Leech stammered, her heart starting to race. “I w…was just waiting for my friend! He’ll be here in the - “

“Ew!” the first retched, taking a step back and waving his forehoof in front of his nose. “She stinks!”

Her brow furrowed, anger mingling with her fear, as she glared up at him. “I do not!”

“Yeah right you don’t,” the second chuckled, walking over to join his companion. “Trash like you always stinks. If you want to sleep somewhere, there’s a dump on the other side of the city.”

She’d heard it before, the cruelty of those who didn’t understand, hadn’t ever gone without, but it still hurt. Taking a step back, she glanced over her shoulder and down the corridor. Though she had no way of knowing if she’d be able to get away, unfamiliar with the labyrinthine backstreets in that area, she’d rather risk running from them than trying to run by them, if things took a turn.

“Please,” she murmured, “I’ll go. My friend is going to come see me in the morning, so I didn’t want to keep him waiting.”

“Friend - Hah! Trash like you ain’t got friends,” one heartlessly laughed, inching closer to her. The moment he was within reach, he ripped the blanket from off her shoulders. “You steal this?”

“She probably did,” the other brute growled. “It’s too nice and way too clean for a ragamuffin like her to have just found it.”

Swallowing hard, her eyes never leaving the blanket, she summoned her courage. “He gave it to me.”

“He? He who? This friend of yours?” the lead stallion scoffed.

“Y…yeah,” she sputtered, glaring up at him.

“If he’s your friend, what’s his name?” the pony scoffed, his companion snickering to himself.

Leech opened her mouth to reply, yet she didn’t make a sound. The one thing she regretted not asking the colt, having been too preoccupied at the time to think of it, had put her on the spot. If she hadn’t been so hungry earlier, she wouldn’t be in this mess - sadly, that wasn’t the case. Struggling to think of something - anything to say, she could only watch helplessly as her blanket was ripped in half.

“Get out of here, trash…” the pony growled, magically lifting a bag of rubbish from atop a nearby dumpster.

The breath hitched in her throat, tears flowed down her cheeks, and she was assailed by a sorrow and rage like she’d never known, as she stared down at the tattered fabric at the stallion’s hooves. Her instincts screamed at her to run, to turn tail and get away, but she didn’t - couldn’t. The blanket was more than just cloth, more than simply something to keep her warm - it had given her something to look forward to.

She stumbled to the side, stuck by a bag of garbage, before she turned and sprinted away. There was nothing else she could do, so she ran - she ran as hard and as fast as her little legs could carry her. The bitter laughter from behind her rang in her ears, echoing off the buildings surrounding her, as panic gripped her.

Rounding a corner and nearly tumbling into a road, she got her bearings and fled in the direction of her refuge. She didn’t know why the two had decided to pick on her, but that was of no consequence; they’d made their intentions known, destroyed something she held dear, and there was a very real chance they’d be on the lookout for her if she tried to return. The imposing buildings around her gave way to suburbs, then thinning into fields, before she felt even remotely safe.

As she skidded down an embankment leading to a small stream, she shifted and hurried beneath the old cobblestone bridge that had been her sanctuary for nearly the last week. There was no way she’d been followed, having gone so far as to glance behind herself at several points throughout her flight, yet that only gave the smallest amount of comfort. With her lungs burning and heart pounding in her chest, she crawled under a lean-to of palates she’d made for herself, buried her face in her hooves, and wept.

She didn’t cry because her legs hurt, or because of the scrapes on her cheek and shoulder, or even because she’d lost her blanket - she cried because she realized she’d never see the colt again. Going back and waiting for him would be beyond foolish, even if the pitiless stallions hadn’t called the royal guard on her, so there was no way she’d be able to keep her promise. In that moment, what little food she had and the shelter over her head gave her no solace.

If she’d only taken a second to ask him his name or learn something about him, she may have been able to find him, but she hadn’t; she’d only cared about filling her belly and savoring his company. Curling up on the cold, unfeeling ground, having only the sounds of her sniffing and whimpering to keep her company, she prayed. She didn’t wish for riches, a mansion, or as much food as she could ever want - she simply wished to find somewhere that she belonged.

As her tears ran dry, she fixated on a life she could eventually have. A home, a loving husband to look after her, and even a foal of her own, as improbable as they all were, would bring her joy each and every single day. It didn’t matter that the chances of her even having such things was low - the only thing that mattered, especially in trying times, was that they gave her hope and something to strive for.

Tired, aching, and exhausted though she was, wanting nothing more than to sleep, there was something important she needed to do. Hobbling out from beneath the bridge, she peered up at the cloudless night sky, drew a breath, and slowly exhaled. Undoubtedly safe and comfortable in his bed, he’d have no way to hear her - nevertheless, she cleared her throat and gazed at the stars.

“I’m sorry I won’t be there,” she breathed, forcing herself to smile. “Just promise me you won’t be mad…”

She knew it was silly, but apologizing to the nameless colt made her feel the slightest bit better. Turning and trotting back to her shelter, passing by the bindle which held her few belongings, she told herself that everything was going to be alright. The sun would wake her in the morning, she had a granola bar stashed in with her things, and there was always a chance that her luck would change for the better.

Of all the things she’d learned from being on her own, having experienced some of the best and some of the worst that ponykind had to offer, there was one lesson that stood out among the rest - don’t ever give up. If she chose to surrender to life, she’d never have anything - nothing to eat, nowhere to sleep, and she definitely wouldn’t find that special somepony who was out there waiting for her. She knew - knew that she’d find her place in the world, somewhere that held true happiness, and she was going to keep pushing herself until she found it.