Author's Note

Tonight is the harvest Moon, so you'll get an extra chapter this week. :3

You.

You.

It's been exactly 5 days since the group ventured out. It was constant walking, for those days, with little time for breaks and the annual lectures from Council member Picpuck. Pixie was exhausted, his bones felt like mush and cursed him for every step he dared to take. No matter how many piggy back rides Papa provided didn't take away the lingering soreness. They walked past checkpoint 10. Fear entered Pixie’s heart at the idea of not losing his relief for the day. A constant turning as he watched checkpoint 10 get further and further away. They all stood at a hill that dove down steeply. There was a house, there not abandoned like those with skeletons as decorations. This home was warm like the richness in the wood that it was made from. Picpuck glided to the front of the group, a growing habit that meant she was about to speak.

“This is the Blue-Flame Trading company,” she said, “get used to their looks you'll see them a lot,”

Pixie didn't hear her after that. He was too focused on the ponies looking back up at them. Especially Jack Daniels, who smiled back and waved. It took everything in him not to roll down that hill and wrapped him in his arms again, but a wave back will do for now. Then they finally started to walk back to checkpoint 10. Papa seemed to read Pixie's quiet Yearning.

“Later,” He promised,

Later, it was. Energy revived the foal's dead legs, as he was hopping around the quarters he was sharing with his father. Most of the words that spilled from his mouth didn't make sense, simply talking out of a need to get out energy. Papa was fine listening to the splurge of nonsense. Silver began to walk out, beckoning Pixie to follow. His teeth pushed together as he squealed, skipping between the older stallions legs, like how Pickles would weave to ask for pets. The pair walked down the steep hill. Pixie used Silver as leverage in order not to trip on the loose sand. It was like the floor was moving right from under him, trying to send them forward. Yet Papa was so adapted to it, he walked on it easier than the floor at home, appreciating the extra cushion for his hooves.

Finally they were on the wooden porch, and Silver held his hoof up to knock on the door. Butch came to the door, looking confused for a moment as Papa stood silently, looking down at his Son then back to Bloody Butcher. The old horse pressed his lips together before laughing out and opening the door for Pixie to come inside.

“Jack’s in the kitchen helping Daisy clean the dishes, we just finished dinner,” said Butch, motioning towards a hall,

Pixie was quiet. The many smells in the house filled the child’s lungs. He was still, that budding excitement frozen as he looked up at Silver for permission. With a nod, he walked inside. The floor was creaky, walls small and a bit cramped. Still, it was fuzzy, with the lovingly placed decorations scattered here and there. He moved past the dining room table into a narrow kitchen. Jack was on a stool placing dish by dish into a rack, as he looked over at Pixie. Strange, wasn't that what mares are supposed to do? He didn't have time to think about it until wet hooves were linked around him, Pixie returned the hug. His wide grin returned, when he reopened his eyes and let go of Jack, he saw Daisy May putting away certain spices.

“I just need to finish the dishes then we can go,” Jack took Pixie's attention again,

“No you don't,” Daisy May said,

“I don't?”

“Nope, you boys have fun,” she smiled, taking over where Jack left off.

Jack returned that smile, “Thanks Ma,”

Jack led Pixie around his home, introducing him to his sibling, then running out of the house with little object from the other foal.

“Where are we going?” asked Pixie

“The park-”

“With no pony with us?”

“Why would we need a pony with us to go to the park?”

“The monsters?”

“ehhh we'll be fine,”

That wasn't concerning, “What's a park?”

Jack doubled back a look at Pixie before releasing yeah, there weren't any parks at his village, “it's like- well you'll see, okay?”

They went to a rusty old weird… honestly he had no idea what exactly he was looking at, apparently this was a park. Jack began to climb one of the weird metal structures, offering a hoof to Pixie to join him. The smaller colt sat him down on this ramp thing, and before Pixie could ask what this was, Jack placed his hooves on Pixie's back and pushed. Pixie yelled, his dad’s hat falling from his head and to the ground. His lungs got quieter, with the slow stop of the ramp. What was that.

Jack started to cackle, “it's just a slide Pixie!”

“Again!”

“Then come up!”

They spent most of their time taking turns going down this old slide, giggling and cackling. When that got bored they climbed on the gym, in ways it wasn't intended to be used. The light from the day hushed down, as the moon once again made her appearance. Pixie laid on a patch of dirt, panting, as his eyes finally started to connect all of Selene's stories embroidered in that deep backdrop, in nothingness. Those stars twinkles back down at the two, easing the child's breathing to settle like the spilled milky way. Jack walked up and laid next to him, his head by his. Their chatting evaporated up into the scattered clouds in the sky.

“I really hope my part won't be in mining,” Pixie broke the Silence,

“Well even if it is, at least we can see each other, even if we can't talk,”

“You knew?”

“I figured, the only ones that can talk to my parents are in that group your sister is in, it's gets a bit awkward, walkin up here”

“Heh, yeah?”

“Heh… yeah…”

“Hey Jackie…”

“Yeah Dusty?”

“...You shouldn't count as an outsider, you… you are so- spark like- you sparkle,”

“I sparkle?” Jack moved up to eye him, giggling slightly,

“Yeah! And… You're… Jack Daniels, you see monsters, and big metal birds- you're brave, and strong, and you can be kinda scary- but you sparkle, Jack, like Selene's stars. You sparkle, like the most perfect-est sparkler, but you won't ever burn out because- well… You're Jackie, and you're the best… to me at least, and that doesn't mean much- but.”

“You're rambling,”

“Sorry! I just… If it means my soul will forever be in damnation… a hell with you is better than a heaven without.”

…Jack didn't speak.

They didn't need to, only the comfort of the other in the deep depths of the darkening sky.

…

Pixie set his father's old hat onto Jack's head; his hoof traced the brim so he could pull it down to cover Jack’s eyes. The other protested with a, “hey!” As he pushed the hat back up to see Pixie sticking out his tongue. Jack's face became serious, placing all fours onto the floor, looming over the other Colt.

“Wait! Wait! Wh-” Pixie quickly rolled over to try and stand, but he was squished into the dirt like a bug.

His laughs filled the open space, shaking like rumbles through his body. Wheezing in heaps trying to catch on to air that never stayed around for the two. He clawed ravines in the dirt before he was finally given mercy by Jack; he paid enough for his crimes. Pixie however, never learns. When Jack rolled off, Pixie nudged the other, who took the challenge to push back, ping ponging as the two pushes became lazier. Until it was nothing more than gentle boops on the others coats. Pixie shook the remaining dirt from his face, finding his bones wishful for rest, as he eyes dragged with his forehoof. Jack’s head was pivoted up into that abyss above them. That expression on that boy's face unyielding in the speckled pinhole lights that streaked across their shared sky. The blues melting into purples and hazy pinks, freckles that glimmered only adding to the fact that Pixie was right. Maybe it was the fact that the nearest star was besides him, that made Jack so bright, or maybe Jack would one day be the brightest star in that deep sky.

Patiently Pixie waited as Jack stared at his heavenly reflection, hoping he could catch those eyes when he came back down. Yet the only thing that fell was a sprinkle of water from the corner of Jack’s eyes. Immediately Jack shields away his expression.

“Jackie?”

“Yeah?”

“...Are you okay?”

“Y-yeah!” Jack forced a laugh, “I was trying to hold it in until I got home-”

“Did… I say something wrong?”

“What?” Jack's head shot back at him, “No, Pixie-”

Pixie set his hoof on the other's shoulder, hesitating before becoming firm. A part of him doubted he would be able to do good here. Jack was always better at making frowns and tears turned into flutters of giggles. Past experiences with Mama, where Pixie always made her heart pain ache more, gave shyness into the boy’s movements. Yet there was something that wouldn't let himself give up. The other half expected Jack to scold him, push him away, but Jack did not. Snot fell from his nose as he did his best to sniff it back up. Red covered his now puffy eyes and more tears trickled down his cheeks. Jack breathed in, controlling his hitched breathing to be smooth,

“Are you okay?” Pixie said beneath the quieting sobs,

“...yeah, I'm really happy- really, really, happy,” Jack assured, “I just- I'm sorry- I don't wanna worry you-”

“It's okay- worrying about you- is what I want to do.” Pixie assured, “Why-... Why are you crying?”

“I-”

Pixie watched as the boy fought to get it out. Jack's mouth opened, to then grit his teeth, Pixie could feel the other trimble against his touch. The foal moved in to wrap his arms around his neck, his ears pointed at the other, trying not to rush the other's answer.

“I don't know?” Jack admitted his voice crass, “I'm really happy, it's been a lot of fun- I, I- don't know why I'm being such a baby-”

“You’re not a baby,”

“I feel like one,”

The little unicorn squeezed his grasp on his friend. It was always hard arguing with Jack especially when he had his mind made up. It didn't mean he was any less wrong. Jack continued to cry, doing his best to muffle it. There searched for something to say yet words countied to fail him. Dad was right, you can't survive off of pretty words, and pretty words don't make everything better. So, he held him. As tight as he could, trying to take away those bad voices that haunted his brave friend. Even when Jack settled into his fur; when there was nothing but the sound of the rusty roundabout blowing in the wind, crickets and Jack's sniffled breathing. Pixie didn't let go.

Jack waited a second more before he spoke out, “It's late-”

“...yeah.”

“We better get back ‘for our parents gets mad,”

Pixie gave him one last squeeze before letting go.

Jack began to take off the hat Pixie placed on him, handing it to the other. Pixie's smile returned, softer this time as he placed it back on the other.

“Keep it,” Pixie said, “It fits you- like, it's too big, but it fits you ya know?”

Jack giggled sniffling one last time, “yeah, I know.”

The two threaded back in the heavy sand after that. Jack gave Pixie one last big hug before walking inside of his small cozy home. Pixie took a few steps back, feeling the eyes of the moon on his haunches as he recounted what happened like a vivid movie. That was their day. He couldn't tell what would happen, how many times they would shed tears caused by Flint, fear, or something other. All he knew is that he would have Jack, and Jack would have him. That small fact got the scary shadows of the night to crawl away, and all those haunted thoughts be set at ease. A droplet of worry stayed with him, a bittersweet taste that left the colt thinking about his friend. Yet that would be only of his many duties, even if it would never be officially said by his role to play. It was his favorite one.

Once back to checkpoint 10, Papa was there, by those pretty marbled doors. He jumped when he awoke to the other tapping his knee. Was he sleeping while standing? Pixie yawned, his eyes too heavy to care. Papa swept Pixie up in his arm, holding the colt close to his neck. Pixie nestled close, feeling his father's warmth beneath his scared garb.

“Did you have fun?” Papa asked,

Pixie only hummed, grumbling slightly as sleep’s grip tightened on him. Papa went into the roaring building, his foal didn't make it to bed before he fell asleep.