Veil

I coughed and the pain in my chest pierced me.

The pain was nearly unbearable.

But I knew I was outside in the dark. With my guitar leant up against the log with me. I pulled the strap over my head cautiously; afraid to make it collide with my injury. I began to rifle through my pockets; I still had everything that I had prepared before the pills.

Jesus Christ; I have no idea where I am. I might not even be in Equestria; who knows? I certainly don’t. I put one leg back and began to lift myself off the ground. The pain came again.

“GAAH!” I stumbled back to the ground; landing on top of my guitar. It made a violent sound, but I knew my guitar would handle it; it has been through worse things than I have.

I need to get up; need to find somebody or somepony.

I need to get up.

I pushed through the pain and stood on my two feet. I examined the guitar, just in case. Nothing wrong with it but a few scratches and scrapes; it would live on.

My left hand found its way into my left pocket and I pulled out two guitar picks; one green, and one red.

The red ones are thinner; better for quiet strumming.

I put away the thick green pick and began to quietly play as I went along; blind in the darkness of the night. Simple chords: D, A, E minor, G and repeat in a time of 3,4. It is a crude progression, but simple and easy to improvise over; which is the only thing I’m really good at doing.

It was calming. Even though my chest felt like it was going to collapse in on itself, I felt like all the worries in the world were nothing. I had to keep my mind on the present; not the past of future.

The sun was beginning to rise. I don’t know how long I was walking for, but the guitar must have just put me in a trance. I didn’t even know I had walked into a field until I heard the birds chirping; doing the Jack O’Brien wake up.

The sunrise wasn’t just beautiful, it gave me a chance to stop and take in some of the heat.

The pain in my chest was there, but I think it has definitely calmed itself down. That was a relief; being able to stretch my arms in the air and have a big yawn was great.

I decided to walk towards the sunrise. I don’t know why, maybe just having some warmth on my hands while I play might give me the enthusiasm to play a song that involves finger-picking. At any rate, I had nothing to do, and having a nice stroll towards the earth’s main source of heat was a great alternative to freezing to death in the woods. Yep. Definitely the better choice.

I couldn’t hear anything. No sounds of construction, cars… only the sounds of the birds and wind whistling in the trees. You don’t get much time these days; to have some real silence, I mean. There is always something that comes along and makes a racket just because it can.

That’s why I hate my room-mate. That, and because he is a down-right asshole. But I don’t tell him that; I’m afraid he’ll hit me.

It has been a while; I’ve been walking for a long time and my feet hurt almost as much as my chest does.

I sat down on the waving grass I the middle of the field and put the guitar down gently by my side. The grass was damp, but I didn’t care. I lay down on my back and took in the sunlight. It felt so nice; the calm wind and the soft sunlight draping across me.

I fell asleep in the field.

I woke up again. I could smell something tasty being cooked; I opened my eyes and let them adjust. I’m in a bed; someone must have moved me from the field when I was sleeping. I was in a small room, it was dark, but the window on the wall, covered by a curtain, showed that it was bright outside.

My guitar was next to the bed, and the things still in my pockets. The pain in my chest was gone; my torso bandaged crudely. I still had no idea where I was, so I decided staying in bed wasn’t helping the situation. I sat up and pivoted until my legs were out the side of the bed. I still had my shoes, which wasn’t surprising. They were a bit torn from walking aimlessly for hours over rocks and other brush, but I didn’t care; they could be worse.

I stood up slowly and quietly and took my guitar in my left hand. I held it carefully, trying not to bump it against anything while I go and look out the window.

I pulled away the light blue curtains and I was almost blinded by the light. I stumbled backwards, accidentally ripping the curtain of its rack.

I landed on my back, rather hard. It hurt, but it didn’t really matter; I needed to find out where I was.

From the lying-down position I was in, I saw toon like clouds wisp past in the air, and as I regained my feet firm on the ground and stood. I knew where I was; Fluttershy’s house.

But where was I before? Before I was asleep, I mean. Is it a place in-between dimensions? What if... a log did fall on me the first time, and not Fluttershy’s iron hoof?

I heard something stirring downstairs; must be Fluttershy. Oh shit! Have to hide the curtain!

I threw it under the bed and kicked it under. Hopefully she wouldn’t notice. The door began to open and Fluttershy’s head popped through.

“Umm… what’s with all the noise?” She was so innocent, but I couldn’t help myself but lie; I am GREAT at lying.

“I THOUGHT I SAW A MONSTER.” My eyes jumping back and forth. She tilted her head quizzically. I missed being here so much; I even missed how confused ponies get around me. Afraid of her seeing it, I just left the room and went downstairs.

Angel was eating what looked like lunch, but I don’t really know what rabbits eat; I’m not really an animal person.

He stopped eating his food and looked up from the platter laid before him his eyes went wide and he hopped away; back up stairs. I assumed, to my room.

“It’s a new day! Oooh, and where did you find that guitar?” I felt like the most important person alive at that moment, but I didn’t tell her much. In fact, I lied. That’s two in one day.

“Oh, I put it together upstairs from some supplies I found. Don’t worry, it was all just junk.” She looked worried. Like all her stuff was important or something. I didn’t take anything, but I think that saying that freaked her out.

I apologised for using some of her things from the spare room to ‘make’ my guitar. She didn’t mind; she said what I said. ‘It was all just junk; don’t you worry about it’. I can’t get over how calm her voice was; how kind she was. She the best.

I think I had outstayed my welcome for the day; time to get out and explore a bit more. I do still have a meeting with Smile, and I don’t want to be late. So I left the house. I took my guitar with me; thought I could show it off to somepony. I wouldn’t need Smile’s guitar, the one that he wanted to give me around this time this exact afternoon.

I brought the guitar from around shoulder and pulled out the two picks again. This time, I choose green. Play a little louder; enjoy the music.

By the time I finished playing my song, I was at the centre of town; not a bad effort considering there was a bit of traffic; ponies seem to be everywhere this time of day. Must be some kind of event the citizens of Ponyville have planned for today, or something. So I decided to ask one of the ponies.

“Hey, umm… excuse me, is there some kind of event? Everypony seems to be going somewhere in a hurry.” The pony I asked didn’t stop to answer me. Instead, he just kept on trotting with a quickened pace. What a jerk. Must be really important.

I was at the centre of town; it was rather deserted but there was Smile sitting on the bench where we first met. He looked like something was wrong. He was tapping his front hooves rapidly; like he waiting.

He saw me coming and his face lit up. He was waiting for me.

“Hey, where have you been? I’ve been waiting for hours!” It wasn’t my fault; I had to travel inter-dimensionally just to get back here. He didn’t have to be aggressive about the way he said it.

“Hey, Smile, where is everypony going?” He showed his teeth. He was definately angry.

“Empty your pockets. Now.” His tone was almost like a razor; he wanted something. But all I had in my pockets was a few guitar picks, some strings and  my tuner. And the note. The note that said ‘Smile’. Is that what he wanted? Did he want the note? If so, WHY? What would he gain?

I can’t trust him.

I emptied out my pockets and held its contents out in my hand. Like I thought. Guitar picks, strings, my tuner, and the note.

“Do you have any idea what could have happened?” No. No I fucking don’t, asshole.

“Bringing this here could have destroyed not only your world, but our world too!” Wait… no one ever told him I was from a different world…

“Give me the note. Give it to me, now.”

I only had one question for him before I gave it to him willingly. “Who wrote this?”

“DOES IT MATTER!?” He was yelling now he needed the note; and I think he was willing to go to drastic lengths to acquire it. I didn’t know what to do.

I CAN’T TRUST HIM.

“Yes, it matters Smile. From the moment I met you, I couldn’t trust you. You have a chance to change that right now; tell me who wrote the note!”

I began to get aggressive myself. I was nearly ready to beat the living shit out of this pony with the body of my guitar which was still banded around my shoulders; but would I get away with it? No one is around; they all left somewhere. And he still hadn’t answered any of my questions.

“I don’t know who wrote it. And if I DID know, I wouldn’t tell you.” Something was very wrong.

“What does the note say, Smile?” He was almost started to panic when I said that.

“I don’t know. All I know is that if I don’t destroy it, we might not see tomorrow.” There was doubt in his voice. i was done here; in Ponyville. I need to get to Canterlot and see the queen; she has to know what is going on.

“I’m keeping it, Smile. And if you don’t like it, you can go FUCK YOURSELF.”

He lunged at me with his teeth bared and eyes wide. I hit him across the left side of his face; flat with my guitar. One of the strings snapped off and whipped me in the face; cut my cheek.

I ran. I ran as fast as I’ve ever run before. I knew he was chasing me. He needed the note so bad he was willing to kill to get it. I put the things in my hand in my right pocket while still keeping a sprint.

I knew where I was running. The station. I was getting to Canterlot and nopony was going to stop me. I just didn’t care anymore; didn’t care I might be killed by this lunatic. Didn’t care that I was going to phase back home when I sleep.

I made it to the station, but he was hot on my trail; there was a train in the station, but I had no idea where it was going. I decided to go for it.

The train was nearly half way out the station; already beginning to pick up speed. I jumped from the platform and time seemed to stop as I grabbed onto the railing of the caboose. Smile was right behind me; jumping from the platform. I now had a footing safely on the cart behind the railing; Smile took my place behind the railing.

“THE NOTE!” He yelled as he hit me in the chest with his hoof. His hind legs were losing their grip; he slipped and he had to give up all the abuse he was giving me and focus on staying on the cart at the back of the train.

I stood firm and held my guitar by its neck; like a sword. I swung as hard as I could; and hit him in the throat. He flew off the train and landed on the metal bar of the tracks. He was gone.

Well… this note must be pretty damn important, huh?

I entered the train. There were ponies everywhere. They all looked high class; wearing top hats and monocles. And the fillies were wearing the most elegant dresses; like Rarity put the effort in to make every detail beautiful.

They all gasped as they saw me. I was a different race and I just invaded their little party. I wasn’t sorry; I just avoided a near death experience and I was feeling pretty badass.

“Excuse me, this is a private party. Nopony else is allowed.” I looked at the posh white mare who had just told me to leave.

“Oh… right… sorry.” I began to walk to the other side of the cart; pushing past ponies all over the cart.

I was a little embarrassed; walking like a stranger through this crowd. I checked to see if the blood had stopped leaking from my cheek. It has.

I already at the other end of the cart; I pulled down the lever and made my exit.

I had just entered a sitting cart. There were few ponies scattered around in the seats here; must be because all the others were having some sort of party. I walked slowly along the aisle and took a seat across from a pony sitting alone.

“Hey… I remember you!” I then realised who I was sitting in opposite. The infamous Twilight Sparkle.