A Glint Of A New Beginning
There I was... standing at the balcony of my apartment somewhere around Canterlot. I gazed onto the rising sun over the horizon, bathing the streets and the tall buildings with its warm glow, colorful birds flew freely in the wide blue sea above as they welcomed the ever-wonderful morning with their melodic songs. I shivered, the cool morning breeze caressed my brown coat and my silver mane ruffled by the gentle wind. I let out a shuddering breath as the autumn morning air chill my whole apartment.
“My heater’s broken again,” I mumbled, looking inside the cramp apartment. I gave the sun a last look, thanking the Princess for another beautiful day and walked inside. I looked around at the dark room, forgetting to pay the electric bill... again. The apartment wasn’t much but it’s home. I had my bed in the main area -it's a tight squeeze but it'll do-, a small kitchen next to it, and a sizable bathroom next to the hall of the front door. I looked at the clock that hung on the wall above my bed, ticking cheerfully. 'It’s still an hour before work starts', I thought, noticing it was 6.30 in the morning.
I flopped onto my bed, casting my gaze at the ceiling above, my eye lids getting heavy as I remembered I had another restless night of sleep. Work had been tough lately since my boss suddenly gave me tons of paperwork to do. I had to take extra hours in the office just to finish things up and always ended up coming home late midnight. 'Why the boss is giving me a hard time? There’s nothing I did to anger him,' I pondered. The bedsheets creased as I shifted when something caught my attention. The room bathed in a gentle amber glow as my horn lit, enveloping my magic to an unopened envelope that was sitting on the table top next to the bed.
I levitated it closer, opening the letter. “Dear Quill,” it began. “It’s been a while, how have you been? Are eating properly out there? We’re fine if you ask me. Oh, the reason I’m writing you this letter is... it’s about your brother, Glint. It has been a while since you last visited him at the hospital. Lately, he has been asking if you have the free time to come and visit him again. Please, if you can, come by and say ‘hello’. I am sure he’ll be glad to see his big brother again. Love, mom.”
I looked at the date that was written at the bottom of the letter. It was sent three days ago. I sighed, remembering that I have tons of work to do before I could ask for a vacation. The old bed creaked as I jumped off, levitating the letter aside as I trotted into the bathroom. The fur at the back of my neck stood up upon entering the bathroom, shivering by the prickling fingers of coldness wrapped around my body. I took shaky steps towards the sink, noticing the mirror above it was foggy. I wiped it with a hoof and a face appeared on it. A tired face of a brown unicorn stallion stared back at me with his messy silver mane and his amber eyes with dark lines under them. I took a look at my cutie mark in the mirror; it was a white feathered quill. I honestly love working in the office as an office pony but lately I don’t have enough time for myself, let alone visiting my brother.
I quickly grabbed my stomach as it let out a loud growl. A frown tugged on my face, realizing I'm saving most of my bits to pay the apartment's rental fee. 'Keep it together, Quill,' I grunted inwardly. 'I'll bet there's something to eat in the kitchen,' I assured myself in thought. With that, I nodded absentmindedly and began trotting towards the kitchen. I took another glance at the clock, my eyes widened as I noticed it was already 8 in the morning. I quickly levitated my briefcase and ran outside. My horn let out an ember glow, hearing the soft click of the door as I bolted towards the elevator. ‘Out of Order’ sign was hung over the it. “Darn it,” I cursed under my breath, realizing I lived on the fourth floor. I shook my head and headed to the spiral staircase, climbing down as fast as I could while avoiding myself from falling down instead.
I trotted out of my apartment building, panting in exhaustion and sweating profusely. “Great,” I mumbled glumly, looking around the streets. I spotted a taxi carriage and quickly hailed it. I jumped onto the passenger’s seat as the taxi puller looked over his shoulder, the pony was an earth pony. The earth stallion was Frank, an acquaintance of mine. Frank was taller than the average pony and he had the same shade of brown coat as mine. Frank had a spiky dark green colored mane and tail to match. A picture of a carriage adorned his flank as his cutie mark. He once told me that his family owned a chain of taxi company all around Equestria. Frank and I knew each other when the first time I was late for work, which was probably two months back. Since then, whenever I'm late for work, I always can count on Frank to send me on time.
“Morning, Quill. Late again huh?” Frank asked, smiling.
"You know me too well," I replied between breaths, grinning.
"Office building?" he chuckled, fastening the harness.
“Yes... and quickly,” I panted, wiping my brow from sweat. Frank nodded and without hesitation, bolted. I felt my body pushed against the padded seat, my mane messily ruffled by the gusts of wind as the he galloped as fast as he can while the streets were still empty of ponies. The briefcase slowly floated in front me, enveloping in amber magic as a soft click emitted from it. I carefully opened it, inspecting its content. I frowned, remembering I left my work in the apartment. My heart started to race when my mind began to reel in panic, my chest heaving rapidly. My eyes darted in many directions, thinking for any excuses that might let me off the hook. But before I could even to think up one, the carriage stopped, flinging me to the bottom of the passengers' seat with an unceremonious thud.
“That’ll be 20 bits, sir,” Frank said, extending his hoof. I nodded solemnly, my mind still reeling in panic. I magically levitated 20 bits out of my briefcase and gave him the money. He took off as I exited the carriage, not knowing what to do. I stood in front of a building that was taller than its neighbors, also somewhat out of place from the cheerful colored buildings around it. The tall -probably six stories high- dull grey building loomed over me, making me feel anxious as I stood in front of it.
'Should I pretend I’m sick and skip work?' I thought, taking a step back. 'Yeah, I think I should.' As I was just about to turn, I bumped onto somepony, knocking me off my hooves. I gingerly rubbed my aching head as I looked at the pony in question.
My eyes widened, realizing who I bumped into. It was my boss, Cash, a unicorn stallion who has a body that could match a body builder, who had a soft silky white coat and a long silky golden mane. His cutie mark; a pile of golden bits, glimmered under the morning light, making me winced to protect my eyes.
“M-morning, boss,” I greeted him, dusting myself as I stood up.
“Hmm... yes. Morning,” he greeted, looking down on me with his nose up in the air. “I hope you’re done your work from last night,” he continued, raising a questioning eyebrow.
“A-actually,” I started, stuttering with my ears drooped on my head.
“Well, I should get to my office. I’ll be waiting for your paperwork on my desk before lunch,” he said, cutting me off as he walked into the building.
“Yessir,” I sighed with my head hung low. My nose nearly touched the ground and felt tears welled in the corner of my eyes. I sniffed, thinking for a plan to get me out of trouble.
“Are you okay, mister?” a mare voice asked.
My head perked up and scanned around to find the source of the voice. My eyes widened for the third time as I saw an orange earth pony stood behind me. She had confusion plastered across her face, waiting for a response. Her long golden ponytail -that was hidden under a cowboy hat- and tail danced in the morning breeze, glowing under the sunlight. She had green eyes that stared into me, her gaze was... hypnotic. Not only she looked at me, I felt that she saw my core being, as if she sees the truth in me, compelling me to be truthful. The mare was wearing a thick brown coat jacket with a fuzzy white collar. Even though she covered herself with the coat, she was still visibly shivering in the cold autumn wind.
“I-I uh...” I began, stuttering while I wiped my tears away. “I was...” My head started to come up with an excuse to hide the embarrassing truth but for some reason I can’t say it. “I forgot to bring the necessary paperwork,” I blurted out. I quickly shut my mouth with a hoof, blushing.
“Hey, now...” she started with a noticeable country accent. I found it rather... charming. “That’s no reason t’ cry about,” she chuckled, smiling. “I know that ya’ boss would let this slip by.”
“I wish...” I sighed, as the weight of the situation came back down onto my shoulders. “I had made a few bad mistakes over the year I’ve been working here until my boss warned me that if I make any more mistakes, regardless the size of it, I will get fired,” I confided, my ears drooped back down on my head. I felt a hoof slipped down my shoulder as the mare pulled me closer.
“Don’t get’cha head in a worry, I’m sure everythin’ will end up peachy,” she said, assuring me by giving me a smile. I tried my best to smile back.
“Yeah,” I mumbled, lifting my head higher. “Everything would end up fine,” I whispered to nopony in particular.
“Well,” she said, freeing me from her embrace. “I have t’ get to my friend, Rarity, at a fancy dress shop down the street,” she continued, walking away.
“Uh... thanks for –, “before I finished my sentence, she cut me off.
“No need for thanks, suga’cube. I like helpin’ ponies out,” she admitted, smiling. “Oh,” she gasped as she turned to look at me. “I’m Applejack,” she introduced herself, crossing her hooves.
“I-I’m Quill,” I replied, smiling.
“Well, Quill. See ya around,” Applejack said, turning around to continue on her way. I gave her a wave until she was no longer in my sight. I let out a shuddering sigh as I looked back onto the tall office building. I filled my lungs with fresh air and entered the building in stride.
I was in my small office room on the second floor of the building, the walls had a dull white paint, the light above me kept flickering if somepony walked over it from the floor above, the plain blue carpet had a pungent smell wafting out of it, frequently making me gag whenever I accidentally sniffed the foul odor and the desk squeaks to the slightest of movements. Even so, a white feathered quill was enveloped with my magic quickly danced on the paperwork that needed to be done. I literally had to beg at one of my co-workers to give me a copy of the paperwork that I forgot so I could finish it before lunch time. I felt beads of sweat trickling down my brow, the ache in my horn while I tried to focus my mind on the paperwork. I kept a steady breath as I was about to finish. “Done!” I cheered, jolting down the last dot, smiling. I grinned -wider than the horizon-, feeling the pressure from my shoulders lifted as I levitated the pile of paperwork into my opened briefcase next to me.
The door quickly swung open, causing my levitation field to pop, spilling the paperwork all over the carpeted floor. “Hello,” a stallion’s voice greeted with a smug tone. I looked up and saw my boss’s son, Riches. He was a tall unicorn stallion who had the same white coat as his father and had a short golden mane. Riches often wears a top hat – even when he is in a swimming pool.
“Hi, Riches,” I greeted, quickly levitating the spilled paperwork back into a neat stack.
“I’ve heard that you forgot your paperwork, hmm?” he intoned, grinning.
“N-No, I did finish it, see?” I stuttered, levitating him the stack for inspection.
“Don’t lie to me, I know this isn’t the one that my father asked you to do,” he replied, stomping a hoof on my desk that caused a loud squeak resonated in the room, as he looked at me eye to eye.
“B-b-but this is the same paperwork. It doesn’t differ from the work that I left at home,” I stammered, backing up.
“True..,” he mumbled, taking a step back as he rubbed his chin and glared at me. “Well, I suppose I should leave you alone,” he continued, walking out of my office. “Ta-ta,” he intoned, slamming the door shut.
I sighed, resting my head onto the desk, levitating the paperwork into my briefcase. I know I embarrassed him at the last staff meeting party but... it was an accident! I didn’t know that somepony could be dumb enough to slip onto a banana peel, I complained inwardly. I let out another sigh, opening the bottom drawer of my desk. A wooden framed picture levitated in front of me by a gentle amber glow. I smiled as I cast my gaze onto it. It was a picture of me and my brother, Glint, during the summer sun celebration. He was a bright yellow little unicorn colt with a lively orange mane. In the picture, I was levitating him high into the air while he imitated Princess Celestia's posture, rising his imaginary star. He always uses his magic to create a spectacular firework display whenever it’s night time, creating light in his own way. Oddly enough, he still hasn’t had his cutie mark, but maybe he has something more spectacular in store in the future. I turned the picture around and read a poorly written scribble at the bottom of it. “I love you, big brother,” it said. I felt a tear rolled down my cheek and quickly wiped it away with a hoof.
Then, I realized that my throat was dry as I didn’t have anything to drink since I left home. With that, I set my briefcase under my desk and exited my office. The sound of the chattering typewriters and the dampened beats of hoovesteps on the carpeted floor filled the main area. I navigated myself through the maze of cubicles to reach the water dispenser across the room. I was chatting idly with some co-workers until decided I should hand over the paperwork as lunch time was just around the corner.
Just before I reached my office, I noticed that my door was opened, hearing the sound of a paper shredder emitted from it. I felt chills down my spine as I quickly ran towards my office. Inside, I saw Riches feeding my paperwork into the paper shredder, grinning at me. “That’ll show you to not embarrass me during a staff meeting party again,” he chuckled.
I didn’t know what to do. My head was pounding, my heart raced and I felt the blood pumping in my chest increased. As Riches fed the last of the paperwork into the shredder, I saw red. I screamed as I pounced him onto the ground, punching him with my hooves while he was pinned under me. But it was a fool of me to underestimate him; he easily levitated me and threw me onto the wall. A shot of pain exploded on my side as I hit the wall, bouncing off and dropped onto the putrid carpet with a loud thud. I slumped, unable to stand.
Riches stood in front of me, raising his hoof to give the final blow. “Enough!” A gruff voice resonated in my small office, stopping Riches from finishing his strike. We both turned our heads to look and saw, Riches’s father, my boss, Cash. “What is going on?” he demanded, his nose flaring.
“H-hello father,” Riches stammered, taking a step back.
“You. Quiet!” his father yelled which made Riches to cower in fear. Then, he changed his gaze onto me. “What is the meaning of this?” he hissed, his eyes were red in anger.
“I-I was...” I started; my hooves shook as I tried to stand up straight. “I saw your son was destroying the paperwork that you ordered me to do and... I-I didn’t know what came over me,” I explained, stammering.
“Is that true?” Cash asked, looking his cowering son.
“Yes...” Riches admitted, sighing.
“I thought you were better than this. I taught you on how to be a good boss for your workers,” his father preached.
“Well, the paperwork that I destroyed was empty anyway,” Riches blurted, lying.
“What?” Cash whispered, slowly glaring at me. “You said you did the paperwork,” he said slowly and dangerously.
“I-I-I did and your son is lying. Here, I’ll show yo—“ I was cut off, trying to show him the proof in the shredder by a thundering stomp. I squeaked and hesitantly looked at the glare that I received from my boss.
“You didn’t finish your paperwork, you attacked my son and you dare to accuse that my son is lying?” he asked, standing over my small body. “You’re fired!” He yelled, turning around and exited my ex-office with his son in tow. Just before he shut the door, I saw Riches gave me a smug grin behind him. I sighed as a tear formed in the corner of my eyes. I heard the whispers of my co-workers through the door, talking about me.
I exited the office building with a box of my belongings in tow when a mailmare casually flew next to me. She had a grey coat and a blonde mane and she was handing me a letter. The things that were most noticeable were her eyes; her eyes were looking at different directions. I levitated the letter from her hooves. “Thank you?” I said with a puzzled expression. The mare gave a salute and a smile then quickly jetted into the sky, leaving a trail of letters in her wake.
I turned my gaze onto the letter and noticed it was from my mother. I quickly opened it and started to read. “Quill,” it began. “Please, if you can, please hurry to the hospital. It’s you brother... he’s... getting unstable. Please, son... please hurry,” the letter ended with an illegible signature as it was wet, which assumed to be tears. My eyes widened, feeling a chill ran down my spine yet again as my heart skipped a beat. Without a second too long, I bolted through the crowded Canterlot streets towards the hospital with my belongings still wrapped with my magic in tow, dodging waves of trotting ponies.
I reached in front of my brother’s ward door, panting in exhaustion with him still in mind. One of the nurses escorted me into the room, levitating my box of belongings softly onto the tiled hospital floor. I slowly reached my brother’s hospital bed. His chest slowly heaved and his breathing slowed down in every breath. I noticed mother and father weren’t in the room, assuming they went to fetch me at my home or my workplace. Glint slowly opened his eyes and smiled as he saw me. “Big... brother,” he wheezed.
“Yes... I’m here,” I croaked, softly ruffling his mane while I put an effort into a smile.
“It’s nice to... see you again,” he said in a raspy voice.
“Yes, it's nice to see you too,” I sniffed, tears welled in my eyes.
“Look... what I can do,” he breathed, forming a tiny spark on the tip his horn, his brow furrowed in concentration.
“That’s... spectacular, Glint,” I croaked, tears flowing while I tried my best to smile.
“Brother...?” he asked, reaching a hoof for me.
“Yes, Glint?” I replied, holding his hoof close to my chest.
“Will... I see you again?” he wheezed, smiling.
“Y-y-you will,” I cried.
“Awesome...,” he whispered as his hoof slowly softened. With his final breath, he whispered, “Love you.”
I looked at him through blurred vision and cried openly. “I love you too, Glint,” I croaked, crying over his body. I felt a hoof softly touched my shoulders, knowing it was my mom. We cried for his depart together.
It was already evening and the sun’s orange glow bathed everything in its reach and yet... I felt no warmth. I sat on a bench near a playground just across the apartment I lived in, where Glint and I used to play together when he was still alive.
I felt the heartache over my brother’s death and my cheeks were damp with tears. Whenever I remembered his smiling face, a river of tears would flow but now, I can't. I cried too many times until I can't shed a single tear. “Why the long face?” A familiar voice asked. I turned my head to look and saw Applejack standing next to me. She noticed my wet cheeks and red eyes and quickly worry plastered across her face. “Hey, what happened?” she asked softly. I solemnly shook my head in response. She stood still for a minute and opened her mouth to say something again. “You don’t mind if I sit next t’ ya, right?” she asked, leaning closer to look at my eyes. I shook my head again in response.
“Thanks,” she replied, sitting next to me. There we sat together, without uttering a word. Then, my stomach growled. She looked at me with worry in her eyes while I tried my best not to blush under the circumstances. "Did you eat something this mornin'?" she asked, leaning to see my face. I only shook my head, avoiding her gaze. "Let me see if I could get you some food t' munch on," she offered, starting to stand up but I quickly grabbed her hoof, shaking my head. Applejack looked displease in the idea of me starving myself but she hesitantly comply and sat back down. There was silence again only to be accompanied by the sound of my pitiful sniffing. “I heard Canterlot’s having a firework show tonight,” she said, breaking the silence in hope to lighten the mood. The memories of fireworks made me broke into a tearless cry. “W-what’s wrong?” she asked, softly grabbing my shoulder with a hoof, getting worried.
“I-it’s my brother,” I croaked, sniffing.
“What happened t' your brother?” She asked.
“He... died,” I sniffed. My answer made Applejack’s eyes widened with her mouth gaped to the unexpected news. I could feel her hooves wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me into an embrace.
“Let it out, suga’cube,” she whispered. With that, I cried again as tears finally flow once more, wetting her brown coat jacket with my tears. I felt the soft taps of her hooves on my back as I cried in her embrace. Realizing that I was openly crying to a stranger, I softly pushed her away, looking at the playground across from us.
“S-sorry,” I croaked, wiping my tears away.
“Don’t worry about it,” she whispered, looking at me with a warm smile. Then, we returned our gaze into the empty playground as the sun slowly sink under the horizon.
“We used to play here,” I croaked, gazing into the empty playground. Applejack remained silent, listening intently. “Every time I had some free time from my work, I would invite Glint over here and play the games we like to play. We would play for hours until both of us can’t move a muscle,” I continued, smiling at the memories.
“Sounds you both had a good time,” she replied softly.
“We did and now...” I began, eyes welling up again. “I’ll never have the chance again,” sniffed.
“Shh...” she shushed, grabbing me closer.
“It’s my fault...” I admitted softly.
“Why?” she asked, looking into the playground as the swings swayed in the autumn wind.
“If I... If I didn’t kick the ball too far away, he might not have to cross the street to get it and not... r-r-run over by a carriage,” I croaked as my vision blurred. “At the first day he was admitted into the hospital, he told me it wasn’t my fault and it was because of a silly misfortune. But... it's my fault. IT'S MY FAULT!” I screamed to nopony in particular.
Applejack put me into a tight embrace and whispered. “It’s not your fault.”
“It’s my fault,” I croaked in her hooves.
“It’s not,” she whispered back as I felt warm tears rolled down at the back of my neck followed by a sniff. She rocked me slowly in attempt to keep me calm as the sky darkened and the street lamp automatically lit the empty streets. “You’re strong,” she whispered, her voice slightly raspy. I only looked at her with confusion on my face, looking into her glistening eyes. “If I was you, I don’t think I’ll be as strong,” she admitted. “I might even do something crazy,” she let out a saddened chuckle. “Hey,” she whispered again, looking at me with a warm smile. “Your brother will be always with you, in here,” she said as she pointed at my head. “And here,” she continued, pointing at my chest.
“Yeah,” I croaked, starting to feel better.
“Knowing that he always loves you should be a drive for you t' continue on life with pride and change your life for the better in honor of your brother,” she said, smiling.
“Yeah,” I sniffed, feeling slightly better. My horn lit, a framed picture levitated with the touch of my magic and showed it to Applejack. “That’s my brother,” I said, pointing at the happy yellow unicorn colt in the picture, smiling.
“Well, he’s one fine fella’,” she commented, smiling.
“He was,” I replied, chuckling a tear from my eyes. Suddenly, a loud bang resonated in the sky as a spectacular firework displayed onto the dark sea above. Applejack sat closer and whispered, looking at the firework show.
“Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Yeah,” I replied, looking at the display as the colorful fireworks painted the night sky. Then, I returned my gaze onto the framed picture and smiled. “Love you too, bro.”
