Friends Of The Exiled

The soaked wagon wheel turned slowly in the thick mud as the rain hammered down dimly lit by the evening light.  In the audible aching and creaking of wood, it came to a slow stop in the earth as it tilted.  Joining in the groan, a raincoat clad Cinder clenched his teeth and flexed himself straining to pull it forward.  He gave a frustrated grunt and snorted as he briefly looked back at the wheel from under the hood then forward as he yanked on the collar.

“Come on you miserable wagon!  Move!”  He yelled as he lowered his head and body while leaning away from the cart and digging his hooves deep into the mud.  Tugging hard in jerks, the wagon moved bit by bit until the off center wheel is heard cracking followed by a snap as the rim splits from two spokes and the cart collapses down on the muddy trail.  A steel helmet and several small items tumble out from under the tarp that covers it.

Cinder looking back at the cart quickly becomes angered and gives it a kick further shifting the cart into the mud on the broken wheel.  Turning his head around, he strained as he untied himself from the cart.  The poles dropped to the mud as he cursed to himself and then turning around to the cart, he drew a deep breath and sighed as he looked in close at the wheel.

Barely visible in the light he could see that the heavy rain washed away the grease on the wheel hub.  Raising a hoof and digging into the wood, he could tell the water had soaked in deep and had swollen the end of the axle.  “Of course.  Only to me on a night like this...”  He muttered as he looked around and noticed the items that fell from the cart.  Picking each up with his teeth, he nudged under the tarp and placed them back inside while also feeling around and pulling at a lantern handle.  Removing it from the cart, he gave it a gentle tap and shook it lightly as the fireflies danced around inside.  Hanging it on the edge of the cart, he continued to look around to see the last item left still on the muddy ground was a helmet.

Cinder wrapped a hoof underneath the cowl and held it up to the light as the rain continued to pour washing off the mud that covered the headguard.  As each splatter of rain hit the helm, ornate carvings and lines across the decorative metal reflect the light from the lantern.  The crest once a brown lump slowly brightened to red crest standing tall although clumped together as spikes.  Thinking briefly, Cinder looked at the helmet for a moment lost in thought unmoving in the night.

With a blink and a grunt, he quickly shoved the helmet under the tarp and pulled on a loose rope.  Wrapping it around the hub he then tied it down and picked up the lantern.  Raising it high, he looked around in the now dark night surrounded by the torrential downpour.

At the side of the road he noticed a rain soaked sign in the faint light.  Slowly walking over careful to watch his step in the deep puddles, the peered up as the light became stronger to read the signs.

“Ponyville”  He read aloud as he skipped from each word posted on the post.  The next one down he squinted as he read it and his face contorted.  “Southern Bogg.  Bah.”  He remembered the mess of the trail he had to work through before he made it this far only to be halted by the rain.  Working further down the sign past the rest of the points of Canterlot and faraway destinations, he saw the last arrow post crudely carven and harder to read in the light.  Leaning in, he made it out letter by letter.

“Grassy…glen…inn”  he read.  At the end of the arrow, he noticed the last inscription.  “Three miles.”  He stated as he pondered the situation.  With a shake of the head Cinder knew It would be a walk, but there was no other choice.  “So be it.” He growled in the rain.  “Grassy glen for the night.”

Turning to look down the long rain soaked road, he moved onward into the night.

******************************************

Through the window pane a thunderbolt illuminated the room.  Multiple beds are briefly seen spaced evenly from one another down the long room with many small ponies in each one.  All are calm in the dark save two.

“Dizzy!”  A voice hissed in the dark.  “Cmon!  Give me a hoof!”  A voice from under a raincoat called from below a nearby window.

“You’re crazy!”  Another voice whispered in the dark as it came closer to the first.  Again as a thunderbolt streaked across the sky, the room illuminted again to show the two small fillies standing next to one another near a window.  “This won’t work!”  One continued as the light went dark.

“Just give me a boost!  I’ll take it from there!”  The other voice reassured in the dark room.  With a  grunt and a sound of strain, one small pony illuminated by the next thunderbolt made her way up the windowsill lifted by the other.  Her shocked expression caught by the electric light froze her for a second before he compelled herself and reached up to pull the window open.  Shifting over to a nearby furnace, the young one above held her footing there and the one below stepped back in the dark.

“It’s too far!”  The voice back on the floor whispered.  “You won’t make it!  Besides, it’s started to rain!  How are you supposed to see the sky!?  There’s no way you can see the moon or the stars!”

“I have to try!”  The pony at the window called back.  “If you don’t see me in a few days, don’t worry about me!  I can take care of myself!”  Quickly she lowered a hoof.  “Hand me up my carry bag!”

Before the one on the floor gave her the bag, she rustled around on a nearby floor moving an object nearby.  Opening the bag, she scooped it in before tying it back up and handing up upward.  “I added something to your carry bag!  If it gets real dark, hit it against something hard!”  She said as she lifted the bag high.  The pony above reached down and pulled it up to the window sill.  “Are you really sure you want to do this?”   The young one at the floor asked one more time.   “We can always wait until next week!”  Her friend above gave a hard shake of the head determined to leave for the night.

“Celestia be with you then!”  The pony from the floor called up to her.  The small figure at the window raised a hoof, gave a small salute then pulled up on the window pane.  Rain spattered in as she fought the wind and slipped under the wood pulling the bag out with her.  Wiggling her way out, she let go of the bag as she lost her footing and slipped tumbling down the short wall until the soft wet earth broke her fall.  Standing up from the mud and rain, she shook herself off and looked back up.

“No going back now” the small pony spoke as she leaned down and tightened the raincoat around her.  Carefully searching for the trail, she grabbed her nearby bag and walked through the night away from the orphanage.

****************************************

Cinder as tired as he was peered up the road into the night as the light from the lantern had faded over time.  Only a few of the fireflies were still lit to show what was left of the road.  Before long, a faint light became stronger as he made his way forward.  He noticed as he came upon the wooden landing of a small cottage the front door illuminated along with a small sign.  The small green board clearly displayed the words he was hoping to see.

“The Grassy Glen.”  He read as he gave a tired sigh in the rain. “One small favor fulfilled.”  He drew a deep breath and pulled himself forward up the stairs to the door opening it.  Wiping his hooves on the thick welcome mat as he entered, his head turned to see the room as he came in from the cold and the rain.  The door shut behind him as the few ponies inside looked up to see the stranger entered.  The moot calm lingered as one by one the interest dwindled and Cinder walked slowly to the main bar where the tender came over from a nearby till.

“Can I help you stranger?”  The barpony asked leaning in and turning a head sideways in curiosity.  He reached over to a nearby bar towel and started to clean the area in front of him.

Cinder placed his lantern on the floor and raised a hoof to the bar.  With the other, he ran it under his hood across his mane and pulled back the hood to show his head and muzzle.   His dark crimson coat is exposed and the lightly soaked black mane of his rain soaked hair sagged to one side.  With a labored sigh he drew breath, turned towards the bartender and opened his eyes to look deep at him with eyes deep blue as the midnight sky.

“I need a room.” He flatly replied as he strained the water out from his mane with a hoof.  The water creased across his neck and splattered on the floor.  The dripping from his raincoat and the water from his mane left large pools of water on the ground below.

“None left.” The bartender stated as he leaned in further and looked down at the soaked wood floor.  “Every room here is full tonight.  Besides, pony folk don’t take kindly to strangers too much around here.”  He pointed downwards.  “And I don’t take kindly to strangers making a mess of my floor with that rainwater.”

With a quick look around, Cinder leaned his head a bit to look over the shoulder of the barpony to get a better look at a wet patch he saw on the nearby floor behind the bar.  As a drop fell, he looked up at the crack in the ceiling where rainwater seeped in.  A now irritated Cinder looked back at the pony in front of him.

“So” Cinder started. “The same rainwater that leaks through your roof onto your floor is somehow better then the rainwater that fell off from me?”  He raised an eyebrow in question.

The barpony stopped wiping the bar as he continued.  “That and the mud you dragged in.”

Cinder looked back behind him at the other hoofprints left on the floor which appeared no different from those left by him.  At a nearby table, large clumps of mud could be seen on the hooves of another pony.  It was quite obvious that he didn’t wipe his hooves at all when he came in.

As he turned back to the bar, he paused for a moment in thought.  Leaning in as close as he could nearly muzzle to muzzle with the barpony, Cinder took a deep breath as his face twisted in visible anger and the tone of his voice grew coarse.  “I’m getting the impression that I’m not wanted here.”  He snorted as he edged closer to the bartender. “But I’m tired, I’m wet, I haven’t eaten in two days, and now I’m angry.”  He turned a hoof downward and pounded on the bar with a knuckle that could be heard across the inn.  “I don’t care if it’s a cot, a pile of hay or even a closet floor.  I need a room…right…now.”

The bartender squinted mildly as he backed up a bit.  “You don’t seem to get it even when I can’t make it any clearer that the likes of you aren’t wanted here.”  He raised his head and gave a nod as he looked over him before he continued on.  “In fact, I think it’s time for you to leave.”  From behind, Cinder felt a hoof wrap around his right armpit and tug as a voice came from behind.  “Lets go stranger.”

The bartender watched as the stranger slowly bared his teeth and growled at him.  “You’re making a serious mistake, innkeeper.”  The Crimson pony flexed up unmoving as the pony behind him pulled harder just as a long blade of cold steel pressed against his neck on his left side.  “We don’t know who you are, but you’re gonna go whether you like it or not troublemaker.”  The voice said just as the bartender started to give a thin smile.

Something in Cinder snapped as he yelled and dropped down to the floor.  He quickly swung a left rear leg forward in a wide arc under the pony behind him with the blade causing him to fall on his back.  Leaping upward to his right, he rammed his head into the ribs of the other assailant and took him to the ground.  Just as Cinder stood to face the room, the bartender lept over the bar onto him and the two stumbled across the room with others at nearby tables starting to get up and approach the pair.

Both stallions fought one another in the wrestling as Cinder bucked hard throwing the bartender forward still grasping his raincoat.  Tearing it off, his full figure is seen as the bartender landed nearby and the crimson stallion quickly looked around the room to see the group close in on him as he prepared for the next round.  One pony nearby raised a hoof at his rear flank and pointed out the twin orange and yellow flames that adorned his flank.  Through the center of it a perfectly diagonal healed scar is seen.

“Barkeep, you see that?”  One pony said as he pointed to the scar.  Still making his way to his hooves, the tender nodded as he looked around at all of the other ponies in the room.  “I sure do!  Cmon all, lets get him!”

One by one the crowd came at Cinder as he watched and timed his moves to prepare for each pony that came from all sides.  The first jumped headlong just as he dove to the floor under him with another running headlong at this flank.   Waiting for the right moment, another pony ran in from the opposite direction and Cinder turned to wrap his hooves around the head of the first pony then pulled him in the other direction towards the second throwing him over his shoulder.  The pair collided and tumbled in a heap to the nearest wall.  Another pony came from one side with a chair over his head with both hooves in motion ready to hit Cinder full force.

“Yahh!”  He yelled as he aimed for the head of the stranger.  Cinder quick to prepare, did an about face bringing his front hooves on the ground and kicked the on comer chest high with both rear hooves.  The chair flew over his head just as the attacker flew back to the other side of the room.

Out of nowhere, a large glass bottle came crashing down on the head of Cinder just as he turned to look around.  Searing pain and stars filled his head as he fought to stand as pony after pony tackled him and held him to the ground.  Quickly blinking and regaining his bearing, the bartender stood over him still holding the broken bottle.

“I told you that you aren’t welcome here stranger!”  The bartender angrily yelled as he pointed a hoof downward at the head of Cinder.  “It’s bad enough getting drifters from the road these days, but that mark of yours is much worse!”

Cinder still dizzy struggled on the ground still held down by several of the ponies in the room.  “All I wanted was a room!  What kind of crime is that!?”  He yelled back at him in his defense.

“Ha!  We don’t serve to traitors!  You may as well be a shadow to society.  You’re nothing more then a branded outcast.”  The bartender said as he shook his head and backed up.   Looking to the others holding him down, he spoke to the group.  “Throw him out.  He’s bad for business.”

Restrained, Cinder fought the group as they held to him strong while picking him up.  Still looking at the barkeep, he yelled back as he was drug to the door.  “Your hospitality stinks, you know that?!”

One pony opened the door just as the group threw him outside into the still pouring rain of the night.  The crimson pony stumbled a bit and fell to his stomach in the muddy road.  As he raised his head to look back with disgusted face to the barkeep now standing in the doorway looking at him, he looked back angrily as he gave a soft snort.

“Can I get my raincoat and lantern back at least?”  He grumbled.  The tender looked behind him, pulled forward the coat with his teeth and spat it out on the doorstep.  “Just go, and don’t come back stranger.  I’ll be ready for you next time if you do.”  The tender stated just as another pony behind him flung the lantern to the road landing on a lump of thick grass.  As the ponies around him backed up, the barkeep slammed the door shut with a loud bang.

Cinder momentarily lay in the wet mud as the rain continued to pour trying to control the pain from the stray bottle.  Giving a tired sigh, he took a deep breath and groaned as he slowly stood up one leg at a time.  Picking up the raincoat and flinging it over his back, he then picked up the lantern and gave it a gentle shake.  Only a few of the fireflies left would stay lit.  “Just enough to see the road until I get to the cart.”  He muttered.

Holding the lantern in his mouth, Cinder started on his way back down the rain soaked dark road.

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The small foal didn’t expect the weather to be so bad for this night.  The cold and the wet rain could be felt with every hoof step through puddles and bramble.  Plans to escape didn’t take this into account from the previous week and the rain made navigation difficult this night without being able to see the stars.  Tree after tree appeared the same and the rain made footing slippery on the rocks and branches as she walked over them.

The walking seemed to last forever as she tried to find her way in the darkness of night.  Many times she nearly ran into trees, but the thick roots gave them away giving her a chance to seek them out before running into them headlong.  Stopping for a moment, she thought of the item her friend added to her bag just before she left.  As she leaned over and reached into her bag, she felt a small round stone and pulled it out.  Bringing it to eye level, she tried to make out the shape in the night before the cold became stronger from standing idle.  Looking around quickly, she saw the dim reflection of a large boulder nearby.  Walking in close, she stood up with rock in hoof aiming squarely at it then threw the rock at it as hard as she could.  With a spark, the rock bounced off in an arc and began to glow a bright green midair as it landed with a thud illuminating the ground around it.

The small foal smiled as she walked over and scooped up the rock and held it close to marvel at.  “Wow.  This is one I owe you for Dizzy.”  She said in mild amazement.  Placing it in her mouth, she looked around in the newfound light to gain her bearing, decided on a direction and continued on.

More time passed as the small foal continued on tiring from the walk.  Travel became easier and faster now that she could see her way, but the fatigue now wore on more then ever.  Trees passed by, more uneven terrain was behind her, and fallen logs were long past over time.  The rock she held slowly grew dimmer barely bright enough to see the rain around continue to pour and the hazards on the ground to step over.  As she stepped around a tree, she noticed how the ground below became smooth with the lack of rocks and twigs around.  Looking to her right and left, she knew it was well used from travel.

“A road!”  She realized aloud with the dimly lit rock still in her mouth.  Looking up and down the vacant patch, she barely made out a strange shape in one direction not too far off in the distance.  Without any other idea on direction and the rock in her mouth going dark, she turned and approached the shape in question.

Coming close, she made out the planks and boards that lined the side.  It was certainly a cart, but it listed too far to one side.  Looking close at the wheel she made out the broken spoke and half of the wheel in deep mud.

The rock in her mouth now barely a glimmer of light flickered briefly before it went dark.  Turning to one side, she spat it out.  “So much for that.”

A shiver took hold and with the fatigue settling in, she knew there was no other option now but to stay with this wagon for the night until the storm passed.  Feeling around for the tarp, she stepped up underneath the tarp and into the cart from the muddy road.  Pushing aside the objects packed inside, she made room to lay down to rest.  Cold and alone, she shivered in the night with the rain hammering down on the tarp above hoping that tomorrow wouldn’t be far to wait for.

******************************

Cinder breathed heavily as he walked in the dark with the lantern growing very dim.  Pausing for only a moment, he raised it to see a single firefly crawling on the edge of the glass trying to stay lit as the rain hammered down.  Tapping it, he knew time was short before even that last one inside would go dark.Lowering it to the road, he forged on.  The anger of being denied lodging from an inn filled his mind fueling his desire to keep moving.

“Rotten cowards.”  He grumbled with the lantern handle still in his mouth.  “I just wanted a room.”

Still thinking of the confrontation, he drew a quick breath and looked attentive as he made out the faint outline of an object in the road.   It had to be the cart.

Moving a bit fater now, the rain and cold grew on him with each footstep in the muddy road.  If nothing else, a dry place to sleep would be in the back out of the pouring rain.

Coming upon the cart, he made his way around to the rear and dug his head underneath the tarp raising his head up with the dim lantern.  Expecting to find a spot to sleep, the lantern he brought in under the tarp was able to show the many belongings of his including the helmet he held earlier, the tools, the clothes, the spare wagon parts and one small foal which he noticed first just as the last few seconds of light from the lantern expired.

Cinder shook his head as he backed out of the cart with the dark lantern.  Turning his head he spat it out to the road while cursing and hissing.  “A foal!”  He said in disbelief.  “What is a foal doing here!?”

He paced in the road still out in the heavy rain.  He couldn’t throw this young one out.  The storm was bad and that was for certain.  The inn wouldn’t even take him and that was three miles back.  He was too tired even at this point to even think of it.

Cinder raised a hoof and smacked himself on the head.  “What to do, what to do…”  he said as a thunderbolt crossed the night sky.  Looking up and giving a heavy sigh, he muttered a small prayer.

“Celestia, I hope this is your doing.  I really don’t need this right now.”  He spoke before he returned under the tarp and reluctantly reached in with a hoof.  As his knuckle touched her side, he felt her shivering heavily.  He leaned in with his nose along her coat and felt how cold she was.  As he closed his eyes, he paused for a moment trying to decide.  A filly this young shouldn’t be here to begin with.  Why was it his business?  How did this fall on him?

With a grunt of frustration, he nudged the tarp above him upward and pulled himself into the cart.  If it was going to be a night here anyway, the unknown pony may as well join him.  With the way he was rejected at the inn, Nopony else would have him for the night.

Cinder gingerly stepped in and curled around her in the cart.  As he pulled the young one close, he could feel the small cold body begin to warm.  The shivering slowed and eventually stopped.  The young one went limp as she fell deeper in sleep pushing herself closer to him.  Cinder wrapped a hoof around her under her front legs and lay his head further into the cart as the heavy rain continued to patter above the tarp.

With the heavy rain hammering down above the pair in the night, Cinder drifted off to sleep with the young one in his arms.