A Cure for a Toxin.

“There were three of them?”

“Well, first there were three. I think I saw two more when I was on the ground, but I can't be certain. They smacked me over the head more than once.”

Pepper shook her head in amazement, quickly adjusting a couch cushion before settling down to listen. The two had finished their dinner, and Pepper couldn't help but be enthralled by Sky's story regarding her trouble in Canterlot. Sky had explained it briefly at dinner, but Pepper couldn't help but eagerly ask for every detail, despite the fact her friend had been knocked unconscious for most of the encounter.

“I DID manage to slam one of the thugs into a wall, but then got hit in the head by something...”

Sky could only shrug, wincing as she felt the back of her head with a hoof.

“Still a bit sore. I can't remember much after that. What I do remember is seeing a shield around me, and the alley in shambles. The thugs were tossed into the street like dolls, and this strange unicorn had some weird armor on him. I might have been seeing things, because it looked like it was made of light. I think he was the same one I had looked at, when the thugs first cornered me.”

Light-armor? That was-

Wait a minute. That water-testing pony had been wearing something like that, but it wasn't very defined. It could have easily been her imagination. Even so....

“I managed to thank him before he passed out, and I soon blacked out again. His eyes though....” Her voice then drifted off, the mare clearly musing over her thoughts.

Now she had Pepper's full attention. Sky Duster hadn't had the most active social life with the opposite gender. Sure she had her mare-friends, but nothing resembling a romantic interest in colts.

Not to say she didn't have an interest. It just never 'happened.' There was a really strange tone to Sky's voice, one that Pepper instantly picked up on.

“His eyes?” Pepper keeping her voice fairly neutral, as not to give away her excitement.

Sky Duster nodded, not meeting her friends's eyes, and instead focusing on a pillow.

“It was probably nothing, I was-”

“Oh no! Do tell!”

Shooting her friend a surprised look, Sky shrugged. It couldn't hurt to speak her mind.

Yea, like THAT had ever backfired more than a hundred times...

“There's that saying, I can't remember who it was by, but it's about how you can tell a lot about someone just by their eyes?”

“I think I know what you're talking about. What do you mean though?”

Pepper had never seen her best friend look so uncomfortable. Whether it was a conscious action or not, she was kneading one of the couch cushions with her hooves, still refusing to meet her friend's gaze.

“It was really weird. You can usually tell when someone is happy or something, but this was different. He looked really happy when I thanked him, but then....” Her voice drifted off, clearly something else occupying the mare's mind.

Pepper was in danger of falling off the couch from the angle created by her leaning towards Sky, hanging on every word.

“He looked sad. Not just the normal kind of down-in-the-dumps, but something...else.”

Sky shook her head, shrugging slightly, a smile creeping back onto her features.

“It's probably just me imagining things. That, or getting hit in the head. I can't even remember the unicorn aside from his face. Everything else is fuzzy.”

Pepper filed that conversation away in the 'be on the lookout' section of her mind. An idea then decided to jump to the forefront of her thoughts.

“Hey! I actually just met this unicorn named Toxic Shield. He's from the Canterlot area actually, a real gentlecolt. He helped me cut down those horrid dead trees I've been stuck with, and for free too! Anyhow. I saw him working, and he was using some strange spell, a light-sword thing. I could have sworn that I saw some weird armor on him when he was doing so. It looked like the kind the royal guards wear...maybe he's part of the Canterlot Guard reserve? I could ask to see if he knows of the unicorn who helped you!”

Sky's ears instantly perked up, and she nodded rapidly, a smile on her features.

“That'd be great! I'd love to get a chance to thank him in person, when we're both not battered and bruised.”

Their conversation then drifted to their general lives, catching up on a year of not seeing each other. Pepper couldn't help but noticed Sky becoming a bit more uncomfortable as bedtime neared.

“Hey Pepper? Do you know any cheap apartments around here?”

The odd question threw Pepper for a mental loop. Why would her friend need an apartment? She was here for a few weeks, then heading back to her small town outside Canterlot.

“I think so, but why? You're staying here for the weeks that you're visiting...”

Her friend's face quickly informed Pepper that something was terribly wrong.

“Sky, what's up?”

The usually happy unicorn didn't say anything for a good long minute.

“Those two suitcases I have? That's all I have left.”

She continued, despite Pepper's startled gasp.

“There was a fire in the complex. Most of my personal stuff was saved, thankfully. Everything else though is gone. I can't go back to my parent's home, because my dad is always gone on business trips, and my mom works. I would have gone to my brother, but....”

Sky sniffled, standing up and walking over to pepper with her head hung low. With a slight 'thump,' she planted her head next to her friend's front hooves.

“I didn't know where else to go, so I came here, hoping I could find a job.”

That's when the sobs hit. Thankfully, Pepper was there to give her a hug, one that Sky sorely needed. Once she was done, Pepper put a comforting hoof on Sky's shoulder,

“Don't worry, we'll figure something out. I know there's a few places hiring here, and you're always welcome at my home. I'd hire you myself, but I'm still trying to get started myself.”

Pepper then 'booped' her friend's nose gently, a reassuring smile on her features.

“Just remember, you're not alone in this town. We'll figure something out.”
–

It was almost midnight, the crescent moon casting a weak but sufficient shadow to see by. Toxic Shield sat near a small pond, looking up at the stars and listening to the wildlife sing their late-night songs.

It hadn't been a bad day, but he still could feel the tension winding up in his chest. All the emotions he wanted to feel, but just couldn't.

With nothing else to get his mind off thinking about depressing situations, Toxic pulled out a parchment and quill, and began to write.

Dear Princess Luna.

Well, I guess I'm just saying hello. I have arrived in Ponyville, and started my water testing. I met a nice mare today named Pepper Spice, and helped her remove some trees. Well, it was more of hack-the-trees-to-bits sort of work. I think I scared her a bit. I get like that when I'm...

I want to feel something other than anger. Not sure what else to write.

Toxic paused, savoring the brisk and fresh midnight air.

“Do you wish to speak about things, Toxic Shield?”

He almost jumped into the air with fright, but thankfully just twitched his entire body with surprise.

“P-Prin-cess Lu-na?”

The graceful alicorn nodded, settling down next to the unicorn.

“We are not in a castle, Toxic Shield. Luna will suffice.”

The princess then chuckled, shaking her head slightly.

“We do not hear our name without the title often enough. It is refreshing. My time here is regrettably short however.”

Toxic nodded, and was about to speak, but then levitated the parchment.

This is faster, and I know you must be busy, otherwise I would talk. You read my letter I guess?

Luna nodded, looking up to the sky briefly.

“Yes. We did. Thou only feels anger? We know this feeling well. I still feel it. Not at my sister, for she acted in the best interests of all. No, I feel anger at circumstance.

Dost thou feel the same?”

Toxic nodded, wanting so much to cry, but unable to do so. This only fueled his frustration.

I have nobody to blame, only circumstance, as you put it. I want to feel myself again, but am unsure how to. I want a family back that is, for lack of a better term, dead.

The family I grew up with will never return. Who, or what, can I blame but life? I just keep going, hoping things will change...for the better.

Luna may have been exiled for a thousand years, but she wasn't so witless as to not notice when a pony was in clear distress.

She scooted a bit closer, offering the comforting presence of a friend, knowing that even that would be welcome in a time like this.

“Thou art lonely.”

It wasn't a question, but a statement. It was a declaration from one who knew the true meaning of the word, the true pain that could be felt as painful as any knife to one's heart.

“Y-Ye-s!” His reply was soft, but laden with emotion, with pain.

Luna frowned, knowing her time was growing short.

“Toxic Shield, thou has already made a friend in Ponyville. Perhaps...”

The alicorn sighed, and for a second, Toxic saw her shoulders slump slightly.

“It is difficult. It was difficult for us as well, to admit to others to be in need of help. Perhaps thou shouldn't hide thy problems. Not to be sad all the time, but to allow others to help thee. That 'tis how I made friends with the Elements of Harmony on Nightmare night.”

Toxic nodded, finally smiling as he bowed his head gratefully to the Princess of the Night as she stood, obviously to take her leave.

“T-Thank y-yo-u L-Lun-a.”

He then turned to the parchment for a quick message.

Perhaps I'll return to Pepper's farm in a day or two, to ask about installing that testing device. It's nice to talk to some-pony who doesn't see me as a frea- oddity.

It was perfectly clear as to what he was writing, but Toxic crossed it out nonetheless out of habit.

“That, Toxic Shield, is the key to friendship, and much more. To find those who see such view of thyself.”

Toxic's vision then flashed purple, and Luna's voice echoed in both his mind and ears.

“We will see thee again soon Toxic Shield. Take care.”

The dark blue unicorn trotted back to his apartment with a great deal more spring in his step than before.