The Run

The dawn of a new day, and what a crappy day.  I was up all night trying to figure out why, not why am I here, but why ME?  Of all the ponies this could have happened to... it happened to me.  I don’t like the way things are going right now, I thought of suicide like four times last night.  I could have to, the window is unlocked, the only reason I didn’t was her.  I couldn’t do that to Fly, especially after how long she waited for me.

“Knock, knock,” the doctor said as he strolled into the room.

“Morning doc, why are you so happy?”

“Two reasons. One: You get to go home, meaning you lived. And Two: With you out and about you can pay off your bill,” He is smiling ear to ear, “Oh and with you doing jobs to make bits you might even find your mark.”

“Well then, when do I leave?”

“Ms. Flight is filling out the papers now.  And in case you’re wondering the bill will be sent through mail, have a nice life!”

What a jerk.

After about another half-hour of just waiting Fly steps into the room, “You ready to go home?”

“No doubt about it. I really can’t wait to hear more about how the world changed.”

“Well, I do still have to tell you about the city first.”

“Yeah, yeah, let’s go already.”

“Alright, we might have to call a taxi.”

“Why?  Well first, what’s a taxi?

“A taxi is a thing you call when someplace is too far away to walk.”

“Walking? Oh, right,” I say as I look at my scars. I hang my head low.

“It’s fine, walking is surprisingly enjoyable.”

“Well let’s call this ‘taxi’ thing.”

Out front we just stand there, until Fly puts her hoof in the air.  After a couple minutes this yellow colt pulled up cart in tow, “Where to ma’am?”

“Fourth and Westfield.”

Confused I ask, “What’s a ‘Fourth and Westfield?’”

“It’s a street corner.”

“Ok, now what’s a street.”

“I don’t understand it too well either.  It’s basically a glorified pathway.”

“Oh, well that’s pointless.”

“That’s what I thought.  They are apparently here for safety.”

“Well that makes no sense at all.”

“I know right.  They spent all those bits to pay those workers for things like repair and construction, but that money could be spent on a whole lot more.”

“Well, at least your speech has gotten better,” she starts blushing.

“And you still know how to make me embarrassed,” she starts to stare at me.

There is a long silence, well sort of, this place is really noisy.

The ride was enjoyable, until I found out you had to pay for it.

“Three fifty,” the taxi driver said,” and thank you for choosing Yellow Cart Cab CO.”

“Thanks for the ride,” Fly digs through her bag and eventually pays the man.

We walk up the stairs and I start to get tired, “You said walking wasn’t that bad.”

“No... I said, ‘it was surprisingly enjoyable,’ never did I say that it wasn’t bad or hard.”

“Well the whole truth next time.”

“Alright. Well here we are,” she motions her head towards a door that had ‘F22” engraved in it. She did something with the door and then opened it, “Sorry about all the papers, I have a lot of stuff to go through.”

“Better than medical equipment I guess,” I take an open seat on the couch.

“Hey, you quit your complaining. If it wasn’t for those doctors I would have lost you.”

“And if I wasn’t so stupid I, no we, would never have been put through this.”

“Cloud Swee-”

“Don’t you dare. That is the name of a dead pony, and until I have a reason to do something, I don’t have one,” I was confused. How did we get to arguing? I didn’t want to and what I just said hurt her. It hurt her bad.

“So... I’m not reason enough for you,” she was barely audible under the strain of her voice.

“You know I didn’t mean that.”

“No. I guess you didn’t,” I get up and walk towards her.

“Look, I’m sorry. I just need some time to settle in, that’s all. Then we can be as happy as we want to be.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I am,” we lock eyes, “I’ll look for work after four days.”

“Why four?”

“So I can get used to walking.”

“Seems fair. Speaking of practice, after three years in a bed, you probably don’t know what fun is anymore.”

“Well, I may need a refresher course.”

“Well, how about dinner and a movie?”

“What’s a movie?”

“I’ll tell you later, we should get some sleep.”

“Ok, but, where do I sleep?”

“Darn, I didn’t think of that. There’s only one bed, and the couch is half filled,” she had this devious look about her.

“You planned this; didn’t you?”

“Well... maybe,” she winks and leads the way to the room.

Wait... Only one bed. That means... Fuck I am so not prepared for this.

I slowly walk into the room and she is just getting into bed.

“Well come on, I won’t bite,” she got a smile, “Well, maybe.”

“How... considerate?”

“Just get in the bed.”

I lay in the bed for what feels like an eternity, but in reality, it was most likely four hours. I can’t sleep. I am tired and nervous, not a good combination. I get up and silently walk into the kitchen. While searching for some juice I hear a loud noise. Kind of like a thud and a rattle. I keep hearing it, I trace it the fire escape. I go out and I can barely describe what I see. Earth ponies, about five, moving so fast... and flying?

The blue one calls out to the lead pony, “Redd! We got a spotter!”

The lead, Redd, looks at me and they change course; I lose sight of them. I can hear noises from beneath me. I look down and they are just beneath my floor!

“Shit,” I shout, “How are they so fast?” I try to close my window, but a pair of red hooves block them. I try to run to the room but a yellow pony bursts through the front door.

Flight calls out, “What the hell is going on out there?”

The red pony hops over the couch and whispers in my ear, “Tell her everything is fine.”

Backed against a wall I say it, “Everything's ok, go back to sleep.”

“Good... you must be new here.”

“Heh, what gave it away?”

“The fact that you didn’t close your window right away.”

“What does that have to do with anything,” as I ask the other four laugh.

“Where you from?”

“C-cloudsdale,” the others suddenly stop.

“Then where are your wings? Hmm? Don’t lie to me, only pegasi can get to Cloudsdale!”

“What do you want?”

“Me? Me, I want it all. The question is, what do I want from you.”

“Well look around, there is nothing of value.”

“Listen here, I am not just a common criminal. I am what you would call an information broker.”

“A what?”

“Basically, I buy, sell, retrieve, give, and occasionally steal information for clients. Also, I deliver mail on Tuesdays.”

“And what does that have to do with me.”

“Nothing, we just ducked in here because the police are after us.”

“Wait... come again.”

“Well, Us+Open window-Cops=Safety.”

After a facehoof I say, “I must be having a nightmare.”

“Ooh! Now I remember you. You were in the paper yesterday, ‘The Miracle Survivor’.”

“Get out.”

“What?”

“The police are long gone. So unless I am to call them over here, GET OUT!”

“Why!? We’re having a nice talk and you’re a celebrity!”

“Get out of this fucking apartment. Because I don’t care how fast you are outside, but in a cramped place like this, a knife should hit at least one of you.”

“Ok, ok, see you tomorrow,” without noticing his entire gang had gone, and he just walked out the window.”

“Wait. What did he mean by seeing me tomorrow?”