Waking Eyes

"I haven't seen you in years." Flare said, now feeling his eyes water, "I thought maybe you died, without completing your dream." Flare cared for Arrow so much, if Arrow had ever been confirmed dead, Flare may would have just ended it. Flare was so happy to see Arrow, but never showed joy when they come face to face. Knowing he had to fight brother was a problem.

Arrow felt the same way, but Flare needed to duel Arrow ever so often. Arrow knew Flare couldn't hold out on his own without someone to keep him on hooves. Arrow also knew that couldn't kill Flare, the first and last of his family. Flare and Arrow were not blood brother according to science and stuff like that. But with Flare and Arrow both losing their parents, their only family, they could consider themselves blood.

"I couldn't of died Flare" Arrow said, in a confronting voice, "I know my fate is right next to you, dying with you by my side is okay. I wouldn't let it happen in any different way." Flare looked up when Arrow said this.

"You shouldn't let it happen, anyway!" Flare said with a louder tone. Flare never wanted Arrow to die, ever. If Arrow died, Flare couldn't continue as himself, Flare wouldn't exist. Flare couldn't take having no family once more, because if Flare didn't protect them both, he would suffer knowing he failed to protect his family, twice. Flare slammed his head on Arrow's shoulder.

"Flare," Arrow said, now facing the moon, as if they were giving him the right words to say. "I know that you, would not let it happen." Flare looked up at his face, and Arrow looked down and frowned. "Let me get you bandaged up, I can't stand to see you covered in blood." Arrow levitated saddlebags out of the bush he appeared from.

Arrow let Flare go so he could get ready to feel painful spray, and be taped up with bandages. Arrow took quite a bit of medical supplies out of his bags. Flare glared at the spray, he hated it, but Arrow always said it was better then infections. Arrow levitated a cloth and wiped all the blood off Flare's face. He then levitated the spray.

"Um, Arrow do you mind not spraying that in my cheek cuts?" Flare said, putting his hoof over it, "It still burns enough from your blade, what was on that?" Arrow put the spray down and instead got some bottled water. He pushed Flare's hoof off his face and poured it above the cheek cuts, letting it was out.

"You wanna know?" Arrow asked, Flare nodded, "Lemon juice mixed with salt water, on an open wound that burns really bad." Flare learned that quickly the hard way, he figured Arrow wouldn't go that far. But he learned that was not the case. "Well, I hate to tell you, but I'm going to still spray these cuts" Flare was disappointed. "The blade cuts are the ones I am the most afraid will get an infection." Arrow held the spray right to the cuts, and sprayed.

It stung and burned really bad. Flare was so convinced there was still some of Arrow's burning mixture was in there. This was almost unbearable, Flare smacked the spray away. It never burned so much, it as if some pony had slammed Flare face into a burning furnace. After about thirty seconds, Flare was ready for the rest of his wounds.

"That hurt that bad?" Arrow said messing with Flare. "Well, the rest shouldn't be as bad. But I'm sure you know that." Flare knew that it still burned no matter what. Flare reached into the bags Arrow got, and grabbed pain killers from a smaller bag, inside the saddlebags. Flare then pulled a rock over and set them on it, Arrow moved towards Flare and lifted his mane. As Flare crushed the pills, as Arrow sprayed his head wound, and his shoulders. Flare took the rest of the bottled water and put the crushed pills into it and handed it to Arrow, after he finished spraying all Flare's cuts.

Arrow drank the rest of the bottled water, he knew Flare wouldn't let him save any for Flare. Arrow levitated the bandages and bandages and patches. Arrow patched up Flare's leg and shoulder. Flare just sat there waitng for it to be done with.

"So how have you been?" Arrow was the first to ask, "Anything new?" Arrow knew he was in for it when he saw Flare's eyes light up. Arrow patched his cheek and before Flare could begin, he said, "Also patch or bandage?"

"Bandage," Flare answered and got ready to explain today. "Well today was completely different, from foods, friends and I even worked for some bits today." Flare didn't like working usually, but bucking apples wasn't that bad. "When I walked into Ponyville, which is right over that way," Flare said pointing his hoof, "I was crush by a very happy and very pink pony, with balloons for a mark." Arrow ad been bandaging Flare, but stopped for a second.

"Like from your mother's stories?" Arrow asked, and Flare nodded barely, since Arrow was bandaging.

"Yep, and she worked a sweet shop called Sugarcube corner. after that I met two more ponies, a librarian and a, goofy one" Flare didn't realize he blushed, Arrow caught it, but decided not to ask. "I helped the librarian rearrange books, she took me to a place called Sweet Apple Acres. This is where I worked for a while, bucking apples, and I'll be honest I ate one on the job." Arrow chuckled, Flare continued. "I got enough bits to visit the sweet shop, but upon arrival I was kidnapped and cleaned up, I was so dirty, it was terrible."

Flare stopped and smiled, but then continued. "After that I met the rainbow maned pony of my mother's story, I know for sure. She walked to Sugarcube Corner with me, and then had to go. The pink pony took my order and I got two muffins and learned about the muffin monster." Arrow looked in confusion, Flare would explain that next. "I then went to town park and encountered the muffin monster, and gave her my other muffin. It was the goofy pony from the library, she was nice." The blush had reappeared. "She saved my muffin."

"Saved your muffin, what do you mean?" Arrow was getting more and more confused as Flare continued the story with his crush in it.

"Well, I fell off the bench I was sitting on and my muffin went flying. It hit the ground, and she picked it up and brushed it off and cleaned it, then gave it back to me." Flare told him. "Being me, I would have sat there and let it sit there, maybe even cried, but she helped me. After that I meet a super shy pony, my shy style couldn't be as good as her natural shy. I helped her and in return I got to hold her blue jay, it was cool. But what happened next was the best. I got to see my brother again!" Flare hugged him, and then yawned.

"Well you have had a long day," Arrow said leading him to the tree with now a arrow hole in it. He layed down with Flare still hugging him. Flare let go and then got comfortable next to Arrow. "So I think it is time to say goodnight."

Flare smiled, "Goodnight Arrow." Arrow waited maybe five minutes for Flare to fall asleep. After he heard steady breaths, he got lost in thought. So Flare's mothers stories are confirmed, Arrow thought, Is now a good time to stay with him? He then remembered his former family, he left them, and he didn't know if the same would happen with Flare.

-

Arrow's blood family was alive and well, but everyday Arrow hoped that they suffered. He didn't consider them family, real family didn't threaten to kill they're young because of bits. Arrow met Flare and heard his story and felt a click, he stayed with Flare a little while, and found his true family.

When Arrow was young and could barely levitate a bow, his father entered him into a contest, and apparently bet a lot of money Arrow would win. Arrow trued his best but could not get a bulls eye on the target. He lost the contest. His father didn't talk to him until they got home. Arrow said sorry an uncountable amount of times, he was a failure in his father's eyes and mind. Later that night he sat at the dinner table with his parents, and his father told him to leave.

"Arrow, you need to get your stuff now, and leave. this was your last meal here." His father's words so soulless, "We lost a hundred thousand bits because of you, you failure."

"Father, I'm sorry!" Arrow was mad now, "But I tried my best, but I couldn't do it." His father smacked him and stood up. Arrow looked in his eyes, beginning to feel hate flow.

"Do not call me father!" He shouted, "I will not live with a son who is a failure. So you failure can not be my son. Now get out before I call the guards and get you sent to a dungeon." Arrow looked at his mother, she looked away.

Arrow ran to his room and packed everything he needed, and went downstairs. Since his parents didn't want him, he wanted them to suffer. There was a candle and his dad's newspaper, together Arrow made fire, and stuffed it into a bookcase. Arrow watched as more books caught on fire, and the alarm went off. Arrow opened the door and walked out, he looked back the fire was spreading fast. Arrow smiled as he saw stuff burn and his former father rushed towards the fire.

"Burn in hell," Arrow said turning and going, "It is where you belong." Arrow then slept in a ditch later that night, and next morning heard his parents were fine. Arrow wasn't okay with this, but couldn't do much at the moment.

One year later, he found a small colt, crying in a ditch, It was Flare. He got to Flare and asked him what was wrong, Flare broke down and told him everything. This was Flare's third day alone, so Arrow fed him, Flare hadn't eaten since his parents death. Arrow felt for Flare, they both lost all their family, at the same age, different ways. After a week with Flare, Arrow taught him to survive and Flare told him things and was afraid, but within the second week Flare was living on his own almost.

Flare was so thankful, he only had one thing in good value to thank him.

"Here," Flare said handing it over to Arrow. "It was my mother's necklace, it is one thing I use to remember her." Flare started crying, Arrow just hugged him. "Arrow," Flare got a hold of himself. "Will you be my big brother?" Arrow was shocked, but knew the answer.

"No, Flare," Arrow replied "I am not bigger than you, only a year older. We have both lost our families, and survived without them. It hasn't been happy, good or healthy, but we have been doing this without trying. We were meant to meet, Flare. If it was destined your parents were to get murdered, and mine to be soulless carefree demons, then we were meant to be brothers!" Arrow hugged Flare, they were both crying. "We are brothers in arms, this will be a constant war, but no matter what we will find each other once more if we separate. Protect the other if he is down. As well as die for the other, if the brother's dream needs one of us to die." That line made Flare go insane with tears, he just lost his family, and never wanted to lose more.

After a little while longer of tears, it was late. "It is getting late, Flare," Arrow said "So I think it is time to say goodnight."

-

Arrow yawned, he was tired himself. He put his front leg around Flare and closed his eyes. Flare wasn't his little brother, he was only his brother. Flare wasn't weaker than Arrow, but not stronger either. They both just know each others flaws, and Arrow accidentally used one today to beat Flare. He used time, not seeing Arrow in years made Flare worry. Then to see him today surprised him, and after a long day too, Arrow had a great advantage.

Arrow wanted to ask Flare for forgiveness, but Flare had already forgiven him. Flare didn't like when Arrow felt sorrow, or was asking for forgiveness, Flare wanted him to be happy. Arrow had two dreams, as did Flare, both of them wanted the other to be happy. Flare's second dream to cause the death of his parents murderer, Arrow's second was to be his parents murderer. Weird how they both accepted everything the other felt, but Flare would be there for Arrow if his confronted his parents. Flare didn't want to kill, but for Arrow he would if Arrow told him too.

But, Arrow wouldn't kill for Flare's dream, no Flare had to land the killing blow for his dream to end correctly. Flare wouldn't let Arrow kill for him. Flare was really protect about quite a few things with Arrow. Flare would lie to save Arrow's life, even if it meant his would end. Flare would give up so much to protect his family, he wish he had done the same so many years ago.

Arrow and Flare never thought about comparing their pasts. If Arrow had a say in it, Flare's was worse then his past, but Flare would disagree. Flare would hate to get rejected by his parents, and he thought Arrow's past was worse. Flare wanted to make Arrow forget his past, and realize that his true family was Flare, and Flare alone.

Arrow finally fell to the temptation to sleep and began the long darkness of his dreams. Arrow never dreamed, unlike Flare who had the same dream every night, Flare was into the middle of his dream, right after the line that usually awoke him, but it didn't. The dream continued, Flare was ready for what happened.

-

The blade comes down, slaying Flare's mother. It was painful seeing that, Flare wanted to wake up now, but knew that he shouldn't.

"Mother!" Flare screamed and slammed open the door. The monster saw Flare, and withdrew his blade from Flare's mother. He continued towards Flare. He stopped right in front of Flare.

"Too bad," He said, with a soulless tone, "You could of listened and lived, but now you are a nuisance. You must die." He swung his blade and Flare jumped out of the way. Then Flare pushed towards the monster's face, he hit it once in it right eye.

'I'll kill you!" Flare yelled, after getting in front of his mom's body. The monster swung and missed again. But to Flare's surprise, he was grabbed and was slammed into the wall. The monster began choking him.

"You are so weak, and pitiful." The monster said not letting Flare breathe. "Now you will die." He took Flare and threw him through a closed window. Glass shattered as Flare went flying through, none had cut Flare, but Flare was going to land face first from the second story. Flare rolled over in midair and hit the ground, hard.

-

This is what made Flare wake up. There was still more, but he couldn't handle it yet. Flare's mind was racing, with a lot of questions simply asking what happened after? Flare thoughts were interrupted by Arrow.

Arrow was sleeping, and in his sleep pulled Flare closer to him. Flare than noticed Arrow's leg around him. Flare thought it was a little silly, how Arrow slept better holding Flare like a giant stuffed animal. But, Flare couldn't joke about it, knowing Arrow would win. This was the only foalish thing Arrow really did, Flare on the other hand acted like that at least once ever day. Flare remembered the muffin hitting the ground. Yep, Flare was so much more foalish.

Another reason Flare couldn't joke about it was because, Flare really enjoyed it. Flare liked giving and having a sense of security with Arrow. It reminded Arrow when he had been really young, he had a stuffed animal. Every night to hugged it until he fell asleep. It reminded Flare of his mother's hugs every night before Flare fell asleep. Both were reminded of happy times. Flare decided it would be better to go back to sleep.

They both slept until morning. Arrow was the first of them awake, because the sun gleaming in his eyes, Flare had shade over his face. It was only about seven in the morning. Arrow knew this because his ability to tell time just by the position of the sun or moon. He preferred to tell the time at night though. Arrow looked at Flare, and how he was almost hugging Flare. He slowly slid away from Flare, trying not to wake him. Somehow Arrow would never wake up Flare on accident.

Arrow got up and stretched. His side was still a little sore from last night, even with the pain pills assistance. He thought about going and hunting for something for Flare and him. Food wasn't free, so they had to do something.

"Arrow!" Flare yelled, and also launching into a sitting position. Flare's eye were wide and his breathing was heavy. After a second, Flare turned to Arrow with some serious news. "Arrow..." Flare said sounding relieved that Arrow was still there. "I didn't have the same dream, of my mother." Flare paused "I had an even worse one, it was you who would die in this one. I don't really understand it at all, we were running. Running from something, and everything was on fire. We ran through a house and roof collapsed on top of you. I turned to help, only to be crushed myself rushing to help you." Flare really hated this next part. "We were only a few feet away from each other, I reached out my hoof and reached out yours. We were an inch from touching, but the world cracked up and put a huge crack between us. And slowly it crack grew and it looked like you were yelling something, but all I could here was the burning of fire. Then you became engulfed in flames, And I tried frantically to escape and help you, but it was useless. I looked over and you, you just layed there lifeless. I called out your name, then louder, then even louder, then I woke up." Flare was extremely afraid of his dreams, if they weren't in the past, they might mean something will happen in the future.

"Flare," Arrow said, walking towards him and hugging him. "It was just a bad dream, I'm not going to die on you." Arrow didn't understand, Flare had to explain his fear of the dream.

"But what if it is true?" Flare asked, "What I saw in that dream is that you needed help and I couldn't be there for you, that cost you your life. We are always separated after our visits we each other. Arrow, what if this happens you die, because I'm not there." Arrow understood like Flare now. But Flare didn't understand that some of his dreams were meant to warn other ponies sometimes. This was warning Arrow that if he had left Flare again, something would happen to him, and Flare couldn't assist.

"Do not worry," Arrow said with a softer voice, "I'm not leaving. Thank your dreams Flare, because without your special dreams, I might have died. I was thinking of staying with you from this point on but wasn't too sure, but then got a warning telling me to stay. You have something very special." Arrow hugged Flare a little harder, "By the way, good job on the mark." Flare drew away from the hug looked down at his rump. He saw a mark there, a mark of a couple clouds covering the moon a little. He turned to Arrow smiling a giant smile, Arrow just hugged him again.

Flare hugged back, "No Arrow, Thank you," Flare said. "You helped me so much, carried me through life, I would have been dead if you had no came to help me." Flare knew he should have been dead, but he wasn't he lived through everything every pony had to throw at him.

Just then both their stomachs seemed to ask, "We do we get filled?" Flare smiled and knew where to go, Sweet Apple Acres. That work was fun, easy, and now if Arrow was helping they could hit up Sugarcube Corner and eat a few sweets for breakfast. Oh my gosh, Sugarcube Corner, Flare promised Pinkie that he would be there today at noon. It looks like Arrow gets to come on an adventure.

"Okay, Arrow ready for some work?" Flare asked and Arrow nodded. Flare and Arrow began towards Sweet Apple Acres, they talked about usually stuff. "So, have you been to Ponyville?" Arrow just shook his head, he was silent and just admired everything around him. "Well it's a really nice place, and has the most unique ponies ever!" They so arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack was just leaving. "How are you today, AJ?"

"Howdy," She said, but then noticed all of Flare's patches, "What happened to ya?" She looked at Arrow, "And is this a friend, ya got here?" She was confused.

"This here is Arrow, my brother." Flare told AJ the truth, "And I got really banged up in the Everfree Forest, but he patched me up well." It would be awkward if he had said Arrow did that then fixed him up, and the fact being that they were brothers. AJ was smart, but Flare didn't think she could understand. "Hey, do you got any work? Arrow and I have got no bits and are a little hungry."

"Well, I'll be gone all day, but if ya'll wanna buck some more apples off the trees, I'd gladly appreciate it, and for payment ya'll can take a few for breakfast." AJ said, she know Flare needed to be by Sugarcube Corner at noon.

"Well, that would be great. It's a done deal, we'll buck off apples and take a few for breakfast." Flare looked at Arrow awaiting Approval.

"That sounds pretty good" Arrow agreed, "Thanks, AJ" Arrow have a hoof to shake and AJ shook it. Flare was glad that Arrow didn't mind the deal, made right in front of him that he didn't seem to have a say in.

"Alright, I'll be seein ya two around now," AJ said, beginning to walk by Flare. "Flare, did ya have that yesterday? I mean ya cutie mark." Flare looked back remembering he didn't have it yesterday.

"No, I didn't" Flare replied, "I got it right after a dream I had, a dream that took a lot to understand that it just wasn't a bad one." Arrow didn't understand at first, Flare had to explain it. Flare was really good at understanding dreams, just wasn't sure how to force them to continue. "I am really good at explaining and understanding dreams." Arrow looked over and thought hard about something, but Flare couldn't tell what.

"Well good job, Flare!" AJ patted him on the back "Now do another and get me lots of them apples." She said walking away chuckling, Flare waved, as did Arrow, and they got a wave back. Flare headed for the apple trees, Arrow followed a little surprised on how many apple trees there were. Flare knew what to do and ran towards the trees, until he realized that running was painful for him. Arrow caught up to him, and began to wonder why Flare was in a rush today.

"Do you have anything to do today?" Arrow asked, looking at Flare's patches making sure he didn't open any wounds. "Like, plans?"

Flare smiled "We have to be at Sugarcube Corner at noon, but I have no clue why." Flare said. Oh, and by the way, Arrow, when was the last time you partied?" Arrow laughed, knowing Flare knew what happened last time he was at a party. Arrow got drunk.