Aspects of Life

I
Dune

Dune had never felt so alive. He was finally free, at least from his preexisting cage known as his home town. He didn't hate Inivo Vicus, he loved the place, but his mother was a cautious pony and didn't take danger lightly, and neither did the kingdom of Saddle Arabia . Sure he had to go back to his house with his mom later in the day, but he didn't plan on going back until the sun had just passed behind the mountains in the distance. “This is great,” Dune thought to himself, “Now I don’t have to worry about getting caught by the patrol guards.”

As if on cue, a small patrol team stopped Dune in the middle of his first taste of freedom. “Ha, I knew I would catch you one of these days kid,” the first guard said with confidence, “Now you’ll in trouble and I won’t look like a fool this time.” He smiled wickedly with his robes covering him from head to hoof to keep the heat off of him and his black sunglasses gleamed as he looked Dune in the eye, trying his best to stare him down. Dune started to chuckle. The guard’s smile faded and his eyebrow rose. “What’s so funny?” he asked, “You should be begging me to let you off the hook.” Dune immediately stopped chuckling and his expression hardened. He hated how these guards expected him to kneel in submission as if they were Amira and Haakim themselves. Always full of themselves and looking down on the common pony. “Well if you actually did your homework, then you would know that I’m sixteen as of today. Therefore, I’m allowed out of the territory’s walls and free will to fly wherever I want.” He retorted. “Go ahead and check it on your, whatever you call them.” He said in a stern voice. The ponies who were higher in the ranks always got the goods. Become a part of the military, one of the patrol guards, or a castle guard, and they set you up for life. You get good pay, nice houses, and above all others, you get access to the technology that the middle class and lower don’t get. The guard rolled up his robes from around his ankle to reveal a rectangular device that was active on voice command. “Info for Saddle Arabian citizen Dune, the guard said aloud. The device made some noises then shot out a hologram with all of Dune’s recorded history. Birth date, criminal record, parents, you name it, it could get whatever information available you wanted it too. The guard gritted his teeth in irritation. “Sorry for the inconvenience Dune, we’ll be on our way,” He said. Just as fast they had stopped Dune, he was already gone, weaving in and out of the abnormally large cacti that inhabited the desert floor.

“Ah, this looks like a good spot,” he said to himself. He landed in an area that was open. Dune never understood why nothing grew there, probably because he and other Saddle Arabians like himself came here to sun bathe. He landed on the desert floor and sprawled out taking up every bit of warmth from the sun he could. He loved flying nonstop, but the next best thing is wasting away a lazy afternoon by absorbing the sun’s warmth. He circled around a few times until there was a groove in the soft sand. He was getting comfortable when a spot of sand next to him started to Dune saw the shaggy brown mane start to shake back and forth, but it was too late. He was covered in sand and now lost the urge to lay down until he saw who it was. One of his only true friends, sure he was well known for being a good pony and treating everyone as they should, (Though he didn't get the same in return)but there was a select few who he actually called his friends. “ Wasn't expecting to see you here Eflore,” he said smoothly. Eflore was now completely visible. “Aww how’d you know it was me? She said in a pouting tone. “Well,” he began, “You’re the only pony I know who completely covers themselves in sand to keep warm.” He started to laugh. “Yeah well you aren't exactly perfect either,” she said. “How so?” Dune asked. “You break kingdom regulations so you could come out here and fly and hang out with me.” She said triumphantly, “Ha beat that.” She started to jump up and down with glee. Dune shrugged. “Eh, I got nothing, but it was totally worth,” he said, “But now I don’t have to worry about that anymore.” He finished with a big smile. “That’s RIGHT, you’re sixteen today!” She exclaimed even happier than before. Before he could do anything, Eflore leaned over and gave him a hug. “Happy Birthday Dune.” She said squeezing him tight. Dune blushed a little bit, got over himself and gave a hug back.

The sun was starting to set over the desert sky, and Dune knew he had to be going or he would lose his privileges he just earned. Eflore had already gone due to a curfew of her own. Dune sat in silence, nothing bothered the still desert, until he heard a seemingly load crack of thunder to his left. He looked over and saw the Altus mountains sitting in the distance. The mountain range was completely surrounded by storm clouds. “Figures,” Dune said to himself, “We never usually get rain. Silly of me to even get my hopes up.” He got up and started to trot in the direction of his village, but there was a nagging feeling that hung with Dune, as if the storm was calling him to the mountains. “Maybe tomorrow I have other places to be right now.” He whispered and flew back home at an even speed. Not too fast, but not too slow.
Though his town’s wall wasn't as high as the bigger cities and the castle itself, it still got the job done. Guards stood atop the wall walking back and forth, acting like they were doing something, but Dune knew too well they weren't. He flew past the guards with speed no other pony in the kingdom could match. One was knocked off of his feet and fell off the wall yelling, “Son of a…” what he said after those words was lost in the wind.

After a couple of laps around the town, Dune finally came to a stop at his house, or his shack as everyone called it. Dune admits it, he was poor, one of the peasant families. Fortunately, his mother made enough money to keep food on the table. Dune wasn't helping her by using so much energy and burning so many calories. He entered the house to find his mother preparing dinner, she looked over her shoulder and gave him a smile. “Well you’re home on time for your first day out,” she continued, “So how was it? Being able to go outside the town’s walls? Not like you haven’t done it before.” She raised an eyebrow questioningly. “Well this time I didn't have to worry about getting in trouble with the patrols, and you didn't have to cover for me while I was out messing around.” He said happily. His mom just laughed and said, “Yeah now you don’t have to worry about getting in trouble.” Dune thought to himself about what it would be like to have another mom, because he would absolutely hate it. His mom, Star Nova, was the nicest pony in the world. She wasn't uptight about everything, and as long Dune didn't get caught, or didn't steal anything, Star was pretty much o.k. with it. Her golden eyes sparkled as if they were actually made of real gold. She was a Pegasus like him and her coat was a velvet red color nothing like his own. And her sandy mane made her beautiful. “Don’t know why Dad would have even left her in the first place,” he thought to himself. He immediately pushed that thought aside, he resented his dad, but he didn't want to think about him at all after he left mysteriously never to be heard from again. He asked around for answers when Dune was younger, but everyone acted like he had never existed.

After dinner was finished Dune acted as if he was walking to his room. He yawned, “Oh man, I am tiiiiiired, I’m gunna get some shut eye.” “Alright whatever you say,” she called back. He immediately went to the room next to his, and crawled out the window. He flew to the rooftop, landing gently so he wouldn't alert his mother. Dune got into a comfortable position and gazed upward. The cool desert air made the hair on his neck stand up. The night was still and it was completely dark. “Perfect,” he thought, “this was how star gazing was meant to be.”
It felt like hours until he started to actually feel tired. Another crack of thunder sounded from the Altus mountains. Every time Dune heard that sound, he felt as if some invisible force was pulling him toward it. It was probably his sense of adventure calling, but he couldn't help it. “Alright,” he told himself, “I’m going to the Altus mountains tomorrow.” With that said, he flew back into his room to fall asleep, eager with what tomorrow might hold.

Author's Note

Let me know what you guys think, and what i can elaborate in the next chapter.