Outskirts

Chapter One

Chance Encounters

Unrelenting boredom as a side effect of rampant and poorly concealed jealousy; or in lay-pony terms, how I felt having to sit through these things every year.

Another one came slowly and gracefully trotting down the vibrantly decorated runway (which was actually more interesting to look at than most of the mares using it). She gave an obviously practiced wave and smile, then proceeded to regale us with all of the wonderful things she would do if she were a Princess of Equestria. I severely hated being here, but it was ‘Vanity’s big day’, the Raincap beauty pageant; or rather what it should have started being called after she had won for the fourth year in a row: The “Everypony bring your daughters to this contest in their best dresses so you can watch them cry when they lose to the only alicorn outside of Canterlot” pageant. I had always figured that it was just my jealously talking when I thought such things, but still, being a flightless pegasus with an alicorn as a sister was more than a little bit embarrassing.

My mother and father stood on either side of me on the trimmed lawn of the Raincap public park, modestly applauding the starry eyed young mares while anxiously waiting for their own to arrive and remove any hope of victory from the other participants. For such a small town, I always found it odd that Raincap Village (a misnomer I know) had rather nice amenities. I mean, what other backwater rim towns had a beauty pageant sponsored by Fancy Pants himself?

The next contestant in the race for second place trudged out from behind the curtain with much less grace than the last. I could plainly tell that she was uncomfortable in her dress, and maybe even uncomfortable having so many ponies watching her. I felt a little sorry for her, but that didn’t stop me from having to hold back a chuckle when she lost her footing and tumbled off the runway. After a brief delay, the show got back underway.

I was getting bored with this quickly. As model after model strutted down the catwalk I found myself imagining Vanity backstage constantly swapping her number with those of other ponies just so she could go last. Then, just as I felt like I was going to begin shouting obscenities that would make even a draconequus shoot me a dirty look, the curtain began to flutter, and out stepped the mare of the hour. I could almost feel the other fillies’ parents simultaneously sigh in disappointment and gasp in awe at the sight of her; and I could very much hear my parents as they began to shout and cheer only a few inches from my ears. Her walk was far more refined than those of the other challengers. It was like watching a professional ice skater go up against elementary school fillies in a battle of style and grace. And as much as I knew I should feel proud of my sister, I could only ever be envious of her. I mean, how is it even remotely close to fair that the universe saw fit to grant her our mother’s magic and father’s flight, but pawn off these thinly feathered excuses for wings on me? And I didn’t even get a damn horn! But worst of all is that she didn’t even know what she had. She was one of those ponies that acted like they didn’t realize that every stallion and even most mares had at least one eye for her, and what was even more insulting was that she was honestly too dense to notice!

After handily removing all hope for what must have now been a dozen or so weeping mares, Vanity delivered an ‘If I were Princess’ speech that came right out of a movie. It was disgusting, but they all loved it. Even the other fillies’ parents couldn’t help but nod and applaud as if they didn’t realize their own little mares were somewhere beyond the curtain having their dreams crushed into powder. And the pony shattering their hopes and aspirations was blissfully unaware of the fact that she were doing so. I bet myself that she’d honestly be surprised when she won. It made me sick.

I was getting heated, and Vanity wasn’t the last pageant hopeful. I wasn’t about to stand there and be angry at my sister for being all and all the most unnecessarily modest pony in all of forever, and the thunderous applause she got as she strode back to the curtain provided the perfect cover for my escape.

I slipped out from right under my mother’s nose and darted out of the park like a stampeding bunny. I needed time to be alone. Not that I was usually surrounded by droves of eager ponies wanting to befriend me. Being a cripple in the eyes of most of my peers didn’t exactly spell ‘popular pony’ into my coat. In fact, any time any of my class mates ever spoke to me it was in a terribly disguised attempt to get closer to Vanity. I wanted to be alone because I was always alone, and as depressing as that was, it had been the case for so long that it was really the only way I felt comfortable. That, however, didn’t make it any less devastating to my self esteem.

Great, now I was angry and sad.

I stopped running when I reached the fence that curled around the Southern portion of Raincap. As a little filly I used to always wonder why there was a fence around our town, and why just beyond that fence grass seemed to disappear and become replaced with endless dunes of wavy sand. And as much as the older ponies would tell me there was nothing beyond the barricade, I still asked so many questions about the border and what lay beyond it that for the longest time it was predicted I’d have a question mark cutie mark before anyone else in my class would even know what a cutie mark was. I always disagreed of course. I wanted a cool cutie mark like a map or a compass. I wanted to be an adventurer and be the first pony to traverse the great expanse beyond the Raincap gates. That, of course, is not what happened. And for those wondering, my cutie mark is actually, brace yourself, a blotch of color. Yep, a patch of blue slightly darker than the coat color that served as my namesake…and I was the last in my class to get one. I guess feeling blue was my destiny after all.

WHAM!

My self pity was curtailed by a colossal uproar of dust right outside the fence. I dove onto the ground and covered my head from the falling pebbles and globs of dirt. When I stood back up I was in a sort of semi-panic. I had been caught so much by surprise that I didn’t know how I should react. The mere nature of what had just happened could only mean something bad, and I didn’t want to be anywhere near it. Only, I did.

I found myself pressing my face against the crisscrossed metal gate, trying to get a better look at what had just happened. In the sand I could see what looked like a massive skid mark several yards away from where I was standing, as if something had fallen from the sky and didn’t have time to slow down before eating dirt, literally. My gaze followed the gash to a mound of sand, under which was certainly whatever it was that had dropped to Earth with such incredible force. A voice in the back of my head was reminding me of how much the idea of adventure enticed me, how much I loved the feeling of discovery and knowledge, and it wanted to know what was buried in the sand. A voice in the front of my head swiftly silenced it by kindly asking me if I had lost my bucking mind! The realization of what had just happened planted itself into the side of my head like a sack of ripe apples. Something had just happened outside of the fence. Nothing was supposed to even be beyond the fence. Now I was in full panic. My first instinct was to run back to the pageant and get help, but then I remembered that my parents would be upset that I had ditched on Vanity’s event, but this was certainly far more important than any silly contest. It was quite the dilemma. Fortunately for me (or rather unfortunately), as soon as I turned around to start back to the park I was met by the sight of everyone in Raincap staring on in awe at what lay behind the fence. Apparently everyone had noticed the crash and come rushing over without me even noticing. It was only then that I realized how badly my ears had been ringing from being so close to the impact.

<<-------------------------------------------------->>

“I can’t believe you would do that to your sister! And on such an important day!”

“I must agree Periwinkle. What you did behooves me.”

This was ridiculous. Something had happened outside of the fence. An anomaly that nopony in this town had ever experienced had occurred and these ponies, my parents, somehow found it possible to place importance on the fact that I had wandered away from the pageant.

“Hey sis, I won. Look it.”

Vanity had stood quietly between them as they laid into me, a diamond tiara on her head and a sullen expression on her face. I knew that look. She wasn’t sad that I had left her show, that I had proven how little I cared about her ‘big day’. She was sad for me. Sad that yet again I was being reprimanded, or made fun of, or belittled while she was being held in high esteem. From atop her lofty pedestal, Queen Vanity had found it in her heart to have pity for the less fortunate.

“Well? What do you have to say for yourself young lady?” spat my mother.

“I-“

“You know what?” she interrupted “I don’t even want to hear it. There is no explanation for this. You are to go straight to your room when we get home and are not to leave until I tell you otherwise. You hear me?”

I looked to my father for any sympathy he might be able to offer.

“Dad, something happened beyond the gate. And I was the first pony to see it. You know how important this is! I mean, Vanity has one of these every year, but this. This has never happened before. Something fell from the sky! I saw it.”

He regarded me for a moment, taking in what I had said.

“Dad…please.”

He considered my words a moment more.

“Sorry dear, but you know your mother’s word is final.”

<<-------------------------------------------------->>

I couldn’t sleep that night. My mind kept shooting between thoughts of how unfair my punishment had been, and all manner of thoughts about the thing I had seen outside the fence. What was it? Where did it come from? Well, that was obvious. It had come from behind the fence, but how? I had been skimming through every book I had for clues on what I had seen, but not one of them mentioned anything about the land beyond the fence. In fact, not one of them mentioned the fence at all, or Raincap for that matter. Hell, I had looked through every history book I had and none of them even had a map that labeled anything beyond Equestria’s border. The thought made me fret with excitement. I had seen history! Nopony had ever seen anything like this. At least that is, if the history books were to be trusted, and of course they were. They wouldn’t have this stuff taught in school if it wasn’t true.

On the way home from the Pageant I had noticed what looked like a group of ponies that I had recognized from news broadcasts as being Royal Government ponies. No doubt they were in Raincap as a result of what I had seen. And that meant…No! I couldn’t let them just take away my discovery like that. I had to know what it was that had fallen from the sky into the desert beyond, and I couldn’t do that from inside my room.

I’d have to sneak out tonight. If I knew anything about government ponies it was that things like this tend to be covered up pretty quickly. At least, that’s how it was in all the movies I had seen where fancily dressed stallions in sun glasses rode around in Foals-Royce wagons and snatch innocent ponies up off the street who are then never heard from again. That being the case, I had to work fast. By now they had to have taken the thing in from behind the gate and were likely readying it to be sent to Canterlot or Fillydelphia where they had scientists and what not. I emptied my backpack of most of my school supplies, save for a few notable texts, and began to stuff it full of snacks, a blanket, a few pieces of clothing, and a travel pack full of first aid gear. I had the notion that when my parents found out I had left they wouldn’t want me to ever return. And to be honest, I was actually hoping for that. I had grown sick of Raincap, sick of being the most pathetic pony in town. I figured that if there were flying things behind the gate, there had to be civilization. Maybe if I returned whatever it was that dropped, they’d accept me as one of their own. I knew it was a long shot, both because it wouldn’t exactly be easy to steal from Celestia’s government ponies and because I didn’t know anypony who would take in a lame pegasus like me as a hero, even if I returned their first born colt. But still, anything was better than life in Raincap.

I moved as quietly as I could, sliding open the locks on my bedroom window and slowly pushing it aside. By now my parents probably thought I was asleep. I had been trapped in here for over five hours now; and even though the sun had just set, I could see anypony passing out from sheer boredom after that long, let alone one that bored as easily as I do. I crept slowly out of the second story window and pulled it closed as I hung from the ledge.

“Oh horse apples,” I whispered.

In my haste to make my day dreams into realities, I had forgotten to plan for how I would get down from my room. I hung there for what felt like several minutes, feeling stupider than anypony could ever have felt in all of history…maybe. I realized that as much as I liked to think to the contrary, I was, in fact, not a clever pony.

“Uh…Peri, what are you doing?” The voice was sweet and curious, a hint of bubbliness trailing off the question.

“Vanity! What are you doing out here?”

I felt a chill. Were my mother and father right there with her? I tried to turn my head to see and in my panic lost my grip on the ledge. My eyes squeezed closed as I prepared for the impact that never came. I felt my hooves gently make contact with the ground. Had I…had I flown?! My eyes shot open as I looked about in glee. I saw Vanity standing right next to me. She had caught me. My entire face became tinted deeper than a red delicious apple. I shoved her away and turned to hide my shame.

“Leave me alone Vanity. Don’t you see I’m running away?”

“What?! No, you can’t run away!” I could hear the sadness in her voice, and couldn’t help but feel a twinge of it myself. I turned back to her.

“No, I have to do this. I’ve outgrown this town. I’m off to bigger and better things. Tell Mom and Dad what I’ve told you.” I thought for a moment then added “But wait till at least tomorrow.”

“I…you can’t…” I could tell she was about to cry. So I milked it.

“I don’t know what you want me to say sis. I’ve outgrown you. Don’t worry; there will be plenty of new friends for me where I’m going.”

She stood silently, staring at me intently. Her eyes were watery but her look was contemplative.

“I’m coming with you.”

“Like I said, I…wait what?”

“I’m going with you. To the place you are running away to.” A devilish smile formed on her face “And before you say-“

“No. Not a chance.” I stomp the ground with conviction.

“I figured you’d say that. Okay, goodbye Peri. I’ll just go tell mom and dad not to expect you back till never.”

“Wait, I said not until-“

“Did you? Hm. All I heard was to make sure they know where you are. So, bye.” She started to walk back towards our house.

I dove after her but ate soil as she took off into the air.

“Hey, get down here!” I was fuming. It was one thing to rescue me with her flight, but to literally hold it over my head was just plain mean.

“How about this. You let me go with you to our new home and nobody will ever have to know…until they realize we’re gone.”

“Wait, what? Why would you want to leave Raincap? Everyone here loves you. If I were you I’d never leave!”

“Well…I…I just don’t like it here anymore is all. But that doesn’t matter now does it?”

Yes. Yes it does. I doubt Celestia or Luna would ever want to leave Canterlot, so why would Vanity want to leave Raincap?

“So, can I go with you?” She knew she had me in a corner.

“Fine.”

I was already thinking of ways to ditch her before even reaching the gate.

<<-------------------------------------------------->>

“I still can’t hear them. Take us lower.”

Vanity lowered our altitude a few more pony lengths, trying to remain as quiet as possible. Below us, several of Celestia’s government ponies were grouped together behind the local coffee store talking to the Mayor of Raincap. The idea of having Vanity carry me was humiliating, but if we were to find out what was going on, this was as good a way as any. As we descended I began to be able to make out parts of the conversation.

“We don’t need this in our town. We’re peaceful ponies. Just take that thing out of here and let us be done with it.” The Mayor spoke with authority, but nothing could hide the fear driving her words. One of the government stallions answered back.

“Let’s not play cute Ma'am. We all know what Raincap is. The underground research lab here is the only placed we can run these tests outside of Canterlot.”

“Then take it there.”

I had a feeling they had probably already considered that option.

“There are things about this that you don’t understand. If we could just move him to Canterlot we would have already.”

“What am I supposed to tell these ponies? As far as they know there’s nothing behind that fence except for sand and clouds. What they saw today can’t be reasoned away by telling them they all just imagined the same thing together.”

I felt a sudden jolt.

“Peri, I’m getting tired. I have to land,” I heard my sister whisper.

“Dammit Vanity. Put us down on the roof of the coffee house.”

As quietly as she could, Vanity let us down onto the roof of the cafe. I scurried over to the edge of the roof to continue listening in on the government ponies.

“Not even I would believe that. ‘A meteor’? In the middle of broad day light? And somehow nopony saw it in the sky?” rebutted the Mayor to a suggestion I had not heard.

“Actually, it would be a meteorite.” One of the younger suited ponies mirrored my thought.

“Enough of this!” The government pony across from the Mayor seemed frustrated by the argument. “Whether or not they believe you is irrelevant. You’ll tell them what we tell you to tell them. When we complete our testing we will leave this rat hole of a town and you can go back to throwing your little beauty contests.”

I felt like hugging him.

The government pony turned to his entourage and signaled for them to move out. They all trotted to a wagon parked in front of the coffee shop and went on their way. The Mayor stood for a moment then let out a shiver and trotted away.

I turned away from the ledge and began to contemplate what I had just witnessed. The things those ponies had said made almost no sense. I had searched out every nook and cranny in Raincap during my younger years while playing adventurer, and I had never seen any signs of an underground testing lab. And what did they mean by ‘you know what Raincap is’? Raincap was a town, that’s what it was. And the thing I had seen behind the gate was…

“Peri, what are you thinking? I know that look, and that look means you’re gonna do something that’s gonna get you in trouble.” Vanity was right, but only partly. What I was going to do would get me in trouble, but only if I got caught.

“What am I thinking?” I could feel myself smirking “One of those ponies said that what they found behind the gate was a ‘he’.”

Vanity stared at me, perplexed. “A ‘he’? As in like a boy pony?”

“Exactly.” What I had seen behind the gate was a creature falling from the sky. A creature pony enough to be referred to as a he, and durable enough to survive a drop that made my ears ring.

“And what I’m thinking is that I would very much like to meet this ‘he’”.