Dark Skies

*Beep-beep-beep beep-beep-beep, beep-beep-beep-Click!* I hit the alarm clock, not even bothering to lift my head from the pillow…just five more minutes….

“Hey man, wake up!” A familiar voice shouted.

“Uhhhggghhh…leave me alone.” I let out a yawn, “I’m trying to sleep.”

“WAKE UP YOU BASTARD, YOU GOT SHIT TO DO!!!” The voice screamed, next thing I know I am thrown into the air for a split second and land face first into the Quills & Roses poster before peeling off and landing on my back on the carpet.

“…Ow…” I grumble, still half-sleep. I pop open one eye to see a blue colored pegasus standing over me, face with a light smirk. His mane was tinted with a lighter blue, and mixed with indigo/purple streaks.

“What the hell Chase?! What did you do that for?!” I protested, hopefully he can come up with a “reasonable” excuse this time.

“Have you forgotten what today is?” He questioned, raising a brow.

“What day is it today?”

“Thursday.” He stated bluntly. Shit, I totally forgot…my exam!!!! I rushed through the daily routine; I was almost going to be late. Of all the days in my college career, I have never been late and I am not going to start today! I rushed out of our dorm room faster than my hoofs could lift me. Chase hollered something to my, like it was important but I couldn’t worry about that now I had to get to class! Once I got there I took my seat and slumped back, wheezing considering how out of breath I was; felt like I was going to burst a vessel.

“Ok, class…” Mr. Trotsburrow began. “This exam will be the most important out of your entire year so you do not want to screw this up! If you finish the test early you will put the forms on my front desk and are welcome to leave. And BEGIN!”
I looked at the sheet in front of me, seems like simple magic spells and algorithms for spell matrixes and conjuring, easy as pie. I lean over to grab my quill case from my saddle bag, but my magic grabs onto nothing. “Huh?” I look into my pack, and then I start to panic; I forgot my quills! I was really beginning to freak out, the most important exam in my life and I forgot the most simplest of equipment! I sat there staring at my exam sheet and I almost started to cry. *Whoosh!!!* A strong breeze passes through and almost sends my sheet flying. I look to determine the source of the gale and all I discover is an open window.

“Whoa, there must a draft here.” Mr. Trotsburrow stated, “Now did this window get open? Anyway, back to your tests.” He commanded, closing the window. I looked at my sheet again, feeling mortified at my hasty mistake. Look up, almost praying to Celestia that I can find a way to overcome this. Then I notice something out of place, a feather fell right in front of my face. What made it more unusual was that it was a BLUE feather! I followed the feather and to my surprise it landed next to a quill case…no, MY quill case! Had my prayers been answered!? I open the zipper to pull out a quill and a small, folded paper slide out with it. My eyes darted to Trotsburrow, but he was reading a book to notice me. I opened the paper and the note read:

Dear Silver Shore,

Maybe this will teach you not to run out on me before I finish talking. Next time keep the case someplace where you can remember to take it. My advice: keep it in your bag at all times.

Your Best Friend,
L.C.

That cheeky bastard…
Well it looks like I owe you another one, Buddy. I take a quill, dip it in some ink and begin.

At least two hours have passed before I finally finished the exam. I feel a new confidence growing as I head for the class door. When I open it- “BOO!!!”

“GAAAHHHHH!!!!!” I screamed, head almost ramming through the ceiling.

“So how’d it go?” Chase asked in a slight sing-song fashion.

“Sweet Celestia, you startled the living crap out of me! What the hell?!”

“That didn’t answer my question.” He replied with a sly grin. I sighed heavily, trying to reduce the urge to use my telekinesis to throw him six ways to Sunday.

“I think it went fine…” I finally stated, trying to regain the confidence I felt before.

“Excellent, then do I have a surprise for you!!” Chase said, taking flight and dragging me by my carrying my forearms.

“Dude, slow down!!! You know I hate surprises!!!” I try to yell to him.

“This is non-negotiable! Trust me you’ll love it!!”
Like I haven’t heard that before, last time he gave a rocket propelled scooter; let’s just say that the walls need a good repainting. And the time before that he brought me fishing in the deep-canter lake and I ended up swimming for my life from piranhas. He still claims that he had no idea, but I find it hard to believe. And yet the best one of all was a few years ago, where he strapped my bed to a chariot and ran it down Thunder Road that nearly destroyed the local library AND the ice cream parlor. Last time I trust him with fireworks. So whatever it was he had in store for me this time, I’m going to assume the worst case scenario. We stopped outside our dorm room and he pleaded for me to open the door, I swear to Luna if I get pied in the face…
I open the door and sitting in the middle of the room was a table with a cake on it that read: “Congratulations!” on the top. I looked at him with inquiry, surely there was more to this. Chase gave me a confused look and cocked his head.

“Well?” he asked. I was utterly suspicious of whatever ulterior motive he had. I walked towards the cake, half-expecting something to burst out of it; but the cake was motionless.

“Huh, well it seems legit this time.” I stated, looking at him with disbelief.

“I must say this is actually nice of you Chase.” I magically grab the knife and start to cut the cake for my first slice. *BANG!!!!*
“HOLY HELL!!!” I screech, jumping far back into my desk from the balloon popping under the cake frosting. Chase was rolling on the floor laughing his wings off. “YOU SON OF BITCH!!” I screamed, face red with anger that I might burst into flames.
“Hahahaha…relax man, I’ve had my laugh; here this is the real cake, I swear it.” He says, gasping every two or so words. He passed a slice of the cake to me, along with a fork and napkin. After a while of cooling down from the sudden “betrayal” I also began to chuckle. He outdid himself this time, very clever of him, but still an asshole. I guess that is part of the reason why I am friends with him, sure he may be a dick sometimes but at least he is good natured and loyal. And…in a twisted sort of way, I can see him as being a good leader; he always looks out for others, and tries to solve problems with the least amount of injury, not to himself but to others. That selfless attitude is definitely one of his “perks.”

“Hey…Chase.”

“Yup?” He answered, mouth half stuffed with cake.

“Thanks…for what you did back there. With my quills.” I said, trying not to smile too much.

“Well, what are friends for right? We always stick together.” He confidently states, I was positive he meant it. He swallowed his cake and held out a hoof.

“Heh, right.” I reply and proceed with the “code of brotherhood” hoofbump.

~~~~~

I wake up, still in the bed I flopped in. I lift my head and notice a dark stain in the sheets, must have been crying while I was sleeping. I miss those times where we were carefree. Joyous fun that we experienced, just screwing around…it all seemed like a distant memory. Those times were over, and right now…I needed to find Chase.