Chapter 2
After they were finished we decided we could all hang out so ended up going down to the local. We drove down the gravel road and parked then walked across an open clearing to the creek, which was hidden by thick brush and trees. It has a cool draft that carries off the water so even in 100 degree weather it’s still nice. I lowered Twilight down to the landing were we could stand next to the creek. But Rainbow and Josh just jumped down and tried to out jump each other.
"Careful you two, you'll get all wet!" I warned, almost in unison they both replied with a childish: "ya-ya" then completely blew off my warning.
We continued down the creek until Twilight screamed and pointed at a rock "IT MOVED" she screamed. I went to examine the rock to see it was a snapping turtle. I came up behind the turtle and picked it up to show Twilight. "It's not a rock, it’s a turtle. Don’t you have turtles back in Ponyville?" I asked curiously.
She nodded. "Yes, but none of that size, is this one magical?" I laughed and turned the turtle around and looked at it curiously.
"Are you magical?" but it snapped out, almost taking my nose with it. I back stepped but fell into the shallow water. "CRAP!" I exclaimed as I squirmed to get up.
Twilight rushed over to me. "Are you ok?" She asked while trying to hold back a laugh.
"I'm fine" I sighed. Lifting a hand, she took it but when she did I pulled her down with me. I laughed because now we were both soaked. She tried to give me an angry, maybe it was pouty, face but we both ended up just laughing hysterically.
*******

Josh's perspective
I never came here with anyone but Cyrus. I'm so nervous, what should I do? I want to impress her but every time I do she just makes it into a competition. Maybe we could try something that doesn't involve strength. *Sigh Cyrus would know what to do when it comes to this stuff. I know I could show her my skills on the X-box that will show her.
"Hey rainbow dash-" I called out.
"Just dash,” She told me.
I rolled my eyes. "Ok Just Dash.” I said with a chuckle and she crossed her arms with a ‘humph’. “Do you want to play some video games?" I asked.
She raised an eyebrow. "Uhm...." She gave me a curious look.
"No way! You never played video games?" I gasped and she shook her head "Well then you’re in for a treat!"
We walked back talking about talking about video games but she didn't get the whole electricity thing so I tried to explain that to her. When we came around the bend we saw Twilight on top of Cyrus laughing hysterically.
"Already making your move,” I teased, which caused him to blush.
"No we just um..." He stammered. Twilight was fast to ‘explain’.
"Fell" Twilight chimed, also blushing.
"Yeah! I fell and I pulled her in as well,” He explained, which didn’t really help his embarrassment.
"Sure I believe you,” I replied sarcastically with a 'your full of shit' look. "Also didn't you tell Dash and me to stay dry?" I asked, but he just blew it off.
"Dash? So you also have become 'aquatinted'" He laughed with a grin, knowing he caught me.
Twilight and Cyrus got up and tried to dry off best they could. While Dash and I started walking back to the car, I broke the silence "I think you’re really cool" I told her.
"Thanks" Dash blushed. Josh noticed this was the first time she didn't immediately start boasting, also was she blushing. Maybe she likes me better not screw it up
"Uhm...sooo… you want to... uhm go to the movies or get something… maybe eat some time? You know before you leave?" I asked trying to act confident but failing.
"Sure what do you have in mind?" She asked. I wasn't ready really prepared for a follow up question.
I scratched the back of my neck in thought. "Uhm...let me think, what do you like to do?" I asked her. She too scratched the back of her head.
"Well… I like to fly and go fast but because of this human body, I can't use my wings,” She informed me with a pout. It was like my heart was melting, she was so cute it was hard to not just go up and snuggle her.
"We’ll figure something out so you can go fast" I assured her with a grin "Have you ever tried cliff diving, it’s a total rush!" Her face lit up and a smile nearly went across her entire face.
"No I haven’t. Is it fun?" She asked and I nodded.
"Ya it’s a blast, but we need swimming suits did you pack one?" She shook her head "Then we will need to get one at the mall." I told her, trying to not think about her in a swimsuit.
********
Cyrus's perspective
Twilight and I finally got semi dry and started to head back. She still had the cheesiest grins on her face I've ever seen, but at the same time it was adorable. "What?" I asked. She shook her head.
"Nothing, it’s just… I've never had so much fun with a guy before and well… maybe we could do it again, sometime." She blushed.
‘No way! A girl was asking me out. I know it happens but it’s never happened to me!’ I thought to myself.
"Ya that sounds great. What do you have in mind?" I asked. It was the best thing I could think of.
"Well I wanted to go to the museum and see the history of earth… You know, if you want to go.... with me?” She asked, turning a shade darker of blush.
"I'd love to, I love history plus there is a war museum not too far out of town (convenient huh :P) we can go before you leave sometime." I informed her with a warm smile, which she returned. She grabbed me and gave me a hug. We were still pretty wet but it was nice. We started walking back, talking about history and politics. She was very interested on how we were able to function without a princess to run things. But at the same time I didn't see how two 'Alicorns' are able to keep order even with magic.
We finally made it to the car but didn't see Josh or Dash. Out of nowhere, they ambushed us and tackled us both to the ground. They then began to laugh like it was the funniest prank in the world.
After they had their fun, they stopped abruptly and Josh chuckled. "I'm hungry let’s get something to eat." As he got off us and helped us up.
"Sure… we can get a discount at the restaurant I work at, but you guys need to behave-JOSH-and we won't eat inside I'm just going to grab some food out the back." I said, formulating ‘The plan’.
"Sounds good.” Twilight replied. "But we don't eat meat" She explained. I raised as curious eyebrow.
"Why" I asked. But she just turned and looked at me like I was crazy… or maybe like I was insane.
"I'm a pony!" she gasped.
"Yeah… but you’re in a human form." I replied.
"That’s like you being turned to a horse and making you eat hay!" she countered. I scratched my chin and thought about it for a second.
"I would have an open mind… plus horses have the proper teeth for it, check for teeth, you have canines!" She stopped then started to feel her teeth and suddenly gasped.
"I do! I do have canines… this is certainly interesting. Dash you check too!" she exclaimed.
"I am… it’s so weird. They’re sharp… good for tarring. Gilda told me about meat and how its better when bloodier and fresh." Dash replied, making a ripping notion.
"Um.... you don't need to kill your prey here. You just buy the meat cooked and or precooked so you can prepare it any way you like." I informed her.
After the short discussion on what meat tasted like and what the texture was like, we finally convinced them to try some when we get there.
We piled into the car. I was driving, Twilight got in the passenger side and Dash got in the back. Josh was about to protest about not riding shotgun but Dash motioned for him to sit with her and he obliged, getting in the backseat with her.
I keyed the ignition and the car the car hummed to life. I backed out and started making our way back into town. It was a good 30-minute ride into town. Twilight started to get antsy, probably because of the sugar cereal she had earlier. She started to fidget with the radio and played with it till finally she hit one of my pre-set radio station buttons. The radio came to life and started playing tunes. Of course the song that came on was 'Are you gonna kiss me or not'
Her eyes caught mine and I blushed knowing that she expected me to kiss her. However, despite the circumstances, I couldn't because she wasn't going to stay and I've already lost so many things in my life, I didn't want to get hurt again. She leaned in and closed her eyes but I just put my knee on the wheel to keep it steady and leaned in close and whispered "Let's not do this here." and pecked her on the cheek.
I caught a glance back and saw Dash and Josh making out in the back seat. He was always more smooth then me, but I didn't mind it… as long as he kept it in his pants while in my car. He was about to hit second base when I swerved the car, causing him to hit his head against the window.
"THE HELL!" He yelled.
"Oops… I didn't notice that you were making out, IN MY CAR!" I said with a laugh. He blushed and sat back up. Dash shuffled close to him then cuddled up with him before giving him a peck here and there. I moved my mirror to point at them gave them squinted eyes. “You two behave!" Pretending to be a parent then laughed.
We came into the town about 1:30 and we were really hungry. I stopped the car in an alleyway behind the restaurant and grabbed some leftovers. I grabbed enough for all of us, nothing fancy just a couple burgers, fruit and fries, all were packed into those white carry out boxes, the crappy ones, made of plastic.
Good thing I was a waiter because I was used to carrying around multiple orders at once. I made my way to the back door, which was still ajar. But when I got outside I saw Josh kissing Twilight. I dropped the food causing a loud noise.
They jumped and Josh was trying to say "Dude calm down it’s not what it looks like!" But I was too upset to listen. I dashed out of the alleyway door, Josh tried to block me but I shoved him over and ran down the street. I ran for what felt like hours, I really didn't want to see anyone and I knew that they knew where I lived.
I went the only place I knew no one would find me, I went to the cliff were I first saw Twilight. When I got there it was almost 2 and I wasn't hungry… I was in pain, my stomach was in knots and I broke down. After everything… he still betrayed me. I was alone, I hated being completely alone. I might pretend to be a loner but without knowing there is someone there for me I become very depressed. I was cold but I didn't care I just wanted to die, no one would care.
*********
Josh's perspective
"What's taking him?" I asked aloud. Dash crashed in the back seat while lying on me. So it was just me and Twilight leaning on the car waiting for food. Twilight broke the silence after what she had said: "Kiss me, I need to know I can do it, It won't be anything I promise.” She pleaded.
I was shaking my head "No I couldn't, I mean you’re pretty but I know Cyrus likes you-" Twilight Pushed her lips against mine and I just went with it. She was a great kisser, she was getting a little too into it, and so was I. I knew it was wrong and I liked Dash but she was making it hard to think straight.
*CRASH!*
I jumped and saw Cyrus standing there, his eyes were full of anger and confusion. "Dude calm down it’s not what it looks like." I tried to tell him. But he made a dash to get away. I jumped in front of him and he just shoved through me. I wasn't going to try and chase him down on foot. He was way faster than me. Twilight was just crouching down whispering to herself. "Nonono… this wasn't supposed to happen!" While holding her head. I told her to get in and I slipped across the top of the car then jumped into the driver seat.
"Maybe he went home… check there" Twilight suggested, I just shook my head.
"He knows we would check there. I'll drop you and Dash off there… I'm going to go looking for him." But Twilight wasn't too fond of that idea
"It was my fault. I need to see him." She told me. "Drop me off at the house I'll wait for him in case he comes home." Dash said.
"Ok" I replied. "Twilight and I will look for him. I'll give you my number if he comes home… just call from the home phone." I said, quickly scribbling my number on her arm. I wasn't going to let him stay out any longer then I had to.
I raced the car over to Cyrus’s house and dropped Dash off. She came around to my window and gave me a peck on the check before whispering: "Go get him." I smiled and have her a thumbs up. Twilight couldn't sit still… she was simply freaking out. She was constantly trying to reassure herself by saying "It didn't mean anything right? I didn't mean to hurt him, OH CELESTIA what have I done!?"
I felt bad too. I shouldn't have kissed her. She was his crush and he would never do anything like that to me.
We drove down to the creek and looked around. I looked at my watch, 7:30. "Jesus it’s getting late." I muttered, "Maybe we should just leave him alone. He probably just wants to be alone." I knew there was only one place he could have gone but I didn't want to disturb him. When he goes to his spot he intends to be left alone.
I once followed him out there and watched him. I was going to scare him but he started crying and I didn't want to embarrass him so I left.
"NO! We can't just let him stay out all night! He needs to know what really happened!" Twilight sobbed, cracking up, the tears in her eyes told me that she wasn’t going to change her mind.
I nodded. "Ok we'll go one more place. If he's not there we need to head home, ok?" I asked. She nodded.
"Got it lets go" Twilight replied.
********

Cyrus's perspective
It was getting late and my eyes were starting to hurt. But I didn't want to see any of them. I had nowhere to go and no one to go back to. It was about 8 o’clock and the sun was setting below the horizon. Then it began to rain, it was getting cold. I wish I had my hoodie but I gave it to Twilight when she got wet while playing at the creek.
When we made our way back I saw she was shivering so I put it on her to keep her warm. I regret getting so attached. I knew I would never get a girl to really like me. I'm not worth being loved, I don't deserve to live. I was falling back into my depression that I get whenever I feel that I'm about to lose everything.
Suddenly a pair of car lights came over the hill and I jumped up then ran into the brush, wiping away the tears. I stumbled into a bush were I hid to avoid being seen. I waited until the car passed, but it didn't pass. It stopped and I heard someone talking.
But it wasn't just someone, it was Josh's voice… along with Twilight. 'HOW’D THEY FIND ME!' I thought to myself. No one knows about this spot except me of course. I come here to be alone, I don't even drive out here unless I know. No one's ever watching me.
I was pissed. I didn't want to be bothered. So many emotions were flowing through me, mostly anger. "CYRUSSSS!" Josh called "Come on bro! It’s raining… we need to talk to you." He called out.
I walked out of the bushes and in front of the cliff. "So now it’s 'WE'" I yelled. "GO AWAY I DON'T WANT TO SEE EITHER ONE OF YOU AGAIN… I thought you actually cared about me, BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE!" I look behind myself and down the cliff. "I HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY,” I screamed as hard as I could.
"Don't do this man. You know deep down, neither one of us would ever want to hurt you." Josh tried to say, the way he does when he tries to calm me down. "Just talk to us, we can sort this out."
Anger swelled up in my throat and all I could do is heave like a feral animal. I calmed down and made up my mind.... I look down and tried to get my words out but it was hard. "I don't want to live in a world were my best friend betrays me-"
"WAIT!" Josh interrupted.
"NO! YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOUR GOING TO SAY!" I screamed. “As I was saying… I don't have anything left, I hope you two are happy" I muttered angrily, feeling sick down to my core. I took a step back and looked down the cliff.
Josh seemed to know what I was thinking because he began to run towards me while Twilight fell to her knees. Everything seemed to be in slow motion. I fell back knowing there was nothing behind to catch me. I heard a scream, not from Twilight, not from me, but from Josh.
It brought me back, back when we were both young. I came over to play, Josh had just gotten home from his grandma's. He came to the door a little flustered and I asked him what was wrong. He told me his mom has been in a car crash and was in the hospital.
He looked like he was going to cry but was too scared to show it. We were both about 12 years old. He had the pride of a lion and he tended never to show weakness. So I came in and tried to cheer him up by saying that his mom was going to be ok. But he shrugged it off, saying he was fine and he didn't need my help.
Later a man came to the door and his dad answered it, telling us to go on. Later he came back to us and told us that his mom wasn't going to make it through the night.
Josh froze up and wouldn't talk. I asked his dad to come with us to help him through this. He agreed and we drove down to the hospital, again he wouldn't talk. We went to see her, she was still bloody and they hadn't even switched the up the bedding.
Probably to make sure she didn't go into shock before she could see her family. His dad was talking to the doctor, and Josh went to see his mom. So he went in without him to see her, she was really weak and probably still in pain. She lifted her hand to touch Josh's head. Then motioned for him to come closer, lifting her mask and she said: "I love you." as loud as she could, but it still was barely louder than a hushed whisper.
But she started to seize up and shook uncontrollably. Josh screamed a spine-chilling scream of a son watching his mother die before his eyes with no power to stop it. An alarm went off and doctors flooded the room to try and help her but it was too late.
She already flat lined. They zapped her with the defibrillator causing her body to jump, then recharged it and hit it again… and again. Each time her body jumped and still nothing.
Looking back she was probably holding on long enough on sheer will power to tell Josh that she loved him. Josh continued to scream and cry. That scream was exactly what it sounded like as I fell down the cliff.
*******

Josh’s perspective
Cyrus was taking steps away, towards the edge of the cliff. He peeked around the edge. I knew what he was thinking and I wasn't going to let it happen.
As he stepped back, I dashed through the rain, but after he started to lean back I knew I wouldn't make it. I screamed and cried, knowing that he was going to die and I was going to lose my best friend.
I fell forwards, landing in the mud crying my eye's out. "WHAT HAVE I DONE!" I screamed "THIS IS YOUR FAULT" I pointed at Twilight. She was still crying.
"I can fix this." She sniffled.
"HOW?!" I yelled. But she didn't answer. She just closed her eyes and started to concentrate. Her body began to glow and levitate. Her body was starting to change. A horn was coming out of the center of her head and purple fur was covering her body.
"I can still save him, but not if we can't find him." She told me, trying to act brave. It was obvious in her eyes, she just wanted everything to stop and go back to normal.
"WOW… you weren't kidding… you are a unicorn!" I was in a state of awe when getting to see her real body, it was beautiful. 'I wonder what Dash looks like with in her Pegasus wings' I thought.
"Ok let’s start before he bleeds out. I should probably call Dash and tell her that we found him." I said unsurely.
"Actually we should get her. She’ll be able to find him quicker." Twilight suggested.
"We don't have time" I told her.
"She can transform back too in case of an emergency!" Twilight told me.
"How is she going to find us?” I asked, feeling the urge of time ticking away.
"She is the proud barer of the element of loyalty. She always knows where she can find any of her friends."
I was going to ask what the hell that was supposed to mean but figured it probably wasn’t time for storytelling and to just go with it. I called the home phone and Dash picked up on the first ring.
"HELLO is this Josh?" asked Dash from the other end.
"Yeah, it is. I need you to help us find Cyrus, he's jumped off a cliff, this is an EMERGENCY!" I said trying to stay calm but at the same time, getting my point across.
"I'M THERE GIVE ME 5 MINUTES" She hung up and the line went dead. I looked to Twilight and nodded. "She's coming.” I told her with a faint smile.
While we waited all I thought about was Cyrus and how badly he's injured… and if it’s too late.

Author's Note

While writing this I was watching cinderella man