Close to Home 5

The story so far:

>We meet our hero, Anonymous from Boston, preparing for a Saint Patrick's Day celebration in the quiet hamlet of Ponyville.

>His plans are interrupted, however, by his friends who take him to Canterlot for a sudden banquet thrown by Her Majesty Princess Celestia.

>After a dinner filled with suspiciously Irish fare, Anonymous goes to the bar with Rainbow Dash and Applejack.

>He returns in a stupor to, upon wandering to Celestia's chambers, discover that the Sun Princess is a fellow Bostonian!

>Sworn to secrecy on the matter, our stalwart and slightly inebriated Anonymous is invited to serve as a Councilor on the Royal Council so that the Princess can have an outsider's perspective there and also so that she has someone to watch sports with.

>After a particularly rousing hockey match, the two are discovered by none other than Princess Luna, who reveals, albeit inadvertently, her New York roots.

>Confronted by an antagonistic Luna on one side and a positively working-class Celestia on the other, Anonymous continues in his duties with more than a few questions on his mind.

>Now established on the Council and settled well into Canterlot life, Celestia and Anon venture out through a dimensional Gate into Celestia's apartment on Boylston Street, Boston.

>An evening of frivolity and shape-shifting ensues and the Princess explains the mechanics of interuniversal time-dilation.

>Upon returning to the apartment, our hero is struck by a sudden wave of memory that gives him pause.

>To Celestia's dismay, he turns away from her doorstep and sets out on his own in Boston, leaving her to return to Equestria alone!

>Calamity! Intrigue! Incomprehensibly exaggerated accents! All this and more in:

>Close to Home!

 

>It's raining again.

>The Green Line train rumbles by, the last one for the night, taking the last stragglers of the night home.

>Home...

>You stare blankly out from the overpass at the downpour, thinking of the last place you'd called 'home.'

>The warm bed in Canterlot Castle.

>The nights spent at the bar with White and the gang.

>The nights spent watching hockey with Celestia.

>A crash of thunder snaps you out of it and you huddle underneath the overpass with your tattered wool blanket.

>It's so goddamned cold...

>Your thoughts crawl back to the past.

>Back to your trek to Southie, having realized that you didn't have money to pay for a cab or take the T.

>Back to walking up A-Street looking for your car and not seeing it in the spot behind your house where you'd left it.

>To knocking on your door and seeing a stranger come to answer.

>To wandering back to your parents' house, where your name, the name you'd written in the concrete outside, was gone.

>And to the look on your mother's face when she saw you standing at the door, a stranger.

>How you ran.

>Ran from the confusion in her eyes and the threat to call the cops when you'd insisted you were her son.

>Ran from the terror that gripped you. A deep, visceral terror of one forgotten; of a man between worlds.

>It drove you all the way back to Boylston Street and the house you'd come out of with the Princess of the Sun.

>A house that you found darkened and locked when you returned.

>”It sure gets cold 'ere'n April, huh?”

>You whip around to see a woman standing over you with a Yankees umbrella and a familiar set of dark blue eyes..

Luna?

1/x

 

>”Dunno how you kin stand ta live 'ere,” she says, looking down at you. “How's the unnapass treatin' ya?”

>You open your mouth to speak, but find no words.

>”Mus' be nice not havin' any responsibilities out 'ere,” she goes on, eying your surroundings disdainfully. “Couldn't find yuh house?”

I don't have ID. It's been like a month a-

>She shoots you a death-glare that shuts you up

>”You don't get ta talk righ' now, BOY. A month? You must be fuckin' jokin, right?!” she yells. “Didn't Celly explain a goddamn thing ta you?!”

Wh-

>”Four fucking months, Anon! Fuck! This is what you've been doin' this whole time?!”

I-

>”Shut up,” she seethes. “I thought I told you not to fuckin' hurt her.”

I didn't mean t-

>”Oh, you didn't mean to? Ah, well that makes everythin' better! Come on! I'll take you back and we can have a fuckin' party!”

>The Moon Princess walks a few paces away before turning to you and speaking again.

>”She was beside herself, you know. I haven't seen Celly like that. Not for a long, long time...”

>You slowly get to your feet, wrapping the blanket around yourself.

I had ta do it.

>”Ya had to? What in tha hell's that suppos'd ta mean?”

My family, Lu. They're out theah. Havin' dinnah, carryin' awn like everythin's totally nawmal.

>You turn and gesture at the city skyline, dropping your head down as you do

They don't remembah me. It's like I was nevah even theah at awl.

>Luna's face is questioning.

>”Waddayou mean?”

>You turn, snarling.

I mean I'm a fuckin' ghost! I got noweah ta fuckin' go and I got no fuckin' past anymaw! It's like I just got erased from tha fuckin' world!

>”Oh no...” Luna's face falls.

2/x

 

>Luna sighs heavily.

>”You know what she said ta me afta you di'n't come back with 'er?”

>The Princess closes her umbrella and leans it against the concrete wall.

>”She said 'He's gone home.' That's it. Just said that and then shut the doah. I didn't see 'er for a week aftah that. Had to raise the sun myself.”

>There's a long pause. The two of you stand in silence amidst the rainstorm.

Why didn't anyone come earliah? Didn't ya say it's bin like faw months?

>”We did. I mean, Celly was useless, but Cady and I looked fuh you. Checked homeless shelters, looked all around where ya said yer old neighborhood is...”

>She shuffles uncomfortably. “Asked around the morgue...”

>You feel your heart sink.

>”Cady gave up after a couple weeks. Said she couldn't keep takin' time away from Sinin' Ahmor.”

But you kept lookin?

>”Course I did,” Luna says sternly. “How else was I s'poseta chew you out for hurtin' my sis?”

>You can't help but smile a little bit

So what now?

>Luna looks at you with uncertainty

>”Now? That's up ta you. I'm headin' back home. You can tag along if ya want, but you gotta swear ta me you won't pull this kind of stunt again.”

>She stares right at you with those midnight-blue eyes of hers. “Ever. You swear that to me right now or I walk away an' you never see any of us again.”

>You stand silently for a minute trying to process what's happening.

>The last month you've spent coming to terms with losing your past.

>Now, standing in front of you like an angel from Heaven,  is a chance to go back to where you're remembered.

>Where you're wanted.

>You straighten your ragged jacket.

Let's go

3/x

 

>Luna walks silently beside you. She's fair skinned with a head of flowing black hair that she takes great care to keep out of the pouring rain.

>Her pace is quick; her posture rigid, head held high under the umbrella that draws a few looks from passing locals.

>You follow her through the darkened streets, past the Common, through the Public Garden, all the way down to Boylston Street.

>She stops in front of the apartment, turning to you.

>”Ready?”

As I'll ever be.

>She nods and unlocks the door, letting you inside.

>”Bathroom's just down the hawl. Clean yuhself up. I'm not bringin' ya back lookin' like a bum,” she chides.

>You shuffle to the bathroom and turn on the shower, standing mute under the hot water, unable to will yourself into moving.

 

>Eventually you get out and, smelling coffee brewing, make your way to the kitchen.

>Luna is standing at the counter with a cup of coffee, talking on a cell phone. She doesn't notice you walk in and take a seat at the island in the middle of the room.

>”Yeah, I found 'im, Cady...No 'e isn't dead. He was unner a bridge'r something...Yes I know that, but-...No. She should be the one-a tell him...Of course she'll wanna see 'im...No, I'm nawt goin' over it again, Cady...Don't even sta-...I found 'im fer her!...Yes!...Dammit Cady, we'll tawk about this when I get back. He's gonna be-”

>She turns and sees you sitting behind her.

>”Gotta go!” Luna turns the phone off as fast as she can. “How er...how mucha that'd you hear?”

Enough ta wunnuh what yuh hidin' from me. We gonna go soon?

>”Yeah. I'll explain on the way.”

>There's a flash of light in the hallway as the gate to Equestria opens up.

4/x

 

>Luna leads you into the hall towards the gate. It shimmers brightly around the fringes, casting light into both the hallway and the chamber on the other side.

>You step through and immediately feel as though you're moving in slow-motion when your feet touch the floor. The feeling persists for a full minute and you do your best to keep standing as Luna follows, closing the gate behind her.

>She cracks a smile as you struggle to walk before, in another flash of light, she changes herself into the familiar alicorn form with the nebulous mane and striking eyes.

>”It takes some getting' used to, I know,” she says  as you look around the room.

>You remember being brought here once before, the night Luna had walked in on you and Celestia watching hockey. There's a Yankees logo on the wall that makes you silently rage.

>”Follow me. We're gonna have us a lil tawk 'fore you go see Celly,”  the Moon Princess says.

>She walks out of the room and leads you down the tower to the castle grounds. It's the dead of night and the stars are twinkling in the sky.

>You watch Luna's expression shift subtly, indignation and self-righteousness conflicting with sentiment and...something else. Her face reads completely differently from the anger and antagonism she had shown you when last you met.

>”Anon-”

Princess?

>She trips over her words as you cut her off.

Why'd you keep lookin' fuh me? Yuh said Cadence gave up, but you didn't. How come? I thought yuh din't like me?

>Luna looks around and, seeing a group of guards patrolling, begins to look more regal and prim.

>”Because...” she says, looking up at the stars. “It was important to Our sister.”

Thought you wannid me ta stay away from Celly?

5/x

 

>”Our sister can make her own decisions. Besides, there was nopony else we could send into the Gate.”

Makes sense. But why di'n't Celly come look?

>Luna looks agitated. The domineering air she had put on when she found you has fallen off entirely.

And what was with that phone call ya made ta Cadence? Waddid ya mean when ya said Celly'd hafta be the one ta tell me somethin?

>The Moon Princess begins to look around frantically for  an answer. Before she can say anything, she's interrupted by a soft voice from behind.

>”Yes, Luna. Tell him what?” Celestia walks slowly out from the colonnade. Luna's face falls as she turns to her sister.

>”He's Lost, Celly.” Celestia's eyes go wide, darting between Luna and you. The Moon Princess goes on. “We thought you should be the one to tell him why.”

Wait, 'Lost?' What the hell's that mean?

>The two Princesses look at each other as if talking to each other without words. You can only try to glean what you can of the situation from the way Celestia's face falls. Eventually she turns to you, eyes misting over.

>”Come with me,” she says almost pleadingly. “Please.”

>You look to Luna, who simply nods.

Lead the way, Celly.

>The Sun Princess heads back to the colonnade and dismisses the guards from the hall. There's a long and weighty pause. About halfway down the corridor she finally speaks, eyes focused on the painted ceiling above you.

>”I'm happy you're back...” Her voice is low and her tone muted.

Sorry I was so lawng. I tried ta find my way back but the apahtment was always locked. 'ventually I just gave up, I guess.

>You try to find a way to phrase your next question.

What's 'Lost' mean?

6/x

 

>Celestia sighs and rounds a corner.

>”What happened ta you back in Bos'n?” she asks. “Why'd ya leave?”

>There's another pause. The only noise comes from her hoof-falls and the sound of crickets in the summer night air.

It was nuthin' you did, Celly. I just realized it was my one chance ta see my fam'ly again. I had ta take it. Bein' back home...I couldn' just walk away without tryin' a say goobye, ya know?

>You rub your face wearily

It didn't go so well.

>”We thought you wuh dead. Aftah those first couple weeks yuh di'n't come back... Lu kept lookin' though. Kept sayin' yuh were out theah someweah.”

Yuh nevah ansid me, Celly. What's 'Lost' mean? I know yuh hidin' somethin'.

>Celestia looks around and, once satisfied that no curious ears are listening in, stops walking.

>”Do ya remembah how yuh gawt ta Equestria in the first place?” she asks.

Not really. It's mostly a blur. Went out pahtying aftah the B's won the Stanley Cup...gawt a buncha drinks at some bah...then I woke up with my legs sittin' in that fountain in Ponyville Cennah.

>”Do ya remembah meetin' someone at the bah?”

Sawt of? I dunno, I was friggin' gone that night. Why?

>She sighs heavily. “Because a couple a yeahs ago I went down ta some Southie bah aftah I got outta the B's game ta celebrate. I was like eight beeahs in at that point but this young man at the bah kept buyin' me drinks.”

>You knot your brow, confused.

>”So one thing led to anothah, we got tossed outta the place fuh bein' too loud'r somethin' an' I ended up takin the guy home...”

>She looks at you apologetically. You work over what she's saying in your head.

7/x

 

>”Watchin' the B's game wit ya reminded me what happened.”

How-

>”You were wearin' the same jersey as when I first met ya...”

>Your eyes go wide

No fakkin' way... Did- did we...

>She blushes and paws the floor with her hoof.

>”I don't uh...I don't really remembah...I jus' know that at some point I decided ta bring ya through the Gate, but I was too smashed ta keep it locked on one place...”

So-

>”So I ended up lyin' on toppa Lu and you ended up in Ponyville. I woke up with a hangovah from Hell'n couldn't remembah jack shit...”

And what's this haveta do with bein' Lost?

>Celestia's face suddenly fills with regret. “Usin' the Gate takes an enawmiss amounna powah 'n concentration. If ya do it wrong you kin end up miles apaht.”

>She looks back at the corridor.

>”Yuh kin also end up tearin...pieces. Outta tha world.”

Whadda you mean?

>”When I took yuh through the Gate it removed yuh from yer world. Entiuhly. Like you were nevah theah...”

That happen often?

>”Why duh you ask?”

You've got a name fer it. Must've happened befaw once or twice.

>Celestia gazes at you apologetically.

>”No. I've nevah seen it happen befaw.”

>You lean against the wall and run a hand through your hair, trying to get your head around what she's said to you.

>”I've felt guilty about takin' ya heah since I remembuh'd who ya were...I didn't realize...”

Is that why ya showed me the Gate? Ya said somethin' about wantin' ta know I'd had a choice.

>”Yes. I was going to explain, but you just jumped in and then I was so excited about being back there with you that I- I just-” She starts to break down, dropping to her knees as her breath catches and heaves.

8/x

 

>”I'm so sorry, Anon...If ya nevah wannid ta see me again I'd unnerstand.” Her mane droops and her eyes start to redden from the tears. She flinches violently when you put you hand on her head.

Celly.

>You lean down so you're at eye-level with her.

I spent the last month comin' ta terms with what happened. Doesn't make a whole lotta difference the how or why.

>”But it's my fault. I took your family from you. All your friends...”

I've got plenty of friends right here. 'Sides, I've got all my memories of my family still. That's all I woulda had eithuh way.

>You realize how sappy you're being, but something about seeing the Princess like this...

Come on, this any way ta act, Princess? Last I checked, Bos'n girls don't cry so easy.

>She sniffs and wipes her eyes. You help her back to her feet and start walking down the corridor again.

Ya know I uh, missed you too...while I was gone.

>You inch a little closer as she walks beside you

Just not the same watching spawts without those giant wings a yaws flyin' up every time the B's scaw.

>There are traces of a smile on her face now, and a pink in her cheeks.

>”Yuh know, that reminds me: the Pegasus Racing League's Grand Prix is in Manehattan this yeah.”

Damn, I missed the whole season di'n't I? Did the Phoenixes make it tuh the final?

>Celestia turns in surprise

>”Yer a Phoenix-head too? Gawd, I thought I was the only one in Cannalot rootin' fuh them!”

Theah's a smile. So we goin' ta see 'em kick some ass?

>The Princess flares her wings out briefly, bringing one around you and pulling you closer

>”No question.”

9/x

 

>The next morning Luna has you back at work in the Council Chamber.

>You walk into the meeting room to find a stack of paperwork waiting for you at your seat.

>”Four months of back-minutes, write-ups, and requests-pending,” a stately stallion says, walking up behind you. “Glad you decided to cut your little vacation short, Councilor. Was it relaxing?”

>His passive-aggressive tone makes you bristle, but you reign yourself in.

Yeah, it was wickit nice getting' away frum the office.

>You shoot him an icy glare.

Heard about what happened wit the Gryphon Kingdoms, Silvah. Sorry yer idea fell through. I'm sure we'll talk about that soon enough.

>The stallion scowls as the rest of the Councilor file into the Chamber. An intern scurries in and whisks your paperwork back to your office. At length, the Chairpony starts the day's meeting.

>”Good morning everyp0ny. First order of business I'd like to welcome Councilor Anonymous back from his four-month sabbatical in the Deer Republics. I'm sure his time there was...productive.”

Sure was.

>”That out of the way, there's the pressing matter of our trade relationship with the Gryphon Kingdom as a result of the salt tariff proposed by Councilor Silver. Imports are down, but more importantly, the Gryphon ambassadors have been increasingly hostile in negotiations.”

>The councilors murmur amongst themselves.

Di'n't believe me, huh? Safe ta assume Huh Highness had sumthin ta do widdit?

>Silver scowls harder. The Councilor keeps going.

>”Right now we need to focus on fixing relations with the Gryphons. I'll open the floor to ide-”

Just do what I said ta do faw months ago. Remove tha tarrif and get ahr own sawlt makahs up ta speed ta compete. What I undastand is we can't affawd ta lose ahr friends up nawth.

10/x

 

>You spend the rest of the day going from meetings to filling out paperwork in your office.

>While you'd rather be at home taking it easy, it's nice having something to do with your time other than bum for change under a bridge all day.

>When you got back to your office there was a note from Celestia laying out the cover story to explain your absence.

>Something about a four-month stint out in the Deer Republics to schmooze with the Premiere. You skimmed it until you got bored.

>Once you make sure your work at least looks like it's squared away you head out of your office and start walking down to the pub.

>On the way there you notice the guards turning their gaze away from you. You continue towards the castle gate with a growing sense of unease until a voice from behind stops you in your tracks.

>”Nice afternoon for a stroll, eh Councilor?” You look over your shoulder at the source of that haughty voice.

Blueblood. Nice ta see ya.

>”That's PRINCE Blueblood to you...Councilor. I thought we'd just have a nice little talk between....aristocrats.”

Aristocrats?

>You cock an eyebrow and jam your hands in your pockets, fishing around for a cigarette.

That's a good one, Blue.

>He looks like his patience is wearing thin rather quickly. You pull a cigarette out and casually light it.

So...

>You take a drag and blow the smoke in front of the Prince.

...What can I do fuh yuh?

>His lips slowly curl into a smile

>”For starters, why don't you tell me what you were talking about with my dear old auntie Celestia last night in the colonnade?”

>You bite down on the cigarette, sending a trail of ash trickling down to the floor.

11/x

 

>After another long drag, you stare the Prince dead in the eye.

What's it to ya, Blue?

>His smug grin remains stalwart. “Oh it means a lot to me, Councilor,” he says, pacing in front of you and casting the occasional sidelong glance in your direction. “Don't forget: the Royal Guard answer to everyp0ny in the Royal Family, not just my regal aunts. Some of those guards have...more sensitive ears than others.”

>One more casual drag and you lean against the wall.

Oh, yuh think yuh ovahheard sumthin, eh? Got yuh lil lackeys awl around lis'nin' ta everyone? That it?

>”Precisely. You'd be surprised what they tell me.” Blueblood stops pacing and meets your gaze. “But I don't want to keep you from your...business, Councilor.” He turns to leave and you walk out the castle gate.

>As you go, you hear him stop and with his voice dripping with self-satisfaction, muse,

>”Fie upon thee, O Lost, for thou art but a Shade wand'ring in the Land of Light.”

>You feel a chill run down your spine as you throw the spent cigarette to the ground and stamp it out.

>After thinking for a moment, you change direction and head towards White's house.

End.