Drury Lane: Chapter 17 -Pack Up-

Drury Lane Chapter 17

 

>You stood on the balcony of the house Luna conjured up, staring back down at Ponyville. in the distance.

>The mist from the mountainside shrouded your view, but you could still see the lights of the Nightmare Night celebration illuminating the town.

>Your skin had goosebumps from the cold air around you, your jacket torn to shreds ans laying behind you in the corner.

>The entire town had seen what had happened.

>There would be no hiding that from them if you went back down there.

>WHEN you went back down there.

>A small drop of blood lands on you arm.

>You bring a hand to your forehead.

>The wounds from the battle were still fresh on your body.

>Damn.

>A presence next to you snaps you out of your stupor.

>"Anonymous?"

>Luna stands next to you, concern on her face.

>"You're still injured from before."

"Yeah, I know. It's fine, really. I've had worse."

>She smiles softly and nods.

>"Yes, we know what kind of treatment you can endure."

>Her wing brushes up against your metallic arm, Hush's runes still etched onto it.

"I was thinking something more... intense, really."

>You say this as you glance upward at the moon, and Luna lets out a small giggle.

>"Yes, we remember."

>The two of you stand together, the rest of Equestria spread out before you.

>"...you were stunning, tonight."

"Hm?"

>"The way you moved. The way you fought for your home. You were stunning."

>She nears you, gently nudging your head with her snout.

>You smile.

"You know I'm going to have to go back down there."

>"We know."

"I need to talk to her. She needs to hear me out. I just... I don't know what to say.."

>Luna nods, then looks to the floor of the balcony, quietly whispering to you.

>"...despite everything... we missed you.."

"..."

>"...she asked if you loved us, Anon."

"...I"

>"You had said yes. We... I, was not expecting that."

>You stare at the blood on your hand, feeling the sticky consistency it leaves on your fingers.

"Yeah well... neither was I, actually."

>You try to smile at Luna, but the pain in your head and body force you to make a troubled expression.

>"Come. I'll help clean your wounds."

"Thanks... I appreciate it."

>Luna bumps you softly on the cheek.

>"I grew used to tending to you. You seem to throw yourself into the fray far too often."

>You're led back into the foyer of the house.

>It was a perfect recreation of the one you stayed in once you got off the moon.

>You never realized it, but you missed it, in a way.

>"If you don't feel uncomfortable, please undress."

>Her horn lights up faintly, a blue glow emanating from its tip.

>You slide the bloodied clothes off of you, the cold of the mountain stinging your skin.

>Luna turns to you and eyes your form, her expression changing to one of worry as she sees the numerous scars and battle wounds from fights both new and old.

>Her eyes lock onto the scar that creeps towards your metal arm.

"Memories, right?"

>She shakes her head and refocuses, her horn glowing brighter as she envelopes you in magic.

>It feels like a warm breeze is washing over you, and you relax.

>So this is what she was doing to you in the hospital all that time ago...

>And for weeks, too.

>You close your eyes and tilt your head back, letting the magic do its work.

>You only open you eyes when you realize that Luna is much, much closer to you now.

>She's there, right in front of you.

>You reach your hand out to her, softly caressing the side of her face.

>She smiles and looks into your eyes, before placing her head onto your chest.

>You hold her there, your arms wrapped around her neck as the two of you sway slowly in the foyer of your house.

"Heh... it's funny."

>"Hm?"

"I've danced with ponies before. It's just... well it's never been easy. They either have to get on their hind legs, or we just, kinda flailed around.."

>She laughs slightly, then ponders for a moment.

>"What... what if we did this?"

"Did what?"

>Luna back away from you slowly, as dark shadows swirl around her.

>When the mist clears, a young woman is standing before you, her pale skin illuminated in the moonlight pouring in through the windows.

"...what did you-"

>"Is this bad? We thought that perhaps it would be easier for you to dance with one who's... similar to you.."

>You look at her, as she shyly looks away from your gaze.

"Can... can I get my clothes back on?"

>"What?"

>She notices that you're still naked.

>"Oh. Oh yes, of course."

>You nod back to her and slip on your jeans. They were the only things that didn't have so much blood on them.

"That'll do, I think."

>You look back to Luna, her teal eyes shining.

>She smiles at you, and you return it.

>You think of Pinkie for a moment, but let her fade from your mind for the moment.

"Come here."

>You take Luna into your arms as the two of you sway slowly, while she softly hums a few bars to herself.

>She seemed genuinely happy, being here with you, right now.

>And, not surprisingly, so did you.

>Every part of you begs you to do it.

>But you can't.

>Not in good conscience.

>You needed to try and fix things with Pinkie Pie first.

>If it could be fixed, then everything would go back to normal.

>If not...

>Well, sometimes change was a good thing.

>When she looks up to you, she inches towards her face.

>You catch yourself just in time.

"No."

>Luna starts to protest, but she stops herself, nodding softly.

>"We-... I understand..."

>You hold her cheek in your palm, and kiss her on the forehead.

>"Can... can we stay like this?... for tonight, at least?"

>Would that be so bad?

>...

>No. No you suppose not.

>You hold her closer to you, her long night sky hair laying softly beneath your hands.

>She smelled like the crisp night air.

>"Anon... did you mean it?"

>You freeze, your mind slowly racing.

>Pinkie asked if you still loved Luna.

>You did.

"...yes."

>You can feel Luna breath deeply as she buries her face into your chest.

>As for you, you had no clue as to where all this would lead.

 

Three Days Later

 

>You stand outside Sugarcube Corner, the morning sun brightly shimmering in the sky.

>Well.

>Here goes nothing.

>You open the front door, the small bell jingling as you walk inside.

>Mrs Cake smiles at you, but her expression gets stern once she recognizes that it's you.

>"Oh. Good morning Anon."

"Morning Mrs. C. Uh... have you seen Pinkie?"

>She eyes you sternly, then sighs.

>"She'd in the kitchen, cooking up some eclairs."

"Thanks. I just need to-"

>"I expected more from you, Anon."

"I... excuse me?"

>"You've always been there for Pinkie Pie. Even when you were gone all those years, and I don't even want to bring up what she went through there, she had faith that you'd come back."

"Mrs. Cake it's a little more complicated than that, I-"

>"And then you show up, out of the blue and she's happy! Then what? Months pass and all of a sudden you bring down a section of the town, then fly off with a princess?! Shame on you, Anon."

"Mrs. Cake, really, you don't understa-"

>"Well I for one think that Pinkie deserves someone better than you. Someone with a good, solid head on his shoulders. A nice, upstanding colt, to be hone-"

"Mrs. Cake? Shut up."

>"Whu-... what?"

>You push pass the blue mare and walk into the kitchen, Pinkie Pie frosting a cake.

>When she sees you, she rolls her eyes.

>"Oh. It's you."

"Hey."

>"Something you want?"

"We need to talk."

>"Is the princess with you?"

"She's outside the shop, actually."

>She turns her head and scoffs.

>"What's to talk about? You're happy with her, right?"

"No, I... yes, but... listen. I'm sorry. Really, I am."

>"She looks back to you, and her eyes become colder.

>"Remember how you've been having bad dreams? How you haven't been able to sleep well?"

"Yeah, but-"

>"It was because of her, wasn't it?"

"..."

>"You just couldn't stop thinking about her."

"It's... it's not easy to forget her, if that's what you mean..."

>"Oh gosh, don't remind me."

>She seemed less sad, but much, MUCH angrier now.

>She was never this angry before.

>"Anytime she got brought up, you changed. Your face, the way you talked, EVERYTHING. She changed you, Anon, and not for the better."

"No she- what? No she didn't! No once changed me! I'm still the same person I've always been!"

>"What were you two doing up on that moon for that year? Huh? Is she better than me? Is that it?"

"This isn't about that! We've never even- you're being unfair. This is about you and me, not Luna."

>"Luna's a part of it though! She's the one stealing you away from me!"

"No she's NOT. She's not stealing ANYONE."

>Pinkie stares at you, then says one thing.

>"Tell her to leave."

"What?"

>"It's me or her, Anon. Make her leave, and tell her to never come back."

"Pinkie... Pinkie she was there for me when I was at my most isolated. I... I just can't tell her to-"

>"Then YOU leave! I don't want anything to do with you if you're going to take her side!"

>You had come here being sorry, and sad.

>But now all you felt was anger.

"Fine!... FINE. I'll leave! I'm not welcome here anymore anyway!"

>The two of you stare at each other, and you whirl around and storm out of the bakery.

>Mrs. Cake pipes up.

>"Were you YELLING at her? How could you have the audacity to come in here and-"

>You spit in her fucking mouth.

>You slam the door behind you, fuming.

>You rub your face with a hand, trying to regain your composure.

>So, that's how it's going to be?

>Just up and fucking leave?

>...

>Fine.

They kicked you out of Appleloosa.

>You escaped from Manehatten.

>You had jumped off the moon.

>You a demonic possession and numerous fights for your life.

>And now...

>Now you were being driven out of the arms of one of the greatest things you've ever come to love.

>Fine.

>A lone drifter it is then.

>You look over your shoulder and see Luna, a sad look in her eyes.

>You nod.

>She sighs, and flares her wings out as you hop onto her back.

>The two of you take off into the sky.

>Fuck this town.

>Fuck Pinkie Pie.

>And FUCK Appleloosa.

>You had no idea where Luna and you were going, but you didn't care.

>You had her.

>You could live with that.

 

~END~