The Question Recurring 10 - Breathe In the Air

>When you got to the library, Spike answered the door.

>"Hey Anonymous. How's Rarity doing? She didn't look very well when we got back last night."

>You had recently discovered that Rarity had little to no problems with inter-species relations.

>Before you could explain his good fortune, you saw Twilight behind him.

>You smiled.

"She wasn't so great last night but she's doing better today. She's a... spirited mare. She'll live. I don't think she would mind some company to cheer her up though."

>"Thanks for the tip, Anonymous!"

"That's what she would've said. And call me Anon, bro."

>He looked confused.

>"Uh okay... Anon. See ya later. Bye Twilight."

>Twilight waved as he raced out the door.

>"That was nice of you. It's good to see you relatively unchanged... Anon."

"Just the name Twi. Well maybe a little attitude adjustment as well."

>She'd eyed you for a moment.

>"Something else has changed too..."

>You reached behind your ear and pulled spawned a cig into your hand, smiling the whole time.

"You'll have to be more specific than that. Nothing's that different."

>You lit the cigarette, making the appropriate Zippo sound effect for your fingers.

 

>"What is that? Where did it come from? This is a library, you know, filled with books. Are you an idiot?"

>The words tumbled from her shocked mouth.

"A cigarette. Thin air. Nah it was just a quick flame, and this," you removed the cig from your lips, "is a controlled burn."

>"Did you just use magic?"

"You tell me. That's why I came over. As soon as I remembered these suckers, I wanted one. So I made one appear. I was hoping you could explain."

>She now appeared to be excited, though clearly uncomfortable with the smoke.

>"Can you do anything besides create... those and make fire?"

"Well I almost had my life ended by Rainbow Dash, but somehow she wasn't able to crash into me."

>"Huh. What do those things do?"

"Nothing really. There is a chemical in them that makes them addictive as hell though. That's why I couldn't get them out of my mind as soon as I remembered them."

>"I suppose that since you wanted them so badly, and could visualize them easily, perhaps that was enough to focus your will. I still don't know how you were able to channel the magic though. Oh, I'm sorry Anon, I forgot myself for a second there. How did your time with the Princess go? Did you find what you were looking for?"

>You looked down at the swiftly burning ember as the smoke curled up and away from it dissipating into the air.

>You elected not to tell her of your meeting with Luna. She had told you not to tell anyone.

"I remembered a lot of things Twilight. I won't lie to you. Most of it was pretty dull, terrible shit. Apparently my mind was too badly damaged to recover all of it. Did you know that where I come from, I worked in a shitty clothing store and hated every minute of it?"

 

>She laughed.

>"I'm sorry Anon, but that's pretty funny."

>You joined her laughter.

"I know it. That reminds me, the most important thing I remembered is that life, there and here, is a sick joke. To laugh is the easiest way to dominate it."

>She stopped laughing and frowned.

>"That sounds pretty negative Anon."

"Don't worry about it. Negativity doesn't always beget negativity. To laugh at shitty fate... that breaks the chain of shittiness and gives the power back to me. I laugh to distance myself, not to revel in the negativity. Does that make any sense?"

>She sighed.

"I guess so. Just don't distance yourself too much Anon. Somep0ny always cares about you..."

She looked down, but quickly brightened and smiled.

"Are you hungry Anon? I have some leftovers from earlier."

>You noticed that the cake on the shelf looked untouched, the same as when you had reluctantly left it.

"Few things would make me happier than to enjoy some cake with you."

>You noticed that there was real sincerity in your voice. That hadn't been intended.

>Twilight trotted to your side and leaned against you.

>"For what it's worth, I'm sorry that your memories aren't happier."

>For a brief moment, you lost your indifferent composure and looked down at her.

>You gave her the first genuine smile you could remember giving for a long time and patted her on the head.

 

"It's all in the past. Can't change a story that's already been written right? I can only enjoy the present, and I am right now."

>She returned your smile.

>"That's a good attitude."

>She left your side and went to cut the cake.

>You put out the remains of the cigarette, and put the butt in your pocket. No need to dirty up the library.

>You sat down as Twilight slid a plate your way.

>"So Anon, explain these cigarettes to me. So far my impression of you has been that you are a kind, logical, and sensible creature. Why willingly let yourself be controlled by a chemical? You did say they're addictive right?"

"Addictive and life-shortening."

>You shrugged.

"I guess I kinda like the burn in my throat. There's also something attractive to me about the idea that I choose to do something illogical."

>She looked confused. You took a bite of cake and smiled at her.

"When I started, I simply did not give a fuck whatsoever about my future or my past. The choice to smoke was  what tied me to my present."

>"That's just stupid. And a little masochistic."

"Masochistic's a big word for a small p0ny."

>She narrowed her eyes and gave you a stern look.

>You innocently took another bite.

"I suppose it doesn't please you that I regained the full breath of my sarcasm and sense of humor then?"

>She relaxed a bit, and took a bite of cake.

>"No Anon. I can take a joke. Size has absolutely no relation to vocabulary though."

"Well the original context of the joke involves pedophilia. Do you know that one? Eh, it's not important. Just a darker joke. What is important is magic. Do you think you could teach me more?"

 

>She looked a bit startled by your question.

>"Anon, I've always just been a student. I don't even know how you can channel it in the first place or to what extent you can control it. It's not like you have a horn."

>She looked thoughtful for a second.

>"When you summoned the fire, it came from your fingertip. Perhaps your hands work the same way as my horn. This could be very interesting. I don't think are any records of any creatures besides unicorns that have a direct control over magical energies. Even the dragons' magic isn't so precise as a unicorns."

"I would very much like to learn that teleportation spell you showed me a few days ago."

>"That's difficult magic even for me Anon. Maybe with time and dedication..."

>You were getting excited now by the possibilities.

"And I would really like to learn some mind-magic. See if I can't do a little self-repair."

>She frowned at the mention of self-repair, but continued where she had left off.

>"...with hard work and dedication, I'm sure you could learn more. You should consider yourself lucky you can do anything Anon."

"That's the second time today I've been reminded of how 'lucky' I am. Twilight I don't believe in luck. There are only causes and effects. That's not to say I'm not pleased when events work their way out in my favor. It's easy to just sit back and let the pieces fall where they may."

>She looked intrigued for a moment.

>"I think you're right about luck, but watching the scenes play out is just lazy.

"I prefer to exert as little effort as possible, thank you very much. That reminds me. Rarity and I... uh we reached an agreement that I should seek housing and employment elsewhere. Nothing personal, just business related."

>You could tell Twilight wasn't convinced but she considered your situation for a moment.

>"Applejack. I'm sure she would be willing to let you stay there as long as you helped her with some chores or something. There's plenty of space up at the orchard. I guess you should talk to Pinkie Pie about employment. maybe the Cakes need help."

"The bakery right?"

 

>"Yeah."

"Oh well. I've done kitchen work before. For money... I guess I can do it again."

>"I'm sure working with Pinkie would be fun too."

>You grimaced.

"Yeah. Fun."

You looked out the window. It was getting dark.

"Well it's been an eventful day. Thank you for the cake as always. I should get going to go see Applejack before she goes to sleep. I'd like somewhere to rest my head as soon as possible."

>Twilight took your empty plate.

>"You could stay if you wanted to. It's not that late. If you wanted to discuss your past..."

>You shook your head.

"Look, it's not that it's a tender subject or anything, but like I said, the story's been written. The choices set in stone so to speak. I live for nothing but the present, and I've always disregarded the past. It's been a long day..."

>She frowned.

>"Oh okay."

"But I'll see you tomorrow. You have some magic to teach me. The apprentice becomes the master, eh?"

>She became serious.

>"I want to warn you Anon. I have always taken my studies seriously as a student. I'll expect the same from you when I'm the teacher. Be here no later than noon tomorrow."

>You walked to the door and opened it.

>"Have a good night Anon."

 

"See you later Twi."

>You shut the door behind you.

>Now to find the orchard.

>When you were in the airborne chariot you had taken the opportunity to look over the geography around P0nyville to get a general feel for the locations.

>You remembered seeing a hilly area with a few tilled-looking fields that you had taken to be a farm.

>You headed in that direction, and before long the building on the side of the path gave way to trees.

>You stopped and took a closer look at the trees.

>Apples. They were a bit small and green, but they were apples nonetheless.

>You looked around and immediately felt foolish.

>None of the p0nies ever stayed up very late.

>You were beginning to understand the envy of Luna that Twilight had spoken of.

>You looked up.

>The stars really were lovely here, but then again you had always been a night person, frequently admiring the nightly show through your window.

>You grabbed a few apples and continued on your way, the moon illuminating the path in front of you.

>Soon enough, you came to the farmhouse and barn you had briefly glimpsed from above.

>The lights were off, so you figured you'd probably better just go to sleep and wait until morning to speak with Applejack.

>You quietly opened the barn door and slipped inside.

>You relaxed yourself into a somewhat comfortable pile of hay.

>After eating only pastries and the occasional bananas since you arrived here, the under-ripe apples were quite delicious.

>You tossed their cores into a pile beside you, rolled over and immediately fell asleep.