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Nuke-Actias 4

By: mothpone on Dec 10th, 2013  |  syntax: None  |  size: 8.35 KB  |  hits: 38  |  expires: Never
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  1. >"I can't do this."
  2. >The little moth pony buzzes in frustration as you stop the record player.
  3. "Yes you can. You can't just give up, Actias."
  4. >She stomps past you as she leaves the room.
  5. "Actias, come on!"
  6. >"Anon, please! Let me take a break. We've been at this for the past six hours!"
  7. >Her voice starts to squeak the louder she yells.
  8. >"I'm sorry I yelled."
  9. "It's alright. We should take a break for a little bit."
  10. >"Thank you."
  11. >The frustrated mare trots off, into the kitchen.
  12. >You sigh and shake your head.
  13. >It might be a good time to get some piano practice in.
  14. >Crossing the hall and unlocking the door to the room opposite the Light Room, you smile to yourself.
  15. >Ordinarily, the room wouldn't be locked, but since you have what may be a permanent guest living with you, it was better to play things safe.
  16. >As you turn the light on and shut the door behind you, a beautiful grand piano enters your field of vision.
  17. >The rest of the room is almost completely barren, save for a small table with a little picture in a wooden frame sitting on it.
  18. >Pictured are you, a mare, and a filly sitting under a large oak tree, smiling in pure bliss.
  19. >You smile at the picture before sitting down at the piano.
  20. "You two have a song in mind?"
  21. >Complete silence meets your ears.
  22. "Nocturne Op. 72 No. 1 by Chopin? Again?"
  23. >As you shake your head and chuckle a little bit, you start to play.
  24. "I don't mind playing it, but you could request something different once in a while."
  25. >Your cheeks burn and your throat tightens as you play.
  26. >A tear rolls from your eye as you finish the piece.
  27. "I shouldn't be dwelling on this."
  28. >"Anon?"
  29. >Startled, you stand and run to the door.
  30. >Actias slips inside before you can close it.
  31. >"I heard you playing, so I came to watch."
  32. "I don't want you in here. You can't be in here."
  33. >"Why not?"
  34. >She sits down on the piano bench and looks up at you.
  35. "It's a long story."
  36. >You make the mistake of glancing over at the picture.
  37. >Actias follows your gaze, her eyes locking to the frame.
  38. >Everything slows down as she reaches over to it.
  39. >You rush over and take it out of her hooves.
  40. >"What is that?"
  41. "It's a picture."
  42. >"Who are the ponies in it?"
  43. "It's a long story."
  44. >"We have time."
  45. "No we don't. We have to practice for those auditions."
  46. >"Oh, come on! We've been practicing all day!"
  47. >Two hooves press against your chest as she stands up and stares into your eyes.
  48. >"Please? If you tell me, I promise I won't ask for a break tomorrow."
  49. "It isn't important, but since you're going to promise that, I'll give you the short answer."
  50. >You set the picture back down on the table and pick the moth pony up.
  51. >As you walk out of the room, you begin to speak.
  52. "They were friends of mine, a long time ago."
  53. >"How long ago?"
  54. "I don't remember."
  55. >"Oh. What happened to them?"
  56. "Shenanigans."
  57. >"You won't tell me?"
  58. "No, because it isn't important."
  59. >"It's important."
  60. >You sigh and walk toward the kitchen.
  61. "Actias, please. Just drop it."
  62. >She nuzzles your neck and buzzes.
  63. >"Sorry."
  64. >A jar of nectar sits on the counter, unopened.
  65. "Couldn't get this open?"
  66. >"No. I came to ask you for help, but I got distracted by you playing."
  67. "Oh. Well, then. Let's get this open so you can eat."
  68. >Actias hops down and sits on a stool beside the counter.
  69. >You open the jar and pass it to her before turning to prepare your own lunch.
  70. >Bread, veggies, meat.
  71. >Meat.
  72. >You look down at your meatless sandwich.
  73. "Don't cry, Anon."
  74. >Even though you've gone a very long time without meat, its delicious flavor still haunts your memories.
  75. >"Anon, are you okay?"
  76. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. Just missing something that use to be in my life."
  77. >"Those ponies?"
  78. "No! For the love of all that's good, no! It isn't them, it will never be them, they are gone, I've moved on."
  79. >Shaking your head, you turn to her and walk over to the counter.
  80. "Please don't bring them up anymore."
  81. >She nods and goes back to drinking the nectar.
  82. >That long tongue of hers dips into the jar as she holds it up to her mouth.
  83. >It's a horrific sight.
  84. >You cringe and stare at your sandwich.
  85. "I don't want this anymore."
  86. >"I'll eat it!"
  87. >The moth mare slurps her tongue out of the jar and then flutters over to you.
  88. >Almost as soon as you hand her the sandwich, her tongue wraps all around it before pulling it into her mouth.
  89. >She keeps eye contact with you the entire time she chews.
  90. >It is one of the most disturbing displays you have ever seen.
  91. >Unblinking, ever-staring, rhythmic chewing.
  92. "Please stop."
  93. >"Stop what?"
  94. >Bits of sandwich fall from her mouth.
  95. "One, talking when you have food in your mouth, and two, staring at me while you eat."
  96. >"But I like how you look."
  97. >More food falls out of her mouth.
  98. "What'd I just say?"
  99. >She swallows the sandwich and takes a sip of nectar.
  100. >"Sorry."
  101. "Are you done? We need to practice."
  102. >"Actually, I want to listen to you play the piano some more."
  103. "You aren't allowed in there."
  104. >"Oh come on! You can't be serious!"
  105. "I'm very serious."
  106. >"I won't ask about the picture, I won't say anything, I'll sit perfectly still and listen to you play!"
  107. "No."
  108. >"Please!"
  109. >You brush your hand over your face and look into her eyes.
  110. "Fine."
  111. >"Really?!"
  112. "Yes, but you're going to do exactly what you said you would."
  113. >"I will!"
  114. >Actias latches onto you with a big grin slapped onto her face.
  115. >The rest of the day was going to be absolutely wonderful.
  116. >"What do you want me to play?"
  117. >You look around the room and smile softly before tilting your head.
  118. "I don't know, what can you play?"
  119. >Anon slowly turns his head to glare at you.
  120. >"Wasn't talking to you."
  121. >Hooves over your mouth in embarrassment, you squeak softly.
  122. "Sorry."
  123. >Anon shakes his head and ignores you as he nods softly.
  124. >"Ah, some Rimsky-Korsakov. You challenge me."
  125. >He isn't right in the head.
  126. >Talking to himself?
  127. >Answering himself?
  128. >He's definitely a strange one, but he's kind when he wants to be.
  129. >Plus he has nice lights and music.
  130. >He starts to play an incredibly fast piece, his fingers flying over the keys faster than you can keep up with.
  131. >A feeling of awe comes over you as you approach him and sit beside the piano bench.
  132. >The rapidity of the notes makes the piece feel like it passes quickly.
  133. >Maybe a minute, two tops, pass before Anon finishes playing.
  134. "What was that one called?"
  135. >"Flight of the Bumblebee."
  136. "Is that supposed to be an insult?!"
  137. >"No? That's the name of the piece. Flight of the Bumblebee, by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov."
  138. "It sounds like an insult. Can we call it Flight of the Mothpony from now on?"
  139. >"No. I don't see how it's insulting."
  140. "I don't like bees."
  141. >"What does that even have to do with the piece?"
  142. "The piece itself? Nothing. I just don't like the name."
  143. >Anon sneers at you and rolls his eyes.
  144. >"I won't tolerate such Philestinian thoughts in my house. It's Flight of the Bumblebee."
  145. "Fine! I just won't practice for the rest of the day."
  146. >He waves his hand and stares down at the keys.
  147. >His cheeks turn red as he swallows.
  148. >You climb into his lap and hug him around the neck.
  149. "I'm sorry, Anon."
  150. >Anon wraps his arms around you and buries his face into your neck fluff.
  151. >"You didn't do anything, Actias."
  152. "Are we still going to practice?"
  153. >"No, no. I think we're done for the day."
  154. >You pat his back with a hoof.
  155. "I'll practice all day tomorrow. No complaints."
  156. >He smiles against your fluff.
  157. >"We'll decide on an audition song and practice that, alright?"
  158. "Alright."
  159. >"In the meantime, you've been up all day and need to sleep."
  160. >His fingers brush over your feelers as he strokes your mane.
  161. "I'll sleep through the night, with you. Then we can practice together for a longer amount of time."
  162. >Anon laughs softly as he hugs you tighter.
  163. >"Well, you can have the bed you and your friends decided to tear up. I'll take the couch."
  164. "Hey! Don't blame that on me, I tried to fix it!"
  165. >You squeak angrily and buzz your wings a little bit.
  166. >"Calm down. You can have the couch if you want."
  167. "But you'll be cold if you're alone."
  168. >"I can cover up with blankets."
  169. "We can cover up with blankets."
  170. >You put a little bit of emphasis on the "we."
  171. >"I guess I can get behind that idea."
  172. >He pinches your nose gently as he stands with you in his arms.
  173. >"We can listen to more music and play with whatever lights you haven't turned into a drumset. Alright?"
  174. "Sounds good to me!"
  175. >Anon carries you out of the piano room.
  176. >You smile softly at the picture frame.
  177. "I'll take care of him for you."