Chapter 14
A/N Only one thing is bothering me, what's their version of the measurement term foot, I feel like it would be silly saying hoof. Maybe their metric, it's going to bug me for a long time.
The sun hung low in the sky as Flash awoke. Rubbing his eyes, he looked over the edge. While the shadows were so long the trees hid the forest floor, Flash knew the creature haunting him was still below. Searching he could not spot the creature, but he felt its eyes upon him.
Suddenly he couldn't take the creature boring into him. He rolled over onto his back and looked up into the tree. Trying to take his mind off the bloodthirsty beast beneath him he wondered as how to escape. Maybe he could glide a large enough distance away to run home. Even if he made it far enough which way was home. The only way to know would be to see it, for he hadn't a clue as to which direction he had been running before the cliff.
Standing up Flash glanced around trying to spot a way higher. A low-hanging branch hung out of reach to the side of the tree. Steeling himself he ran to the end and launched himself into the air. Flapping his wings furiously he propelled himself into the branch. His face pressed up against the bark as he clung with his front legs. Flailing his back legs and flapping he tried to pull himself up higher.
He swung his right front leg over the branch and quickly rolled his left shoulder, bringing it above as well. He swung precariously trying to bring his back legs to the branch. The branch swayed uncertainly with each movement threating to snap. Luckily his left hind leg reached over and he swung into a straddling position.
Squeezing his eyes he scooted backwards until his back struck the trunk of the tree and branches scrapped his face. Opening his eyes the, tree's branches were much closer than the last, and a good fifty feet above was another fork, albeit much smaller, in which Flash could rest.
Gathering his frayed nerves he began his ascent. It was slow going and nearly an hour later Flash pulled himself up into the fork and looked out to the horizon in each direction of the bright noon sun. It was to no avail, in every direction he searched all he could see were trees. A growl came from below. The closeness nearly made Flash jump, but he realized it was his stomach.
Snapping off a small nearby branch, Flash chewed on the branch. The gnawing made his gut quit grumbling. Flash tried to swallow some leaves, but they scraped his throat, causing it to constrict and expand as it tried to expel it and he forced it down. He quickly spat out the leaf and gasped.
As the sun neared the ground the wind picked up carrying east. Flash hugged himself as each blast chilled and shook him. Quickly, with the last rays of the sun, Flash glanced at the sunset. The colors mixed and the sky lit up like a watercolor painting. Trails of grey drifted through the rays and Flash let out a gasp and nearly shouted, "That's smoke!"
Rapidly his glee faded as he realized there was no way he could make it there. It lay out of his line of sight, which seemed to go on for miles. Tears slid down his cheeks as he just stared out at the sunset. The wind kept blowing till the sunset was blocked by dark clouds. Closing his eyes he rested, hoping to at least outlast his predator.
The clouds were hanging ominously low and moon was a large crescent in the sky when Flash heard a call. Looking out over the treetops a green shape danced through the clouds. A call pierced the winds, "Flash!" Flash screamed into the wind trying for his father's attention. Jetstream continued on, getting further and further away.
The pegasus began to blur and suddenly was gone. Flash screamed out, "No!" It seemed as if the wind had stopped allowing his voice to permeate the air. Sobbing he brought his wings around him trying for warmth. He gripped himself ever tighter till something caught his ear.
He turned out again to see his father approaching, looking right at him and shouting, "Son!" Jet got within 10 feet and he held as still as he could, but the wind was tossing him like a leaf in a hurricane. It was clear that if he got any closer he would be thrown into the trunk.
"Flash!" He shouted as he hovered. Flash shouted out, "Dad!" As the wind picked up again Jet shouted, "I'm going to get you out of here. Just wait for your mother she'll be able to help."
Terror struck like lighting. "Dad there's a chimera beneath the tree!"
"What?" He yelled again, "A chimera is beneath the tree!" His father turned his head and swore, "Damn, listen to me you're going to be alright. I need to get your mother out of here." A roar came from below and their worst fears were realized.
With a glance at Flash, Jet dove to the forest floor. Flash stared down into the dark to see the beast. It was too dark for him, till a bright pink spark lit up the gloom. He could see his mother a spell charging and the outline of the beast. His father would dart in and out of frame striking at the beast.
A large pink orb appeared next to Flash and he tentatively touched it with a hoof. It didn't stop it just kept going. Flash leaned through and found himself on the ground. He rolled through and looked up as his mother glanced at him and said, "Run Flash. Run away from the tree." Searching around him he saw the tree, its dark branches hung like gallows, and ran the opposite direction.
As he ran a gurgled shout came from behind, but Flash didn't look back. The rain started down, slicking the path. He heard steps behind him but he dared not turn around they caught up to him. Something touched him on the side and a soft voice said, "Keep running Flash, keep running."
With his mother close to him, Flash dashed out of the forest. From where he stood, he could see the back of the old man's house and the hill it stood on. He turned to his mom and she told him, "Go get help I've got to help your father." A hoof reached to touch him. It was slick, slick and warm.
"Mom, you're bleeding!" His mom nudged Flash away. "Don't worry honey, go get help."
Flash turned and sprinted up the hill to the backdoor. Pounding furiously, Flash called out, "Help! Help! Please help!" An old and gnarled face came to the door. "What is it you want, knocking on my…"
Flash cut him off, "Please you have to help my parents, there's a chimera in the woods!" The old stallion turned, leaving the door wide open and ran through the house barley taking the time to turn the knob before smashing into the door launching it open. Flash followed through the house.
They ran down the hill, Flash tired legs working to keep pace with the old pony. The old man ran through the town calling out to everypony. Ponys stuck their head out trying to determine the source of the racket. Soon a half a dozen were gathered around the town center.
A red earth pony shouted, "What's up with all the racket, grandpa!" The old stallion called for attention, "Listen up! A chimera are attacking two ponies, we need to get ponies out there helping them." Most looked worried but a few just thought it was a crazy old man and a colt calling chimera. "Why would they be out there in the first place?" A mare shouted with curlers still in her mane.
Flash stepped up and shouted, "Please help, last time I saw my parents they were with a chimera please help!" The old stallion rested a hoof on Flash's shoulder. "This colt's parents are out there right now. Come on and help me find them." When they looked less than enthusiastic he added, "Or you'll have their blood on your hands."
Flash told them which direction, when he tried to follow they sent him back to sit at the old stallion's porch. All the thoughts running through Flash's head were of its too late. He had failed his parents. It was his fault responsible for their deaths. It wasn't even half an hour before a search party came back.
The group went up the old stallion and talked in hushed tones. They couldn't stop their wandering eyes from drifting over to the child sitting up the hill. The old pony rubbed his jaw then looked up at Flash. He waved the group off and they headed off as a group towards a garage.
The stallion climbed the hill looking down, just occasionally looking up at Flash. When he got close Flash stared off into the distance and zoned out. The exact words are lost on him but the gist is clear, their dead. The old stallion put a hoof on Flash's shoulder.
He stayed like that for a moment then went inside and retrieved a blanket and a cup full of hot chocolate. He draped the blanket over Flash and handed him the cup, but Flash just sat there. The drink warmed his hooves and the smell filled his nostrils with false promises of things like, it's going to be ok. But he knew things would never be the same.
Guilt tumbled through his body like the blade of a chainsaw, tearing at his innards. It was his fault all his stupid fault. They wouldn't have been out there if not for him. No one would have died if not for a stupid little colt and his delusions of adventure. Flash shrugged off the blanket. The rain was cold and the wind was biting but Flash didn't care. In his mind he thought no, he knew he deserved to die to catch his death with the breeze and rest in the earth.
"That's a terrible idea." Flash twisted and saw the old stallion leaning in the door frame. His eyes were glazed reflecting. Flash's mouth contorted in anger as he replied, "Why? Why would it be terrible? To me it sounds like a great solution." To which the old stallion asked, "Did they love you?" Not hesitating Flash spewed, "Of course they did, that's why they…"
The stallion cut him off, "That's why it's a terrible idea, because they love you. They love you and they would be so upset to see their son right now, the colt who just wanted to run, sitting in the rain hoping to catch his death. Now I'm not gonna stand here and tell you all the reasons to live, I'm going to tell you a reason not to die," His tone became nearly pleading, "They love you no matter where they are they still love you."
The old stallion came and pulled him up. He led him inside, to the living room, and sat him down. Opening a closet he pulled out a heavy wool blanket and a pillow. "Here's a blanket now if you need anything just ask."
"Your name." Flash stated as he sat there staring at the wall. The old stallion looked up at him, and he continued, "I never got your name." With a smile he replied, "My name is Gordon." Flash held out a hoof and said, "My name's Flash." Gordon shook his hoof. "Nice to meet you Flash."
Just as Gordon was leaving the room Flash asked, "Gordon, how do you know so much about this." Gordon looked at a hanging portrait. "Experience, I guess." With a flip of a light switch he exited the room.
The next few days passed in a blur for Flash, guards came and all his belongings were stored somewhere. They took him, after getting his statement, to an orphanage in the outskirts of Manehattan. The irony of going full circle didn't escape Flash when he entered the city. He stayed there for a year, foster families never stopping to consider allowing a depressed child into their home.
A hoof shook him out of the monotony of the orphanage. "Flash, are you ok." With a shake of his head, Flash looked at Pinkie. He jumped back in his seat and looked straight at the mares before him. The entire recollection had taken a mere five minutes, but during that time he had only just been staring at the wall, lost in thought. Pinkie shook his leg again, "Are you ok you've been sitting there for a while."
Flash brought a hoof to his head and said, "I'm fine." Pinkie looked concerned. "Are you sure, because for a while you were murmuring about it being your fault." Mrs. Cake said, "You don't have to tell us anything. If you don't want to we're not going to make you." Flash shook his head. "No, I'm just going to hold some things to myself."
"I was stupid. My parents died trying to save me, but it was my fault. I put myself in a bad situation and they died trying to save me." Flash glared at his distorted reflection in the table. Silence ensued.
Pinkie surprised him, she said, "How did they die?"
Flash spat out the words like poison, "A chimera killed them."
Pinkie shook her head and asked, "How could that possibly be your fault."
"It was after me! That's why they died, they got in its way! They told me not to go in to the forest. But I didn't listen!" Flash pounded on his head with each word pounding in those words into his mind, I didn't listen. "I thought I was invincible, a knight in shining armor, but I was the one who needed saving!"
In a moment the anger was gone replaced by sorrow. "It's my fault, I know that but giving in would be another terrible idea. They gave me their lives who would I be to throw them away. So I lived." Tears began to roll down his cheeks. Flash tried to hold them in, but eventually they just kept falling.
Pinkie gripped him tight and held him there. Flash's eyes dried over the minutes of silence, and at some point Mrs. Cake stalked off, occasionally looking back in at the colt with so little left to lose, but never the less kept playing.
Eventually Pinkie let Flash go and just stared at the now stoic stallion before her. It boggled her mind, no one should ever have to live half the pain that he must have suffered just as a colt.
Somewhere in that head of Flash's, his mind was running remembering all the things that had brought him through. Books and music hid him in a world away from his sorrows. In his thoughts a song rang out, Bye, Bye Miss Equestrian Pie, drove my Chevy to the levy but the levy was dry. Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye singing this will be the day that I die. This will be the day that I die. The song flowed and with a little effort, Flash let it carry all his sorrows away.
Putting on a hint of a smile Flash said, "I think I earned a cinnamon roll." Pinkie's eyes went wide, shocked at the recovery, and just nodded. "The story gets better I suppose. I'll tell you how I went to the circus some other time."
With a nod Pinkie said, "Ok, let em show you to where you'll be sleeping."