OK, that last chapter had no plot. At all. I just wanted to write something cute about Brightheart, and this popped in my head. So, now, onto the next story. These do have connecting themes, and some characters come in more than once (Firestar, Sandstorm, Dustpelt, Ferncloud, Jayfeather, Feathertail, Hawkfrost, Crowfeather, Leafpool, Tigerstar, Brambleclaw, Squirrelflight…) But, I digress. New one-shot! Yay!
Briarlight cursed under her breath as she stared at the glistening ramp. She had told the janitor to salt it, but he had apparently forgotten. How was she supposed to get her wheelchair up to the school if she was going to slip every time she tried? She felt hot tears in her eyes, and reached up to brush them away.
"Did you know that people rarely cry when their sad, but when angry or frustrated?" A soft voice asked. Briarlight shook her head as she felt her chair move forward slightly. "Well, now you do," Jayfeather said, and Briarlight could see him sprinkle salt on the ramp, before beginning to push her up.
"Thanks," she gasped.
"Anytime," he answered. "What do you have for first period?" Brightheart craned her neck to look at him.
"Um, it's free period," she said. "Why do you want to know?"
"You sing, right?" Jayfeather plowed on. Briarlight nodded.
"What does that have to do with anything?" She demanded. Jayfeather let go of her chair.
"I often find that singing helps me sort out my feelings," he said cryptically. "My first period is free too, by the way." With that, he walked off. Briarlight stared after him. Jayfeather had always been a mystery to everyone at this school, save his siblings, and maybe Half-Moon. She wheeled her chair towards the auditorium, and managed to get up onto the stage. She leafed through some songbooks, looking for something that expressed her predicament.
"Find anything?" A voice asked. Briarlight jumped, and whirled around to stare at him.
"Jeez! You scared me," Briarlight gasped. Jayfeather smiled slightly.
"Sorry," he apologized. "But did you find a song you like?"
"This one," Briarlight said, showing him the sheet music. Jayfeather cocked his head, and Briarlight blushed.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said. "Um, it's called What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger (Piano Version)." Jayfeather nodded, before going to a different box. He picked out a sheet of music, running his hands along the raised bumps. He sighed, and closed the book.
"I can make this work," he said. "Come to the piano." Jayfeather seated himself down before playing a couple notes, just to make sure he knew what he was doing. Briarlight wheeled herself towards him, and did a couple of voice exercises.
"I'm ready," she said. Jayfeather nodded, and began to play. Briarlight opened her mouth.
You know the bed feels warmer
Sleeping here alone
You know I dream in color
And do the things I want
You think you got the best of me
Think you've had the last laugh
Bet you think that everything good is gone
Think you left me broken down
Think that I'd come running back
Baby you don't know me, cause you're dead wrong
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
You heard that I was starting over with someone new
They told you I was moving on over you
You didn't think that I'd come back
I'd come back swinging
You try to break me, but you see
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
Thanks to you I got a new thing started
Thanks to you I'm not the broken-hearted
Thanks to you I'm finally thinking about me
You know in the end the day you left was just my beginning
In the end...
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone
[2x]
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
(When I'm alone)
The final chords were done by the time Briarlight had finished. In a moment of spontaneous happiness, she threw her arms around Jayfeather's neck in a hug. He stiffened, before hugging her back. It wasn't warm (Jayfeather actually was really cold), and it wasn't very friendly (Jayfeather was very antisocial, after all). But he had hugged her back, and that was enough.
"Thank you Jayfeather," Briarlight said. "That helped a lot." She pulled away, and blushed slightly. "By the way Jayfeather, if you like Half-Moon, you should tell her." Briarlight wheeled out of the auditorium, but not before catching the slight tinge of red on Jayfeather's cheeks.