private Shades of Forgotten Memories

[Mephala 2,634]

This RP is between me and Toothless, and potentially Parties like Pinkie.

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Rain slumped at her tiny table in the corner of a tiny apartment, with a piece of paper and a cup of a foul-smelling liquid in front of her. Sipping at the cup, Rain coughed from the burning of the heavy liqueur and scratched out a few more things onto the paper. Evidently satisfied with her work, she opened a drawer and placed it inside.

 

Sitting up and stretching, she padded over to the window and opened it, letting in a cool autumn breeze. She shut her eyes and leaned against it, when there was a commotion from below.

Edited October 20, 2012 by Raindancer

[Toothless the Night Fury 260]

Down on the street below Rain's apartment, a small crowd was gathering in the poor neighborhood that she lived in, two ponies in a circle of a group, the two focused on each other's eyes. One pony was colored charcoal black, his grey mane off to one side of his face. The other was more of a yellow-ish tint, his mane two colors of both vivid red and velvet black.

 

The unicorn leaped at the Earth Pony, his horn glowing with magic as he attacked. The yellow pony dodged the attack, but didn't see the magical spell, aimed directly at him as it connected, sending him reeling backward as he fell upon the ground, smoke trailing from the side of his body.

 

"When we come back..." The black unicorn growled, his group of 4 other ponies backing him up. "You better have ALL of the money, dirty little earth pony." The earth pony tried to respond with a witty comment, but the wound from the spell pained his every breath, his words only a mumble below the group of ponies towering above him.

 

Planting a fine kick against the incapacitated pony on the ground, the unicorn chuckled, the pony gasping for air as he felt the impact. The group, now walking away, left the pony on the ground, still choking for precious oxygen.

[Mephala 2,634]

Rain stuck her head further out the window just in time to see the unicorn kick the earth pony lying on the ground. As they sauntered away she flipped a rude signal at their back and then ran down the stairs to see what was happening.

 

She dashed past one of her neighbours, an old unicorn stallion named Quills, and waved to him. He smiled at the speeding pegasus and opened his mouth to speak, but she was already around the corner of the rickety staircase and out the door.

 

Dashing to the dark forest behind her building, she knelt by him and frowned. She was afraid to touch him in case it hurt him, so instead she just gently asked, "Are you awake?"

[Toothless the Night Fury 260]

The earth pony blinked, his vision blurred and shaky, feeling like the entire world was spinning underneath him. Shaking off the feeling, he looked up, a sky-blue pegasus standing over him. Her colors seemed to blend into the sky, only a few shades off from what he would describe as a vivid azure. He didn't realize she was speaking to her at first, but soon picked up her words, so distant and quiet.

 

As the state of disorientation began to wear off, he responded, "I've had worse..." He groaned as he tried to pick himself up, his ribs not in the best condition after that cowardly kick on the ground. Taking a sharp intake of air, he tried to lift himself to a sitting position, but the pain stabbing through his chest like a sharp knife restrained him to the ground.

[Mephala 2,634]

Rain was unsure of what to respond with. She was used to fights breaking out on the outskirts of the town, but she never got involved. She observed him silently for a few moments. He was about her age, and looked like a hard worker. His yellow body was rather scruffy from the fight, and his black and red mane was mussed in a manner that made him look a bit silly. His eyes focused on her but were a little glazed over, the blue of them looking fuzzy.

 

"Uhm, you wanna come up to my place?" she suddenly asked, surprised at herself. Normally she kept her nose out of this kind of stuff, but seeing him in pain twinged something in her.

[Toothless the Night Fury 260]

Flame Runner processed the request for a second, trying to figure out if she really said what he think she said, or if he was just hearing things. He was usually the proud type, not offering much help from anypony unless it was a rare occasion. It was one of the reasons why he ended up in the wrong side of the neighborhood. Seeing that he wasn't having the best of days, and that his house was too far away to make it with bruised ribs, he nodded, a bit desperate for an extra help. At least for a little while.

 

"Y-yeah. I'd like that." He finally said, returning with a small smile on his face.

 

Trying to pick himself up off the floor, he had a little trouble putting any weight on his right rear hoof, a little shaken up from the fight earlier. He let out a small groan of pain as he tried to pick himself up off the ground, realizing he felt extremely tired from the endeavor.

[Mephala 2,634]

She smiled politely back at him, though it didn't quite meet her eyes, which flicked nervously as he started to get up. She wasn't entirely sure that this was a good idea-she didn't know this pony-but she couldn't just leave him to suffer, especially not in that part of town.

 

Noticing that he was having trouble she shimmied next to him so he could put some of his weight on her.

 

"You look pretty banged up," she observed, eyeing him up. "I can get you some help once we're inside. It's not a good idea for us to hang out back here while you're in this state."

 

She shook her mane out of her eyes, but it revealed a few scars on her neck which she hastily covered again, hoping he hadn't seen them. The back of her legs and her stomach were also covered in them.

[Toothless the Night Fury 260]

"Ugh... thanks..." Flame Runner replied as she slid in right next to him, some of the pain in his legs lessened a bit. But finding the position a tad awkward, he instinctively raised up his forehoof and placed it around her neck. As soon as he realized what had happened, he blushed, looking away as he made up an excuse.

 

"Uh, that feels a little better." He said in his defense, avoiding her eyes as he looked at the ground.

 

Finding nothing else to speak about that was too personal, he hobbled, limping toward the grey apartment building. Even though Runner tried to keep a gaze on the ground below him, he noticed a stray hair fall over the pegasus' royal blue eyes, tired from fatigue and exhaustion, but still had a small sparkle of beauty to them. Shaking the hair off of her eyes, her mane separated into thousands of shades of ultramarine, like the Goddess of the Sky herself gifted the pegasus with her wonderful hues of cobalt.

 

But something disturbed Flame by the markings on her neck. Scars, he realized. He turned his head away, pretending not to notice, but they were still stuck in his mind, like a snapshot from a camera. He began to wonder who would do such a thing to such a kind soul?

[Mephala 2,634]

Rain tried to ignore the more intimate gesture and nodded. "It's fine," she said, also trying not to look at him, knowing he was probably embarrassed.

 

She knew he had seen them, though. There was something in his eyes and the way he had turned his head right away that told her that. He looked nervous and vaguely upset, obviously thinking something had happened to her. Rain felt a little sick. She knew that he was wrong, that she herself was the one who had done that to herself, but didn't think that it was appropriate to say that.

 

She pushed open the door of the building. It was blissfully silent. She looked around the dingy room and then frowned.

 

"Sorry, it's a bit of a dump," she muttered, cursing herself for bringing him into the dirty room. The lights were dim and flickering, thankfully not revealing the grosser parts of the room, but it was enough.

 

"Do you think you can take the stairs? There's not elevator..."

[Toothless the Night Fury 260]

Sliding past the door to the apartment, he looked inside, the quiet atmosphere uninterrupted except for the distant sirens in the background. Like every other building in the corner of the city, it wasn't exactly a 4-star hotel, like the ones they have in Canterlot with their stained windows and clean red carpets. Being sympathetic, he replies quietly, almost as to himself, "It's hard times for everyone..."

 

He thinks of his own little hotel room, the cramped quarters barely having enough room to move. He barely owned anything, and what little he did have was quickly sold to pawn shops in order to scrape enough money for his daily meal. A saddle bag he found in a dark alley, a broken watch, his grandfather's war knife... All sold and distributed throughout the poor section of town.

 

He sighed, realizing the fact that it was probably being trashed to bits by Jack, the black unicorn, and his gang. Taking his mind off the matter, he looks at the stairs, each step like a journey to hell and back. Despite knowing that the trip wouldn't be a pleasant one, he replies, "I'll manage..."

[Mephala 2,634]

Rain just nodded and continued to try to support him. "I'm on the top floor, but it's only three flights," she said, stepping over the creaky stair.

 

Hearing the approach of others, some braver souls poked their heads out, frowned, and darted back into their rooms, too cowardly to help. Rain just ignored their staring eyes and pushed on, aware of the pain that the other pony was in.

 

"I'm Raindancer, by the way, but you can call me Rain," she suddenly interjected.

[Toothless the Night Fury 260]

Hobbling up the stairs, Flame Runner tried to suppress his cries of pain, being the proud earth pony he was. But ever so often a groan or a small gasp would escape his lips, the pain sending surges of electricity up his spine. However, with the support of the pegasus, it helped, making each step that much easier to climb.

 

Seeing the doors open, the frightened ponies who hiding behind the inch of wood, Runner shook his head. It wasn't right that they would just stand there and simply do nothing. Out of all the residents of this cold, dying building, only one came to help. Only one...

 

When the pegasus introduced herself, he was more than happy to respond. "I'm Flame Runner." He said, his own name sounding so insignificant compared to hers. He couldn't help but let out a small laugh, a small joy brought to his strong heart. He kept the smile on his face, all the way up to the third floor of the building.

[Mephala 2,634]

Pushing open the door, Rain looked sheepish. "It's, uhm, a little messy..."

 

Messy was an understatement. There were bottles of pills and alcohol all over the floor, and several knives were skewed haphazardly on the nightstand next to a small unmade bed. Papers were everywhere, covered in unintelligible scratches of writing or disturbing images. She shoved one to the side with her hoof. It showed a screaming pony slowly being burned to death.

 

Rain flushed scarlet. "I wasn't really expecting visitors..." she said awkwardly, chewing a little on her lip as she waited for the disgust that everyone showed when they saw who she really was.

Edited October 21, 2012 by Raindancer

[Toothless the Night Fury 260]

Seeing the azure pegasus blushing under the presence of him made the earth pony chuckle, the sight so adorable that he couldn't help but be amused. As for the room, he hadn't given a second thought about it.

 

Flame wasn't a very judgmental pony, so something like this wouldn't his view of her. Instead, he returned an amused smile, asking, "Anywhere I can lie down for a second? My hooves are killing me."

[Mephala 2,634]

Rain was relieved that he hadn't mentioned anything about the room. Most ponies would have turned away, but this one seemed different from the rest.

 

She helped him onto the bed, quickly shoving the sheets aside to the already messy floor. There were a few bloodstains on them, old ones that had never quite washed out, and that was sure to disgust him.

 

"Can I get you anything else?" she asked as she averted her eyes from him, not wanting to look him directly in the face.

[Toothless the Night Fury 260]

Flame Runner watched Rain throw the blood-stained bedsheets off of the mattress, the red stains no longer fresh, and instead faded and dull. The alcohol, the random pill bottles scattered around the room, the blades... She was obviously was having a painful life.

 

The scars on her neck... maybe... maybe SHE was the one who did it?

 

The earth pony frowned subconsciously, having a great deal of remorse for Rain. He suddenly felt like he was imposing upon her, as if she had enough issues to worry about in her life. But he didn't have anywhere else to go...

 

"Y-yeah." He replied, looking down at his burn which was starting to look worse from when he was in the forest. "Can I get a cold wet towel? Painkillers would help too, but I suppose alcohol would do the trick." He chuckled.

[Mephala 2,634]

Rain gestured to the bottles on the floor. "Painkillers, alcohol, I got it all," she said with a small sarcastic self-deprecating laugh.

 

Shaking two pills onto his hoof she got him a glass of water to swallow the pills, then went into the tiny bathroom to get the towel.

 

Bustling back into the main room, she handed that to him too. Eyeing the wound, she frowned a little. It looked like it wasn't getting better anytime soon.

 

Rain quickly shoved a handful of painkillers in her mouth and swallowed, hoping he hadn't noticed. Soon the drugs would kick in and she would be in a wonderful euphoria. For now, though, she had to try to focus.

 

"Uhm, anything else I can get you?"

Edited October 21, 2012 by Raindancer

[Toothless the Night Fury 260]

Flame Runner usually wouldn't accept drugs from strangers, but it was either that, or suffer with the pain with the rest of the evening. He needed to get better soon. Jack was expecting his money by sunrise, and he had to gather up what little money he had to give him. Not like he had much of a choice... He already got his flank handed to him earlier, leaving some bruised ribs, a nasty burn, and a sprained hoof.

 

Popping the pills in and drowning them down his throat with the glass of water, he let out a content sigh, knowing the pain will subdue soon. The towel came quickly afterwards, as he placed the moist rag on the side of his body. It stung, but it was going to help in the long run.

 

Hearing Rain offer more, he shook his head, replying, "You've done more than I could ever ask for... Thanks."

 

Lying his head down upon the mattress, he figured that he might as well steal some sleep, maybe a couple of hours enough to give him a little energy. Taking an intake of air, he relaxed, his tense muscles softening, heavy eyelids falling upon his vision as he began to sleep, drifting off into the pitch black darkness of his dreams.

[Mephala 2,634]

Rain sat awkwardly, not sure what to do as he fell asleep. Shrugging, she opened the door quietly and headed outside.

 

It was getting dark, and Rain hid in the shadows as she walked along. She was careful not to make a sound when she heard a noise from behind her.

 

Turning sharply, Rain saw one of the unicorns that had been harassing Flame Runner earlier. He was clearly drunk and he leered at her in a most unpleasant manner.

 

"Hey, pretty lady, you wanna have some fun tonight?" he slurred as he swayed.

The painkillers were finally kicking in and Rain knew that if it got violent she didn't stand a chance-she was way too drugged up.

"I'm all right, thanks," she said politely, turning away, but his hoof spun her back around.

"Whoa whoa whoa, no need to go so soon," he chuckled with a hiccough, his head flopping to the side in what may have been a comical manner if he hadn't been holding a knife.

 

Rain's heart started to be faster. She had tried to kill herself multiple times, but never had she imagined she would be murdered.

 

Suddenly, two of the others came out of the bushes. She was outnumbered now, and if she couldn't take on one how could she take three?

 

Rain shook her head and tried to fly away but they pinned her to the ground and laughed.

 

"Oh, we're beyond asking now," he said, and Rain screamed.

[Toothless the Night Fury 260]

Screaming. Flame Runner woke up from his light sleep, and simply laid there, his eyes staring at the ceiling of Rain's apartment. It was a common sound in the neighborhood, but something about THAT one bugged him... It sounded so... so familiar...

 

Where did he hear a voice like that, the Earth Pony thought, still unmoved from his position on the bed. It had to be recent, and it was a female voi-

 

Oh no.

 

Sitting upright, letting out a quiet groan at the burn, he looked around the empty apartment. The lights had been turned off, and the room was pitch black. Calling out into the darkness, he said, "Rain?" No response...

 

"Raaain?" ...Nothing.

 

"No... no no no no..." He hopped off the bed, a slight limp as he hobbled over to the kitchen. No one. The bathroom. Not a soul.

 

"Rain!" He called out, desperate for a response. "Raaaaaiiin!"

 

He ran to the window, where he saw a light-blue pegasus, surrounded by a group of ponies, lead by a Unicorn, his heart as black as the night itself...

[Mephala 2,634]

Rain struggled against the ponies but there were too many and they were too strong. She could feel their hot breath on her skin as they laughed harshly and she whimpered, helpless, as she began to black out from the combination of fear, pain, and drugs.

[Toothless the Night Fury 260]

No! Rain's going to get killed if I don't down there soon! Flame instantly thought to begin running down the stairs. But with his leg, he'd only be able to hop one at a time, and would take too long to reach her. Sticking his head out the window, he searched for something else to help him get down...

 

A gutter. The white pole that stretched down the side of the building reached all the way to the floor. He'd be down in only a few seconds, and the gate that stood between the building and the forest was old and defective, the hinge nearly coming off the door.

 

Nearly jumping out the window preemptively, he remember the blades that were resting on the nightstand next to Rain's bed. Picking up two of the knives, holding them in his mouth, he climbed onto the windowsill, power building into his strong legs. Surprisingly, the Earth Pony was used to insane jumps like these, something like this a puddle jump.

 

Leaping from the window, he extended his hooves outward, the entire world in slow-motion in his eyes. The pipe fell swiftly into his hooves, gravity soon pulling him down the line as he began sliding down, his legs wrapped around the bottom, securing him to the bar. As the ground came rushing up at him, he leaped, his feet tucking into a roll.

 

He had mistimed the leap though, being a bit rusty over all the years. He fell into the ground, letting out a small groan as his back slammed into the dirt. The adrenaline kept him going though, giving him the energy and the strength to kick down the wooden door, ripping it finely off from the rest of the fence. He could worry about his injury later.

 

One aggressive pony was on top of Rain, the other two chuckling as they watched the horrific sight. Spitting the knife into his hoof, he flipped it over, and chucked it, seeing the bladed weapon sail though the air, like a graceful bird taking flight, until it successfully impaled itself into the pony's side. Letting out a blood-curling scream, the pony ontop of the pegasus fell over, cowardly crawling away on all fours.

[Mephala 2,634]

Rain was slowly coming to. She had blood all over her-whether from herself or someone else, she wasn't sure. She saw the ponies backing off but she couldn't turn her head enough to see what from. She lay, unable to move, just waiting for something to happen.

 

As she gained more control over herself slowly, she noticed Flame Runner standing there, a knife by his hoof. He was breathing heavily and she saw that the door was completely gone.

 

"Landlord's not going to be too happy about that," she chuckled quietly, and then, so Flame Runner could hear her, croaked "You better not have hurt yourself further because of me."

[Toothless the Night Fury 260]

"Landlord's not here at the moment." He gave a small smirk, then trotted over to Rain. Looking down at his weak hoof, and back at the now-incredibly tall building where he had stupidly slide down, he chuckled, and shrugged. "I guess we'll find out soon enough." Seeing the other ponies scram, the injured pony supported by a friend who was limping away, he shot them an angry glance, a indisputable word spoken only to them.

 

Come anywhere close to me again, and I'll tear you apart.

 

But, despite the warning, they'll be back. With backup...

 

Extending the hoof to Rain, the warm red substance covering her chest, his face took on a serious expression, his words, "Come on Rain... You could have gotten yourself killed! Those ponies are going to be back. With weapons. I don't know what I could ha-..." Flame Runner stopped in mid sentence, surprised how much he cared about this pony he just met not an hour ago.

 

He sighed and looked away, eventually re-meeting her gaze after a pause. "... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pulled you into this. They'll be looking for you now."

[Mephala 2,634]

Rain made another rude and violent gesture at their retreating backs, as she had earlier.

 

She glared playfully at him. "You better not have or I swear I'll get you myself first."

She then relented slightly and sighed. "I probably shouldn't have gone out after I downed a bottle of pills, that was a bit of an idiotic move." She blushed a little and turned his head towards her so he was looking right at her. "You just saved my life. Thanks. And if they do come back, we'll be ready, right? Together?" She smiled at him shyly.

Edited October 23, 2012 by Raindancer