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kingofhearts709 · 3 years

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Bill and Ted do a scary movie marathon but then cant sleep

hello yes its no surprise that my first thought was nightmare on elm street so we're going with a 5 movie marathon of THAT up to the 1989 film HAHA 🤙 hope you enjoy!!

A/N: there are some very vague spoilers for the nightmare on elm street series (i mean like VAGUE) and also uhh small warning for like mentions of the slashing in the films?? its NOES i mean 🤷

this came out very kinda cute and idk if that's what you wanted but it's what my brain created 🎸

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Bill and Ted have never done very well with especially scary movies.

Of course, they could handle one by itself, so long as it's followed up by something else lighthearted and definitely not The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

However, the newest A Nightmare On Elm Street was supposed to be coming out soon, and it was Bill's brightest of ideas that they marathon the first five in preparation for the plotline. The last thing Bill remembered happening, vaguely, is an unborn baby and something about a nun. Ted hardly remembered the first one.

Hence, the marathon.

"Dude, we're totally gonna dominate this horror marathon," Bill said as he started busting out the VHS box set, laying them side by side so he wouldn't forget what order they had to watch them in. "I highly doubt that we, as mature adults of modern society, will cower in the face of Freddy Krueger." Bill looked up to see Ted's face scrunched with pension, and immediately started to back away from the whole thing entirely, putting the first movie back down.

"I just...," Ted huffed where he was slumped on their couch, and whipped his head up to look at Bill. "Remember when we saw the first one in the theatre and screamed so loud that the attendant dude had to escort us out?"

"Yeah..." Bill remembered the memory well. They totally missed out on the ending of that movie the first time. Bill shook his head, "But Ted, that was, like, seven years ago. We've totally grown up! I'm sure that it'll be a most excellent experience."

Ted could hear the hope in Bill's voice, so he gave a small huff and a firm, brave nod for Bill to put the tape in. Bill pumped his fist as he inserted the tape, jumping back up onto the couch next to Ted and nearly knocking their popcorn bowl over. Bill suggested they start the marathon around five, considering they were about to embark upon nearly eight hours of monster movie magic. The two had already spent the afternoon together making sure they had easy meals for when they got hungry later.

Ted had almost wished they didn't need the marathon as an excuse to do so, but of course, it was quickly a thought to be pushed to the back of his head.

The opening sequence of the first film began, and soon enough, both Bill's and Ted's eyes were laser-trained on the small TV, Ted giving a jump at any scare and Bill giving a gasp at any gore.

They managed okay through the first one. "The first one's never the scariest, dude," Bill said with forced confidence, though Ted could clearly see him shivering as he set up the next tape. He was shivering too, and he kind of wished Bill would sit closer to him, just to make sure he was actually there, and it all wasn't a dream where Freddy was about to slash open his insides at the last second.

They pushed their way through the second and the third without moving from the couch, and Ted finally chanced a glance over at Bill as soon as the credits started rolling.

Bill was visibly shaking, in a way that made Ted wonder if he was having some sort of horror-induced seizure.

"Dude," Ted said quietly, and Bill blinked as he let out a deep breath and looked over at Ted. "Are you okay?" Bill swallowed as he nodded.

"I'm totally cool, duder," he said assuredly, though his face didn't say the same. "Uh... Snack break?"

"Yeah, dude, definitely." Ted looked up and over at their wall clock to see it was almost ten at night, and they hadn't eaten a single mouthful of anything since their popcorn. "I'm egregiously starved."

Bill nodded as he stood up before stopping completely in his tracks.

"Dude," he said, quiet. "I have a most terrible feeling." Ted swallowed thickly as he watched Bill turn away.

"Dude, whatever joke you're about to pull, I swear, I'll punch you," Ted warned immediately. "Don't."

"Dude, it isn't a joke, I think-" Bill suddenly whipped his body around towards Ted and Ted let out a loud scream as he cowered away from Bill's figure. Bill let out a relieved sigh and Ted slowly uncovered his face to see Bill rubbing at his back. "I twisted my back, dude."

"Oh," Ted breathed out. He shook his head, "Dude, I totally thought you were about to Krueger me." Bill looked at him for a long moment before he started to laugh, and Ted couldn't help but join in.

The thought was so ridiculous, of course, but Ted could never be too sure with the things he'd experienced in life.

"C'mon, Ted, let's eat dinner," Bill huffed as he stretched out a little more before heading to the kitchen to heat up their pre-made spaghetti. Bill returned five minutes later with two bowls of noodles and two forks, passing one into Ted's lap and setting the other on top of the TV before reaching for the next tape.

"Bill, dude, already?" Ted said as Bill slid out the tape and inserted the next (he'd have to remind himself to rewind them all later the next day).

"Ted, the sooner we get through them, the sooner we can be done," Bill reasoned as the fourth movie began, grabbing his bowl and sliding back onto the couch, this time within Ted's immediate reach. Whether or not it was intentional was beyond either of them.

"You make it sound heinous," Ted mumbled, though his eyes were already studying the screen with apt attention.

"Sometimes, my friend, you have to suffer to enjoy masterpieces," Bill mumbled back, mindlessly twirling his spaghetti in the bowl without picking it up.

The fourth movie ended more abruptly than either of them expected, with only half of each of their bowls eaten. Bill blinked into the suddenly eerie and dark room as he abandoned his bowl and fork and dove for the TV to stop the tape. The room went suddenly quiet and Ted didn't dare move.

"One more," Bill whispered despite the fact that they were the only ones there, and Ted listened to Bill insert the fifth and final tape.

"Dude," Ted pleaded, unsure what he was pleading for. Probably for Bill to finish and get back up on the couch so Ted didn't throw himself in a full-fledged panic. They'd already come so far and they weren't about to give up now, but it would help immensely if he weren't alone.

Bill jumped back up onto the couch, thigh to thigh with Ted as the last opening sequence of the night played in their dark living room at nearly midnight.

Bill's closeness was more distracting than ever, Ted almost missing the best and most heinously gorey pieces of the film every time Bill tensed up and shook against him. He's sure he'd been doing the same thing, though Bill didn't seem at all affected by it.

It was strange how fear seemed to literally bring them closer together, and it almost made Ted laugh at the thought that Freddy Krueger could possibly be some kind of ingenious cupid, creating connection through collective terrorising.

However, as he listened to the children sing Freddy's rhyme at the end of the movie, he thought better of that notion because Bill was hiding his face in his shoulder, and he was pretty sure no cupid would do such a thing as to make his best friend cry.

"Bill, dude, you're shaking," Ted whispered quietly. "The movie's over." Bill breathed in as he lifted his head to look at the TV, relieved to see that it was over. He subtly began to wipe at his eyes, and it amazed Ted how this had all been Bill's idea, and yet he was the one most terrified.

"Ted, I do believe," Bill began, doing his best to puff up his chest, "that we are truly the most bravest of all the brave." Ted smiled as he nodded. He would've made fun of Bill for getting scared were it not for the own lingering terror he was still feeling.

"Bill, we are most definitely two of the bravest men alive," Ted agreed with a nod. He paused for a second before adding, "Next time, though, maybe we should just see the new movie by itself."

It took a moment before Bill nodded, and they both collectively said, "Agreed."

Ted did the liberty of turning the lights back on and throwing out their half-eaten dinners, Bill putting the tape pile aside for rewinding later. They both finished and met up at their bedroom door before nodding and heading to their respective beds.

It was quiet as they slipped underneath their sheets, Ted reaching and turning off the bedside lamp, shrouding them both in darkness. Ted could hear Bill's unsteady breathing from the other side of the room, large breaths in and out like he was having trouble calming down.

Ted was having a similar issue, wincing every time he tried to close his eyes and seeing gruesome scenes from the movies behind the lids. He did his best to think about other, less Krueger-y things, but ultimately, it seemed like even through film, Freddy seemed to have a hold on both of them.

After nearly a whole hour of heavy breathing and occasional wincing, Ted finally spoke up, "Dude, I totally can't sleep."

"Yeah, me neither," Bill said instantly, taking another deep breath. "I keep thinking that Freddy dude is gonna get me as soon as I fall asleep."

"Dude, me too." Ted huffed. "You think if we fell asleep at the same time, we'd have the same dream? That way if he does end up coming after us, at least we'll be together."

"Ted, that's total bogus," Bill groaned, rolling over to look at Ted. "He isn't real."

"Yeah, but our brains think he totally is," Ted countered. "So, if we trick our brains into thinking he can't fight the both of us at once, maybe we'll get some sleep." A long silence seemed to stretch before Bill let out a snort, and Ted let one out right after. "Yeah, dude, that's definitely not how it works."

"Nah, dude," Bill laughed. "But your idea would be most outrageously correct within the Elm Street universe." Ted laughed as he watched Bill shake with his own in the darkness.

"Let's try to sleep, Bill," Ted said when the chuckles died down, and he tried to shut his eyes. The images still flashed, however, and he had to open his eyes again. Bill was still staring at him. "Dude, this is most non-triumphant."

"...Hey, Ted," Bill spoke up, voice nervous, and Ted gave him his undivided attention. "D'you... Like, would it be okay if-"

"-we shared the bed?" Ted finished the thought, and Bill let out a barely visible grin. "Yeah, dude."

Since Bill had the bigger blanket of the two of them, Ted was the one to climb under Bill's covers and lay down inches from his face. Somehow, this was far better than sleeping ten feet away from him. This way, Ted could feel him and make sure he was there.

"Hey, dude," Ted said, breath hot against Bill's face, and he managed a smile.

"Thanks, Ted," he found himself saying, and Ted furrowed his brows.

"For what, dude?"

"I would've never gotten through five of the most egregiously gorey and triumphantly horrific movies in cinema without you."

Ted laughed as he hid his face in Bill's chest, and Bill found himself holding him as he did so, until they were just lying there, together.

"And we'll get through the new one together, too," Ted mumbled into Bill, whose breathing had finally gone steady.

This time when he closed his eyes, he didn't catch the flashing images of Freddy Krueger. Instead, he saw the flashing images of Bill and his grin that said there was no way Freddy Krueger could ever best the both of them as long as they were together.

#the king speaks #the king writes #bill and ted #bill s. preston esq.#ted theodore logan #bnt #a nightmare on elm street #freddy krueger #billandted

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shhh-no-ones-home · 3 years

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memories of a younger generation din djarin x reader

+++++++++

christmas request info can be found here

prompts:

"You may not remember me. I was a child." "Yeah, well, I shut everybody out. Don't take it personally. It's just easier." "You're the reason that I got this far."

Song: spirit in the sky my norman greenbaum

tag list: @cynic-spirit +++++++++

i sat in the corner of the cantina, watching those around me intently. it had been a while since id come home to Tatooine and i was beginning to regret the decision. i was taken from here after all but maybe that was a good thing. i looked up as the door opened, noticing a Mandalorian walk in with a pod following close behind him. i raised a brow as i took a drink, not recognizing the signet on his armor.

when i heard him ask for something from the waitstaff i became more intrigued. surely that couldnt be who i thought it was but the voice sounded all to familiar, even now as a grown up. i listened intently to him as he asked for information. he was searching for more like him. i almost couldnt believe what i was hearing. i stood slowly, walking to him as the waiter left.

"youve come a long way."

i said, standing at the edge of his table. he looked up at me, one hand on his waist.

"do i know you?"

he asked and i pulled the cloth down away from my face.

"you may not remember me. i was a child when we met after all."

i watched as he tilted his head to the side, his small green friend looking between the two of us.

"our paths crossed on mandalor, a long time ago."

i said. i was so sure it was him.

"y/n?"

he asked and i smiled.

"you arent wearing your armor."

he noted and i sighed, moving to sit across from him.

"i had to leave it and the guild behind. the empire was taken down but i could risk being hunted anymore."

he sat back in his seat.

"what are you saying?"

i looked to the waiter as he came back with a bowl for the little one.

"oh is this your guest? my sincerest apologies madam hunter. i didnt know you three were together, may i get you anything? on the house."

i sent him a stern smile and nodded.

"oi-oi puffs for me and my friends. no rush."

i said and he scurried away.

"madam hunter?"

din asked and i laughed, shaking my head.

"ive kept imperial troops out of town for nearly a decade. ive regretted every day of it but it keeps me in good favor with the locals."

i paused, motioning to him.

"youre the reason i got this far."

when he went to speak the waiter came back with the plate of deserts, bowing once before leaving. i looked back to din, offering him one but he just stared at me.

"you are not the same youngling i remember during our training."

he said and i laughed a little to myself.

"always so sure of yourself din djarin. i most certainly am not the same as i was but maybe thats a good thing. working in the guild made me stronger but we both know ive always been pig headed when it comes to authority."

he laughed a little back, shaking his head. i looked to the table as the small one climbed to the middle, sitting down and shoving a puff in its mouth.

"you are right on that one y/n, you were never good at listening either."

i smiled at that, watching the baby consume another puff. i leaned into the table, folding my hands together under my chin.

"and you were the one to always listen. maybe thats why we worked so well together."

i reminisced for a second, looking back to him.

"ive missed you, din, ive missed our times together. oh the trouble we couldve gotten into over the last ten years."

he shook his head.

"im not like that anymore."

i sent him an amused look.

"you never really were in the first place, i on the other hand-"

"mando!"

i heard from across the bar, my hand immediately going to my blaster as we looked to them.

"you dont belong here."

he said sternly, raising his chest. din stood up to match him, getting closer to his face.

"no?"

he challenged.

"no, and i think you need to leave. you take that thing with you when you go. i know about you and we dont need trouble here from you and your kind."

i stood up, pushing both of their shoulders back to separate them, moving in to look at him fully. his eyes went wide when he realized who i was.

"i think its you who needs to leave, friend."

he opened and closed his mouth a few times.

"huntress."

he said a little surprised.

"he goes, i go. and i dont think you all would survive a harvest without me."

he nodded quickly.

"yes madam hunter, my apologies. i didnt know he was with you."

i let him go and he bowed his head before walking to the opposite side of the bar, sighing in relief as he sat amongst friends. i looked to din.

"maybe its best we finish our business somewhere else."

i suggested and he nodded, placing a few silver pieces on the table for the food. i walked with him outside the cantina, the people around watching us intently.

"do you always draw this much of a crowd?"

he asked and i laughed, nodding to a few townsfolk.

"i dare say having you with me doesnt help, but im a namesake around here."

he nodded once.

"i see a lot has changed."

i looked back to him, opening the door to my hut and offering for him to enter. he looked around as he stepped down into it

"no they havent, we just havent been in contact since i got lost on that swamp planet. which i dont appreciate by the way."

i watched as he sat at my table, the pod moving in close to him.

"i thought you were dead."

he defended and i rolled my eyes.

"clearly."

he leaned forward.

"hey, if you wouldnt have been running around-"

"i lost the ship!"

i interjected, laughing at my own stupidity.

"what?"

he asked a little bewildered.

"yeah, i forgot where we had landed and by the time i had found it back there was nothing but scorches in the grass. it did take me two days to find it back though so i get why you left."

he sat back and hummed to himself.

"well im glad you found your way home."

he said and i looked to the table solemnly.

"right, home."

he tilted his head.

"is something wrong?"

i shook my head no and stood up, walking to the kitchen for a drink.

"no, it just hasnt felt like home in a long time."

i heard him stand and i turned back around to face him.

"ya know, once upon a time you used to tell me everything."

i snorted.

"Yeah, well, its been a long time. now I shut everybody out. Don't take it personally. It's just easier."

he sighed.

"to bad things cant be the way used to."

i sent him a knowing smile.

"if only."

there was a long paused and i looked up to him again.

"what are you doing here anyways?"

he cleared his throat.

"im looking for more like us, i have to get this child back to its kind."

i crossed my arms over my chest.

"so you finally found your quest."

he looked back to the child sitting in its pod staring at us.

"i have."

i nodded once.

"alright, ill help."

he looked back to me surprised.

"what?"

i swallowed.

"ill help. you know nothing about this planet and the people in this town trust me. its the least i could do for an old friend."

i walked slowly to the child, running my finger tips over its ear and hearing it whine.

"besides, im sure you could use it, being a single dad and all."

he sent me a look, even with the helmet on, i could tell he was glaring.

"i am not a single dad."

i laughed, picking the kid up and seeing it smile.

"yeah, sure."

#wattpad #x reader #din djarin #mando #the mandalorian #star wars #imagines #one shots #291

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ask-de-writer · 7 years

Text

SANDO’S LAKE : Origin of the Rom, part 5 : MLP Fan Fiction : (1 part)

Return to the Master Story Index

Return to MLP Fan Fiction

SANDO'S LAKE

the Fifth tale in the origin of the Rom by De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)

6312 words

Users of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights. They may reblog the story provided that all author and copyright information remains intact. They may use the characters or original characters in my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical compositions. All sorts of fan art, cosplay, music or fiction is actively encouraged.

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We pulled off of the Royal Road into a spacious wayside. The high Sunset Mountains began their rise almost from this spot. My lovely chestnut sorrel wife, Nore Bel Morin, pulling in the harness beside me and our fourth filly, a darker brown sorrel named Delit Bel Nore, was in the lead harness, not only pulling, she was singing our road song cadence.

I suspected that there was no coincidence in her choice of song, either. She and the others pulling the caravans behind us were all singing Shehan Ja Rom. The name means Salvation of the Rom and tells the true story of the near miracle that saved the seven first horses of the Rom from death in the sere and deadly desert of Celestia's Anvil, just beyond the Sunset Mountains.

Nore's eyes had the sparkle of unshed tears. “I love this place, my dear husband. This is where you brought us to the roads of Equestria those thirty years ago.

“I see that we are the first of the three bands of Rom to get here. I hope that Sando will last long enough to get here before he goes to the Lake of Paradise.”

I replied softly, heart torn, “I think that he will. Our filly Naleen was there when he died four days ago. She restarted his heart with her magic and is keeping it pumping for now.”

Nore pointed with her ears up the long pass above the wayside. “Up there is Riten's Notch, the only place where we could get out of the mountains after that awful flood.”

I nodded soberly and looked up to Nore. “I remember. Saving you from Celestia's Anvil was easy by comparison to getting us all out of the mountains after the Red Branch flood. We almost lost Maina and Malit and their caravan, getting over the Notch.”

Wistfully, Nore wondered, “Whatever happened to that lovely Sunbreak and those fine Royal Armored Pegassi that helped us and saved Maina and Malit?”

I told her, “The Exile, old De Writer, told me that Sunbreak fell in action on the Prance frontier a few years after she helped us. Vard is now a full colonel and has a garrison not that far from here.”

Our conversation was stopped by the practical necessities of getting our caravan and the others all pulled into a neat circle. Dropping our hitches and stowing the whipple staves, single and double trees and all the rest of the caravan rigging, getting out cooking gear and generally setting up our camp had us all busy. Even the foals have regular chores to do when setting up camp. It was a hive of happy activity.

By the time that it was done, we had tea on, griddles heating and batter getting whipped up! Some of the foals, knowing the value of helping out, were making up favorite fillings to be rolled up in the thin batter cakes to come!

We all heard the wagon of the long haul drovers as it turned into the wayside entry road. Sarel, Rom's dapple gray wife and an excellent weaver, folded her ears back to shut out the sound. She exclaimed, “Three wheels as bad as ponies can make and one that's worse!”

We were all chuckling about that. True, too! We Rom live by our wheels and we all know the sound of good ones and bad ones. Some of the long haul cargo ponies have wised up that being friendly to Rom on the road can pay off big time. Some have not. It appeared that this team was one of each.

One of the two was a smallish red unicorn. The other was a fairly husky earth pony with a sandy tan mane and tail and a green coat. I recognized them both.

From the disdainful curl of her lip and the ostentatious turning of her rump to them, I guessed that Nore did too.

The earth pony was a really good sort. Whatever opinion he may have about Rom, Carter was always polite, even friendly. We all liked him and even watched for him on the road.

The red unicorn was cut from a different cloth altogether. Thirty years ago he was a follower of Foulip. He and a buddy named Lex had used military pikes at Foulip's order to try forcing us to perform as slaves at the now defunct Haulmarket Fair. Lex tried to kill me with his pike. My sweet Nore killed him faster than if he had been the one stabbed using an art known as Gyptian Death Touch.

Now here was Red, all over again. Twenty years at hard labor on the Royal Roads did not appear to have mellowed him any.

He spat in our direction.

Carter stomped him. “Drat it, Red! I told you to be polite to the Rom! We got a sour wheel. If we are nice to them, there is a good chance that they will fix it for us.”

“Meadow muffins, they will! Last time I seen Rom, I done nothing and was given twenty years on the Royal Roads!”

Carter snapped back, “That is a lie and you know it! I have heard your cant so often that I looked it up in Royal Road Police records. You were convicted for your part in trying to force the Rom into slavery under Crowns Law! You almost got sent over the Traitor's Drop along with Foulip for that.

“The Princesses excused your illegal possession of a military pike stolen from the Haulmarket Militia Armory. Be thankful that all you got was twenty years!”

Red sourly ignored the reality being splashed in his face. He started to crowd the hitch, attempting to force Carter to put the wagon next to our camp. Carter was bigger and held his line, snarling, “No! You are NOT going to mess this up! If you do, I am canceling our contract at the next RRP section station!”

Carter dragged both the wagon and Red, who was not helping at all, down to the far end of the wayside.

Nore shook her head. “Poor Carter, being saddled with Red! If it were not for why we have come here, I would suggest that we leave if he is going to be here.”

I sucked my cheeks in as I thought. Coming to a decision I suggested, “If we have him here, the reason for us being here will be marred at least. Gather Delit, Hasna and come yourself, dear. We will go to see if they will leave for another wayside if we fix their bad wheel.”

Chuckling, young Delit asked, “Which one? They are all bad!”

Nore corralled our offspring, while agreeing, “They are pony made wheels, dear. But one is far worse than the others. That is the one that we might fix.”

Hasna showed up with his wheel tool kit and a grim expression. He stated, “I do not mind fixing a wheel for Carter. He has always been friendly and respectful. That Red, though, I would not offer to pull him out if he was drowning in a mire. I have heard too many tales of the things he has tried.”

Nore nodded agreement. “We all have and we agree with you, Hasna, if that helps. We won't fix the wheel unless Carter agrees to leave. Red will have to go with him or not get paid for the haul.”

We crossed the tree shaded space of the wayside to Carter's wagon. Red started to snap, “Wayside camp Privacy! Get ...”

Carter actually clipped his jaw with a hoof! “I told you, SHUT IT! Stay quiet and keep to yourself or YOU pay for fixing that wheel at a wheelwright shop!” Turning to us, he offered, “Welcome! What can I do for you?”

Nore said bluntly, “Carter, you always have a welcome in our camps. Red is not welcome in or near any Rom camp. We want him gone. If we fix your wheel, will you leave and take him with you?”

^^Part 1 Part 2vv

Carter looked down sadly, and replied, “Thanks for being clear that I am still welcome in your camps. Yes, we will leave as soon as the wheel is ready.”

Red promptly stated, “I want to spend the night here!”

Carter nodded, “Feel free. That will be a contract violation. I will be shut of you and you won't get paid for the haul if you do. I am going to Wayside 14, next to Haymarket, to spend the night.”

I nodded to Delit. “OK, sweetie. Lift the corner of his caravan.”

Red snapped, “That's a wagon! You too dumb to know the difference?”

Delit, showing an excellent finesse of control, slapped a cap of her nearly golden magic on his horn and wrapped his jaws in it too. Without letting go of Red, she also lifted up the wagon's corner while Carter placed and adjusted the wagon jack.

Carter commented, “Thank you, Delit, I believe your name is? Both for doing this lift and for shutting up Red! There, jack's in place. Would you mind staying close enough to keep him quiet? Thanks, young filly.”

As Delit stepped clear, Nore and Hasna stepped in and began by simply turning the wheel. Hasna, our band's best wheelwright stopped it at a particular point.

Speaking to Delit, he asked, “Do you know why I stopped the wheel there?” Delit nodded, “I think so, Hasna. That is where the binding starts. Do we take it apart now?”

Hasna agreed, “You are right, Delit. Your mother will pull this lynch pin. It is very tight.”

Nore stepped in and laid an expert hoof to the pin. Though her hoof appeared to stay still, the pin could be seen to be working loose. In moments, it came free. Hasna reached into the hub and pulled out several metal washers which he examined carefully before proceeding.

He lifted the wheel free from the axle, which had an iron sleeve. He held the wheel up so that he could sight through its bore hole.

Shaking his head, he muttered, “Bad as a pony made . . . Well, it IS a pony made wheel! Nore, would you please go and get me a small stick of blackwood, please?”

As she trotted back to our camp, Nore was flirting her tail happily at being away from Red. At least Delit was keeping him shut up!

When Nore returned she asked Delit, “What have you asked, my filly? Did you grasp what answers you got?”

Delit smiled and replied, “What I have seen needed no questions, mother. It is a Pony Made Wheel! I can see that they put an iron sleeve on the axle. That could have been a good idea, but they only filed it to make it round. They did not even hone it. The filing was not really accurately round and the iron part of the axle has a rough surface from the filing. No wonder that hub turning on it was failing. Hasna has been honing it to true round. I already know how to do that. I will be most interested in seeing how he saves that worn hub.”

Nore respectfully gave Hasna the stick of blackwood. I watched, admiring the sheer skill that he used in adapting our method for making good wood from bad by the magic of his hooves. He swirled the stick about inside the worn out bore. It left a layer of blackwood lining the inside of the worn out hub.

He pared a shallow cone in it with a special reamer and pressed it to the axle. Working gently, he rotated the wheel while pressing it onto the axle. In a few minutes, the two parts were fitted and turning true.

Hasna advised, “These parts need to wear together, Carter. Take the time to re grease the wheel at each wayside for the next day. That should give you as good a wheel as you can get.”

Delit lifted the wagon corner to free the wagon jack and then set the wagon down gently on all four wheels. She released Red too. He was starting to gather magic to his horn when Carter hoof slapped his face.

“Get in harness, Red! Help to pull this wagon out of here or get no pay!” Red grumbled continuously but he did get into the hitch. We watched them leave the wayside.

While we strolled back to camp, Delit asked, “How soon will Sando and his band get here? I have been practicing a new dance and working in both iron and wood that I want to show him! He can be proud of my work and take the memory of how much I love him with him when he goes to the Lake of Paradise!”

I mulled that over. “Dear, the band of Sando is only about an hour away. The band of De Innis will be here in about two. Then, as soon as camps are set up, we can plan what ceremony we will have for Sando.”

Nore booped my nose as she pointed out, “WE DO KNOW THIS. Death here is NOT the END. Though you keep insisting that you only took a nap, it lasted for THREE DAYS on Celestia's Anvil. No desert is hotter or dryer. You started your nap, emaciated from hunger and thirst. Without any other source of food or water, you came back to us healthy and well fed. Those are facts.

“You, our loved dead, our ghost who guides, came back and have stayed with us always. Whether he comes back like you did, Sando will live on at the Lake of Paradise. He will be with us always in our hearts and souls at the least. Our loved dead will not abandon us nor we them.”

Actually, the band of Sando got to the southern entry road to the wayside before we quite got back to camp.

Delit turned an sprinted to them! “Sando! Phappa! Naleen!”

Big brown Phappa Al Oosa, smiled with delight and exclaimed, “Delit! You are growing so well! Your horn is lovely!”

Naleen's eyes were sparkling as she exclaimed, “Hi, Sister! We have missed you since I mated with Thom!”

Naleen gestured toward Sando with her horn. There was a thin veil of magic radiating from it to envelope Sando. “Big lunk here, did not want me to Pull beside him. Just walk along and keep his heart beating. Like meadow muffins I won't Pull!

“We won't let him try to pull full load. I could not keep him from leaving us if he pulled a full load. He wanted to get here and see all of our whole family before I let him go to the Lake of Paradise.”

Sando, with a bit labored breath, said, “I want to leave Equestria's roads at the same place where I first saw them. I remember what a marvel they were then and still are today.”

Phapa looked past Delit to me. “My stubborn old mule of a husband wants to come here to go to the Lake but he nearly left us back down the road a bit. We saw that awful Red. Carter was in harness beside him. Carter actually kicked Red to keep him from using his magic to foul our Thom's wheels.”

Sando looked up. He was shockingly worn. Old looking. His eyes told a different story. They were bright and reflected a mind still both alert and lively. I saw a look pass between Phapa, Naleen and Delit. Delit's magic reached back and pulled the hitch release for Sando. Naleen and Phapa dropped their hitches too. Delit and Naleen gently escorted Sando toward our camp.

Phapa, with practiced skill, reset the caravan's hitch for a single horse and pulled it on into the wayside. The rest of Sando's band followed. Soon they were setting up their camp too.

Malit and Maina, leading their band, called the band of De Innis because Malit's full name was Malit De Innis, came down the north entry road. Malit pointed with a hoof and called to her band, “De Innis! We will camp across the space between Sando and Rom! That will give us all shared dancing green!”

Following her directions, her band set up across the space between Sando's band and Rom's band, creating an enclosed space shared by us all. It was an open U shape facing the forest that we had come out of thirty years ago.

Solemnly, Nore's and my fillies and our grand foals went to the edge of the woods and began to dig as only surprisingly powerful unicorns can dig. The one exception was our filly Naleen who sat quietly beside Sando, keeping his old heart pumping properly.

Nore sat on Sando's other side and asked quietly, “When you were dying, four days ago, did you get any glimpse of the Lake of Paradise?”

Sando turned his head to Nore and breath labored, told her, “I am not sure. I may have. There was a wonderful light and a sense of well being. Then Naleen got my heart in her magic and started it to pumping again.”

He wept a few tears as he stated, “Naleen is a wonderful filly and a perfect wife to our Thom. Our whole band was honored by her asking him to be by her side.

“She has let me be able to say farewell for now to my whole family. I promise that if I can do it, I shall return to be among you.”

I was snooping and found his account to be fascinating. I was distracted by the fluttering roar of an entire platoon of Royal Armored Pegassi landing just outside of our camp in the wayside!

As their Sargent was checking their formation, an officer stepped forward. I took one look and exclaimed in delight, “Vard! I am so glad that you have come! I see that you brought an honor guard, too. You must all stay for the feast that will follow our celebration!”

I noticed Sando's ears prick up! Malit and Maina heard it too! They all converged on Captain Vard.

Malit and Maina simply hugged him and then exclaimed, “Captian Vard! We are so glad that you are here! We want to thank you again for saving us and our caravan on Riten's Notch!”

The platoon's Sargent asked, “Captain Vard, Sir, may we break formation?”

Pausing from the greetings, he replied, “Break formation but stay together. Sharpshin, I want you to do a recon of the road from Haymarket. Watch out for possible unicorn trouble. Try to get the best intel that you can and report back.”

^^Part 2 Part 3vv

One of the honor guard platoon saluted and took off, flying low. I watched him dodging treetops and admired his training.

I heard the Sargent telling his troops, “Did you see how they greeted the Captain? I was one of Sunbreak's troops thirty years ago. Thirty years and these horses have not forgotten how he helped to save them. Really good sorts, if you treat them right.”

One of the troops skeptically asked, “I heard them say Riten's Notch? Why would any sane being go over Riten's Notch?”

The Sargent nodded thoughtfully. “You are too young to remember it except as a lesson in both school and later in your basic training. The Red Branch flood totally destroyed the only other way out of the Canyon Maze. They were crossing the Sunsets from the desert kingdom of Gyptia fleeing from a drought and famine when the flood happened.”

Sando had wandered close and settled himself comfortably, Naleen by his side, her thin envelope of green magic encompassing him. However worn his body was, his eyes twinkled as he commented to the troops, “Do not think that the irony of fleeing a drought and almost getting caught in the biggest flood of Equestrian history was lost on us, either!”

Several of the troopers laughed at that. One noted, “The Captain called for honor guards for a funeral. Pardon my asking, but who died?”

Sando gave him a cheerful look as he replied, “Oh, that was me! I died four Pulls south of here. I know that might sound a bit odd to you. My mare in law, Naleen was there when my heart failed totally. I saw enough to be quite certain that the Lake of Paradise awaits me.

“Naleen, besides her other talents, is quite a good healer. She used her magic to restart my heart and keep it pumping. That brought me back for now. As soon as I tell her to, she will stop and so will my heart.”

One of the troops commented, “I always thought that dead was dead. Just an end. What makes you so sure that it is not?”

Returning him a grave stare, Sando pointed out, “When my heart was stopped, before Naleen started pumping it, I saw and felt things that confirm our belief in the Lake of Paradise.

“Besides that, Marchhare, over there, died in saving us when we were lost on Celestia's Anvil. I was there. I saw him die. To save us, he shorted himself on food and water. He was emaciated when he laid down in the shade of a rock ledge to take his “nap”.

“Three days later, with no food or water available on the Anvil, he walked up from the desert into our camp. He was well fed and looked then like he looks now.

“That was thirty years ago. By any account, since he was in the South Peak Gryphon War, and elderly then, that makes him over a hundred years of age. Sometimes, when he is interested in something or upset, he forgets to cast a shadow. He is our Ghost Who Guides.”

They were interrupted by the return of Sharpshank. He landed and whispered his report to Captain Vard.

Captain Vard snapped out, “Form up! Squads of five! Rig for ground combat! Cock and load all crossbows! Squads, arm with two pikes and three stabbing spears!

“Sargent! Place two squads, one on either side of the south entry road. Place the other two as wings in front of the civilians. The last squad will be with me in reserve.”

The Sargent just saluted and began placing the Royal Armored Pegassi troops as ordered. He was only just in time.

A mob of about twenty ponies from Haymarket town, led by Red, burst out of the south entry road. They were carrying shovels, picks and some pitchforks, which they aimed like they were weapons.

They strode arrogantly up the road and well before the mob got to our camp, Red sneered loudly, “I see the hole is still there! Just hoof over all the gold, silver and jewels you was going to bury with the dead horse and give us the corpse! We will chuck it in the garbage dump where it belongs!”

Captain Vard had heard enough. He stepped forward, the five of the reserve squad with him formed up where they had a clear field of fire. They knelt and aimed their crossbows.

The Captain bawled out, “Halt! In the name of their Highnesses, Celestia and Luna! You are all under arrest!”

Red promptly showed his lack of military genius. “They is twenty of us and only five of you. Six if you counts yourself. You give up! We are gonna have them riches and that is final!”

Coming quietly up the road behind the mob was a detachment of Royal Road Police, in their midnight blue uniforms.

Captain Vard replied, “You miscounted. Look around you. There are twenty five crossbows all loaded and targets chosen. If we have to fire, NONE of you will be left alive.

“Princess Luna has decreed as part of Royal Road Law that any being using the Royal Roads has the right to a Wayside Burial as a Royal benefice if they should die more than two days from their home town or village. Any disturbance of such a burial is Grave Robbery. It is punishable by from twenty years at labor to death.”

Captain Vard surprised me by asking Red, “Where did you get the idea that the Rom were going to load the grave with riches?”

Red promptly shot back, “Everypony down in Haymarket knows it! Story is all over!”

Captain Vard nodded. “I know. I also know that you started all of those rumors. Since you have been convicted of attempted slavery, by order of the Princesses, both the military and Royal Road Police have been keeping close tabs on your activities.

“You have committed the classic mistake of believing your own lies.”

I stepped up beside the Captain and looked sourly at Red. “What, besides your own mouth farts, ever gave you the idea that we would bury riches with Sando?”

^^Part 3 Part 4vv

Red actually furrowed his brow as he thought. “How else you gonna show your respect for the dumb horse? You gots to bury fancy stuff with him. Shows your respect.”

I sort of stuck my tongue into my cheek and and generally made faces at the whole load of meadow muffins that Red had just dumped. Finally, I asked, “Exactly how does making a grave into a target for criminal vultures like you, show any respect at all? Do you really think that we are that stupid?

“To answer your question, the Rom do not believe that death is an end. We call a grave the Gateway to the Lake of Paradise. What point to give stuff to somehorse that is going to a place where they will have everything that they could want supplied in the best sorts of ways? I mean, that is what Paradise is about.”

The pitchforks lowered. The mob looked at each other, shamefaced. One did ask, “If you ain't burying him with gold and such, why are you all here?”

Captain Vard answered that. “We are all here to wish a friend farewell. They will show him things like dances and music, handicrafts and the like. He will have memories to take with him to the Lake of Paradise.”

I gave Captain Vard a surprised look. I mean, really? Some pony interested enough in our ways to ask questions and listen to the answers about our ways? That was a first.

The Royal Road Police moved up and began to manacle the members of the mob. Almost predictably, Red squalled, “I didn't do nothing! This is the second time that I was just standing near the dratted Rom and gets arrested! It ain't fair!”

The constable binding him and capping his horn retorted, “Doing nothing? The rest of these ponies would not be here at all if not for you! You stirred up the mob to come rob a grave and rob the Rom in their camp, too!”

The mob was led away, protesting, down the same shady, well made Royal Road that they had come by.

Captain Vard ordered his troops, “Unload! Release Tension! Secure all weapons in parade order! Troops assemble!”

The Sargent saluted and reported, “Troops assembled, Sir!”

Captain Vard saluted them all. “Your coolness in this action prevented violent robbery and grave robbery. I am ordering a Unit Citation for you, with a benefice of five golden bits! Today, you have made your Princesses proud!”

Sando, accompanied by Naleen, Delit, and his wife Phappa Al Oosa, stepped up. Delit's magic was carrying a substantial bag. Sando requested, “Captain Vard, Sir, may we address your fine troops?”

Smiling, he replied, “Permission granted. Sando, the one that we are here to honor the passing of, wishes to address you.”

Sando began, “I know how strange that must sound to you. First, I want you to know that I did die, four days down the Red Branch Road Section. My mare in law, Naleen, who is a healer, was there and took over, making my stilled heart to beat. It will not beat without her assistance.

“I choose this place to leave for the Lake of Paradise. When all is in readiness, Naleen will let my heart have its way and I will leave both the Rom and all of you here. Memories are all that I can take with me.

“The memory of how excellently you defended the law and honor of Equestria has not marred my going. It is one of the finest things that I could possibly take with me.

“I am allowed by your law to give you a small reward for your service to me. Delit Bel Nore will gift you each with a package containing a counted ten golden bits.”

Delit began to circulate down their ranks. Phappa followed, writing down the name of each trooper. At the last, they gave the Sargent his and then Captain Vard.

Phapa hugged Sando and said, “I love you, my dear. I will keep you close in my heart. Here are the names of all of these valiant troops who stood to our defense.” She gave him the list.

He read it with care, folded it and placed it in his embroidered saddle bag.

The rest of us now began to busy ourselves with the preparations for the celebration feast. Even Captain Vard seemed to be confused by the apparently happy mood of what he understood to be a funeral.

Litte Shehan Ja Saken, a pony foundling that we had legally adopted back thirty years ago, was busy rolling out Ka'Chek pastries in thin sheets, doubling the dough over and rolling it out again and again. She had an impressive pile of the rolled out sheets. She laid out four of the pastry sheets and began filling them with a nearly glowing orange filling with large chunks of a yellow orange fruit. As fast as she filled four, she folded the sheets of dough over the filling and then rolled them, so that the seams were down. She used a special cutter with four short blades to cut notches into one side of the pastries and piled them onto cooking sheet pans.

As she was finishing loading one of our baking ovens, one of the honor guard troops who had been watching in fascination, asked, “How come none of you seems sad? I thought that this was a funeral. You know, a final farewell.”

Shehan looked up from her work in surprise. “A FINAL farewell? Why would we do that? We will welcome him back if he chooses to return and, in any case, we will keep him close in our hearts. We do not abandon our loved dead so easily.”

Somewhat diffidently he pointed out, “How do you know that this paradise is there for you? I mean, you are a pony.”

Only a little irritated, Shehan stomped for emphasis as she retorted, “I am a HORSE of the Rom! When I was adopted, thirty years back, I was an abandoned waif. Haulmarket would not even put me on their town rolls.

“I was helping these wonderful Rom with water hauling at their first show. Haken tried to steal the water cart. I called him out. He hit me and broke my neck.

“Marchhare, over there, and his lovely mate did surgery to fix the bones out of place but no pony would take me in for the weeks of healing. Maina and Malit adopted me on the spot, under Royal Road Law. They did not know if I would ever recover or if I might die. They did not care about that. They cared about ME.

“My adoption papers say my mamma is a HORSE. That makes me one too. And PROUD of IT!”

She softened and pointed over to me. “Our Lake of Paradise has room for him, a donkey. How could it not have room for me?”

She pulled out the first batch of pastries, now swelled up, with many fine flaky layers around the filling. They had five “toes” from the side cuts. Bear Paw pastries.

With a smile, Shehan offered the trooper one, cautioning, “Small bites, Sir. It is fresh hot from the oven!”

Soon Phapa, Sando's mate, rang a sweet toned gong. She called out, “Rom and friends of the Rom, it is time now to begin offering my dear mate, Sando, those gifts of memory that he will take with him to the Lake of Paradise.”

My lovely Nore led off, leading out musicians, each with a different sort of lyre, flute or drum. “Sando, as we began to cross the Sunset Mountains to Equestria, your brilliance in design, returned to us the music lost to us when the Master who cast us out kept our instruments.”

The musicians began to play and Nore started to dance for him the Shehan Ja Rom.

Every horse there had something to show or tell. Often it was not the best. The tale with it told why it was important. Sando, in many cases had showed them how to do better or in what way the flaw could become an asset.

His kindness and wisdom were given back to him in stories, poetry, song, and dance. The work of our hooves and even the many caravans that he had designed and assisted in the building of was all showcased for him.

At the end, Captain Vard and his troops came forward in perfect formation and presented a wreath of yew. The troops then lifted their spears up to a presentation position.

Sando, with labored breath, spoke to Captain Vard, “In coming to honor my leaving for the Lake, you have also brought honor to the land of Equestria. Continue to watch over these good horses that I love. Thank you.”

He turned to look up at Phapa Al Oosa, his wife of so many years. “Dear, it is time now. In my Gateway to the Lake of Paradise, is fine bedding straw. There is a pot of water from the spring for my journey. There is some fresh clover top hay for me and, I see, somehorse has sneaked in a pair of my favorite apricot Ka'chek pastries.

“Gather friends and family about me. I wish to see them one more time before I set out on the Journey.”

We all gathered up close. Sando smiled at all of us and turned to Naleen. “You may let me go now, Naleen. After these four days of keeping my heart beating, you can rest.”

She smiled back at him, laying in the soft grass near the hole, and nuzzled him before saying, “I will rest after we have closed the Gateway behind you.”

Naleen's green magic faded away slowly. Sando let out a breath deeper than any that he had taken in as his head lowered to rest between his forehooves.

All ten of Nore's and my foals and grandfoals, with their long straight horns, stepped forward. Their magic combined to the single task of gently lifting our friend, Sando, the Rom of his band, and placing him gently onto the fine straw bedding in the bottom of the hole. They moved the water pot, browse and snacks to be convenient for him. The cloth provided to give him shade on his journey was laid over him.

The dirt removed from the hole was sifted in gently to cover him. After about twenty centimeters of soft dirt over him, they began to lay in a layer packed so hard that it almost seemed vitreous. Earth then filled up the rest of the hole and the sods removed before digging it were then replaced.

I do not think that there was a dry eye in the whole of our three bands. Several laid flowers on top of Sando's Gateway to the Lake.

We all retired to begin the feast to celebrate Sando's time among us. While we ate, the stories flew thick and fast, as we all tried to share whatever we knew of Sando, and tried to listen and learn. Far more laughter galed about the tables than tears.

Nore looked up from the eating and the stories. She pointed and exclaimed, “Look! Our flowers are wilting already! That is not how I want to remember this place!”

We watched, mystified, as she galloped down the south entry road. Shortly, she came back, bearing her prize. It was a small stone from the shoulder gravels of the road. The face of it had been broken and showed a pattern of nested layers of different colors.

Nore swept the wilted flowers from Sando's Gateway to the Lake of Paradise and placed her stone there, glittering in the sunlight.

She explained, “Flowers fade and wilt. This stone will still be bright through all the ages to come. It will shine like our memories of Sando. It is not precious, but it is a thing of beauty from the roads upon which we all live.”

Horses scattered from the tables to go and find their own stones to put on Sando's Lake. Soon the place where we had buried our friend and mentor glittered in the afternoon sun.

As Captain Vard and his troops packed up goodies and gifts from our appreciative little community, the Captain remarked, “Got to admit that this funeral detail did not go at all like we thought that it would! Because we were watching him pretty close, I did expect Red to be a jerk, just because he was in the area and so were you. What I really did not expect is the way you horses look at death. Never seen anything like it.”

We watched the formation fly away to his garrison with heavy hearts. They were good ponies.

-THE END-

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#SANDO'S LAKE #Origin of the Rom #part 5 #MLP Fan Fiction #written by De Writer

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iamperfected-blog · 7 years

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i cant make you love me / alex g

It was so hard to see him with her. Happy with her. Camden and I have been best friends basically our whole lives. We met in first grade and ever since then our parents made sure that we had the same teacher. They didn't want to separate us.

Even back than Camden was a bit of a hothead. I was way more calm and thoughtful. We balanced each other out.

The closeness between us only grew as the years went on. We never spent more than a few days apart. When family trips came around it was always: 'Can Camden come too?' or 'Lucia's coming, right?'. We were the definition of inseparable.

I fell in love with Camden our freshmen year of high school. He took me to winter formal after David Spears dumped me with no explanation. I was surprised when Camden broke his date with Indie Woods to take me.

We danced the entire night and then he walked me home. I remember how often I thought about him in that suit that night. He looked so good all dressed up and matching me. When we got to my door, he smiled his brace-faced smile at me gave me a kiss on the cheek before telling me goodnight and walking off.

Then he had me. I started to notice things about Camden that you're not supposed to notice about your best friend. The subtle dimples on his cheeks that appeared only when he smiled real wide. How he snorted quietly if he laughed too hard. That tiny vein that stuck out on his forehead whenever he was pissed. How he treated his baby sister like a little princess.

Each time noticing something new, I fell deeper in love with him – until it was too late. I was in too deep and I had no idea what to do.

It had been years since that first realization. Nine to be exact. I had kept my feelings a secret for nine whole years. Now he was engaged. To his soulmate as he liked to call her. I liked to stick to just calling her stupid bitch that stole my best friend.

Her name was Natalie. Natalie Simone. She looked like a freaking Victoria Secret model. Long pin straight jet black hair, olive skin, high cheekbones and an amazing body. On top of that, she was a genius. She was working on her Master's in Psychology.

It was no wonder he fell for her.

“Hand me the banana peppers,” Camden nodded his head towards the jar and I slowly reached for it. It had been a long while since we had a pizza building movie bingeing sleepover.

I think just as long as him and Natalie had been together. What was it? Two years, five months and thirteen days? Yeah, but who's counting?

“Can you believe I'm getting married in a week?” Camden spoke as he scattered the peppers around the pie.

“Hardly.” He only mentioned it every half hour.

“You got your best ladies' speech ready?” Having Camden ask me to be his best man but call it a best lady was the epitome of friend zone. I nearly cried myself to sleep after that. I nodded my head, picking a pepper from the jar and shoving it into my mouth.

“Natalie sent you the dresses, right? She wanted you to wear a bridesmaid's dress even though you're not one of the bridesmaids, it would just make more sense.” Natalie had sent the picture to me and that entire sentence. I nodded once again.

I loved the dress. It was a dusty rose long halter neck dress. “I still can't fucking believe it,” Camden mumbled to himself as he pushed the pizza into the oven. He tapped a few things on the screen before coming to sit next to me.

“Have you found a plus one yet?” The two of them were threatening me with the single's table if I didn't find someone to bring to this wedding. I didn't want a date. It would just be a waste of time to find one. It wasn't like I would even be interested.

I honestly hated myself for not speaking up when I had the chance. I should've just sucked it up and admitted my feelings to him. Maybe he would've rejected me but I wouldn't be in this situation that I'm in right now. Watching him get married to someone I know he loves while I'm sitting there in love with him. It was pathetic.

“No, I'm gonna go stag and I'm completely okay with it,” I put extra emphasis on the last bit hoping he'd get the hint.

“Alright, alright. Go pick the first movie, I'm going to give Nat a quick call.” I almost rolled my eyes. Of course, he'd find a way to bring her into our night. Plastering a smile on my face I headed into the living room, scrolling through the movies on Netflix before settling on a comedy.

I waited for him with the bowl of popcorn in my lap. Camden didn't return back until twenty minutes later. He sat down beside me, stealing the popcorn off of my lap before shoveling a handful into his mouth.

“What did you pick?” He spoke through his mouthful.

“Sausage Party.” I laughed as Camden's eyes widened. “That movie is so bad!” He chuckled, leaning back against the cushions and turning his attention to the screen.

As the movie progressed, Camden had managed to pull me against him. Our pizza laid half eaten on the coffee table and the popcorn bowl empty. His arms were wrapped around my shoulders, the tips of his fingers tickling the skin on my bare arm.

Him doing things like this is what fucked me up in the first place. I shifted away from him when I got tired of the way my heart was beating. He gave me a weird look, confusion written all over his face.

“What's the matter?”

“Nothing,”

He looked as if he wanted to say something else but refrained from doing so. We watched the rest of the movie in silence.

All these thoughts were bubbling in my head. I wanted to tell him, I wanted him to know how I felt about him before he went and got married. I couldn't form a sentence for the life of me, though.

Would it be wrong? To tell him this ten days before his wedding? What if he changed his mind? What if he called the entire thing off? What if he changed his mind? What if he called the entire thing off?

I sighed, watching as he turned the couch into a makeshift bed, dusting the popcorn bits off and onto the floor. “You heading into your room?” When we were younger he used to sleep up in my room with me. Then puberty hit and morning wood became a thing. It was safer for everyone if we slept in separate areas.

“In a little bit,” I paused, eyeing him as he laid back on the cushions. “Why? Are you tired?” I questioned and he shook his head.

“Nope.” A smirk grew on his face. “Remember when I dared you to streak around the dorm?” Of course, I remembered that shit. I tripped and fell into a pile of mud. I had dirt in my cooch for days.

“Yes, why?” I laid my body down beside him, staring up at the ceiling as he spoke.

“Mark Golles saw that. He thought you were hot and asked if you were single. You weren't at the time but now you are. Would you like me to give him a call? Maybe he could be your plus one?” He suggested and I scoffed.

“No thank you.” Mark was the king of the douche bags. Fraternity president and ignorant as fuck. I wouldn't waste a second on him.

“I don't want you to have to go alone,”

“I am choosing to go alone, Cam. If I wanted a date, I would've gotten one.” I don't know why this was such a big deal to him and his bride.

“Okay, fine.” He made it seem like he was letting it go, but he was far from letting anything go.

“You're gorgeous, you know that right, Luce? Any guy would be lucky to have you if you just gave one a chance...” I glared at him, warning him to shut up about it. I was in no mood to hear this speech for the thousandth time.

“In all the years that I've known you, you've only ever had one real boyfriend and that was a few years ago.” He pointed out. “Guys approach you too, I've seen it. Why don't you give any of them a chance?”

I sighed, running my hands over my face. “I'm just not interested.” This had become a mantra of mine.

“Yeah, but why not?”

“They're not my type.”

“You have a type?” He sounded surprised.

“Yes, I have a type.” I was growing annoyed with this conversation.

“No, you don't.”

I scoffed. “Yes, I do.”

“What's your type then?”

“You.” The word left my mouth before I could pull it back. Camden was sitting up, staring down at me with wide eyes.

“What did you just say?” He sat there staring at me. My heart was beating in my ears, I slowly sat myself up. Preparing myself for what was to come next, there was no backing out now. I needed to finish what I started.

“You. You're my type, Camden. I'm in love with you, I have always been,” I could feel my throat closing up.

He sat there silent for a minute. I just dropped admitted something huge and the impact was written all over his face. He opened his mouth as if he finally came up with an answer, did that twice before his face furrowed in confusion.

“You're in love with me?” He repeated, just to clarify. I nodded.

Camden just continued to stare at me. Forcing my eyes shut, I cleared my throat. I couldn't look at him. There it was right on his face, how much he didn't love me. Had I expected him to admit the same, call off the wedding so we could ride off into the sunset? Yeah, right.

Maybe.

I started to head towards the stairs, quickly coming to my senses. He was getting married! “Holy shit, forget I said anything... I-I...I didn't know what I was thinking. I'm going to head up,” Avoiding his gaze I rushed towards the stairs and into my room, slamming the door shut.

Overwhelmed with humiliation and the sting of rejection, tears began to stream down my face which only intensified when I heard the front door slam.

Ten days had gone by and I hadn't heard anything from Camden. A brief message from Natalie this morning was what confirmed that I was still invited to this stupid party. I got dressed in the bridesmaid's dress, did my own hair and makeup and showed up at the church minutes before the start.

I didn't want to leave any time to mingle.

It was unbelievably hard to stand there with a smile on my face as I watch them recite their vows, staring all lovingly into each others' eyes with these dopey smiles on their faces. 'I do's' were said they were kissing.

Not the sloppy wolfish kiss that they often displayed in front of their friends, this one was elegant one that deserved an 'awe'. I inwardly rolled my eyes.

My speech was quick and extremely general. I didn't get into too much detail and I didn't tell any stories. It was the type of speech you could copy and paste and recite at any wedding. I wasn't up for anything else.

Nursing my third glass of Chardonnay, Camden approached me. “How you holding up?” I felt as if I was swaying, but I was certain I was standing still.

“I'm fine,” Another mantra.

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

“I liked your speech,” He tried.

I laughed. “Okay,” Gulping down the rest of my drink, I set the empty glass down on the table. “I'm going to grab a cab. Great party,” I commented, shooting him a thumbs up before exiting the hall.

It was raining very hard. I was soaked the second I stepped outside. Not letting that slow me down, I made my way to the sidewalk, calling for a taxi. A hand on my shoulder stopped me from entering the first one that pulled up.

“Why are you pissed at me?” Camden stood, tux soaked and hair sticking to his face.

“I'm not,”

“Yes, you are, Luce. I know when you're pissed.” He spat. “Did you expect me to call off the wedding?”

“No,” Yes.

“I'm sorry. I hate that this hurts you but you got to understand how I feel about Natalie. She's it for me, you know? I wish that it didn't hurt you so bad,” He looked sincere, it honestly hurt him that he was hurting me.

Now I felt bad. “You deserve to be happy, Cam. You shouldn't have to apologize. It's just hard to see you with her... I'm just going to stay away for a little bit,” I actually planned to stay away for more than a little bit.

Yesterday morning I got a call about a job in Boston. It paid a lot more than the job that I had now and it was actually related to what I got a degree for in the first place.

“Okay,” He was so understanding. How can someone break your heart and make it swell all at the same time? “I love you, Luce.” I nodded, knowing the exact way that he meant. I called for another cab, slipping in without him stopping me.

Telling the driver my address, I sat back in the seats. I forced myself not to look back. He wasn't going to be standing there waving me off. This wasn't like a movie. He wasn't going to realize that he had been in love with me all along and we'd live happily ever after. Nope.

Camden was to go back inside, dry off and live his life with his perfect wife. I was to go to Boston, study the behavior of the animals and their environment and that was it. Maybe we'd cross paths in the future, but for now – that was it.

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tegwin · 7 years

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The Counterfeit - Chapter Ten

Here´s the last chapter of “The Counterfeit”, a love story and maybe a detective story told in ten days. If anyone missed the last chapters, you can find the whole story in my archive under “Prompt for Valentine”. Hope you enjoyed reading it.

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"See, theres been lots of rumors lateley." Griffin said. It was the collegue that had ventured the "not real" rumor to me in room three. Mit Geschick und Übung lud er den Manet in die Maschine. I watched him, holding my paperwork in my hands. Obvioulsy it was my job do let Griffin and his friend do the job and to supervise them. Which basically meant all I had to do was simply mark off everything on the list, that needed to be done. "So.." Griffin gave a sign to the other colleague. "So what?" I asked. "There’s been lot of rumors. Well I got that. But what has that to do with the museum and with the Manet?". "It´s not about the Manet. See... Its just that sometimes, like I said, the paintings look good from outside. And people like Mrs. Bird here, just trust to much. So they go round and buy paintings and canvasses. As if she was going shopping for shoes. See?" Griffin said and pushed me away from the machine. "Mind you, you don’t want to come to close to that." he muttered. "Oh and dont forget to make your sign. Otherwise they´ll think we didn’t do our job properly." he reminded me. "Yes." was all I could say and imitatively made my sign next to the point on the list. "Now, you see, its no good." Griffin went on. "What? Shopping paintings like shoes?" I put in. "Yes. And Mrs. Birds will never listen to us." Griffin said. "See which is why she made some fabulous deals, that women.". Griffins colleague, Bert was his name, if I remembered right, was chuckling. "Oh yeah. Pure fun." he laughed. "And blimme me, but when we told her, that painting was a copy, a good one though, mind you, she wouldn't believe us." Griffin told me. Amazement and anger flickering across his face. As if he was surprised by the fact, that someone could not, would not believe him. Him, Griffin. Who knew his job and who was an honest man. At least that’s what he would have said about himself. I did my best to understand. And I looked for words and phrases like: "You’re so right. She should pay more attention to what you say. Its obvious you’re an underestimated genius! Locked away here in the cellar of that building..." inside of me. But nothing seemed right. That was to big of a shock. The museum that I worked for had counterfeits! The art on the walls was not real! It was all a big lie! A good one, as Griffin had said. No one would have detected the difference. Mind you, I myself was strolling past those lies every day. Presenting them to other people, explaining them. I had my favorites, that I knew by heart. Or at least I thought I would. But now it turned out I knew nothing. Because I hadn’t seen what was right under my nose! "Its all a big lie!" I whispered. "Not so much as you think." Griffin said comforting. "Its a bit of a shock now, I know. Couldn’t believe it myself, when I first found out.". "So that means, that the paintings up there.. there are all a lie? There are all not real?". "No! Not all of them. Mind you, Grace, calm down. I know its hard to believe. It´s not all of them." Griffin told me. "See, there are some. But the rest is for real." he said. "Which one." I whispered. Wondering whether one of "my" paintings would be one of the false ones. One of the lies. "How could I not have seen this?" I asked in a shocked voice. "That’s the question they all ask themselves. Even the bat. She wouldn’t believe me. Said she studied art. Said she knew what she was doing. And that she would feel it and see it, if a painting was a counterfeit." Griffin went on. That seemed ... Logical and natural. Was what I would have said only a couple of hours before. But that would have been the Grace that would not know about copies, about crime. That would be the Grace that thought she knew everything there was to be known about paintings in general and about those in the museum. And I had to admit that this was wrong and mistaken. It was not the truth any longer.

"Griff. I think I've got something." I heard Bert saying. "What's that?" Griffin asked absent minded while he still kept an eye on me. "Are you sure?" he asked while studying my face. "Yep." Bert said and he sounded serious. Griffin threw me a last glance. "Maybe you should sit down". He told me and walked over to his colleague. "See, its in the third layer." I heard Bert saying and saw him pointing to the screen of the computer. "What does that mean." I said and followed Griffin. "Where is it?" I asked as I stood next to the two of them and looked over the screen. Searching for the thing that Bert had discovered. "Here." Bert pointed to a fine line that was hardly visible but still there. The Lady on the painting had two heads instead of one. "That means that..." Bert started. "That someone draw the head with a crayon first, did adjustments and covered the crayon painting with a layer of color only later on. And he made several adjustments." I said while scanning the small screen. "There's another one." I said and pointed. "But that's impossible." I gasped. "This shouldn't be there." I whispered. Not like this. It couldn't be! I looked at the two of them. "Why did no one see that!" I nearly screamed. This couldn't be true! Not the Manet! Every other painting, but not this one.

"When was the Manet scanned the last time?" I asked. Griffin scratched his head. He looked at Bert, shrugging his shoulders. "Dunno... Couple of years ago." He said. "That cant be true. That cant be... That line there, it shouldn't be there. It cant be there." I whispered frantically. "I dunno about the shouldn't be, but it is there. For certain." Bert mumbled. "Do you think she'll be alright?" he asked Griffin. "Hey, Grace, you're not going to faint are you?" he turned back to me. I clutched my paperwork to my chest and started to bite my fingernails. "You always protocol what you do, don't you?" I said breathless. "Um.. yes. Sure. But its not us. That´s the bat, that does the paperwork. Were just here for the unpacking and packing and the machines." replied Bert. "So, if the Manet was controlled some years ago then there must be some protocol about what exactly was done and what was found. Right?" I looked at the two of them. "Suppose so." Griffin answered. "Good. If there is a report about what exactly has been done and what was or was not found we might find out whether those marks have already been there the last time.". "Those weren't there the last time. I can assure you of that." Bert swooped in. "So I´ll take it then that you took part in the last control then?" I asked him. "Sure." was all Bert gave as an answer. "O.k." I fierce and nervous at the same time. "Then all we have to do is to get that report and check it. Then well have evidence.".

I don’t know why I insisted on seeing the report when it was already clear to me what had happened. But we did. We got hold of the report that dated back to three years before and we checked it at least twice. Three years ago there were no marks to be seen. The Manet was as perfect as a painting could be. There simply were no marks and adjustments to be seen. At least none of contemporary crayons that one could by in any decent shop. I slammed down the report and ruffled through my hair. "We are in trouble." I moaned. "This deep in trouble.". Griffin sighted. "That painting is not the Manet. At least not the one we´ve had here three years before." he grumbled. "You´re right. And you know what that means, apart from the trouble were in?" I hissed. "Ummm... no.". "That the police was wrong.". "The police was wrong?" Griffin and Bert asked. "Yes." I sighted and silently to myself I said: "And Amy was right after all. It was a test. It was a break in and somebody did take something.". "Its obvious isn’t it? The break in we just had?". "But nothings been taken." Griffin justified himself. "That’s what everyone believed. That’s how it should look like." I said. "But now we know that its not true.". "The Manet has been taken." Bert said. "Yes. Well the real one´s been taken and we have a copy instead. So that’s why everyone thinks that nothing did happen. That we had a break in without any stealing." I agreed with him. "That’s impossible. That painting was under surveillance. That thing could have never been taken down. There are cameras all over the place. And guardians, that watch and will tell everyone to back off as soon as they get to close to it." Griffin ventured. "There´s no way or time to either take that thing down and even to exchange it with a copy.". "Yes." I said. Griffin was right. "There is no time for that. During day time no one could have done it. Not without any one noticing it.". "And the nights were closed and there’s the security." Bert dropped in. "As soon as someone would break the door he would be in the goldfish bowl. And there’s no way taking down any of the paintings. They have an alarm that would.." "Go off the very instant you´re touching it." I agreed. And shivered. "So suppose were right. Suppose the painting was exchange that means, that all security measures must have failed." I added. "Like when that break in happened.". "Yes. Or.." I said. And that very instance a scene came back to my mind. "You mean there's no one here? The cameras are off?" "Well, except you and me of course. Grace? Whats going on?". And what had my answer been?"Nothing. Its just a weird feeling.... ""This has never happened before." I said aloud. "Of course not. Otherwise we would not be that deep in trouble no would we? Cause then everyone would be used to it." Griffin said. I blushed as I realized that I had spoken out loud.

#self publishing #writing #lovestory

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