"I'm going home." I pulled my college coat back on and buttoned up the slate grey uniform. "I don't know when I'll be back."

Rarity and Vintage stared at me. Rarity nudged Vintage with a  hoof. "Oh uh, you sure that's the best idea?"

I shook my head. "No, but I already told Darcy, I already told everyone." I ducked down and started packing my bag. "I mean, I'll be back. Just, a week or so gone is all."

Rarity nodded. "Well darling, we would be more than happy to keep your possessions safe while you're gone."

Vintage bit his lip. "When do you leave?"

"Today, Darcy is going to ride to Stormside and back with me, but she said something about the harvest, so she won't be staying long." I rubbed my face. My breath trembled slightly. "I don't want to go, but this--"

Rarity stood up and walked over to me. "Darling, you'll be back, and we'll be waiting. Now its apparent something has bothered you, and if this is how you have to deal with it, then by all means don't worry."

I rubbed my chest. "I know, and I'm honestly more worried about what might happen up there than down here." I dug my fingers into the spaces between my coat's buttons. "I feel different, even a season away and I feel different. I'm just--"

Vintage walked over, nuzzling his wife on the way over. "Hey, don't worry kid. We'll be here when you get back." He bopped my hip with a hoof. "Rarity and I will have something nice waiting for you when you get back."

I looked down at the pair. "I uh...I--" I dropped down to my knees and tossed my arms around each of them. "Thank you." I hung against them, resting and counting on their support. "Thank you both so much."

Rarity cooed softly and placed a hoof against my back. "Oh darling...."

Vintage leaned against my head. "Kid, go take care of your stuff.... You're making it weird." His voice carried absolutely no conviction, but a soft tremble. "Seriously...good luck."

I pulled away and rubbed my eyes. "Aye, yeah, I'll be okay." I caught my breath and turned to the door. "No party when I come back this time." I took a few deep breaths and stepped towards the door into the market. My backpack hung heavy on my shoulders, the picture burned against my thigh.

I stepped out into the dark morning, ponies, satyrs, and humans waiting for me. They cheered softly as I walked out. "What the hell?"

Mason stepped forward. "Hey, Glass." He grabbed my hand and shook it by force. "I just told a few ponies what was happening...so, I mean we weren't going to let you just sneak away."

Twenty or so lives, all torn out in the dawn hours just for me. Big Mac, Darcy, Striker, her brother and sister, Dinky and misty, the people I've come to call friends were all waiting for me. I rubbed my chest. "Uh, hello everyone."

Darcy walked up and scooted Mason away. "Glass, you sure you want to go?" She grabbed my hands, turning them palm up as she drew a circle around it. "You could stay with us if you needed someplace to go."

I could see Big Mac nodding in the background, along with his wife astride him. I looked up to Darcy. "It's someplace I have to be. Something I have to ask." I wrapped my fingers around her hand. "You should stay Darcy...I don't want to drag you out there just--"

Darcy squeezed my hand hard, actually causing a bit of a twitch in my elbow. "I'm not letting you just leave." She put her hand around my back and squeezed me against her, tail wrapping around me and stroking my spine. "I'm going to see you home, even if I can't stay."

I licked my lips and looked down at my hooves, wrapped up in dark black boots. "Somehow I knew you'd say that." I pushed back slightly. "I'll meet you at the train, I've got some things to take care of first."

Darcy squeezed me tight. "Alright, I'll be waiting." She slowly pulled away, soft hand rolling over my skin. I could help but stare as she wandered off into the foggy morning. I turned to the crowd, my heart low, settled into my gut as I moved.

I walked up to each and every person there, gave them each a quick hug and goodbye. Everyone who knew me let me off easy, all except for Misty. "Glass, you come back soon!" She threw herself around my neck, pulling me down to her level. "You come back, alright!"

I slumped over, my spine bending painfully. "Misty I'll be back in a week--"

She squeezed me tight, her scratchy sweater rubbing against my neck. "Too long!"

Dinky popped up in the background. "Alright, Misty, come on." Dinky used her magic to pry away the frantic girl.

I straightened out and stretched my arms. "It's only a week, I mean by the time I get back summer's going to start." I looked around, the crowd was refusing to leave me. "I think I'm going to get going... I'll see you all soon, I promise." I turned to the road, the dirt path uncomfortable with my boots on. I missed the feedback of walking barehoofed, these boots felt fake, like I was walking on stilts.

As I walked I spotted a pegasus taking care of an already age old tradition that refused to make way for modern life. She was blowing out the flames in the lantern posts that dotted the city. Electric lights had taken over Storm Side, but even in Canterlot the streets were still lit by fire. I took a deep breath and watched for a moment. The lime green mare was gently fluttering to each lantern, opening it up and blowing the light away with expert movements.

I stayed planted. I didn't want to move. Something about the sheer simplicity had me at a standstill. My gut ached as I forced myself to walk on. My mind darted back to the picture and I sprung off towards the train station. Everything would be here for me when I got back, but first I needed to know who she was, what happened if she was my mother, I needed answers.

I charged through the early morning, racing through the streets and over to the train in mere moments. Darcy stood waiting by the entrance, the train waiting for me and only me. I pulled the tickets out, bought right after I recovered from my episode. "Darcy, inside." I pointed to the door with the tickets.

She swung around and followed me in. I jammed the tickets over to the pony who checked them and swiftly started off towards the bed cars. I'd bought my own ticket, and for the first time ever I would have a whole room to myself on the train. The interior felt as dry and beige as ever, yet as soon as I stepped past the sliding door to our room I was calmed.

Pale grey soothed my eyes, the small twin bed jammed up against the wall was a blessing, and the storage room was more than perfect. Darcy stepped in next to me. "Uh...one bed?"

I bit my lip. "Yeah...." I brushed her thigh, eventually finding and grabbing her hand. "I figured--" Darcy shoved me back against the wall. "Darcy what the fu--" I shut up as our lips met. She broke off and pressed her forehead against mine. "...So--"

Darcy pulled herself away. "Sorry, sorry...." She grabbed her head, her bow sliding down the back of her head as she pulled her fingers through her hair. "Sorry."

I took a deep breath, savoring the dampness on my lips. "I mean the implications were there...you just dove straight in." I walked over to the window and set my bag down.

Darcy sat back on the bed. "Sorry, I'm really--"

I spun around and sat down next to her. She stared at me, a tanned face soft under the dim cabin light. "Darcy." I reached up and gave her a quick slap on the cheek. "Shut up." I leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss. "I think less--" Darcy stared at me, eyes even, that beautiful worry never leaving her face. Even as she slapped me hard enough to tip me backwards and onto the bed. "Fucking-- piss!" Before I could recover and shout Darcy was hanging over me, arms on either side of my head. "Darcy for--"

She leaned to the side and tore a button off her shirt. "Get this bucking shirt off me."

I felt my heart skip as she tore her shirt open. "Darcy...Darcy I love you...." I scooted back. "I say that both because I'm leaving for a week and because I fear what is going to--" I was cut short yet again as Darcy's weight flopped down against me. Her warm body pressed up against me, her lips met mine. If only for a moment things were innocent. But with a turn of her head and a pair of hands on either side of my head, things passed that inevitable line young couples always passed.

I pushed back for a moment, Darcy's breathing ragged as her hair fell over her face. "Uh...Darcy...." I found my hands on her sides. "I love you." I squeezed her. "I mean it, Darcy."

She hovered over me, eyes shimmering in the early morning light. She leaned down and laid against my chest. "I know Glass...I know." Her fingers dug into my coat. "Thank you--"

"Uh, aye.... I think maybe we save the gooey for after though?" Darcy pushed up, straddling my groin as she ripped her bow away from her mane and threw her shirt off. I felt myself shiver. "Holy shit I'm gonna fucking die."

Darcy grabbed my coat. "Better--" She stopped dead and leaned back. "Uh... Better--" She ripped away another layer of my clothes. "Glass...you're ruining the moment."

I reached down to my pants and unzipped them. "Better?"

"Much." Next Chapter: Snow Estimated time remaining: 30 Minutes