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Bad Company

by Symphony

Chapter 39: Ch. 35 - Staying True

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Author's Notes:

Fancy new cover art commissioned from Mix-up, check him out if you're in need of one!

Sorry for the short chapter, by the way. I had a hard time getting into writing and it's better to release this now instead of holding on to it for another week.

I stared at her for a few seconds, not saying anything. I scratched my left arm and looked down at my food, my appetite was long gone at this point. I picked up my fork and poked at the fish on the plate.

I let out a dry chuckle. “You know... If I would have been asked that a month and a half ago, I would have dropped everything I have and pack my stuff. But now..?” I sighed and laid my fork back on the table. “Finally I have something that's going my way, I can live the way I dreamed of...”

Mom's face fell and her shoulders slumped. When she didn't say anything, I continued. “I'm happy here, I know it sounds weird but... This place is nothing like back home in Reno, I can do so many new things here!” I shrugged, “And... I have someone I don't want to leave behind.”

“Look, I know it sounds insanely selfish and probably not what you wanted to hear but like you said in Baltimare, you guys thought I was dead and had probably been written off.” I put my hand on top of hers. “What do you think will happen if I come back from the dead? People will ask questions, things will be looked into more and get investigated.” I gently rubbed my thumb on her hand. “All I care about is making sure you can get home as soon as possible...”

Mom laid her other hand on top of mine, a weak smile on her face. “To be honest, I was expecting this answer. I just needed to confirm it with you...” She released my hand and I moved it away. “You do have a lot here that would be hard to let go, after all. Just remember that no matter what you do, your father and I will support you even if we aren't here with you.”

I smiled and my eyes fell back to the food. “Right, let's get to eating before this gets cold.” I cut into the fish and glanced back up at mom. “I didn't ask, but how is everyone at home?”

Mom chewed her food and looked around at the ponies surrounding us who were focusing on their lunches instead of us. "Well, your father has been busy working, as usual, Lynne has finished school and has been visiting a college in California." She wiped her mouth with a napkin. "Oh! We also got some good news from Will!"

I raised an eyebrow. “What about him? Did he get another promotion?” Mom shook her head and beamed.

“No, Liz is pregnant! You're gonna be an uncle!”

I laughed. “So he finally hit the target, took him long enough!” I took another bite of my food. Mom nodded in agreement. “So, have they thought of any names?”

Mom's smile lessened a little. “Well, it's too early to tell the gender but if it's a boy they have decided to name him James.”

My eyes widened and I blinked a few times. “I uh... Wow.” I cleared my throat. “How the hell did Will get her to agree with that? Liz and I aren't exactly on the best terms...”

“Actually, it was her suggestion.” Mom shrugged. “She thought it would be a nice gesture.”

I frowned. “She's been riding my ass for what happened at their wedding for four years, sorry that it's kind of hard for me to believe...”

Mom smirked. “Well, you did hit on both of her sisters in the span of five minutes in front of their parents. While they were both sitting at the same table.”

I threw my arms up. “Come on! They're twins and I was on the sauce!”

Mom nodded, that smirk still on her face. "Mhm, they're twins all right but one of them is a few sizes bigger than the other..."

I grumbled and shoveled some more food in my mouth, deciding not to kick that hornet's nest again. All I really remember from that night is getting a slap or two, a couple of drinks splashed on me, my dad pissing himself laughing and my brother attempting damage control with Liz screeching about how her day was ruined.

All in all, it was a pretty good night, to be honest. It was totally worth the snide remarks and banter that followed whenever we were in the same room.

We continued eating in silence, not much else was said between us and eventually, we finished our lunch. I had walked over to pay when I heard a bang from far away and a distant gasp, followed by thunderous hooffalls heading our direction. I walked back to mom who had also turned to the disturbance. I narrowed my eyes and shielded them from the sun with a hand. I saw a cloud of dust in the distance. The next thing I saw made the blood in my veins freeze.

Pinkie was running straight at us, her eyes trained on mom and a giant grin on her face.

“We have to leave, right now...” I put an arm on mom's shoulder and started walking in the opposite direction in a rush. Mom looked up at me.

“Why?” She looked over her shoulder. “Is it because of that pony right there?”

“Yup, don't make eye contact.”

I picked up the pace and went into an alley, sparing glances behind us as we went. Mom kept up with me, not asking any more questions. The alley continued through back into the main street of Ponyville. With no apparent sign of Pinkie around us, I started walking toward Rarity's shop as apparently Pinkie isn't allowed in there during work hours.

Something about a missed train and a cannon, I stopped listening to her rambling.

I swung open the door to her shop and waited for mom to enter before me and I stepped inside, taking another look around before closing the door and sighed. I turned back around just as Rarity walked into the room, staring at mom and me with a raised eyebrow.

"Long story short, another human appeared, it was my mom and the princesses are trying to find a way for her to go back home," I said as I walked over to a couch and sat down. Mom joined me, still not saying anything to Rarity as she was busy looking around the shop.

“Well, I heard from Strawberry that there was something big happening...” Rarity shook her head and smiled at mom. “Hello, I'm Rarity! I am the local fashionista, and this is my boutique! I also made the clothes that your son wear, though it took a while for him...”

Mom nodded. “He told me, I must say that you do a very good job with it!” She turned to me and gave me the stink-eye. “Back home, it was a battle to have him wear something else that wasn't torn or looked as if it had been on fire...”

I raised a finger. “To be fair, that shirt had actually been on fire once!”

Rarity and mom shared a glance with pursed lips and Rarity levitated her work glasses off herself. "So, what brought you here today? Are you in need of clothing? You didn't happen to tear that shirt again, did you?"

I waved a hand dismissingly. "Nope, was just a code pink." Rarity made an O-face.

“Oh, I see...” She turned to mom. “I'm sorry, Pinkie Pie is rather... enthusiastic about meeting someone she doesn't know. She didn't cause any problems, did she?”

“Nothing of that sort,” Mom smiled. “Jay saw her coming and he got us out of the line of fire.” Mom looked around again. “Excuse me, but would you mind if I take a look around? I have a bit of an interest in making clothes...”

Rarity's eyes twinkled. “Of course not! Here, I'll show you around and you can tell me about human trends!”

“I'd love to!”

And then they were walking off to Rarity's workroom. I sighed again and laid my head back against the rest and closed my eyes for a few seconds. Gotta think of the best route home to avoid Pinkie. Can't have her throwing a party and crowding mom with a ton of ponies out of nowhere without warning. I heard excited chattering coming from the next room over and smiled.

At least mom isn't acting as nervous as she did at first. Baby steps, I guess. Suddenly the light behind me dimmed slightly. I frowned and turned my head a little to the side.

What I saw made me nearly make a contender for the world record of bowels dropping. Pinkie was standing there with a manic grin on her face, her nose pressed against the window and her pupils were barely visible pin-pricks.

“Heeeeeere's Pinkie!”

I let out a manly shriek.

Next Chapter: Ch. 36 - Code Pink Estimated time remaining: 39 Minutes
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