Crayons and Catastrophes
Blue Collar yawned as he closed the front door with a hind leg. Finally--home. He had been forced to pull another swing shift at the factory. Looking over to the old-fashioned clock hanging on the wall, he saw it read ten after five. At least he was home at a decent hour this time. Small benefits to getting up at three in the morning for work, he mused.
But regardless, he was excited. It was nearly dinner time and he’d be able to eat with his family. They hardly shared meals these days due to his increasingly busy schedule. While they treasured each and every one they did share, it still saddened him they came so rarely.
His little filly was growing up so fast, after all.
Blue wandered down the hall to the kitchen, where his wife was hard at work preparing the evening meal. She was surprised to see him home so early, but just as pleased as he. They shared a long embrace followed by a deep kiss that promised later things to come that night.
Lightly tapping his lovely wife on her flank, they both laughed at one another. It hadn’t been easy on her, his taking on more work. But she understood that he did it for her and their darling daughter. Raising a child took a lot of bits and it was his job to bring them in. Though keeping the heat turned up in the bedroom hadn’t hurt their marriage’s health either.
Despite the hardships they’d suffered, they loved each other as much--if not more--today than when they had shared their vows. It was amazing that some couples split at the troubles such as they had known, but they had just grown closer and developed an even stronger bond.
Remarking how delicious supper was smelling and saying he’d be watching a little TV until it was ready, he passed on through the kitchen into the dining hall and then to the living room beyond. The TV was already on, though the sound was set low. His little filly didn’t often watch TV, but she had a bad habit of leaving it turned on after finishing whatever cartoon it was she had been enjoying. Currently it looked to be playing a news channel. That would do, he decided.
As he sat down, he looked over at his daughter--she was on the floor, surrounded by a mass of paper and crayons. Several bore the tell-tale signs of beginnings and disappointing ends, if not outright being crumpled in disgust. His daughter loved to draw and had very high standards for herself--had it not been for her odd cutie mark, Blue would have pegged her talent to be something in the visual arts. She was very skilled with her crayons; the level of detail in any of her drawings was always somewhat astounding to Blue.
He and his wife had been discussing about sending her to a school especially for young and gifted artists. As it stood, they were just too expensive. Still, nothing was too good for his little Topsy. They’d make it work, somehow.
He regarded that that’s how most of their life had been--making it work, despite the difficulties. His parents had kicked him out at a young age, which Blue hadn’t really minded. His mother was a beaten martyr, crushed under his drunken father’s tyranny. He had never doubted that getting out of that Tartarian household was a Celestia-sent miracle.
Blue’s own talent had been a penchant for almost any form of labor one could imagine, so he hadn’t had any issue supporting himself. He had done several things before ending up at his current job with the factory. He had thatched and shingled roofs, cut down trees, done a little basic construction--even diddled with electrical installation for a while. It was when he had been an interior painter that he had met Lily Blossom, who he would later fall in love with and ask to be his wife.
It was a cheap and small wedding with a short and even cheaper honeymoon, but they had both been thrilled to find one another. The nights had been filled with the joy of their union, though at the time they were playing it safe. A foal would have been too much responsibility for them at that stage. Blue Collar had learned his parents’ lesson well: you didn’t rush into a responsibility like that without being ready.
Later, when they both decided they could support a growing foal, it had crushed both of them to learn that their caution had been for naught. Lily turned out to be barren as a result from an illness she had suffered as a foal. There were several rough months there where she had been practically dead to the world. Blue had worried himself sick as result, trying everything he could to bring his wife back from the bleak place she had retreated to.
It had finally came to him in a dream one night. The very next day he had awoken her and said they should go for a walk. As if in a stupor, she followed him but showed no response. Down the street they had walked, eventually coming to an old but well taken care of brick building. A sign over the door read, “Happy Hope Children’s Home“.
The memory still brought tears to Blue’s eyes: he had walked his wife in and immediately they had been assaulted by a group of foals of various age and sex. His wife’s eyes had grown large, filling with tears as she fell to her knees and gave the nearest child a strong hug. Laughter and sniggers had passed among the group as the attendant welcomed the two and shooed the children off.
Lily had let go very reluctantly, a heartfelt and teary smile plastered to her muzzle. Blue’s own heart had soared at the sight, the first emotional response he had seen out of his wife for what felt like an eternity.
The attendant had taken them to the orphanage’s main office to discuss the adoption process. Blue had already taken care of the background check so all they had to do was choose a foal and finish the proper paperwork. She then took the overjoyed couple for a tour of the premises, where they talked with nearly a dozen fillies and colts.
Blue had seen several young colts that he thought would make a fine addition to their family, but pointed out one filly in particular: a pale purple earth pony who hadn’t shown them any attention. In fact, nopony had showed her any attention either. She simply sat at a desk in a corner of the room, crayons moving constantly as she poured over sheet after sheet of paper.
They had asked the attendant, whose smile had faded quickly on the mention. She hastily explained that the filly’s name was Topsy Turvy--she had been with the orphanage for nearly her entire life. While they kept a kind and open place, something was just different with the child. Nopony could really explain it. She wasn’t unfriendly--quite the opposite, actually--simply somewhat uninterested in making friends or playing games with the other foals.
When she explained that a few of the older fillies and colts had taken to calling her ‘Screwball’ when she had gotten her cutie mark--an unexplainable screw and a baseball--that settled it for the barren couple. They asked if they could adopt Topsy as their own.
And so the three had become family: Blue and Lily had found a daughter to love and cherish as if she was their very own and Topsy had fit right in, as if she was meant to be there all along.
Now Blue was ‘Daddy’. He couldn’t get enough of that. In fact, Lily and he had been thinking about possibly adopting another foal, but so far the finances just wouldn’t support it. It would be nice for Topsy to at least have a sibling, to make at least one friend. So far her loner circumstances had followed her into public school.
But Topsy was not unhappy--far from it. So both he and Lily weren’t too concerned.
What did concern him were such things as the TV was playing now. It shook him from his thoughts and he clicked up the volume just a bit. Topsy continued to draw, seemingly lost in her own world of creation and imagination.
“...and we’re getting scattered reports that this is the worst storm in over two hundred years--and it came out of nowhere just hours before. Literally nopony living in Manehattan has ever seen such a thing, Flash,” spoke a handsome young stallion, but his speech was staticy and the picture fuzzy.
News Flash, the anchor he had been talking to, said in a very even and unaccented tone, “I understand you’ve managed to capture some footage of the tornado itself?”
“Yes,” responded the field reporter whose name escaped Blue. “It’s really quite tragic, the death and devastation we managed to catch on tape. Our news team barely made it out alive. Sensitive viewers may wish to turn away, as this is somewhat graphic footage.”
There was a pause in the sound as the screen went black. It was soon replaced by one of the most terrible scenes Blue had ever seen. Buildings had been completely demolished--and more were in the process of being destroyed by a massive swirling vortex of wind and debris.
It was huge. One could barely make out dozens of pegasi--weather controllers, obviously--circling around it, trying to slow the terrible funnel. All to no avail. Blue watched in horror as one by one the pegasi were sucked up, thrown to the ground, or battered with debris.
News Flash’s voice came overtop the howl of wind and screaming of the recording, still that neutral tone droned out, “Have there been any leads into finding out how this happened?”
The field reporter responded simply, “Unfortunately, as the storm is still going on, the local weather team is impossibly busy trying to stop it...and increasingly losing the ponypower to stop such a terrible tragedy.” His voice was weak and breaking; he was obviously crying and fighting his tears to do his job.
As Blue continued to watch the video play, the horror kept growing worse. Not only were the unfortunate weather pegasi being slaughtered, but several ponies on the ground could be seen as well. Whether sucked up into the sky or thrown amongst the debris and rubble flying around, Blue lost count of how many ponies he clearly saw die.
How could they play something like this?
A high pitched humming caught his ears and directed his attention away from the terrible scenes on the screen. He had been so engrossed that he had completely forgotten about Turvy! She was right there and could clearly see the carnage on the screen.
Flipping the TV off quickly, he got down on the floor beside his daughter and looked over what she was drawing. He figured a little innocence from his daughter’s creations would help him to block out the images he had just seen.
His mind was completely stunned when he saw the page she was working on at the moment. It matched the scene he had just watched a second ago. The massive funnel, the destroyed buildings, and even the ponies who stood no chance against such a terrifying disaster could all easily be made out. In a twisted way, it was almost more real than the staticy and shaky footage--a perfect still shot of a real life tragedy.
Topsy looked up at him expectantly, seemingly after her Daddy’s usual praise at her artistic skill. He gave her a solid frown, which wiped the grin off her muzzle instantly. Her eyes lightly teared up and she hung her head as he said, “Topsy, the drawing is really good...” Here she raised her head and some of the joy returned to her eyes. “...but you really shouldn’t be drawing stuff like this. Just because it’s on the TV doesn’t mean you have to copy it!”
Her expression brightened immediately at that. The pale violet filly giggled, throwing out a hoof playfully before saying, “Silly, Daddy. The TV copied me! I started this drawing yesterday!”
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Cute little story. However, you should place a space between paragraphs.
Like that. You get a fav!
My thought process during the fic:
Awww... such a loving husband, working so hard to support his family. Although there were ups and downs, he pulled through in the end, and his reward was a loyal wife and cute daughter. Said daughter seems a little...off, but I'm sure one day she'll discover the magic of friendship an-
Oh...turns out the daughter is possibly a magic psycho...K
Haha. I felt nothing but warm and fuzzy up until the very last line. Way to make a fic that sticks with you after you're done reading it
I'll say it again. AWESOME last line. Those things are so hard to get perfect, but you went and did it! Also,
wow! I LOVE your characterization. I actually would love to see more of those parents. And their daughter. What really amazes me is how even the news ponies, despite that one not even having a name, had clearly-definied characters. Great job, man, and if I wasn't already following you, I'd have to watch you for this one. So instead I'll just give you this yellow star.
Only complaint was a few random words I thought didn't fit but they were few and far between. Okay, that's all for now.
1240169
Eh, I did with my first story and haven't gone through with it since. I'll probably get to it eventually. I get why it bothers people, but I find it a little silly--after all, real books don't do that! Anyways, thanks a lot for the read and the fave! I appreciate it greatly.
1240800
Wooo! To be honest, the entire story was written for that line alone, heh. I am so bloody proud of it. Glad you enjoyed it and found it heartwarming to boot! That's just, like, bonus, man.
1240815
Hahah, thanks a lot Kartal. Means a fair bit from you--especially the praise on my ability to characterize even the most minor of roles. I try. I'm glad that at least one person thinks I succeeded.
1241743 Oh it doesn't BOTHER me. I enjoyed what you did and there is not a single flaw in this, though I do know some will down vote you behind that silly reason.
The content of this, however, as I said, is flawless. This goes in my favorite five fics I've read of this site. 
1241764
Oh lawsy, I don't know about that--why is it the fics that you do on a random whim and with little effort always turn out the be the most loved? Hahah, such insanity! Be sure to check out those guys I linked, as it was their suggestions that really helped this. They deserve a little attention, too.
1241817 Maybe what you think is random is something that come from your heart and not your head.
1241829
Hahah, oh believe you me, it all comes from the heart--I don't have much else besides, heh.
1241858 I know the feeling. But this is amazing, having the exact innocence captured in words. I'm envious.
Okay, I did smile at that last line I must admit...That's like a joke I would write. This was for the majority brilliantly written PC, save a few words. However, TV? TV? These ponies got advanced very quickly
.
1242159
I know! But a radio wouldn't have worked and a newspaper DEFINITELY wouldn't have worked. I don't know how else I could do it, y'know? Anyways...Magic!
Also, yay! I've done something as well as you could do and you said it yourself! I feel so accomplished now!
1240815
You and Kartal with the words though--which words, if I might ask?
1242178 I'm not awake enoguh to actually pick out all of the words in there, sorry. And...hmmm...I see a magic TV as a carved tree trunk with a unicorn stood on stop for some unknown reason...Quite a funny picture really.
1242159
To be fair, there's a commercial with Pinkie Pie playing video games. It works.
1243217 Yeah, but Pinkie Pie is Pinkie Pie. I expect it from her. Hmm...maybe Pinkie became a Tele salespony.
1242178>>1243217>>1243340 Hey have you see Sunny's idea for a box powered by unicorn magic that plays video games? That's explanation enough for me. Besides, how do we know PC's idea isn't in DA FUUUUUUUtrue!
Heh, you already know my opinion. Great fic ^^
...so sad this is complete... but that last line was perfect.
Ouch. Very good. I almost stopped reading during the backstory, which is at the start. Maybe there's a way of shortening that.
1483272
Which backstory? Blue Collar and his wife's? Details, man! Don't leave me hanging! But I'm glad you enjoyed it, heh.
1483509 Everything up to "...and we’re getting scattered reports that this is the worst storm in over two hundred years." I see why you want all that stuff in there, and why you don't want to start in with the TV report (because then you can't easily go back to backstory), but there's no real hook in the first thousand words. Typically when I run into this problem, I either make the story shorter, or make it longer by putting in something attention-getting. Skywriter is really good at making stuff interesting without having a hook, though I can't figure out how he does it.
1484360
*shrug* This is all the Story demanded--it wanted no more and could go with no less. I personally see no issues with it, but I do appreciate the comment greatly.
Upon reading the final line I was just ".......What..." 0.0
5498349
'What' in what way, might I ask?
5502059
The "wasn't expecting that" kind of way. Hope that clarifies.
5502754
Ah, so in the way I intended it--always good to hear! Thank ye.
Nobody tell her about the cornfield.
"Silly Daddy, the TV copied me."
...no one tell her about the infinity gauntlet. her universe wouldn't stand a chance. You know, now that I think about it, I wouldn't put it past her to create the thing to fit her hoof...and that is a terrifying thought lol