The smell of waffles filled the air. It was the only thing, Ghost noted, that Misty could make without burning something into an unrecognizable lump of charred spices and blackened sauce. Thankfully, Misty seemed perfectly happy to keep making them for every meal, which worked out well, because Ghost was perfectly happy to keep eating them. Her wafflemaker was getting more use, the apartment was lively, and Ghost was rapidly running out of maple syrup, but that was fine, everything was fine. For once, she felt… happy. Happy was becoming normal.
Ghost thought that was the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to her. Well, besides waffles. Waffles for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, just like today. Dinner waffles tasted twice as wonderful, because they carried the satisfaction of another day spent with a friend by her side.
“I’ve been thinking of writing an anthem to waffles,” said Ghost as she stuffed her face. “It’ll go something like, Oh squared pieces of heaven, how you brighten my day, with fluffy toasty yumness, and sticky syrup on the way. Or something like that.” She giggles, and Misty laughed as well as she forked another one over.
“So, here’s my question for ya,” Misty started, waving a batter-coated spatula that dripped onto the table with each gesture. “Why are you on your own, anyways? An adorable little Ghostie like you should be surrounded by friends and family all the time. I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend time with ya?” Misty said as she blushed and turned to pour more batter into the waffle iron.
Ghost shrugged and poured syrup into each neat little square of her waffle, making sure not to miss a single one. “I felt like I was freeloading off of my parents. They said oh, it’s fine, take whatever classes you want while you figure things out, but I just couldn’t take it. They’re well off enough to afford it and all, but it just felt… too much like charity I suppose. So, um, I left. I’m living on my own now, off of my own money. I still see them for Hearth’s Warming, though.”
Misty nodded sympathetically. “I get what that’s like, you know? I don’t wanna let the hive down, just like your parents, I guess. I’m working hard to make ‘em proud, and hopefully someday I’ll be able to give back for all the support they’ve given me. And maybe, someday, I'll make myself proud, on my own terms. So, yeah, I get it... I think?” Misty sighed, lost in her thoughts for a moment before the wafflemaker beeped and she spun around to remove the latest golden piece of right-angled perfection and pour another.
Choking on her last bite of waffle, Ghost sniffled. It felt really nice to have somepony else get it, and not question her on why she was giving up on free support. “Misty? I’m so proud of you.” Misty looked back at her, eyes wide and tearing up, missing the waffle iron and spilling batter all over the counter as she turned. Ghost nodded emphatically and opened her mouth to say more when there was a knock on the door.
She frowned. She rarely ever heard that sound, unless it was one of her irate neighbors complaining that they got her book shipment because she wrote the address wrong again. Getting up from her place, she trotted to the door to look through the peephole.
There was a guard outside her apartment. And not just any guard, a royal guard. He looked important, and terrifying. Ghost wanted nothing more than to lock the door and pretend she wasn’t home. No, that would be cowardly, wouldn’t it? Besides, Misty was here, and she had Ghost’s back. Taking a deep breath, Ghost opened the door.
The guard cleared his throat. “Is this the residence of Ghost Phase?”
Ghost nodded, and tried not to squeak in terror. “Yes, I’m Ghost Phase. Is there something you need?”
The guard took no note of her panic and looked past her, into the room. “I’m here for one Misty Step. I have a message to deliver to her, and I’d appreciate a bit of privacy.”
Ghost bit her lip and shook her head. “With… with all due respect, sir, this is my home. If you’ve got something to say to Misty, you’ll have to say it in front of me, or I’ll have to ask you to leave. Unless… um!” She took a step back as the guard frowned down at her.
Misty brushed up against Ghost. “Unless you have a royal decree, you can’t legally search her apartment or banish her from the premises, even temporarily. What’s the message?”
The guard gave a curt nod at her defense, though he seemed displeased. “I’ve been informed to tell you, Misty Step, that your services under the Royal Command of the Princesses are no longer required. We’ve apprehended the suspect. You may return to your hive at your earliest convenience.” He straightened up, then added as an afterthought, “Have a nice day,” before turning on his hooves and marching away.
Misty stood still next to Ghost, rigid as a stick. She laughed, but it was a hollow laugh, as though she had forced it out. “So, Ghostie, how bout them waffles, huh?”
Ghost blinked. Misty must be in shock. She’d be too, if she was told that she wasn’t needed for her dream job. She waved a hoof in front of Misty’s face, and she blinked. Good, at least she was still somewhat responsive.
Misty took a deep breath. “I have to go home, back to the hive, okay? I'll see you around, though. Sometime. Probably.” She turned to look over at Ghost, and Ghost could see her eyes were tearing up.
What should she say? What could she say? Ghost didn’t know how to respond to that. She nodded, not knowing what to do. What do you say to a friend who’s lost everything? I’m sorry? That doesn’t feel like enough, that doesn’t carry enough weight.
Misty tried to fake a smile back, and then she stepped through the door. And then she was gone.
Ghost leaned against the doorway and stared out into the hallway long after Misty had trotted down the stairs. Something was missing. She turned back into her apartment. Spilled batter on the waffle iron was turning a crusty black. Ghost walked over sullenly and unplugged it. Cleanup could wait. Everything could wait until tomorrow. Maybe she’d feel better, and maybe she’d think of something she could have said.
She curled up in her nest and shut off the light. It was quiet in her apartment, something she usually prefered. Tonight, it just felt empty. She closed her eyes, and tried to sleep, and tried not to think about what it was that was missing from her apartment.
The woods were cold. The damp leaves stuck to her hooves as Ghost walked onward through the fog. Surely somepony else was there, surely she wasn’t truly lost and by herself, right? She looked around. It looked empty. Yup. She was definitely lost, the type of lost where you can’t even ask anypony for directions.
Wait, there! A sound, coming from her right! Ghost looked, and it looked like somepony else was there. Was it Misty? It couldn’t be, could it? Ghost could have cried from relief. Misty would know where she was! Misty could save her!
She ran through the leaves that stuck to her fur and chilled her to the bone, towards the figure in the mist. “Who’s there? Is it you, Misty?” She called out, running towards the shape. The form in front of her was fading into the mist, as though they were nothing but mist all along. Ghost stopped after she ran so hard she was panting, and looked around. There was nopony to be seen, and no answer to be heard.
The thunder outside her window woke Misty up, and she jerked awake. A storm was raging beyond her apartment walls, beyond Anthony and Anaconda the plants. She sniffled. Were her plants her only company now? She was so used to being alone, but never in her life had she felt so incomplete before.
Ghost pressed a hoof to her face. Tears were streaked down her face. Okay, she had a bad dream, tears were normal, being sad was normal. Being sad was her new normal. Okay. She laid her head down and tried to get some sleep.
Being alone? That was normal too.