Sparks and Cuddles:Somewhere else but here (Maroon epilogue)

“However long the night, the dawn will break.”
African Proverb.


(This takes place directly after Sparks leaves The Rink)


> You are Sparks.
> And you kept walking, Cuddles by your side.
> “Whewe we go?” she asked.
> “Somewhewe ewse but hewe. Dis pwace bad.”
> “But…fwends.” She whispers.
> “Nuthing weft fow Spawks dewe…”
> She stopped for a moment.
> You turned around and looked at her.
> Sad water was leaking down her face.
> “Otay…Cuddwes fowwow Spawks.”
> She was right.
> Friends were there.
> “Fwends awe dewe. But awso bad fwuffies, and big saddies.”
> You bit your lip.
> Poor Flappy.
> “dun cwy Spawks.”
> You were crying, and you didn’t even know it.
> She put her leggies around you and squeezed. You squeezed back.
> You felt better.
> After hugging and crying a little, both of you talking about how much you loved each other, you continued on.
> Down the Metal Monster path, and far, far away from The Rink, Big Field, Little River, all of it.
> Never did either of you return.


----------

> The both of you wandered for many brigttimes.
> Eating what grassies and nummies you could find.
> You were both cold, but you kept each other warm with huggies.
> You would find places to hide in and go sleepies when darktime came.
> And you both kept following the Metal Monster path.
> Cuddles said that if you both continued, you would, maybe, find places that had good nummies. Human monsters always had good nummies.
> You were scared. But you decided that she was right.
> Something in your chest told you so.
> Both of you were cold and hungry one brighttime, and Cuddles spotted some berry-nummies across the Metal Monster path.
> She started to trot over to them, when you heard the sound of a Metal Monster approaching.
> You then saw it coming a few seconds later: big, yellow, shiny and mean.
> You yelled “Cuddwes!”
> There was a screech and the Metal Monster stopped a little ways away from her.
> She dropped to the ground and hid her peepers behind her hoofs, while you ran towards her.
> She made abit of poopies, but she didn’t have any owwies.
> You gave her huggies while the Metal Monster growled.
> You closed your peepers, and sobbed. You knew that there was nothing you could do to save her from the meanie Metal Monster.
> She hugged you back, and said your name.
> You just held her, because you knew it would be big hurties.
> Then the Metal Monster stopped growling.
> You kept your peepers shut. There was a single, quiet *click* and a single dull *bang*.
> “Are you alright?”

----------

> You don’t remember riding inside the Metal Monster…the ‘car’, the first time.
> It was too much for you.
> But you remember how Daddy looked. He had black fluff on his head, smelled good and a nice smile.
> You never had a human daddy before. Cuddles did though, and she was very happy.
> The feeling in your chest was right.
> And therefore, so was Cuddles.
> The first few brighttimes with Daddy were full of new things.
> You saw a litterbox for the first time ever, and made good poopies in it the first time you used it!
> You had a bath, which was scary at first but Cuddles joined you, and made it fun.
> You both smelled and looked pretty after Daddy dried you both off and used something called a ‘comb’ on your fluff.
> He took you to a place called a ‘safe room’, where there were toys, another litterbox and long soft things.
> “I was thinking about getting fluffies…but then I found you two.”
> “Cuddwes wuv new daddeh!” Cuddles had said.
> Daddy just smiled.
> You explored this new home.
> You found a small, fat, happy gold human sitting in the corner. Daddy called him ‘Buddha’.
> There was also a bigger human who scared you a little. He had a red face, long chin fluff and a big, scary sorry stick.
> Daddy called him ‘Guan Di’, and told you not to be afraid of him, as he is only mean to meanies.
> It took you a little while, but you grew to love Daddy.
> A long time past, and Daddy came to know about how Cuddles couldn’t have babies.
> Thinking about this made Cuddles sad, so he went and got babies for you both.
> One small brown and green earthie colt, and one orange and red unicorn colt.
> They were too old for milkies, but Cuddles, and you, still loved them.
> The small brown and green earthie Daddy named ‘Rocky, and the orange and red unicorn ‘Sunset’ (which you thought was pretty).
> You loved them.
> You still do, even though when they got older and Daddy had to find them new homes.
> They would come over and play every now and then.
> And they would call you and Cuddles ‘dada’ and ‘mumma’.


----------

> You open your peepers. Beside you lays Cuddles.
> Still the prettiest mare you’ve ever known, even if her fluff has begun to go grey.
> Just like yours, now that you think about it.
> It is early brighttime, but you are still very tired.
> You think you’ll go sleepies a little while longer.
> Cuddles must be tired aswell, as she is very, very still.
> You smile, and hug her.
> “Wuv yoo, Cuddwes” you say.
> And close your peepers one last time.

----------

> You are Wei.
> This is a solemn day for you.
> Your two fluffies, Sparks and Cuddles, passed away early this morning.
> You believe they went in their sleep: they were holding each other, as if snuggling.
> They will find each other in the next life. You are sure of this.
> This makes you both sad and very happy.
> While some things leave this world, never to return, some things stay forever and constant.
> Their love for each other will be a constant.
> You buried them in your backyard, next to one another, before taking time to remember your time with them.
> How Sparks hugged Cuddles so tight when you almost hit them with your old stationwagon.
> How they hugged your legs when you brought the two colts for them to raise.
> How neither of them raised their voices or yelled at one another.
> It is a truly unique thing, you muse, to find such love in this world.
> You will get new fluffies in time- you love fluffies. But you will never, ever forget those two.
> Only one memory of the two casts any sort of shadow over your thoughts.
> It was almost a year ago. You were going to bed, and decided to check in on your two beloved fluffies before going to bed.
> They were both sleeping, but Sparks was sobbing quietly in his sleep.
> You watched for a few minutes.
> Sparks said the word ‘Stompy’ in his sleep three times before his sobbing ceased and he hugged Cuddles reflexively.
> Stompy was the name of your friend’s fluffy.
> You wonder, for the briefest of moments, if it was the same fluffy…
> You sigh, and turn your thoughts back to the happier times with Sparks and Cuddles.
> ‘Neither fire nor wind, birth nor death, can erase our good deeds.’
> You are quite certain this also applies to fluffies.
> Quite certain.



THE END