Haters Gonna Hate

Chapter Five: Stormmane

Have you ever had a really bad day?

I don't mean a day where you don't have any hot water for the shower, or you have a car accident, or get fired. I mean the days where you have no hot water for the shower, get in a car accident, and get fired, before you get stabbed and mugged in a back alley.

Right now, that was the kind of week I was having. I've had worse times, of course. I've gotten low, and down on myself. But I learned a lesson from all that pain: When the world is trying to crush you, you have to be the person to pull yourself out. You can count on friends, but you always should count foremost on yourself.

I never thought that, for once, that lesson would do me more pain than good.

~%~

Sunlight made my eyelids glow a pale blue, and I opened my eyes, squinting in the sunlight. I was on my side, lying on a cold stone floor. I could feel the curve and rise of the stones under me, and I could also feel ache in my side.

But for a moment, in that second where we enter and exit the sleep of our ancestors, I could've sworn I was home, lying on my soft sheets, fan spinning above me, as sunlight flooded the small suburban room.

Shame it wasn't the case. I was ready to write this whole god-awful affair as a nightmare, brought on from too much Internet and beer. But, the ache in my side decided it was time to wake up, so it could level up, Poke'mon style, into sheer agony.

My wince was audible, a hiss passing my lips as I opened my eyes and lifted my head. I didn't know this place. There was a bed, but across the room. Aside from that one item, I was the only other thing in the room. A single window rained sunshine on my figure, and I looked over myself.

"Damn." Not only was I still a goddamn pony, I had bandages wrapped around my middle; bloody ones. Celestia had really given me a pounding. I made a mental note to do worse to her the next time I could…

But right now, I was nearly certain it wasn't within my abilities. I felt dry, thirsty, and starved. Licking my lips, I felt ample moisture. I was still full from Applejack's stall, so-

Oh, God, Applejack…

The day had finally come: I was worried about a pony.

I could still see the moment clearly in my eyes, and it haunted me as I closed them and lay my head down on the cold stone. I could see the flash of lightning, the beam of sunlight, and Applejack's form between, shrieking in pain as she was rendered to stone.

Yes, I hated ponies. I hated ponies with a passion. And now, I hated them even more.

There was a rustle at the door, and I started pushing myself up onto my legs. I could hear muffled voices on the other side, and, as I took to my feet, I turned my ears (And FUCK ME if I still wasn't used to that), and listened.

"So she'll recover?" TS's voice. I felt a fire erupt in my stomach. When I got my hooves-No, hands-on her…

"Of course. However, I would suggest apologizing to her when she does." The fire suddenly burned brighter. Celestia. "I understand your fears, Twilight, but you should know better than to mistrust a friend like Applejack."

I heard TS start slightly, and grinned with shadenfruedian glee. "But, Princess-" Celestia hushed her, and there was a pause before TS's hooves trotted off.

Then, the door turned, and flung open.

I had launched myself with such force, I was certain some barrier had to have been broken. However, the moment I did, and the door swung open, A beam of sunlight blasted me back into the wall, and I felt myself sink onto the bed again. Opening my eyes a sliver, I felt fresh blood stain the bandages.

Celestia stood there, in all her radiant glory, a look of pained fury on her face. It's the kind of look I imagine someone getting when a person close to him or her reveals themselves to be a psychopath, and the only person who can stop them is you. I sneered, and tried to draw up lightning.

Nothing came to me.

"You will find your magic will not serve you here," She said, as two guards entered at her flanks. Her horn glowed, and the door swung shut behind them.

I spit to the side, and looked up at the Princess with the kind of hate you reserve for racists and bigots. "What's wrong, your eminence? Afraid you won't be able to take a handicapped, wounded pony?" I huffed, and looked her sideways with a smug grin. "Some leader."

"Bide your tongue, Hatesteed," One of the guards snarled, stepping forward, "Or I will tend to it!"

A wing unfurled, and blocked his advance. "It's alright, Night Watch," She said, nodding to him, "Wait outside with Vanguard. I will be alright."

The knight opened his mouth, as if to protest, before shutting it, and shooting a glare at me. I stuck out my tongue childishly as he turned and retreated, his companion shutting the door behind them.

There was a tense silence, as Celestia watched me, and I, in turn, watched her. "I see you have aggravated your wound."

"Yeah," I spat, venom thick in my voice, "Good work with that, by the way."

Celestia sighed, and closed her eyes, wings rustling at her sides. "Hatesteed-"

I snapped before I could stop myself, moving off of the bed and slamming my head against hers. "CALL ME THAT AGAIN, PONY! SEE WHAT HAPPENS!"

Another blast of sunlight, and I felt myself rocket through the air into the bed. Snarling, I turned, nostrils flaring, before I felt heavy weights appear on my hindlegs. There was a clink, and I looked down. Magical cuffs, cast of golden magic, held me down, and I growled, looking back up to the Princess. "Get. Them. Off."

"Not until you calm down," Celestia replied, stamping a hoof as her eyes flashed dangerously, "After that, I will cease referring to you as the Hatesteed."

I huffed. "That easy, huh?" I took in a deep breath, and exhaled, glaring daggers at her. "Fine."

There was another pause as she moved forward, and then tapped the cuffs with her horn. They vanished, and I felt the weight at my legs subside. Kicking one to flex it, I grinned. "Much obliged."

"You're welcome."

I looked up at her. That voice had been somber, quiet, and subdued. She was looking at me with strange eyes. It was as if I was a puppy about to be put down, but Celestia couldn't bear to watch. I didn't like it. "Applejack. She's-"

"-going to be fine," Celestia said slowly, turning and walking across the room, looking out the window. Her voice was distant. She was thinking, intently, about something. Another pause, and she sighed heavily. "Whether or not Applejack and Twlight Sparkle's friendship will recover, however, is still left to fate."

"Yeah, well," I spat, "That's what you get when you're more willing to trust the Princess over a friend."

If the jab had hit Celestia, she didn't show it. Instead, she looked over to me on the bed. "You will need new bandages."

I looked down at them. The stain had doubled. "So I will," I said, sneering, "Are you going to play Nurse for me, Princess?"

She scowled, and I saw something dark, something powerful, flash in her eyes, before she buried it again. "Haven't you caused enough anguish, Stormmane?"

Okay, that was new. I blinked in surprise, and tilted my head. "I'm sorry?"

"You should be."

"No, I mean, who's Stormmane?"

Her eyes widened, and she looked me up and down. "Do you…Do you have a name?" I told her my name, and she frowned. "That is not what I expected."

"How do you mean?"

She looked as if she was about to reply, but then shut her mouth, and shook her head, turning for the door. "I will have someone come and re-apply new bandages, so you may-"

"Oh, no, you don't!" I had cleared the bed in one jump, and skidded to a stop before her. "I've just spent the last TWO DAYS as a member of a species I HATE, trying to find a way back home and figure out why I'm here in the first place! YOU OWE ME ANSWERS, CELESTIA!"

My voice had grown in volume by the end, so loud it was echoing off of the walls. As I caught my breath, I watched her eyes. Fear, anger, remorse, and judgment all passed through her gaze before she closed them, opening them again to reveal her calm, royal gaze. "I owe you nothing."

With that, she passed me by, opened the door, and stepped out, shutting it behind her.

I stood there, looking down at my shadow on the stone. Stormmane. Hatesteed. What the Hell did this mean? I moved to the window, and looked out, to try and clear my mind. I had a million questions, and no one to answer them.

I found my hooves pouring the ground with frustration, as anger and fury boiled inside me. No one was giving me any further clues. I was behind enemy lines, and at their mercy.

I closed my eyes and sighed. The wound on my side pulsed numbly, as my mind itself away from the injury, the oft wind and sound of clopping hooves and birdsongs drawing my thoughts elsewhere, to some deep part of my psyche…

You are the storm. You are the fury.

I turned my head around so fast, I winced from the whiplash. That voice had sounded like mine, but off, and it didn't have a source. I was alone in the room.

But it was right.

I furrowed my brow and moved to the door. I narrowed my eyes, and took a deep breath.

When I opened my eyes again, I felt a rush of energy, and heard the crackle of lightning filling the air. I felt like I was trying to run underwater, that I was moving, but not as fast as I should. I could feel whatever Celestia had put in place pulling at me, hard, but I pushed by it. I felt lightning rush along my figure, caught the scent of ozone, and lashed my head at the door.

A massive shaft of lightning blasted the door apart, and I felt like I had just breached the surface for a gasp of air after a long dive. Shouts echoed along the corridors as the two ponies assigned to guard my door snorted and poured at the stone, horns glowing.

I sneered, and charged.

If no one was going to answer my questions, then I'd find the answers myself, even if I had to take this city and burn it to the ground.