Blacklight Retribution: Stranger on a Stranger World

“Darling are you sure you don’t want me to restyle this helmet?”

“Yes, I am sure,” Twilight sighed, saying that for the twenty-third time, “He probably does not have the same tastes as you do.”

“Oh no you did not just say that,” Rarity stomped her hoof, “I have full knowledge of the tastes of fashion! I run the boutique for Celestia’s sake!”

“Just trust me on this one, just help me repair it, luckily these things are color coded,” Twilight narrowed her eyes, “I really want to reverse engineer this, but doing that without consent would be disrespectful.”

“You will be able to ask, I’m sure of it,” Rarity reassured Twilight, “The doctors said they would wake up this afternoon.”

“As in, this afternoon this afternoon?”

Rarity sighed, “Yes, I’m sure they said this afternoon.”

Twilight focused back into ‘repairing’ the helmet that deemed far more technologically advanced, probably by two centuries.

“I think I’m almost done,” she announced lightly.

“Oh, really?” Rarity being hopeful, “I must say, that was a piece of work that helmet.”

Twilight flashed a confused look at Rarity, “All you did was complain about not being able to cosmetically change the helmet.”

Rarity placed a dramatic hoof over her chest, “Well, I certainly helped by giving feedback, darling.”

Twilight chuckled and rolled her eyes, “Come on, let’s get this to Midnight’s room before he wakes up, I’m sure he’ll love that his stuff is not broken. I hope.”

“You did well, Twilight,” Rarity reassured, “Don’t worry.”

“Thank you, Rarity,” she sighed, “I need that.”

***

Ponyville Hospital

***

“There he is,” Twilight slowly opened the non-creaking door, much to her favor, “Now let’s get this on his table.”

“Twilight, are you sure that changeling is trustworthy? Placing it next to Midnight?”

“I’m sure,” she glanced at the said changeling, “because Celestia said so.”

“She said that he’s trustworthy?”

“Yes, that’s what she said,” she started, “This is not a regular changeling, and I am going to ask the questions to this one first before any regular scientist.”

“That’s why you’re her star pupil, Sparkle,” Rarity chuckled.

“Thanks,” Twilight said in response.

“I must say, what happened to them? They both have lines all over their body,”

“Must be from the magic spell that brought them back,” she glanced at the two, “I’ll ask them about it later, maybe they might remember how it happened.”

“I wonder what it feels like,” Rarity trailed off.

“What?” she asked, snapping Rarity out of her trance.

“Two lose your life twice,” Rarity put up a look full of thought.

“That’s something that Midnight experienced, we don’t need to dwell on something like that,” Twilight placed a hoof on Rarity’s shoulder.

“Of course, Twilight, it’s just,” she trailed off again, “Food for thought, yes?”

“I know how you’re feeling about this,” she finally placed the helmet on the table.

“When are you going to give that adorable doll to him?” Rarity asked, “Surely he would know to want that back.”

“I’ll give it to him when he wakes up,” Twilight said inspecting the Chibi from her saddle bag, “Come on, we have other things to do. They will notify us when they wake up.”

When they reached the lobby to leave, they noticed that Rainbow Dash was right outside.

“Why, hello there, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity was the first to break the element of surprise.

“Oh, hey there,” she said flatly, “How is he?”

“He’s fine, just some weird lines on their coat, we have other things to do,” Twilight tried to sound professional until.

“You mean you need to get to the books?” Rainbow flashed a smug grin on her face.

Twilight frowned, “For your information, they are not just books that I am ‘hitting’. They are advanced magic books, I need to catch up on the things I forgot!”

Rainbow Dash dismissed the sentiment with a hoof, “Whatever. Can I visit him?”

“Visiting hours are right now, Dashie, you can,” Rarity said.

“Don’t call me that again,” Rainbow said jokingly as she entered the building.

***

Freddie

***

I activated cloak after leaving my room, I’m sure I wasn’t banged up that bad. It was just dust.

I walk back to the door to see that Ondra was looking out the window taking in the view of the new world we ended up in. It was not... Normal, all this life. Just minding their own business, not worrying about what you do to save your species. I guess that is behind me now, we failed the mission, and frankly everyone’s lives were depending on that being a success. I guess I can start a new life in this world I will probably never get used to... Too peaceful.

Turning away from the door, I decided to lighten the mood so I walk, with cloak on, it was interesting to say the least, seeing all these ponies in hospital attire. Almost makes me forget that ponies were usually naked, you know... Without clothes. I really needed to get my head out of the gutter. One does not simply do that.

I sigh in spite of myself as I continued walking, hopefully I accidentally make my way to the lobby, without bumping into anyone... Anypony?

Walking on all fours in a place with no danger was certainly something to be happy about, while I enjoyed the versatility of walking biped, it actually felt less tiring to go quadruped. And that was saying something considering I just came out of my hospital bed. I’m fine.

I continue to walk, until something sparked on my mind. Ondra had said something about transformation; however, some lines on the coat and my exoskeleton was probably just part of it. Why was dust coming out of him? Did that pink one mess with him so that happened?

…

No... No way. There is no way that corrosive did all this. I remember when Linda died, I saw that Ondra was somewhat dripping with blood and stuff that was, supposed to be corrosive? I have some questions to ask him, and they must be answ-

“Oof!” my breath was taken away because I was not paying attention.

Unfortunately it was enough to ruin my concentration on keeping cloak on.

When I lifted my head ahead of me-

***

Ponyville Hospital

***

“It’s you!” Rainbow Dash gasped, “The one who tried to do something at the train!”

Freddie rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish grin, “Heh, yeah that’s me.”

Rainbow Dash was glaring daggers at the changeling, until a generic nurse pony noticed this happening.

“Now what is going on here?” she looked at Freddie, then narrowed her eyes, “You’re supposed to be at your room with that stranger pegasus.”

Freddie shook his head, “But I’m fine, see?”

He was jumping and wiggling all his limbs during air time from the jumps.

“Regardless, you’re not at full recovery,”

“The one who needs full recovery is my friend,” Freddie stopped and said firmly, “He fucking died... TWICE!”

Rainbow grew silent and resorted to slanguage, “That’s mah lein.”

She was giving Freddie a sinister look, like she was going to kill him.

Freddie sighed and his hooves above his head in defeat, “Alright, you win. You can take me there.”

The nurse looked at Freddie in confusion. She never took anyone to a medical room like that. She nervously chuckled and, “That will not be necessary, just uh... Follow us. You’re headed to his room are you?”

“Yeah,” this question somewhat caught her off-guard as she started rubbing the back of her head. Then she realised she was looking ‘un-cool’, so she snapped up and put up a stoic expression, “Only too check on the pony that I tried to save.”

The nurse noticed this blatant display of exasperation and rolled her eyes.

“Maybe he’ll even ask for an autograph,” she plastered a smug grin on her face.

“Follow me,” the nurse instructed.

“What is your name, nurse?” Freddie asked.

“I am Nurse Redheart of the Ponyville hospital,” she gestured a proud hoof over herself, then placed it down, “Or clinic, if you’d like.”

“Good,” he nodded, “because, Redheart, I know my way to my room. I’ll meet you there.”

Rainbow narrowed her eyes at him, making him lift a hoof.

“Relax, Skittles,” he chuckled, “I’m not going to hurt your boyfriend.”

She widened her eyes and immediately looked offended, “Why I oughta lift you to the stratosphere and drop you from there like I did with him!”

“Now now, Rainbow Dash,” Redheart tried to look like she was on both sides, but it was failing. Freddie winked at Redheart, giving her assurance that he wouldn’t be offended. Red Heart gave a short sigh of relief, “I know you want to do that, but think about it. Do you really want to risk your health on doing that to him?”

Freddie commended her quick thinking by a nod, “I’ll meet ya there, Skittles. See ya!”

“Hey!” Rainbow Dash called after him, “Come back here! I’m not finished with you yet!”

Red Heart, fortunately, was trained at restraining raging mares, “Do not worry, you’ll get your chance to finish when we get there.”

Red Heart was not thinking of a way to apologize for possibly encouraging the injury of a Changeling, to the staff.

***

Ondra’s Room

***

It was a peaceful time just staring out into the fresh scenery of Ponyville. Child ponies were enjoying themselves with whatever makeshift things they can make or find, Merchants were having a great time never failing to like smiling at passersby. This was definitely like the times before the first outbreak. Ondra was smiling in satisfaction at what he was seeing; he was seeing his great escape. His great escape from the life he had before, the life whe-.

The doors burst open, and Ondra cursed under his breath knowing it was Freddie who would make an entrance like that.

Midnight groaned, “What is it?”

“That skittles bitch is coming!” he was acting like a child biting his nails.

“Just go to bed,” Ondra then bolted right back up, “Oh yeah! Did you learn anything new about yourself?”

“Naw, too busy thinking while walking,” he puffed his chest in pride, “It was a dangerous feat, but I came back alive.”

Ondra put the helmet back on to activate it to see beyond the doors.

“Is there a reason why I see two heat signatures closing in on our doors?” Ondra gave Freddie an expectant look.

He was rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment, making Ondra narrow his eyes, “What did you do?”

Freddie sighed, “I didn’t do anything too drastic, all I did was bump into her.”

“Thus the thinking while walking shit?”

“Thus the thinking while walking sh-” Freddie almost repeated until the doors burst open in the same manner.

“I must encourage you to calm yourself Rainbow Dash,” RedHeart pleaded.

“Who’s the white one?” Ondra asked bluntly, earning a face-hoof from Freddie.

“Don’t you know that is fucking offensive?” he snapped at Ondra, only making him shrug it off.

“Don’t you know that bursting through doors like that make a lot of noise,” he narrowed his eyes looked at the three, “And I was trying to rest.”

“Now you see, Rainbow? That’s why I told you to slow and calm down,” Redheart echoed with a ‘I told you so’ feel.

Ignoring that comment, Rainbow Dash spoke up, “‘sup?”

Ondra sighed, and started speaking in mocking monotone, “Thank you for saving my life Rainbow Dash, I am forever in your debt and I will never forget this.”

He even did a mock bow, this almost made Rainbow Dash pissed.

“I know, I’m awesome!” she smiled, closed her eyes, and puffed her chest out placing a hoof on it with pride.

Freddie grinned, raised a brow and slowly shook his head.

“This girl has no humility,” Freddie chuckled to himself.

Rainbow Dash glared at him, “And what do you have to say, pervert? I remember you from that train!”

He lifted both hooves in the air, “Guilty as charged. Now what other thing do you have to call me?”

She only continued to glare at him as Redheart was desperately looking for the right opportunity to appease this situation.

Freddie took the hint of her worried expression and sighed, “What do you want me to do?”

“Leave,”

“Now I can’t leave my best friend can I?” Freddie asked in response.

“I have to talk to him about something.”

“How ‘bout this? I leave with my friend here, uh,”

“Midnight Flame,” Ondra finished for him, cursing under his breath in embarrassment at his friend that couldn’t remember his name.

“YOU DIDN’T EVEN KNOW HIS NAME!” Rainbow Dash approached and snapped at Freddie.

“But I know him better than you ever can,” he responded firmly pressing his nose against Rainbow’s in opposition.

To Freddie, that glare was going to get worse to the point where it would actually get physical, and that was not something that he would expect to be intimacy.

Freddie moved back with an approving smile, “I like ya, sticking to friends the entire way. Even when there is something between you that could kill you.”

Rainbow Dash kept her stoic expression, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, that I could kill you in thi-”

“Enough,” Ondra cut in, “Freddie, that’s enough.”

He looked at Ondra, developing an apologetic look and said to him, “Sorry, sir. I’ll TRY to prevent that from happening again.”

He said ‘TRY’ throwing a glare at Rainbow Dash, but it was progress that was better than nothing.

“What did you want to speak to me about?”

She was looking away shuffling in her hooves, and finally pointed a hesitant hoof at Freddie, “Can he leave?”

“No,” he responded flatly.

Ondra dismissed that with his hoof, “It’s alright, uh.”

“Stranger, they call me Stranger,” Freddie cursed under his breath in embarrassment at his friend not knowing his name.

“You su-?”

“Yes,” he snapped firmly, “I... I’m sure.”

“I’m really tired,” Ondra thought to himself rubbing his tired eye with a hoof.

After the door closed on Freddie, she even motioned for Redheart to leave. Thankfully this was going faster because she complied almost immediately.

“What did you want to speak to me about?” Ondra repeated.

Rainbow sighed and hung her head, “Look Midnight, what happened at the Crystal Empire I-”

“Was the task a success?” he interrupted. This caught her off guard.

“Well, yes but-”

“Cut to the chase,” he grew irritated, but didn’t care to think about what he was getting himself into. When it finally clicked in his head what he thought she was going to say it was too late.

“You see,” she hesitated, then the doors opened up, “I’M REALLY HAPPY YOU’RE HERE!”

The doors were probably used by Rainbow Dash to use as an excuse to say that instead.

The ponies to come out of those door were not the ones Ondra expected.

“Midnight!” Twilight yelled in excitement as she was closing in fast on his bed.

He was expecting a hug, but it was not enough to dull the pain he was feeling of losing air while he was tired.

“Please,” he wheezed, “Let go.”

Twilight complied with a sheepish grin.

Ondra  looked around and noticed that Freddie was chuckling as expected, and Rainbow Dash’s ears were down with a sad face. He was going to talk to her later.

“One of the nurses notified me that you were awake, and I just had to get here as fast as possible!”

“What did you need to speak to me about?” repeating that question made him feel professional on a hospital bed.

“To thank you for all you did back there,” she smiled, “And to give you this.”

She was grabbing something out of her bags. He lifted a hoof in protest.

“That will not be necessary, I just wanted to help,”

“Hang on,” she started struggling, “I know it’s in there... Why is it so-aha!”

“I said,” he was about to repeat until the next thing he saw, he couldn’t believe.

“Where did you get that?” Ondra’s eyes were wide as he was laying his eyes on something he thought would never see again... Sarah’s chibi.

“I found it after the dust that saved you settled,” she glanced at the toy, “This was all that was left.”

“May I?” Ondra was reaching for it. Twilight compiled by floating it over to him.

“What does it mean?” Freddie cut in the silence.

“Something to remember her by,” Ondra ignored him as he mumbled to himself.

“You saw Sarah?” Freddie asked.

Ondra started nodding slowly, slowly accelerating, “Yeah, she was there.”

“And that was the last thing to remember her by.”

He took a deep breath, and said solemnly, “Last thing to remember her by.”

Ondra squeezed his eyes shut to let down a tear that was being stubborn before his eyelids, letting that tear stream felt nice. Like he was getting something heavy off his chest.

He finally regained composure and placed the doll next to his helmet on the table.

“What did Rarity do to my armor?” he finally spoke with innocent curiosity.

Twilight only gulped at the thought of what would happen when he discovers what that mare could do to something like his armor. The result was not going to be pretty.

At least Midnight Flame was okay, he can still be alive to stir up some flavor to her life.

"I'm glad you're hear," Twilight thought as she smiled with satisfaction after thinking, "you're going to get your armor back. What could possibly go wrong?"

"Are you alright?" Midnight Flame asked, Twilight's pupils were dilated to purple dots and her left eye lid was twitching so he thought NOW was the best time to ask that.

Twilight shook her head vigorously, then gave an embarrassed smile, "Oh nothing! I'll by fine!"