Chapter 5: A Misunderstanding and a New Arrival

"What the heck d’ya mean, ya own the guy?" Lewis was praying silently for his life as an enraged Big Mac stood over him, hoof pressed to his chest just hard enough to make breathing difficult. After he and Applejack had returned, dinner had begun with gusto. The food was wonderful, if lacking in meat, and Lewis had begun to fulfill his promise to Big Mac about explaining his arrival in Equestria, at least as far as he understood. Unfortunately, he had run into a slight hitch.

"Please Big Mac, listen!" Lewis said, trying to calm his angry friend, "It ain't what ya think!"

Big Mac wasn't having it. "How am I 'sposed tah see this any other way? Yah kept one of our kind as a slave, made 'im work fer yah without pay, and rode on his back?"

Lewis twisted out from under the heavy hoof at last, dodging back away from a family full of angry ponies. "Now listen, ah'm tryin' tah explain to yah, I never thought o Bourbon like that, but he ain't like y’all!"

Applejack wasn't sure what to think. When Lewis had casually mentioned his ownership of this sad Bourbon character, he hadn't seemed to believe anything was wrong with it. She was sad and angry, that somepony, or rather, some human that she had liked so well, who held her tight under the stars, who she, (and it took effort to admit this to herself) hoped to share her bed with, could be involved in anything so despicable.

"Applejack please," said Lewis, "Just let me explain." He looked at her with mournful eyes, and she felt her heart melt.

"Wait y’all," she said, holding out a restraining hoof to forestall her brother, "He seems to have a different take on this, so let’s 'ear 'im out." Big Macintosh glanced down at her, then back up at Lewis. He still felt betrayed, but he held back. He knew that Applejack had a way with getting to the truth, and if anypony could figure this out, it was her.

"Thanks," Lewis said, massaging a light bruise on his chest, "Now, I know it sounds bad to yah, but a horse in my world and y’all are two very different things. Don't y’all keep pets here?"

Applejack nodded. "Yeah, my friend Fluttershy keeps a couple a dozen little critters around. But they aren't like ponies, mainly ain't as smart, though I wonder about some of 'em. They get treated better by us than they would in the wild."

"Well," said Lewis, "that there is the same difference ah'm talkin' 'bout. Our horses and ponies and such, they're just like those little critters your friend has. They ain't that bright, and life in the wild is much harsher than life with us. Besides, even putting that aside, Bourbon is my best friend. He and I understand each other, and he's never indicated to me that he felt like I was bein' mean to 'im. I'd never treat Bourbon badly. He's saved my life before, and not to brag but I've saved him back a few times too!"

Big Macintosh calmed, and Applejack let her foreleg drop. "Alright," she said, once she was sure her brother wouldn't try anything, "I gotta figure things work a little different where yer from. Yah don't strike me as cruel, so ah'll give ya the benefit of the doubt." Big Mac nodded his acceptance, although Lewis knew that the stallion was still confused and possibly a little hurt. Applebloom remained silent, watching the adults with wary eyes. The little filly wondered what exactly Lewis had done to anger her elder siblings, except that it involved somepony named Bourbon, a dear friend according to Lewis.

Before the argument could be reignited, Granny Smith interrupted the moment, "Alright everypony, that's 'nough right there. It’s time fer bed." Applebloom didn't hesitate, didn't try her usual last-minute plea bargain for a little extra time up. She ran to bed without a word. Applejack noticed her behavior, and quickly followed, worried about her sister.

Lewis and Big Mac stared each other down. Lewis spoke first. "I ain't the type to indulge somethin' as evil as slavery. If Bourbon had ever spoken up and indicated he wanted to leave, I woulda let him without a single complaint. He's my friend. And ah happen to miss him. In some ways, you remind me of him."

Big Mac lowered his head in shame at his violent reaction. He could tell that Lewis was sincere. "Ah'm sorry," he said, "I jumped tah conclusions and there ain't no excuse for it. And ah upset my baby sister. Can yah fergive me?"

Lewis put an arm around his big friend. "Course ah can forgive yah. If ah had heard about yall riding humans n such, I mighta reacted the same way." Granny Smith nodded in a satisfied manner and went off to bed without further comment. It was then that Lewis noticed something in his shirt pocket, something he had completely forgotten was there. "Hey Big Mac?"

"Yeah Lewis?"

"Mind if I have a cigarette?"

The light was blinding. It hurt, it hurt so much! And the noise, loud like a billion festering insects buzzing in one's ear! And the fear! Fear of everything, fear of not feeling the ground, not seeing anything but the light! Then falling, falling, falling down. A dull thud. The light out, the noise silenced. "Ouch! That fuckin' hurt!" Where did that sound come from? Why did it make sense? What the hell was going on?

These were the thoughts that ran through the mind of a pale American quarter horse that found himself tumbling through a strange stretch of time. It took him a moment to categorize the events in order. First the light, then the sound, then the fear, then the falling, and at last the thud. Then the dimness and silence. And the voice. His voice? His voice?

The confused creature tried to rise to his hooves. He was amazed, after so much blind terror and pain, to find himself unharmed. Of even greater importance, he now had the capacity to organize the thoughts and concepts needed for him to feel amazed. "I need to get up," he muttered. But who was this 'I' he kept thinking about? "I. Me. Bourbon."

The horse was struck for the first time with the concept of self. Of a name. He ceased to rise and let himself sink back to the ground. "Bourbon," he said, tasting the word, tasting the very concept of speech. He sounded like the other. His other. He knew there was a word-name for the other, he just had to recall it. Until then, Bourbon had identified him as sweat-smell-small-hair-weight-on-back-carrying-rope, along with a list of other traits.

Not in words, of course, that had been beyond him before and would take hours to recite that way. But somewhere in there was a sound he had heard some of the things like-the-other-but-not-his-other direct at his other. "Lewis," he murmured, "My other." Bourbon arrived at a conclusion. "I have to find Lewis." Once more, he struggled to rise, and at last found purchase with his hooves.

Looking around, Bourbon saw that he was not where he had been. Not at all. Gone were the familiar trails and smells of home. This was different. More trees. A forest? He thought about the word and it made sense to him. A forest. He was in a forest. "Lewis," he said again, trotting in a direction that he somehow knew would lead to Lewis. He didn't know how, but it would. He knew it. "Lewis."

Luna stretched, her balcony bathed in moonlight and her duties as the ruler of the night satisfied. "Another job well done," she said to herself, admiring the night sky she had just finished. The stars were in formation, and the moon shone brightly. For a long time after her return, she could barely look at the moon, the pain of her memories more than she could bear, but as it was her job to raise the thing every night; she couldn't really avoid it. After time, and healing, she had learned to love the silvery orb as she had before . . . everything.

As she retired back to her room, a knock at the door piqued her interest. She did not often have visitors so early in the evening, and even fewer came straight to her private quarters. Checking her appearance in a mirror, she donned her crown and turned to face the large oaken door. "Enter," she said simply, ready to deal with whomever was so foolish as to interrupt her.

Her pose became less haughty when the visitor proved to be her sister. Celestia trotted in, tall and proud. She was beautiful in a way that Luna sometimes envied. She tried not to indulge such emotions, as they had led to . . . problems in the past. However, when the doors swung shut behind her, Celestia let her proud stance to droop, allowing her fatigue to show as the façade of calm control fell away to reveal an over-worked, under-appreciated mare.

"Sister," Luna said, "Are you unwell?" She felt great concern then. She had rarely seen her sister in such a state before.

Celestia shook herself. "I will survive," she responded dryly, "I think." With a weary groan, she settled herself onto a couch against the north wall of the chamber. "I've been doing this a long time. You learn to handle the long days after a while."

Luna winced in guilt. During her banishment, Celestia had been forced to handle all affairs of state, as well as the sun and moon. It was frightening to think that Celestia might find her current workload comparatively light. "Tia," Luna said, worried, "Don't push yourself. I've done a lot of catching up on current events; I can take up some more of the slack. I can even speak modern Equestrian properly now."

Celestia regarded her sister gratefully. "I'm glad you feel ready for additional responsibilities. I have something I need you to do."

Luna nodded encouragingly. "Whatever you need Tia, I can help you. I need to help you, after everything . . . ."

"Please Luna," Celestia interrupted, "I forgive you, as long as you forgive me for sending you away for so long. You have suffered far beyond the scope of any crimes you might have committed. And I would still argue that you are not responsible for the actions of Nightmare Moon."

"All the same," Luna said, "Tell me what you need me to do. Any way I can help, I want to."

Celestia nodded her understanding. "Very well Luna, do you recall the strange energy fluctuations the night before last?"

Luna recalled the strange feeling, like a tingle in her horn. "Yes, I remember."

"Well, Twilight Sparkle found the source, a strange creature that I believe came from a place very far away from Equestria. I am made to understand that the thing is called a human. Currently, it is staying with the Apple family at Sweet Apple Acres. I want you to go the night after tomorrow and collect it for me, so I can determine whether it is a threat, and why, if it has a reason, it might be here."

Luna nodded, glad that her sister trusted her with such a sensitive matter. "I'd be happy to. Leave everything to me. Now why don't you lie down and get some sleep. I have to get ready for tonight's work."

Celestia nodded, her eyelids flickering. "Thank you Luna, I am a little sleepy . . . ." Before she could say anything more, the mighty ruler was sleeping like a foal. Luna favored her fellow monarch with a wry smile. Awake, she might be powerful and slightly intimidating, but at rest, Luna always thought her sister was just adorable.

Luna pulled a blanket over Celestia's sleeping form, and went to attend to business in the throne room.

Bourbon stopped to rest in a small clearing. He had wandered in the vague direction that his instincts labeled simply, 'towards Lewis.' The air was strange in the forest though, and smells confused themselves. He needed to stop, and try to think. He chuckled quite suddenly at the sheer oddity of the idea. He had never had to think before.

Nevertheless, he sat on his haunches, and tried to think. Something fundamental had changed, he couldn't deny that. Lewis had a name, and so did he. What was more, he existed, and was aware of it. However, when he thought back, he seemed to remember looking different. He had been taller, though not much. The pale color of his body were altered too, brighter and more of a pure white, except for his flank. When he looked at it, he noticed an odd mark on his skin; a lasso, which he vaguely recognized, though it was difficult as abstractions such as visual representations were still new to him.

Bourbon stretched, and in doing so, happened to glance up. He gasped, as for the first time he observed the heavens with the cognitive faculties to appreciate it. It was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. Bourbon felt something strange, a pressure in his face as his vision blurred. He choked on a sob, and at last broke down and cried at the sheer wonder of it all. He had been blind, and now he could see. That was all there was to it.

"I feel so happy," he said to no-one in particular.

"GRRRRRRRH," the universe responded. Bourbon thought that he recognized the smell. Like a cat, but bigger. That meant cougar. Bourbon turned to face the threat, only to realize he had misjudged. "That is definitely not a cougar," Bourbon said. Then he started running. The snarling manticore leapt after him in quick pursuit.

Author's Note

And here's Bourbon. Fair warning: there will be more naughtiness soon.