Beta in Equestria : The arrival

by Utaku Beta

Rating: teen
Tags: Human, Anthro, Dark, Alternate Universe, Romance
Length: 62958

Beta wakes up in Equestria after escaping a lab

After escaping his life as a lab experiment, Beta finds himself in Equestria. There he works to come to grips with his former life while adjusting to this new and "peaceful" world. But all worlds have a secret and Equestria's is darker than most would expect.

Luna is very prominent in this story.
Several mane 6 are present but not main characters - Several Background and OCs however are.

This story starts BEFORE the beginning of the FiM series, so any relationships between the mane 6 will be as they were before hand, casual acquaintances mostly.

Please leave comments and feedback :)

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-09-06 22:32:29 UTC

%i%The Escape

1The Escape

    Pad, pad, drip. Pad, pad, drip. The blood splashed crimson on the leaves and under brush as he moved silently along. His ragged breathing the only sound to betray his stealth. The majority of his wounds ceased bleeding, caked with dried blood save his midsection, the worst, still bleeding wound. .

    Pain racking his body from a dozen small and one major wound, fatigue threatening to bring him low, he knows he can’t stop yet. He know that to stop and rest would certainly bathe him in the numbing, peaceful blanket of sleep and probably death, that great equalizer of men and kings. His muscles screamed at him, well past their limit, begging for respite, only obeying his demand to move because to stop would mean certain death!

    ‘I can’t stop!’ He thinks, to keep his mind clear. ‘I must run… I… wonder which part of me feels that.’ His mind wanders a little, taking his concentration from the pain. An odd, wry smile forms on his strange maw, showing one of his sharp canines.

    ‘Is it my human common sense, logic and rationality?’ he begins to wax philosophically ‘I am being hunted after all… I think… or is it my vulpine instincts. So used to the chase… the hunt… but so is my other side. I was made,  genes up, as pray... but also as a hunter. I’m always going to feel like I'm being chased, hunted and in danger…. But this time I KNOW it’s real’ at that moment his gut wound stung him, reassuring that he is indeed in danger, and hunted.

    His ears pick up a noise. A distinct unnatural sound. Rustling in the bushes that wasn’t him. He stops cold… The long blue long ears shooting straight up, listening for the slightest sound of a butterfly’s wings. Then he hears it… ‘breathing!’ He realizes ‘Hard labored breathing of a healthy man, who was simply winded… not wounded… a hunter!’

    ‘Damn’ he thought, ‘I didn’t think there were any this far out from the lab. Yet…’ silently inhaling deep, he smells the hunter…’new… he smells new!’ A feral grin formed on his stubbed vulpine muzzle. ‘He must be a hired mercenary, not one of the usual hunters the lab uses… they must be desperate! I wonder what cover story they told him.’ He ponders, ‘These thugs for hire are never told anything resembling the truth. I must be much farther out than I thought if they’re sending his kind out after me. I must be completely quiet, his kind are usually more trigger happy than the trained hunters'. He concludes, knowing that they are also less adept at spotting stealth as well, ‘Finally, and advantage’

    He waits two heartbeats, and then decides this one will become HIS prey. Before he can act he hears “Base? This is Zed Zed Zero niner. I don’t see any sign of this guy! How far can some four-eyed nerd get in this forest anyway? Can I come back now?” the hunter asks into his radio. “besides, it’s late, my feet hurt, and I’m sure there’s no way some poindexter could have made it out to where I am!”

    ‘So that’s the cover story’ He thinks “I’m some rogue scientist. Heh it’s almost enough to laugh at.’ His grin widening, his fangs glinting momentarily in the cloudy moonlight. ‘However, I’ll take all the luck I can get. He’ll never expect me to be able to out maneuver him.’ A plan begins to form in his mind. 'I smell.... FEAR on him. So he’s obviously not ex-military or police. That means he’s just some weekend warrior who shoots cans with an uzi …. Perfect! Easy prey!’ His vulpine side beginning to assert itself. He no longer sees a hunter… he sees prey. Someone he can take down and get needed supplies from. Medical supplies, food, ammunition…

    The adrenaline builds in his system. The anticipation of the hunt causing his body to pump the miracle substance into his system, giving him strength, speed, pinpoint focus. The pain and the rest of the world, falling away into a blurry, unrecognizable haze for the moment. His entire universe has become this one chump, and it’s take down.

    He waits another heartbeat. Standing no more than 2 meters away, covered in darkness by the cloudy night. ’Thank the goddess for that’ he thinks randomly. ‘The moon has been not only my companion, but my ally tonight’ he muses. Then the radio squawks in the ear of the hunter…”OK Zed Zed Zero Niner, you are clear to go home. Have a nice weekend and PLEASE... try not to get lost THIS time? Last time it took us nearly a week to find you!” ‘So… he has a history… this is too perfect. Thank the moon goddess!’ He revels, preparing for the kill.

    “Well YEE HAW!” the Hunter returns into the radio, alerting all the wildlife within a 3 miles. ‘Great… a redneck… I love these guys’ He thinks sardonically. “thank you sir, Ah promise not tah be a problem fer yew! Ah promise to git yew some of dah deer ah katch!” he adds.

    ‘So… you’re looking for a hunt are you? Perfect! Because so am I!’ he thinks… a very feral look crossing his face in the moonlight for just a moment before it’s gone, hidden by shadows, as the moon hides behind the clouds. ’Tonight… you’re the prey…MY prey.’ His teeth bear at this thought ‘you’re logged out… you have a history… no one is going to miss you.’ he readies himself to strike, ‘Don’t worry’ he thinks, feral in his demeanor ‘I won’t kill you… Much. But I NEED those supplies you have’

    He moves quickly, noiselessly. Before the time the prey realizes what’s going on it’s all over. The hunter's first move is to press the safety on the gun, rendering it useless, while his other paw unplugs the headset for the radio, at the belt. Finally he spins around, behind the prey, bringing the back of his fist to the back of his prey’s head, rendering him unconscious before he even knows what’s going on. In the space of one second, it’s over. Quick, neat, clean… just as he was taught… and programmed. He'd executed this same maneuver hundreds of times... he hardly even had to think about executing it before it was done.

Then his paw then grips the hair on the back of the human’s head and pulls viciously, presenting the unconscious man’s throat. The hunter goes in for the kill, the adrenaline giving his feral side control over ration for a moment, his jaws open, fangs ready to rip apart this man’s esophagus and eat his flesh when he stops, the human’s throat half surrounded by the eager jaws. “no…” he says quietly after pulling his mouth away. “No… I won’t kill you… i’m no animal, the Human, Fox, rabbit hybrid says without irony on his face.

    His mind began to wander, remembering his past. He was created for assassin’s work. He was “turned on” initially for a few days to look at his personality profile… but his “father’ had taken a liking to him. He took him on as his pet… no… it WAS more than that. The scientist saw him as his son. He knew this human loved him. The others saw him as a curiosity, so they trained him, taught him, kept him alive beyond what should have been. He WAS technically a failure, but 'father' had protected him…. He should have been terminated long ago… that line of thinking was pushed back into the small metal box in his mind…. He didn’t have time to think about that. The ramifications… any of it. He had to SURVIVE! Not only was that programmed into him…. Taught to him, but every piece of DNA in his body SCREAMED for him to survive! They had done, perhaps, too good a job in creating him. Too much of his DNA was prey that knew how to run and survive.

    Shaking his head from the reverie, he moves quickly, stripping the hunter of his weapons and survival vest. The survival vest and belt of a hunter was a small drug store in it’s own right. It contained medicines, food, and other supplies needed to survive for a month, if stretched. It also contained ammunition and batteries. First things first, he tied up the hunter to a tree. He placed the hunting knife deep into the ground. He knew that it would be fine for a few hours, after that the dirt would start to eat away at the blade, dulling it, weakening the metal. If somehow this “hunter” didn’t manage to get out in a day, the knife would be useless for hunting. in two it wouldn't even cut the rope.

    He dismantles the gun, leaving all the pieces and 5 bullets on the ground, again point down. If this ‘hunter’ is too slow it will all be made worthless by mother Gaia. The vest contained the tie wraps needed to secure the feet and wrists of the prey - which is how he thinks of this human. HIS prey, his to kill, eat, or set free.

    He understood how foolish it was to be giving an opponent a chance to follow up and kill him…. But he would take that chance. He wasn’t like HIM… he would give this one the fair, fighting chance that was denied him. He wasn’t an animal to be ruled over by instinct.. HE WASN’T! He considered denying even the parts of the gun to this imbecile… but he’s not going to leave a man to die without a fighting chance… that’s something HE would do! Besides… guns are nothing but heavy clubs without bullets. And 5 is few enough that the hunter will have to use them sparingly, in case a bear gets hungry for human flesh… ‘a delicacy, the local animal say.’ he recalls.

    After collecting the vest and gear he needed he turns and looks to the helpless human, the prey, and scoffs speaking again. His voice is deep and rumbling, “I’m leaving you with a better chance of survival than I was given. If you are even half capable as a hunter, which I doubt you are, you will be free 10 minutes after you regain consciousness, as it’s looking to rain, that should be no more than an hour. If you are wise you will go home and forget you were defeated by me. No one will ever know. If you aren’t any good at escaping your bonds however…” He raises his paws, palm up and shrugs, as he walks away disappearing into the brush “who am I to question mother Gaia?” he adds fatally.

    About half an hour later, he stopped to apply basic first aid to his wounds. He didn't hear or see any more signs of pursuit. Regardless he had to treat the pain, and eat.

    As he had hoped, in the vest was a razor for shaving. He first applied antiseptic to his largest wound, inhaling sharply trying not to scream as the peroxide worked it’s magic, destroying the bacteria that were trying to enter the wound. Next he shaved off the fur around the wound. After that, despite the pain of the maneuver, he leans down and licks at his wound, dozens of tiny medical nanites rush into the wound to attempt to repair the damage. Finally, he sprayed the wound closed with liquid skin before applying wrapping a bandage around his waist to keep debris away from the wound.

Next priority was for him to triage his other wounds. Normally he could ignore the small cuts, but they weren’t closing up. However they weren’t currently bleeding either. He licked the wounds he could reach and prayed the ones he couldn’t could be ignored. He then cleansed and wrapped up the wounds that insisted on bleeding, rationing his precious sterile bandaging until it and the spray skin were gone, but he was patched up. He could heal given time and a safe place.

    However he wasn’t safe and decided that he had to keep moving. He wasn’t hungry, he was tired. He could feed hunger, he could only feed exhaustion with sleep, and that was a commodity he did not have to spare right now.

    Ninety minutes later he was well and truly lost, deep in the woods. His exhaustion rapidly approaching the point the could no longer will himself awake. His adrenaline spent, his reserves long since gone, the caffeine pills from the vest ineffective. He has no choice but to stop at a small pond, it’s still waters reflecting the beautiful full moon perfectly.

Looking into the refection of the moon he recalls what the local animals told him in his travels, about a moon princess who is responsible for the night. Her older sister is responsible for the day. Well he certainly could not doubt the moon had worked with him tonight. It hid behind clouds when he needed darkness, and shown brightly to light his way safely to this pond.

    He then looked into the reflection of the moon, and recited a prayer the animals told him. They said it was best to look at the reflection and not directly at the moon, if he wanted the princess of the moon to hear him… “O goddess of the moon. I thank you for looking over me, and I pray for your continued benevolence. Please protect me,” tears began to form in his eyes from the desperation of survival. He was at his absolute limit. “hide me away from the humans who chase me so they may never lay harm upon me again…” and with that, the last of his reserves leaves him. Before Morpheus, the keeper of dreams, brother to death claimed him, the blue one gasped one last utterance... the end of his prayer, “help me O Luna to escape” He falls, face first onto the soft grassy ground. His paw, still drenched in his own blood falls, his finger tip just disturbing the water where the moon was reflected. His blood coloring the water, and this the moon, red. Luna looked upon him... the toll had been paid.

    Unlike so many other times, for so many other creatures, this time the prayer was heard. She had in fact been following him this night, and for many many nights before. She found him a curiosity. An animal no doubt, and thus it was within her right to interfere. However he was also intelligent like a human. She knew her sister might protest what she was about to do…. But so what? Equestria could use some chaos now and then, and THIS ONE would certainly do that. Too much peace, perfection, and prosperity was boring and caused stagnation.

    She did not see any danger in his heart. He needed a home, and that longing pulled at her heart. His prayer... his honest and heartfelt prayer to her, the loophole he had just given her, and this one night where the walls of reality were weakest... she could grant his wish. She would not be strong enough to return to her home for some moons yet… but she could bring this one home. Just this once, she would think of another, and help that other for one of the few times in her existence. Princess Luna felt a bond with this poor creature she did not understand.

    She knew she was doing this for the right reasons. Besides... the toll had been paid, the words spoken, and the heart... what was left of it... was true and pure. It was not unheard of for an outsider... a two legs... to be brought across. At least… that’s what she’d tell her sister if the topic ever came up.

%i% The Blue one

2 The Blue one

Morning found him sleeping soundly on his back, his head supported by a bed of flowers that conveniently formed a soft pillow. In the trees above him, the birds chirped and sang happily nearby. The sun smiled down upon him, warming his body to the perfect temperature of comfort and enjoyment.

He kept his eyes closed, as his mind slowly returned from the dark peaceful place of sleep that all minds must go when the body is resting.

'I've died.' he thought 'I have died and this is the forest in the afterlife. I suppose the moon goddess can't move a live body can she?'

Yawning, he stretched his arms and legs, and then the pain hit him “OW!” His side wound reminded him that he was in fact, still alive, and wounded... and sore.

'Oh goddess, my muscles are sore.' he mentally mused, not wanting to disturb the peace of the forest he was laying in.

Laying his arms back to his sides, he returned to the comfortable position he was in a moment before. Looking up, his eyes clearing, he saw the birds. The birds saw him, and look back. Blinking, he moved his head, the birds' gaze following him ever so slightly.

'These birds are actually looking at me... I suppose I should not be surprised, plenty of the animals in the lab's forest talked to me in their own way. But these seem... different.' he pondered.

Trying to sit up, his muscles screamed at him from his exertions... last night? How long had he been out? Where was he? His last memory was praying to Luna, the moon. He couldn't imagine it had worked. He had been delusional, desperate... but he also knew from stories that the gods sometimes took pity on mortals... perhaps this was one such time. If so... he knew he owed Luna everything.

“Ow, owowowow” he whined, as he forced himself to sit up right. The pain in his muscles from his extreme over-exertion warning him not to do anything stupid...er. Only when he was sitting up did he notice a lack of pain from other places on his body. Yes, his mid section still stung... but even that seemed to be lessening. Every minor scratch and wound seemed to have healed while he was asleep. He slowly began to remove bandages from his arms only to see blue fur. The bandages had blood stains where the wounds were... gone.

Taking his vest and shirt off, he checked his body, using a small mirror in the vest... Nothing... only the gut wound was still there, and he dared not remove the bandage. It was a pretty deep slice into his midsection. He understood if there was magic involved, it too needed time to fix this wound of his. He sat there, bare chested, stunned and amazed...

“I'm... I'm healed” he almost whispered to himself.

Reaching back, he grabbed his long, fluffy fox tail. It was navy blue, fading into pale blue then a white tip, relieved that it was still there. Attached and unharmed. Leaning forward, almost stretching, he reached for his toes, which he spread and wiggled before grasping his hind foot paws. The stretching, he found, felt good, as his worn muscles needed the elongation. Wincing in pain, he was again reminded of his major wound, and stopped the stretching of his midsection.

Using yoga techniques he was taught, he began to stretch the rest of his body, relieving tension and acids built up from days of over exertion. After an hour, everything but his wound ceased to hurt, and even that seemed to have reduced in intensity.

Reaching again for his utility vest, he searched for an energy bar. Half a day's nutrition in 2 square inches. The damned things tasted foul and dry but kept you alive. How he wished they had taken his suggestion of making them taste like hamburgers! 'Heh', a burger bar. But he supposed that was why they tasted so foul. So you ONLY ate them when you had to. He debated having one... he wasn't that hungry yet.

He still needed to hydrate. Unfortunately there was only one, small, pouch of water left. He vaguely remembered drinking while on the run to keep his plasma production from stopping... he had been loosing so much blood.

“Well I suppose there's nothing here that will kill me, even in this condition” he said to himself, assuming he was the only intelligent, sentient creature in the forest.

He was quite wrong.

Looking around at his settings for the first time.

'Have I wandered into a Disney cartoon?' he wondered, 'It's so... beautiful and peaceful, and really... this bed of flowers in a clearing is far too convenient.' he then looked around again behind himself ”Nope, no Jew hating psychopaths... so definitely not a Disney cartoon” he chuckled to himself at this. The first humorous thought he'd had in a week.

Two small rabbits who had been watching over the stranger since his odd arrival two days prior, slowly began to back into the brush. They weren't sure why he had just started chuckling, but those teeth of his confused and scared them. He looked... so strange. Putting aside that he seemed to be a two legs, he had the appearance of both a fox and a rabbit of some sort. His ears were clearly lupine, but his hind legs, his tail, and fangs and parts of his muzzle were clearly vulpine. It was like some kind of a sick joke.

The rustling of the brush caused [his]the long blue ears to shoot straight up in attention. He was now in prey mode... one he had become accustomed to. He was always being hunted, it seemed. The sorrow and weariness of it all, and fear, all shown clearly on his face.

'I'm so tired of being prey.' he thought in that brief, miserable moment, before he found the cause of the disturbance. Looking at the brush, he understood... it was just a couple local animals who were probably looking over him. A wash of shame and relief bathed him in relaxation.

'I'm safe... I am truly safe here'. sniffing[, he turned] to see what it was, he assumed rabbits, when he caught their scents. A male and a female, but not mated...yet. Letting out a long, sighing breath, he relaxed his ears to rest on his back, and chittered at them “”

The two small rabbits started to inch forward, out of the brush, towards him. Allowing himself a small, friendly smile, pleased that he wasn't scaring them like some kind of monster, he slowly reached one paw towards them...

“” then his stomach let our a loud rumble, reminding him that he hadn't eaten in days.

Unfortunately for the blue two legs, this caused the rabbits to zip off for their lives, thinking they were going to become his next meal... “Damn” he whispered... “First life I meet that doesn’t want to kill me, and they think I want them for breakfast...” he cursed quietly.

But the hunger made him remember... it was back at the lab the last time he ate food... The human named Naspha, his 'father', had just given him a cupcake with a single candle on it.

“It's your birthday” he'd said with a sad look in his eyes.

'Father always looked sad lately' He had thought. So he ate the cake in 2 bites... then he tasted the drug. It made him dull, and then, he blacked out. He woke up strapped to a cold metal bed... the one used for autopsies...

His memories flooded back like a uncontrollable wave of sadness. He couldn't stop them... but at the moment he also didn't want to. He felt safe enough... and he needed to consider what happened over the last 24? 48? hours.

...

Looking up, scared, he saw his father.

“Father what's going on? Why am I here? What's going on?!” any child would ask that. It was natural. The look of utter defeat, the complete misery on his father's face when he turned to look at him said it all... This was his execution. They were going to terminate him...

'But why hadn't they done so when I was asleep?' he wondered

“How long are you going to make us wait here, old man? We've been more than lenient in allowing you this pet! But no longer. He has become a liability!” a strange, hate-filled man said.

Blue knew he was called Dobsin. He was with the government and was assigned to this facility. He had always hated the blue one. Blue had played tricks on him when he was younger. It was nothing serious, just laxative in place of chocolate... but the man had hated him since then. Dobsin had no sense of humor and only seemed interested in how fast Blue could kill something or do something for him.

“I... Just give me one last moment with my SON, you bastard!” Naspha's words broke into Blue's thoughts.  “Let me say a word to him alone before you make me... make.... JUST GET OUT!!!” he bellowed.

The look of enjoyment on Dobsin's face at the old scientist's misery made Blue sick and filled him with hate. Dobsin left. 'Dobsin had allowed this one moment.' Blue recalled.

"Besides" Dobsin said before the door closed, "it's all on camera. What can the old man do that won't catch up to him later?"... he would soon find out.

Naspha then picked up a scalpel before leaning down to kiss his son's cheek, his tears bathing Blue's face, soaking his fur.

“Son... I am so sorry. You are my greatest creation, and truly my own son. I used my own DNA when I created you. It doesn't matter that you're a furry. That you're half fox-half rabbit in a man's form... You are my SON!” the last word caused him to weep uncontrollably for a moment, and his hand slipped and ran the scalpel against the leather restraint on Blue's right wrist... Blue immediately understood his father's plan.

“But father... why?” he asked. The tears in their eyes were real, as were their emotions. But both were creatures of science and reason. They were planning, and executing those plans.

“Son, know that I love you. I love you more than I've loved anyone or anything else in my long, sad life. They think you are a failure... a RISK” he spat the last word with more venom than he'd ever heard from his father before, and slashed violently at the strap across Blue's lower body.

'I tried to honestly protest, while testing my weakened bonds.' Blue recalled 'They were coming loose... but father silenced me before I could ask him further'

“I know you've heard them talking and whispering son. Those ears aren't for decoration... nor are your teeth and claws.” Naspha said poignantly.

'He wanted me to fight my way out.' Blue realized.

“I know that father” he replied, acknowledging the plan “but... why you? why now?! I thought things were getting better?”

“Because, my son... he hates you. It has nothing to do with your pranks or your personal history, for the most part... it's me.” Naspha confessed.

'I knew there was something between Father and Dobsin but this?' Blue thought.

"It has less to do with the rest of your team being gone, and more to do with me, son...you see long ago, I insulted his honor... and now he wants to take away the only thing I hold dear in this universe... MY SON!” Father paused and wept. Blue could see the mixture of true misery and cold rage in his father's eyes.

"With the new batch... you are seen as... obsolete." Naspha gritted his teeth, unable to hold back his rage at the injustice of being forced to terminate his own son.  "They see you as a bad influence on the new team!" with that, he threw the scalpel at the bonds around Blue's ankles, severing one cleanly.

'I could easily shred the other on my own.' he thought at the time. The plan was in full action now.

Moments later the door broke open. The plan to let his son escape was now obvious from the monitors. But it was too late. Blue had already broken free, kissed his father's cheek goodbye and slashed his way through the door. That was when they realized how well he was trained... too well.

'I took out a dozen guards before I was first wounded.' Blue recalled coldly, 'A hunter slashed at me with a sword... he cut into me, but I killed him, and kept going. As I ran, I gathered clothes and supplies. When I hit the forest surrounding the lab, I was set, or so I thought. I had enough adrenaline in my system to keep me going.' he recalled.

....

He shook his head to clear the memories... they were another place, another life, time ago... and he couldn’t afford to dwell on them anymore...

'Or should I?' he shook his head again. 'No. I must heal first. I'll deal with what happened... later... when the pain of father's death isn't so... painful and recent.' he decided.

Looking towards the rabbits hiding in the bushes, he besieged them again in that chittering voice

“” just then his stomach growled again, this time the hunger hitting him harder. He bent over, holding his stomach reflexively. That pain had been significantly worse than previous. It was like a herd of buffalo running across the plains. He'd prefer to save his rations for when he was in serious trouble... somehow he didn't think this was it.

A moment later, he heard rustling and then several apples rolled through the bushes towards him. He slowly reached down to grab the nearest apple, a granny smith, and took a bite out of it. He couldn’t suppress a “mmmm” sound. It was possibly one of the sweetest, most delicious apples he'd ever had. He finished it a moment later, core and all, and reached for a second, a Macintosh, and a third, a golden delicious. Only now that he was actually eating, taking in nutrition, did the full power of his hunger hit him. He was ravenous. He paused after devouring the 4th, another granny smith, looking to the bushes, unsure if he was still being watched.

“Thank you. They are delicious!” he said in clear english to no one in particular. Then he heard the faintest whisper of a voice

“Y-y-your w-w-welcome.” his ears snapped up; this was clearly not what he expected. The voice, so soft like a morning breeze, sweet and gentle as a mother's, wafted through the bushes. The W almost sounded like a horse made it... impossible.. or was it? Here he was, 4' 5" of human/fox/rabbit hybrid genetic stock. He could speak with animals... very little seemed impossible, especially considering his wounds and where he seemed to be now!

“Wh-who's there?” he asked, fear gripping his throat. 'Could I have been tracked down already?' he thought, the fear sending a shiver down his spine. Suddenly he was gripped with irrational fear.  'Were those apples poisoned? Was this really a particularly evil hunter who was only toying with me??' he thought fearfully, his prey side in near complete control.

His ears were straight up, rigid, listening for any sound she might make... he heard her… yes it was a her, he was sure of it, breathing nervously. She still hadn't responded. He heard what sounded like nervous... hoofs clopping on the ground?! A long tail swishing nervously about... WINGS rustling?!  'This is mad... how can I be hearing this?' he thought again. 'How can I be hearing what I think I'm hearing?' he thought, beginning to doubt his sanity.

Finally he decided she was probably MORE scared of him than he was of her. 'Not a hunter' he thought, his heart beginning to slow down. He wasn't in danger, at least not yet, and he wanted to keep it that way. Raising his pitch, and lowering his volume, making it warm, friendly and soft, he tried to speak to her, for he had no desire to scare off his benefactor. He was truly grateful for the apples, and possibly more.

“H-Hey... it's ok. I don't bite... honest.” Ok that was a flat-out lie... Well he didn't bite friends, at least... “C-can you please tell me... where am I?” he let some desperation creep into his voice on the last question... because... well... he was desperate.

He knew that may have been asking too much. She seemed the really skittish type. He could hear her nervous breathing and... clopping… and wing rustling? increase. He knew asking her name would be pushing his luck. And she'd ask his in return... he wasn't even sure what his name was anymore. Father called him son... that bastard called him “it” or “that thing” and the scientists...

”Equestria” he heard in the softest of voices. This time her voice was softer than a breeze caused by a bee. Even his large ears strained to hear the answer. The E and A definitely sounded as though a horse could have made them.

'What's going on here?.. Equestria?' he thought

"Th-thank you... I'm... lost” he conceded. A bit of hopelessness entered his voice involuntarily. He was lost, and scared. “Thank you again so much for the apples... they are the most delicious that I've ever tasted.” he said, fully heartfelt. They were the best he'd ever had... of course, what he had at the lab was usually leftovers or "protein supplements", AKA dog food. They didn't starve him and his team by any stretch... they just weren't well-fed.

"I've never had anything so delicious in my life!” he finished. Maybe he was laying it on thick... but he was truly grateful.

'He is completely sincere', she thought. She had heard his words, and felt his feelings. She knew he was alone and scared. Somehow he talked to the bunnies and squirrels easily.

'How?' she wondered. He had been described so strangely to her by the forest animals... she would not have believed it unless she saw it with her own eyes. 'How in all that is great in the sight of celestia is this... possible?' she wondered in amazement, seeing the two legs. He had the long ears of a rabbit, the bushy tail of a fox, a very strange navy blue coat with white spots lined with light blue... and a white patch around his left eye and muzzle.

Blushing a little, she thought 'He may be a little weird.. but he's also kinda cute' after seeing his muscular form. 'But what is that on his waist and legs?' she wondered, never having seen pants before. A moment later she recognized the bandage for what it was... 'He's wounded, and somepony bandaged up his wound' she realized.

'Oh, if only I was brave' she belied 'Wait I know who is!' she thought, an idea immediately coming to her. She needed help. And she knew the exact pony who could. She unfurled her wings, stretching them, lifting them with a great flap, and she began to lift off the ground.

Hearing, but not completely understanding, Beta rushed forward. He didn't understand how, but he knew she was leaving him. He didn't want the first kind voice he'd heard leave him so soon...

“Wait!” he pleaded in desperation. “Please don't leave me!” Moving towards the flapping he saw the ... yellow?! Pegasus. He stood there, in awe, watching as she flapped her wings and lifted into the air. She was... beautiful, stunningly so. The gusts from her massive wings buffeting him while he could only stare. They made eye contact, and he saw... What? Fear, but not of him... of anything strange. This one was shy on a level unknown to Blue. Somehow... she was more alone than he was.

As the beautiful yellow pegasus continued to flap to raise from the forest floor, she looked down and their eyes made contact. She was almost frightened stiff... but she kept her wings moving, lifting up, up, up. She was afraid of him... of course she was afraid of her own shadow. She saw strength, great strength, and loneliness, and kindness in his eyes and face... What a face! His head was something between a fox and a rabbit, but he had long lapin ears. His tail was[like that of a fox's however and he stood on... two legs?!

'How is he even possible?' she wondered again. Everyone knew that Fluttershy was a kind, but a terribly timid soul. She cared for the small animals in the woods, but rarely socialized with the other ponies. Now that he...'HE?!' A... male!' She could smell his pheromones even up here. He saw her... her instinct to run, even to get help, was too great. It overpowered her new desire to land and talk to him. To ask him where he was from, who was he, why he had that body...

“I... I'm sorry. I... I... I c-c-cant help you” her soft, lilting, quavering voice stuttered. Somehow... Blue understood, and just nodded sadly.

A moment later, she was gone. Now that she had altitude, she was fast, and gone in a blink. Standing where she had been only moments before, Beta closed his eyes and inhaled her scent. It was … amazing. It was sweet, like a perfume made from delicate fruit and honey. “Odd” he said to no one in particular. He looked up again, trying to follow her ever shrinking figure in the sky, until he could follow no more. Like a dream half finished when waking, she was gone.

“So I'm on a land with flying horses... riiiggghhhttt.... I must be dead” he pondered aloud sardonically until “OW!” the pain reminded him forcefully he was still, in fact, alive. His muscles were still mildly sore from his escape despite his stretches, and his mid section still hurt; though lessening, the damage was clearly still there. He was alive, that fact was definitive... but he wasn't anywhere on Earth, of that he was sure. Then an impossible thought struck him

“She heard... moon goddess Luna heard my prayer... and answered!” he gasped. “I owe her my life.” And in that moment, he dropped to one knee. “Oh Luna, goddess of the moon. I pledge my life to thee. Thou art my mistress. All I have is thine” he pledged out loud in prayer.

Luna heard his prayer. She smiled and nodded to herself. 'A grateful one. How rare.'

'I think we can use him.' Nightmare Moon considered. He could never know that he was what[she/they needed to escape. Soon.. they would be free. Their thousand year prison sentence was ending, and this dear soul was their key to escape. Nightmare Moon pondered about this. This one being Luna had had pity for, was about to be their savior. He had just pledged himself to Luna. Ironically it should be Luna and Nightmare Moon who should owe HIM soon much... This one...

'Perhaps not all beings are evil,' Luna mused 'meant to be lorded over. Maybe... Maybe I was wrong all those centuries ago. Maybe my sister was right. Still... I'm going to have some fun when I get out. Celestia deserves at least a little chaos in her perfect little world.' Luna and Nightmare Moon mused.

Nightmare Moon was biding her time. Once Luna was free, she would reassert control... a few weeks, two months at the most and she would be free. Strange how time moved differently when you were anticipating something. She had been dormant for decades at a time in her lunar prison. Now... a few weeks seemed like an eternity. Chronos, father of time, certainly had a ironic sense of humor.

Looking around, Blue decided to bury the few apple cores that survived his hunger. 'No point in messing up my new ... home?... what is that?' he wondered, as he dug holes with one of his fore paws, then buried the cores at rough distances. “Perhaps these will grow into beautiful trees, that will feed others like they fed me” he said wistfully.

Having heard moving water earlier, Blue began walking towards the sound. His paws needed cleaning after digging those holes, and he was still very thirsty. As juicy as those apples were, he needed water. As he walked, he stretched his arms and paws, stopping once to stretch his legs and arms. He used what he learned at the lab's dojo to stretch and find his inner calm. He didn't understand why they taught him martial arts. The scientists insisted on actually teaching him. He was clumsy at first; knowing a thing, and doing a thing are two different... things.

Later, he was given speed courses with all he needed to know. But the training made applying that knowledge easier. He knew many of those kind scientists well... especially father; he wouldn't have been able to act against them if they'd captured him, and he knew it. If one of the 'others' came for him, however... He also, somehow, knew he would never see them again. It wasn't the fact that he was on another… planet? Plane of existence? It was just a sure knowledge. As sure as he knew he hated Dobsin and the hunters, and the others! He also knew his father and the kind scientists were probably all dead, or they would be shortly.

He paused for a moment, realizing that he was growling, his teeth bared, and his brow in a vicious frown, his paws clenched into fists, his steps pounding into the soft soil. The thought of those 'others' raised his hackles and enraged him almost instantly.

“Those humans were cruel and indifferent. They only saw me as a test subject. An experiment. A TOOL! They never even gave me a name... only a designation.” he huffed. "What kind of name is Beta anyway!?" he growled angrily

He had to calm down. Clear his mind, body and soul of this anger...and fear. Closing his eyes and inhaling deep, he reached down to his center for calm. They were gone. He was safe now. 'Or are you?' a tiny voice asked in his mind. He released the breath, forcing it out along with the uncertainty and anger. He then drew in another, holding it. He brought his legs together while he inhaled, as well his arms and elbows close to his body. As he exhaled, he pushed his paws forward, extending his fingers up, hands, wrists, forearms, and shoulder, forcing the evil and pain out of his body. When his arms were straight in front of him, his breath spent, he inhaled, and softly returned his arms to his sides, palms up, hovering just below his pectoral muscles.

He continued the exercise several more times, pushing his arms out the side, up, and back and down. When he finished, his soul was clean and refreshed. His muscles ached significantly less, and his mind was clear and relaxed. Tiger breathing always relaxed and centered his thoughts and emotions. That knowledge wasn’t in the accelerated learning. That, he learned in the dojo.

He stood there for a few minutes, simply listening to the brook and the water, the beating of a butterfly's wings, his eyes still closed. He felt at peace with the universe for the first time in weeks. Unfortunately the universe is rarely as accommodating.

“What'cha doin'?” asked a gruff, strong, fearless, female voice. Surprised, his ears went at weird angles, his tail straight back, his fur sticking straight out and a look of complete surprise replaced the one of tranquility on his face. Looking wildly at her, his eyes almost bulged out, and he yelped as if slapped. Pointing at her, his voice quavered...

"WhaAAAAAACKK!!! WHA, where, W-WHO are you!?”

In response she fell over, laughing... neighing?, pounding the ground with her roof

“AH HAHAHAHAHAHA” she then inhaled loudly, before continuing “OH MY GAWD HAHAHA The look on your face... you should see yourself! I have never seen such a comical sight in all my life!” at which point, she rolled onto her back, her hind hooves clopping loudly on the ground as she continued to laugh.

Falling back to rote, Beta jumped back, his paws in front of him, the fear of being caught on his face, but still determined not to ever be captured again; His presence for battle emanating from him. Feeling the change in the atmosphere, she stopped, and got back to her hooves.

“H-hey... I'm not gonna hurt ya or anything!” she began “I'm sorry... I didn't mean to scare you, but..” she started, but sniggered a little at the memory of his face before feeling contrite and looking her hoof. “I'm sorry I scared you. I'm...”

“BLUE!” he finished, just noticing the sky blue of her fur. “You're a blue … what? Horse? Pegasus?

“PONY!” she said angrily, pounding both her fore hooves on the ground. “I'm a pegasus pony!” she said indignantly. “I am the fastest pegasus pony in Ponyville, and one of the fastest in all of Equestria!” she added proudly, maybe a little boastfully. “And besides, who are YOU to comment on fur color? You're bluer than berry jam!” she countered, angry at being called a horse. “Just what the hell kind of freak are you! You have rabbit ears, a fox tail, and... how do you stand on two legs?!” she asked, slowly running out of steam, realizing she may have crossed a line... calling him a freak. Flutteryshy did say he seemed a little... bothered.

“I...I... “  he started but was unable to finish. Her comments stung him deep. He wasn't ready to deal with his… existence yet, and here this stranger just threw the entirety of it in his face. His ears fell behind his head, his shoulders dropped, his tail now flat. Misery crossed his face. He was a genetic anomaly. Even among the others at the lab, he was different. He didn't accept programming well. He didn't stay in his tank well. He was called a mistake, a fluke, a random anomaly that should be put down.

He was the only one of his 'kind' that he knew of. Only the prototypes were being made. They were supposed to be the first of an army, but only five were made. Alpha the doctor, Beta the assassin, Gamma the scout and sniper, Delta, and Omega, in a twist, the burly leader. Each one was different. Alpha was a purple vixen. Gamma was a weasel, Delta was a German shepherd, and leader until Omega was finished. And Omega was... big... he was still in his tank when Beta had left.

Sensing his misery, she paused. The blue pegasus pony walked closer, nudging his down-turned maw with her own.

“H-hey... Look i'm really sorry... honest. I didn’t mean to...” she wasn't sure what she'd done... but it hurt him badly. Somewhere in his mind he realized that her bravery, or her inability to hurt someone who was in pain, must have been great. By any measure of ration, she was crazy for coming so close to a stranger. He felt she deserved to know this wasn't really her fault...

“I... “ he started weakly. The misery so plain on his face, even his whiskers were drooping. Tears only just being held back by bravado. “B-back at the lab... they said I was an anomaly... a mistake. My consciousness, everything about me, was wrong...” she didn't understand what he was saying. “I can't learn from rapid programming, I think independently... “ the reality of his situation, everything that had been said to him, was hitting him like a torrential rain filled with bricks.

As if this were his magnum opus, he looked miserably at her, seeing her for the first time since entering his near-fugue state, and cried, tears streaming from his large lapin eyes. “I'm a mistake! A FREAK!!!”

She stepped back, shaking her head “N-no...” she whispered at first, knowing, unsure, what set him off, and feeling horrible for it “NO! You ar...” she started to yell at him, trying to stop his line of thought, but he cut her off

“I'm an ACCIDENT!” he said, his self hatred dripping like venom from the words.

Then he collapsed in a heap on the ground before the beautiful blue pony before him, weeping for his lost comrades. His lost family.... his dead father, for he had no doubt that his father was gone, after he let him escape. Worst yet... he knew father's death was his fault. If father had let them terminate him, he would be alive.

Lifting his head to the heavens, he roared in utter grief, misery and self hatred “I SHOULD BE DEAD!” bellowing the words to the heavens, hoping a god would hear him and perhaps make it so.

“But what kind of father would let his son die” a very tiny, very quiet voice said in his mind.

Luna heard him and her heart almost broke, her compassion returning to her soul as the lost waters return to the savannah. Luna pushed Nightmare Moon away from her mind, as she looked upon Beta as a lost child finally home, realizing he DID belong here in Equestria. She had to return! She had to look after this new son of hers!

%i% They Called me Beta

3 They Called me Beta

After a few minutes, the tears of deepest despair had washed over him, his fears, sorrows, grief and guilt slowing receding, carried away like so much rift wood by the tide. His mind started to clear.

He felt tired, fatigued, yet... light, as though a great burden or weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The weight lifting not just from his body, mind and heart, but his very soul. He finally knew no more tears for his life. He no longer truly doubted the value of his own existence. This was one of the miracles of Equestria... self-forgiveness. He knew for a fact, he would shed no more tears for his former existence... that was in the past, as far as he knew.

When he looked up, finally, he saw a shiny red apple floating before him. A moment later he saw behind it, realizing that it was in the mouth of the beautiful blue pegasus pony. She wore what looked like a friendly, kind smile, as she nodded her head, offering the apple again. He smiled, and took the apple, bisecting it with his claws, and offering (the half that had been in her well-meaning mouth) to her as thanks, and friendship.

Giggling, she accepted the apple. The sound was like purest music to his weary ears. A sound he never thought he'd hear again, but now, he knew he would hear for the rest of his life. Still giggling, she sat her haunches down on the ground, looking at this strange "stallion" before her. She felt strength from him. It was strange, even to her... but she liked him. As he munched on the sweet, juicy apple he looked thoughtfully at his lovely lunch mate. Her breath was oddly sweet and pleasant. Her scent, so strong this close, was like a passing storm: cool, refreshing and reassuring.

"So... I'm in the world of... Equestria?" he asked. She nodded "And I'm... WE'RE in the forgotten woods?" he asks again, to a nod, her rainbow colored mane moving down her lovely neck. "So... um..." he trails off blushing some as he realizes he doesn't even know her name... She notices this fact too and giggles some more, smiling, enjoying the change in atmosphere, and seeing this side of him. His strength of self was returning to him with every moment. "W-what's... um... your name?" he finally blurts out, embarrassed how lame he seems to be around her... Was she really that beautiful?... Yes, she was.

Smiling warmly at him, she stood, stretched and shook her bottom and multicolored tail free of grass, she then fluffed her long wings and feathers. It was then that he then notices the mark on her haunches, he then noticed her hind legs, haunches and began to blush more at her um... natural beauty. Quickly, he turned his head to focus on anything else.

Seeing his gaze on her haunches, Rainbow Dash assumed he was looking at ... "That's my Cutie mark" she said, shaking her rump proudly, drawing Beta's gaze once again to her behind... A cloud with a rainbow lightning bolt... "It's beautiful..." Beta said, unsure if he meant the mark or her behind... probably both, he realized. The mark was so strange.. It was as thought it was glowing through her fur from her skin, and yet it was as though it was dyed in her fur in such a way it always showed.

"Strange..." he whispered, almost to himself. Looking up, she got a concerned look on her face.

"What’s strange? Is my cutie mark ok?" she asked worriedly, looking back to her left then right haunch.

"Wha? Oh... no, no, no, your mark is fine, I think?" Beta replied, realizing he was worrying her needlessly. "It’s just... strange to me. How it always shows no matter what angle... I can see it clearly..." he said, now looking intently at her mark only.... TRYING to look at her mark only...

Then he looked back up into those strong, beautiful eyes... "What's a cutie mark?" he asked, still a little confused about how that was related to her name, and to why it looked like that on her.

Her jaw dropped at this question, not fully grasping that he wasn't from 'around here'... then she shook her head and replied "A cutie mark is only the most important part of being a pony! It defines who you are! Everypony has one."

She paused, seeing the mild confusion in his eyes... "Oh... Sorry... you're not from around here, are you?" she asked, suddenly dawning on her that he was not from Equestria... for one, he had something covering his hind legs. "And what's that?" she asked a little abruptly, nosing towards Beta's pants.

"What, my pants?" he asked, hoping she hadn't noticed his bulge earlier

"Yeah, that... why are you covering up your fur? It looks weird. Do you have a cutie mark?" she added bluntly.

Blushing a bit, Beta couldn’t really give an answer... aside from 'Because it hides how attractive I think you are'... "Umm... where I’m from, it's normal to cover yourself with clothes... human's don’t have as... convenient anatomy as ponies do" Beta said truthfully.

"What do you mean? What’s a who-maan?" she asked. The idea of clothes weren’t foreign to her, however, pants were.

"J-just trust me... it's probably best I have pants on, ok?" Beta added lamely, to which Rainbow Dash giggled and nodded.

"Ok, pant guy" she then blushed a little and blurted out "Will you show me your cutie mark later?" somehow that seemed like it would be an intimate thing between his people... and she was curious as to why his anatomy was less convenient than hers.

"So um... you were going to tell me your name?" Beta changed the subject quickly.

"Oh yeah, I'm..." she started before flapping her wings in one great motion lifting and then zooming her straight up, causing a part in the canopy, allowing light to shine down. A moment later she was flying across the water from a fair distance towards Beta. Before she got too close, she whooshed her wings in front of her, bringing her to a complete stop mid-air, for a moment, as some of the stream water flew into the air around her, caught up in the light creating a powerful rainbow, clear and well defined, all around her... "I'm Rainbow Dash! And I’m the fastest pegasus in all of Equestria!"

"And I see you’re modest, as well as beautiful" Beta added, followed by a very bright blush by them both. Beta hadn't meant to say such a bold thing, and Rainbow Dash wasn't used to hearing such a glowing compliment. Most colts were intimidated by her brashness and skill… by her ability even. She was used to amazement at what she could do, and taunting when she failed.... but... such true appreciation for herself as a pony... it made her feel... warm.

"So.. um... what's YOUR name, tall, blue and rabbity looking?" she asked, playfully walking up to him and nosing him in the chest. She inhaled his scent and found it did not disagree with her at all.

"M...my name?" ‘of course this had to happen.’ he thought bitterly. He’d almost forgotten his own name, while trying to forget his past. And all of a sudden he was a world away... literally, as though back to the lab... somehow telling her his name meant admitting he was..."Beta" he blurted out, as though getting unpleasant business over with. "They called me beta at the lab... beta... test. second... test..." his fragility returning faster than a flash flood destroying a newly built town; the egg shell thin fragility had returned. Rainbow Dash saw that somehow this was returning him to that place that nearly killed him a moment ago. she didn’t like this side of him and she knew she needed to change the subject again quickly...

"I'm a hybrid... part fox" he said, lifting his tail in his paw, almost in a trance, as he looked down at it for a moment. "part jack rabbit" as he then slide his paw around his ear, gently bending it "and part... human" he finished, tapping his chest, and thumping one leg on the ground, as though to show humans are bi-peds... two legs. Rainbow Dash carefully walked a little closer to him. He looked like finely blown glass and that the slightest breeze could shatter him forever. Rainbow Dash liked him and be damned if she'd let him break.

Rainbow Dash exhaled on him and brought her eyes level with his. She touched his nose with hers and made him focus on her 'What beautiful eyes' he though, slowly returning from his place of pain. He was here in Equestria with this beautiful mare, NOT back in the lab. He inhaled shallowly and caught her scent, so sweet, like rain after a big storm. "My..." he began to see her again, he inhaled deeper, closing his eyes, drinking in her scent. His back straightening as life returned to him, his fragility once again banished… gone.

He then looked at Rainbow Dash, his eyes clear, strong, and no longer frail and broken from his past life. "I am Beta. I am a Kitsusagi... the fox rabbit." smiling, he offered his paw in friendship, smiling. "How are you?"

Giggling and happy to see him like this... stronger... Rainbow Dash sat on her haunches and put her hoof in his paw and shook it. "nice to meet'cha Beta. Welcome to Equestria" she finished with a slight bow, unable to fully contain her giddiness at overcoming this trial with him. She liked him. She wasn't exactly sure why, but she liked him.

Beta looked around, and for the first time in his life[, he] truly felt free. He realized his aches and pains were gone. His gut wound wasn’t bothering him. He looked around the forest with renewed interest and optimism. Turning his head [slightly]slighting toward Rainbow Dash, he asked “You say this is the lost forest?”

“Yes it… OH NO!!!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed “I’ve nearly forgotten my duties in Ponyville!”

Beta looked into her eyes, truly smiling for the first time. “Go on, I’m ok now… Thank you so much. Please don’t let me keep you from your duties.” He then mustered up his courage, walked over to her and kissed her on her nose before his good sense could stop him. What she did for him stirred very strong emotions in him towards her, and he had to show her…

Rainbow Dash was stunned and giggled before she shot straight up through the canopy, then towards Ponyville, blushing furiously, in not the straightest line. ‘H-he kissed me’ she thought, smiling while her blue-furred cheeks turned purple from her blushing.

Blushing and stunned by his own actions, Beta stumbled back a little, following the beautiful pegasus pony’s flight trail towards... Pony... ville? Still in a bit of a daze from kissing her nose, he inhaled deeply before moving on, taking in her scent. He made a mark on the ground pointing towards Ponyville, before he began walking in that general direction. He wanted Rainbow Dash to be able to find him in case she returned here before he found her again.

Beta then inhaled the scents of the forest after closing his eyes. Tasting and noting every small detail, before exhaling, opening his eyes with a smile and saying “Hello World”

%i% The Two Legs

4 The Two Legs

After two hours of walking, and getting lost twice, Beta found his way to Ponyville. It was a very quaint, little village. He marveled for a moment that it was filled with... well... ponies. "Well I suppose that's why this land is called Equestria" he chuckled to himself.

Beta then realized he was the only biped in sight. Swishing his tail nervously, he began to look for something to eat. He quickly realized he had no money.

Seeing a fruit stand, he decided to approach. "Um... hi?" he asked sheepishly, deciding that it would be a better approach than to storm the stand, roaring. "Um.. how much for an apple?" he asked just as his stomach rumbled. Smiling kindly at him, the pony simply rolled and apple his way.

"No charge for you, sweety" The fact that she found him rather attractive didn't hurt either. "So who are you cutie? I'm Apple Berry" she said swinging her rump a little, showing off her cutie mark of an apple half with a strawberry in the middle. She smelled older than Rainbow Dash... not that it was a bad thing at all. Her fur was a beautiful middle shade of green, like an apple. Her mane and tail had very seductive, very candy red stripes.

'I wonder what they taste like' he thought.

"I’m the grocery pony around here." Apple Berry said.

"Um.. I’m Beta... I'm new around here" Beta said, stating the painfully obvious.

"Well, welcome to Ponyville Mr. Beta" she said with a smile and a soft southern drawl that made him want to melt like butter.

Taking the proffered apple, Beta bit into it and savored the juicy sweetness. "Mmmmmm this apple is delicious! who grows them?" Beta asked out of genuine interest. After all a farm often needed farm hands and he needed a place to stay.

“Well" she started in that sweet, soft southern drawl "My kin do! My cousin Applejack, her older brother Big Macintosh, and old Granny Smith run the orchard just outside of town, about 10 miles, that way". she said pointing with a hoof “down Equestria Way. That road eventually leads to the capital city, Canterlot." Beta couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the name as if to say 'really? that's what it's called...Canterlot?' but he was distracted by Apple Berry's two-tone eyes, one blue, one green, as she blinked softly at him. He nearly gave up any thoughts that didn’t include taking this filly home...

Looking deeply into her eyes, Beta blushed as he asked "Are all ponies here as beautiful as you? er... I  mean... so beautiful?" he stumbled a moment later for words.

Apple Berry blushed, coloring her pale cheeks, making her clomp the ground a little with shyness, whinnying a little... she rather liked this one. "Oh, flattery will get you rather far Mr. two legs." she replied, secretly thankful for the compliment. "Do you have a place to stay, my cute friend?" she asked, fluttering her eyes seductively at him, causing Beta to nearly choke on his next bite of apple, blushing at the implication she had just made, though the offer was tempting.

"Um... what?" he asked stupidly, foolish thoughts running through his head. Thoughts that were backed up from a particular scent this filly was giving off. Realizing what Beta was probably thinking, Apple Berry began to blush as well. Not that she would mind a few rolls in the hay with this rather attractive male.

His cheeks still colored, Beta shook his head no. Apple Berry then pointed again with one of her hooves down the trail, towards the orchard. "Big Mac may have a place for you if you're willing to work for it" she said, trying to hide her own thoughts on where he could bunk. "Big Mac can always use a nice strong pair of paws such as yours" she added, noticing how strong and muscular his upper body and arms were.

Still red from her attention, Beta asked "Do you live there?" only half hoping what she probably thought.

"No" she said with a long, sad sigh "Applejack and her kin live there and run the farm. I'm just visiting for a family event... so Ah guess Ah do 'live' there but that's not mah home. Also" she added "Don't let Big Macintosh intimidate you. He's really just a big softie" then she added in a soft, longing voice "a VERY, big softie..." 'But not always' she thought, smiling almost to herself, remembering a few times, many summers ago.

"Thank you" Beta said, truly grateful for the help. "I wish I had some way to properly thank you" he added, then noticed a glint in the pony's eyes.

'Oh dear Celestia, it's soo tempting, he's so beautiful!' she thought longingly. It had been a time since she'd had a good roll in the hay.

Then Beta added, almost absent-mindedly "Oh... if you see Rainbow Lightning..." he said, thinking of her cutie mark.

"Who?" Apple Berry asked, but sure, she knew who he meant. "Um... do you mean Rainbow DASH?" she asked as her hopes were crushed. 'Rainbow Dash... if he has eyes for her, I haven't got a hope in Equestria... damn!' she thought, not quite bitterly.

"Yeah" he said brightly, slightly embarrassed he’d forgotten part of her name "Please tell her I'm at the farm. She's been helping me since I got here.”

With a crushed spirit, Apple Berry replied "Yeah... no problem I'll let her know if I see her"

Gently taking one of Apple Berry's hooves in his paws, he gave it a small kiss "Thank you, truly, you’ve been a ton of help. I wouldn’t have found a place to earn my keep without you." he said looking into her eyes, truly grateful.

Her heart swooned. 'Damn he's a good catch' she thought, before nodding in acceptance of his gratitude. Then he was off. She watched him walk out of town, looking at his tail swaying from side to side, those strong thighs... 'If only he wasn't wearing pants' she thought longingly, as another customer tried to pay her for some apples. She took his money dazedly tossing him one coin too much in change, not really caring, just enjoying the view as long as she could.

About an hour later, Beta reached the farm: Sweet Apple Acres. As he passed through the arches, he was over whelmed with the wondrous smell of apples of all kinds. Some he'd never even know of before assaulted his senses. It was like his nose was being raped by a delicious stick made from apple.

He was also greeted by the signs and smells of life. And farms had plenty of life. A farm tended by horses... it made him chuckle... life. He smiled. He noticed he was doing that more since he arrived in Equestria, and that made him chuckle a little more.

Half way to the main barn, he was greeted by a horse. A large Horse. A Very large draft horse. A very Large, well built... Beta shook his head clear of amorous thoughts. Smiling, Beta looked up to the apple red horse "Um... hi, I'm new here... I underst..."

Big Mac cut him off "Why are you here two-legs?" he asked. The question boomed from his large frame, projecting a very strong and intimidating presence. If Beta wasn't sure of his skill, he WOULD have been truly intimidated and scared.

Beta knew the difference between a protective male and a jerk. Big Mac was clearly the former, as well as being able to back up his intimidation. He was looking at a warrior, and his estimation of Big Mac went up several notches. "Umm.. I just... I'm just looking for some work" he stammered on purpose. "I heard that you need um..." Beta held up his paws, wiggling his fingers a little "hands around the orchard and farm... as it were" he finished, unable to contain the tiniest of smirks at the irony of the statement.

Big Mac let out a booming neighing laugh, clopping Beta on the back with one of his massive hooves, affectionately... knocking Beta face first into the soft ground and into what he prayed, and then confirmed with a sigh, was mud "I like you. You're honest and direct. And yes we do need... hands. I'm Big Macintosh, but you can call me Big Mac."

As Beta got to his feet, shaking the mud from his face, he saw Big Mac offering a muddy hoof up. Smiling broadly and feeling relieved, Beta took the proffered hoof and was helped up by Big Mac. "I'm Beta. I'm very pleased to meet you. Where should I begin?"

Turning around, swishing his tail, Big Mac began to walk towards the main barn. Following, Beta's eyes wandered to Mac's haunches to look at his cutie mark, then his eyes widened as they followed Mac's tail... Beta then looked anywhere BUT at Big Mac's backside, grateful, not for the first time today, that he was wearing pants however muddy they were.

Inclining his head towards Beta as they walked, Big Mac began "We need someone to help shovel.. well... you know. We use the manure for the vegetable farm, as you can imagine. With the extra family visiting for a semi-yearly reunion we have more than usual. Normally me, Jack, Gran, and Bloom are very careful where we... go. But with all the kin... we've kinda had to... lower our standards, as it were." Big Mac explained, a slightly embarrassed, flustered look crossing his strong equine features.

Mac then added, almost as an afterthought "Do you have a place to stay two legs?"

Actually stammering a little this time, realizing his situation finally, Beta replied "N-no. I only arrived in Equestria last night. I was hoping you might have a small area or large tree I could sleep around?" Beta replied, head down, truly humbled from having to ask. He could make shelter if he needed it. But the weather seemed mild enough he could sleep under the stars safely. 'Well.. I’m the one who ran from the lab, aren't I?' he thought rebukingly. "I'm good to work" he reassured the massive equine, hoping he wasn’t talking himself out of a job.

Big Mac chuckled "I'm sure you are. Apple Berry is a good judge of character. I imagine she would have taken you back to her place if she could have." he said with a smile, knowing his somewhat amorous cousin well. This caused Beta to blush a great deal, making Mac neigh-laugh loudly again. He really liked this guy. He was innocent in all the right ways yet... "If Apple Berry had thought you useless, she would have given you bad directions or sent you away completely. As opposed to giving you an apple." This shocked Beta a little, hoping she would not get in trouble "I could smell it on your fur. Those apples are very juicy and have a distinct smell. Especially to someone who had live around apples all his life... well... most." Hearing that made Beta raise an ear.

"Actually we do have a small shack at the edge of the property, with a small plot where you can grow your own vegetables. It's rather private" Mac said, ending with a wink, causing Beta to continue his reddening. His fur was starting to turn purple, for he was blushing so much. "Normally it's for our gardener, but as we don’t have one, it's currently empty. Earn your keep and it's yours as well as the fruit from the surrounding trees and any veggies you grow."

"T-t-thank you! That is very generous of you" Beta said, truly thankful. He wasn't expecting the Apple family to be THIS generous. He would have to think of something very nice for Apple Berry as a way of saying thanks.

"HA! Don't thank me yet. You haven’t started your job" Big Mac laughed humorously winking at him. "We haven’t had a two-legs in a long time. The dragonlings stopped coming here 3 seasons ago. The unicorns are generally too stuck up to help out with such 'menial labor' that you'll be doing and we. There are a hoofful of males that we do manage to draft, sometimes a unicorn even. But they don’t stay around for much more than half a season. And... well you get the idea." Big Mac finished with a heavy sigh.

“I did notice the sparseness of males around here, especially strong studs like you." Beta commented, hoping to sound off handed, not realizing he called the rather desirable stallion a stud.

"Yeah, males aren’t that common.” Big Mac began, smiling but choosing to dismiss Beta’s comment of attraction. ‘Yes, he might be fun to play with.’ he thought, then continued to Beta “Most colts are taken away to be soldiers or guards in Canterlot or wherever else they're needed. And most of those are either Pegasai or Unicorns" Big Mac seemed to say ‘unicorns’ with great disdain. "Some just... drift off..." Beta made a mental note of that last comment, "There are some here and some like Mr Cake, and Dr. Whoves, but that's them. Yes, females outnumber adult males roughly 3 to 1." Beta let out a long low whistle.

"That must make you popular on valentine's day."

"Valen... what? You mean Hearts and Hooves day? I get the occasional card, but rarely anything more, sadly." Big Mac replied, somewhat downtrodden. Then he looked at Beta, dead in the eyes and said in a very serious tone "This is a little girl's paradise. No males or stallions, save a few idiots, are common here. There is me" he chuckled self-deprecatingly "a royal guard drop-out." Beta's eyes widened in shock and respect, even though he had guessed it already.

"Really? How did you drop out?" he asked , unthinking. He then slapped his paws over his maw, to show he didn't really mean to ask... but he had.

Big Mac laughed humorously. "It’s ok. I can tell you're also a warrior. Not like me, but I could smell the blood on your fur" Beta stopped pretending to be meek, and stood up straight, casting a long shadow in the late afternoon light.

"How did you know" he asked Big Mac.

"It’s clear to me. The way you walk, even acting like a beggar, you carry yourself ready for action. You are never unprepared, and your eyes move too much. You know this area better than Apple Bloom, my little sister does... and you've been here 10 minutes. That’s the mark of an assassin." he said, suddenly towering over Beta.

Looking up, Beta nodded "I was programmed to be an assassin... but no more. I ran away from that place... I..." Beta faltered for words... the pain still too fresh for it not to bother him so. Big Mac saw Beta's sudden fragility in admitting that much and gave a long, whinnying sigh.

"I'll tell you my story then, I suppose" before picking up and tossing Beta a large shovel "but you have to work for that story boy. Agreed?"

"Agreed" Beta said. It would be a good way to pass the time anyway.

“I was a young colt when they came. All colts have to go through a basic training. I had excelled in school, especially sports, so there was no question of it. I was perfect Royal Guard material. I was immediately drafted into the Canterlot palace security program. No one could defeat me in combat. I was too tough, too strong, and very fast. I had no equal for a very long time.”

“I moved up through the ranks fast enough. I went from soldier to guard to royal guard to lieutenant, to captain of the guards... I protected the princess from countless enemies... Oh yes, we have battles that no one sees. That’s the point of the Royal Elite Guard. We go out, find those that endanger the princess and... deal with them.” Big Mac’s demeanor turned cold and steely for a moment, as he recalled some of his adventures… dragons, centaurs, and one or two humans. All had to be killed because they either directly or indirectly threatened the peace or the princess.

“That blood on my hooves is very real." Both paused a moment. Mac looked at his fore hooves, Beta at his open, dirty paws. They knew the blood never washed off. "I see you understand ... it's the kind of stain that never comes off.” Beta nodded. He could smell the blood on Mac as soon as they met. It wasn’t ‘real’ blood. That did wash off. But there was a stench, a taint of the soul that could not be cleaned away. It was something other killers could see on each other. Because in the end, that’s what they were… killers. You could mask it in pretty language. Call it duty to the kingdom, assassination, protecting others… but in the end you were murdering someone, killing them for whatever reason. Ending their life cycle.

Beta had been on many assignments before he escaped the lab. He had murdered... assassinated. He felt justified in his actions. Those deaths... they were for his country... Uncle Sam... but words didn't comfort your soul. He still ended the life of another living, thinking being. Those that got in his way of escape… he tried not to think of them. Some were innocent, most were guards. The Lab's hunters, however, he had no remorse for, especially the bastard that sliced his midsection. That still ached, he noticed. He must have been cut pretty deep.

“There was this one I could not kill. WOULD NOT kill. I refused and I fought off my entire squad. I helped the stranger escape into the forest.” A look of misery crossed Big Mac’s face. This incident had scarred him deeply. He must have found this person’s situation compelling enough to fight his own brothers in arms. That was never easy. Big Mac had a good heart, and a very strong sense of justice. This much was at least clear. Beta wasn't sure if he would have been able to fight off his squad mates. But there was a chance they might have.... the pain was too much, and he closed off thoughts of his team mates... all dead now.

“I was drummed out, and returned to the farm. I’ve been here ever since. I’m lucky I wasn’t executed for treason. But the Princess owed me a favor or two and here I am. Semi-officially retired from service”

"How do you mean SEMI officially?" Beta asked

"I still retain the active rank of Captain of the Royal Special Forces. I can still order other guards around but... I'm as good as drummed out!" he exclaimed “I stay in the background. Listen my boy, we stallions... we, males of action, must do so in the background... Equestria is a little girl's paradise, and we have no place in it. We are needed, but can never interfere in their day to day lives. We MUST live in the shadows… a place you are clearly comfortable with.” Mac added with a note that Beta couldn’t decipher. It was either respect or disdain… perhaps both. Assassins are never looked upon kindly by regular troops, even elites.

“Once the ponies grow into full mares they also fade into the background most of the time. That is simply the way of things.” Big Mac finished. “Teachers, grocers, bakers… witches” he said, thinking fondly of Zecora “all are there but… not there. We’re here to make the ponies' lives enjoyable and make them wiser. Help them grow and mature. But nothing more, if we can avoid it.”

“YOU... have thrown a bit of a monkey wrench into things just by existing here. I don’t mind, hell, I love a bit of mischief now and then... but be careful you don't catch Celestia's eye... hers is not a forgiving one, if you threaten her paradise.” Big Mac added darkly. He clearly knew Celestia well.

“I was lucky to get away with being "retired". That was the official reason I was released with full honors, and sent to pasture.... I even get a pension now and then... it's what keeps this farm in place. That and the perpetuity land grant Celestia herself gave my family, 3 generations ago.”

“We owe her everything. And I gave her everything, but... I couldn’t give up my soul... you understand that.” Beta nodded. He did. That was the reason why he left, HAD to leave… that and the fact that they were going to kill him.

"I do" Beta said and that was that. There would be more sharing of war stories later. For now, each respected the other's privacy and pain. But knowing... understanding... that was what was important. They had a connection in blood and vocation.

They spent the rest of the day mucking and cleaning the stables and grounds. It was more poop than Beta thought he'd ever seen in his life... And he knew that as long as the family gathering lasted, it was only going to increase. But that was his job now, and it paid well. It also as gave him a place to stay... right now it was perfect for him.

%i% The Party

5 The Party

The day after he arrived, Rainbow Dash had found him. She seemed a little concerned for him. She said she had looked for him, and had seen his markers. But Apple Berry somehow forgot to mention until that morning that he was staying at the farm. She was relieved to see that he was ok, and quite shocked to see him "in the fur".

He hadn’t had a chance to clean his pants from the day before, and had decided to walk around in his fur. Mac was already in the field, Applejack was out and about, and Apple Bloom was at school by the time he woke up. Granny was always in her chair “resting her eyes”. He hoped that he wasn't going to get in trouble for being a late riser.

Seeing him essentially naked, with his bits viewable to the world, Rainbow Dash blushed so red, her fur nearly turned purple on her cheeks. He laughed, then realized he was 'naked' and began to blush himself. After a few minutes of blushing and nervously laughing, they relaxed and began to talk. Raindow Dash talked about her life in Equestria. She talked about her dreams to become a Wonderbolt and to fly high in Cloudsdale in the sky as a world famous pegasus.

A week later, Beta found he'd gotten used to being in the fur while working, and began to find it quite comfortable. He fluffed the fur in his groin area and made his sheath less noticeable... and compared to Mac that wasn’t a hard task. He began to accept this body and realized that he was accepted here. Especially since most ponies were naked, for the most part.

He had notice that the bandages around his abdomen never got soiled, and never dirtied. He figured he was still healing, somehow... magic?... from his wounds at the lab. He knew they were pretty severe, and had nearly killed him. Who or what ever patched him back together was still healing him.... that much, at least, he'd figured out. So he never tried to change his dressings

Today Rainbow Dash walked with Beta to the stables as they talked. They continued to chat as he worked around the farm. They talked about his life as well. He tried to keep it… limited. But there were some details he could not keep from her. Somehow he just trusted her. He knew she would not hurt him. Was it the sense of loyalty she emitted, or was it that he was starting to fall for her?

Towards the evening, after Beta's chores were done and a nice dinner at the farm, Mac took Beta and Rainbow Dash to his shack - an apt description - in the back 40. It was about an half hour walk from the main barn house. Rainbow insisted on staying and helping Beta with the shack. They spent the rest of the day clearing out the junk and making it habitable.

There was enough room for a small bed, a kind of bathroom, and a place to prepare, store and eat food. Beta quickly realized he may have to look hard to find some pans and such that he could use. According to Rainbow Dash, there seemed to be other two-legged races, like the minotaurs and satires, not to mention the young dragons. That gave him hope that he may be able to get what he needed.

This was his home now. Beta liked it. It was clear to him that no one had lived here for a long time, because it was very dusty. It had a general feel of unattendedness to it. That was ok, he was going to change that. Perhaps even with Rainbow Dash’s help…

      Rainbow Dash had left a short time before to her home in Cloudsdale. She said she’d forgotten to get something. While he found he missed her, he was also glad to have the time to sort some of his thoughts. He was a little surprised by how MUCH he missed her however.

Tomorrow, Beta would find himself a mattress, and perhaps a frame so he could have a proper bed... a proper bed. He wasn’t even sure the last time he'd ever slept in one of those. The bed he had at the lab was hardly... well it had been something to lie on. At least, here he knew he wasn’t going to be monitored or prodded… or probulated. He hated the anal probes... he rubbed his behind unconsciously, in memory of those damned things.

For this night, Beta went outside and fluffed up some ground with a make-shift rake and laid down. He preferred to sleep on the soft earth than a hard wooden floor. Maybe it was the animal in him, or, more likely, deeper suppressed memories of the lab, but he wasn’t a huge fan of confined spaces.

Looking up before he laid down, he saw a welcome sight, Rainbow Dash had come down, and it looked like she was dragging a piece of cloud? ‘This is a truly strange place’ Beta mused to himself. “Hey beautiful, what brings you back down to earth… and what is that?” Beta welcomed Rainbow Dash.

“Heh I thought I would come and… um…” she began, turning redder as she continued “well um… I kinda…” blushing red enough to light the ground now. Rainbow Dash wasn’t able to finish her sentence.

Then a moment later Beta finally cottoned on "OH” and now he was blushing. He then showed her where he was going to sleep for the night "um... I was gonna um... Sleep.. here. I made the ground softer…” he said stupidly, pointing to the mound of dirt on the ground. “Is that um... Your… bed?” he asked, pointing to the cloud that was starting to slowly float away.

“Oh yeah!” RD said flying up on to the cloud, nosing it downwards, causing it to return to the ground “I... um… I always sleep on clouds…” she said still blushing, but struggling on… wanting this night to continue “I… I wanted to be with you tonight” she finally said, after mustering up her courage. Rainbow was amazed that this was harder than facing the Wonderbolts, or trying to break the sonic rainboom barrier.

“Um… I guess only pegasi can sleep on it?” he asked, then, realizing what he had just suggested, blushed some more.

Looking at them from a slight distance with binoculars, Big Mac chuckled to himself. ‘Foals’ he thought. ‘I miss being that innocent sometimes. That colt may have had a rough, violent life… but he has no idea what to do with a mare. That’s so refreshing. It’s great to see him… innocent in something.’ he mused to himself. ‘It’s good for that kid to have some ignorance.’ Then Mac laughed at himself, realizing that Beta was probably about his age, a contemporary. But he still felt like Beta was Applejack’s, or Rainbow Dash’s age. And this… awkwardness was healthy. It was very clear that he had so little healthy interaction in his life… it was good to see him going through this. It meant that Beta was still normal in some ways.

However Mac wasn’t sure if he would have preferred that it was his lil sister out there, and not Rainbowdash. He chuckled again. He probably would have to put the fear of Celestia into him if it HAD been Applejack. Better it was some pony else, he supposed. However he also knew Rainbowdash’s reputation. A good filly. A very loyal friend. She was also a real chance taker… perfect for each other actually. The idea of Rainbow and Beta also worried him a little. What this kid needed was a calming, stabilizing influence in his life... Apple Berry came to mind actually. Rainbowdash was the exact opposite. He hoped that their relationship would be a positive experience in the long run for them both. If they weren’t careful, there could be some real and everlasting consequences…. But Beta had to understand that… didn’t he? Mac began to wonder how much actual experience Beta had in relationships.

'Does Beta see how Apple Berry also looked at him.' Big Mac wondered.

Mac decided that he would talk with Beta about the birds and the fillies… just to be sure

Beta reached over to gently caress Rainbow Dash’s feathers. She found this very pleasant and comforting as she slowly drifted off to sleep on her cloud. Beta slowly fell into a sleep more pleasant than he could ever remember. Being so close to someone so sweet and increasingly important to him relaxed him more than he could have realized consciously. He, on his soft earth, her on her cloud, yet they kept each other warm that night. Both feeling complete and in comfort as they slept.

In the morning, Rainbow Dash had to leave almost as early as Beta needed to start his day. She licked his cheek before lifting off. The cloud she was sleeping on nearly dissipated, gently dampening the ground. The draft caused by Rainbow Dash’s lift off gently woke Beta, smiling. Feeling that she was gone, he held onto the last memory he had… feeling her equine tongue on his cheek. Following her ascent into the sky, he sighed happily. It wasn’t exactly sharing a bed, but it was still wonderful. Maybe he’d ask her to do this more often…

Later that day, Beta was approached by Mac while he was working on a fence on a remote part of the farm. There usually weren’t property lines in Equestria, but this part of the farm bordered the dangerous part of the forest, and Mac felt that a fence, even a token one, was a good idea.

      “Um…” Mac began “I… I think we should have ‘the talk’” he said. Beta couldn’t help but giggle a little uncharitably. He knew what Mac was going on about.

“Well, I guess I can’t say I haven’t seen this coming since Rainbow and I have been getting closer…” Beta said. He was still smiling from last night. “But… I guess I should know a little more about fillies. I only know about humans.” he said, still blushing, knowing that he stated the painfully obvious.

“Fillies gestate for about 10 months. They don’t show for almost half that. If you were… careless… it wouldn’t show for a long time. You might not even be around to take responsibility” Big Mac pointed out bluntly.  Realizing what Mac was talking about, Beta’s glibness died, and began to realize the magnitude of what Mac was saying. “Remember… we’re to stay in the background until they come to us…” he finished.

Shaking his head with the weight of what had been said Beta looked up at Mac, his jaw open in wordlessness. Beta was almost beginning to reconsider his relationship for Dash… but then, really he couldn’t.

"I… I can’t. I won’t break things up with her. I won’t send her away and I won’t hurt her… ever!” Beta came back strongly. Not quite angrily, but his emotions were high. He realized he truly did care for her. She was the brightest point in his life so far. And… he knew Mac might be right. Seeing his emotions about Rainbow Dash, Big Mac nodded.

“Well, I suppose it’s easier that she’s not my sister” he said with a momentarily murderous glare ”If she were…” he ended ominously.

Mac continued in a lighter tone. “But I imagine you’d not abandon her. There are some colts that would run off from a filly they… got into trouble. I’ve…. disciplined a fair few of them.” he said menacingly. “This may be a little girl’s dream world… but there are some bastards out there.” he added darkly. Beta gulped even though he knew Mac wasn’t directing his ire towards him.

“Um.. How many colts have you had to… discipline?” Beta asked, a little concerned for his own fur.

“Well.. Let’s just say that my duties at the castle included… punishment” he simply said, causing Beta to gulp again, remembering all the blood he sensed on Mac earlier. Mac laughed again, clomping Beta on the back, knocking him into the ground… again. “I like you Beta. You react well!” he said, also knowing that if it ever came to it, Beta could probably kill him easily. Especially if Beta was defending Rainbowdash... or somepony else. Nodding to himself, Mac saw that his message got through to Beta. By refusing to back down from his feelings, he proved his own loyalty to Dash. By standing up to him, it was clear his feelings were quite true for her. That was something Big Macintosh greatly approved of. He hoped his little sisters would find somepony like Beta one day…. Assuming Mac didn’t kill them for dating his little sisters.

One thing that worried Mac, however, was Apple Berry. She was around their age. He saw how she looked at him, asked about him, and made a point to see him every day. Their relationship was growing as well. He wasn't sure Beta realized what a dangerous line he was approaching. 'Two fillies' he thought, shaking his head in later reflection. 'That boy does have a strange charm about him' he continued, noting his own affection for Beta.

“Hey um... Mac?” Beta started “Let’s get to work.” he said, trying to get away from this serious topic. Laughing, Mac agreed and they went to work, mucking out the stables.

Some hours later Beta was alone in a clearing. It had been too long since he practiced his martial arts. His wounds notwithstanding, he should have started this sooner. It was one of the few times he could find peace. It would only take an hour, after which he would go into town and get a bed. He’d also look for some tools for cooking and living.

Centering himself, he stood in a basic stance. He reached down inside himself, searching for the brightest point, his Chi center. From there, he could calm his heart, focus, and remove the world. When he reached for his Chi, he discovered something else there. It was different; unlike anything that he had known before. Beta touched it lightly and felt an electric rush slowly running through him. He felt as though he could accomplish anything. This was not arrogance, but literally a feeling that nothing was impossible for him.

His body had taken on a light purple glow. This was the glow of magic in this realm. Beta looked toward a fallen branch, reached out with an open paw and called it to him. To his amazement it obeyed and flew into his open paw. When he closed his fingers around it, it was solid and very real. Somehow he had access to magic!

Unnoticed, a small speck of dirt fell from the branch onto his bandages and soiled it a tiny bit, as opposed to being repelled.

He spent the rest of the afternoon practicing his martial arts forms, as well as feeling this new source of power, but he did not perform any more magic that day. He decided he would work on that aspect of himself after he had become familiar with his ‘normal’ self once again.

Two days later, he was invited up to the barn. The Apples - as Beta had begun to refer to them, at least to himself - had brewed some special apple cider - Midnight Cider. Apple Bloom was sent to her friend’s for the evening. All the visiting Apples were going to be there and the Apples wanted their new ‘hand’ to join them. Beta noticed Apple Berry was looking somehow more attractive than usual this evening.

There was always flirting between them, and they got along well. She was an older filly, roughly in her mid-20’s -subjectively compared to human years. Beta himself was subjectively about 21, though the ‘drinking age’ here was ‘17’ .That meant that Applejack was allowed to stay and enjoy herself at the party. Sadly Rainbow Dash (18) wasn’t able to attend because of other business she had that night. Beta promised to save her some cider - hopefully a bottle or two - they could enjoy together, alone.

Apple Berry approached Beta early in the evening and they began chatting pleasantly. After a time Apple Berry began to flirt with Beta, and with a couple of drinks in him, he began to flirt back. He enjoyed the attention, and Apple Berry was a mature mare. He felt comfortable around her. ‘Perhaps too comfortable’ he wondered somewhere in the back of his mind.

The party raged on for hours well into the depths of night. Beta was unsteady on his paws around 2am. At this point Mac suggested he head home. Beta staggered towards the door and nearly ran into the frame. Apple Berry, who he had been chatting with all night, caught him, and offered to carry him home. She had 2 extra legs to walk with, as well as being more accustomed to the effects of Midnight Cider. With a stupid grin of thanks, Beta got onto her back and promptly passed out.

Mac watched Apple Berry carry Beta to his home. He wondered, and perhaps worried a little. That mare cared for him, a very great deal in fact. Mac could tell, he'd been around long enough and around the farm enough to see that. He wondered how wise it was to let her take him home. Her feelings plus alcohol... Then Mac was distracted by one of his cousins. a pair of them in fact... twins... and all thoughts of Beta and Apple Berry left his mind completely.

Quietly, Apple Berry left the party towards Beta’s home. Her heart was racing. It had been quite some time since she’d been with a colt or a buck. So long... she was nearing the end of her fertile years. This one was so beautiful, and smart and interesting. She had developed some strong feelings of her own towards Beta over the weeks since he arrived at the farm… and in her life. She saw him every day. She never missed a chance to be at the farmhouse for breakfast.

She chuckled to herself as she walked in the full moonlight, remembering their first meeting. He was so lost and hungry. Such a sweet colt. Asking for assistance like that. How could she have refused him? How could she refuse him anything? She thought warmly of the other day when he asked her to help him with some shopping. He was looking for a bed, now that he could afford one. They had had a good time testing beds. She had made sure he got one what could hold two...

Luna was looking down from the moon. She saw what was in Apple Berry’s heart and felt for her. 'I have watched this one for a long time. Her dreams are always the same... looking for someone who will love her, treat her fairly... give her a family, despite who she was sleeping next to.' Luna thought sadly. She could do nothing. Her power was growing, yet she was powerless right now to do anything more than just observe. She was sad and frustrated... and this began to color her temperament. So long she had been up here in the moon...

Once, she had been patient and content to simply observe. Simply let her sister run things. But her sister had become complacent. she had let some parts of the kingdom fall to bad influences. Let ponies ... stray from their intended paths. But here was a being she cared for. She had to escape her prison! She was no longer content to sit back and watch. She knew what was going to happen, and it was driving her mad...

Apple Berry arrived at Beta’s shack and let herself in, with him still asleep on her back. It was a simple enough matter to gently lay him on his bed, which she did. She sat on the ground, looking at him, watching him sleep... thinking his clothes stunk of alcohol and should be taken off before they could stain his fur. And Apple Berry knew of alcohol stained fur. It was not pleasant. So she slowly disrobed him.

She'd seen him in the fur many, many times before as he worked around the farm. To be honest she preferred him that way. She knew it wasn't a 'proper' thing to think... but he was so damned handsome! She ached for him. The alcohol removing so much of the self control she usually practiced. She walked up to him and licked his cheek, and muzzle and lips. She kissed him, tasting the cider on his lips. Then she stopped, a trace of morality and self control returning.

She whispered "I love you Beta. You're the kindest male I've ever known." and she turned to leave. She didn't see Beta twitching with slow consciousness. He'd heard what she'd said through a drunken haze. It touched him deeper than she could know. 'This may complicate things' he drunkenly thought.

Luna, looking down, let out a great heavy sigh of relief. She had rushed down into Beta's dreams... a place she often avoided as his nightmares were things to make her shiver. But she had to. She had to wake him up. She wasn't sure what stopped Apple Berry, but she didn't care. This filly had just saved herself from a lifetime of guilt.

Looking back, feeling silly, and still more than a little drunk and amorous, Apple Berry giggled and said, to the thought unconscious,  Beta "Beta, I command you to drag me to bed and make love to me!" she didn't get half a step before her command was obeyed.

Luna could only stare, slack jawed at what followed. 'Where in the heavens did THAT come from?!' she thought. 'One moment Beta was barely conscious, then the next.. THIS!'

It was, however, a very enjoyable show that went on for some time. Shortly before dawn, Apple Berry staggered away from Beta's place with a smile broader than Sweet Apple Acres on her face. "Oh Celestia..." then she paused... 'No... what did Beta keep saying... LUNA?? saved him...' she looked up at the moon before it set and said a prayer of very deep thanks to Luna. 'Dearest Luna... thank you. I've never been so happy in all of my life. I know I may not be able to have him for my own, but thank you Dear Luna for last night.'

Luna heard her prayer, and wondered, not for the first time lately, what in Equestria was going on.

%i% Past Lives

6 Past Lives

Beta woke when Mac clomped loudly on his door, smiling, knowing what the blue ear’s head must feel like. He wasn't going to make it easy on him, however. He had to learn, Mac chuckled to himself."Wake up boy" he boomed through the door. "It’s nearly an hour past dawn!" he fought to hold in his laughter. He wondered if Apple Berry had tried to move on him. He imagined not, especially if he was too drunk to consent. She was a good mare after all.

Clomping again, hard, on Beta’s door, Mac was taking a little too much glee in Beta’s pain. He remembered when he had first gotten drunk on “Midnight Cider”... the hangovers were murder. He was going to have some fun with him. “Come on, if you can’t work hungover, I can’t let you come to any more parties” he boomed much, MUCH louder than he had to. Between the hangover and Beta’s long rabbit ears, he knew that HAD to hurt... Mac decided he would tone it back before he pissed Beta off and got a bite taken out of his hide.

“Do you HAVE to boom so much?” Beta asked, rubbing his pounding head “and where the hell is the water tap?” he asked, forgetting where he was for a moment “Oh, right... never mind”

“Oh, we got plumbing, just not out here” Mac replied a little sourly, seeing the look of ‘I'm from a technologically superior plane of existence’ on Beta’s face through the window.

“Sorry” Beta said to the unspoken response to the unspoken insult, his ears against his back, down in a sign of contrition.

"Don’t worry about it. You didn’t mean to be a satyr about it" Mac said off hoofedly. Beta realized this was probably the first racial slur he’d heard here in Equestria. He had known there were other two legged races here... somewhere, but until now, didn’t know how they were regarded. 'Apparently not well.' Beta reflected

Mac opened Beta's front door and let himself in. It wasn't as though it was, or could be, locked or anything. He decided to have pity on Beta, and shook his rump until Beta noticed the saddle bags. “There’s some water in there for you. I’m not completely evil you know” Mac said with a smile. It didn’t help that when Beta got the water flask from the bag, he noticed something under the bags that made him blush very red. Mac had relieved himself earlier in the bushes and decided not to ‘zip up’, knowing it would tease Beta terribly. Mac might not be evil, but he certainly understood the concept.

“You’re really enjoying yourself aren’t you boss?” Beta asked dryly, holding onto the water flask, slowly drinking as they began walking back to the farm.

“Maybe a little more than I should” Mac said, still smiling and blushing just a tiny bit, embarrassed at how flattered he was by Beta’s long glance and blushing. "You've earned a good look" Mac said, winking and smiling at Beta “Applejack is right, you are cute when you blush.” Beta wasn’t sure if Mac was teasing or flirting with him... knowing Big Mac a bit of both.

"So... I noticed a few of your cousins were looking pretty hard at you last night” Beta said in a teasing manner to Mac.

"One or two of them got my hardness too" Mac replied smiling. "It's a bit if a blur because of the cider. Maybe three." he added unsure. Beta’s jaw dropped.

"I was kidding!"

"I wasn't" Mac replied, smiling very broadly. "They were great! The twins for sure, I think"

"You really shagged your cousins?” Beta asked a mixture of incredulousness and admiration in his voice.

“3rd cousins 5 times removed.” Mac replied very nonchalantly “We share a great uncle somewhere I think. Look, Beta “Cousin” is a VERY loose term for someone you’re kinda sorta related to. They’re not complaining and neither am I.”

"It was great fun. Besides who knows when and if I’ll see any of them again. These family get together are always kind of random who and when." Mac finished with a dismissive air. He really appreciated Beta’s point of view, but he didn’t understand... 'maybe it was time I bothered to explain to him.' Big Mac thought. “Hell, Beta, I’m closer to the ponies of Ponyville than I am to most of my family."

"Half of which I’m sure you’ve also bagged.” Beta said with a sly smile. “That’s another thing Mac...” Beta began, smiling more, and blushing as he began to seriously notice Mac’s  “unzipped” status had ‘gotten worse’ discussing his previous night’s conquests. “How many ponies HAVE you jumped?" This caused both a pleasant reaction and for Mac to begin to blush mightily.

“Not as many as you think, you dirty, horny, long-eared blue rabbit!” he retorted, his cheeks becoming redder than his fur, but he still smiled.

“I certainly made my rounds in Canterlot... and Fillydelphia... and New Yolk... and... um...” he paused realizing how it sounded... of course, it couldn’t sound any other way because it WAS true after all. “Strictly percentage wise” Mac began and Beta HAD to hear this excuse ”I’ve had fewer fillies than cousins...” and immediately regretting saying that, as Beta just let out a loud, barking laugh.

“Dear god, it’s amazing that there aren’t’ little red colts running around everywhere!” Beta said, as he began to laugh.

"I try to keep a low profile now that I’m no longer a royal guard. The fillies I’ve been with understood it was never going to be serious. And IF there are little red ponies out there, their mothers knew it was never going to last. I’m usually... careful. Like last night"

Beta’s ears went up at that. "You mean you have things like condoms?” he asked. He seriously hadn’t considered that because of their hooves being possible.

“Con-what? I swear boy, you use the strangest words sometimes. No, there are berries that grow naturally that control… issues. I had some last night and so did the girls. They are a natural contraceptive. They were in the big bowl that everyone wasn't looking at and nearly everyone had some from. Didn't you try the berries?" he asked with a little concern in his voice? 'Did Apple Berry?' he wondered...

Now that he thought about it, he could smell her on him. A lot on him. He was beginning to wonder if she had resisted him. Or what happened last night. would that be a sore subject? They WERE talking about conquests after all

"Oh yeah. In that big bowl. I think I licked one, bloody nasty tasting. Well not like I needed it anyway” Beta said with a self-deprecating laugh. Mac laughed long, nervously with him... he really had no idea. Did he? Mac thought. He vaguely recalled that Apple Berry had not had any of the berries also. That did not bode well.

"Um Beta... Do you remember what happened after you left the party last night?" Mac asked seriously

"Um... I... it's kind of hazy" he replied, wishing he still had his main nannite farm. They prevented alcohol from fuzzing up his mind. This was, in fact, his first time being drunk... and he wasn't sure how much he liked it.

"Apple Berry carried me home, I vaguely remember her saying something as she was leaving" in truth he remembered very well what she said. It was after that which was hazy.  "Then I woke up with you pounding on the door like a mad pony, and that's all. Apple Berry was long gone" he finished, almost sad. Actually part of him wouldn't have minded waking up next to her. She had a wonderful scent, and his feelings for her were growing, but in what direction he did not yet know.

Mac decided to steer the conversation in a different if somewhat darker direction. He needed to.

"Look boy... it’s not like I go around banging ponies in Ponyville. Hell I’ve probably had more cousins than locals." Then he blushed realizing how bad THAT sounded. Beta laughed harder, stopping, leaning on Mac for breath.

"Oh gods Mac, that doesn’t help your case any." Beta said between breaths, laughing harder

"Look!" Mac said rounding on Beta with a very serious, mildly upset look on his long face. "Do you know how THEY see me?" he asked, his hoof pointing outwards. "They see me as the lovable, DUMB labor."  Beta stopped laughing, his ears falling again, whiskers drooping slightly.

Mac then said in a high-pitched, taunting voice “Oh Big Mac, you’re so strong” He was on his hind legs now, fore hooves clopped together by his head, feigning the look a filly might give him to entice him to do some menial task.

“Can you possibly move this large rock, or trunk, or pull this or that or” he then dropped his tone as he dropped to all 4’s again. "...Or some other damned thing around"

Rolling his eyes Mac continued his rant. It was clear to Beta he desperately needed to get this off his chest. Mac had been holding this in for years. And he hadn’t had a male friend like Beta to confide in before.

“Oh yes, they just LOVE me in town.” He then looked at Beta with a sad look of almost isolation on his red, freckled face. “I’m their dumb labor, ‘ah-yup’.” he said in his usual 'around town tone' Beta noticed he donned when he was around fillies. “Beta... my sex life has dropped to almost NOTHING since I moved back to take care of the farm. If I get a chance to get laid here and there, I’m certainly NOT going to pass it by." he said in an almost pleading tone.

"Besides..." and his tone got even sadder “they don’t see me as anything more than a dumb hick they can use for sex and toss aside. I’m... nothing to them.” he finished, hanging his head low, giving a long, sad nose-flapping sigh. Beta sensed Mac was ready to cry. Then he looked up to Beta, tears on the verge of forming.

“And you know what? I’d give up what I have of a sex life if I had a love life of any kind. You have no idea how jealous of you I am..." he said miserably. "You may not realize this, but two very beautiful mares care dearly for you." This caught Beta quite off guard. He assumed Mac meant Apple Berry and Rainbow Dash... he knew how Apple Berry felt... He wasn't so sure about Rainbow Dash. She had plans for her life. He somehow didn't see her settling down for him... nor should she.

Beta tried to steer the conversation into hopefully happier thoughts. “But surely you’ve had a proper girlfriend before? Someone you did things with on Valentine’s Day” he said. Mac MUST have had relationships. Hell, even a memory of a bad one had to get him out of this funk. He wasn’t prepared for what he heard next.

Big Mac smiled and took in a deep breath and raised his head. Then he looked confused... “Val en what? I swear boy, if you don’t start using real words I’m gonna clop you upside the head until you do” Beta laughed nervously as Mac laughed hard as Beta’s discomfort.

Beta was genuinely curious, especially considering the looks Mac always got around fillies. Sighing heavily and neighing just a little Mac pondered a moment

“Yes. Once. Apple Bloom’s teacher and I... we were very close once” Mac said. His eyes then looked far away into the past, and he smiled more. "She’s an amazing filly. Smart, strong, great with kids, and damned good looking. That flank of her's is the best I’ve ever seen Beta, and I’ve seen a LOT of flanks” he chuckled, Beta let out a genuine laugh, glad the tone had improved, and knowing that if Mac said she had a great ass, she had a great ass! Beta’s eyes wandered and popped open. It would seem Mac REALLY missed her great flanks...

Big Mac saw Beta’s expression, dangling tongue and where he was staring and blushed. He had been thinking about all those amazing nights with Cheerilee. ‘Oh, if only, boy’ Mac thought, flattered at Beta’s ‘approval’.  ‘If things were a little different, I wouldn’t mind going a few rounds in the hay with you.’ Mac decided.

“She was the most amazing love I’d ever had... I proposed to her. I offered to quit the guard for her even, and settle down here in Ponyville... which I called a third-rate dust bin.” Beta laughed, he wasn’t about to disagree with that assessment, really.  “I had been living in the palace, in utter comfort. Mind you. Between missions, which were terribly dangerous at times, I lived a near royal life.

“What happened?” Beta pressed

“Well... let’s just say we had a difference in our given professions. She didn’t want to be the mare of a…” and Mac’s voice broke and he halted looking miserable. “A... murderer.” he said finally, heavily. Beta didn’t really understand. He was an assassin. His life was killing bad people. 'Mac was protecting the land. How was any of that bad?' Beta wondered.

“It’s different here than your world, Beta. What I did... is not looked kindly upon. That’s why very few ponies even know WHAT the Royal Guard does, let alone the advanced elites. Remember this is a little filly’s paradise... and blood cannot be spilled in paradise. Hell, you’re mere existence, let alone presence here is “harmful”, according to the Advanced Royal Guard’s charter.” he finished. Beta swallowed hard. Mac was right, he was a random element. And possibly one that could endanger his life.

"What about YOU, blue boy. Have you ever loved someone? Heck, are you a virgin?" he asked... wondering if last night was possibly his first time. Mac had already put two and two together and gotten... trouble. Beta… Well depending on his answer, Beta didn’t need to know Mac's thoughts

"No... n-not really" he said matter of factly. "I mean there was a vixen in my team who I kind of liked... but…" he trailed off. "It’s not like I haven’t had sex before it’s just..." he trailed off again, as though to grab a strand of thought that was evasive to him.  "They... I... it wasn’t unpleasant. But it was always as their beck and call. I'd arrive in their chambers and..." Beta shrugged. "They would say something and it all gets kind of fuzzy after that." He then paused, tears beginning to fill his eyes. He now realized what happened those nights. "They even robbed me of what little pleasure I could have had!"

"I sometimes wondered if that was one of the reasons they kept me awake." he said unsure of himself again.

"How do you mean awake?" Mac asked, confused.

"Well most of the furries, that's what I am by the way... a Furry, stayed in maturation chambers. They'd be growing older, more mature, faster. They could be programmed with information... I can’t be, you see. Since I was the first successful furry they made... I'm... I’m a Beta test. The test before you perfect a process. I'm..." Beta's resolve and self worth he'd been building up since that first outbreak, was beginning to crack.

"I’m imperfect... I can’t be programmed, I can’t have information uploaded to my brain nor downloaded. I am not compatible... but they did learn a lot from me" he said quickly as though he wanted to prove his worth to Mac. That he really wasn’t a waste of material, like some of the meaner scientists would say to him.

Mac put his long neck and head on Beta's shoulder, 'hugging' him, as horses do, cooing soothingly. "You have worth simply by being alive, Beta... value and worth" he said, wondering what exactly he meant... and to who...

"But I learn very fast, super-fast, I have a near perfect memory for details and information." he added quickly, wanting to sound worthy, also a bit of pride sneaking in. "I read all kinds of books on engineering, cooking, chemistry, and such. But I was never as good as Alpha at medical stuff." Mac interrupted

"Alpha? Who is that?” But a thought was already forming in Mac's head.

"She was the doctor on the team. She put us all back together when we'd get shot or... what have you." Beta added nonchalantly.

Beta's mind jumped back to the scientists... "They... they would take me away for … ‘tests’ they... well... you know. It wasn’t unpleasant but.. I never got to choose when or where. I..." then tears began to fall from his blue eyes. “I was their sex toy... it felt nice enough, but I was always at their whim, I couldn’t stop them and I could not say no. They would say something to me...“ then the gravity of what he was saying hit him like a ton of bricks... he couldn’t say out loud what was screaming in his mind now... ‘they raped me!’

Mac already picked up on this and decided that Apple Berry’s transgression... would remain a secret. The knowledge of it would only hurt him further. He liked Beta... he REALLY liked Beta. He was a good ... stallion. He didn’t deserve to know that Apple Berry may have used him last night. He wondered if she'd even realized it. It was a pity, Mac thought. if she had been more patient, Mac would have even helped her and Beta get together. He felt they were probably good for each other. She needed a loving male, and he needed a strong, loving, but stable person in his life. Now... now that might never happen and they would both be the poorer for it. But Mac suspected Apple Berry would be the worse off.... unless... then he shook off the idea. A rabbit - fox impregnating a horse... impossible; but if friendship was magic...

“Don’t you ever worry about being the only one of your kind Beta?” Mac asked, praying the answer was 'Yes Mac. I can’t have kids'.

“Not really.” Beta said “Part of my genetic enhancement, at least in theory, is that I can impregnate any fertile female.” ‘Fuck’ Mac stopped cold. ‘Apple Berry...’ he thought...

“What’s wrong Mac?” Mac shook his head

“Nothing, just remembered something. Nothing important.”

"Tell me more about this vixen of your’s” Mac pressed. She was starting to sound distressingly familiar. He knew he’d have to tell Beta the whole story of the girl he refused to kill. That she was a purple vixen. That she was a very gifted doctor. That she had a strange way of speaking just like... Beta.... ‘Bucking Hell!’ Mac thought.

"Well" Beta started, not noticing Mac’s sudden thoughtfulness and look of distress. "To tell you that, I need to tell you about my team. The Freak Force Four!" he said spreading his paws wide as though unrolling a scroll before him. "Team... Beta"

%i% Beta's Team

7 Beta's Team

"I was the first. My designation is Test subject 02: Beta test. It means I'm the first version that can stand on its own.... as it were. I'm not a "finished" product however. I'm not like the rest of my team. I can't download information into or out of my brain. But I learn at an amazing rate. I can read a text book and completely understand the material in a matter of hours at most. I technically have about 5 degrees in engineering, computer science, language, survival, biology - that one kind kicked my ass - and physics. I understand how the world and technology works."

Mac whistled in appreciation. "You're pretty smart then."

"Not enough." Beta said bitterly. "I still got seriously wounded when I escaped." he said, unconsciously rubbing his bandages.

"I should have died the night I escaped. That hunter..." Beta gave a quick, vicious smile as he remember that kill... "his blade struck true... but I struck truer. I have subcutaneous bio mesh armor" he said, thumping his chest with a rock, a light 'tink' sound was made from the metal under Beta's chest.

"That means I'm very hard to hurt, let alone kill. But there is a built-in flaw. That's where I was struck." he finished, rubbing his abdomen again.

"How bad is it?" Mac asked concerned that his friend might up and die on him here and now.

"Well, let's just say I no longer have an appendix. It seems these bandages are healing me." Beta's mind turned to lab life. He needed to tell someone. He had lived his entire life in secret. He NEEDED to tell Mac because he knew Big Macintosh, former Captain of the Secret Guard of Canterlot, would understand.

"I was first woken around physical age 8. I'm not sure how old I actually am. Just that I was about 8 biologically when they decided to wake me up the first time. They examined me all over..." Beta blushed. "They were very thorough. That's when we learned about my... disability. They wanted to be able to quickly and easily program me. But I was very smart and clever so that was seen as a possible advantage. The b-ox, one series... me... were meant to be assassins, so being able to learn and process information fast to be able to change plans on the fly, was seen as absolutely necessary. My genius level intelligence was still as a desirable trait. So they let me live."  Beta said as if this was completely logical thing to do with a child. Mac had a momentary look of horror and indignation that anyone would consider a foal as disposable.

"They started teaching me. They figured out what was "wrong" with me and fixed it in the others. Father was always kind and gentle with me." Beta remembered fondly.

"Who is father?" Mac asked.

"He was the lead scientist. I'm biologically his son. He used his DNA.... um, his seed, to form the human parts of me. Honestly I think he made me defective so I could grow up with his son. His son died before I was 'born'. We would have been the same age. In the end, I think he adopted me because he missed his son so badly." Beta paused, sad. He loved his father. Even accepting the knowledge that he'd started out as a replacement for his son... Michael, he knew his father loved him. That last night was all the proof he would ever need... or get.

"I never lived outside the lab except later when I went on missions. Sometimes I would go back in the tubes... to sleep, after a couple months, sometimes only a couple weeks and wake up slightly, physically older. When I was 11, I stayed out until puberty hit. That was when they woke up Alpha. She's the doctor. Her job was to put us back together in the field. She's a pure vixen furry. She was beautiful and smart..."

"So you got the hots for her?" Mac smiled at Beta.

"Um... We... discovered each other... we played doctor a couple of times..." Beta said blushing. "After she woke up, we were usually awake at the same time. She had a doctorate in several medical fields and one in engineering... all uploaded into her brain. She simply woke up knowing things. They felt she still needed real world experience. They discovered with her that just because you know something, doesn't mean you automatically know how to use it in the real world. So they started showing her HOW to be a doctor and vet. She knew more about us furries, I think, than even the scientists who made us."

"When we, Alpha and I, were around 14, they woke up Gamma, the weasel sniper, and Delta, the tracker and our leader. He was a German shepherd. Serious but also fun to play with..." his voice drifted off. He missed them so much. They were his family... his brothers and sister in arms. Mac understood very well what Beta was going through. Even though he was banned from Canterlot, he still met his old buddies for a cider now and then. He got the feeling Beta's comrades were no longer living.

"We started out training around then too. I had already been training in martial arts for a couple years?" Beta said with a question. With all that sleep time, it was understandable how difficult it was for him to know how long he was doing anything. Mac felt sorry for Beta's suffering. He was robbed of most of his childhood, but at least not completely.

"Alpha and I had some fun around the facility. We'd play jokes and tricks on the doctors and staff and scientists. But then Dobsin took over. The government wanted faster results. So when I was ... 14? Everyone was kept awake... except Omega. He was woken up only a couple times. His body was more complex than anyone else's... He had extra enhancements... so he had to sleep more. He was part bear, part horse, part... I don't know. He wasn't the smartest, but he had a good heart." Beta remembered the young Omega. Slow witted but a good furson overall.

"The first mission they sent us on was to eliminate a tin pot dictator in Africa. He was a warlord that had conquered an area around a mine the military wanted, but could not go in there officially... so they sent us. I guess they thought it would be easy..."

***the adventures of Team Beta...The Freak Force Four!***

"When they planned us, they only thought of us as your standard grunt. Kind of mindless but capable. They never expected our animal instincts for survival to kick in. Somehow, in me, that manifested in a very sneaky ruthlessness. I... I tried to leave as many alive as I could. My Ninjitsu Sensei told me to be fast, quiet, and unseen. That a true shinobi accomplishes his task with only one death... his mark's. I did my best to only eliminate the target..."

"But that's not always possible" Mac interrupted, seeing the sadness on Beta's face. Beta nodded and continued.

"I was always to be the front man. Gamma would cover me at a distance, sniping off anyone who got too close to me or would alert to what have you. Delta was base protector and second sniper. He was trained with a very, very large sword that could cleave through several men at once. Much like a buster sword... I know... you don't know what that is." Beta finished, waving his paw.

"Anyway, I went in first, I was almost to the dictator when I kicked something and a guard spotted me. Gamma shot him before he could alert the other guards, but then it was like the fates were working against us. One thing after another began to go wrong. Gamma would shoot a guard, and then, when he fell, that would alert ANOTHER guard who Delta would have to shoot. THAT would alert yet another guard, and so on. " Mac couldn't help but laugh, and gave Beta a 'been there, done that' look. Beta smiled and nodded

"I gave up and started taking out guards as I went along myself. I finally found the mark. He was... big. I mean you're a tiny little pony, Mac, compared to this guy. He fit WARLORD in every way. He was massive, well built, and strong! He was also a lot faster than I expected. I managed to keep out of his grip, but only barely at times. I had to slowly kill him, swiping at him with my kunai, um knives, and claws" he said looking at his paws

"I would run around him at high speed, jumping in when I had a clear shot. But somehow he managed to evade even being a mark for the snipers. It was as though he knew where we'd be looking. After a few minutes it was clear he DID know where we'd be, as our the base camp was attacked. They got to find out that the doctor was also trained in self-defense." Beta smiled "and she was vicious"

Mac froze... it was her. Beta's doctor vixen... it was her...

"Delta's blade also got its first taste of blood, and it liked it. Throughout both melees', Gamma managed to keep taking out soldiers. His lithe body allowed him to get away with his sniper rifle and a backup pistol, which he had to use quite a few times to take out goons who would come after him. He found a place in a tree that was even better than his location on the ground and kept firing."

"It was around that time that fast as I am, I was finally caught by the warlord. He started to crush my small frame. I was only about 15 at the time. I saw the glint of Gamma's scope and the direction he was waving. I leaned my head as far right as I could, and a moment later there was a flash and an explosion of blood, bone and brain matter. The job was done. The monster's body was determined to kill me and it took several moments before I was able to break its grip." Beta shivered. He still had nightmares about that first mission.

"As the warlord's body slumped, finally, on the ground, I began setting up the explosives. I knew that this place had to blow. That was the second part of our mission. I had to trust my comrades could fend off those soldiers attacking them. After putting too much explosives around the propane tank and a couple other places - which took no more than a minute to do with my speed, I raced to my friends. I set traps so that if they were found too soon, and they tried to remove them, they'd go off."

"It's a good thing I'm so fast, I was barely out of the compound when the first explosion went off, which triggered the next one via radio, and so on. My tail and a good portion of my hind fur got burned." he said, rubbing the old, long since-healed wound. That one also gave him nightmares."

"I got up the hill in no time, ignoring my pain. Burned fur is better than burned skin any day anyway. I arrived just as some grunt was going to take off Alpha's head with a machete. She was on the ground, looking up in horror, panic, and fear, her own melee weapon broken at her feet. He was about to bring his blade down upon her, and that's when I struck. From her perspective he just waited. His arm high in the air behind him, ready to lay waste to the beautiful vixen before him, when his arm fell off, followed by his head. He collapsed into piles of bloody meat a moment later."

"No one harms my mate!" I vaguely recall saying. I'm not sure where it came from. But seeing Alpha in danger like that drove me into what we came to call the madness. Our eyes go completely black and everything about us increases including our vicious, ruthlessness... it's like some kind of super adrenaline, but worse. We become killing monsters, only avoiding those we know or care about.

Beta paused for a few minutes, collecting himself. He hated this aspect of himself. He wanted to be... human. Not a monster. He liked his body, but he wanted to be more in control of himself if not his body.

"I then looked down at her. Her smile of relief seeing me alive after the explosion filled me with a happiness I never understood. A moment later someone tried to strike her down again. I was past him in a flash. A moment later, he too was falling to the ground in pieces. My claws and clothes were now soaked in blood. Speaking to Alpha, I told her "I'll protect you until hell itself surrenders to me" and I was off, killing the rest of our attackers." Beta shook his head. He cared for Alpha but he never understood these strong feelings of protectiveness he had.

"Half an hour later, we were at the extraction point. When we called on the radio to be picked up, we requested extra clothing as ours were kind of bloody. They seemed surprised that we were calling for extraction. We had to repeat the code sequence several times before they sent someone to get us."

Mac whistled in appreciation and admiration. "You guys had some long odds."

"Yeah, but we survived. We discovered much later that it had been considered a suicide mission. We weren't expected to survive. They didn't actually have a bird in the air to pick us up at the appropriate time. We had to hide several times from patrols looking for us."

"We collected a few more weapons. We were picked up with more gear and ammunition than we left with. We left the place booby trapped of course. 10 minutes after extraction we heard a very loud BOOM... someone had found the weapons cache we had trapped."

"Watching Alpha working was always amusing. Her bed side manner was utter crap in the field but damned if she didn't keep us alive and in good health." Beta said with a respectful, broad smile. Mac was glad to see positive memories for the boy.

"So after our first mission, they started to let the team stay awake most of the time. We started living like people. They had a device that would help us heal after missions. We all had nannites implanted in us to speed the healing process along." Beta said, again rubbing his abdomen, where his nannite farm no longer was.

"Nanny what?" Mac said. "I told you boy..." Beta laughed.

"Sorry. They're tiny, little um... bugs that live in the body that heal you and keep you healthy. It's what the hunter hit. That alone isn't enough to kill me, but he did some additional... um... surgery on the way in and out of my abdomen. It really is a miracle I'm not dead, you know."

"Beta..." Mac said, coming closer to him. "You're safe here now. You know that right?" Beta looked into Big Mac's eyes.

"I wish I was certain. I..." Beta faltered for words. His uncertainty was taking over again. Mac reared upon his hind legs and gave Beta a strong hug.

"I'll protect you little bunny." Beta wrapped his arms around Mac and broke down crying. He knew Mac would do everything in his power to protect him. Beta had never had someone watching his back like Mac. Sure his team... his family looked out for each other but this... this was different.

As Mac held the trembling bunny fox in his hooves, he decided it was time he stopped holding back. He cared for this being too much not to.

They never made it to the farm that day. Instead they spent the day discovering.

%i% The Tailor, The Doctor and the caretaker

8 The Tailor, The Doctor and the caretaker

After the party and the day with Mac, Beta decided he needed clothes. He was comfortable walking around in the fur but he wanted to keep his bandages clean. He felt he was pushing his luck. Mac gave him the day off to get some clothes.

"I know its ok.... but I just don't feel comfortable being around ponies naked." he explained. Mac nodded. He could see his point. Unlike a colt's, his arousal was pretty hard to hide and was very upfront. He liked Beta, rather a lot, but he could tell he needed a little more... modesty in his life.

Beta put on the torn scrubs he escaped the lab wearing. They were in complete tatters. Besides the fact that scrubs were not meant to be worn for so long, they had been badly torn in his escape. However he wasn't going to walk into town naked. Around the farm was one thing, the town was something else.

Putting the best apples into a bag, Beta hoped to trade apples as well as some ripe vegetables that were growing around his shack. As he approached the arch to leave the farm, he saw Mac with a pouch of money in his mouth. As soon as Beta came close enough Mac tossed the pouch to him. He deftly caught it with his free paw.

"Apples don't always buy clothes" Mac said as Beta heard the jingle of coins in the bag. Shocked, Beta looked up, but Mac cut him off again. "See Rarity. She’s the best seamstress in the area. Tell her I sent you, if it’s not already obvious you are living here." he said with a sardonic laugh.

"She’ll set you up with some good clothes. Get at least one set of nice clothes. You're cute naked,” Mac said with a wink that made Beta blush and smile “but I think for the next party you'd better wear at least pants." Mac finished with a knowing, sly smile that made Beta blush even redder, wondering how much of himself he showed...

Meandering down the lane, Beta noticed a path off the side of the road. He only just noticed it as though the owner thought themselves not important enough to hang a sign or keep the path clear.

'Hmmmmm what's here?' he wondered, his human curiosity getting the better of him. Beta moved aside the brush and followed the path to a quaint little house on a small cliff, past a small creek.

“Over the creak and though the woods” Beta whispered to himself."Nice, if not a little isolated" Beta said to no one in particular. He then heard a familiar squeak and rustling in the brush. Looking in the direction of the squeak, he smiled and said softly "Oh, there you are"

"Thank you Fluttershy." Rainbowdash told him how it had been Fluttershy who first found him and gave him the apples. It was also she who had brought Rainbowdash to him. "You saved my life and my sanity Fluttershy... I really am terribly grateful." he raised his ears high, straining to hear her.

She finally said in the tiniest voice "Y-y-your w-welcome." Her voice was so small and pathetic, it hurt him. She was a truly kind soul who cared a great deal for those around her and here she was.... self-shunning herself as though she was a leper! The injustice raised his hackles...which he quickly flattened with his paw and shook his head clear. She might think he was angry at her for some reason.

"I...I have some apples... I’d like to share them with you Fluttershy." he said in the most soothing voice he could.

“Um... no. I’ll be fine.” she whispered in that tiny voice. “Don't worry about me.” He found her. He moved silently and quickly through the brush. A moment later he was next to her. “Eep!” she squeaked. He looked into her eyes with deep compassion and sadness. She was beautiful.

“Why do you hide?” He asked, pain at her situation clear in his voice. 'No one so kind hearted deserves to feel this way about themselves.' he thought, not for the first time.

“I...I'm...I'm not important. So I hide.” she squeaked again. ‘Was she a pony or a mouse?’ Beta wondered be-musingly.  He was surprised her voice was so soft, even this close. Beta just put the bag down and walked towards her with a determined look on his face. “Oh no... Stay away...don't bother with me" she said.

Beta continued forward. She backed up, then fell onto her haunches in a strange sitting position. Beta got closer. Then he hugged her and said in a tiny voice of his own...

“No.” he said simply and stubbornly “I won’t abandon you. I won’t leave until I thank you...and you accept it” Tears fell onto her shoulder. He was crying at the injustice in the world that would make such a dear, sweet, caring person hate themselves so much.

“You saved me, Fluttershy. I will always be grateful to you for that.”

He held her for some minutes. Past her shaking, almost violently in fear, past her repeated whispers of "No, no, no I'm not...." and finally until she put her forelegs around him returning his hug. Only then did he finally let her go from his grasp.

"You should get out more... clean out your entrance. You're a wonderful person Fluttershy." Beta said, looking into her beautiful eyes. Blushing from his intense gaze, she asked him

“What are you looking at?”  he knew what she meant.

“I'm looking into your soul... and I see one of the purest, kindest, sweet souls I have ever seen.” Beta said with no levity or ulterior motive.

Fluttershy blushed. No one had ever said such sweet things to her before... we'll maybe Rainbow Dash. She could see why Rainbow spent so much time with him.... and talking about him. She could see his words were honest and genuine. Without an ulterior motive. He said this out of actual affection... as a friend. She found suddenly, she was a little jealous of Rainbowdash... but she knew she didn’t have to be. She could be his friend too... just not as special.

“Come on. I’ll help you clearing this excess brush... ok?” he asked. Not wanting to push her, but also serious about making her join the world. She nodded, still blushing a little.

“You...you're really sweet" she said, almost in a normal voice. He smiled warmly.

“One day, I hope to make that true about myself.” he said self detrimentally. He still wasn't sure about his own self-worth. Only that he wanted to make this world a better place. He wanted to make this little pony feel better about herself.

“And you're not leaving until you help me, huh?” she asked, almost laughing. Beta smiled, happy to see she could joke at his expense. It did make him feel better that he could do this for her.

“Ah-yup” he said in his best Big Mac impression. They both giggled, the ice was finally broken between them, causing them both to smile a little more.

Beta stayed with Fluttershy for a couple hours. It was almost noon before they were finished. While Fluttershy was looking away, he swiped at the thicker brush in the path, slicing it away as though it was paper, the biomesh metal in his claws meant that no matter how short he cut them, they were always razor sharp. Something he was always mindful of when he held a pony in his arms.

He waved as he left, it was nearly noon. Beta tossed a few apples from his bag to Fluttershy, which she caught with her wings. She thanked him and he was off. She watched him go into town, feeling a strange sensation of loss. She enjoyed his company ‘...was that what it is like to have friends?’ she wondered.

Beta arrived in town a little while later. His scrubs almost completely shredded because of the brush clearing. There was only enough to cover his sheath, Beta decided to stay in the shadows and back streets. Soon, however, he found Rarity's shop easily enough. He knocked before entering.

“Um...hello? Big Mac...” he didn’t have a chance to finish before some pony was looking him up and down like a piece of fresh meat.

“...and who are you?”  she asked, almost haughtily.

“Um...Hi... I'm Beta. Big Mac...” he began again.

“Oh yes, Big Macintosh.” she said with a very familiar gaze momentarily in her eyes. Beta just rolled his.

‘Geez Mac. Who doesn't want to shag you in this town?’ Beta thought, but a moment later he remembered the rather somber conversation they had about Mac's sex life, or lack of same, and the bemused expression fell away as fast as it arrived on Beta's maw.

“Well, what do you want?” Rarity asked again in that tone.

‘Well SHE doesn't think highly of herself or anything’ Beta thought again. ‘How polar opposite from Fluttershy’. he mused. “I need clothes and I hear you're the best.” Rarity puffed out her chest a bit at hearing this. ‘So she isn’t that self-confident... interesting act.’ Beta noted mentally.

“Well yes, I am...” and she looked at him again, this time really taking in his details... “You’re not from around here are you?” Rarity asked almost off hoofidly, her mind already beginning to calculate Beta's measurements and what  would look good with his coat pattern. 'Strange coat, exotic...' She noticed quietly, smiling a little. Rarity liked the exotic.

‘Brilliant deduction’ Beta thought sourly.

“Um no... Long story. I just need two over-alls and....” he blushed “... some nice clothes.”

“Why do you need so many clothes?” she asked genuinely perplexed. ”why not go...” Beta took off his rags and stood there naked. Only the apples had seen him like this... and Rainbow lately. Rarity forced a gulp as her mouth went very dry.

”Oh... my” she whispered under her breath. She drank in his details. She’d never seen a male like him before. Certainly not so... so... naked. She wasn't going to miss the chance to lap up every delicious detail about him.

“Why not just use a simple cloaking spell?” she asked distractedly, her eyes never rising above his waist.

“Do I look like a unicorn?” he asked sourly. Rarity then dropped head lower, closing her eyes in concentration as her horn began to glow. She shot the simple spell at his groin when there was a flash and she flew back several feet, landing on her haunches and stunned. She shook her head, wondering what she had done wrong before trying again, as Beta walked towards her. There was a loud boom this time and Beta flew back as well, landing on a stack of linen bolts, his bandages glowing. He looked up, his eyes replaced with an eerie blue glow of magic. He spoke with an unearthly voice that was not his own...

“You will not attack this one without punishment! He is under your Queen's protection!  Attack him again at your own peril!”  Then it was over. Beta shook his head and stared sheepishly at Rarity.

”I swear I had no idea that would happen!” he tried to explain, his paws up beside and in front of him. Rarity shook her head...

“Right ...so overalls huh? Plain, common... but a challenge for your um... body” she finished almost breathlessly, between being tossed across the room and his nakedness.

‘Making clothes would be safer than trying to cloak his delicious...’ she shook her head again. She didn't have time for males, not even handsome two legs like him. She had a career to think of. ‘Even a nice roll in the hay would be too distracting.’ at least, she thought it would be.

Rarity proceeded to take his measurements... all his measurements. Beta tried his damnedest to keep his mind occupied on other things as not to show Rarity his... appreciation for her beauty and attention to... detail and... thoroughness.

‘I swear’ he thought at one point ‘if she measures my sheath one more time, I might have something else for her to measure’ at which point he immediately thought of a cold waterfall. A VERY COLD waterfall. With rocks and ninjas... and Barbra Bush. This caused him to open his eyes wide, letting out a shriek of terror.

‘Well... my sheath problem is solved.... forever.’ He looked down at Rarity and blushed. “Sorry... random um... flashback. Very sad life.” he said lamely. Rarity only nodded uncertainly and went back to measuring him in great detail.

Eventually, Rarity had all the details she needed... plus some... and then some more.

“Come back later and I will have your clothes ready" she said simply. "But first...” she went into the back for a few minutes. He heard cutting of fabric, some muttering and finally she returned levitating a pair of shorts with a basic belt. Beta’s eyes nearly popped out of his head and pointed at the shorts.

“Y-you just MADE that?” he said, not trying to hide how impressed he was with her. “There is good and then there's YOU! I can see that even the stitching is high quality” he added. He was truly impressed at her skills.

Rarity blushed very red, looking away, clopping at the ground. Her fine white fur was turning red around her face. She got the odd compliment, but somehow, coming from this stranger, this beautiful hunk of a stranger, meant more to her. 'Whoever catches this one will be the luckiest pony...' she thought sincerely.

“This will at least give you some modicum of decency as you walk around.” she said, still blushing from his compliments, as he grabbed the shorts and started to put them on.

“Thank you miss Rarity.” He said formally.

“Just Rarity and don't worry about payment....” she said with a twinkle in her eye he was starting to notice a lot here.

“I don't mind making your cloths. It’s a nice challenge. I've never done a two-legs....” she blushed at the innuendo... “Made clothes for a two legs before.” Now Beta blushed catching the unintended innuendo

“It'll be fun. Now.... um go away for a couple hours and let me work.”  She said matter of factly. He could see the gears working in her head as she figured what to do. Her professionalism taking over again.

‘Interesting one, that pony. She puts on a haughty air... but she's actually very clever. Very focused on her work. And yet, still unsure of herself.’ Beta wondered what she could accomplish if her trade were gears and mechanics as opposed to clothing.

Speaking of gears... he looked around and noticed the clock and windmill in town. 'They aren't without technology here.' He heard a distant whistle of a train. He whistled himself in appreciation of the technology level. It was deceptively high.

'I think I’m going to like it here.' And Beta smiled again. He was doing that a lot lately... and he liked it.

Across the plaza, Apple Berry was at her stand. She would still be around for another week or so... then she’d disappear. Currently she was flirting with a rather handsome palace guard who was scouting out places for Celestia's favorite student to live. Looking over, the guard noticed the two legs. 'Hmmmm isn't there a standing order about strange two legs?' he wondered to himself.

“Who is that?” he asked Apple Berry. He was hoping to get her in the hay before he had to return to the castle... but he would probably have to leave early anyway. Two legs were... problematic.

Seeing Beta, Apple Berry remembered the decree against foreigners, and her heart was suddenly grasped with a claw of fear. ‘No! Not him! Not Beta!!’ The thought made her face a mask of horror. Thankfully the soldier wasn’t looking. When he turned to her, her face looked bored, even a little ditsy. She had to distract him.

“Um... who?” when the soldier looked back, he no longer saw the two legs. “Odd... I could have sworn I saw a blue two legs over there”

Beta had just notice the guard, and decided to become discreet. He didn’t want royal attention. His only crime was existing, but he understood, to a degree, why Celestia hated his kind. She wanted to protect her subjects, but this was stupid. He was... mostly harmless. He only fought to protect now. And he hoped he would never have to fight again for the rest of his life. He would be sadly disappointed.

The guard managed to catch another very brief glimpse of the two legs. 'Traffic was unusually high today' he thought to himself. Dammit. He couldn't give a report if he didn't have a solid mental image of... he felt a hoof working up one of his hind legs and any thoughts of a two legged freak was the last thing on his mind all of a sudden. Apple needed to keep this clod's mind off of his duty.

She had a sudden urge to strangle him. She knew what this meant. Whenever someone got the attention of the royal guard, they disappeared. 'He’s harmless, really!' she thought

"Why not stay for a while longer?" she said, trying her best to seduce him, hoping to make him forget the impossible.  She could. Her charms were working. She leaned in to lick his cheek and whisper forbidden promises in his ear just as Beta looked over. Apple Berry had a quick twinge of guilt. If she had a chance for him before... She just blew it now. This guard had better be worth it or she’d find a way to get revenge on him.

Beta saw Apple Berry suddenly kiss the royal guard she had been talking to a moment later. He wasn't sure if she was covering for him or trying to get some colt loving... Beta decided to assume it was the first. Her body language seemed... off for it to be the latter. Oddly, he felt a strange urge to beat that guard into oblivion for gaining her affection. He had no idea why he felt that way. He was falling for Rainbow Dash, wasn't he? But this mare also, somehow, had found a way into his heart. He wasn't sure, however, if he'd want her in his bed if she went for the strong, dumb dupes. Of course Mac was strong and anything but dumb. Beta murred to himself very quietly and smiled a tiny secret smile. 'Yes, anything but weak or stupid.'

Hiding in shadows when the guard looked back, the guardsman saw nothing. When he asked Apple Berry about the two legs she fluttered her eyes and asked “Who?  I was just lost looking at you.” She said in a slightly breathless way that she used to get fools like him into her bed. She’d have him tonight, and perhaps tomorrow. She prayed to Celestia he was at least capable.

‘So many guardsmen were are minute wonders it wasn't funny. Did they spend all their time thinking about the princess?’ She thought sourly.

Beta let out a sigh. He saw Apple Berry had managed to distract the guard. He'd likely remember in a day or two his duty. That meant he had to prepare and talk to Mac. But it also meant he could enjoy himself a little longer. Perhaps he could visit Rainbow Dash once.... Beta decided to check out the library... one place he was sure not to run into a royal guard.

A few hours later, Beta walked, with more care to stay in the shadows this time, back to Rarity’s shop with a couple rolls of parchment in his arms.

'Who uses parchment?' he wondered not for the first time that day.

“Hey Rarity, I got an idea for a...” his mouth dropped as he saw, floating in front of him, a very attractive outfit. It would be form fitting in the right places and loose in others. It would be comfortable and showery all at once. Beta whistled in appreciation. “Wow.... Mac wasn't kidding, you really are the best!”

She blushed and smiled, also floated forward his overalls. They were utilitarian but.... fashionable somehow. He could see they were made from a very durable material. She even made a pair of boots that looked like they would not only fit, but be comfortable.

“Wow, you did this in only 3 hours?” he asked, his mouth open in awe.

“No. I did most of this in one hour. Your date clothes took me 45 minutes.” she said, blushing and trying to maintain her haughty air. “But I don't like to work under pressure.” she finished with a wink. Not for the first time, Beta thought about a different pressure for her to work under. He then shook his head clear of amorous thoughts. As he was, Rarity blushed, she was thinking the same thing...

She then folded his clothes in midair then lowered them into bags. "What do you have there?" she asked, noticing the plans he was holding.

"Oh, this!" He blushed and offered them to her. She levitated the plans and started examining them.

"Well, you do have a very interesting imagination!" she said, nodding approvingly. "I can get this fabric I believe today. The rest....” she turned and levitated a small parchment and a quill then wrote down a name and address. “You can get a lot of what you're looking for here.”

“Hmmm... Why is there a map?” Beta asked.

“Because he doesn't live in Ponyville. Kind of a mad scientist if you will.” she said dryly. “You, however, strike me as much saner. Still your idea is the kind of thing he would come up with.” she finished.

Beta looked up and asked “How do you say his name? Doctor... who?”

“Whooves” she corrected and clopped the floor dryly.

“Right... hooves...” Beta said blushing. “Sorry.”

“You're new. You'll learn.” she said without ire. She meant it.  Her sincerity made Beta smile. Looking Rarity in the eyes, Beta returned the sincerity.

"You're an amazing person er.. pony. Truly gifted in creating. That... that's a rare gift.” he then, without realizing it, made a crescent shape in the air and said ”May Luna bless you.”

“You mean Celestia” she said a little confused.

“Um... yeah Celestia” Beta said. “Sister of Luna. May her moonlight protect in the night.” he said smiling. Rarity nodded, a little confused. The blessing came to him instinctively, but now that he'd said it Beta was beginning to wonder why he'd said it, he decided to just smile, bow and leave the shop being careful for any eyes outside.

'What was that about? Oh well, he's new. He’ll learn eventually' Rarity thought before turning to begin work on the suit.

Later that afternoon, across town, at a room the guard was renting, Apple Berry was 'distracting' the guard. She was doing a very good job of it too. He however wasn't. She sighed internally and thought of Beta. His strong arms. His caring gaze... those strange eyes. That kind, sweet heart...that helped a great deal. In the end, she would keep the guard distracted for two days.

Whenever the inept guard was sleeping, loudly, on the hay, Berry found a quiet corner to cry in. She prayed so hard to Celestia that she didn't loose Beta... in a strange way, in the end, she did it for him.

Beta followed the map out of town, on the opposite side from the farm. The building he came across seemed harmless enough. He smelled strange chemicals as he passed the small red barn. Smells that didn't belong here. He knocked on the door and met Dr. Hooves. They met in silence, staring at each other. Then Beta stepped in the little house and they started walking around each other in a circle.

"You're not from around here." They both said at the same time  "You don't belong here." Then they stopped. Dr Whooves looked indignant.

"I have a cutie mark. I'm a horse” he argued, shaking his rump.

“Pony” Beta corrected dryly

“Pony, yes. I belong here far more than you do... you... you, escapee from a military lab!” This caused Beta to stiffen in fear. His anger covering his worry. However as he feigned his own indignation then he stopped.....

“How?” Beta growled, unable to completely hide his fear.

“Your entire being reeks of humans.” Dr. Whooves said almost disdainfully. “The way you carry yourself. You are a martial artist... at least that much is honorable about you.” Dr. Whooves then took a long sniff at Beta. ‘Hmmm’ he thought. ‘I smell Rainbow Dash of course. But....’

"Tell me how is Apple Berry" Dr. Whooves asked, breaking the cadence of his interrogation and deduction about Beta, In a way that threw Beta off.

“Um... fine.” he said uncertainly. “I think she has a date with a royal guardsman.” Beta said, sourer than he meant. ‘Why does that bother me so much?’ he wondered again.

‘Oh my’ Dr. Whooves thought... ‘He doesn't know.’ Dr. Whooves decided it would be best to drop the subject. ‘Perhaps better he doesn’t know. Something tells me he can’t handle that right now.’

“Just wondering.” Dr. Whooves said ”She often brings me left over vegetables she hasn't sold. She’s very kind."

“Yeah, she gave me a couple apples when I first came to town and introduced me to the Apples.” Beta said momentarily disarmed. I live..." then he stopped cold. He was never this open. Certainly not when there was a decree for his head!

'Who are you?' he wondered to himself about this doctor

The Doctor saw the mental change in Beta. ‘He’s figured it out already... smart boy.’ The Doctor thought with growing respect “You... you...” The Doctor stopped his rambling. “You're clever aren't you? Ho, boy you're a clever furry aren't you?” The Doctor stated more than asked. But Beta was through being subtle. He could see the Doctor’s ramblings as partially due to him having trouble with this peaceful life. More than Beta did.

“You haven't adjusted yet, have you?” Beta asked the Doctor without preamble, going on the offensive. "The tranquility, the peace, the lack of certain technology... you still haven't adjusted!" Beta accused.

“Made me show my hand...err hoof. Still haven't gotten the hang of these things." The Doctor said before he stopped. “Dammit.” He sighed in resignation. The game was up. Beta had won.

“No... I haven't. I haven't always been... like this. I grew up a normal colt.” The Doctor explained. But... something happened a few years ago. I...” The Doctor paused unable to continue. He still wasn't sure what happened that day his Time Lord memories came flooding back in bits and pieces. He could remember but only fragments.

Beta could see a mare hiding, looking on from the shadows, extreme concern on her face. ‘She loves him.’ he almost immediately concluded. 'She's worried for his sanity.. and happiness, but she's afraid to confront him on it. She just.. wants him in her life.' Her life story was written all over her face, her strange golden eyes, and her body's posture.

"Who sent you?" The Doctor demanded. His manic left turns were difficult, but not impossible for Beta to follow.

"Rarity. I have some plans for a device that will let me visit um..." Beta blushed now that he was about to say it. He almost felt silly. The Doctor just smiled.

"Let’s see your plans, young furry." The Doctor said warmly. Beta put the plans on a nearby table the Doctor had cleared off. Then he started to examine them. "I assume Rarity is making the squirrel suit. That girl has amazing talent. She will go far..." he paused again, deep in thought. “So many... I’ve known so many talented people...” Beta felt the sadness the Doctor radiated.

'His sadness.. it's so deep in his soul.' Beta reflected. The Doctor's life, while not an open book, was clearly long, very very long compared to his life here in Equestria.

“You're lost.” Beta said. His pity too strong to contain. “Even more than I am.” The Doctor looked up, countless years of pain and age in his eyes. “I don't need to know, Doctor. Not now. But you can trust me...I swear it.” The Doctor believed him. Somehow he knew he could trust this furry. The Doctor just nodded.

“Who else knows who you are, Doctor?” Beta asked.

“You are the only one who has put so much together” The Doctor said. Looking back at the plans, The Doctor whistled in approval. “You are clever aren't you? You really are a proper genius. You already figured out what the tech level for this world is. And you adjusted you plans around that fact. I am honestly impressed, young furry.” The Doctor said, not holding back his genuine praise for Beta. “However it will still take a while to make these boosters.” he said flatly. “Brilliant or no you still...”

“Cannae change da laws of physics kaptain!” Beta finished with a really over the top Scottish accent. The Doctor shared a laugh with him and smiled. "]Good sense of humor will help you in more situations than you... no...no I suppose you do know don't you?" Beta smiled and nodded.

"We can however get you up there to visit your Rainbow Dash." The Doctor said smiling.

Beta stammered and stuttered “H-how?”

“I'm not blind, little one. Rainbowdash has been very happy these last two weeks. You arrived a little over two weeks ago. It’s not hard math.” The Doctor smiled. He liked Rainbowdash. She had spirit. REAL spirit. She was loyal to her friends, and a damned good filly. But that scent of Apple Berry... 'How does he not notice it?' The Doctor pondered again in internal disbelief.

Beta nodded feeling kind of stupid. "You know," The Doctor started, "you have another admirer here." Beta looked stupidly at him again. The Doctor just sighed sadly inside. But also smiled. 'Naive about such simple things. Not a bad thing however. He’s a good boy... he’ll make a great man one day. War and killing didn't necessarily make someone a great person, let alone adult.' The Doctor, sadly, knew this all too well.

"Another admirer? Do you mean Apple Berry?" Beta asked, wondering how the Doctor knew.

"She's also been very, very happy lately. To be honest, I don't know who fancies you more" The Doctor said with a sly smile.

Beta was floored, and blushing very red. He really wasn't sure what to say. He recalled what Apple Berry said before she left the other night. 'What do I say.. or think about that?' He was still coming to grips that maybe he DID have two mares interested in him... 'How do I even choose? HOW did I get here!?' He was beyond confused.

Deciding to take pity on Beta, the Doctor changed subjects abruptly."You should have that bandage looked at. It's... well, it looks like it needs attention" He had noticed Beta's wound, even with the clothes. It wasn't normal in any way, much like Beta.

Beta nodded and half smiled, grateful for the change of topic "Know any good doctors?"

"Yes actually... Well... more of a witch... doctor. Her name is Zecora, and she lives in the Everfree Forest.

"Didn't I just come from there?" Beta asked, a little confused.

"Kind of. That was the missing glen, part of the forgotten forest. It's very close to the Everfree forest, but not as dangerous." The Doctor said matter of factly, suppressing a grin at his glib answer. "You'd be surprised how many ponies just appear... and disappear in that glen." He finished. Beta just gave him a sardonic look as if to say 'really?'

"Ahem... sorry... Yes Zecora. She's a zebra of amazing skill... but she does tend to talk in verse quite a lot." He then turned to the mare standing in the shadows of the doorway. "Derpy, my love, will you be so kind as to give Beta a map to Zecora? I think we still have one laying around"

"Doctor, you know that map is no good" she giggled in a sweet tone "You made it after all! But I think I have a useful map for him" she added, winking at them both, as she turned, swaying her hips suggestively, Beta hoped, for the Doctor's benefit. The Doctor followed her with his gaze her until she was out of sight, where she flicked her tail high offering a couple eye fulls to Beta and the Doctor, clearly showing what was on HER mind at the moment. Beta blushed, his cheek furr turning purple where it was blue, and red where it was white, and looked away,while the Doctor held his gaze, smiling, "appreciating" her teasing gate.

Sighing happily and with more than a touch of desire and heavy with love in his voice The Doctor said "She is, by far, one of the best things to ever happen to me. Here or in my other life."

Beta smiled, looking at the still love struck Doctor. He gathered that it had been many years, but their love was just as strong. Maybe stronger. 'You're a lucky ma.. er.. pony, Doctor' Beta thought.

A few minutes of small talk later, Derpy returned with a light sun dress on, and the map in a pocket. She gave the map to Beta "The circle is here, X is Zecora's. The rest should be obvious."

"See me after Zacora's helped you and we'll see about getting you some flying lessons" the Doctor said. Beta caught a wiff of Derpy's scent and....

'Oh wow... I had better be gone a LONG time' Beta chuckled to himself as he left the Whooves' residence. Not one minute after he closed the dood He heard ripping of clothes and... other sounds of a happily married couple. Smiling, Beta let out a long quiet sigh. He wondered if he'd ever be in a happy relationship like that. Was he destined to be alone?

'And how is this Zecora person supposed to help me?' he wondered as he entered the Everfree Forest.,

%i% The Witch Doctor

9 The Witch Doctor

Beta left the Doctor's workshop following the directions to Zecora's place, deep in the woods. He figured that Rarity would need more time to make his squirrel suit. The Everfree Forest... well the names here were apt if not descriptive. Beta followed the route as exactly as he could.

After a few minutes travel, he was deep in the forest. Beta stopped and inhaled the smells. Closing his eyes and raising his long ears into the air, he took in the pulse of the forest. Life... this forest was so filled with life, it made him smile. He inhaled deep again, tasting the air for prey... for Zecora. She wasn't prey of course, but his hunter... his fox side saw all equines as prey.

He heard her hooves shortly after he picked up her scent. Exotic. Something he had never smelled before. Almost like a warm breeze on the Savannah. Cardamom, cinnamon and anise oil. Beta loved how ponies smelled here. So different than in his world. So expressive. He turned before opening his eyes[, where]. Where he saw Zecora's large, intelligent eyes staring at him.

Beta smiled again. She was much closer than he thought she'd be. He underestimated her. She knew how to move. His respect for her just went up several notches. He had to [stop]shop underestimating these fillies.

Zecora started simply "Though you may seek to find,  the answers lie already in your mind."

'Great' Beta thought 'a riddler.' He then put a finger on her soft equine lips.

"I don't have much time. Can we please skip the rhymes... just this one time?" chuckling, Zecora nodded.

"Ok, but just this once stranger." Zecora said with a soft smile. Beta chuckled in grateful return.

"I'm no stranger to you. You've been tracking me since I entered the woods. I imagine you also know at least the basics of my story from the wild life here." Beta stated plainly.

The zebra smiled and nodded. Her respect for his tracking skills also just went up a few notches. This was a hunter. A warrior. She would need to keep a close eye on him. He... interested her.

"You want to know of magic." Zecora said flatly. Beta liked her directness when she wasn't talking in riddles.

"Yes... and no." he said cryptically in response.

"Now you speak in riddles, blue rabbit." She saw his tail but he seemed more lupine then vulpine to her. A lost little bunny looking for home.

He touched his bandage and flinched in unexpected pain. "Yes because my life has become one since I arrived." he said, wincing in pain. Zecora snorted, turned and swished her tail, smiling a little.

"Come follow me Mr, my-life-is-a-riddle. All of our lives are riddles Beta." she began. He wasn't surprised she knew his name.

"But how we deal with them... that's the real enigma." her voice was as sweet as it was deep for a female. Beta could listen to her read the phone book. Of course they probably didn't have directories here. He had to mentally kick himself. Beta had been underestimating Equestria and its inhabitants since he arrived, unfairly. He had to stop being so... bigoted. that thought stopped Beta cold.

"You see, Beta." Zecora said stopping with Beta. Her tail still towards him giving him his privacy, looking forward. "Your true answers lie inside you. Your heart can not lie, unlike your mind." She added sagely. Beta nodded, his self disgust radiating.

"Do not feel you are so bad. You are ignorant. That can be fixed." she noted. Beta looked at Zecora, who looked back now, smiling kindly. "Ignorance can be fixed with kindness and knowledge. Bigotry can't. You seem like a smart one to me, Beta."

"Dammit, can everyone read my thoughts today?" Beta wondered darkly.

"No, but you project your feelings so loudly". Zecora said with a laugh and a friendly smile. "that you might as well say them with your own voice."

Beta definitely liked her, even if her readings on him were too eerily accurate.

"What do you know Zecora?" Beta pleaded.

"More than you, and yet less. I know that bandage is holding your life force in." she said with an air of graveness. "I know it's a product of moon magic. How that can be, I do not know." she finished half in thought. Beta knew she was right.

"That night" he began. "When I escaped the lab..." she turned to listen to him. "I prayed to the moon goddess. As I passed out I begged Luna to save me. And here I am. More or less alive" he said, grabbing his waist again. Something in this forest was interfering with the bandage's magic.

Zecora gasped. 'Such an act of mercy?!  From Luna of all ponies!?' she thought.

"What?" Beta asked in innocence.

"You truly don't know, do you?" Zecora asked.

"Know what? I owe Luna everything. Without her help, I would be dead. Worse, I would never have met anypony that I have met here. I'm happy here, Zecora. Maybe even happier than I was when my team..." he drifted off, suddenly melancholy overcoming him. "...was alive." he finished in a tiny voice. 'I'm the last...' he realized. Finally able to allow that thought.

Zecora walked over and touched her nose to his. An intimate gesture of affection, she knew. But he needed it. Whatever he lost coming here, it meant a great deal to him still.

"Make you whole, I cannot" she said "but your trip to me isn't for naught." she smiled, slipping in a rhyme.

Beta smiled and blushed. Both from the touch of her soft equine... zebra nose and with her rhyme.

'I guess she enjoys speaking in riddles. I suppose I should be more tolerant of such a sweet pony... mare?' he realized.

"We are here at my home, try nothing funny or it will be your doom!" she intoned as they arrived at a smallish hut/house.

Beta smiled, bowed with a flourish and intoned "Healing is all I wish to do, I swear, not an evil claw will be set upon you" and Zecora realized he was swearing to be her protector if ever she needed.

She blushed at the oath and nodded smiling. 'Brave, strong and sure he is.' she pondered for a moment. 'And I'm sure he means it. I will not come to any harm as long as he is around Ponyville.'

Zecora then walked around her hut and started pouring or tossing various ingredients into her cauldron.

"Stir this if you can. Mend your wounds... try I can." she said and they both chuckled at the failed verse.

"Mmmmm" Beta began in a gruff Yoda-like voice, mildly taunting Zecora "Learn the ways of the force you must. Know it's way, that you must trust... YEEEessss" They both laughed for a couple minutes.

Beta took the stirring ladle. "To the left or right" he asked. "For you I can stir all night." he replied in his own verse. "How will this help me?" he asked. He trusted her well enough, he was just curious.

"I am only to show you what to do for this potion requires moonlight itself.  Your bandage is a gift of Luna so to Luna must you go. The potion you will brew tonight should last for at least one fight." she said with a wink and a smirk.

Beta didn't care for the foreshadowing but understood it was unlikely he was going to stay without a fight.

After an hour, he understood what needed to be done, when and how. Zecora lent him a small cauldron, as well as the ingredients and big wooden spoon needed. Beta said his thanks and returned to the Doctor and Derpy, hoping to Luna they were finished...'playing Doctor and patient'.

"Ah, you got your mumbo jumbo supplies, I see." The Doctor quipped.

"Even men... er... ponies of science admit there are 'as of yet unknown forces in the world'." Beta replied. He then quoted Asimov. "Any sufficiently advanced technology will appear to be magic."

"Are you suggesting that magic is just technology we don't understand yet?" The Doctor huffed.

"Yes, in its own way it is a very exact science. What is it they say here?" Beta thought out loud... "Friendship is magic."

%i% Moonlit Sonata

10 Moonlit Sonata

"I have directions... a recipe as it were, from Zecora, that will allow me to harvest some of the moon's power. Much like solar power can run... Oh, never mind" Beta finished a little sharply. But he could see the Doctor understood.

"You are a little harsh on their tech base here, Doctor" Beta gently chided. "If you look at what she has me doing, it's actually quite brilliant." Beta said almost offhandedly, as he read the recipe for that night's brew.

"Next you're going to tell me friendship truly is magic" the Doctor started but Beta cut him off.

"Yes... Yes it is Doctor. How you feel for Derpy... what it could drive you to do. What my feelings for the ponies I've befriended... or rather have befriended me. That's magical Doctor. Anything that can change how we act without us even considering it... that's magical. Love... " Beta paused, thinking over the myriad of ancient love poems. The story of the Iliad, the Odyssey, Romeo and Juliet, Persephone and Hades... "Yes Doctor... Love is a miracle. It can drive one to wage war, to heights never before thought of, a mother to lift a tree to save her child... one to harness the power of the vortex..." that brought the Doctor up short...

'My previous life...' The Doctor thought, before it was gone, like a puff of smoke on a summer's night. Just... gone. Vapor in the breeze.

"I choose to believe that friendship IS magic, Doctor." Beta continued, as he started to prepare the ingredients for the potion in the Doctor and Derpy's kitchen. He noticed things were a little haphazardly placed... until Beta screwed up his eyes like Derpy's, which hurt a great deal, THEN... the kitchen actually made sense.

'Huh... so that's how she sees the world. how... different.' Beta mused, and nodded in appreciation. Derpy was far more clever than anyone gave her credit for.

"Derpy, you really do have a unique way of looking at the world" Beta commented. This caused Derpy to smile very broadly, happy that SOMEONE could appreciate her... unique eye sight.

"Um... would you like some help Mister Beta?" Derpy offered. "I'm actually pretty good in the kitchen..." noticing the Doctor's half reaction "YES Doctor... with KNIVES..." Beta couldn't hold back a snigger at their domestic bickering. He found it... refreshing.

"Actually... yes my dear, you are in fact rather good in the kitchen" The Doctor said 'and a couple other places around the house' he didn't say. Beta could read his long equine face however and sniggered, breaking into a barking laugh, unable to contain himself. Then he caught himself... he was happy. He was genuinely happy to be around these people... er... ponies.

Beta and Derpy worked for the next couple hours, preparing the recipe. The Doctor watching and making snide comments about mumbo jumbo. Happily talking between the three of them.

Apple Berry stopped by about an hour before it was time for Beta to take the cauldron, the ingredients, and begin the ritual to the glen Zecora described. She had brought some apples and assorted groceries she hadn't been able to sell that day and gave them to the Hooves, as her customary thing to do.

"Oh NO!" Derpy exclaimed "My job! I have to go. I forgot that I'm on duty for the evening post today!" and with that she was off, kissing the Doctor on the cheek as she left.

"Will she get in trouble?" Apple Berry asked, walking to Beta to give him half a pomegranate, blushing. Reaching for the fruit half absent mindedly, Beta paused before he bit into it, and began to blush very red himself, the air leaving his lungs with shock, like air leaving an airlock in space. He was totally speechless. The seeming significance of this offering wasn't lost on Beta in the slightest. He slowly, with a trembling paw, put the piece down, shock coloring his face.

"I... I..." he shook his head slowly as to not offend Apple Berry "I... not now... not... here..." he apologized and busied himself with preparing his night's task of capturing the moon's power... so that he could live another day or two.

"What was that about?" Apple Berry asked, looking at the Doctor, who had been watching the entire scene quietly. He looked up at Apple Berry. 'So young still... how refreshing to see she is still ignorant on some things.'

"I um... I think he thought you were... um..." the Doctor blushed a little realizing what this next sentence could do... then for once decided to be quiet. "Oh, I'm sure he just doesn't care for pomegranates, is all" The Doctor lied. 'He thought you were proposing to him' He couldn't bring himself to say... because that would mean that he had just rejected his first proposal from Apple Berry. And based on how SHE smelled...

'He doesn't know...' The Doctor finally put together. 'What she thinks happened, and what Beta DOESN'T know happened... ' The Doctor went up to Beta and tried something. "Beta?"

"Yeah?" Beta replied, turning to look at the Doctor. And he went rigid. He knew what was happening... and damned if he was going to allow it. Beta then looked the Doctor back in the eyes with murderous determination, black slowly creeping into them.

The Doctor looked around. He was human again. He had his trench coat on. He looked and saw the lab where Beta was kept, where he was grown, trained, brutalized, sent on to missions from, healed, and... "Ahhhh here it is" The Doctor said to himself. A flash of Dobsin and the cruel scientists. His father at the back looking on with sadness and pity.

The Doctor then felt something on his shoulder. "Impossible" but then he turned. and faced a very angry, 6 foot tall furry. His eyes were completely black.

"Of course. That's part of why they couldn't use those neck plugy things on you" The Doctor said, trying not to show concern. "They are a kind of psychic invasion thing...ie... but of course that uses..." he rambled for a moment

"GET...OUT!" The tall furry growled. Yet this wasn't the Beta The Doctor came to know. This was... someone else. The part of him that was untouched by the world. The inner self.

"How?" The Doctor wondered

"Do you think Father left me unprotected?!" The furry growled, and an image of Professor Naspha passed around them throughout Beta's life.

"He gave me PROTECTION! Against psychic attacks" The furry growled loudly.

"Of course... the... 'mistake'" The Doctor said. The furry nodded.

"What you don't understand Doctor... is that you are no longer a proper Time Lord. What little psychic powers you have are shadows, echoes of your former glory. What you don't realize is that you are in MY WORLD NOW!" and with that, the furry disappeared, the world went white and all of a sudden, they were in the Doctor's mind.

“Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!” The Doctor howled in pain. Beta opened his eyes, they were blacker than midnight. He spoke in a primal,growling, almost otherworldly voice.

“No one is allowed in my mind. NO ONE!”. Beta said in a deep, dangerous whisper.

"Now you!" Beta said both inside their minds and outside, as Beta began pushing back psychically. Beta and The Doctor saw a blue police box... elsewhere in the nebulous jumble of thoughts was a pony in a cage kicking against bars of a simple cage, howling for his "Dee Dee".

‘Who is that? Beta thought. ‘is that the original pony this body belonged to? The Doctor took over his body?!’

“Noooooo!!!!” the Doctor howled in misery as he reached for the image of the blue box before it vanished from his mind.

“I am no threat, but I am NOT to be fucked with chrononaught!” A moment later the black gone. Beta dropped to his knees while tears welled and spilled over and down his maw, soaking his furr.

“Th-the drain ....” he looked at the Doctor, who was recovering from the psychic rebuke, eyeing Beta differently now.

“I'm sorry" the Doctor said. "I... I didn't realize how abused you've been. I'll never press you like that again. I promise.”

“They took away my... my" Beta fumbled but couldn't think of another word... "humanity!” Beta wailed.  “I can never be normal! I can never....” he paused, and noticed Apple Berry next to him, holding onto him for dear life. She was willing him to 'be better'... willing her love into him. She wanted him to feel how much she cared for him. It was enough to stop him, and return him to his senses.

“You can, here.” The Doctor said. “Well... more normal than where you came from.”  Beta looked up, tears still in his eyes

“I just want a home, Doctor.” Beta said weakly, as a child who has just been rebuked might say, half weeping, begging his mother for forgiveness.

“That may take you a while to do, my young furry friend. But I sense you will find it here. “ The Doctor said consolingly. And looked pointedly at Apple Berry, who was still holding on to Beta as if he might slip away into the abyss any moment. Beta was beginning to wonder what pony he should be chasing.

"What about you, Doctor?." Beta asked, pulling himself together.

"I'm... this is my home now. This was my reward." he said in a mix of sadness, gratitude and bitterness. "Save the universe.... again, die... again. Come here, I suppose. I would have ceased to exist otherwise. It's just... I've lost knowledge I used to have. Skills that are no longer there. I'm... stuck. I'll have a normalish life here. Then..." he let out a heavy sigh. "I just don't know."

"Then you die like every man... pony does. Old, surrounded by family and friends. Able to spend eternity with your beloved Derpy" Beta said, not coldly, but honesty, almost optimistically.

"Anyway, we'll get you up there" The Doctor said, rapidly changing topics, pointing heaven ward with a hoof. Beta smiled in gratitude. He wanted to give Rainbow Dash a happy surprise. He missed the dark, mildly depressed look that crossed Apple Berry's face that seemed to say 'but... you're mine... aren't you?'

"However," the Doctor said with all the warmth of a cold winter shower. "You still need to learn how to fly."

"Are you going to show me?" Beta asked with an air of the blind leading the blind.

"Oh goodness no. Derpy will!" The Doctor said with a wide, manic grin.

"Um... Doc... are you sure about this?" Beta's confidence in the Doctor's sanity suddenly dove faster than his stomach.

Laughing loudly, the Doctor reassured. "Um... Derpy has her own special way of teaching. I've known her since she was a foal. Actually we're something of foalhood friends. I didn't get my... other memories back until a few years ago. You can trust her even if it doesn't immediately make sense." he finished with an air of unvented frustrations.

'He truly cares for her' Beta realized and smiled. 'His eternal reward... happiness and love. Not a bad prize. I hope he sees it as that, though.'

"Um... when should I start my flying lessons?" Beta asked with a little trepidation in his voice.

"Tomorrow, after you get your moo moo juice." The Doctor taunted. "You should get your suit and come back here as early as you can manage."

Derpy was different from Fluttershy, Beta pondered, as he and Apple Berry walked to the clearing. Fluttershy only had self esteem issues. Derpy seemed to have deeper issues that made Fluttershy seem outward and popular in contrast. It was clear the Doctor had faith in her so Beta would as well.

"Why ah you goin up ta Cloudsdale?" Apple Berry asked in her sweet accent, giving words to what she had been thinking for some time. 'Didn't the other night mean anythin to ya?' she wondered sadly 'it's like ya dohn even remember it'

Beta blushed, realizing that was probably not something he should go into detail with Apple Berry... though even he was starting to wonder why... 'would it be worth endangering a relationship with Apple Berry' Beta began to wonder.

"Because they say I can't" he said finally as they began to place the items in the clearing. The fire was set, the cauldron was boiling and the ingredients were being fed into it. Once they finished, Beta looked up to the full moon, then down into it's reflection in the cauldron and recited the prayer.

"Oh, my sweet goddess Luna. Please share but a tiny drop of your power with me so that I may live yet another day, spreading the word of your love and watchful eye over your children as they sleep."

Seeing his need, she did. She saw the pony next to him, looked into her heart and dreams, and nodded her favor this time. This mare may just be what he truly needs. So she gave her a tiny blessing as well.

In the morning, Beta collected about two bottles of "well... it is... Moon Juice" He said sheepishly.

%i% The Doctor and Derpy

11 The Doctor and Derpy

Later that morning, Beta snuck into town, as Apple Berry went to set up shop. They had slept huddled together in the forest for warmth and comfort. They stowed the cauldron at the Hooves residence.

Approaching Rarity's shop, Beta wondered how early it opened. A moment later he found out... more or less.

"I'm surprised you waited this long for your suit, Beta" Rarity said in her usual haughty tone. Beta welcomed it. Every once in a while he liked to hear stuck up, sticky muzzles. However unlike most, Rarity had the skill to back up her tone.

"I thought I'd give you time for a lie in" he said, feeling more comfortable with her to be a little sarcastic.

Sniffing at the air, Rarity picked up Apple Berry 'of all ponys' scent. on him "I see you've had a busy night" she half taunted, winking at him.

"Huh? Oh no, no, no" waving his paws in front of himself "Just collecting moon... light... for my bandages" he finished lamely, understanding what it must smell like, since he hadn't had a chance to shower. 'I must positively reek like Apple Berry' he thought, wondering if that was such a bad thing.

"She's a good one... Apple Berry, you know..." Rarity said, as if reading his thoughts. "Rainbowdash is a nice pony and all..." she paused in thought before continuing "But I'm not sure she's the kind to put down... roots, if you get my drift." Beta nodded. "Still" she continued "It's never bad to go visit friends, now is it?" she finished with a friendly smile. "Besides, if that crazy Doctor can get you up there, it looks like it might be fun to fly... well... glide around, among the clouds" she finished, sighing a little.

"I'll let you know how it goes..." Beta said, then paused, trepidation creeping into his voice "assuming I survive Derpy's flying lessons today"

Rarity could only gasp in horror, and extreme dramatization.

"DERPY!?... Teaching YOU!?" she said overly dramatically. Beta was starting to see her quirk, and it amused him.

'My new friends are so weird' he thought with a smile, watching Rarity act as if he was DOOMED to DIE a HORRIBLE death.

"If the Doctor has faith in Derpy not to kill me, then I have to take him at his word" Beta said calmly. Rarity stopped mid 'Oh you are so DOOMED' to look at him and smiled, nodding.

"Of course you're right. She's a... um... competent flyer, if not unconventional. Though perhaps you need unconventional" she added, appraising him anew, before finally nodding. A moment later, he was out the door, being shoo'd by Rarity. "Off you go!" she said with a smile.

Beta left, thanking Rarity again and handing over the bag of coins he was given by Mac. Shaking her head Rarity refused all but a few coins to cover the material costs.

"It was fun" she said and winked, before closing the door finally.

"What a generous pony" Beta said to himself, as he returned to the shadows, and headed back to the Hooves' home.

After returning to the Hooves' home, Beta, the Doctor, and Derpy enjoyed a small breakfast of muffins.

"These are amazing!" Beta said in appreciation. He wasn't sure what the flavor was, nor what was in the muffins... lately he'd realized it was best not to ask, as nearly everything they ate was, of course, consistent with an herbivore's diet. The only protein he got was in the milk, given... well... sold by the cows, and the occasional fish he'd grab from the local stream. He was fairly sure that was OK, since he didn't think all residents of the Everfree Forest were herbivores.

"Oh yes, Derpy is quite skilled, actually, in many things" The Doctor said in a generous tone. Beta saw that the Doctor was doing a fine enough job of buttering and tearing apart his muffins, when he wasn't thinking about it. Beta smiled as those particular pieces came together.

"I see you've managed a knife Doctor" Beta said, testing his theory. As the Doctor looked up at him, the knife fell 'Gotcha' Beta thought to himself, smiling a little, seeing the Doctor, now consciously, trying to pick up the knife. Smiling affectionately, Derpy walked over and picked up the knife from the floor, tossed it deftly into the kitchen, bouncing it off a hanging pot, the burner, kicking it with one of her back hooves, before landing it in the sink. The entire performance seemed practiced and routine somehow to Beta. 'Domestic life.' He sighed to himself, still smiling.

Taking pity on the Doctor, Beta noticed "You know, if you don't think about what you're doing, you do it."

Both Derpy and the Doctor stopped and looked at him as if he said something in another language, causing Beta to laugh, careful to put his coffee and muffin down first.

"You... Oh sweet Luna, the look on your faces!" he continued, unable to hold in his laughter... and finding that he didn't want to hold it in either. Seeing their indignant looks, Beta worked hard to straighten his face up, a couple tears of mirth dribbling down his maw "Ok, Ok... here's what I mean Doctor. have a cup of coffee. it'll help" Beta said, extending his cup to the doctor... which he took effortlessly with his hoof, then sipped.

"Thank you Beta, I do feel better no..." he then dropped the cup the instant he realized he was holding it. And though it crashed to the floor, Beta began laughing harder now. "Oh..." the Doctor said... "Right..."

Beta was on the floor on his knees. It wasn't so much that IT was that funny... it was that the mighty Doctor Hooves, former Time Lord and savior of the universe, who had spent however many years in pony land only JUST NOW "Cottoned on to how he can hold things!!!!" Beta pointed and wheezed. "HOW many years has it been Doctor?" Beta said, slowly regaining his composure.

"I noticed it as soon as I arrived in this place. Ponies here seem to have" Beta began before he was interrupted by the Doctor, who had just come to the same conclusion.

"...a micro telekinetic field around their fore hooves...." The Doctor finished in amazement that he NEVER realized this before. After all, eating was something that was simply done, and he never thought about it. The only time the Doctor noticed he needed to pick something up, was when he was starting to work on something. then... somehow, many hours later it was done, his workshop littered with tools he'd been using.

"Haven't you asked Derpy about it?" Beta asked more seriously. The Doctor nodded weakly as if it never occurred to have a long and frank discussion on the subject with his mate.

"Doctor..." Derpy said in that shy voice, as if she was afraid to break something with simply her voice "I tried to explain it, but..." she backed up a little, afraid she'd already said too much. Beta wondered if this was because the Doctor had violent rages... of she was afraid of ever being right. Seeing his mate back up and try to turn invisible, the Doctor walked over to Derpy and kissed her lips long and slow, before moving closer to hug her with one hoof.

"You do, my dearest." The Doctor said softly to Derpy "You have been my rock ever since I woke from that fall so many years ago. You have helped me so much my darling." he finished, kissing her again.

'So that's just how she is...' Beta realized, watching the couple 'I get the feeling this is a regular thing with them... why is she so down on herself' Beta wondered. Beta quietly finished his breakfast and slipped out to the shed, where he put on his squirrel suit.

'Wow... just wow' Beta though for the 100th time, marveling at the design. 'She's truly a gifted seamstress' Beta mused again for the 10th time. The material was breathable, but could obviously do the job needed. The wings were also retractable. There were catches, Beta figured he would hook and unhook in mid air with little problem. There was lots of give around the joints, so he could actually walk about when the wings were out.

"She's a bloody genius" he said silently to himself as he heard hooves approaching. He smiled, turning to see his soon to be teacher, Derpy.

"Yes, she is" Derpy agreed, "And generous too. She made the bags I use to deliver mail. Only asked for enough to cover her material cost plus a little bit. If I had gotten them in Canterlot, it would have cost me 10 times that. She even repairs them when I, um..." she blushed "need repairs"

Smiling, Beta nodded in agreement and understanding. "Things get ripped in the course of work".

"So, Derpy," Beta began, feeling a change in topic might be apt,"Where are we going to fall... um... we learn how to fly?" he added humorously, but saw her confidence fall. He then added quickly "I'm joking... Seriously, if the Doctor says you're the best, then you're the best!" Derpy smiled weakly at that.

"We're going to a place where you can best learn how to glide. It's about an hour from here, on the other side of the Everfree Forest. It's good that you're up so early. You should probably, um..." Derpy blushed then pressed on forward "Take.. your, um... suit off..." she finished, her soft grey fur showing more than a tinge of rose.

"Right... that's a good point." Beta said, nodding, before slipping back into the shed. A moment later he handed the suit to Derpy folded, as he was now dressed in the 5 minute shorts and 'shoes' Rarity made for him the other day. 'For a pony seamstress, she is amazing at making clothing for me. I wonder how many 'two-legs' she designs for?' Beta had wondered, not for the first time. "Well, let's get going" he said, enjoying the light breeze across his long ears.

About an hour later, he was looking at the canyon. "Where are we?" Beta asked

"It goes by a lot of names. Let's just call it 'the quarry' today." she said

"The Quarry" was a huge canyon with rock spires jutting up from the ground, high into the air. It was about 15 miles from Ponyville and rather deserted.

"Perfect for flying lessons" Derpy said proudly, puffing her chest out "Well... gliding lessons, since your suit doesn't have any means of movement on its own." she corrected. "First, I'll fly you up to that one over there" Derpy said, pointing a hoof at a rather isolated, very tall spire, which Beta estimated to be about 400 feet up from the ground. "That way" she began "you have lots of time before you hit the ground and go SPLAT and paint half the canyon" she said with a big gesture, then giggled.

"WhAt?!" Beta bleated.

"Well, that's how it is for us pegasai. We have to either learn to fly or... at least... for me." she said, blushing sadly and was suddenly thoughtful and quiet. A moment later she shook her head and her funk lifted. "Anyway" she continued in her usual bubbly way

'Perhaps that explains her cutie mark' Beta thought. He'd decided against asking how one got a cutie mark, for fear he might wake up one morning with something tattooed on his ass cheeks.

"I'll be following you down to make sure you don't die too horribly" she said, smiling in that cute way that probably drove the Doctor nuts. It only gave Beta a feeling of dread. He was not reassured by her words.

After a very... interesting ride to the top of the spire, Derpy waited for Beta to put his squirrel suit on, looking away as to give him privacy... 'Yes, because I have so much privacy being on a spire 400 feet in the air, where anypony can see me!' Beta thought as he donned his new wings.

"Ok, watch me glide down from a jumping start." she sounded like she actually knew something. The confidence in her voice improved Beta's own confidence in having her teach him how to glide. She then jumped off the spire, waited a moment, then extended her wings out. It was as though she had stopped in mid air without trying to. Then she began to glide very gracefully to the floor of the canyon. When she reached the bottom, she flew back up. It occurred to Beta that she was a much better glider than flyer. He could have sworn there were moment when she actually glided UP, as opposed to down.

"Like that" she said in her usual bubbly, if a little breathy from the exertion of flying back up, tone. "Count to 5, slowly, and then open your wings. That way you will have enough speed to grant you enough lift to help you glide the rest of the way down." she finished. Her confidence in at least this subject was really making Beta feel like this day could go well until... She pushed him off the spire.

%i% Flying Lessons

12 Flying Lessons

"DDeeeeeeeerrrrrrrpppppppyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!"

Beta was falling face first toward the canyon. His first thought was  how fast the canyon floor was approaching. Then he realized he needed to count...

"12345" he said outloud in about 1 second. he then put his legs and arms together before a moment later opening up and releasing his wings. He stopped so fast it left him breathless and giddy for a moment. he looked around, and just... marveled. he was free...

He was completely free for the first time in his life. he could dive and die, turn and glide, hold here and just slowly lower to the ground. THIS was freedom. He experimented with moving, leaning left and right, how his tail and long ears affected how he moved through the air. the he looked over and saw Derpy gliding down in that graceful yet somehow unconventional way she did.

"What do you see?" Beta asked out loud, but nearly to himself as he looked at Derpy... and noticed her eyes were completely closed, and a peaceful smile was on her face. a moment later she banked left and shot way up above Beta. Almost as if by instinct he rolled onto his back to watch her. air swimming' he would later refer to it, like back peddling in a pool lazily.He watched her climb, then at her apex she nosed forward and fell straight down, but her wings were still straight out, she zipped past him. Rolling again to follow her, he felt a very cold jet of air as his left paw crossed where Derpy flew down. he felt all the lift in that paw disappear. He realized he had to move away.

As he banked to the right again he saw that Derpy had caught another air current and was raising again but slowly.

"She's flying without.. flying" He realized. He then closed his own eyes trying to feel what was around him. He sensed the cold near his left paw. but then he thought he felt a warmer current near his right. when he banked that way, he flew past the edge of the warm current and found himself shot "backwards" straight up into the air! His eyes then snapped open, and he was positive, for half a moment he could see the air currents.

Beta made many more jumps over the next few hours. Whenever he landed Derpy would land and bring him back up. and he would jump again. slowly his movements became graceful. He understood when to bank or turn, how to catch a daft here and there, and Derpy explained about the various currents.

There are the Cold or drop zones that will send you straight into the ground sometimes. The hot zones that will send you straight up! and the currents. All these change and move around, and you have to become very sensitive to notice them. Most pegasai ignore them, or only generally notice them. Most are power flyers, moving because they flap their wings. Derpy used a combination of the two. As soon as Beta realized this, her entire way of moving and flying made sense.. and why things "just happened" sometimes.

During a break, when Beta and Derpy were enjoying the view, and some apples Beta turned to Derpy.

"You're very graceful out there" He said, gesturing to empty space.

"thank you... but I think you;re about the only pony in Equestria who thinks so" Derpy replied, grateful for the rare compliment, but looking away, nosing in her saddlebag for a snack she'd prepared earlier.

"I have a history of being a... clutz. I... I break things." she finished, looking infinitely sad.

"Whats wrong?" Beta asked "And don't say nothing"

"When I was a foal, I had a friend... Butter hooves. He was so funny and happy... so was I, I guess. At least when I was around him I was happy." She said wistfully, as thought grasping at a gosimer thread of happiness caught between strands of ropery misery. "We played around alot etween and after school lessons. But one day we were climing." She then opinted with a hoof "that ledge over there. and we fell." Her look of misery grew "I had.. small wings as a foal, and especially ack then. I'm only half pegasus, and I was only jsut starting to learn how to fly. Butter was never very good and holding things in his hoof." she added almost as an after thought.

"My mom was an earth pony and my father... " she stopped. it was clear even now thinking about her family was too painful. The Doctor and Ponyville were her family now. Beta didnt press. Two minutes passed before Dery stopped crying enough to continue her story.

"anyway... *sniff* my wings were small and weak, and I didn't know how to carry anyone. Heck i could barely lift myself. heh Scootaloo reminds me of myself at her age in so many... sad ways." she paused again. Beta knew of the young classmate of Apple Bloom. He'd also seen her zooming around town here and there. She would grow into an amazing pony one day. He could tell by her determination not to let her small wigs inhibit her ambitions, whatever that happened to be. He mentioned more than once Rainbow Dash should take her under her wing. She'd said she'd consider it.

"so..." Derpy finally resumed "I... I didn't know how to cary another pony... and Butter had always been to bad about grasping things and just...the rocks fell on us. He fell so far, and i.. I got hit pretty hard on th ehead, and I fell. Thats why my eyes are like this" She noted. Beta nodded and she continued "The doctors tell me I was lucky that my eyes are all that happened to me... that I could have gone bliund or even died if the rock hit me anywhere else. But... poor Butter, he wasn't so lucky I guess." she began to cry again, tears running down in a steady stream, soaking her head furr

"Hoovesie... he got sick. He was in a coma for months." the tears refused to stop, like twin waterfalls the water streamed off her cheeks. Beta understood how much it was costing her to tell him. but it seemed as though she needed to tell someone, and he may have been the first pony...person to be interested or willing to listen to her story.

"I watched over him every day. when I had to goto school I would hurry back as soon as I could. i studied by his side i..." her voice caught. the next part neary brough her to sobs as she recalled the horrible moment. "One day he got relaly still... so I yelled for the doctor to come up. then Hooveie began to glow a bright yellow - golden glow.It was like Celestia had heard my prayers and had used golden sunlight to heal him but..."

The tears would not stop. Beta wondered how much of a change there had been. He reached into Derpy's saddlebag and pulled out a container of water and handed it to her. She smiled ever so slightly, and drank. when she finished she managed to blink the tears down to a trickle from a torrent.

"He was different. He kept asking strange questions, not recognizing anyone... but me. Somehow he knew me.. kind of. He looked at me with those eyes of his... those beautiful wise eyes. He... he knew me but he didnt. it was like we were all strangers." She said, gulping back more tears.

"The doctors said it was because of the illness and coma. that was probably why he had amnesia, that all his memories should return soon... they were wrong" she finished almost bitterly. "Butter hooves was... dead" and she buried her cafe in her hooves and shook with misery, crying that way only children can. Complete and total misery draining crying, much like Beta had done when he'd arrived.

'How long has it been' Beta wondered to himself 'must be nearly a month now. i arrived on a full moon. it's nearly time for the next one...' and he was struck with another thought 'is it time to help Luna return herself?' Beta didn't know where that idea had come from, or what it meant. He did know he would have to figure that one out on his own however.

After a few minutes of hard crying Derpy composed herself enough to continue with her story. "I was the only person he would let help him." she began again  and even smiled a little that way she does every time she talks about the Doctor, and that's when Beta started putting things together.

"I had to show him how to do everything again. somehow he even forgot how to do things like a pony does. it was so weird" then she giggled and blushed "The first time her went to the bathroom.... I um... " she'd stopped crying at all and was so red from blushing at the memory of helping her friend use the latrine "hee hee it was the first time i'd seen him um... you know. and he didn't know how to it was.. really funny actually" she half laughed "but messy" and Beta nodded, smiling imagining going to the restroom as a pony for the first time, he also chuckled a little.

"But..." she looked sad again "It really wasn't my butter hooves. So I just called him hoovesie for a while. I didn't know what else to call him. Shortly after that we went to different schools. I went up to CloudsDale to learn how to be a pegasus, and he went to a fancy school in Canterlot. He always came back during vacations, even though his family had moved. he... he came to see me" She said smiling with a warm glow of love

"Somehow that fall ... everything, made him very smart. He graduated with a doctorate in engineering in the same amount of time it took me to finish Pegasus school in CloudsDale. I asked to return to PonyVille... because this is my home and he..." she blushed and looked away, but Beta could tell she was smiling a smile of the happiest pony in the world. "He came back to ponyville for me... He said that he'd seen a lot in his life, learned alot at school even experienced a lot the one summer he interned at the castle guard... but never for one minute did he forget me. I was the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes from his Coma. And he said he wanted me to be the last thing he saw before he closes his eyes for the last time.  He then... He then.." And she squee'd louder than an animal could hear "HE asked me to marry him!"

"I tried to be coy... to say 'Hmm I don't know. You go off and disappear for a whole summer. I barely hear from you the rest of the time' OK... he actually wrote to me a lot, and I wrote back. but it was fun to see him squirm... for about a second then i flew into his hooves and kissed him!" She finished, beaming brighter than an afternoon sun. The joy showing on her face.

"Then before I could actually say yes, we had a crazy adventure. We nearly died and I realized that this was how our life would be together... it'd never be normal. Any foals we have will have to deal with this insanity that our life seems to be. Afterwards, we were at my old home and he was at the door. He was ready to leave. He didn't want to put me in anymore danger" She said. a little sad, recalling that she almost lost him forever. "One of my wings was broken and bandaged up. He had broken 4 ribs, and was bandaged up himself. We were a complete mess." She smiled and laughed a little."I told him that he had no right to leave me! Not after everything we'd just been through. That what kind of wife..." she choked, smiling crying a few happy tears at the memory "What kind of wife would let her husband go out in the state he was in! I put my hoof down... then collapsed from the pain in my wing. He came running over to me... I simply looked up focused both eyes on him and said 'Yes'" She finished her story. Happy tears  drying on her smiling face.

"The Doctor is everything to me" she began again "Sure he can e cold sometimes, especially when he is thinking hard on something or working on a problem or something... but he always makes up for it. he has never missed my birthday or our anniversary or.. anything..." She continued that warm glowing smile. "I..."

"You love him" Beta said smiling

"Yes" She said simply enough

"Why do you call him The Doctor, not hoovsie still?"Beta asked, a conclusion beginning to form in his mind.

"It's who he is. He likes it... and I only called him Hoovesie because I didn't know what else to call him for a time. He's not my Butter hooves. Maybe that's best. I miss Butter, I do... but The Doctor is my life. He's always been there for me ever since the accident." She finished.

"How long has it been since the accident?"

"About 6 years"

"That short?"

"Like I said he's very smart. and he breezed through most of his education. We've been married about 3 years now" She said, beaming again. proud to be his wife. Beta couldn't help but smile... to the extent his jaw was starting to hurt. He realized how much he was smiling since he arrived here.. 3? 4? weeks ago.

"I don't know if my old Hoovesie... my butter hooves is in there ... in his mind or body, but it doesn't matter anymore. I love the Doctor. He makes me feel.. special."  she said.

Beta smiled at her and nodded.He thought he understood her feelings about the Doctor.  He was up here because Rainbow Dash made him feel special. He wanted to surprise her, but he also wanted to feel... free.He had only been here a short time. A handful of weeks but he had come to care dearly for the people er.. ponies of this place. He felt his heart reaching out... but he wasn't sure to who.

He cared deeply for Rainbow Dash, but Apple Berry was also finding her way into his heart... perhaps in a more natural way. They had more in common... well as much as a mutant from earth and an older mare from a world of ponies could have in common. Maybe flying was just his way for him to gain freedom.

Thinking about flying, Beta realized he was beginning to be able to feel... sense the various types of currents in the air. Derpy really was a great teacher.

"Derpy, you're truly a great teacher." Beta said causing Derpy to blush then she stood and walked over to Beta, hugging him... before she pushed him over the edge calling out to him "Thank you... break is over, now glide!" she said, giggling before jumping off the ledge to follow him down.

%i% Revelations

13 Revelations

The next day Beta got a note from Derpy while he was working on the farm. She was smiling when she delivered the letter, then she was off again.

"I guess she's all business when delivering letters" Beta mused to himself. He then opened and read the letter. It was from the Doctor. He was nearly finished with the rail gun. He was fairly sure that it would get him up to Cloudsdale in one piece. "Fairly sure..." Beta snorted to himself. "That's reassuring"

Finishing up his work for the day he went into the big house and talked to Mac. "Hey boss, can you spare me for a day? The Doctor has gotten his rail O death up and working.. he thinks" Beta Asked.

Snorting at the description Mac nods "Sure. we can probably coast for a couple days actually, you're pretty good at what you do here." Mac said smiling, knowing that Beta had wanted to visit Rainbow Dash up in the clouds for a while. He also knew that Beta wanted to fly pretty badly. He'd told Mac about his flying lessons and the look of peace when Beta talked about how it made him feel truly free made Mac smile and mist up a little.

'That pony's had a rough life.' Mac thought to himself. Ok HIS life was hardly fairies and happy dust, 'But that kid's seen things no one his age should have to see...' Mac reflected. 'Not to mention his ... upbringing'' Mac snorted 'if you can call it that.'

"Mac?" Beta asked curiously, unsure why Big Mac just snorted.

Seeing Beta's confused expression Mac returned to the present "Sorry Beta. Stray thought. Just be careful not to get killed on your way up there ok?" Mac said, a little embarrassed

Looking confused Beta asked "How do you mean? I'm pretty sure the launcher works"

"It's not that. you may go flying into a cloud only to smash into a foundation. they BUILD on those clouds you know" Mac said as if this were a normal thing, forgetting Beta was still new to Equestria.

Beta nodded realizing he hadn't actually considered any of this before.

"Just be careful up there ok Beta?" Mac said, emotions neither would admit in his eyes.

"I will." Beta said firmly,then kissed Big Mac on the bridge of his long nose, causing both to blush. They both  knew it could never happen... but that didn't mean they couldn't be mildly affectionate to each other.

After cleaning up in the big house's shower, Beta still hadn't run water to his hut, beta let his furr dry as he walked 'naked' to his hut. 'No one is looking anyway' He thought as he felt the warm breeze across his wet furr.

Once back at his hut, Beta donned his 'day clothes' and bagged his squirrel suit. he would put it on at the Whooves' place... after he did something he was dreading.

Beta had put together that The good Doctor, not of his own volition of course, was inhabiting another's body. He also figured that the other personality ... person?.... pony, was still in there. He had to break the Doctor to bring out the other. He hated doing it. The Doctor and Derpy had become almost like family to him, despite the short time. He cared for them and this act felt like betrayal... but he also felt it had to be done. Beta whined to himself as he approached town knowing what had to be done.

Beta had become a 'normal' sight in town by now. Everyone knew he was relatively safe. He worked at the farm and the Apples trusted him. That was enough for anypony. Any official inquiries about him were met with feigned ignorance. After all in these little towns, everyone looked after their own. Which meant everypony knew that Beta liked Rainbow Dash, and that Apple Berry liked Beta... except Beta it seemed.

Beta was glad he was accepted here. He didn't like having to sneak around town. He still did it time to time to keep his skills sharp. but a day like today, he was glad he didn't HAVE to. He had rather a lot on his mind already.

After a time Beta arrived at the Whooves. He could see the insane contraption in the nearby distance. "I certainly hope that thing works the first time... I don't know if I'll get a second." Beta said quietly to himself in a sad, dark tone.

Entering the home, Beta noticed Derpy is in the back relaxing and watching the local wildlife. Following a beetle with one eye flying around, and a snail on the ground with the other. Smiling sadly Beta thinks, guarding his thoughts from teh Doctor 'I hope she forgives me for this'.

Beta approaches the Doctor and feels his usual, almost instinctual, touching of Beta's mind. And that's when Beta pounces, mentally.

"Doctor, You wail about what you’ve lost... but who are you?" Beta began in a forced confrontational tone, "Look at Derpy. who is she to you?"

The Doctor not quite grasping what was going on said simply "She’s Derpy, my wife. Beta what's"

"How long have you known her?" Beta pressed, mentally he "rode the line back" into the Doctor's mind searching...

"Since we were foals..." The Doctor replied slowly, feeling the reverse intrusion into his mind, it had been so subtle he missed it when it first happened. "What are you looking for?" The Doctor asked, still genial but rapidly becoming suspicious.

"Foals? How old were you when you first laid eyes on Derpy hooves?" BEta pressed, he was close, every question opened new windows adn doors.. and then he "heard it"... hooves clanging, smashing against bars.

"I'm.. I'm... When I was... I..." The Doctor answered unsure of himself all of a sudden. He wasn't sure. "they took away my memories and childhood." He said finally, weakly, trying to kick Beta out of his mind, but Beta was trained in psychic combat, he was very good at keeping hidden, even in a mind as powerful as the pony Doctor.

"What if someone were to threaten Derpy, Hooves? What would you do?" Beta asked, deliberately NOT using the title of doctor. Hooves could be either entity... he hoped to grab the 'right one' and bring him forth.

The Doctor scoffed. "No one would harm a hair on her head. she’s harmless."

"Is she?" beta retorted. he had to do this just right.... it would be his thanks to Derpy if he was successful.

"Think.. think back... when  you were a foal... before the memories invaded your mind... who is she MISTER Hooves?" Beta said, again avoiding the title... he then pointed forcefully at Derpy who was a few yards away now examining a butterfly with one eye an a beetle on the ground with another.

"Tell me is that pony worth anything? what if i just killed her? i can you know..." beta said with almost cruel disdain. he HAD to push his morals. he HAD to... all his training in psychological warfare (yes he read that book) said this was how to break into The Doctor's mind... He prayed silently to Luna he was doing the right thing.

He would never know she heard him, and nodded.

"Look AT HER! worthless, just a mistake of a pony. dead in a moment, i won’t even make it hurt." he continued. seeing that he was striking something deep inside the doctor. Internally he found the colt in the golden cage. Every insult and threat against Derpy was making this one stronger. he saw the hoof dents on the bars... 'butter hooves' Beta whispered in his mind.

"But what do you care? you hardly know her. she’s just a companion isn't she? It’s not like you've known her since you were a foal. Not really! Why shouldn't I just kill her!" Beta asked in that cold, near-voilent voice. internally he hated every syllable. He loved these people as family.

The pony in the cage in hoove’s mind began to rattle loose. the invasion of The Doctor’s memories had suppressed this original personality.

“How long have you know her?” Beta asked. He had to ask the right questions in the right order... he had to. “Um for as long as... um...”

Beta could see the struggle within the Doctor...between his body’s memories and his own. ‘You’re going to have to loose to win doctor... i’m sorry. im so so sorry.’ Beta shielded the thought.

“that’s...” Doctor hooves continues, and then dropped to his equine knees.. all 4. “ that’s... Derpy.. i’ve known her since I was...” Beta could almost see the struggle within the man. surrender to the owner, and do what’s right or live on... ‘but you CAN do both doctor’ Beta thought... ‘you MUST’

“She’s...Derpy... my.. gir... girrrrr” it was as though the Doctor was a robot having a speech malfunction. he was literally town between selves. Internally the pony had nearly broken free, and then Beta was kicked out of the Doctor's mind, which sent him reeling back.

Returning completely to the 'real world', Beta noticed something odd about the doctor’s flank.. his cutie mark... there seemed to be names inscribed on his hour glass... ‘i  wonder...’ he backed up and put his hand on the cutie mark.. it felt textured. not like Rainbow dash’s … like he could... Beta pushed on the hour glass, it moved!

“DEE DEE DERPY HOVES!” the pony known as Doctor Hooves screamed, as the hour glass turned, “Doctor” now at the bottom, and “Hooves” at the top. Beta gasped as he saw sands begin to run through the hour glass. “a shared body” Beta said in a tiny voice to himself. unable to truly comprehend what the universe had been thinking.

Hooves stomped his fore hoof down so hard it snapped and crushed the small branch under his hoof, though still on his knees. He had the look of a mate preparing to kill to protect his loved one. "Don't you dare threaten one hair on her head or so help me Celestia i'll destroy you!"

He looked different to Beta. not the look of the doctor but... Butter? Derpy asked, coming into the house, hearing her full name... The Doctor never used her... she saw the change before anyone else did. Hoofy... is that you Hoofy? she repeated. the hope in her eyes was heart breaking to Beta. he prayed a silent prayer to Luna that this worked

Derpy looked at the Hooves. BOTH eyes were on him... a look of blown glass fragility on her face. if this was a trick.. it would destroy her “hoovsie?” she said in a tiny voice, almost inaudible. “oh Celestia... Butter Hooves is that you!?” she said louder walking closer, unable to believe Butter Hooves had returned. The Doctor had never been cold to her but... he wasn’t “Hoovsie”.

”DERPY!” hooves screamed again. relief and joy radiating from his body a he got up and trotted towards Derpy. “HOOFS!!!” she screamed and flew faster than Beta had seen her move and tackled Hooves hugging and kissing him. “Oh Hoovsie oh my love I’ve missed you so much!” she said weeping with joyous tears.

"Oh Thank you, THANK YOU Beta" Derpy cried. "Thank Celestia for you," and she could not be understood anymore. Her weeping and necking of Hooves was too much. She’d just regained the colt she loved with all her heart, at least that's what she thought at the moment.

'You made this happen ... why?' Beta heard in the back of his mind. It was the Doctor of course.

‘Because it wasn't right. Because you need to become one.’ he thought in response watching the couple, hugging and kissing, crying... Beta figured he should be somewhere else soon. He looked at the completed rail gun. It would launch him up to clouds dale... where Rainbow Dash was.

‘Doctor I'm sorry... I'm so so sorry’ he said without irony. He truly was. ‘you still exist. and one day you will exist completely. but this... this was wrong.’ the doctor considered the words. he could easily taste beta’s emotions now. he only existed as thought. he pressed gently, and Beta let him. It was his consultation to the Doctor for what he'd just done to him. He let the Doctor see his entire life. the good and the bad.

'How long Beta?' The Doctor asked, as though Beta were the elder with the answers now. ‘it will last until the sand runs out. the you are back in control. please …. let them have their time together.’

“I mean.. how long can you survive?’ The Doctor asked.

Beta paused '...I don’t know. Zecora said I have to stop using magic. I’m accidentally drawing from the bandage. that’s why it’s started getting bloody, And I’ve been in pain.'

‘Yes I know. even before... i could see you were in pain.' The Doctor stated simply. 'Your nanites are offline then?’ Beta was surprised for a moment that the Doctor knew. Then again, he was of course in his head. Beta nodded to what looked like himself.

'Not totally. I have a tiny farm in my head. That strike took out my main nannite farm. I only have a few hundred left I think. But they have no home to rest in and my spare farm can only take care of a hundred at most. Nannites can only survive away from their colony for a month at the absolute most.' Beta finished in resignation of his fate.

'I wish Alpha was around. she always grasped nanite technology better than I did.' Beta thought almost to himself.

'Maybe I can help...' The Doctor noted 'Perhaps I can remake a sonic...'

‘Maybe. but not now. now... they need their time together Doctor. You both need to come to terms, that you  are sharing that body. You are only half of the equation... Doctor Hooves.'

'I never knew' The Doctor said to Beta in his mind. 'I never knew that he was still inside my..er.. his body'

'I know.' Beta returned. 'I never thought you would do this willingly. We'll find a solution Doctor. I promise' But of course Beta had no idea how, and the Doctor knew that too.

Butter Hooves looked happy as well, as thought he’d just woken up from some strange dream. "Oh my dearest Dee!" he said, crying himself. "I know who you are... what you are to me, oh my darling Derpy. My love!" Beta slipped away, crying himself.

The rail gun was completed. His boosters, the most complex part, was half way done. He could easily finish the rest on his own. Hell, he might even make himself a sonic screwdriver in respect of the Doctor. But right now... he needed to be away from the happy couple. He walked to the railgun some distance off. They had used an abandoned bit of train track. It was meant as a place to dump runaway trains or cars that were not needed. They had then run tracks up the hill in what he hoped was the direction of Cloudsdale.

Beta tried to be happy. He was going to see Rainbow in her home soon. He.. he hoped she’d be happy... More importantly he hoped she didn't have any surprise, like a boyfriend up there. Not for the first time, he wondered if that would actually bother him.

Beta finished his pre-launch check on the rail booster - it wasn't really a gun- and began to put on his squirrel suit.

"HEY BOY!" he heard in a semi-familiar voice. Beta's heart sank.

'Oh no... Please tell me the Doctor didn’t reassert himself... Is Hooves gone already?' he wondered. He prayed to Luna that wasn't the case. He turned to see Derpy ‘hanging off’ (as much as a pony can) Butter Hooves as they approached happy, their head fur still drenched with happy tears.

"Derpy... she brought me up to date. I... I can feel his presence... The Doctor, but... he’s not as strong as he was. I guess I'm going to be kinda schizophrenic for a while. We’ll figure out something. But I still have his knowledge. He..um.. told? me about this thing. You must really care for Rainbow Dash don’t you?" Hooves asked.

Beta nodded slowly. He... he wasn’t sure anymore. Was it love, infatuation or just a NEED to love someone?. But even so he did care for her a great deal even if only as a friend and simply nodded.

"Well you can’t operate this thing on your own. So into the launcher you go!" and Hooves nosed Beta’s tail towards the launch point. Beta got in chuckling at Hooves. "Oh yeah..." Hooves said, looking at Derpy. Where is Cloudsdale?" Derpy giggled then shrugged her shoulders and fore legs in an exaggerated manner. "Oh well..." Hooves said with that manic look in his eyes the Doctor was famous for. "ALLONSY!" he said with gusto as he pulled the launch lever.

"DDOOOCCTTTOOORRRRRRR" Beta yelled as he accelerated. He was going to get that horse back... He was positive they made the correct calculation for... He heard Hooves and Derpy laughing their tails off... 'Damn" he thought with a smile, 'he has a twisted sense of humor too... Good on ya Derpy. Good on ya' as he looked forward in serious concentration. He needed to time his ‘jump’ just right. And then he was off... soaring into the sky at great speeds, launched like a furry bullet into the heavens. His special helmet protecting not only his face but his ears in their long articulated chambers.

'This was freedom' Beta thought as he shot through the air towards Clouds Dale.

%i% Wings of wax

14 Wings of wax

Overcome by the giddiness that flying lent him, Icarus soared through the sky curiously, but in the process he came too close to the sun, which melted the wax." - The story of Ikarus.

Higher and higher Beta flew, chancing moments to look around. He was filled with awe at the simple beauty of the sky, the lower clouds he zoomed into, through and past. He began testing his suit. Twitching his tail, flexing his long ears, twisting his body, even though he was effectively a bullet, he could still maneuver.

Rarity had been VERY thorough in measuring him all over. He had thought she was just being frisky, but in fact she had made this suit as comfortable as it could be. His sheath was comfortable and well padded for protection. His arms and shoulders moved freely, his legs were slightly restricted which helped his aerodynamics greatly. He hoped he wouldn't have to do anything fancy, however. He wasn't sure if the material would hold up. He had also made the wings around his legs and arms collapsible so he could walk  around fairly normally.

Rarity's understanding of bipedal mechanics made him wonder if she'd made clothes for other bipeds. Beta could only assume others existed by Mac's satirical comment the other day, and surely some would have sought out someone with her obvious talents.

Looking around, Beta mused 'This is breathtaking'; then he realized, 'I'm too high! I'm having trouble breathing! This is literally taking my breath away!' He then looked up and felt cool, nourishing air rush into his lungs! 'Of course, without my nannites to compensate I can't go higher than a normal .... human' he finished the thought slightly miserably. 'I'm no human! I'm better than those ... monsters!' he thought bitterly.

Raising a non-winged paw to the helmet of his face, Beta unconsciously face-pawed himself. 'Of course equines have massive lung capacity, this wouldn't bother them, even the earth ponies could come up here and feel no more than light headed! I'm such a damned fool' He berated himself. 'I'm sure the pegasai have evolved even more efficient lung capacity so they can live up here without issue!' he surmised.

Looking back up, air rushing into his lungs Beta thought sarcastically 'Great.. I'm an air shark. as long as I'm moving I'm ok. if I stop...' he stopped his dark path of thought. Realizing other issues with this Beta blushed. 'This might make extra curricular activities with Rainbow Dash.. difficult up here.' He shook the thought away. 'No... no I don't think so.'

Beta's face was protected by the designer helmet made from a strange non-leather material and some kind of not-quite-glass that hid his expression of shock as he was about to 'Hit a cloud?!'

A moment later he was inside the cloud, and Beta took more time to look around. It was quiet and peaceful. he could barely see 3 feet ahead and above him, just enough to see dark shadows! As he whizzed past he realized they were all around him. Well stones. He was inside a well that was built down into the cloud. He was also inches away from them.

With a flick of his wrists and ankles, Beta connected his wings and opened them up, while twitching his tail and ears just a little to steer him away from the walls. Up ahead he saw what had to be solid water with a bucket... which he was about to hit! Rolling, he moved through the cloud just enough that he would miss the bucket as he crashes through the water, soaking his suit. Fortunately, Rarity made it of a material that does not absorb water very well.

Moments later, he was zooming up and out of the well surprising several Pegasus ponies nearby. Still traveling fast, though a little slower than when he hit the water, he zoomed up, and adjusted his flight so he flew in a lazy spiral around and above the tallest spire in Cloudsdale.

A moment later, now in the clear air, he was dry, though he had lost a great deal of momentum. Looking around he was at least 100 feet above the "ground"... This was Cloudsdale... and it was beautiful.

As he felt his momentum finally peak Beta opened up his wings completely and began feeling for a neutral current, one that would allow him to hover without loosing or gaining too much altitude.

He took in the view until he was feeling light headed, then dived, gulped in some cool air then up and hovered again. He did this for about 20 minutes, just drinking in the sight of the cloud city. Then he saw it, a flash of yellow and pink, and smiled warmly. Fluttershy. He adjusted his angle so he would fly there at a leisurely speed. No point in scaring the dear girl...er.. pony.

As Beta was adjusting his flight path he saw 3 other ponies gather around Fluttershy. Males, and by the look of it...

"Bullies.. even here in Equestria" Beta growled. He'd been bullied a great deal around the lab when Father and the other furries weren't around. They were all in such positions that he couldn't really fight back... so he had to take their abuse. It fueled his rage during trainings, and even more when on a mission. But he still hated them. He hated all bullies. His fur bristled, his hackles raised under the right suit, and his tail fluffed in anger.

Just as Beta changed his angle attack to come in sharper, faster he saw a flash of blue and rainbow. 'Rainbow Dash' Beta smiled and relaxed a little, seeing that she was doing a pretty good job of driving them back.

As Beta got closer, however he saw they weren't moving... right. They weren't being driven off like a bully might be with hoof to the nose. They were beginning to circle the girls and... "PREDATORS!" Beta yelled, knowing he probably couldn't be heard between his distance and all the wind noise.

Beta sharply changed his angle of attack to come in faster, and more deadly than he's planned. 'Here? how is THAT possible?' he wondered 'I can see bullies, but.. predators?' Beta shook his head, not understanding how this could be happening. But there they were, members erect and ready to try and...

Beta swooped in slamming his arm into the neck of the one closest to Fluttershy, who was curled up on the ground shivering in fear. 'Poor mare probably doesn't realize the danger she's in'

Grabbing the maw of another turgid attacker, Beta slams his right then left knee into the the attacker's throat dropping him to the ground. Seconds later Beta realizes HE is the one with the breathing problem

'Sky shark... damn' he thinks, and leaps for the side of the cloud hoping to get airborne again and breath, but his leg is caught in the powerful jaws of the remaining attacker, having just moved Rainbow Dash back by rearing up and throbbing and shooting liquid at her, barely missing her.

"Hey you perv!" Rainbow Dash said as she dodged the bodily fluid, "I just showered! ... EIUW!" as she dodged another grope, but stepped in a puddle on the ground.

Sliding down to all 4's Rainbow Dash bucks the one that Beta kneed in the face, sending him reeling and passing out. Meanwhile Beta is slammed on the ground, loosing yet more air from his lungs, he starts to chitter at Fluttershy in the language of the rabbits.

"" Beta began, pleading with her. Beta actually had two voice boxes of sorts. The scientists thought it'd be cute to allow him to chitter, which uses very little air in times when breathable air was at a premium. For once Beta was glad for one of those sadistic bastards' decisions on his 'design'.

The predator was now standing over Beta, member oozing fluid. "I see we have a bunny here. Poor bunny did you forget you can't breathe this high up?" the predator taunted. Beta doing his best to roll to avoid the substance. Then the predator stomped on Beta's chest. Again, Beta was thankful to his damnable designers. Since that night he escaped, his bio-mesh armor was stuck on it's default "chest plate" mode. The hoof bounced off with a dull *thunk*. That didn't stop it for hurting, however, and he squeaked in pain.

Fluttershy's ears perked up. She thought she heard bunny-speak... but that was impossible. there were no bunnies up here. And Angel was certainly safe at home on the ground. Then she heard the Predator talk about a bunny. As she snapped her head up to look around, she crashed into the underjaw of a predator that was about to assault her. *CRACK*. And she flew back. Looking at him fall she began to say "oh I'm sorry..." but saw his fur's filthy state and his now shrinking member and her eyes went wide.

Rainbow Dash, having just kicked another predator off the cloud, looked around. They were starting to swarm now! She turned to look at Fluttershy and was about to yell at her to get away, when the air was rent with a loud high pitched scream of pain, much like a rabbit would make. The predator over Beta, having been frustrated by his failed stomp on Beta;s chest, stomped on Beta's one weak spot: his wound and the bandage that covered it.

Beta screamed in pain greater than he'd known in a very long time. But since he was still trying to chitter to Fluttershy it came out like a rabbit might were it being hurt... Which was in fact the case.

"A...angel?" Fluttershy said, then saw the white tips of Beta's ears. Everything went red for Fluttershy. She could be pushed around, prodded, teased, taunted, hurt, but lay one hoof on her friends...

Fluttershy looked to the predator that was just starting to approach her to assault her, causing him to freeze with a look of abject fear and terror on his long face. The predator didn't see the shy smile, the kind, eyes, the nurturing expression normally adorning Fluttershy's face... he saw his own death.

Her features were now hard. Her eyes were narrow, the pupils dilated, the whites of her eyes red. Her eyebrows were deeply furled. Her ears flat against her head, and a snarl of righteous, vicious anger on her maw, so used to wearing a kind loving smile, was now a mask of hate and anger.

Her hooves hardened with anger and hatred for those that hurt the defenseless, the small and weak. She cared and nursed for so many small animals hurt by animals like this monster before her.

Her eyes burrowed into his very soul and found him lacking. He felt fear greater than he's ever known in this life. He felt death's cold presence and knew it was for him.

Her very being now radiated no quarter for evil. He was about to end.  Then she struk faster than lightning. THe resounding crack of her left hoof smashing into his chest, breaking three few ribs, cracking several more, before her right fore hoof raised up in a powerful uppercut, smashing his head up, back and sending him flying over the edge of the cloud. Then looking towards Beta, she saw her blood target... the monster standing over him.

It was like a cross hairs had locked in on that predator as she charged on all 4 legs towards him, huffing out great gouts of air from her nostrils like a charging bull. But worse... she was a mother protecting her child, in her mind at least.

"GET AWAY FROM MY ANGEL!" She roared before leaping forward from her charge, smashing her right hoof into and across his left cheek, shattering the bone there, sending him flying off the cloud. Sensing the predator was gone, Beta crawled, then scampered for the side of the cloud then leaped off. Air rushing back into his lungs. He could breathe again. He quickly caught an updraft and flew back up and past the cloud. Fluttershy followed him as he flew up and past. He was now being chased by no less than 5 predators 'Where did they all come from?' he wondered.

Fluttershy, still in her bloodlust rage to protect her bunny at all costs, began fighting any predators in the air, chasing Beta as he flew upwards, who was also in his own melee. A predator would bite as his leg and pull him down. He was clawing frantically at his attacker's face sending it back, before another came up. Beta would then leap onto that one, his foot claws shredding the attacker's groin and thighs, while his fore claws attacked his chest rending fur from flesh, damaging wings.

Attacker after attacker Beta and Fluttershy fought off, all the time flying higher and higher until there was no more sky to fly up into. Beta looked up and saw the moon. Feeling the air so thin that even movement could not get enough needed oxygen into his lungs, Beta reached a paw up, as if to touch the moon, and prayed... "Please Luna... help me!"

There was a crack and flash of lightning in the clouds. Beta's eyes were white with magic, his hair and tail now long and flowing in translucence, specks of stars of the night. At the same time Fluttershy heard a voice in her mind. "Accept me, and we can destroy these abominations from the face of Equestria. No more innocents need be hurt by them." The dark side of Fluttershy was in control and mulled over the offer for barely an instant and acceded. Then her mane and tail too became a dark shade of translucent pink. Her eyes white with Luna's possession.

Luna then spoke from both beings at the same time, booming in the sky like the pronouncement from god that it was.

"My children. I know why you are like this. My heart aches seeing you in this sad condition. My sister and I have failed you. But you can NOT be allowed to continue existing. Hence forth it is my Royal Decree that you are monsters! Your bodies are to be destroyed on sight so that your spirits may be freed to cycle and heal. I am sorry my children, but there is no other way. You will not be allowed to spread your disease unopposed any longer!"

Beta then held the heels of his palms together, his fingers splayed and behind him, charging up the attack, letting the energy from the Royal Decree build into a ball of pure white energy.

Following his lead, Fluttershy followed suit. He felt teh tremendous power build up just inches from her hooves. The two avatars of Luna, her hooves of justice, this one time at the very least, shared a look before simultaneously extending their paws and hooves forward and down bellowing in an unearthly chorus "HAMMER OF GOD!"

The energy blasts twined and twisted around one another on their way to the ground. Long fingers of energy extending out on all sides as the diefic blast to strike predators along the path to earth, turning them to ash, then smoke, then nothing. As monsters they no longer existed as beings, their souls freed as the body was destroyed.

The magical lightening struck every Predator in the air and on the clouds along the path to earth, one just missing Rainbow Dash. Many struck the predators on their turgid members before arcing to the next predator, and the next and the next, until all were no more than ash and nightmare.

The moment passed. Beta's hair and tail returned to their normal color and length. Spent, exhausted and out of air, Beta began to fall to the ground, shoulders first, his head tucked on his chest, unable to pull in oxygen Beta was unconscious and no longer able to carry the Spirit of Luna. He was falling to his death.

Seeing Beta fall, the spirit of Luna stayed in Fluttershy a while longer, needing to save her avatar, for both were in agreement, Beta had to be saved. Luna couldn't loose him, not after what he'd just done for her.. for Equestria. He was a rare one who HAD to be saved! 'So many...' Luna thought back over the millenia, 'So many have died that I could have saved... but not this one! I WILL save you Beta!' The thought was echoed in Fluttershy's mind as well. On this point they were in agreement.

Beta was falling in a dead zone created, ironically, by hammer of god. The air was ionized and the currents burned away for the time being. There was nothing to stop him, it was almost as though he was in a vacuum. Fluttershy/Luna dived after him. With her centuries of experience Luna was able to gain on Beta rapidly, but so much time had already passed. His suit, now mostly in tatters, destroyed by the assorted melees, was useless in this artificial dead zone of ionized air. Rainbow Dash, still marveling at what had just happened to the predators on her cloud -she had been about to be jumped by no less than half a dozen-, saw Beta zip past in an uncontrolled dive, followed a moment later by Fluttershy.

Leaping off the cloud to fly after Beta, Rainbow Dash saw Fluttershy's flying and was amazed. Rainbow Dash was easily one of the best flyers in Cloudsdale, if not Equestria, yet she'd never seen power diving the likes of which Fluttershy was now performing. It was as though she had the entire map of the wind and knew every path to take, every short cut. Rainbow Dash was stunned for a moment before remembering her dear friend was plummeting to his death!

Luna was diving as fast as she could, and though she was gaining she feared she would loose to the ground. Then she felt the body she was in push harder. Fluttershy was consciously pushing to go faster! This pony, unhindered by the danger of the rapidly closing ground wanted, NEEDED, to save this boy as well. Then Luna felt it. This was no ordinary pony. She had inside her an element of harmony! This was kindness! That inherent power was pushing Fluttershy even faster than she should be able to attain.

Luna spoke with Fluttershy "I need you to extent your hoof and strike him with a weak blast." she said in Fluttershy's mind. "but that'll hurt him!" Fluttershy protested. "Yes... sometimes you need to cause pain before you can start healing!" Luna retorted, knowing this lesson far too well. Fluttershy knew it too. Sometimes you had to pull the thorn completely through the paw if it was poking through, causing greater pain, before you could bandage the wound and make the hurting stop. "Wounded more, he should wake up... I hope" Luna

In agreement Fluttershy raised a hoof and took careful aim at Beta. Releasing a low-powered bolt of energy she clipped his left shoulder, causing him to turn and react to the pain. This forced Beta's head into the oncoming air, filling his lungs again with sweet oxygen. He reacted as though he was just shocked, which he was.

Still groggy from his unconsciousness, but aware of his situation, Beta spread his arms and legs out as far as he could stretch.... nothing he was in a dead zone. But he knew how to ride through those from Derpy... He also had magic on his side. He put his wrists together again but in front of him "HAAAAA" He shouted and the magical blast was enough to push him out of the dead zone of ionized air.

He then extended his arms and legs out as fara s he could, even in the tattered state of his suit had enough drag for him to come to a brief halt in the air ... before Fluttershy's hooves ripped through his wings, as she crashed into him. Luna's presence becoming a haze of smoke and retreated from Fluttershy into the bandage on Beta's midsection which was now crimson. THe translucent quality of Fluttershy's mane and tail leaving with Luna.

In the collision both were dazed but Fluttershy, still aware of the situation, closed her legs around Beta, grabbing hold of him, as he passed out again from pain and exhaustion. Beta was completely spent. Rainbow Dash reached the pair and suggested they go to Fluttershy's home, since they were about 20 feet from the ground anyway.

Looking down and seeing their proximity to the ground, Fluttershy "eep!"ed and released Beta. Rainbow Dash already expecting this, zipped under her skittish friend and caught the still unconscious Beta on her back. Together they flew to Fluttershy's home to lick their wounds and begin to come to terms with what had happened.

%i% Time Turner

15 Time Turner

Meanwhile at the Whooves' residence...

It had been over two days since Butter Hooves returned, and the Doctor and Butter Hooves began 'time sharing'. for Derpy it had been a mixed two days of joy and ... disappointment. She hated to admit even to herself how .... immature Butter Hooves seemed to be. In all the years he was trapped inside his body he had not matured more than a year. he was essentially a foal in a stallions body, where derpy was a full grown, mature(ish) mare.

Her heart began to ache with the dilemma... could she continue to be married to such a split stallion?

that one thought tore at her soul.

'No..How can I even think that? selfish selfish me!' she silently berated herself.

'we'll figure out something.. time sharing or ...' sitting in a quiet corner of the house and allows herself to cry, tears falling freely.' I miss the doctor! a few hours at night aren't enough...' Thinking to the nights when Butter Hooves would need sleep, the Doctor would come out. 'I never realized how much I truly loved him until he was.. gone. I mean I know he's in there but...I just....' she sighs heavily and half smiles, chucking in self derision 'I suppose I could just turn the wheel o fun... After all that's how Beta started this mess!' She thought almost angrily. 'I'm happy Butter is back but... he's not my husband.' putting her head down, Derpy begins to cry silently to herself... something she got very good at hiding before she married the Doctor.

In the white void that was his mind, the doctor is laying down in a blue box. His fore hooves crossed and dangling over the edge into the emptiness. In the mind a moment can last an eternity or an eternity can take but . a moment... the doctor has had a great deal of time to ponder his situation.

To live at the expense of . another was wrong. that was obvious. but... he had not created this situation! the doctor signed again in frustration. he missed Derpy so much. the nights weren't enough.he was glad the adolescent mind of Butter Hooves was agreeable to letting the doctor have that time while he 'slept'.

The Doctor wanted to be angry at Beta... 'that damned nosy, interfering, self righteous hypocrite ...' the Doctor let out a long angry then sad sigh. 'no... it wasn't Beta's fault. beta did the right thing. painful,but correct. Butter Hooves is a child. He has no real affection for Derpy except as a dear friend.he hasn't had the chance to grow up and learn what it means to be an adult.

But the Doctor... he looked around this simulacrum of his old TARDIS... it brought too many memories back. How he got here. His many deaths over the years. he understood this was a reward. the universe have him...this aspect of him a chance to live a normal life...such . as it was.

He missed many things about his time in the TARDIS... but here he had rest. He had a living wife and his life was hardly boring. Beta was certainly seeing to that... the Doctor wanted his life back! He stood up and stepped out of his blue box, looked back and sighed.. "I'm sorry girl... but our travels are over. I love derpy too much to abandon her. even if I somehow managed to make a new TARDIS I'll never leave her behind again." he said to the image. he then walked away as it disappeared with a familiar wheezing lion whoosh.

Looking up into the emptiness above him he shouted "butter hooves! I have something to discuss with you!"

"Who are you?" another voice asked in return

"I'm the doctor" The Doctor replied, his old confidence returning.

He is replied to with a cruel laugh, "The Doctor is dead. WHO are you?" it repeated the question

"I'm...I'm..." The Doctor fumbled. He then looked at his mark... and smiled, the old manic feeling returning...

"I AM the Doctor.. but you can call me Time Turner... DOCTOR Time Turner Whooves, and I want my life back!" Time Turner bellowed. he could almost hear the smile from the other entity.

"A little more time Doctor Time Turner Whooves. It will all turn out in the end." and the voice trailed off.

Butter Hooves was thinking along the same lines as Time Turner. He HAD died, he was sure of it. He wasn't supposed to be here anymore. This was supposed to be the Doctor's body now... but something had gone wrong at the moment of the Doctor's arrival. Looking around the empty room he saw the outline of the grim reaper. He knew it was him. He's seen him since he regained consciousness. At first he was a fuzzy outline, barely there. but the longer that Butter Hooves was 'on' the clearer he got.

Looking outside he saw Derpy... she was crying again. He knew the way her body moved. Unlike the Doctor, Butter hooves had seen Derpy cry many many times as foals. Before she got hit on the head, she was teased for being too smart. She was easily one of the smartest ponies in Ponyville if not Equestria. Now she was probably teased because of her eyes and being a bit of a clutz. But she never cried around the Doctor.

That much Butter had been able to determine, The Doctor rarely saw her cry.He made her so happy so much of the time, she didn't cry. Butter Hooves was oddly jealous of that fact. He also realized that he didn't make her as happy. Their history was from their foal-hood nothing else. He was still a child. He had not grown up, and only saw Derpy as a friend. a 'girl' but nothing more. And now she was a full grown, beautiful mare. He simply didn't know how to handle that.

The main reason he let the Doctor take over at night was he had no idea what he was supposed to do. How do you sleep with another pony? He tried not to listen in on them when they talked at night... but it made him so sad to listen to them. He truly felt like he wasn't... wanted here. At least he wasn't needed. That's when Death finally spoke to him.

"Time is nearly gone." the dark figure with the scythe said. "Do you know what you have to do?" He asked, his black note pointing towards the back of Butter Hooves. Looking at his cutie mark Butter hooves had no idea, then it hit him, and he looked at Death and nodded. "Yes... *gulp* I do"

Walking to the door, Butter Hooves called to Derpy to come in. "Derpy... Could I speak with you a a moment?" He didn't... couldn't approach her while she was crying.

"J-just a moment Butter dear" She said, sounding normal, as she wiped the tears from her eyes. getting up off the grass, she turned, smiling, and approached the house... their house. Her and The Doctor's home. They had built it with their own two hooves... it crashed down, so the town got together and helped them build this house. That though brought a genuine smile to her maw. She loved this little town.

Seeing Derpy's matted, wet furr, the red at the edges of her eyes, Butter Hooves confirmed what he already knew. She'd been crying very hard. He felt the Doctor's love for her, but it wasn't HIS love, it's belonged to the Doctor. 'This farce has to end' he thought almost angrily to himself. He knew what he had to say,had to do.

Once Derpy was inside, he nosed the door closed. As soon as she sat on a cushion in the living room he looked towards her, very seriously. "My dear Derpy, the last couple days have been so happy." He began. Derpy immediately saw where this conversation was going and wasn't sure how she felt about it. "But" he continued "it's time I finally moved on."

"W-what do you mean?" Derpy asked, her voice quivering. She wasn't sure she could handle loosing him again, despite everything, she was afraid to loose her friend again.

"I... I died all those years ago. You saw it. I stopped breathing." He continued with as much courage as he had, looking almost directly at the grim reaper who was standing in the doorway to the kitchen behind Derpy. "That light you saw... that was the Doctor. Something about him healed this body as soon as he entered it. But that act of ... regeneration  you might call it, erased his memories for a time."

Derpy nodded. 'That.. actually makes sense. He was so lost... my Doctor, when he first awoke.' she thought

"I... I need to move on Derpy.. I need to di..."

"NO!!! NOT AGAIN!" Derpy interrupted, pleading, shouting at him "Please Butter Hooves, please don't die, I'm so sorry! I'll be better I promise!!" She was on her hind knees, her fore hooves in front of her, together, begging. "I'm sorry, I swear I won't be sad anymore I.."

"DEDRA!" he shouted, his own courage fading, tears starting to form in his eyes. He had to hurry, to say goodbye before he lost his nerve again.

Derpy was stunned. No one, but NO ONE called her that. Even the Doctor didn't know her actual name. Some how to her, when he said Derpy it sounded seductive. She looked up into the stallion's eyes before her and saw how much this was costing him, and nodded. She knew he couldn't be interrupted again.

"Dee Dee... He's waiting for me" Butter Hooves continued, nodding towards the reaper.

Derpy was confused. because of her unique eyesight she'd seen the tall rabbit holding the scythe and in robes. but she thought "You mean Beta?" she said pointing at the reaper. Then she saw his furr was a solid green, and his face... "Th-that's not Beta..."

The reaper was surprised she could see him. She hadn't seen him at the boy's death many years ago, and even then, she thought he had simply come back to life... 'it must be those damned eyes of her's' the reaper thought. 'They must give her incredible peripheral vision'. which was the only place most being could see the dead, out of the corner of their eye.

"Your eyes have always been exceptional... as I understand from the Doctor, especially now since the accident. you see the world differently.Dee Dee... my sweet Derpy... I was always supposed to die that day. But you saved me. But the rocks insured my demise. I... I'm so sorry I made you so sad all these years. That your eyes were made like that. You could have become a great engineer or.. I dunno." he rambled on, knowing he had so little time before he had to go. He could feel the Doctor asserting himself.

"I'm.. I'm happy with my life Butter Hooves." Derpy said simply, the stream of tears refusing to stop.

That was all he needed to hear. He smiled warmly and reached back to turn the hour glass one last time. His name was erased as he turned the time piece. His body... The Doctor's body began to glow like it did that day. Rearing up on his hind hooves, roaring as male equines do a strange sight was missed by Derpy's keen eyes, as she knew what was to happen next. Her Doctor was returning.

A moment later the light cleared and there standing a little taller was Her Husband! "DOCTOR!!!" Derpy screamed, racing to hold him in her fore hooves. she kissed him all over before tasting his lips. They kissed for a long time. Time Turner was the happiest pony in all of Equestria. He had his body back, he had his life back, bust most important to him in all the world.. he had his beloved wife, Derpy Whooves back, in his arms, and on his lips.

Still weeping when the kiss finally broke for lack of air, Derpy looked at her Husband "I missed you so much Doctor. Please Don't ever do that again! Don't leave me ever again!" was all she could say before breaking down again in tears. They both sat on their haunches, Time Turner pulling her closer to himself. He could tell her about his new name later. He had always been the Doctor up until this point, he could wait a while longer before becoming Time Turner Whooves.

"I promise My love. I'll never leave you like that again. You are the one thing I thought about in there. You were.. are the happiest thought I have. And I want to enjoy ever second I have in this world with you, my beloved wife." He knew he might not be able to keep that promise... but damned if he wouldn't put every ounce of his now complete being into doing his best to try!

As the Doctor reared up on his hind legs a small human boy walked forward, and to Death, the great equalizer of men and kings. The boy looked up as death put his soft paw on the boy's head affectionately. "Hello boy" He said in a gruff, unearthly voice.

"Hello Death. it's been a while... I'm sorry I'm so late this time. But... how come you are a rabbit now?" He asked.

"A great deal of time has passed on earth... Furries like me and Beta are in charge of the world now.. it's a long story and one you will find out in due time" Death has said, keeping the history lesson for later. "You have been away from God too long. She misses you."

"Will.. Will Derpy be alright?" the Boy asked as his attachment to this life was rapidly leaving him.

"Yes. She and Time Turner, as he calls himself now, will live very long and interesting lives. They will have a child in several months." Death answered, smiling. This was his favorite part of his duties, coming to Equestria, escorting complete spirits home to God.

"She's gonna have a baby?" The boy asked, excited for his former friend. "She's gonna be a mommy?" Death looked at him and smiled, nodding "Yes, the circle of life, even here, continues.

"Where is.. here? What is Equestria mister Death?" The boy asked, having long ago forgotten.

Feeling it would pass the time as they walked to their next destination before returning to God, Death explained. 'Once upon a time, a very very very long time ago, there were two sisters who lived a very very sad life. When they died, as young ages, younger than you even, their souls were horribly scarred. They were innocents, but even heaven could not wash away the hell they lived through in life. So the old Death talked to God. They agreed that there should be a special place for young, scarred souls should go to rest and recover. They would recycle.. reincarnate as many times as it took for the pain of their life to fade from memory. "

"The two sisters were sent to this place to have create. God surmised, correctly of course, that by making this place the sisters would also be able to heal themselves. They created a paradise for little girls, and boys." Death explained as they walked. "Those sisters are Celestia and her little sister Luna. They created this world, and for many many cycles simply lived their lives as common ponies. Once in a while a little human girl would come and play with them. This made them very happy. More spirits came to live and rehabilitate here, and the sisters decided they could best serve God, the spirits, and Equestria by becoming goddesses themselves." He continued.

"Equestria is a place where young souls.. the souls of children to be exact, come to heal after experiencing something truly horrible in their lives. If they can not find peace in Heaven they are brought here, to a land of magic, fairies and ponies to cycle through lives until they are healed. That's why you were so bad at holding on to things. This was your last cycle little one. You were literally loosing your grip on life. That is also why you were always sick as a foal... you had little desire to continue."

"What.. that happened to me sir?" The boy asked. "I don't remember"

"That is for the best son. That is why you had to cycle so long. your's was especially bad. I won't tell you, and once you see God, you will stop caring anyway. Please take my word on that." He finished, hoping the boy would not press again. It had been something truly horrible. It was something only a human could do. He knew if he thought about it he would risk channeling wrath. Instead he thought about what a happy occasion this was. He would have to visit Celestia later to tell her one of the last humans has cycled at last.

"Where are we going mister Death?" The boy asked as they entered a small house just outside the opposite side of town.

"We are hear to help the man who made this possible. He was gravely hurt doing the work of Luna, and protecting Equestria from what has become a blight on the land." Death replied. "You see, some souls are so hurt by what happened to them, that the first cycle or two they are here they do bad bad things, like what happened to them." He couldn't bring himself to say that these poor souls had been horribly sexually abused. That their turning into sexual predators  here was a reflection of that scarring on their souls. Now that Luna had declared them monsters, they should be easier for the living ponies to.. cycle.

"How are we gonna help him?" The boy asked. Death loved children. He didn't ever tire of the intelligent, and innocent questions they often asked him. Pausing near the bed side of Beta they watched Beta's ragged breathing, and Apple Berry's worried expression as she did all she could to stabilize his condition.

He'd been out since the battle. Channeling that much godly magic from Luna had been more than his damaged body could handle. Apple Berry was worried for him. She loved him, truly loved him. The time they spent together, talking, bonding.. and that one night... She didn't want to loose him. She had not felt this way for anypony for many years. And she wasn't sure she could again. Beta was so special, different... kind to her.

Every few minutes she would say a prayer to Celestia.. then to Luna to see that he lived through this.

Death and the boy heard her prayer as she made another one. "O Celestia, please shine your healing light upon this soul who would only help those around him. Help him heal so that he may continue to spread joy in the lives that he touches. Please... I love him, and I never thought I could love like this again... um.. A men."

Looking up at Death, the boy simply asked "How can I help him?"

Death smiled back down at him. 'Children, so quick to help. I will never tire of that quality, be it human or animal' Death though. Then he said, while gesturing with one paw "Put your hand on the red bandage across his waist. think healing thoughts and the red will fade. That will heal him, at least for a while." Death knew that Beta's final fate lay within his own paws and the hooves of the princesses of Equestria. "You are giving him what's left of your life. You have a little bit left", 'and... I don't want to see him die... again' Death thought quietly.

The boy, feeling braver now, put his hands on beta's bandage. he winced from the pain feeling the slight pressure. Opening his eyes, he could see death and the boy, they were very fuzzy outlines, as though his eyes were out of focus. A moment later he forgot everything as the pain of his healing turned everything into white noise. Beta's breathing became easier, his bandage clearing up until it was a light pink with only a couple dots of dark red.

When the golden light disappeared Beta saw Death and the boy. Looking at Death he says "Hello my old friend." His voice is cracked and parched from days of only drinking what his nurse could squeeze safely into his maw from a towel.

"Do you remember when I brought you across?" Death asked. Beta only shakes his head 'no' "I'm not surprised" Death said. "You were in pretty bad shape. Luna spent 2 days healing you in the place between worlds. That bandage is the result. And even that you have managed to soil" Death finished admonishingly.

"I've had a rough few days" Beta croaked, looking around for something to drink.

"Will I remember this?" Beta asked realizing he might still be asleep.

"No. I did want you to know who did this however." Death said, stepping back so Beta could see the small human child.

"Butter hooves?" Beta asked

Death simply nodded. "He's a pure soul now. He's ready to see God and live in Heaven.

"Take care kid... and thanks" Beta said to the boy who smiled brightly. Actually it was bright, a blinding white light filled the room.

When the light disappeared, Death, the boy, and the pain were gone.

%i% Memories

16 Memories

After his experience with Death, Beta decided to keep his eyes closed for a few minutes as his consciousness returned to a wakeful state. He inhaled the scents around him. He was definitely in Fluttershy's home. She wasn't near him, but her scent was strong in the sheets. The last thing he recalled was being caught by Rainbow Dash. Her feathers and fur were so wonderfully soft.

Inhaling deeply he tasted ... Apple Berry. He could smell her worry and concern. Her scent was the strongest in the room. Had she been looking over him? He felt a warm sensation crawl all over his being. One that was not unpleasant in any way. He realized he rather enjoyed her scent, even above Rainbow Dash's. The warmth spread to his entire being and he realized how he felt. It surprised him, and yet... not.

Beta blinked fully awake. That's when he saw Apple Berry. She had just gone to refill her basin of water when she saw Beta away. She had that same fragile look of blown glass Derpy has when she had heard Butter Hooves that first time. It was that moment Beta choose. It wasn't a difficult choice. It had been there all along, he just hadn't been looking.

He saw Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash in one corner talking, and Apple Berry was about to leave the room with a empty basin in her fore hooves. Trying to speak, he chittered. All three mares stopped what they were doing, and looked at him but only Fluttershy seemed to understand him. He cleared his throat and asked "How... long?" His voice was like paper in the wind.

Before anyone could answer Apple Berry dropped the basin with a loud crash as she sprinted over to Beta, throwing her fore legs around him, hugging him tightly, crying with abandon. "You're ALIVE, oh thank Celestia you're alive!!!!" She cried into his chest. "I was so worried! Please don't ever do that to me again Beta! Please never leave me like that again!" she pleaded between sobs of joy.

Beta wrapped his arms around her, holding her to him. He looked up and stared straight into Raindow Dash's violet eyes. He saw pain in her eyes, and joy. She was glad he was back, and going to be ok and... sad. Beta reached a paw out to her, but she only shook her head 'no'. Beta understood. He looked apologetic and nodded. It was over. Rainbow Dash had bowed out. He wouldn't chase her anymore. He had no reason to. Beta put his arm back around Apple Berry, comforting her as she completely broke down, racked in sobs of joy.

"Two days" Rainbow Dash said, almost flatly, dealing with her loss. In her heart she knew this was for the best, but that did little to help the immediate sting. She was glad for Apple Berry. She'd had a hard life. And they had begun to become good friends the last two days. "She.." Rainbow Dash began, almost painfully admitting this "She has been at your side since you arrived."

Apple Berry released Beta and stepped back, giving him room to breath on the bed. "She's the nurse in town" Rainbow Dash continued. "As soon as we landed, Fluttershy went to get her, but somehow she was already on her way here" she continued.

"I... I talked to Derpy. She told me what had happened and that you'd gone up" Apple Berry took over "I..." she looked away blushing and embarrassed at her assumption "I dunno... I just figured you might have run into trouble. As soon as I saw the lightning bolt slam into the ground... I KNEW it was you. I also knew the most likely place you'd be brought was here. You can't exactly go to the Hospital can you? So I packed up my triage kit and ... came running... I ..." She began to tear up. Beta put a weak paw on her head and pet her lightly to reassure her that he was, in fact, alive.

He couldn't help smiling a little. She had no idea how much she reminded him of Alpha at that moment. How many times he'd heard "I heard it was you so I packed my triage kit" from her?. 'Good times' he thought with a mixture of bitterness and fondness. He did miss his team, but not his old life. And this sweet, loving mare was a reminder of what he had to loose now if he wasn't careful.

"How... bad?" He asked, as he started to look for something to drink. "EEP"ing, Apple Berry rushed back into the kitchen.

Rainbow Dash looked at Beta, letting her pride for her older friend overcome her sting of pain. "She was amazing. She was all over you the moment we put you on the bed..." realizing how what she said sounded everyone giggled and blushed, especially Beta. "She figured out very quickly that the only real wound you had was the one you already had..." Beta rubbed his bandage before he realized it didn't hurt nearly as much as he expected.

"I'm so sorry Beta" she said as she returned with tea in a cup, "I was about to get this for you. It's a special medicinal tea that promotes healing. " she added. Smiling, Beta accepted the tea and drank it slowly.... then he made 'the face'. The mares laughed hard, watching Beta's reaction

"OH MY GAWD!!!! That's.... HORRIBLE!" Beta said, his long tongue sticking out. The mares laughed even harder, Rainbow Dash rolling on the ground with laughter. Beta joined in, laughing, accepting the humor. He must have looked silly.

"It's meant to make you FEEL good, not taste good" Apple Berry said between guffaws. "It can be nice to DO nice" she added, giggling.

"Speaking of getting better..." Beta noted, as he swung his legs over the side of the bed he stood up causing all three mares to go silent and RED! Beta looked down and realized he was quite in the fur. Blushing himself, Beta continued on as if he didn't notice the stares and checked himself and his bandage. "You can turn around if you like" he giggled.

"Are you enjoying showing off?" Apple Berry asked, blushing, but also drinking in the sight. Of course she'd seen him naked before on that amazing night, but this felt so much naughtier.

Blushing as well, Beta replies "I'd have to..." then stopped himself, and pulled the sheet around himself "Looks like I'm ok.. actually my bandage looks better?" He said, blushing more, realizing what he almost did and said in a moment of jest.

"Um... so why am I here?" Beta asked, trying to change the subject to anything.

"Fluttershy is the village vet... she takes care of all the hurt little animals from the forest." Rainbow Dash explained again. "Apple Berry has become the town nurse of sorts" she said. "The hospital staff aren't always available, so Apple Berry's been helping when she's not on the farm or selling at the stand" Beta looked with amazement at Apple Berry, he was beyond impressed with how hard she worked... 'Apple family trait' Beta thought.

Apple Berry met Beta's gaze then turned away, blushing. "I... I'm... I just do what's needed that's all" she said, drawing a circle on the ground with her fore hoof. "I just... helped you patch yourself up. Those preds did a nasty number on you. Your chest has... um... dents?" she added pointing to a slight dent where the predator had stomped on Beta's chest.

He felt his chest thoughtfully. He could feel the tiny handful of nannites already pushing it back out. "It'll be ok in a couple days" he said nonchalantly, distracted by the fact that his biomesh armor WAS damaged at all. 'How hard was he stomping on me?' Beta wondered. When he looked up he saw all three mares looking at him slack jawed.

"A few days? DAYS!?!?" Apple Berry nearly roared at him, the worry in her eyes fueling the fire. "What the HELL do you mean it'll be fine in a couple DAYS?! That much force should have KILLED YOU!" She shouted, tears brimming on her eyes again. "And you just brush it off with "A few DAYS!?!?"

Beta held up his paws placatingly "Look.. I'm not normal" he started.

"No kidding!" Apple Berry interrupted putting her hooves gently on his chest, one tracing the dent, tears falling again from the outburst. She got the feeling he was going to make her cry with worry a lot in the coming future...

"I... I can explain... but later, ok?" Beta replied as calm and pleading as he could. He saw how Fluttershy was reacting to Apple Berry's raised voice and knew he had to talk to her soon.

Catching the que of Beta's gaze, Apple Berry backed off... "oh..." She also understood now... 'wrong time for this fight' she thought.

Lowering her head, Apple Berry whispered low enough she was sure only Beta could hear her "She's been in a bad way since you returned. She isn't sleeping well, and has bad nightmares... nightmares aren't normal for ponies."

"You... you don't... have nightmares?" Beta asked in that same low tone, confused. He still had nightmares... though he had to admit they were slowly getting better. He had even had a nice dream about Apple Berry.... he almost blushed as THAT thought crossed his mind.

Apple Berry continued, still whispering low, "Why, yes silly. Our loving goddess Luna protects everyone's dreams." That caught Beta's attention."Luna looks at our dreams as we sleep and helps guide those who are having bad ones. It's so very rare that any pony would have a full on nightmare, let alone one that lasts and lasts, that it's hard for people to understand." Apple Berry finished. Beta was starting to wonder how much the ponies understood about their own goddess Luna.

"And... what about Nightmare Moon?" Beta asked trying to pretend to pull the question from thin air. "Nightmare Moon?" Apple Berry said in a normal voice. She was aghast at the question "Nightmare Moon tried to take over the day/night Cycle! The Mare in the Moon is a cruel and evil creature. It's a good thing Luna is looking over you." She finished almost absentmindedly. Beta decided it might be best to leave this conversation for later.

"So... She's been suffering PTSD?" Beta asked, wondering if there was an equivalent here.

"Pee tee what?" Apple Berry asked

"Post Traumatic Stress Disorder... it's what happens to a lot of soldiers" Beta explained. 'Like me', he didn't say.

"Oh yes, Sad Mare's Syndrome." Apple Berry replied. "Mostly it happens when a Mare has a rough foal birthing."

"That's post pardem depression... I mean when something happens that is so horrible and scary the pers... pony thinks about it over and over" Beta clarified, then he paused... "this is partially my fault" He said quietly, almost to himself.

Apple Berry looked thoughtful. "Flutteryshy is the kindest soul I've ever known. I think the thought of ... what did you call it? 'Cycling'? somepony might be too much for her." Then seeing the self-hatred beginning in Beta's eyes she quickly added "but don't you DARE apologize Beta! From what I heard you saved her from far worse!" Beta was taken aback at how quickly she had read him.... she was right of course.

Looking at Fluttershy, Beta started formulating a plan... a very painful one. but he needed to see how she was doing. Gesturing to Fluttershy, Apple Berry nodded and found a reason to be in another room. Before he could move Fluttershy came up to him, eying Apple Berry. 'It seems Fluttershy has the same idea as we do' Both Beta and Apple Berry thought.

Apple Berry found a reason to be somewhere else. She grabbed Rainbow Dash and dragged her outside. "So Rainbow, Tell me again about your latest maneuver to get the Thunderbolts' attention? It's pretty cloudy outside..." she said as they left the house.

"Do you need some tea Beta?" Fluttershy asked. She had a tray with two tea cups and a tea pot on it, balanced perfectly on her back. 'Skillful' Beta observed internally.

"Yes thank you." He said offering to relieve the burden from her back. He only wished he could relieve the burden from her soul as easily.

"She's... she was here every minute." Fluttershy started looking outside towards Apple Berry as she looked up watching Rainbowdash do something. "She's been... well.. that is to say.. I mean it's a good thing kind of but..." Fluttershy stammered in her usual way when she didn't want to say something ill of someone. "She had to um... put aside her duties at the farm and at the stand." Beta's eyes opened wide. He didn't expect 'every minute' to be literal. The warmth returned in greater measure.

"You must know how she feels about you Beta" she continued. Beta nodded silently, waiting. "I... I.." she stammered. it was as though she wanted to start the conversation but didn't know how. Beta, sadly, did.

"When I was still in 'my world' I saw and did a lot of... unpleasant things." He began. Fluttershy looked up almost tearing with gratitude that she didn't have to start this conversation. "I... I ... we always went to talk to a shrink afterwards... actually only I had to. the others could have their memories erased... I can't" He said as warmly as he could, even though the memory of teh lab made him cold inside. "I'm not sure if I am envious or what for my old team mates... they never had the nightmares I still have..." Beta drifted off.. 'of course not.. they're all dead' he thought sadly.

"They.. I keep seeing the same thing over and over Beta" she said after a few minutes of tense, sad silence. "I wish.." she started then completely falling apart. Tears streaming from those gentle blue eyes. it tore at Beta's soul hat she said next. "I killed Beta"

"It wasn't your fault" Beta tried to say but she interrupted him

"I KILLED WITH MY OWN HOOVES!!!!!" She screamed in complete misery unable to contain even a shred a calm. She was borderline hysterical with grief and self hatred.

"It was Luna, you had no control, no..." but she interrupted him again

"I KILLED POOR SICK PONIES!!!!" She wailed, burying her face in her hooves. "These hooves are for nurturing, for healing, for helping..." she sobbed almost unintelligibly, tears running over her hooves like water runs over stones in a creek.

"You saved me! You helped.. ME!" Beta returned, his voice cracking, his own tears forming. "I'm so sorry .. I'm so so sorry I dragged you up unto the sky Fluttershy!" he barely managed, his own sobbing beginning. He saw more than anyone's share of action. He was a trained killer. he knew those sick ponies were better off dead... cycled. He somehow understood that this meant they could start again, fresh, and hopefully not become sexual predators...and that thought stopped Beta's sobbing and tears cold... "You saved yourself" He said in a very serious tone.

Looking up from her sobbing, her beautiful eyes now red and puffy, her cheek and muzzle furr soaked with her tears. "What do you mean?" she asked

"I needed your help desperately ... I admit maybe I used a cheap trick, but I had so little air in my lungs I could only chitter... use rabbit speak... but.." She looked at him almost accusingly for a moment but Beta pushed on "But.. you were about to be... to be... didn't you get a look at them Fluttershy?" he asked desperately but he couldn't bring himself to say it... 'You were about to be raped!' he thought, then only shook his head.

"I would have died without you Fluttershy" he said finally, tears returning. "You saved my life up there." He paused. He had no more he could say.

"When does the pain go away? When do the memories go away!? I wish I was like your friends and could forget everything!" she said before embracing him, and breaking down into long miserable sobs. The kind of crying a child can only do when in their mother's arms. Beta couldn't being himself to tell her the truth... 'It never goes away'

She cried on him for a quarter of an hour before she finally composed herself. Beta knew what he had to do. It hurt. It hurt him deeper than any pain he'd ever known, and he knew that pain would only increase ten fold when he was done. but he knew now that he had to pay Zacora another visit.

%i% Tears, Tea and Jamais Vu

17 Tears, Tea and Jamais Vu

After speaking with Apple Berry to make sure Fluttershy was looked after, Beta headed straight for Zecora's place in the Everfree. He was becoming irritated with himself for visiting her only when he needed help or advice. Zecora was a fascinating pony and he enjoyed the intellectual and spiritual banter they shared. 'One day... One bloody day,' he swore to himself as he moved through the Everfree 'I'm going to show up with a bag of tea and just have a chat.'

Clearing his self irritation from his mind, he slowed down as he approached Zecora's home. He didn't want her to think he was actually upset. He wasn't, [at least]not with her, only[with] his own rudeness. Finally composed, Beta raised his paw to knock on the door of her home, but her rhythmic voice greeted him before his knuckle could strike.

"Hello my rhyme shy friend. How is it that I may help you again?" she asked. He could hear her smiling with the gentle teasing tone. His own smile followed as he entered the door.

"I know I only come by for help. That is the act of a whelp." Beta began. His verse was slowly improving. "But I need some tea... to make someone forget... me" he finished slowly and sadly. There was no amount of levity that could keep his smile once he accepted and stated the reason for his visit.

Zecora gasped, her eyes wide as she looked at Beta. She knew he was serious. This newcomer to their lands would never joke about something this serious. Yes, she had what he needed, but she wanted.. needed to hear why.

"Fluttershy" Beta said in response to the expression on Zecora's maw. And she nodded.

"Yes, I heard of the battle. Was it for her so traumatic?" Zecora asked, not wanting to take more than a moment to make a half verse. This was also too serious to make light of, and for the next hour, Beta and Zecora discussed at great length what had happened. How it was affecting Fluttershy in the worst way... and how Beta planned to resolve it.

"I... I feel responsible... I mean if I hadn't..." Beta began but Zecora stopped him with a gentle hoof on his shoulder.

"No, my friend. What you did, even this result, is better in the end." she consoled. "But what is worse? A rape or an act of god? She may one day accept she wasn't responsible for Luna's actions. She would never get over that kind of gang rape."

Beta was taken aback at the straight forwardness of Zecora's words. She wasn't trying to be cryptic. She was dead serious right now.

"She feels bad for cycling rapists. But seeing the chil... foal of that rapist everyday for the rest of her life [seeing him]in that foal. Which one is worse?" Beta asked. Noticing a look, the meaning of which he was unsure of, Beta tried to ask "Zecora..."

"My past is mine" she said shortly "I have not ever been... nor may I be other than this forest... ever Everfree." she said with a finality Beta could respect. He knew if she wanted to tell him, she would in her own time. Friends waited.

Unable to resist a little teasing Beta remarked "Not even a roll in the hay with a fine fellow one day?"

Zecora then looked at him very coyly and said in an unexpectedly sultry voice "Who is to say, perhaps one day, a sweet roll in the hay" she then winked and swished her tail, turning her back to Beta to get something from a shelf, allowing Beta time to recover after blushing extremely red. Looking away, Zecora smiled very broadly and blushed lightly herself. 'I may not be a young filly, but one never forgets how to flirt with a cute colt' she thought quietly to herself.

Grabbing a small bottle wrapped in parchment, Zecora turned back to Beta, who had composed himself nice, she thought, and placed the container before him on the table.

"What you seek is the draft of forgetful sleep" she said in a very grave voice. She did not agree with this... yet she could not think of a different way to go. Fluttershy would be ultimately destroyed by these memories of what she did. She lacked maturity to deal with it. "To forget, she only had to remember" she said quietly and sadly.

Nodding, Beta asked "Will it make her forget ... everything she thinks about?"

"More or less... yes. But to forget you... that is more than this draft can do." she added. 'You are so remarkable, so different... How could anyone forget you?' she wondered

"I can help it along. I have something called nannites... a kind of bug inside me that does.. things. I can spare a few to help and enhance the process along. They will... enhance the draft..." Beta choked a little, tears threatening to fill his eyes. The magnitude of what he was going to do hit him. "I... I like Fluttershy...I..." he faltered and reached for a stool to sit on. It was... it was too unfair and he had to sit for a few minutes and cry.

Walking to Beta, Zecora nosed his long ears, trying to comfort him and asked in a deep whisper "Why not just erase the day? Why must you go all the way?" 'You poor pony... why must you erase yourself as well?' she wondered to herself, not knowing any other word to use for him. The word 'man' was unknown here, after all.

"Cascading memories" Beta said, his face still in his paws, fighting the tears. "I'm... I'm directly linked to those memories ... with that event... I have to go. She..." He gulped and cried the next few words "I have to go or I could all[all/everything could] come back, even if she just says hello to me" and he broke down completely. He sat there crying for the next 10 minutes, raking, shuddering weeps.

He hated this. He hated everything about this, but there was no other way. He hated that he had to trick Fluttershy into fighting. He hated that she had been taken over by Luna's spirit - putting aside he would be quite DEAD if he hadn't -. He hated that he had to loose a dear friend. But if he didn't... the beautiful pony he had known would be gone forever. Beta understood very well how war, combat... murder... changed someone forever.

Tying to take his mind off his loss, Zecora asked 'What are these... nanni-ites?" Beta had to laugh hard. It wasn't her fault, but the mistake distracted him enough. Zecora smiled. She understood the word well enough but he needed a distraction. His laugh filled her with hope that he would be able to recover from this. Fluttershy was clearly not the only one traumatized by the events of the other day.

"Nannites... they are from my world. They are very very tiny um... special bugs my body uses to heal itself. They can also be used to make the draft, um... stronger. I can have them change, enhance how it works in Fluttershy's body and mind. "S.. she was the first pony I saw when I arrived." he explained to Zecora "She got Rainbow Dash... if it wasn't for her..." and he weeped.

"Of these things I do not know" Zecora said after a minute, when his weeping had subsided. "Bugs that make the memory go? To you, I shall defer, as long as it helps her" she said finally.

"It will work. She won't remember anything as long as I stay away from her for a few days. When she wakes up, she'll see me only with eyes of Jamais Vu" he said with melancholy.

"Jaw may who?" she asked, blinking her large, beautiful eyes.

"Jamais Vu... it's french." he began "It means she'll see me and have no memory, even though she should after having seen me so much the last couple weeks." he said flatly.

'He's preparing himself, steeling his determination.' Zecora thought 'The poor, poor pony. I don't envy him his task.'

"Fluttershy will forget me... as will Rainbow Dash." he added. This suprised Zecora, and her ears shot straight up in shock.

"What? Why Rainbow Dash? She is a strong mare!" Zecora said in shock, breaking from her usual rhyming prose. "Sure, it was horrible, but Rainbow Dash is certainly strong enough in her character she was [will be able to] work through this!" Zecora protested

"Yes, about Fluttershy we agree, but Rainbow Dash! There is absolutely no need!" she finished, raising her voice and stomping with a hoof. "I know there is little that I can do. But for Rainbow Dash, I forbid you!" regaining her calm she asked "Rainbow Dash is a strong mare, it may not take. What will you do then... Tell a lie about cake?" she smiled wryly at him and Beta understood and nodded before leaving quietly. He had disturbed Zecora enough today and felt bad for it. Watching him leave, Zecora sighed heavily at his burden. 'A good pony with a bad choice.' she shivered and realized that no... there was no choice, as she looked away and thought about how her mother looked at her every day. That night, Zecora[had] cried herself to sleep, cursing every last predator in the world.

Beta poured the warm tea into a cup and saucer for Fluttershy. He stood there in the kitchen and lowered his head to just above the teacup and cried a few tears and sent a dozen nannites to his tear ducts. They fell into the warm, but not hot tea and waited for ingestion. They would enter her blood stream with the narcotics in the tea and go up to Fluttershy's memory centers. Beta would put his head against hers and direct them. They would monitor her thoughts and when they saw memories being erased by the draft, they would enhance the effect... they would erase Beta from her mind as well as the memories of the battle.

Her time with Beta would cease to exist. His place would be filled by some other pony, any other pony. "Jamais Vu..." Beta whispered and fought to hold back more tears. He would need to drink a gallon of water by the end of the day at this rate. Bracing himself, he lifted the cup and walked into the next room, where Fluttershy was waiting surrounded by Apple Berry and Rainbow Dash. Apple Berry was there to take Beta's place. He would leave as soon as it was done.

Apple Berry looked up with those beautiful two toned eyes, full of concern for his mental and emotional state. Her candy-stripped mane was out of its usual sorts. She hadn't bothered brushing it today. Her tail was swishing nervously.

Rainbow Dash hardly fared better. Her only consolation for appearance was that since she always flew so fast, no one could ever tell if her hair was brushed or not. 'What pointless thoughts I'm having' he realized 'I'm trying to keep my mind off what I'm about to do... Damn it all to hell!'

Approaching Fluttershy, he could tell she'd barely slept. He saw the way it was beginning to tear down her sanity, the lack of sound sleep... and that was all he needed to stay strong. 'This WAS the right decision.' he thought, his willpower improving with every tortuous moment he looked at Fluttershy's emaciated, emotional state. 'She WILL be better!' and with that, he helped Fluttershy drink the tea, holding the cup at her lips, not wanting to risk her dropping it from nerves.

Speaking soothing and affectionately, Beta began the process "Think of the day with the predators. Remember every last detail..." he began and Fluttershy began to whimper "Shh, shh, shhhhh, I promise..., I swear to Celestia, you will never have these thoughts ever again" he ran a soothing paw through her mane and rubbed behind her ears. This calmed her down

"Ok... I'm ready" she said in one of the faintest voices he had heard to date. So low that even his amazing rabbit ears had trouble picking it up.

"Brave girl" he whispered encouragingly. Beta leaned forward and put his forehead directly against hers. His eyes closed, he concentrated on what had to be done. He commanded the Nannites to erase her memories. He then whispered as he felt her relax while the memories of the battle disappeared... "Think of me. From the first moment we met to this every instant..."

'And forget' he thought. It was too much. He knew, K N E W this was the right course of action... but he was about to loose another friend. Unlike the rest, this one would be alive. She might even befriend him again. But he couldn't stop the tears.. they ran down his eyes and into hers. When he was sure the nannites were done, he ran off, and Apple Berry was there in his place, her forehead on Fluttershy's. The expression on her face one of her usual quiet happiness. She was Fluttershy again... before she ever met Beta. It would be as if the last month never happened.

"Goodbye Fluttershy"

%i% Have memories? Gotta dash!

18 Have memories? Gotta dash!

Outside, Beta was greeted by Rainbow Dash. She came out to make sure he was ok. He looked devastated."What will Apple say?" Beta asked, spent and yet still preparing for the next battle. "She'll tell Fluttershy she was crying and that Fluttershy was comforting her. It's not too unusual for fillies to put their heads together like that... How are you Beta?" she asked, concern radiating from her.

"You... you should take it too..." Beta said halfheartedly. 'How can I loose Rainbow Dash too?' he wondered.

"No way" she said flatly.

"But...I see that it's bothering you too!" Beta protested. "You can just.." Beta tried to continue but Rainbow Dash had enough of his bravado. His self sacrifice was beginning to annoying her.

"Just WHAT?! Forget you!?" Rainbow Dash shot back angrily, tears beginning to form "Dammit Beta, it's bad enough I lost to Apple Berry, are you going to make me loose you COMPLETELY!?" she yelled, digging her hoof into the ground like she was ready to charge him, her wings outstretched in anger. "You can't just go around erasing ponies' memories because something might be difficult! Yes, Fluttershy is the exception, but she PROVES the rules! But don't you DARE try that with me!" she roared, tears streaming down her face, stomping her other hoof on the ground.

"Do you think I've had an easy life? Don't you think I've lost friends?!" Beta hasn't heard about this before. "Life in Cloudsdale isn't easy you know! A pegasus that can't fly can't.. can't..." Beta's eyes widened. And she looked up darkly "Not all pegasus live to become adults. Scootaloo is luckier than you can imagine, especially as an orphan!" she nearly growled.

"So, NO! No way in hell, Beta! I can live with the memory of that day..." as she began to falter" I can't... I... I don't want to forget you." she said weakly. Her beautiful, violet eyes staring into his blue ones. "If I have to remember horrible events so I can remember you... " she walked to him and put her hoof on his chest, tears running down her pale blue muzzle. "Then I can live with those memories. You... my friend... are worth it."

Beta pressed forward and kissed Rainbow Dash on the lips with every ounce of passion and affection he had for her. He slid his paws to her cheeks, caressing them. Rainbow Dash let her guard and wings down, leaning into the sweet kiss. Beta tasted her as her tongue slipped past her teeth and his. She was moaning ever so slightly. She'd wanted this, needed this for so long. Somepony who wanted her. Not because she was beautiful, or the fastest or anything like that. Somepony who simply loved her for being her.

Rainbow Dash had ,had feelings for Beta for sometime. Not because he was different, though there was an unmistakable sensual eroticness to how exotic he was. She loved him because of how he treated her. He respected her, responded to her. He took her and her dreams seriously. He didn't care that she was beautiful, many ponies were. Even Rainbow Dash admitted that many other mares were much more beautiful than she was. But he cared for her for who she was.

Then, she felt his long tongue unwrap in her mouth and... the bitterness of the potion! His paws clamped on the underside of her maw as he broke the kiss, looking into her wide, shocked, betrayed eyes! His were so sad, she almost forgave what he was about to do. It was killing him doing this. Oddly her last thought of him was 'I love you even more for this'. His sacrifice was not lost on her.

A year or two later something would happen and she would regain all her memories. Beta knew this. You can not simply ERASE memories from a sentient creature and expect them to be gone forever. Memory is stored in many, strange places in the brain. And sometimes it seems in our very DNA. "Genetic memory" is a concept that is fairly well accepted in the animal kingdom. The reason why animals return to one place to mate, to one stream, one pond, one clearing. The way animals know what is healthy to eat and what is not, even if they were not raised by animal parents.

Of course, Beta would have returned to Rainbow Dash's life by now, but without all those early memories and feelings, they would be good friends. One day her memories would return... and she would hate him for the rest of eternity. Beta also knew this about Rainbow Dash. She was an amazing and loyal friend... but break that loyalty...

Beta put his paw on the offered hoof on his shoulder and smiled and kissed it. Rainbow Dash blushed. "Go inside" he said. "She needs you more than I do right now... and thanks Rainbow Dash. You're an amazing and loyal friend. I will cherish that always." Blushing more, she smiled and turned to go back in the house.

Unseen to her, Beta spit the potion onto the ground. He had encapsulated it with nannites and held it in his cheek. The chance of loosing her friendship... of her possibly hating him forever, was more than he could bare.

He sat there for many minutes, not moving. Pondering what had just happened and what had almost happened.

%i% Rage of the weak

19 Rage of the weak

He sat there for many minutes, not moving, just pondering what had just happened and what had almost happened. It began to rain. As his fur began to soak in the warm spring water, the rage began to take hold of him: Anger at Celestia for allowing the predators to get so numerous. Angry that she had been so small minded as to send her sister away as opposed to talking to her! Beta had read the history books in the Library, and many tomes on magic. The old magic. Blood and runic magic. The kind that didn't sap at his life force to use. Celestia's decision 1000 years ago does not paint her in a good light.

He was mad at the injustice that such a sweet, innocent pony like Fluttershy had to go through this at all! And mad, inconsolably furious... that he was never able to protect the ones he loved! 'Delta, Alpha, Gamma, Omega, Iota 1 and Iota-2, the crazy techno-twins..., Even that Alpha mk2... ALL of them died and I was powerless to stop it! And father...' That last one sparked a rage in him he had never felt. A rage that was driving him to destroy and murder... Beta intellectually knew he had to get away from there, NOW!

Apple Berry had decided to come out to check up on Beta. From the look Rainbow Dash had worn as she came in to look in on Fluttershy, She knew Beta needed her more than Fluttershy. She arrived just in time to see Beta's white tipped, blue tail disappear through the bushes in the direction of the Everfree forest. It wasn't a difficult decision. She took off after him.

Running down the path, Beta turned towards what looked like the darkest part of the forest. His being radiating violence and impending death for anything that confronted him. As such, most creatures avoided his path. Because Apple Berry was following him, she was safe even from some of the meaner nasties in the Everfree.

Past trees, through bushes, under roots and over trunks, Beta ran, anger surging through him. "It's unfair, so God DAMNED UNFAIR! I have all this power and I can't save the ones I love!" Leaping up, he performed a spin kick, his foot claws fully extended, leaving 4 deep gashes in the tree, so thick, that it began to fall over. When he landed, he continued on his aimless journey to find something to fight. Something to take his rage out upon. Something HE could hurt for once.

Beta was so sick of holding back. He was sick of being weak and hurt and in pain. All he wanted was the old feeling of combat. His life against something else. One on one. The adrenaline rush of fighting for his life. The thrill of survival! The blood lust in the middle of a fight as you begin to tear your opponent down! The rush! The need for more and More and MORE... "WHERE ARE YOU YOU BAD ASS MONSTER!?" he roared as he spun sliced another tree, spun again and landed on it on all 4's, projecting him self at yet another tree, shredding it's trunk with his fore claws, landing on it then hopping to the ground, pausing to catch his breath.

"COME ON!!!" he bellowed again, breathing heavily from all the running and attacking viciously the stationary trees, projecting unspeakable doom of evil, stationary trees of unspeakable doom. "FIGHT ME, YOU FUCKING FAIRY FOREST! How bad ass can you be if you're AFRAID OF A BUNNY RABBIT!!!!!" he roared the last part, tears beginning to form. "Once again" he said quietly and sadly "I can't out run my own grief and tears..."

Before he could start to properly feel sorry for himself, he heard a growling coming from the woods he had just attacked for no reason better than they were there. It was a low, deep rumbling. He saw what he thought were fireflies fly into the remains of the three trees. His eyes widening, he saw the destroyed trunks begin to warp and reform into what looked like giant wolves.

'Timber wolves' Apple Berry gasped. She'd stayed at a good distance to give Beta the room he desperately needed. She could feel his pain so strongly even from 20 feet away. 'They're violent forest spirits that can inhabit anything made of wood, usually naturally down trees or random pieces of lumber or bark... but I've never heard of entire TREES!' she thought to herself quietly. She definitely didn't want to get their attention but how to warn Beta that he'd just pissed off something very, VERY big and nasty.

Looking at Beta, Apple Berry suddenly realized... the trees were the ones in danger. That manic look in his eyes... it scared her. His pupils were fully dilated. 'He looks... insane... The way he's smiling. The way his arms are spread apart, palms up, fingers out stretched, wiggling, welcoming the monsters towards him' Apple Berry had never seen one of Beta's rages, and this one was one of his worst.

Beta had never felt this out of control of his life. This weak, this... sick. Even when he was at the lab he had 'my team mates, Alpha, my father...' Thinking of his father made Beta's rage burn white hot again. His eyes went pure black and his claws began to twitch. He was tired of waiting for these monsters to attack him, so he leaped at the first one.

The monster backed up and swatted at the blue creature with it's massive, barky paw. And hit. Beta flew a dozen feet until he hit a solid standing tree with a *CRACK*. Any lesser being would have been knocked out at the very least, but between his biomesh armor and his pure rage and need to kill, Beta was only worked into a darker place.

"YES" he said in a nearly inhuman (or inpony for that matter) voice, "YES!!!! Fight me you fucking toothpicks!" He roared in that monstrous voice. It made Apple Berry's very soul shiver. "SHOW ME YOUR FUCKING TEETH!!!"

'So this is him in full rage' she thought. She was scared. Her instincts were screaming at her to run away... but her heart told her to stand fast. That Beta would need her when he was finished.

She compromised and stepped back a few more feet behind a particularly large, thick tree. She wasn't sure what would happen if Beta saw her in this state. But until the battle with the extra sized timber wolves was finished, she didn't want to distract him. She also didn't want to be seen by those hungry trees. So Apple Berry did the only thing she could do. She sat down and watched her love loose his mind in grief.

Beta launched himself again towards the first tree, keeping an eye on the others. The second one swiped at him. He grabbed a hold of the wooden claw, perched atop it and leaped, continuing towards the first. The next one tried to bite at him. He twisted and brought his right paw and claws down cutting the wooden maw completely off, where it crashed to the ground in a pile of splinters.

"He's amazing isn't he?" a soft, sultry voice came from behind Apple Berry a moment before she felt something hard and very cold against her neck. "Don't turn around sweety... just... watch him." Her voice was like silk covering a granite. Soft but with an unmistakable hardness to it.

"You're her aren't you" Apple Berry asked, watching Beta loose himself in battle. The voice didn't answer, but Apple Berry was sure she heard a subtle nod.

Landing on the first wolf's back, Beta raked it with his long claws, digging deep into the thick trunk that made up the body of this timber wolf. As he tore into the back of the timber wolf he saw a strange green light shining through. Dodging two swipes from the other wolves by leaping up and then laying flat against the tree, Beta pulled on either side of the rent he's made, opening it wider.

"He's always been at his best when he rages... and his worst" the voice said. Apple Berry could hear admiration and a great deal of sadness in her. This was another vulpine, she was sure of it. She had the same accent as Beta did, that same way of pronouncing certain sounds.

"Why have you been hiding all this time? He's needed you!" Apple Berry said with more than a little incredulity and anger "How could you let him suffer!?"

Dodging another swipe by number two, Beta retaliated while on his back, dodging the great paw by swiping up with both of his, rending the wrist from the arm with 8 well placed claw marks. The dismembered paw flew off it's wrist and into number three's face, where it's maw and teeth should have been, driving it backwards. At that moment Beta launched himself at it number 3, raking at the already open wound of it's face, shredding the wood, sending a shower of splinters like a soft rain onto the floor of the forest.

"I... I didn't know he was back until very recently... please believe that" the voice said. Apple Berry could sense the tears.

"It's ok.. I'VE been taking care of him." Apple Berry said defensively. She didn't like being threatened, and she liked this one's return even less, if she had to be honest with herself.

"Do you love him?" the voice asked. Apple Berry had never been asked that so directly before. Her and Rainbow Dash had discussed their feelings about Beta and agreed to be happy for the other, whoever he choose. But even Rainbow Dash hadn't asked her so directly... to be honest...

"Yes." she said with no hesitation or quivering. She was stating a fact, cold and rational.

Beta began ripping and digging into the face-damaged timber wolf, trying to get at the glowing green light. He knew it was it's power source, its heart. If only he could get at it. There was much power there... and he was hungry. He hungered like he hadn't in a very long time. He missed meat. He missed killing, he missed his old life at times like this. 'That's the rage talking' a very small, rational part of his mind said. In truth, Beta loved the peace of Equestria. Yes, he missed steak, but he enjoyed fish here, so he was happy enough with that.

"You've done a great job of taking care of him I see" the voice said sharply.

'That hurt' Apple Berry thought. "You know how he is... do you honestly think I could stop him?" she asked.

Sighing, the voice responded "No... no I suppose not." then, she hesitated afraid to hear the answer "is... is he happy?"

"DOES HE LOOK! Happy!?" Apple Berry snapped, turning to face the female, anger overriding her good sense. She pushed aside what turned out to be a metal pipe. She pointed with a hoof at Beta as he struggled to rip open the mauled wolf's chest. "He's fighting 3 super huge ... tree... monsters..." she trailed off seeing her competition... she was beautiful. 'Damn...' Apple Berry thought miserably, her ears an tail falling limp.

'Almost to the center of this tootsie pop' Beta sprang up, twisted, grabbed a vine and swung to attack the second, paw-less timber wolf. It still had it's maw and the other paw to attack Beta with and he was going to try and change that. He realized they were protecting each other as best they could. They managed to keep him from getting to their bright green glowing centers so far, even though two of them had them very much exposed, pulsating their light, beating like hearts

Apple Berry knew beauty when she saw it, no matter the species... and this purple vixen before her was stunning. The majority of her fur was dark violet, her 'gloves' and 'socks' were royal purple, her chest was white, her breasts were full, pert and not too large. Apple Berry had seen breasts on other two-legged species and they were a feature she sometimes wished she had, in addition to walking on her hind legs like this one. She also knew from those same experiences that they were very pleasant to pay attention to.

Beta slashed at what appeared to be the eyes of the second timber wolf, blinding it for the time being, he hoped. He then leaped back and landed on the ground before all three very wounded wolves. He was huffing and breathing hard, but felt very triumphant so far. Then he saw something that made his heart sink, and the madness retreat a little. The wolves began to merge into one very, very large wolf. Their gashes overlapped as the wood melded together. The creaking and cracking of the wood paused the conversation between Apple Berry and the vixen.

"Uh-oh... He's in for it now" they both said at the same time, reaching to make sure their respective medical kits were ready. Each saw how the other reacted and started giggling. "He has good taste in females" they again said at once, and giggled more, despite the seriousness of the situation.

"I'm... I'm Apple Berry" Apple Berry said in greeting, feeling perhaps they could be friends.

"I know... er..." the vixen flushed. She didn't want to like Apple Berry... but she did anyway. This mare wasn't letting her fear of Beta's rage rule her. At the very least she respected her. "I'm..." and her eyes went wide and pointed "going to kill him!"

They both saw him leap INTO the mouth of the three -times- larger beast. Their hearts stopped beating, then they heard Beta's raging voice shout "NO MORE! NO MORE RUNNING I'm sick to DEATH of being scared, or running. NO FUCKING MORE!!!!" Beta ran down the wolf's throat. It was foolish, but his gamble was right. This was not a real wolf. This was a bunch of tinker toys that looked like a wolf. On the inside, it was hollow. If he followed the throat, it should... "Bingo was his name-o" he said quietly with cruel, vicious humor.

Beta had found it's hearts. He grabbed one and pulled as hard as he could. The wolf was screaming in agony and thrashing about on the ground rolling around, slamming claws into it's side and chest trying to get at the unexpected invader ripping it's heart out in a quite literal fashion. Beta wedged himself in the mostly empty chest cavity and pulled as hard as he could. One tough 'vein' slowly snapping, shooting glowing green blood everywhere. "Oh, to hell with it!" Beta said as he leaned forward and took a huge bite out of the heart. 'Hmmm it feels kind of like week old jello with fruit juice in the middle' he reflected.

The Wolf howled as its heart was actually being eaten out! Beta pulled on the rest of the heart, this time using one paw to swipe at the veins, cutting the heart loose. As soon as he did that, the tree that was controlled by that heart fell off the larger wolf, opening it's chest and dumping Beta out onto the floor. He held the still beating, half eaten heart in his paw and squeezed it. As he did so he could feel the power soaking into his paw and being. He had just taken power at the cost of another's life.

Apple Berry and the vixen could only stare at Beta in stunned, shocked silence. He was covered in what could only be called blood, despite it being fluorescent green and glowing. It was running down from the corners of his mouth... he must have eaten part of that... thing he held in his paw, which he was squeezing. They gasped as one...

"Oh, Beta" Apple Berry said.

"Oh Mike..." The vixen said.

Tears began to sting Beta's eyes. 'Why... WHY was it always life and death? Why must one HAVE to die for another to live?' he moaned silently. This new rage came from a similar, but different place. He enjoyed living here. He knew no one would begrudge him killing a timber wolf but... it still felt wrong. "Why.. WHY can I kill a monster but not protect even my FATHER!!!!!" he roared "WHY DOES EVERYBODY I LOVE DIE!?!?!?" he squeezed his eyes tight as the tears flowed, his paw squeezing the deflated heart into less than pulp, as the magic fed into his body. Then the Wolf lowered its mouth around him with a giant GULP.

The timber wolf had a look of great satisfaction on its maw as it held it still to the ground. 'Finally got the bastard' it thought.

The females gasped. Their hearts were torn at hearing Beta's cry. "He's in so much pain..." they both said at once.

"He said... father... Oh Mike, what happened to our father?" the vixen asked quietly. Before either one of them could begin to act, they felt the ground tremble...

Inside the maw, Beta had one last burst of rage. "I tried to let you go, let you live. I would have thought seeing me eat your comrade's heart would send you running... but THIS..." Beta began to glow with anger and outrage. He opened his eyes, gone were his dilated blue eyes; instead he bore the Tao. One fish swam with the black of rage, the other with the glowing purple of magic. Beta's body began to glow green with the borrowed power from the heart.

A tornado began to form around Beta. He raised his paws, palms up, claws out as he himself turned with the wind before twisting his wrists to send his claws lateral and to the sides....

"HURRICANE OF TEARS!"

The females saw a great blast of twisting wind move outward, blowing the wolf's maw apart in a spray of splinters that embedded themselves in the trunk mere inches from Apple Berry's head, who then, ducked behind it. "I.. I've never seen him do that before!" The vixen said in shocked awe of the growing destruction. It continued to widen, shredding trees, grass, roots, everything in its path, and at its center, Beta roaring sorrow and misery.

The vixen was frozen in fear. She'd never seen magic on this scale so close before. Apple Berry however was a little more used to the supernatural. Magic was everywhere. Her mother taught her something when she was a little foal. Backing up so she was standing next to the purple vixen, Apple Berry inhaled a deep calming breath, closed her eyes, released the breath and held up her hoof at the encroaching shredding storm of claws and wind, and began to mumble under her breath.

Her outstretched hoof began to glow as her chanting hit its crescendo. "I AM EARTH! I AM SOLID... ROCK SHIELD!!!" she roared as she ducked, slamming her outstretched hoof on the ground, her other foreleg pulling the vixen down to the ground as they were covered by a small rock dome that was impenetrable to the magic storm.

After a few minutes, Apple Berry pushed up, breaking the protective done. She was in awe at the destruction. It must be at least 40 feet across, 20 or more feet from Beta's position... "BETA!" she screamed, seeing him collapsed on the ground. The vixen followed close behind.

Beta was out cold. The magic was too much. Apple Berry noticed that his bandage was looking a little better. 'That must mean that it absorbed some of the magic Beta didn't use on this 'emo storm'.' she thought, smiling at the end thought. She looked to see the vixen kneeling at Beta's head, resting it on her thighs.

"Oh Mike" she said as she caressed his forehead and cheek. "Oh my sweet, wonderful Mike... How could you come to this... What did they do to you?" she asked, tears falling from her eyes. Her demeanor was totally different around Beta. 'Who is Mike?' Apple Berry wondered.

"His name is Beta" Apple Berry said, checking Beta's body for wounds. It would seem that he survived this battle, again, without any major injuries aside from some splinters that she picked out using her teeth.

"No... his DESIGNATION is Beta" the vixen said sourly. "His NAME... is Mike... Michael Tracker"

%i% Assault on Sweet Apple Acres

20 Assault on Sweet Apple Acres

Beta woke up a few hours later in his bed on the farm. Again Apple Berry was looking over him. He saw her fuzzy outline as his sight began to come to... "Angel?" he asked, smelling the scent of the vixen in the air. She had helped carry Beta to the cottage, made sure he didn't have any serious wounds, then left, swearing Apple Berry to secrecy.

"Mike can't know I was here, and you can't CALL him Mike" she had said, pointing a finger at Apple Berry.

"Why not?" she asked angrily "Little pet name you two have for each other!" she liked the vixen, but was feeling a little jealous.

"No you silly mare" the vixen replied, then took a deep breath. She liked Apple Berry in all truth, but "I don't have much time. Look, I'm not supposed to be here... I was on my way to do something for the queen and I got side tracked... it's not yet time for Mike... Beta to know I'm around.. ok? please?" she asked in a more conciliatory tone.

"What are you doing for Celestia?" Apple Berry asked.

"I'm scouting this area for her. She has a student that NEEDS to get out of the castle... BADLY, and... 'get a life'. I believe is how Celestia put it." the vixen smiled. Twilight Sparkle was truly a genius on her level, but was too much of a book worm. In fact she reminded her of herself before a young furry, designated Beta test 02, had corrupted her.

"Ok... not a word, I found him and brought him back here on my own..." Apple Berry agreed.

"That's essentially the truth anyway" the vixen said, shrugging "I didn't really do anything. You checked him out pretty thoroughly back there, you carried him and..." she trailed off 'and you love him...'

As she packed up to go, Apple Berry asked finally "What's your name? We kind of got distracted back in the forest."

They both laughed. "Yeah, I suppose we did" the vixen replied. "You're right of course... I'm 'her'... I'm Alpha. Take care of him. He means the world to me" she finished and left.

"He means that to me too" Apple Berry said sadly. 'How many females DO you have pining after you, Beta?' she wondered to herself.

Yawning and stretching, Beta got out of bed, noticing that he had managed to loose his clothes again. Looking around for his spare set, Beta asked "Why is it that I always seem to loose my clothes when I'm unconscious around you?" and winked at Apple Berry, who blushed.

"There wasn't much after your battle, hun... you kind of destroyed them." she retorted, blushing even redder realizing how familiar she had just been with Beta by calling him 'hun'.

Then taking on a serious tone when he found his spare work overalls "So... you saw me.. like... that... then?" he asked, deep self resentment and shame in his voice.

"And Ah didn't run." Apple Berry answered firmly, her soft accent becoming more pronounced. "Ah stood there and watched you. I heard what yah said... and ya... " she faltered. tears wanting to form, but she fought them back for the moment. "Ya had a bahd life before here, didn't ya?"

Beta paused and thought about the question, only his lower legs in his overalls. She looked hungrily at him, unable to stop her eyes.

"No... it wasn't a great life... but it was mine." he said with a heavy sigh of sadness. "At least it was mine until that bastard Dobsin took it away from me." he finished, growling the word.

'dob sin... what is that' Apple Berry wondered.

Shaking his head, then blushing realizing he was quite exposed to Apple Berry, not a condition he really objected to, pulled up his pants ending the show. "I need to talk to Big Mac about what happened in Cloudsdale. The royal guard has to know the Predators are a threat... and that they're 'monsters' now." Beta said in a business-like manner.

"But... But you just woke up!" Apple Berry protested, stomping a hoof on the ground "Dammit Beta, take a bucking break! Do you think you're indestructible?!" she said raising her voice, concern painting her lovely features.

"No Berry... I'm VERY destructible which is WHY I need to tell someone!" Beta replied, trying to keep his voice level and only partially succeeding. "Mac has contacts with the guard. I can tell him and..." but he was interrupted.

"You are so damned thick headed, Mike! TAKE A BUCKING DAY OFF!" Apple Berry screamed, tears starting to form. She was a nurse. She knew how pony bodies worked, and knew that Beta wasn't as durable as a pony. Then she realized her slip, seeing Beta's shocked expression.

"How..." he asked, suddenly becoming very cold and very angry. "Do You know THAT NAME!?" he roared, his fangs and claws bared. Apple Berry had just hit a very, very raw nerve. Beta was content to be called Beta... Mike was a very personal name. He was planing on telling Apple Berry... maybe... but this... "HOW DO YOU KNOW MY SECRET NAME!?!?" he roared.

Apple Berry was scared, more than in the forest and took a step back. This wasn't blind rage. This was worse. This was like she had broken into his mind, invaded his privacy... violated his trust... Alpha's trust... She knew she had to think fast... something believable. 'Celestia damn me if I break TWO ponies' trust today!' she thought brutally to herself.

"YOU SAID IT IN YOUR SLEEP" she screamed, tears rolling down her cheek. "You...you said in your sleep... "My name is Mike"" she was crying now, her words almost unintelligible. She loved him so much. She never meant to go to a dark place like where that name must be... that must be why Alpha had said not to use it... Apple Berry fell to all 4 knees, before laying on the ground weeping openly. "Why Beta, why is that such a bad thing to call you!?"

Turning to leave Beta said coldly over his shoulder, far more than he meant "Because only my teammates can call me that..." he managed to stop. He almost added  '... and you're just some pony bitch I met last month' which would have crushed her heart completely. He didn't want that. Managing to cool down a little "I'm leaving to talk to Mac. I don't know when I'll be back... don't wait up" he said with such a cold finality, that Apple Berry feared she'd just lost him forever.

Stomping out of his home and towards the sparring circle, Beta fumed. He needed to blow off some steam. He knew in his heart and mind that what he did was wrong. But... 'That scent... Alpha must have told Berry.' he concluded. 'Alpha was here.. HERE... and she left without talking to ME!' He thought, extra hurt. He realized he was angry with Alpha, not Apple Berry. 'And now I've hurt Berry... could this day GET any worse?' he immediately regretted wondering that, as a moment later a hoof came out of nowhere to send him flying.

"Ow..." Beta said, too distracted to really register the pain. Looking up, he saw a rather upset looking Big Mac.

"Ah could hear Apple Berry all tha way in tha farm boy!" Mac boomed at him. "What tha HELL did yah just say to her?!"

Growling, not ready to concede openly his error in judgement, Beta leaped at Big Mac, spinning and swinging his right leg out for a powerful kick... that missed completely.

Landing, skidding on the ground to a halt, Beta ran back at Mac and began striking at him with blunt fists and kicks. He might have been pissed, and this might have been exactly what he needed... but he wasn't trying to KILL Mac. His claws were reinforced with biomesh, making them super sharp. He had to concentrate to have what few nannites he had to make his claws dull by pulling away the mesh. Beta was always conscious of how dangerous he was. But right now all he wanted to do was to hit this fucking red Clydesdale! "WHY CAN'T I HIT YOU!?" Beta roared in impotent rage.

"Oh yah wahnt ta hit me now, do yah?" Mac taunted and stopped dodging. Beta's first fist hit Mac's very solid stomach, as he was standing on his hind legs... and it bounced off, hurting it considerably. "OW!". Beta's next fist hit... the same. Beta began to hit Mac with a flurry of kicks and punches to his midsection, as Mac just yawned. He then swung a back hoof that connected with Beta's head and send him flying, crashing into one of the posts marking the sparring area.

Moaning from the pain seeping into his consciousness from the sucker hoof, the just administered back hoof, as well as realizing his own situation, Beta's ears fell flat against his head. "I... I'm a thoughtless asshole who has trouble letting people into his heart" he said honestly and in a flat tone.

"Yeah.. yah are." Mac said "So what happened dat yah got so mad over boy? Why did yah make MAH COUSIN CRY!?" Big Mac emphasized cousin. Beta had nearly forgotten they were kin. Her accent should have been enough 'But it's so soft and only comes out when she's emotional' Beta thought.

Looking up, and defeated, Beta explained "I think Alpha was here recently."

"And?" Mac asked, looking like he was ready to go a few more rounds with Beta, but not hold back.

Sighing and letting his shoulders slump along with his ears and whiskers, Beta explained "My NAME isn't Beta. That's my designation, given to me by the humans that created me. My full designation is Test subject 02: Beta Test."

Mac nodded. He didn't understand everything Beta had just said, 'what's a hoo mahn?' but he got the general idea.

"We... Alpha and I, were the first ones 'woken up' from the um... places we were born, as it were. Anyway... I wanted a name like father had. I choose Mike. Later, I started calling Alpha my 'angel of mercy'. So she became Angel. Delta was Dan, Omega was little John, Gamma was Bullseye... he was a strange one" Beta finished, smiling, thinking of his comrades. "We never told anyone else our names. We were still killing machines. We had missions, no one cared about our souls... " Beta paused, melancholy threatening to overtake him again. He was getting so tired of crying so easily. He was a man after all...

"There's no shame in cryin', boy." Big Mac said compassionately. He'd been in Beta's place more than once, dealing with loss and grief. It was not a place he wished on anyone. "Not after the life yah've had. SO.. yer mad at Alpha fer not stayin? Ah can understand that. She's a cold bitch at times." Mac said nodding, offering a hoof. "And as long as yer this honest about it, ah can't hate yah.. but yer hurting Apple Berry with it. Do yah know how worried she was when ya fell from Cloudsdale?" Big Mac asked, snapping Beta into the present and reminding him why he was here.

"Oh yeah... how much of that have you heard?" he asked, dodging the subject of Apple Berry for the time being.

"Not much. Just that there was this big fight, a thunder bolt 15 hooves across, and yah nearly gettin killed." Mac said, recalling the stories around town.

"Mac... what can you tell me about Predators..." Beta started, unsure how to explain further. Thankfully he didn't have to. It would seem that the ponies here used the same term.

"Preds? What about 'em?" Big Mac asked, a sharp look entering his eyes.

"They were there... a lot of them... a lot, a lot!" Beta said weakly. 'a lot, a lot? Really Beta?' he chided himself quietly.

"How many is a lot a lot?" Mac asked skeptically, figuring it was a great number if BETA was worried.

"I'm not sure... 25?" Beta said, realizing that maybe he sounded like a wimp, unable to take on a mere 25 opponents... even if those opponents were deranged, sexually hungry ponies. He needn't worry about being thought ill of. Big Mac's eyes were wide with shock and horror.

"S.. so many?" Mac asked. "Ah've never heard of so many in one place before" this shocked Beta. "How did yah defeat them?"

"Luna... I called to Luna for help and she did..." Beta said quietly. His body seemed to have such an unpleasant reaction to channeling large amounts of magic. It always ended up with him unconscious for hours or days on end. "That's what I have to tell the guard... Luna made a Royal Decree... 'All predators are monsters'. What does that mean Mac?" He asked as he saw a triumphant grin on Mac's face.

"It means we have a better chance of taking the bastards out in larger numbers!" Mac said, smiling "A monster goes POOF when ya hit it hard enough. A pony, gets back up."  Big Mac said, sounding like the Royal Guard Elite commander that he was.

Beta nodded. "That explains why Rainbow Dash knocked the same 3 guys down about a dozen times." he said, then remembered when Fluttershy and he...

"I... I had to trick Fluttershy... I .... " Beta couldn't continue and not break down in tears so he stopped.

"And that's why yah went into the hornet's next, wavin' honey around. Ah understand Beta... Apple Berry told me that much." Big Mac said with more compassion than Beta felt he deserved right now. "Ah've ah... gone into the Everfree um..." Mac was blushing at this point, knowing he should have know better. "Lookin' fer ah fight or two. Nearly died ah couple times too. But mah sister come help her 'dumb older brother'..." he said with a mix of love for Apple Jack and scorn that he was, and would always be, seen as some dumb hayseed. "I'm just glad she didn't see all the bodies on the way in" he finished darkly, dropping his accent for a moment. Beta knew that "ah yup" as more of a cover since his days in the guard.

"Um... What now" Beta asked, painfully aware of the situation.

"Now... now you learn how to fight a Pony Royal guardsman. If you can't land a hoof, let alone HURT me, then you're no good against the predators... or anything else of real danger in Equestria... assumin yer not lookin ta KILL that is." Big Mac said, pointing his nose at Beta's claws. He was very aware that if Beta choose to he could slice him into bits of Big Mac burger.

"Hold on Mac...I need to declaw myself or I really WILL hurt you" Beta said before holding his paws in front of himself, fingers splayed claws glinting in the light. Beta closed his eyes and concentrated hard. He had to move the biomesh that was hardening his claws somewhere else, his knuckles, he decided. That would give him a kind of sub-dermal glove. It took almost 2 minutes. He missed his nannite farm, this would have been done in a second or less, but he had so few nannites now, that he was lucky to even be able to perform this parlor trick.

Flexing his fingers after it was completed, Beta nodded. "All safe. Now I don't run the chance of hurting you, hun." He said, smiling at Big Mac who returned the affectionate smile. Beta was relieved that Big Mac wasn't still mad at him. Mac was the last person in Equestria, above even Luna, who he wanted mad at him.

"You never had that chance boy. You may be some hot assassin back in your world, but here, no one's a better fighter than Ah am. Prepare to have yer fluffy tail kicked!" Big Mac said as he stood upright, his full height on his hind legs had him towering over Beta, who was more than a little intimidated by this.

Beta started by leaping towards Big Mac's head, executing a perfect roundhouse kick, which did nothing. Beta fell to the ground in shock, looking up at the towering red Clydesdale, who smiled down at him. "Yer fast boy, Ah didn't even see you move until just now... but your attack doesn't have any power. Yer just fluff and bones."

Beta swore silently. He knew Big Mac was right. With so few nannites he could no longer move his biomesh around like he used to. It was currently in its default setting, protecting his chest and back with some reinforcement on his shins, thighs... as Beta began to consider where he DID have his armor he began to formulate attacks that would allow him to use that to, perhaps, add more weight to his attacks. In the mean time...

'RABBIT PUNCH' Beta leaped up and forward, clasping his paws together and swinging them up together as one large furry fist. It struck just under Big Mac's chin and snapped his head back. Keeping with the momentum, Beta reached forward, grabbing Big Mac's large jawbones on either side of his face, and pulled himself close, executing a double kick to Mac's lower mid section, just missing his tender... there were places Beta would never attack on Big Mac, and that was one of them!

Big Mac bent over so much, he fell back onto his fore hooves, gasping for air, a moment later, kneeling on his hind legs, his fore legs clutching his mid section. Beta was also breathing hard as soon as he landed. It took a lot of work to do that, and he wasn't sure how he would manage against a small group.

"Not... bad..." Mac gasped, inhaling deep, chiding himself for taking his soft, fluffy lover so lightly. He'd earned this and he knew that Beta had purposely avoided his groin... he would have to find a creative way of thanking him for that later. But now he had to put this little rabbit back in his place

Shaking his head, Big Mac decided to stop playing around and take a more traditional pony combat stance; all four hooves on the ground in different angles to one another, so that if one or two legs were knocked out, the fighter could still stand or attack. Lifting one left before him, Big Mac made a 'come hither' motion. Beta attacked, fast as lightning, but this time Big Mac was ready. The advantage of this style of fighting for him was his hooves could feel the ground. He could not see Beta, but he could 'feel him'. Closing his eyes, Mac relied completely on his other senses, and dodged the first attack with easily.

Trying again, Beta performed a complex backflip, landing his right foot-paw where his left hand-paw was on the ground a moment before. He only felt ground... then he felt a hoof in his chest. Mac knew where it was ok to hit Beta without actually hurting him. But even with his armor, the impact stung.

For half an hour it went. Beta occasionally getting some good solid hits in on Big Mac, but more often Big Mac either absorbing or dodging, then counter striking Beta.

Unfortunately, today the Royal Guard forward-looking scouts were flying overhead. If Twilight Sparkle was to come to live in this backwater, they wanted to make sure it was COMPLETELY clear of any kind of nefarious going-ons. That's when the Sergeant saw his commanding officer in what looked like a life and death struggle with a...

"SQUAD! ON ME! DOWN!!!" the Sergeant barked. He was a earth pony with 'fairy wings' He hated this damned spell... something about it took away from his stallioness, somehow. Then pointing at the Blue two-legs he ordered "Sigma put down that mongrel, think you can handle that?"

"Y-yes S-sir" the unicorn replied meekly. His coat looked almost white, except that it was very, very pale pink. He was a fully trained guardsman, but his magic was considered weak... very weak. They almost never taught him spells. He didn't even cast these wings. 'It's too complicated for you, Sigma' he recalled bitterly. 'I'm certainly smart enough to cast more spells...I'm... just..'  he couldn't bring himself to acknowledge it.

Rolling his eyes the sergeant added "FAILING that, Get Big Mac! He's one of US, certainly you can handle a pony?" the Sergeant added. He graded Sigma because he wanted to see the kid assert himself. He was kind, smart, and soft... too soft. If he expected to survive at this level, he'd have to up his game 3 fold. 'Honestly' he thought 'That kid has more potential than I've seen in a dozen guards men. He needs confidence!' he thought bitterly. He'd tried a dozen times since Sigma was under his command to get his spells increased, and he constantly got the same reply. 'Not powerful enough.'

Beta and Big Mac had just stopped and were on sitting on the ground resting, joking back and forth about the very long sparring match. They both had needed the release of the fight. Big Mac had been having issues on the farm of one sort or another and Beta... he just needed this time with Big Mac. They both needed this match. It had drained them both to near exhaustion however, Beta was especially spent. He was ready to sleep for a day.

Out of nowhere, a pegasus came racing out of the skies and slammed into Beta, winding him of what little air he had, knocking him senseless. The pegasus then kneeled over him, effectively, completely immobilizing Beta, not that he had the strength to fight.

'No way I'm letting that pink stallion sucking poofter have this one. Let's see if he's any good against a REAL pony. He'll probably fail... again.' Buzzer thought viciously. He hated 'pink' male ponies.

'Dammit Buzzer!' the Sergeant didn't say, 'That was supposed to be Sigma's kill. Easier target and the kid NEEDS a few of those.' he swore mentally. "Good kill, Buzzer!" he said instead. He had to encourage his troops also when they took the ... correct, initiative. "Nice and quick!".... 'and way below your skill level you glory sucking asshole.' He didn't care for Buzzer. Sure, he was a talented and skilled pegasus, but that was part of his problem. BECAUSE of that, he was also an arrogant prick.

Before Mac could get a firm grasp on what had happened to Beta, He found himself pushed against the ground and enclosed in a magical net. 'What the hell?' Big Mac thought. 'This is a basic level spell they teach recruits. Why is it being used on me... and why is it actually working?' he wondered sluggishly, the fight having taking his speed of thought.

"Good one, Sigma" Sarg said. He was going to have to make a special note. This spell was basic, it should NOT work against someone of Commander Macintosh's ability. But the mesh had Mac pinned against the ground pretty good. Why did that bother him?

One at a time, all 4 Royal Guard landed. Sigma who was holding the net spell on Big Mac, Buzzer who was holding a now starting to come-to mongrel two legs, Sergeant Nutstomper (he grew up on a walnut farm) and his lieutenant Quicktrip. All 3 were the typical of the royal guard, pure white coats with navy blue manes. Only Sigma differed. Something the others loved to remind him behind Sarg's back... often.

"WHAT IN TARNATION IS GOING ON HERE!?" Big Mac boomed, trying to stand up. 'Why is this working?' he wondered before he saw the light pink pony struggling to hold the spell on him. 'SIGMA!?' Then Big Mac knew he really only had One Option. No one understood Sigma's potential. How deeply he felt about his abilities and how hurt he was. But Big Mac knew. He was in charge of Sigma once.

"You, commander have been found in the company of a two-legged mongrel!" the sergeant began. Mac would have tried to rip his head off, except he knew this pony. This was a required speech and he knew what happened next... "You can denounce him and spare yourself..."

"SPARE Me Berrytapper!" Big Mac threw back. He knew Nutstomper hated that nickname, "but you don't know what you're talking about!" when Nutstomper was younger one of his hooves went tender, so he only had 3 hooves that could crack nuts. So a young recruit Macintosh would tease him that he could only tap berries. He did a LOT of KP but he didn't care, it was worth it. When Mac raised in the ranks, the old Sergeant accepted it good naturedly, but Mac had long since stopped, learning to respect the greying pony.

"What is your REAL reason for assaulting me and my friend?!" Big Mac roared. "It was clear we were having a friendly sparring match, AND that we were just finishing up!"

"You know the rules on ... mongrels Mac... You helped WRITE THEM!" Sarg accused. "You know we have to take him in..."

"LIKE HELL YOU WILL!" Big Mac roared, cutting Sarg off. Then he started to stand, pushing up against the very effective net. 'I'm sorry Sigma' he apologized quietly.

"I am earth... All energies return to ground. From far in the heavens were our gods come from, to the skies and the humble cloud. All energy returns to Earth!" he chanted. As he did his eyes began to glow a light green earth tone. The magical net gone, its energies having been absorbed by Big Mac. Rearing up on his hind legs Big Mac roared "I AM YOUR COMMANDING OFFICER! and you will OBEY MY COMMANDS!" with the last word Big Mac slammed his fore hooves down on the ground, sending out giant ripples of earth, like waves on a pond, not disturbing the ground, only those on top of it. The wave extended out dozens of feet, knocking apples off trees into the buckets that are usually sitting empty under them, waiting for an apple to fall.

All the royal guard were knocked down. Buzzer and Beta were thrown in different directions, knocking both silly for a few moments. Sigma was blasted back with the rebuke from his own magic and landed on his back, flopping to his side, stunned. The grizzled old Sergeant just rode the wave out, expecting this but unable to warn anypony by the time he realized it.

"Big Mac is from a long line of earth ponies who can 'borrow' magic and redirect it." the Sergeant began as if there had been only a stiff breeze "Sorry... I forgot that. I haven't worked with Mac in ages. Regardless.."

"SHUT UP!" Big Macintosh roared, and another wave radiated from him, this time knocking Sarg on his ass. "YOU have no RIGHT to try and assault me! You know my position! You know WHY I'm here in Equestria, Sarg! MORE important... You know that Ponyville is under MY protection! IF I say a mongrel, sorry Beta, is safe... THEN HE IS SAFE!" he finished, another hoof in rage that his command structure seems to have ignored him.

Beta finally managed to find, and keep his breath. "Guys!" he said, causing both Mac and Sarg to look at him. "Look, we have bigger problems! The pred population is... growing or getting more ornery or something!" Beta pleaded. "Please you can take me in..."

"BETA NO!" Big Mac objected, afraid of what would happen to him.

"No Mac... I ... I can't keep hiding. This is too important." Beta said, his ears and shoulders slumping. "I ..."

Waving a hoof Sarg sighs. "Mac hay have a point kid. "I can already see that if you WERE a threat, A... Mac would have killed you and B... The amount of carnage you could manage would be considerable. But you..." He said then, looking at Big Mac as well. "BOTH of you will need to come back to the palace with us." he said, then waved his hoof again "Please Mac don't argue. You're overdue with your reports anyway. That... and I need you to explain to Shining Armor why this mongrel..."

"HEY!" both Beta and Big Mac yelled in indignation.

"I / He Has a name... it's Beta!" Beta and Mac protested at the same time.

"FINE..." Sarg snapped. "BETA... your new minder is ..." then looking at his squad, he smiled wickedly. "SIGMA!"

"WHa? huh, ME?" Sigma asked, pointing to himself with his hoof in shock.

"Yes YOU! Your net spell is pretty effective. Besides, I need someone who can protect the mong... BETA if needed." Sarg said. "He might also teach you a thing or two." 'He has that look of someone who hates hording his knowledge and skills.' Sarg also thought, appraising Beta. He didn't like mongrels, and he was just as ready to kill this one, but he would give him a chance... a SINGLE chance to prove himself.

"What can HE teach me?" Sigma protested indignantly.

"Perhaps when to SHUT UP!" Sarg growled. 'He must really be bothered to have actually spoken up... good.'

"When do we leave?" Big Mac asked,, interrupting the fight.

"Well since your little stomp knocked out our wings, we have to go on hoof, about 2 days ride from here. Buzz!" Sarg ordered, "Go to the castle and ONLY tell them we have information about the Preds... they're on the move..."

"OH... " Beta interrupted "Um... sorry... it's just that.. Luna declared them... monsters... does that mean anything useful?" Beta asked, looking sheepish as he finished his statement.

"Luna... you mean Nightmare Moon? She's back?!" Sarg asked, looking a little worried.

"Luna..." Beta said wondering why people kept confusing their lunar goddess with this "Nightmare Moon"... "You know, your Lunar goddess? She who sees over your dreams?" Beta asked deciding[ that] maybe he shouldn't add 'the one who saved my life, brought me over and has been guiding me this entire time?' feeling that it might not go well in front of guards of the sun!

"Monsters, huh?" Sarg said thoughtfully. "That really changes everything! You only have to kill or poke a monster really hard for him to cycle... and the best part? No body! They vaporize into smoke and dust." he said almost with a giddiness.

"Buzzer! Add that. But ONLY that. No information on the mongrel.. AT ALL! If word leaks out we have a mongrel with us, alive, and I'll have your wings on my plate, battered and deep fried... UNDERSTOOD!?" Sarg growled. It was rumored he had done this once. 'tastes like chicken' is also what he was rumored to have said.

Buzzer just nodded in fear and took off. He wasn't a great fan of Sarg, but he knew better than to go against orders. If Celestia herself asked, there was no mongrel traveling with the group. Only that the Preds were on the move and they were now monsters. and not a work more. Buzzer loved his wings. No one knew that he was called buzzer because his wings were very small for a long time, and they made a 'buzzing' sound when he flapped them.

"Oh, and Mac... We leave in 30 minutes. Pack your crap and be back here in... oh heck take an hour. Sigma, follow Beta, make sure he doesn't run... not that I think you would" the old pony noted, smiling at Beta. The disdain on his muzzle almost made Beta want to hit him.

Looking at his minder Beta waved. He had a kind face, much more so than the rest of his squad. That Buzzer really ... 'Maybe it's just because he got the best of me, but I don't like him' Beta pondered.

"So... your name is Sigma?" Beta asked in a friendly tone. If this was going to be his watch pony, he might as well get to know him... besides he was cute.

"Yes. Mo...pr... ... What the hell should I call you?" Sigma asked in frustration. He didn't think Beta was a mongrel... well not a bad, ugly, mean one anyway. He seemed very genuine when he offered to surrender earlier. He knew his squad mates would tease him... but he liked how Beta's fluffy tail moved... which caused him to blush. "Um... so... where are you going?"

"To my cabin, so I can assault you!" Beta said in a scary, somber voice, then burst out laughing at Sigma's look of... Beta wasn't sure. "Nah, just my shed to get some supplied. I have some magic books I've been meaning to read, a supply vest, etc." ... 'Apple Berry, I hope. I really need to apologize to her. I ... I was not in my right mind this morning. I was a right ass.' Beta thought, berating himself. Seeing the consternation on his face, Sigma asked

"What's wrong? You look... troubled" Sigma always gave ponies the benefit of the doubt. It had admittedly come back to bite him in the behind a few times... especially with the colts. 'Always the colts...' he thought broodingly at his disastrously failed attempts at relationships.

"A... my.... Hell, I don't know what we are, to be honest" Beta said ruffling his hair as they approached his shack. "There was a terrible misunderstanding this morning and I kind of yelled at her... and..." He pushed open his door... it was empty. Apple Berry and her things were gone. "Damn"

Beta went to collect his survival vest. As he touched it, he shivered; all the events of that night came flooding back. His father drugging him, he waking up on the evisceration table. His father setting a plan for him to escape. the hunter slicing into his gut. The redneck he got this vest from. His wish to Luna... "The words spoken... the toll paid" he said very softly. He had heard those words in his mind when he passed out.

Shaking his head, he checked the pouches. Still pretty much as they had been a month ago. 'Wow... has it really been a full cycle?' he mused. Such a busy month. The new moon was sure to start soon. And he would have to try to be back here to do what he was supposed to do... assuming these books held that information.

Mostly the books he had borrowed from the Library were old magic, using salt, circles, runes and incantations to affect magic. Beta hoped that if he used this kind of magic it wouldn't drain him as much as his 'blood magic' seemed to. Sighing heavily, Beta packed the books, put them in the backpack on the vest, and affixed a large bag of salt to his belt.

Sigma felt strange coming into a 'home' that had so recently been full and was now going to be quite empty for who knows how long. Seeing a note on a chair, he calls Beta "Hey Beta um... is this important?" he asked as he levitated the paper.

Beta picked the paper from mid air and thanked Sigma. There was only one word. Five letters, and it felt as thought he'd just been double hoof-kicked in the gut while his armor was down... closing his eyes, crushing the paper in his paw, he growled in pain. Trying not to cry, he threw it across the room and turned to leave.

"No Sigma, I don't have anything here. Let's go."