Side Effects

Brick immediately put his hand around my muzzle to force it closed. I struggled a bit after this new found restraint. Why the hell was he restraining me instead of hiding?

“Human, put down that pony or it’ll be worse for you.” Ah so that’s why, he thinks if he pretends I’m a hostage that I’ll at least be able to escape.

“I don’t think so, this thing is my hostage,” He picks up a piece of broken glass and holds it to my neck, drawing blood. “you move an inch and so does the glass.”

Celestia is obviously taken aback by the statement but holds her ground. “You will drop that pony or else you won’t make it out of this building alive.” She took a step forward and Brick took a step back

“Your statement implies I was ever going to make it out of here alive in the first place.” He retorts.

Celestia’s brows furrow at his stubbornness. I want to blow her a raspberry but my mouth is currently muffled by my savior’s hand. I don’t think they would get the expression anyways. “We both know you wouldn’t kill that pony, well if he is as much your friend as we believe him to be.” She grinned victoriously.

Well shit, that messes with everything. Much to my surprise the glass dug deeper into my neck, if it goes any farther it’s sure to sever my jugular, or at least the pony equivalent. I know better than to flail, if he means to kill me then it would make the job quicker, but if it’s just a ploy then I would be dead and that wouldn’t be any fun.

Celestia stands tall, her eyes never leaving the glass that was literally spilling out all my lifeblood. My vision darkened a bit as I started to suffer from blood loss. If my fractured calculations are correct, I won’t last another 30 minutes.

“Be that as it may, ‘princess’, every pony should know by now that we humans prefer death over being ponified. I would be doing him a favor by killing him.”

“Then why do you persist to draw out his execution?” Celestia retorted.

This drew an audible smirk from the man. “Because, it seems that you’re obviously very interested in him and therefore he is valuable to you. By putting him at risk I have you by the balls.”

I could tell that the comment about how vulnerable I made her went right over Celestia’s head, but she shook it off before anyone else noticed. “Fine, you humans are the most stubborn of all creatures.” She paused and looked me dead in the eyes, her gaze unwavering as she spoke. “I’ll make you a deal, you can walk out the front doors with all my guards inside. Then when you reach the outside you are to put him down. You will be allowed to leave, attempt to come back and the deal is void however.”

That whor… bitch! She really thinks that she can just entice people with… hey wait why is Brick relaxing? "Hmmph, if there is one thing we learned it's that you ponies are trusting to a fault." He took a step forward, the glass still at my neck but no longer cutting deeper. "You know what I'll take you up on that offer, nobody's life is worth more than my own."

The disgust was plain on Celestia's face. Through my confusion and woozy state I could tell she was angered by the 'every man for himself' statement. Hell I was surprised that I was being ditched so fast after being saved.

He continued forward, walking slowly as the ponies lowered their guns at Celestia's command. As we passed her horn lit up and Brick and I instantly recoiled in defense. She smiled motherly at me before turning a semi glare on my 'captor'. "At ease, I am simply healing him, which is more than you would do." Her soft gaze once again rested on me. My body yearned for her touch, to feel more of the love she seemingly embodied. My mind, however, fought against the urge and my expression remained neutral as I felt the skin crawl back into place in my neck.

I didn't even dignify her with a thanks for the effort. She ruined my life, no amount of apologies could ever make me respect her again. Brick just continued walking slowly out the door, never turning his back to the ponies in the doorway. As we exited the doorway I shot him a hated filled glare. He merely smiled maliciously, probably thinking about how stupid I was for trusting him. Much to my surprise I heard him speak softly, his lips barely moving. "When I let you go, run, don't stop, I'll meet you in Dahlonega, that's north of here and a bit to the east." I saw him crack a small grin, it was faint but I saw it. "And do me a favor, don't be late." Oh, my god, that sneaky bastard. Chock one point up for him I guess and shame on me for doubting him.

With that last comment, we reached the 10 foot mark from the doorway that housed the soldiers and the princess. It was now that Celestia addressed him again. "Alright human, we have held up our end of the deal, now drop the new-foal." I glanced back and forth between Brick and Celestia, the same question reverberated throughout my mind. 'What are you up to?'

He just smiled and opened his arms wide, letting me drop to the ground with a thud before drawing out a small round object. After I hit the ground I dazedly watched the black sphere go flying past my head, making small ticking noises as it went. ‘HOLY SHIT EMERGENCY H.E GRENADE!’ I don’t know how, nor do I care, but I kicked my pony butt into gear. The blast radius of one of those grenades was so wide that it was dangerous to even test. However, some of the senior members of our old group, before we split into the small group of me, Brick and the others, were issued it in case of emergency situations. I don’t know why this qualified, or how he got it past pony security. Maybe I’ll ask him later, now is not exactly the best time.

I looked back frantically to see the deadly device roll to a stop a foot from Celestia, still chiming its deadly tick. She looked at it quizzically then looked up to find that I was making my escape as quickly as my stubby horse legs could carry me. "AFTER HI…” It was all she could get out before a excruciating light blinded me. No doubt the princess herself would survive, nothing much could kill the pony goddesses, previous attacks had proved that. However the ponies closest to her definitely did not come away unscarred, or alive for that matter.

Despite my speed I was still caught by the shock wave created by the grenade, which threw me to the ground in a dazed stupor. I shook my head and attempted to stand. Once again the unfamiliarity of my body caused me to fall to the ground heavily. It took me a minute before I managed stability.

After a couple more tries I was able to stand and look back on the carnage.

The entire of group of guards, those who weren't blown apart by the initial blast,were strewn left and right across the courtyard. All that remained of where the grenade had gone off was a thick layer of smoke. I turned and looked away, still unstable on my new legs. Before I started walking I heard a choking cough from behind me. I flinched and turned around, grimacing at the sight of the solar goddess, still very much alive, starting to slowly trot outside the wall of smoke.

I started trembling as she kept walking towards me. As she became more and more removed from the smog I caught a look at the damage the explosion had caused. Her fur no longer had a vibrant white sheen to it. Instead the more prominent colour is black; black and grey covered her from snout to flank. She carried a slight limp, though I knew nothing was broken; the most she could ever get was a scratch, and even those healed up quickly. Her eyes betrayed sadness, mixed in with disappointment.

Once again I fought the urge to run to her and fall to my knees crying for forgiveness; resisted my-the pony body’s apparent need for her approval and satisfaction.

I could no longer move, my mind and body torn between decisions as she inched closer.

Before long, Celestia had halved the distance between herself and I. She took another step closer, but as her form became bigger in my field of vision, so did my vie for escape. She took another step and I managed to take one back. She repeated the action, receiving the same result from me. I tried so desperately to break free from her gaze. I thought about all sorts of evil things, the ponies I’ve killed, people as well. But her face would always dig its way back up to the top, dominating my thoughts.

She obviously saw that the current situation would lead nowhere, but still she did not move from in front of me. Instead she shifted and lay down upon the dirt and gravel, leaving her fore legs outstretched in a motherly beckon. At the sight of this I was completely won over. My forelegs moved on their own; my brain was filled with images of Celestia holding me, caring for me, and comforting me. I traveled a foot, two, then three. Soon I was so close to Celestia that I could see that her eyes really did have gold irises. They swirled with energy, captivating me. ‘I just want to be loved, cared for.’

“I know, I can give that to you.” It did not surprise me when she answered, as if she had heard my thoughts, I was too caught up in her face.

She reached to give me that warming embrace. A tear slipped from her eye as I took another step, a little piece of my past life dying with it.

Then a large blue flash and small explosion erupted 3 feet away, jarring me back to reality. I saw Celestia, still holding her hooves out, tear halfway down her cheek. I started backing up, slower, and then a bit faster. I watched her mouth move before I heard the words. “No, don’t go, please, stay.” The warm feeling was back, but it was interrupted by another loud, not so loving voice breaking the silence.

“TIA! WE FELT THAT THEE WERE HARMED! WHO HAST DONE THIS!” I saw a large, not as tall as Celestia, blue pony make her way quickly to the burned princess’ side, laying down beside her. Celestia was not interested in being comforted by her sister though. She proceeded to get up to pursue me, to try to chain me to her with a mental leash. I didn’t want to be entranced by her eyes, never again. I averted my gaze and galloped off, not stopping to turn back. ‘Why, why was so caught up in her gaze, that has never happened before...’

Before I got far I heard loud thumps behind me, indicating a pursuer. ‘Dammit!’ I panicked, it could only be one pony, none of the others were in shape for pursuit. I turned my head for a quick glance of Princess Luna, her gaze was determined. I knew that when she caught me, which I know she will, that no harm would come to me. But then again my whole life would be erased and I would become somebody new; was that not the most harmful thing you could do to a man?

Her horn lit up with it’s pale blue aura. My pupils dilated and I desperately jumped around debris, interrupting her cast.

I continued my run, trying desperately to lose my purser. However, it is not easy to lose a pony who has more experience than you at running and also has the ability to fly. Knowing this, I looked around for a place to trap or lose her in.

The road I was traveling on was deserted though, not much to see besides chunks of rubble with which to evade spells. however, luck was smiling down on me once again as I spotted a small building in the distance.

I powered my little legs. ‘Come on, just a little more horsepower.’ I almost laughed at my little pun I had accidently made. But the slip in concentration caused me to slip partially, giving ground to Luna who was gaining quickly.

Before long I had managed to make it to my destination, jumping into what must have formerly been a gas station or restaurant. I figured that this would be as best as I was going to get to spring my trap and lose her for good once she lost herself inside looking for me.

The first part of the ploy worked, I watched her from the windows that I was hiding near. She slowed when she approached the building, rightly cautious about why I had bolted inside.. She poked her head inside the doors and cautiously made her way inside. "Hello? Thou need not fear us." Her call went unanswered.

She walked around a corner and out if my field of vision. The noise of her hoofsteps fading as she traveled farther into the abandoned building.

'Now's my chance.' I dove out of my hiding place and sped for the door, my frantic dash made known by the loud clopping of my hooves.

I heard her scramble behind me. 'Or is that just my back legs?'

"WAIT!" Nope it's her, time to book it again!

There wasn't many places to hide behind or in, owing to the fact that the conversion center was built on the edge of the once great city of Atlanta. I had gone in the direction Brick had indicated, which was northeast, and ended up on a road to nowhere. This gave Luna the advantage when trying to catch me, something I'm not looking forward to.

After a long minute of blind sprinting I stole a look behind, only to see an empty wasteland, devoid of the blue being I most wanted to escape from.

My pace slowed to what could be called a trot. 'She must have given up, she has an injured sister to care for, doesn't she?'

"We art confused little one, are thou playing a game of sorts? We were not familiar with this type of game." I practically jumped out of my fur when I heard her voice above me. Oh that's right, immortal goddesses didn't need to worry about injuries.

I took off again, I don't know how I'm ever going to escape her. My pace increased as luna once again tried to initiate conversation. "We tire of this game. Please cease thy running and talk with us so we might know of thine predicament." I didn't hesitate to put on more speed. My legs burned and my hooves ached. I couldn't take much more of this.

I heard a soft clopping as her hooves touched ground. I looked back and saw her stopped. 'Maybe she finally quit?' But such is luck, she immediately started her sprint again, regaining some ground she had lost landing.

I panicked as my hooves left the ground and I was no longer experiencing forward motion. The thudding of hooves grew progressively louder as the blue alicorn approached me.

Princess Luna had quite a few stories running rampant through human resistance about her. Most centered upon her more protective nature. She was docile when approached, hell a person could walk up to her with a gun loaded, cocked and aimed for all she cared. But the second you pointed it at another pony she changed for the worse. Decimating all that stood before, blinded by a rage born from seeing multiples of ponies murdered by the infamous Human Liberation Front. She became a demon in my eyes, and my view of her had not changed over the years, or my transformation into a pony.

The clopping of hooves slowed to a stop and I turned my head to meet her full on. My pupils once again dilated and my heartbeat rose. I froze, unmoving as I gazed into her confused expression.

Much to my disappointment her breath did not come labored; she had barely broken a sweat in the chase. “Why hast thou been trying to escape from us? We art thy friend, thou need not fear us.” My mouth would literally not work, neither would my legs. It was like I had been paralyzed again, the only thing I was able to do was watch the world around me go on. She tilted her head in confusion at my unresponsive actions. “Why were thou running from our sister, were thou the cause of her injuries?” Her gaze hardened at this last statement.

I shook my head in denial, no use in getting killed; don’t want to leave Brick disappointed. “Hmm, then why were thou… We might as well take thou back in order to sort this out between her and thee.” NO! ANYTHING BUT THAT.

I started struggling frantically, anything to get away from those motherly, loving, caring, comforting eyes. The same that I could sit and stare at while she held me in her hooves.

‘Fuck no! Get out of my head bitch!’ I gave myself a mentally slap and resumed my flailing. Not knowing any better, I assumed, Luna put me down. and my hooves touched the soft sweet earth. “We assume that thou art a newfoal correct? What happened, did thy brethren attack?” She took a serious glance at me before gasping aloud, putting a hoof to her mouth. “Thou art the pony from our royal chambers, the one that left during the process all newfoals go through.” Now I was lost for good, there was no way she would let me leave after realizing this.

However I wouldn’t let her take me quietly. Since her head was marginally close to mine I was able to draw back my hoof and give her a punch right to the muzzle, sending spit flying.

I immediately took off in a random direction, probably leaving a bewildered princess behind me. I had no idea which direction I was going in, but I knew where I was supposed to go. And come hell, high water or pony goddesses, I was going to get there.

Celestia damn me if I don’t.