Friendship is Volatile

Applejack poked at Locks' chest and cheek, carefully looking over the creature to see if there was anything outwardly wrong with him. When she dipped her head to listen to his breathing she looked up at her friends and shrugged her shoulders.

"He's knocked out cold but he ain't hurt in any way I can tell."

While the group looked at the strange creature that had appeared in their world not two days prior they couldn't help but giggle at Rainbow Dash, who still had poor Fluttershy in her hooves. Rarity managed to coax the befuddled pegasus away from Fluttershy and squealed with delight as she rubbed her chest and belly, causing the pegasus to rub against the floor and gently kick her hooves into the air.

"He has got to teach me that spell! Dashie is just the most precious little thing!"

"Rarity! That's yer friend rollin about on the floor and ya want ta keep her messed up like that?!"

"Aw come now darling! Just give her a little pet!"

Pinkie was beside the other mare in a second and was gently rolling the giggling pegasus about on the floor. Luna stepped over to flip Locks unceremoniously onto his stomach and sighed heavily, helping the doctor remove his shirt to change the bandage on his shoulder.

"It would be best to leash Mr. Locks in some manner after that.... fiasco. He doesn't seem to have any idea how dangerous the forces he's using can be."

Another girly giggle sounded from Dashie, and while the pegasus rolled about with Pinkie she pawed towards the desk.

"He's a bad pony... He was doing stuff over there when I came in...."

Twilight was the first to the desk and flipped the book over to reveal the title, and after picking through the desk found his written notes and opened to the page marked.

"Ok... so lets try to piece together how this all happened. Locks found this book and started copying the words down verbatim. Then at some point Dashie came in and then tired to flee."

"Hold on a tick sugar. How the hay did that there critter use magic ta pull Dashie back inside? I thought it took years to figure out how ta even manipulate it."

"How did he even gather magic at all darling? He doesn't have a horn... That and it takes a lot of control just to pick something up. We all saw how Dashie was trying to fly away, and she's one of the top flyers in Ponyville and Cloudsdale."

"The book gives the first example of magic as a form of physical force. If we assume he somehow figured out to gather that force and use it to pull Rainbow Dash inside then he either knew exactly how much he needed our just kept pouring more magic into the spell."

"How do ya know he was usin a spell at all? Does the critter do magic like ponies?"

The unicorn rubbed her temples hard. Without him awake there was too much left out and she didn't want to leave any room for error when it came to something as delicate as this. Luna broke the silence.

"Regardless of how he might have come to the magic if he had grabbed Rainbow Dash anywhere else there is a high likely hood he could have killed her."

"That's the problem Princess! We don't know if he grabbed her tail out of convenience or precaution! I should have stayed here and addressed this immediately!"

"It is unfortunate that things turned out as they did Twilight, but my sister had good reason to devise a method of dealing with him. Remember who gave you your orders before placing the blame solely on yourself."

Dr. Meadows had finished with Locks and carefully turned him over onto his back, and after observing Rainbow Dash for a few moments preformed a series of spells on the mare.  The pegasus yawned tiredly and trotted over to Locks where she laid down over his face.

"I'ma smoother you with cuddles... you stop breathing under there...."

Applejack darted over to them and pulled the mare off of Locks when they noticed the creature start struggling weakly underneath her. Dr. Meadows coughed gently to get their attention.

"The mare is under a very crude compulsion spell. It seems that the... affectionate effects are wearing off because it was only powered by the magic used to create and release it. I'm suprised something so badly formulated has lasted so long."

Before any of them could say anything Locks sat up so quickly all of them jumped back in shock. The silence was only broken by his very low muttering.

"threshold exceeded.... magical exertion same as physical strain.... blacked out......."

Twilight snatched a quill and parchment from the table, frantically jotting down his words as Dashie trotted back up to him and pushed him over again onto his good shoulder.

"You're a bad pony... but sokay... I know why you're a bad pony..... I saw inside your head..."

His hand flopped over her face.

"get outta there.... its not a nice place....."

"You try too hard.... if you're sad then act sad......"

"shut up pony.... get outta my head....."

"You can't hide it from me.... I'm in your head... touching your things...."

"you are drunk pony, go to bed."

Rainbow Dash cradled his head in her front hooves and curled her body closer too him. Extending a wing she completely concealed his head and shoulders.

"I'ma stay right here... and when I'm not feelin cuddly.... I'ma mess you up."

"you're the best....... pony friend I have......."

"I'ma.... break... your legs..."

They both seemed to run out of steam, and while the rest of the girls looked at them with mixed amounts of concern an humor Twilight spoke up after finishing her dictation.

"Has anypony ever heard of a compulsion spell that could link two minds?"

"We may be dealing with an innate magical ability unique with his kind..."

"There will be no more conjecture. Dr. Meadows, I will retrieve you first thing in the morning for another dressing change. Twilight, be ready when we arrive with Mr. Locks. We will set boundaries for our... guest or I will see him in the dungeons for misuse of magic."

Applejack and Rarity moved to dislodge Rainbow Dash from his head when Luna stamped her hoof. Her own magic flowed around her horn before a small black runes to appear along Dashie's hooves.

"That should be more than enough to keep Miss Dash protected from his magic. I'm ordering you girls to leave them be. Mr. Locks has dug his own grave, it is only right that he should lay in it."

The girls paled as they looked at the sleeping mare and Locks, shivering at the thought of what would happen should their friend wake up first with her hooves already wrapped around his throat.

"I recken it is his fault.... but I kinda feel bad for the critter."

"Oh don't worry Applejack! They really are friends so I don't think Dashie will kill him... Just throttle him a bit! Yeah! Then they'll be back to fighting like a married couple!"

"Darling.... I don't think you understand how that mare feels about her personal image...."

"Dashie was just acting a little bit on the touchy side. It wasn't that bad, it was kinda neat to see that side of her."

"That there is the problem Flutters. If that gal remembers anythin from tonight she's gonna be hot seven ways ta Sunday. I don't think she wanted anypony ta ever see that side."

Smiling down deviously Luna plucked a single blanket from a near by closet and draped it over the two.

"I will endeavor to return early tomorrow. I do not wish to miss a decent throttling."

Apparently Luna still had something of a mean streak in her as she signaled Dr. Meadows to follow and left without another word. The girls could only look at the two sleeping forms once more before taking their leave as well, chattering all the way out the door.

"This don't feel right in any kinda way. Can't we put the critter ta work or somethin? He's gonna be more messed up that he was a few days ago."

"I know how you feel darling, but orders are orders.... He did bring this onto himself.... But wasn't Dashie the most precious little thing ever?! Oh! Imagine if we got some pictures of her rolling about like a cat!"

"That ain't no way ta treat a friend Rarity.... but I'm thinkin it ain't gonna be the last time she gets nailed with that crazy spell.... and I wouldn't mind puttin a few of them pictures in ta a scrapbook...."

"Come on Spike. We better get some sleep while we can, we might need to save him from Rainbow Dash in the morning.... Hopefully he makes enough noise to wake us up in time."

Funny thing about dreams, sometimes you know the moment your in one and no matter how much you don't want to be there it won't let you go. Locks was standing in front of a large pane of glass inside of a white room, and in front of him was the image that he had been desperately trying to get away from. It was a church, filled with men and women dressed in all black with a single long coffin sitting in the front.

He was surprised at how many people where there, and he knew that there was no way he could be counted as dead so soon after going missing. His car going off the bridge would make the news for sure, but its shell was here in Equestria along with his still living body. There may never be a funeral at all since he literally vanished from his own world into this one, but it didn't change the fact that everyone he knew and loved was now gone.

It was only when he turned away from the image that he noticed a man standing on his right with his hands held behind his back. Looking up into the aged face, it was hard for him to recognize his own grandfather looking forty years younger. Last time he had seen him the man had a hundred year old face, but he couldn't ever forget that hard look.

"I'm not dead Pa Pa. It isn't right."

"I know it grand son, somethin you should know too. When your time does come, it'll be me who comes to get you."

"Its not fair. I had so much back home...."

"No point in dwelling on it. You got dealt a bad hand grand son, simple as that and there ain't nothin you can do about it."

"I don't want to make a new home."

"You don't got a choice boy. Life's a lot harder than death, but in all these years I've been dead I'd still live again if I could. It ain't fair, and it sure as hell ain't kind, but you got a ways to go before you can let go."

In front of them people were lining up to pay their final respects, and he cringed inwardly at the way they laid roses down on top of the closed coffin. There wasn't even a corpse to say goodbye to.

"I know its hard on you grand son and I know you don't want to deal with it, but them folks have done real good by you all things considering. It's wrong of you to treat'em anyway you want. At least give the things a chance."

Curtains slowly closed over the glass pane, and after adopting the same stance as his grandfather Locks took a deep breath and tried to settle his mind or at least do something to that extent since it was only a dream. He felt a strong hand pat his shoulder and give him a small shake, and for a moment he did feel a bit of peace settle over him. It might take a long time to get over what was happening, but at least he had something to cope with.

"That reminds me. Its a strange place you've ended up in grand son, and maybe some people need a little warning before we part ways."

Looking up at his grandfather Locks noticed him staring hard behind them, and turning his head slowly he saw two vary familiar mares sitting in the chairs not too far back.

Rainbow Dash was staring wide eyed at the two of them, and next to her was Luna who was just about to take a bite from a hoof full of popcorn. Locks blinked owlishly at them, but in that time his grandfather was leaning down with his arms slung over there necks, staring back at him with a smile.

"My grand son might have let you in here without knowin it, but I don't think I need to tell you this stays here little lady. A man only wants to show his weak side to the woman he loves, and since you ain't fillin that spot its only right to keep this quite."

Patting Rainbow Dash on the head he turned towards Luna with a much harder glare.

"You though.... You ain't got no damn right being here at all, but you are helping my fool ass grand son so I'll let it slide. Don't think you can go pokin around anything you please."

His arm slipped from around her neck and smacked the popcorn bag she had in one hoof onto the ground, and looking back at Locks he shook his head and sighed heavily.

"Pa Pa.... No offense sir but you're dead."

"Dead back home but not dead altogether boy. I think you'll fit in easily enough. Some of these damn critters are just as dumb as you are."

"I love you too Pa Pa."

"As do I grand son. Our world might be done with you, but this one ain't. Try not to drag our name through the dirt boy, some of us worked damn hard on it."

"I think you only worked so hard because Lockette is an awful name Pa Pa."

"Yeah it is, and whenever you have a son that poor bastard is gonna have the same name. The tradition might be asinine, but its tradition."

The world seemed to shadow out and with one last contented sigh Locks drifted in the wonderfully void blackness of sleep.