Author's Note

To those of you who didn't read the blog post, or are too lazy to read them, or are simply new and don't care about blogs: This chapter bothered me so much that I ended up rewriting several scenes. I also had planned on adding another character or two into the rewritten version but I couldn't find any place to fit them.

To those of you who are new or wanted to know when this got rewritten and are too lazy to read my blog.

Rewritten at 2/24/2015

Chapter 10: Aftermath (Rewritten)

It’s been a day since the attack, and everypony’s been affected in some way or another.

Twilight and Dash have gotten more worried about George, seeing how he was the only one who handled the strange stallion and somehow won. Yet he doesn’t remember how. While the stallion in question is helping Applejack fill up the hole. The two mares have begun their own investigation on the matter.

“It’s weird, Rainbow.” Twilight spoke, “How could George beat that strange stallion, and not remember how he did so?”

“I don’t know.” Dash shrugged, rubbing her hooves against her head, “It doesn’t make any sense.”

Twilight softly inhaled, then sighed, “We’ve known him for about a month and a half. You don’t think he’s hiding something from us all this time?”

Dash slowly moved her hoof to her chin. She began to think about Twilight’s question.

“I don’t think so.” Dash thought aloud. “You said it yourself, we’ve known him for a month and a half. And I’ve been the one hanging out with him most of the time. I think I would’ve noticed something by now.”

“I suppose...” Twilight nodded, “But something’s fishy… If George isn’t hiding anything from us… Then what exactly is going on?”

“I’m just as clueless as you are, Twi.”

________________________

Channel 839

Blue stallion, Red mane and tail.

Sounds and acts like George.

...In Equestria?

I’m still having a hard time trying to understand this. He’s referring to that “My Little Pony” show, I believe. What’s this have to do with George?

8-3-9

There’s nothing on. Just...static. What the heck, Jason?

I flip the paper, rereading what he wrote.

Flip this paper and look at what’s on. If it’s not on, look on the list of recordings on the DVR.

List.

The list of recordings began to show, he had two or three different shows, they were all organized into folders. All of the folders are set to delete at a later time, all except one folder.

“My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic”

It’s set to “Keep until I delete”. Either he really likes this show, or there’s something here that he can’t lose. And he asked me to do this. The strange part of his note, though, was the end...

The more I start to look at this, the more creepy it gets. It looks like he was going to write more on this note, but someone… or something stopped him.

And I’m going to find out.

________________________

~The Next Day…~

“So...Why do I have to help investigate again?” Dash queried, having forgotten why Twilight dragged her into this ‘investigation’ in the first place.

It’s now been two days since the encounter, George and Applejack are almost done covering up the hole. However, Twilight wants to investigate the area for anything that could help figure out what’s occurred.

“Because, Rainbow. This entire ‘fight’ seems extremely suspicious, and I need someone who can help me out.” Twilight replied.

“Well, I kinda already talked to him.”

Twilight glanced at Dash, nodded in response, then did a doubletake. “Wait, what?” She asked, her eyes widened slightly. “You did what?”

“Yeah.” Dash smiled confidently, “I talked to him and asked some questions.”

“And… how did that turn out?” Twilight raised an eyebrow.

“Pretty well, actually.”

________________________

~Yesterday…~

“What I remember, huh?” George asked, resting a hoof on his chin. “Yeah, seems easy enough.” He smirked, glad to answer at least one question that was related to the whole ordeal the day before.

“Let’s see. I remember you guys floated up with the Elements, and shot a giant rainbow at him. There was a bright light, but then, all of a sudden... the rainbow was shot back at you guys.” He explained, softly growling towards the end of the sentence.

Dash cocked her head, listening to George’s story.

“I zoned out shortly after he kept taunting at me, so I forgot what happened after that.” He thought back to that day. “It was weird, it was like I lost control to my own body.” He shivered at the thought. “But! The next thing I remember when I zoned back in... he was down, I could see some brutal damage on him, and I was in front of him...”

Dash raised an eyebrow, wondering what George would say next.

“...he spoke to me.” George recapped, “It wasn’t much, but I still remember.”

“What did he say?”

…

“You better keep yourself prepared, there’s four more of us, and we won’t stop until we get rid of you.”

“Just who are you?”

“I am...Number One.”

…

“Number One?” Dash quoted, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“No clue.” George shrugged, “But...that’s all I remember. I hope it’s some use in Twilight’s investigation.”

________________________

“Hm.” Twilight mulled for a bit, “So, he lost control over his body?”

“That’s what he told me.” Dash nodded.

“Well… That doesn’t really help. “But this is another thing that’s been bothering me for a while. How was ‘Number One’ able to reflect our own attack back at us?”

Dash shrugged in response.

“Well, while you were telling me what George told you.” Twilight spoke, the now glowing aura fading away from her horn. “I looked around for any other traces of magic using this spell I saw in a book.”

“And?” Dash asked as her head tilted to the side..

“Well, I found traces of magic, that’s for sure.” Twilight looked back at the nearly filled hole. “That stallion obviously had some kind of access to magic, but I didn’t see a horn on him…” She raised an eyebrow, “However, not only did I find traces of magic from where the stallion stood, and the magic from the Elements, I also found a third trace of magic.”

“What do you mean?” Dash questioned, her head tilting even further than it was earlier.

“Like, other than the stallion, who used magic to float. And the six of us using the Elements to attack him.” Twilight paused to breathe. “There was a third magical object nearby.”

“Really?” Dash queried, her head returning to it’s normal position.

“Though it looks like it could be some debris of some sort from the Elements, as this third object appears shortly after we used them. Most likely from ‘Number One’ reflecting it back to us.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “There’s no way this was George.”

“Ha! I knew he wasn’t hiding anything!”

________________________

A dead silence filled the environment. The only thing anyone could hear was the sound of the wind blowing through the tombstones, and the people visiting them.

Unfortunately, there was one person who never thought he’d see this day arrive so soon.

Susan Roberts

1974 - 2014

R.I.P

“I’m… sorry I missed the funeral, mom.”

The young boy’s eyes slowly began to water. The loss of his mother becoming too much for him.

“Of all things that could happen...” He gasped for air. “I didn’t expect this…”

He held on strong, making sure he wouldn’t break down into tears. Though every minute slowly became harder and harder for him to hold on any longer.

“Why… Mom?” He fell down to his knees. “Why did you have to die so soon!?”

In an instant, the dead silence was broken by the cries of the young boy. Broken down into tears and sobs, no matter how strong he attempted to stand. Every moment he spent in the graveyard had caused him more depression.

After what felt like an hour to him, he gasped as he felt something grab his shoulder.

“It’s okay, Jake… Let it all out…” A soft voice said, in an attempt to soothe the boy.

“No…” He muttered, his voice slightly muffled from the tears he shed and his hands held in front of his face. He quickly moved his hands out of the way in an attempt to speak. “It’s not okay… My mom is dead… and it’s all my fault!”

“It’s not your fault, Jake.” The soft voice replied. “Things happen in life for a reason…”

“Says the woman whose son ‘mysteriously’ vanished.” He growled.

Slowly, the hand rested on his shoulder lifted, and the soft voice spoke again.

“I know you’re hurting, Jake. But he has his own life. I could’ve lived fine by myself, but he chose to stay to take care of me.” She said, “Whether he left or not isn’t anyone’s problem but his own. He obviously had a reason.”

“Yeah? What about Jason?” The boy asked.

“I… can’t say the same for him.” She shrugged, “While he was just a couple of years younger than your cousin. He had other plans to move out of the house.”

The boy continued to cry and sob, pausing every now and then to reflect on things, then revert back to crying and sobbing. The process repeated itself, over and over. The woman standing behind him let him deal with his pain until he was ready.

“It’s… It’s not fair…” The boy thought aloud. “First George, then Jason, and now…” He gasped for air, and returned to his crying.

The rest of the family members standing behind him had already whispered their goodbyes to the young boy and the woman behind him. Eventually, thirty minutes had passed, and soon enough, it was just the two of them.

She slowly walked to the boy’s side. She then got down on her knees, and wrapped an arm around his crying figure. Then, the boy turned to her, and hugged her. He then cried on her shoulder, which didn’t seem to bother her at all. She simply began patting him on the back, whispering “It’s okay.” every now and then.

Slowly, the boy’s crying died out. And he responded with a soft “Thanks, Aunt Mary…”

________________________

In the midst of everything, there was another conversation held in a dark, endless void. A team leader and his master were standing in this black abyss. This was the only place his master could step foot in, and their only method of communication.

“I did what you told me, Master. Exactly how you said to do it. Their new friend, however…”

Master raised an eyebrow, wondering what could he be trying to say. “Yes? What about him?”

“His eyes… They glowed.” He spoke softly. “Master… Is he—”

“It’s about time you figured it out, Number One.” Master chuckled.

One’s eyes widened. “M-Master… Shouldn’t we have been warned ahead of time?”

“No, One. I don’t want this to end up like last time.” Master sighed. “Do not alert your teammates. Let them figure it out on their own.”

“R-right. Last time was a bit… troublesome, with us knowing.” One nodded, “I suppose you’re right.”

“Of course I’m right!” Master smirked. “That’s why I’m the one in charge of this whole operation!”

“Right.” One sighed.

“I will admit, though. It must’ve taken a lot of energy to do what you did out there.” Master clapped as he finished his sentence.

“You mean… You saw it?” One tilted his head.

“Not really. I was told by one of your teammates, actually.” Master shrugged, “Still, I must commend you for having such raw power.”

“Thank you, Master.” One said as he bowed.

“Now, let’s give our friends a little time to rest.” Master suggested, signaling the stallion to leave.

“Right, Master...”

________________________

Spike laid peacefully on the couch. Knowing he had the house all to himself until either George or Twilight came back, he could do whatever he wanted.

So he decided to sleep and be lazy.

His eyelids slowly began to droop. Closer and closer they went as they reached for each other.

And then the door clicked.

His head shot right up. Looking towards the entrance and exit of his home. There was no one to be seen. He raised an eyebrow, for he knows he heard the door close just a second ago.

“Huh?”

He got up, and began looking around him. Sure enough, there was nopony in the house. Shrugging it off, he laid back down on the couch, and attempted to return to his sleep.

What he didn’t know, however. Was there actually was somepony in the house. The figure slowly rose up from behind the couch. Then, suddenly…

“BOO!” George shouted now fully up from behind the couch. Spike reacted with a jump high into the air, while screaming in fear. However, gravity quickly caught up with the flying dragon, and he fell face first into the ground. George, however, was already back on the floor, laughing hysterically.

“Dang it, George!” Spike shouted, his heart still racing from his scare. “You nearly scared my scales off!”

“I’m sorry! But I just had to scare ya!” George said in between laughs, eventually his laughter died out, and he calmed down. “You were sleeping so peacefully, and I’ve never scared anypony before. And Pinkie Pie told me earlier today how funny it was to see their reaction. And boy, she wasn’t kidding!” He then proceeded to laugh once again.

“So your first target just ‘so happened’ to be me!?” Spike sighed, “Next time you decide to scare someone, can it not be me…?” His hand met his face, “I thought you were some kind of burglar or something.”

“Burglar? Really?” George scoffed, “Please... I’d be surprised to see somepony have the guts to steal from Twilight Sparkle. I mean, besides that ‘Number One’ guy.”

“Right…” Spike muttered, removing his hand from his face. “So, I’m guessing you’re done covering up that hole?”

“Yep!” George smiled confidently, “Got 50 bits in payment.”

“Huh, not bad.” Spike commented, laying back down on the couch.

“Well. It’s a start, anyway. I need to get an actual job, though.” George rolled his eyes.

“Why not at…” Spike attempted to speak, before quickly remembering an important fact, then stopped. ”...nevermind.”

“Huh?” George tilted his head.

“No, I forgot you can’t fly.” Spike noted, his hand making a flapping gesture.

“Heh, not yet.” George winked, “I just need to find somepony who won’t emotionally break down in fear that she’ll accidentally kill me. And somepony who won’t push me off a cliff.”

“Twilight told me about that whole cliff thing, actually.” Spike commented. “I gotta admit, considering the fact you drowned about a month ago-- about a week and a half after you woke up in Ponyville-- it kinda was a little too soon.”

George nodded in agreement.

“So, do you have any idea what’s going on in her investigation?” Spike thought out loud.

“No clue.” George shook his head. “Dash did ask me a couple of things, though. It wasn’t too serious, hopefully it helped with their investigation… And if it didn’t help, well. I did the best I could do to help.”

“So...Um...How did you give that ‘Number One’ guy a beatdown...and not remember it?”

“I’m trying to ask myself the same thing, Spike.”

________________________

“You know what I find funny?” Dash thought aloud with a soft chuckle.

“Hm?” Twilight hummed, lost in her investigation. Before quickly shaking her head as she snapped back into reality. “Huh? Oh. And what’s that, Rainbow?”

“This entire thing threw down right here in Sweet Apple Acres, right?” Dash queried.

“Right...” Twilight nodded.

“So then how come nopony heard the entire thing, and tried walking over here?” Dash asked, her eyebrow raised slightly.

“Strangely enough, Big Mac took Applebloom out for some ice cream at that time.” Twilight explained. “The entire time they were gone, that’s when the explosion happened in the first place.”

“But, still.” Dash grumbled. “How could anypony not be just the slightest bit nosey and check it out?”

“I don’t know.” Twilight shrugged, “Just… Look, things happened the way they did, there’s no point in questioning it.”

“Yeah… I guess you’re right…” Dash nodded. “Hey… So uh… If you need me, I’m just gonna go fly around a bit. Does that sound cool?”

“Sure, I guess…” Twilight flicked her hoof in Dash’s direction. Obviously lost in her investigation again. “Do whatever you have to.”

“‘Kay, thanks.”

And with that, Dash opened her wings and flew off into the air.

“I will never understand Rainbow Dash and her random urges to fly.”

________________________

Dash softly landed on a cloud, walking to the edge, and sitting on it.

She looked down onto Ponyville, from this height, she could see everything; Town Hall, Sweet Apple Acres, Twilight’s house, Sugarcube Corner. Even Fluttershy’s cottage all the way next to the Everfree forest. She could see it all, it was an incredible sight.

She deeply inhaled, letting air flow through her lungs, and then softly exhaled.

It felt good being up on the clouds. Though something in the back of her mind wished if only George could experience this.

That was another problem of hers, George.

She had worked hard to maintain her reputation; everyone saw her as the “awesome” or “cool” mare, she never bothered digging into the “sappy” things like love, cuddling, and the like.

The more she thought about it, the more she was disgusted. But yet at the same time, the more she wanted to experience it herself.

At first, that stare he gave her when they first met ruined her first impression of him. But as she began to hang around him more often, and (doing her best at) teaching him how to fly. She felt… comfortable around him. She let herself cry because of him. Twice. She even told him that she almost never cries, even though it wasn’t like everypony didn’t already know this, she still felt the need to tell him anyway.

In fact, as far as she can remember, she hasn’t cried at all, not until George showed up.

If only she hadn’t screwed up and almost killed him with that lake.

She should have known better, George almost forgot to walk, but thanks to Twilight, he somehow picked it up with ease. Swimming, on the other hand…

“Try not to think about it, Dash…” She thought.

She felt horrible that she became emotionally unable to train him. It felt like it left a dent in her reputation. Then she began to ask herself how anypony could ever train somepony to fly in a week or less anyway.

“Because I’m the fastest flyer in all of Equestria, of course I could train anypony to fly in a week!” She proudly thought to herself, answering her own question. “Yeah… even when I say it in my head, it still sounds wrong.”

Then there’s that time second time she cried, all because she was trying to lift George from his own depression, while making herself cry in the process. She could only ask herself: Why? Why did she openly release her feelings in front of him?

Just the mere thought of his name made her heart skip a beat, but at the same time, her mind would argue. It would be a never-ending battle between her heart and her mind.

Before she could even try thinking of anything else, a figure appeared in a puff of smoke.

The figure resembled herself as a filly. Young, mischievous, and ready to tackle anything that was thrown in her way. This young filly spoke for Dash’s mind; the part of her that always tried to look cool, awesome, and also what’s fueling her determination to join the Wonderbolts.

“So!” The young filly spoke, “You finally decide to call me up for advice, eh? It’s about time you called for your mind’s opinion on this.”

“Sh-Shut up…” Dash growled, “I didn’t call for you.”

“Aw come on!” her mind shouted, “You know you called for me, you’re facing emotional issues, so you called up to your mind to ask what to do.”

“I didn’t call for just you, anyway.”

“Huh?”

Shortly after, another figured appeared in a puff of smoke, as well.

The figure resembled Dash herself, though more older and mature. Her mane was longer than Dash’s current length, and was brushed in a way that made it look wavy. She spoke for Dash’s heart; the part of her that allowed her emotions to be free, and actually wanted to feel loved, cared for, everything that Dash was currently conflicted about.

“Oh great, it’s you.” her mind spat, “I thought we locked you up.”

“You did.” The adult mare sternly, but softly spoke toward the young figure. “But, obviously Dashie here is having emotional issues, and so she called for the both of us. Besides, who better to deal with emotions than the heart?”

“The both of us!?” her mind jerked back, then quickly looked at Dash. “C’mon, Dash… You don’t need her. She’s just gonna fill you with... sappy emotions and... junk.”

“Maybe that’s what I want.” Dash grumbled.

“I think I know what’s going on…” her heart smiled. “You’re in love… aren’t you, Dashie?”

“I-I think so.” Dash softly uttered, shortly sighing afterwards, “I don’t know…”

“Ugh, love.” her mind gagged, “What about the wonderbolts, Dash? Sappy things like…” the imaginary filly held back a fake barf. “...love… isn’t gonna help you get there.”

“Come now, mind.” her heart frowned, “I believe there are greater things Dashie could accomplish other than some flying squad.”

“Just think about it, Dash.” her mind beamed, “You. Flying. With the Wonderbolts! How awesome would that be?”

Dash simply sighed, letting her head fall down. “Cool, I guess.”

“Dashie…” her heart walked closer to her, slowly moving a hoof to her chin, and lifting her head up. “Tell me...what do you really want?”

“I…” Dash muttered.

“Do you want to fall in love? To open your heart to somepony who would care for you?” her heart asked, “With just the little time we’ve known George, he’s been doing his best to make sure you were never upset.”

“I…”

“Or!” her mind interrupted, “You can ignore all of your sappy emotions, and be the coolest, fastest, most awesomest pony in all of Equestria!”

The adult mare simply looked at the young filly in a scolding manner, unhappy with what she just said.

“What?” her mind dumbfoundedly asked.

Her heart simply shook her head and shrugged, looking back at Dash with a caring expression.

“Dashie.” her heart smiled, “All of those things, your emotions...That’s what you want...isn’t it?”

“M-maybe? No… Yes?” Dash wrapped her hooves over her head, “I knew this was a bad idea…”

“What about your dream?” her mind asked, “The Wonderbolts, Dash. The Wonderbolts!”

Her heart gave a nasty glare towards the young filly, only for her to shrug in response.

“Answer me this, Dashie.” her heart gently said, “Are you truly in love with George?”

“I don’t know, alright!?” Dash snapped, screaming at the imaginary figures. “I knew I shouldn’t have called you both, not after what happened last time! I should’ve just figured this out by myself!”

Dash smashed her face into the soft, silky cloud. Trying to ignore the argument between her and her emotions.

Her heart slowly walked towards her. “It’s okay…” She said, gently placing a hoof on her back, rubbing it gently. Coaxing Dash into lifting her head out of the cloud. “You don’t have to answer it now… give yourself some time to think.”

“But…” her mind tried to speak, but failed to find the words she needed, “Nevermind.”

“I will admit, though…” her heart smirked, “George does look pretty cute. And so far he’s been trying to make you feel better whenever you were upset. Like that time when you apologized for quitting on him.”

“Y-Yeah…” Dash slowly began to smile, a blush slowly forming. “That was nice…”

“Now, I could only imagine what your foals would look like.”

Then her blush intensified, coloring her entire face in a bright shade of red.

“Yeah. Just let that sink in.” her heart smirked, “Just a little something to think about for now.”

Then, both figures vanished in another puff of smoke, leaving Dash alone to think.

After much time passing, she began to ask herself a certain question multiple times. Should she allow her emotions to take over, and forget her “awesome” and “cool” reputation?

That was a question she’d need to ask again later.