Firestorm

A week later:

Ryan woke up in the hospital room and carefully glanced around. His eyes fell upon the other man in the room wearing a black hood and carrying a halberd. He gulped a little and his eyes widened.

The man silently motioned for Ryan to stand.

Ryan did and instantly had new clothing shoved into his hands.

“Dress. I’ll be waiting outside.” The man said as he walked out of the room.

Ryan quickly got dressed and walked out of the room. He fearfully looked at the man, “What… next?” He asked shakily.

The man motioned forward with the halberd. “Move.” He stated.

Ryan started walking forward, glancing back every now and again at the halberd.

“Would you prefer to be gutted, beheaded, or shot with arrows. I’d say the last one… But only if the shooter is a marksman. It would be a shame if he… missed.” The man chuckled.

Ryan gulped loudly and shook a little more.

“Implying you survive the neutering…” The guard laughed.

“Th… that’s cruel…” Ryan stammered.

“No that’s judgement. And yours was made when you got here.” He said strictly, nudging him in the back with the end of the halberd. “Move.”

Ryan started to slowly walk again. His hands now visibly shaking. “God…” He mumbled.

Ryan glanced around as he walked into the castle. He could still feel his heart about ready to burst from his chest.

The man guided him to a large door and opened it. Ryan walked in to an extremely well furnished bedroom. “Enjoy.” The man said, slamming the door behind him and standing at his position near the door.

“Wha… what?” Ryan mumbled. He slowly walked up to a chair and slumped down onto it. “I didn’t… do anything… purposely…” He said quietly.

“Keep saying that, I’m sure your tongue will be the first to go.” The man said.

“So you… plan on torturing me before the execution…” Ryan said.

“That’s reserved for someone else.” The man said.

“Then wh-” Ryan was cut off as the door swung open and Celestia walked in. She turned her head and smiled the moment she spotted Ryan. He gulped and tried to shrink back into the chair.

Celestia walked to the bed and lied back, never taking her eyes off Ryan.

“W… why?” Ryan questioned shakily.

“You’ll speak when spoken to.” The man said, loudly hitting the end of the halberd to the floor as his voice boomed through the room.

Ryan fearfully shut his mouth.

“Come… sit with me.” Celestia said calmly, patting the pillow next to her.

Ryan stood up slowly, and shakily walked over to the bed. He slowly sat down on the bed.

“How are the sheets? Are they comfortable enough?” She asked.

“B… better than… the bunks… at the base…” Ryan said quietly.

“It was made especially from my favorite fabric…” Celestia said, running a hand across Ryan’s arm.

He gulped as a few ideas flashed through his mind.

“So tell me… what are your hobbies?” She asked.

“Fishing… r… reading… I… I play the violin… and… I like… to read…” He said uncertainly.

“I’ve always liked the violin. Very calm… relaxing…” She sighed, staring up at the ceiling.

“Y… yes… I enjoy it… because it’s the best… memory I have of my mom…” He said quietly.

“Did she play?” She asked.

“She did… along with the piano and flute.” He said. “I wasn’t ever good at playing the flute… and I’m not the best with the piano.”

“Oh I’m sure you’re better than most of my jesters.” She laughed.

Ryan seemed genuinely confused.

“Please… my apologies.” She said, shaking her head. “Would you like something to eat? Maybe you’re thirsty…”

“W… water would be nice…” He said.

Celestia looked up at the hooded man, who nodded in return before walking out of the room.

“Why… if I’m… going to be executed… why are… you being… nice?” Ryan asked shakily.

“Would you rather I tie you to the wall naked while I see how many whips it takes to get to your prostate?” She asked.

His body had started shaking a little again, his eyes widening slightly in fear.

“I thought not.” She said.

His lower lip quivered a little. “W… why did you… save me then?” He asked.

“Because unlike what my mother told me, I like to play with my food.” She smiled.

He gulped again and his eyes shut, he started quietly mumbling to himself.

Celestia started laughing.

“W… why… a… are you laughing…” He stammered.

“Because this is probably one of the funniest jokes I’ve seen in quite some time.” She said.

Ryan remained quiet and there was a small glimmer in the corner of his eye.

“If it’s still not clear to you, you aren’t going to be executed.” She chuckled.

He looked down at the floor.

“Something the matter?” She asked curiously.

He closed his eyes and sniffled a little.

“I’ll assume you’re happy?” She asked.

“I… don’t… know how to feel… about that…” He said.

The door to the room opened and the hooded man walked in with a tray of assorted food and drinks. “I assume the joke is over so I brought a little of everything.” He said.

Ryan opened his eyes up and he continued to stare at the ground. A few tears dripped off his face.

“I truly didn’t mean any harm.” Celestia said apologetically.

“Yeah… I get that…” He said. “That… doesn’t make it too much better…”

The man set the tray next to Ryan. “Eat, you must be hungry.” He said.

Ryan glanced down at the tray for a moment, he was about to grab something from it before withdrawing his hand. He crossed his arms across his chest.

“Warm or cold, your hunger will get the better of you.” Celestia said.

“I’m sure it will.” He said.

“Well it’s getting late. I’ll leave you to enjoy your new room. If you need anything just call one of the guards.” She said, standing up and walking towards the door.

“I will.” He said without looking at either of them.

Celestia and the man walked out, closing the door behind them.

Ryan glanced at the door to make sure it was closed before he started slowly eating.

Ryan had managed to get out into the garden without being noticed. It made him feel better knowing at least now no one would know right away where he was. He sat down on the ground and looked up at the sky. He started picking out constellations that looked strikingly similar to the ones back at home. He sighed quietly.

“The stars are quite beautiful aren’t they?” Celestia asked.

Ryan glanced back at her, “Yes. They are.” He said.

“What are you thinking about?” She asked.

“Nothing really. I just really… wanted to get away from everything.” He said.

“Me included?” She asked.

“Yeah… I just… don’t really have all that much… trust in you after… that ‘joke’.” He said quietly.

“Then I’ll leave you to the stars.” She said.

“No… this is your castle.” He said. “You shouldn’t be forced to leave just because of how I feel.” He said.

“And why not? Are your feelings not important?” She asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Well… I just guess you didn’t see how it felt to be… tricked like that.” He said.

“You sure take things seriously don’t you?” She asked.

“I guess I do.” He shrugged, “It’s just a fault of mine.”

“We’ll have to work on that then.” She joked.

“You know my reason for being out here… so what’s yours?” He asked.

“Mm… This is my castle.” She smirked.

“I understand that.” He said. “I just assume you’d have a reason to be out here at night… unless you don’t sleep.” He shrugged, “It’s fine, I guess I don’t have the right to know.”

“I come out here when I ‘can’t’ sleep. It’s more relaxing than the bedroom I usually spend my nights in.” She said.

“Well I guess that makes two of us… I can’t sleep either.” He said.

“Well I guess we don’t have to sleep together.” She joked.

Ryan looked back at her with a raised eyebrow.

Celestia just looked at him for a moment before laughing.

He shook his head slowly and chuckled a little bit.

“How old are you by the way?” She asked inquisitively.

“Twenty-three.” Ryan said. “And you?”

“A little over a thousand but I lose track occasionally.” She said.

His mouth fell slightly open. “A… little… over a thousand…” He said. “I can’t believe that… you can’t be older than twenty-four.”

“You’re not so bad yourself.” She laughed.

He smiled a little, “Since you are out here why don’t you sit with me?” He asked patting the ground beside himself.

“I don’t see why not.” She smiled, taking a seat next to him.

“Do you mind… if I just call you Celestia?” He asked, looking over at her.

“Not at all.” She said.

“I never asked you… what is it that you like to do?” He asked.

“That depends on the mood.” She said.

“Okay.” He shrugged, “How about the mood your in right now?”

“Well besides taking in strays…” She said, staring intently at Ryan.

“Ha. Very funny.” He chuckled. “Anything else?”

“I tend to fly around when there’s nothing to do. Helps me think.” She said.

“Yeah. Flying can be peaceful.” He nodded. “Though… usually not so much for me.”

“Why is that?” She asked.

“Someone always wanted to shoot us down. And it wasn’t like we were ever alone in the skies.” He said.

“Well things are a tad more peaceful here. Would you care to try?” She asked.

He chuckled, “Wish I could but I don’t have any wings.” He said.

Celestia stood up and smiled. Her wing extended fully and she stared at him, waiting.

“Oh…” Ryan said. “Okay.” He stood up.

“If you’re afraid you don’t have to.” She laughed.

“No… no I’ll be fine…” He said. “It’s just… what do I do?”

She pressed her back against him. “Hold on.” She said.

He grabbed a hold of her and held on tightly.

Her wings flapped, sending the two directly up into the air before sailing off. “How you doing back there?” She asked.

“G… good…” He said quietly. “Just fine…” He glanced towards the ground and his grip tightened a little. “Y… yeah just… fine…” He mumbled.

“Close your eyes.” She said.

His eyes closed slightly.

“Now just feel the wind. Don’t let anything else distract you.” She said.

He lightly pressed his face against her back.

She smiled, her eyes shifting from back at him to straight ahead. She leveled out, making everything seem a lot smoother.

“This is… really peaceful.” He said.

“I know.” She chuckled.

“I guess you would.” He said with a small chuckle, “Being able to fly without any help. I doubt anything can really compare to that…”

“I suppose not.” She said.

He opened his eyes a little and glanced back at the city, “That’s really… different…” He said quietly.

“Would you like to land?” She asked.

“Yeah… that’d be nice.” He said.

Celestia landed on a hill overlooking the city. “Feeling well? Or was that too much?” She asked.

“It was great.” Ryan smiled. He looked back at the darkened city, continuing to stare at it with a mixture of confusion and wonder on his face.

“Good.” She asked.

“I guess no one here has heard of the saying, ‘The city never sleeps.’” He said.

“Excuse me?” She asked.

“It’s just that my old home New York City didn’t ever sleep. There was just as much a nightlife as there was life during the day. Sometimes I could have sworn that people were more active during the night.” He said. “So… seeing a city just go dark during the night… it’s strange.”

Celestia laughed. “My sister would love it.” She said.

Ryan closed his eyes and took in a deep shaking breath.

“Something wrong?” She asked.

“Just thinking of home.” He said with a small sigh.

“It is quite strange waking up in a new unfamiliar land isn’t it?” She asked.

“Yes… it is…” He nodded. “And… it’s even worse when… you know you’re just so different from everyone else…” He sighed. “It’s… only made worse since it’s closing in on the my favorite time of the year.”

“What would that be?” She asked.

“Christmas.” He said. “And I was supposed to be sent home for it… but it’s not like I had anyone else other then my friends to go back to...”

“Well tell me about it.” She asked curiously.

“It’s a holiday that comes once a year… From what I’ve been told… everyone has a different view on it… but for me it’s always been about just spending time with my friends and family… just relaxing, eating, and giving presents to each other.” He said, a smile spreading across his face.

“Sounds like fun.” She said. “You should spend more time around the castle.”

He raised an eyebrow, “Why is that?” He asked.

“No reason.” She said.

“Alright then. ‘No reason’.” He said.

“So tell me… What did ‘you’ want to do?” She asked.

“How about a walk? I’m sure by then we’ll both be ready to go to bed.” He said.

“Sure.” She nodded.