Bronies, Unite!

Chapters

Chapter 1 - School
Chapter 2 - Friends
Chapter 3 - A Problem
Chapter 4 - Coping
Chapter 5 - Endgame
Chapter 6 - Equestria
Chapter 7 - The cave
Chapter 8 - Getting away
Chapter 9 - Bounce, bounce, bounce!
Chapter 10 - The Flaming Feather
Chapter 11 - The Flame
Chapter 12 - The Mysterious Voice
Chapter 13 - Flying
Chapter 14 - Wings
Chapter 15 - Awkwardness
Chapter 16 - A working pony
Chapter 17 - The dreams are back...
Chapter 18 - The Big Top Bonanza!

Chapter 1 - School

I roll over in bed, eyes slightly open, staring at my alarm clock. “Urghh… 06:03…” I turn back over and try to fall back asleep, but it feel like the second I close my eyes, they snap back open from my alarm. I jump out of my bed, landing flat on my face on the floor. “God damnit…” I put my arms under my torso, facing the floor, and push myself back up onto my feet. Then walk around my bed to my alarm clock, pressing the off button.

I stretch out my arms and yawn loudly, scratching my neck slightly and still half asleep. I look at my clock, “07:32… God I hate school…” I quickly rush to my shower, scrub up, and come back into my room. I start rummaging through the clothes on the floor and try to find something nice to wear. It doesn’t seem like anything is good, so I sift through some more, throwing t-shirts, jeans, and jumpers all around my room, some even landing on my lamp next to my bed. While still sifting through them, I spy a black t-shirt at the bottom of the pile. “My 20% cooler t-shirt, sweet!” I quickly put it on and grab a pair of jeans that I threw on my bed, then grab my bag and rush downstairs.

“Mark? Is that you?”

“Yeah mum, I’m going to school now. I’ll see you after, love you!”

“Love you too; eat something please.”

Sighing, “Will do, mum!”

As I pass, all of the photos on the walls going down the steps, I see one of my mum’s. I see it every day, but today it meant a lot more to me. She looks so happy and healthy in this one. She has our dog Scruffy with her, and I’m by her side holding her hand. I really wish I could be as happy as I was then. It’s a shame that she isn’t like that now.

Banishing the thoughts from my mind, I quickly grab my shoes and put them on. Unlocking the door and re-locking it behind me, I run off after the bus, while dodging laundry hanging from lines, some of it hitting my in the face from time to time. I get down to the main road, look both ways, then run across and start waiting at my bus stop as per usual on the morning.

Some kids from the other side of the road start staring at me. I’ve never been one to confront people, so I don’t pay much attention to them. I stare at the place where the bus comes, just over the hill. Eventually, after about 10 minutes of waiting, the bus finally arrives. I pull my bus pass out of my bag and await it to come to a stop, sticking my arm out. Upon entering and showing the driver my pass, I head upstairs, and look to the back of the bus as usual. A bunch of chavvy girls sit there, with a few guys wearing the same attire as them, just looking even more stupid.

I sit down and pull out my Kindle, opening to the latest chapter of a story I’m currently reading titled ‘Living the Dream’. I always wondered what it would be like, being able to actually go to Equestria, but that’s a thought for another time. For now, it’s time to read.

*****

I finally arrive at school. After the entertaining trip of two hours on my back, I feel sleepy, so I pull out a small energy bar from my bag, popping it into my pocket for the time being. I quickly swing my bag back onto my back, hitting some guy in the face in the process. “Oh, I didn’t see-“ Suddenly, I feel something hit me in the face, sending me tumbling to the floor, my head going one way, and my glasses going the other. I hit the floor with a bang and a sharp pain in my temple.

I feel dazed for a few moments until I start hearing kids laughing at me as they pass. Opening my eyes, I see someone who I can only assume is the one I must have hit with my bag. He stands over me, eating some sort of chocolate bar. I quickly feel my right pocket to see if it could be mine. Turns out it is, or should I say was. Even though my vision is slightly impaired as my glasses seem to have fallen off, I try to take in his appearance. Instantaneously, I notice its Brock, the schools bully. ‘Oh damn, why oh why, did I have to hit him, of all people?!’ I think to myself. He throws the wrapper at me, and it lands on my chest.

“Hey faggot ‘Brony’, or whatever you call yourself. Thanks for the chocolate, you faggot!” He says angrily, walking away, laughing.

I don’t even dignify him with a response. I just lay there, while the rest of the kids walk by like nothing ever happened. I start to feel an arm slipping under my armpit, lifting me up off the ground. I turn to see two of my friends looking at me, smiling.

“Thanks, guys.” I tell them, as they hoist me up onto my feet.

Blake replies first; “Not a problem, man. Here are your glasses. I think that they may have fallen off when you hit the ground. Luckily though, they aren’t smashed.”

“Oh, thanks, man. I’d be lost without them.” I cock a smile sheepishly, placing my glasses back on my head.

“Oh, I saw that he ate your energy bar, so you can have mine, if you want.” Matthew insists.

“No, its fine, it’ll be alright.” I attempt to brush him off, however it doesn’t seem to work.

“Are you sure? You look like you could use it; we had a long night last night.”

*****

Several hours ago.

“So, what would yours be?” Jeronimo asks me.

“Dude, I really don’t know!”

“Come on, everyone has to have an OC pony, just think about it!”

“Alright, fine! I will draw a stupid OC pony, okay?”

“Thank you!”

After about 5 minutes of drawing and all of them in the Skype call begging me to show them it, I finally do. Their laughs turn into ones of shock.

“Guys, what?”

Lucy speaks up first, “Mark… That’s actually really awesome!”

“What?” I take another look at my character, still seeing a crappy picture. “No it isn’t, it’s not even a good picture.”

“Dude!” Jeronimo says, “How did you get the idea for his mane and tail?”

“I don’t know.”

“And his cutie mark, too?!”

“Dude, why are you so shocked? It’s only a small drawing.”

“Yeah, but it’s good, man!” Blake says.

“Is it that good?”

“It’s awesome, man!” Matthew says.

“Well, if you say so.”

“What’s his special talent?”

“Well, I was thinking about a sonic flameboom, that’s pretty much, it.”

“Well, it’s good. What’re you going to call him?”

“I think uh…” I pause for a moment, trying to think of a name, eventually I come up with one. “Speedster?”

“Let me guess, because he’s just like you?” Lucy says, giggling.

“Not sure if sexual pun, or because of my running.”

The entire call bursts out into laughter followed by me joining in, since I can’t keep a serious face for long. After a few more minutes of laughter, we all start to show our own pictures of our OC ponies. Matthew’s is a stallion. His eyes are purple and his mane is black and grey, contrasting his coat which is white. His hair is just flat and straight, and he’s a Pegasus. His cutie mark is unique: it’s a blue sun.

Lucy shows hers next. It’s a mare with crimson eyes. Her coat is dark blue and her mane and tail are a blue and purple. Her hair looks like Vinyl Scratch’s, except a lot less spikey. She’s a Pegasus also, and her cutie mark is a microphone with some musical notes coming out of it… gosh she loves music.

Jeronimo shows his next. It’s a stallion and his eyes are a casual brown, while his coat is a dark grey. His mane, however, is ice blue and black. It looks like his hair is like Rainbow Dash’s, except, well, different colors. He’s a Pegasus and his cutie mark is a black heart with a white dove flying out of it.

Blake’s was very interesting. It’s a male and his eyes are jade green, but he says that his pony has a multiple personality kind of thing, except with souls. It sounds like he is trying to make his OC a bit too powerful if you ask me, but whatever. The other pony’s eyes are blood red, and his coat color is cobalt blue, while the let’s say ‘evil’ one, is crimson red. Their mane colors are black, while the evil ones are white. Sounds backwards, but looks really awesome, considering that the hair length changes between them: the good one being long, while the evil one is short. This is the part that I think is overpowered: the good guy has wings, but the bad guy has a horn, which doesn’t make a lot of sense. It still looks wicked, though.

We start to discuss what our special powers are, and in some scenes in which we could use them. After a while, we basically have a fully-fledged series of My Little Pony.

I look at the time on the computer and notice its 03:08 in the morning, and we’re supposed to be up at 06:00, which is only in a few hours.

“Alright guys, I’m going to go. It’s way too late now and I want to at least get a couple hours of shut eye, so I’ll see you all at school, right?”

“Yeah, goodnight Mark.” They all say almost simultaneously, at first it weirded me out, but I just turned off my computer and snuggle into bed, but not before turning on my television and putting it on a timer to turn off. For some reason I can’t sleep without a light of some sort on, or if someone else is with me. It’s really embarrassing.

*****

He tries to push the chocolate into my hand, but I brisk it off politely.

“I’m sure, plus we’re going to be late at this rate, so we best run to class guys, we have Mr. ‘Hater’ first!” I say, laughing at my play on words.

Blake speaks up again, “God I hate that guy, I want Mrs. Cheerilee as my teacher, it would be so much cooler!” Snickering, he turns around towards the school, and starts walking.

We all burst out into laughing, agreeing simultaneously. I speak up. “Yeah well, we unfortunately can’t have that, so we best hurry up and get to his class before he bites our heads off.” I set off in a slow jog, waiting for my friends to catch up to me. As they do, I set off into a run, and then a sprint.

“Hey… Wait up!” Blake says, while panting.

“Yeah… Wait up!” Matthew says, him too panting.

I slow down a bit, letting them catch up, my breathing rhythm not noticeable. “Come on guys, we can’t be late, you know this!”

“Yeah well, we’re not as fast as you!” Blake retorts, half laughing.

*****

While in class, we all face the interactive computer board; it’s like an old school projector, except its touch screen. It’s pretty awesome, weirdly, Matthew is highly interested in it, he is hoping to be allowed to take it one apart someday and tries putting it back together, just so he can know how it works. Stuff like that really intrigues him, unlike us though, we all just hope it works so we can actually learn.

I sit in the middle of me and my friends. Jeronimo, and Blake are on my left, while Lucy and Matthew are on my right, we always talk to each other, every day, in every class. Sometimes, our teacher will try to separate us from each other by moving us around the classroom, it never works, though. We will always find a way to talk to each other, maybe throwing notes around, talking aloud, this would really annoy the teachers, but we did it anyway.

Sometimes, we were moved to different classrooms, so we couldn’t really talk a lot, we would have to use our phones, but we had to be very sneaky, as to not have them taken off of us.

When we’re in class, we do eventually do our work, well I eventually do it, I just don’t see the point sometimes, depending on the subject, I mean come on, English is boring, I never pay attention to it, and I am still getting good grades. Just proves that it’s not needed to pay attention in class, just sleep and wake up when class is almost over. I do this on a daily basis, sometimes I can get in trouble, and I am forced to do work, via them threatening to call my mum or threaten to give me detention, which I really don’t like.

I turn and look to Blake, who’s rocking on his chair still, “So, what made you guys think of your OC pony?”

Blake catches on I was asking him first, “Oh uhm, I based it off of myself.”

“Wait, what do you mean?”

“Well, you guys always say how random I am, so I kind of split myself into two.”

“So, there is the Blake we’re talking to now, and the one that knows useless information?”

“Kind of.”

“Alright, what made you pick the color scheme?”

“Well, they are just my favorite colors.”

“So, they don’t represent anything for you?”

“Hmm…” He seems to ponder for a few seconds, scratching his chin. “Well, I think that the alternate color schemes really ensue different prosperities in which you can respond to, furthermore-“

I cut him off before he can go any further, “Dude… what.”

He sighs. “They look awesome.”

“I see… So, Lucy.” I turn my head and look at Lucy, who just perked up, “What made you think of yours?”

“Well, I like music, so that explains half of it.” She giggles for a few seconds, before continuing. “I wanted her to like kind of like Vinyl Scratch, because she is best pony.” I give her a laugh and a smile, before turning to Jero.

“What about you, Jero?”

“Oh? Uhm, well, I really like the two toned hair, and they kind of mix well, plus his coat makes himself look even cooler.”

“You’re right; your OC does look fricking awesome!”

I think I might have said that a bit too loud, as a few people turned around to look at us. A few of them giggle, only assuming that they know what we’re talking about. None of us are ‘closet Bronies’, there is no point to it, why should we be ashamed because we like a program? It’s pathetic that we even get bullied for it, people go to extreme lengths just to annoy us for liking it, it’s unfair but we cope, barely.

“Aaaanyway…” I spit out, “What about yours, Matthew?”

“Hmm… I think it’s because the white coat looks awesome.”

Under my breath, I grumble “Because you copied me…”

“Sorry, what?”

“Oh, nothing, continue, friend.”

“Uhm okay? Well, I think the white coat looks awesome with his mane and tail. It’s very light, yet gloomy at the same time, which looks wicked, plus, Pegasus ponies are boss.”

“I see where you’re coming from; Pegasus is best breed of pony.”

We all share a hearty laugh, before Lucy speaks up; “So, what made you think of yours, Mark?”

“Oh mine? Well, I thought of it up on the spot, plus I love flames and bright white.” I chuckle to myself, while I receive glances from all my friends, ones that don’t look friendly. “What? It just looks awesome; his flames are connected to his mood, too.”

“Whatever.” They all say, one after another.

We are all best of friends; I love them all like a family. If I didn’t have them, I don’t know what I would be doing right now, with my mum being ill. I haven’t been able to do a lot of things, because I need her permission, but I’m too worried about disturbing her. She just lies in her bed all day, all night while she slowly… slowly dies. I hate the idea of her leaving me, we haven’t been able to do a lot while I’ve grown up and I want to do more, but we can’t, because she isn’t allowed to leave her bed at all and she can barely talk, too. She can only just manage to speak to me in the morning; I don’t like to think about it.

We all have a past that we’re not proud of; some of us have a very dark past, which is why Matthew needed a lot of help. We saw him on his own all the time during dinnertime and break time, he would look so lonely, and eventually we confronted him. He looked quite scared at first and didn’t seem to want to trust us, but eventually he let us in, and we brought him into our little group. We later found out he was a Brony, too, which made it all the better.

Chapter 2 - Friends

For a while, he was getting beat by his step-dad, who we couldn’t do anything about. He ended in hospital once because of it. He couldn’t take it anymore, especially what happened that night. He hasn’t told any of us yet, but it threw him over the edge, and he ended up in hospital for it.

Matthew has always been interested in engineering, he loves to know how things work, get behind them in a sense, take them apart, and put them back together again. Just knowing how something ticks sets his mind ease; it’s like an endless passion, thriving on that feeling of just learning something.

The only weird thing about him though, that doesn’t seem to fit at all, is that he wants to open a bakery. He is very gifted and talented in engineering, yet he wants to open up a bakery for some reason. I for one have tasted his cooking and it’s amazing, but it just doesn’t seem to fit with him. Even if he is very, very clumsy in the kitchen, he still does make a fine roast dinner, even if he won’t take the compliment.

Most of the time, I will race Matthew on the running tracks, down near the park, which is kind of close to school. He has a fairly good endurance, and is agile, but he can’t match my stamina yet, which is why he runs with me. He wants to enter competitions with me at some point and then we can see who really is the better runner, it’s an on-going kind of competition that we have. It’s all in good fun, but sometimes I think we take it way too seriously. For instance, we were running along, coming right up to the finish. We were almost neck and neck, I was slightly in front and just about to prepare for a sprint past the finishing line and he grabbed my shirt, pulling me back. He then bolted past me and won. I forgave him for it, but it will always stick with me that he had to cheat to win; I won’t hold it against him, because I’m not like that, but I will always remember.

Lucy has been my friend ever since I was in junior school. I really don’t know what I would’ve done if I didn’t grow up with her. She’s the one and only person, and a female at that that I can share my secrets with. Someone I can confide in and not feel judged. She’s like an angel. She has the voice of one, too. No matter what genre she will be singing, she is very talented. I only know this because I accidentally heard her singing in the shower. I didn’t know she was in there. I just opened the door to hear her, beaming with joy. Being caught up in the moment of her beautiful voice, I stood there for a few minutes, not for the obvious reasons, but because her voice was just so… well, beautiful. After about a minute of two of me listening, she noticed me there- I can only assume that she felt the breeze come in from the open door. She turned her head and glared at me, signifying I better run. I shot out of the bathroom like a speeding bullet, landing on my bed. We always had sleepovers, where we would lay in bed, watching movies on my TV. She would always fall asleep half way through them, with her arm over my shoulder. When I turned the TV off, I would just lay there in the darkness, knowing I was safe. It’s just a shame she drools in her sleep, or else it would have been bliss.

She has an excellent taste in music, too. She loves all music genres, but is more about some other ones. She mainly likes alternative, techno, ambient, blues, country, jazz, pop, death metal, screamo, and rock. The list is literally almost endless. I think that it’s good to have a wide range of tastes. That way, you can talk to a lot of people about your interests, and they can relate back. Reminds me of how we usually come home. Since she is mostly at my house, we put the stereo on and just lay there, on my bed, relaxing.

Of course, we all have our downfalls, though. Lucy can go into depression really, really easily. The slightest thing can tick her off, and she storms away crying. She almost always comes around, knocking on my door, asking for someone to talk to. I drop everything for her because she’s a good friend, and I wouldn’t ever want to lose her.

Blake, he’s the first one on my right, had a rough childhood, too. It turns out his own mother died when he was only seven years old, and then some guy had to go and say something about her. None of us knew better, but that day, something snapped inside of him. Usually, he would just brisk it off and carry on with life, but when the guy said something, it’s like someone else had taken over. Some sort of demon, the complete opposite of our friend. Here’s how it went.

*****

3 Years prior.

“Hey faggot! I’m talking to you!” The bully bellows. Blake, like always, just brisks it off again, ignoring him like he usually has to. “What? You too chicken to fight back, kid?!” He turns, and laughs at his associates. Feeling cocky, he walks up to Blake, placing a hand on his shoulder, spinning him around “What, didn’t your momma ever teach you about respect?!”

At that moment, Blake’s eyes widened, like he was viewing his mother’s killer in the very eye. Out of nowhere, his arm snapped up, grabbing the guy by the neck. The man was is so much shock, he just stood there, slowly letting go of Blake’s neck. Blake was never known for his strength. More along the lines of his intellect, which never ceased to amuse us, as it was never actually needed, but the strength that he showed stunned us all. As he grabbed the guy by his neck, he seemed to squeeze him tighter and then he started to lift if off of the ground, charging him into the wall. Upon collision with the wall, he brought the guy down onto his knees, and their faces now deep in each other’s thoughts. Blake nears his face and whispered something into his ear. Something we don’t even know to this very day, but whatever it was, it sure scared the guy away because he left school, never to return.

*****

Since then, we always started to look at Blake differently. Not as an outcast, but more along the lines of, well, a hero. He is the one and only person that has stood up to a bully in school, as we all look up to him for that, which we can tell is something he likes.

Something that throws him off though, is his abnormal fear for spiders. The sheer sight of them sends him, arms flailing, across the room. He describes them at ‘Beings from hell, whom only seek out pain and death’; we all just laugh at him when he says that, because they’re only spiders.

Blake and I have something in common, though. We were both reading in class one day, and we happened to be reading about the same thing. It started from that, and I brought him into the group, everyone likes him too. We sometimes collaborate on writing a story. It never gets finished because we always get side-tracked, but it has some good ideas going.

I always count on Blake, as he is very determined, he will always try his hardest when it comes to work Even if he doesn’t like the job in the slightest, it’s an amazing quality, I must say. We were all playing on the decking once at Jero’s house and he accidentally broke it. Usually someone would either chicken out or run away, trying not to face the consequences, except with Blake. He stayed calm and went into Jero’s cellar, brought up some of the spare wood that Jero had, and brought up the toolbox, too. He set to work immediately, fixing the decking. It wasn’t completely bad work, heck I would say it was almost perfect, but he did confront Jero’s mum and told her everything, but she thought it was very noble of him and asked to see his work. He showed her it and at first, she didn’t actually notice anything, until she got really close to it. She was so impressed she actually gave him some money, which be bought us all ice creams with; Blake’s a cool guy at heart.

Jeronimo is pretty much the only one who really had a good family; he was brought up on the wealthy estate, but his parents are strict with him, as to make sure he doesn’t grow up like a snob who thinks they can get anything with a snap of their fingers. His family treats him from time to time, so he does get stuff he wants, but not all the time.

He likes to walk around at night. It’s cool and all, but when it’s freezing outside, he still likes to go out, and sometimes just lay under a tree. It’s really weird, but we still accept him for it. After all, we’re all weird in our own way.

He has taken a class which is going to help him get a job with a vet’s hospital when he grows up. He really loves animals, all alike. He sometimes brings sick or injured animals he finds on the streets back home so that he can nurse them back to health. He has such a caring quality about him, but he is a very defensive person when it comes to protecting his friends.

Jero was always picked on for hobbies of his, he enjoyed gardening, and the school even had a club for it after a couple months of begging. Only a few people turn up to it, about three to four I would say. A lot more people enjoy it, but they won’t admit it and join the club, more than likely afraid of the bullies, as are we all.

The only thing that didn’t really fit with Jero was that he wanted to leave. No matter where he was, he would want to leave and go onto a new adventure sort of thing. Say if we were playing football, about thirty minutes in, he would want to go for a walk across town, he would want to go shopping, it’s like he just can’t stay in one place at any one time or something.

I’m slightly different to the others, but I fit in well with them. I am currently in pre-training for the Army and go to the gym a couple times a week. I also go to Jiujitsu a few times each week, too. The thing that I have always lived by though is that I should never fight unless I am in a dire emergency or if I was close to death, because I would only be as bad as the person who was beating me. Many of the bullies know that, and decide to take advantage beating me mercilessly, but I always stand my ground. I’ve had to cope with a lot for a while now, including my mum contracting cancer, which sent me through the roof. She raised me on her own with very little money and help, and turned me into the man I am today. If only I could look her in the eyes and tell her, every time I try I just cry too much, and she tells me that everything will be okay, even though I know it won’t. Other times, she is always asleep because of the medication that she’s on. I’ve grown up not being able to always have the fancy stuff, things like iPod’s, touch phones, and laptops alike, but I put up with it, because I have always had my friends.

Because of my anger, I took up Jiujitsu a few years back. It helped me learn self-control and how to fight when needed. Even if I don’t use it, it’s a good way to stay in shape and also let off a ton of steam, which I have to do regularly (mainly because of the bullies), but every night I come home, I think of my mum and the unbelievable pain she has to go through on a day to day basis and all I can do is cry. I can’t help her, and sometimes I even cry myself to sleep at night because she is crying out in pain, begging for it to stop, and I can’t do anything to help her at all.

I’ve always been a shy person. It really didn’t bother me until recently, when a lot more girls randomly started showing up in town, but luckily I’ve always had Lucy to talk to. I’ve known her for about six years or so, and she is the only female friend I actually have, besides my mum, but she’s the only girl I really talk to because I trust her. It’s actually really funny how we met.

6 years prior.

“Come on mum! Throw it as far as you can throw!”

“Alright Mark, just hang on a second.”

My mum stood up off of the bench and picked up the Frisbee, throwing it as far as she could throw; it looked like it went for miles! I then turned my attention to our dog, Scruffy, who was running after the Frisbee. I kept up with him and we both jumped in the air catching it simultaneously, we fell to the ground and started rolling around, trying to take it off of one another. Of course the dog would win; his teeth were latched on pretty tight. As we were rolling over we were growing closer to the pond, we both slipped in and got totally drenched from head to toe, or head to paw in my dogs terms. My mum came running over to see if we were okay. She saw that I was smiling brightly, and started smiling back too. She then lifted me out of the pond and placed me on the grass, followed by Scruffy.

Thankfully, today was the middle of the summer holidays and the sun was high in the sky, warming up the grass. The smell of dew in the air filling everyone’s noses, I laid there, my arms stretched wide and my eyes closed, taking in the sun. Then as I opened my eyes a couple minutes later, I saw a brown haired girl standing above me. She looked to be around the same age and she was blocking the sun, so I opened my eyes fully. She held out a hand, offering me a way up. I happily took it, and hoisted myself up. I didn’t really know what to stay, except perform bubbles from my mouth, which caused her to giggle at me.

“Hi, my name is Lucy, what’s yours?”

“U-Uh-mm…” I sputter out a couple bubbles around my mouth.

“Are you shy?” She asked me, in a really prolonged tone.

“No!” I tried to act tough, which really didn’t work. “I’m not shy! I’m just… uh…”

“Haha, you’re shy!”

I still don’t understand what I did next, but it was really funny; I pushed her into the pond, getting her shorts and pink vest all soaked. Her face was one of shock at first, but soon turned into one of giggles and laughter, which caused her to fall back and laugh some more, almost dunking her head in the process, My mother, who has been watching the entire time, started to burst out in laughter. I closely joined her, then jumped back into the pond followed my dog, Scruffy, who jumped onto my head, lost his balance and dunked head first into the pond; I too, fell over backwards in laughter.

Sooner or later, I knew it would have to end, but we didn’t leave without getting an ice cream each, and our parents talking. I can only assume that they exchanged phone numbers, because every time we went to the park for the rest of summer holidays, Lucy was there. Eventually, I actually started to talk with her more, and it turned out she goes to my school, and I just haven’t noticed her at all.

After a while, summer had finished, but I started to look forward to school, just to start seeing her again. The first girl that I could actually talk to, the only girl I could talk to.

*****

I miss those times, being a care free child, not having to worry about anything, just having fun. Much unlike now, where I have to look around every single corner before I do anything, having to hide from the bullies all because I like a program and they don’t.

I am an athletic person; I compete in school competitions, mostly winning them. My teachers sometimes tell me that I should enter a better competition, but I always say no, because I don’t like the idea of them. They get confused and eventually give up, the only big competition I have done is Jiujitsu, and I don’t want to do any more.

Chapter 3 - A Problem

In today’s lesson, we’re learning more about mathematics. I personally think that it’s stupid, I bet they teach you math, just so you can teach it when you grow up, that’s the only logic I can find behind it, I never have to use it in my day to day life, so why should we learn it? Matthew on the other hand, thinks that it’s very important, at least for him, anyway. He says it helps him when he’s fixing things back together, calculating stuff and what not. I don’t get it, but he does. I usually just sleep, or talk to everyone in the class, it’s just so boring, and I bet it would be a lot more fun if we had Mrs Cheerilee, she’s the best teacher, ever, and I can actually just imagine it.

*****

Marks mind.

“So, what are we going to do today, fillies and colts?” Mrs Cheerilee asks, looking around the classroom.

I raise my hoof into the air; I think it will fall off if I try to push it up any further, “I know Mrs Cheerilee! I know I know!” I bellow, she turns around from the chalk board and looks at me with her warm loving smile.

“And what might that be, Speedster?”

“We’re going to do mathematics!”

“That’s right! You get a gold star for being the first to answer.” Mrs Cheerilee walks over to the right side of the classroom, to a mini white board which has all of our names on it, and she places a sticker next to mine, I feel so special when she does that, and I’m almost in front of Lucy now, I stick out my tongue at her, she just giggles. “And now, open up your desks and pull out your mathematics book, and please turn to page 324, today we’re going to learn about algebra.

I give out a woot of cheer, as the class looks at me and laughs, I brisk it off, just watching Mrs Cheerilee smile and write things on the chalk board, I love learning with her, she’s the best teacher ever. After a while of her writing on the board, I hear her humming a tune, it’s a happy tune, peaceful, bliss. It actually makes me feel really tired; I put my hooves on my desk and sink my head into them for a few seconds, when I look back up, I no longer see Mrs Cheerilee, I see our ordinary teacher, Mr Roftus, or as I like to say, Mr Hater.

*****

I feel something nudge me on the side. It’s Lucy, handing me a note. I turn at look at her, her brown hair slightly in her eyes; she moves it and looks at me, her amazing green eyes, looking right at me. I think about what I’m doing for a second, snapping back to the note. Just as I’m about to read it, a mysterious hand reaches down and grabs it, ripping it away from me. I look up to see that it’s actually Mr ‘Hater’.

“Well, what do we have here?” He brings the note closer to his eyes, slowly putting on his tiny glasses, which only balance on the end of his big nose. “You wouldn’t mind me reading this to the rest of the class, would you, Mark?” I reach up, trying to snatch it back from him, to no avail. “Now, now, I’ll take that as a yes.” He clears his throat for a few seconds; I turn to look at Lucy, who is blushing heavily. “Ahem! It reads; ‘Hey Mark, would you like to come over tonight? I have something special planned. Love heart?’” The entire class, who are now staring at me and Lucy as I join her in blushing, are now making remarks towards us, along the lines of gasping, chanting, and insults such as; ‘They’re perfect for each other, stupid pony lovers!’, ‘Ew, is she gay or something?!’. 'They're stupid gay arse Bronies!' ‘I bet that they’re going to have messed up kinds, who are stupid ‘Bronies’ like they are, too!’

I stand up, and look at the students. While still blushing heavily, I go to say something, but Lucy runs out, holding her eyes from tears. The entire class start to laugh, I however, run after, flipping them off. As I’m about to leave the room, Mr ‘Hater’ grabs my arm, pulling me back.

“You can’t leave the classroom, it’s against the rules!”

“Yeah, you can’t touch kids, it’s against the law!”

The class directs their eyes to his hand, firmly grasping my wrist. He lets go quickly and moves back towards his desk as I flee the class room while signalling to my other friends that it’s going to be okay. This happens more or less, twice a week. I hate the kids for doing this, and now the teacher has to get involved, too.

The door slams behind me, and I see Lucy running down the corridor, running into the girl’s bathroom. I follow her, not that far behind, but come to a stop as the door slams in my face.

*****

“Does that mean Lucy is finally going to admit she likes Mark?” Blake asks Jero and Matthew.

Matthew perks up first, “I don’t know dude.”

“Sorry that she likes him more, dude.”

“Yeah well, forget about it, alright?” Matthew snaps.

“Alright dude, chill out. So, what do you think, Jero?”

“Well, I think she wants to tell him, but he can’t seem to notice, he’s so stupid.”

“Well, you got the last part right.” All three of them share a laugh together, “But seriously, I hope he realizes soon, I don’t even understand how he doesn’t notice, she’s right in front of him, and they have history, too.”

“Well, some people are just stupid, right?”

“I guess so, God, if I was with him, I would have noticed straight away, I pretty much noticed when I first saw them.” Matthew says.

“Well, I can’t believe that Lucy made us promise not to tell him, it’s just stupid.”

“Yeah well, if we weren’t so damn scared of her overly powerful slaps, we would have told him, right?”

Blake speaks up, “Well, we’d have fun with him first, right?”

“Dude, that’s gay.” Matthew says, laughing pretty hard.

“Not like that!”

“Whatever you say, homo.”

“I’M NOT GAY!” The whole class turns and look at Blake, who is now standing up, looking down at Matthew. “Uhm, I’m not gay, okay?”

“Suuuure… Whatever you say, homo.”

“I swear, one of these days I will get you back, Matthew.”

“Whatever you say, homo!” Matthew is laughing so hard now, no sound is coming out, and he just looks like a walrus clapping his hands.

“Anyway.” Jero says, interrupting the laughter and anger spiralling around the two, “Where did Mark and Lucy go, anyway?”

“Well, they probably went to the toilets, as per usual, don’t worry, we’ll see them at the end of class.”

*****

“Lucy, are you ok?”

“Go away!”

“Lucy come on, we’ve been over this!”

“No! I am fed up with them! I could just kill one of them, and no one would know it was me!”

“Right, I’m coming in!” I push the door open, to be greeted by Lucy, crying in the corner of the room. I slowly pace over to her, sitting down next to her, and bringing her into a cuddle. “Don’t listen to them; they’re not worth the effort.”

She just sits there, crying into my shoulder. “Mark… I can’t take this anymore…”

“Lucy, I agree with you, but we made a promise, can you remember that for me?”

She is hesitant as first, but then complies. “…Not to end it.” She finally sputters out, calming herself down in the process.

“That’s my girl, now, what’s this surprise?”

“Oh! Uhm well…”

“Come on, you were going to show me it, anyway.”

“Well, yeah but…”

“Can I guess?”

“S-Sure?”

“Okay, is it an uhm…? A drawing?” I ask, excitedly.

“No, it’s not a drawing.”

“Oh… Is it a Rainbow Dash plushie?”

“Not that either.” She says, while slightly giggling.

“Oh I give up, what is it?”

Lucy stares up at me, as I stare down at her, she slowly moves her head towards mine, almost kissing me, before I can stop her, the door is wildly kicked open, by none other than Matthew. We quickly break away from each other, and look up at him.

“There you are!”

I speak up, “What’s up, Matthew?”

“Oh well uhm, the bell went, are you heading out yet?”

“We’ll be there in just a sec.” I look at Lucy, who’s no longer crying, but wiping the tears away from her eyes with her sleeves. “I’ll see you at the gates?”

“Sure man, see you in a few.” He turns around, into the corridor of people, shutting the door behind him.

“So uh, guess we better get going, then? We had a short day today.”

“Oh, yeah uhm, sure, let’s get going, we only had him for an hour, too.”

“Have you calmed down?”

“Yeah, thanks.” She gives me a hug, holding on tight, I hug her back and we leave the bathroom.

As we leave the bathroom, Lucy still holding onto me slightly, only covering one arm, we’re greeted by none other than Brock, with his gang of boys. I turn around and whisper for Lucy to run, as I don’t want her to get hurt, after a little convincing, she runs away, leaving me on my own to face them.

“Aww, sending the little bitch home, are we?”

“Don’t talk about her like that!”

Right now, I felt like I could just break his neck, I had so much anger in me, but luckily I held myself back, I don’t want to have to go through another episode in my life like that, I only just got past the other one. I felt my first raising to punch in right in the gut or even his chin, and knocking him clean out, but I restrain myself with all of my might, only to stay in that pose for a few seconds.

“Oh? What you gonna do, faggot?” He pushes me in my chest, knocking me slightly backwards, but I stand my ground, bringing my fist back down, but still clenched. “Oh, looks like we got a tough one here guys, J-Z, Drogh, grab him.” Before I can react, J-Z and Drogh grab my arms, holding me in place. Brock moves forward, bending down to bring his face next to mine. I can literally smell his rancid breath, consisting of whatever he ate for breakfast and the previous night, and it smells awful. “We’re going to have some fun with you, Mark!” Suddenly, I feel a sharp pain in my right side, turns out that Brock punched me in my kidney, and he then hit my other side, making me jerk in pain. I let out a slight cry as he continues to hit me around those areas that I can already tell are bruising. “Come on! Hit me back, you wimp!”

“No, and you know why.”

“Ha! Lame excuse, you’re just too chicken!” He then hits me square in the jaw, sending my head snapping to the right.

“I will not fight you. Your words fall on deaf ears.” I say, wincing in pain the more I talk.

“Whatever, you stupid Brony!”

He kicks me in the groin, which forces me to my knees, wincing in pain. J-Z and Drogh let go of me, and they too, start to beat me, mainly hitting me in my back as I cover my face with my hands. I look up slightly, only to see Lucy peaking around the corner. I immediately look away, hoping not to point the bullies in her direction. Luckily she gets the hint and runs away.

*****

After a brutal beating, my nads on fire, my jaw hurts, and my sides, which hurt the most, are covered in bruises, as too is my back. I lay there, curled in the fetal position, holding my sides, crying in pain. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Lucy appear, the bullies have gone now, so she must have just been hiding.

“Are you okay, Mark?”

“Y-yes…” I try to cover up my crying, even though there is a small puddle under me anyway, filled with my tears.

“Why didn’t you hit them back?”

“Because it’s a rule I have. I will just be as bad as them if I do.”

Lucy sighs, and puts an arm over my shoulder, resting her head on my lap. After about five minutes of lying there, I decide to get up. I nudge Lucy a bit. She zips up, offering me a hand. I happily take it and she helps me up onto my feet. We slowly walk to the exit door. I push the button and it opens the door instantly. We both walk out, heading towards her house.

*****

Upon entering her house, it looks to be getting late out. I think about my mum, and if she’ll be okay on her own, which is interrupted by Lucy.

“Do you want me to get some ice for your bruises?”

“No, I’ll be okay, I promise.”

“Well, okay. Do you want to call your mum? See if she’s okay?”

“Yeah, please. Is it okay if I stay over tonight? I really don’t feel like going home…”

“Sure you can, Mark.”

Lucy heads into the kitchen, popping up a few moments later, forming a phone from behind her, handing it to me.

“Take as long as you need.”

“Thanks, I’ll be just a minute.” I quickly dial my mum’s phone number; she takes a while but picks up a few moments later.

“H-hello? Who’s this?” My mum asks, coughing as she finishes speaking.

“Hi mum, is it okay if I sleep out tonight?”

“Well of course honey, *cough* you don’t have to ask, you know.”

“Well, I just wanted to check to see if you’re okay, how are you holding up?”

“I’m fine, dear. *cough* How was school?”

“It was good; I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay Mark, love you.”

“Love you too, mum.”

I hang up the phone, and turn around to look back at Lucy, who’s smiling warmly at me. “It’s all set, so what was this ‘surprise’, then?”

“Come upstairs, I’ll show you.”

Immediately, I follow up behind her, watching her steps, in turn stepping in sync with her. Eventually we come up to her room. She leaves the door open as I walk in. As usual, her room is always tidy, everything organized and in the correct place, her bed made to perfection. She lies down and I take my usual place next to her, looking up at the ceiling. I’m about to speak when the phone rings. Lucy reaches for it from her bed side table, and answers it, “Hello? Oh, it’s for you, Mark. It sounds urgent.”

“Oh, uhm okay, thanks.” I grab the phone, and press it to my ear, “Hello?”

“Yes, is this Mark speaking?”

“Yes, who’s asking?”

“It’s your mother’s carer. We couldn’t get in touch with you, so we called her last call and she said it should be you.”

“Is my mum okay?!” I ask, snapping at him.

“Well, this isn’t something best told over the phone, Mark.”

“Tell me! Is she okay?!” I shoot up, no longer laying down on the bed, I hear Lucy ask what’s wrong. I quickly wave her off, as not to miss anything the man tells me.

“Well, there has been a misfortunate accident, Mark. Your mother, her illness seems to of worsened since her last check up and well…” His voice trails off into the distance for some time, before speaking up again, “She’s dead, Mark. I’m so sorry. I think you should come home as soon as you can.”

I drop the phone, staring at a wall, while tears fall down my checks instantly. Lucy nervously picks up the phone asking what has been said. When she realizes what’s happened, she hangs the phone up, looking at me with a very saddened look, “I’m so sorry, Mark…” I just continue to stare at the wall, tears streaming down my face, not making a sound. Lucy quickly brings me in for a hug, which I happily accept, still not able to speak because of the sheer shock, I’ve just lost my own mum…

I rest my face in her shoulder, and the tears keep coming. I feel like a dagger has just been ripped through my very heart, and at the same time, I feel like my world just came crashing down around me. The pain from my bruises intensifies, sending waves of cries out of my mouth.

We both go onto the bed and lay down, I’m wrapped in her arms, her whispering in my ear that

Lucy tells me to shush, slowly stroking the back of my head, we lay there on the bed for hours, with me just crying into her shoulder and her comforting me, telling me everything will be okay, even though she is comforting me, all that keeps going through my mind is that my mums last words to me were ‘Love you too; make sure that you eat something!’ And I never even got to eat the chocolate bar, too.

Chapter 4 - Coping

The next morning:

I awaken to see the back of Lucy’s head in front of me, I’m under the covers. I lift them up to notice that I’ve been undressed, and so is Lucy. I put the cover down, snuggling up to Lucy and wrapping my arm around her, temporarily forgetting the previous night. After it hits me, a single tear comes to my eye. I try to stop anymore coming, as not to wake her up. I just feel so safe right now with Lucy.

Lucy shuffles a bit, and then turns over. Her eyes slowly open, looking at me. I give her a smile, showing I’m alright. She puts a hand on my cheek, wiping the tear away from my eye. “You okay, Mark?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Well, today is Friday; do you want to go home?”

“N-Not yet. Lucy, is it okay if I stay with you today?”

“Sure it is. Want me to draw a picture to make you feel better? I know how much you like my drawings.”

“No, just cuddling with you makes me feel better.” I increase my smile, which makes her smile at me. My arm starts to get cold, so I put it under covers and then back around Lucy, just lying there. As I move my hand, I notice a few bumps on her skin. Her smile slowly fades away from her face, as she starts to notice what I’m feeling.

“Mark, I can explain.”

“Have… Have you been cutting, again?”

She doesn’t answer for a while, but just puts her head in my chest before speaking. “Yes…” I bring her in closer, and hold her tightly, not wanting to let go.

We lay there for another hour before moving. I get up and bring my legs out the side of the bed, remembering that she must have undressed me. “Did you, uhm, undress me last night?”

“Yeah. Sorry, I hope you don’t mind. I put your clothes over there.” She points a finger to her windowsill, which has a neat pile of clothes on it.

I put my boxers on first, then my socks, almost falling over onto the bed in the process, which gets a giggle out of Lucy. I then proceed to put on my black jeans and my 20% cooler t-shirt.

“Hey, Lucy.”

“Yes, Mark?”

“Well, could you uhm… could you come with me to see my mum?”

“Sure I will, just let me get dressed.”

I look away, to mind her privacy. I then hear the movement of drawers and her wardrobe as she picks out her clothes. She taps me on the shoulder and I slowly turn around.

“Which looks better, this or this?” She keeps alternating between two t-shirts, one being a Fluttershy t-shirt with her screaming ‘yay!’ on the front, and the other being a red t-shirt.

“Which opinion would you like?”

“Uhm, both?”

“None.” I let out a tickle of laughter, while she holds a serious face. After a few seconds though, she joins in laughing; now both of us in a uncontrollable fit of laughter. She puts on the Fluttershy one and grabs my sides, throwing me onto the bed.

“Oh? We got a funny guy, do we?” She asks, giggling.

“Yeah, I think we do!” I sputter out between fits of laughs.

She then starts to tickle my sides, making me toss and turn in laughter, “St-Stop-op it-it!” I can’t control my laughter as she tickles me, making me laugh harder than I thought was possible. She puts her bum on my chest and then her knees on my shoulders, keeping me in place. My eyes widen in shock as to what she is about to do, I can see it coming. She starts to tickle under my arms, making me spasm about. Laughing more than my lungs can take, my face is filled with a huge grin. She finally stops and gets off of me, her smile fading.

“What’s wrong?”

“We have to visit the hospital, remember?”

My face darkens, and then turns into a frown. “Oh yeah, my mum…”

“Don’t worry, Mark. It will all be okay.”

“Sure…”

*****

We arrive outside of the hospital doors, just out of reach so they don’t open automatically, when Lucy starts to ask, “So, are you ready?”

I take a moment to answer. “Well, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” We both slowly walk in, while I’m slightly shaking, and walk to the front desk where the woman asks me what I’m in here for. I quickly explain about my mum and she points me down the hall.

“First door to your right, she’s in there. I’m sorry for your loss, Mark. She will be truly missed.”

“Thanks.” I wave her off and start walking towards the door with Lucy by my side. She’s been holding my hand ever since we walked through the doors. Weird that I only just noticed, but I allow her to carry on holding me. I gently push the doors open to reveal my mum lay down on a table on a strange machine that seems to be beeping.

I ask the nearby doctor, “What’s that machine doing?”

“Well, might I ask whose asking first?”

“Mark, her son.” I say in a slightly angry tone.

“Ah, I’m very sorry, Mark. We tried to get into contact with you last night, but no one seemed to be in. We’ve been able to put her on a life support machine until we got the final word from you. The machine is keeping her alive, but she’s brain dead and I’m sorry again, but there is no way to recover her from it.”

“I see… Is it okay if I have a few minutes alone with her?”

“That’s fine; I’ll be just down the corridor if you need me.”

“Thanks, I’ll call you back when I’m done.”

“Would you like me to leave, too, Mark?” I hear Lucy ask.

“No, could you please stay with me?”

“Sure.”

I slowly walk towards where my mum lays on the bed. When I reach her side, I drop to my knees and let tears form in both my eyes. Letting go of Lucy’s hand, I take my mum’s left hand in both and start to cry into them. I’ve never cried so much in my entire life, and now I think I’m just letting it all out. “Why mum? Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t feeling better? I can’t live without you!” I keep on sobbing, and crying into her hand as I speak, not wanting to stop, just wanting it to flow. “I…I love you so much mum, you’ve raised me from a child and made me into the man I am now. I can’t even say thank you without you not giving me a response. I feel we had so much left to do, and now it’s all gone…” I try to stop crying, it only works a little though. “Mum, I love you so much…”

I stand up, still crying and let go of her hand. I walk out of the door and look to my right. I see the doctor. He sees me as I motion him over. He complies and follows me back into the room, turning from me to look at Lucy, who was solemnly sitting in the corner on her own, slightly crying. He then turns towards my mother, who lies on the bed, lifeless- at least that’s what it looks like. He finally looks back up at me, giving me a comforting smile, which isn’t easy to do in most circumstances.

I break down, wrapping my arms around him, while tears still stream down my face. At first he is surprised, but then pats my back, telling me it will be okay. After a few moments of crying, I tell him in a low tone; “C-Can you make it p-painless?” I sputter out, still crying.

“Yes we can, Mark. She will feel no pain.”

“T-Thank you, d-doctor…”

I let go of him, and turn away to face my mum. The machine slowly beeping away, the doctor looks out of the door and gestures to a nurse who walks over. “Call it.” He says.

The nurse looks up at me, a slight frown on her face, and mouths the words ‘I’m sorry.’ And proceeds to say the date and time of my mum’s death, then suddenly, no more beeping… At this point, I didn’t think I had enough fluids in my body to keep crying, but I kept going, even more so now. I slowly walked over to my now dead mother and fall to my knees once again, crying into her body, her slowly growing cold body, and all I can do is cry.

Behind me, I notice the doctor give Lucy a wave of his hand, telling her to follow him. I don’t stop her, and all three of them leave. They leave me and my mum alone, and all I do is sit there, crying, crying for what would seem like hours, but is only a mere few minutes. I just can’t stop…

*****

I am awakened by someone prodding my side. I immediately bounce up to my feet to look at who it was, but I can’t see, since my glasses aren’t on. I must’ve put them down somewhere. The mysterious figure hands something to me, and I notice it’s my glasses. I take them off of the figure and put them on, and once I do I notice it was the doctor from before. I must’ve fallen asleep while I was crying.

“Wakey, wakey, Mark.”

“Mhleh… Oh, uhm, sorry. I must have fallen asleep, I guess.”

“Yes, you’ve been out for quite a while, but time’s up, and I think your friend is still waiting for you outside. Would you like to go with her?”

“Yes, please. And doctor?”

“Mmhm?”

“Thanks.”

“Er- Not a problem, Mark. I’m sorry for your loss.”

I slowly edge to the door, still slightly groggy from the sleep. I wipe my eyes clear and look up to see a tired Lucy sitting down on the public seats. I pick up the pace slightly and sit down next to her. She doesn’t notice at first, so I give her a little nudge, which almost instantaneously wakes her up.

“Oh, hey Mark…”

“Hey… Can we go, please?”

“S-Sure…”

We both stand up and I put my arm around Lucy. She rests her head on my chest and we walk out of the hospital, and in the general direction of her house, just walking in complete silence.

*****

“So, guys, what shall we do, then? I heard that a squirrel's brain is about the size of a walnut.” Jeronimo says to Matthew and Blake, who are both sitting outside on the decking of Jero’s house, now giving him a really weird look.

Matthew speaks up first, sitting up on his deck chair; “Dude, why can’t you make your mind up? You want to do something, and then you suddenly change your mind to something completely different. It’s really weird, but also funny.” He snickers a bit at Jero who is looking slightly stunned. “Why do you know that about squirrels’?”

“Well er-I don’t really know. I just feel like doing something else.”

“Ugh, what is it you want to do?”

“We could uhm… play football?”

“Meh sounds good, what about you, Blake?” Matthew glances over to Blake, only to see him sleeping, as per usual. “Oh, well he’s asleep. So, you wanna go play some football, Jero?”

“Sounds like fun. Are we going to call for Lucy and Mark?”

“I don’t think now’s a good time.”

“Let me guess, Mark finally noticed Lucy likes him?”

“No dude, he’s still stupid.” They both share a laugh for a few minutes, while the rummage through Jero’s house, looking for a football. “His mum died… the cancer finally hit her.” Jero stares at Matthew for a while, gobsmacked.

“Dude, how do you know?”

“I went to call for him before, you know, after school? We both went and played your ‘Magic The Gathering’ or something, but before we did, I saw that there was an ambulance outside his house. I rushed in because I thought something happened to him, but a doctor stopped me, asking who I was. I explained that I was his friend, and asked if he was okay, and they said they couldn’t get in touch with him. So, I gave them Lucy’s home number, because he’s mostly there all the time.”

“Wow man, I hope he’s alright, I’d hate to have to go through all of that on my own. Luckily he has us though, right?”

“Yea-Ah ha! I found it!” He pulls out a white and black spotted football, only slightly deflated. “I got the football man, we going to the park then, or what?”

“Y-Yeah, I still can’t believe about Mark’s mum, dude. That’s intense.”

“Yeah it is, but let’s try not to focus on it, he wouldn’t want our sympathy. He doesn’t like that, remember?”

“I guess so, so about that football?”

“Here it is!” Matthew slams it into Jero’s face, but he luckily blocks it with his left arm.

“…Dick.”

“You love me, really.” The both share a laugh together, and head off towards the park, kicking the ball around as they get there.

After a couple minutes of walking/running, they eventually turn up to a big field, with a cornered area off that’s for the kids, some swing sets, a see-saw, a merry go round etc. A few kids are there, they look about twelve or thirteen.

Matthew proceeds to steal the ball from Jero, who doesn’t notice at first, until he turns around to look at Matthew running along with the football, kicking it across the field. Instantly, Jero chases after him. Closely following behind him, he slide tackles him to the floor, and then he eats a face full of dirt.

“You cheater!” Matthew bellows.

Jero laughs it off, jumping up and kicking the ball towards the goal posts at the top of the pitch. He gets close enough to shoot, but not before Matthew comes from behind him and swipes the ball away from him, almost causing Jero to trip in the process.

“Come on man, I was gonna score!” Jero shouts at Matthew, who is running down the pitch now.

“Too bad!” he shouts back, getting closer and closer to the goal.

He nears the goal, he’s just about to blast the ball, but as he kicks, he kicks nothing but air. Looking down he sees that the ball is no longer there, his stats to panic for a second, spinning around though, he eyes a certain person that they left snoozing on the decking, Blake.

“Hey guys, you miss me?” Blake asks them, obviously being cocky, because of his skills in football.

“Screw you, Blake! I was just about to shoot!”

“Oh, that’s ironic, isn’t it, Matthew?” Jero says.

“…Shut up.”

“So, what are the teams, then?” Blake asks both of them, which eye each other awkwardly, trying to fathom what to say, after a couple of seconds, they look at Blake, and both shout “MY TEAM!” At the exact same time “NO, HE’S ON MY TEAM!” They both say to each other, again in sync.

“Wow guys, how about we flip a coin? Matthew, you’ve got heads, Jero, you have tails, alright?”

“Alright.” They eye each other suspiciously, wondering how they kept speaking in sync, which was very weird, but only made Blake laugh a lot.

Blake kicks the ball up in the air, catching it under his left arm. He then pulls out a 50p coin from his right pocket, placing it carefully on his right thumb. Matthew and Jero stare at the coin for a couple seconds, until he flips it in the air. Their eyes follow the coin into the sky, as it lands on the grassy floor below them; Blake bends over and looks at the coin, revealing what it landed on. “Tails it is!” Blake chuckles to himself, while Jero woops in the air, almost fist pumping.

“Lucky git.” Matthew remarks.

“Well, that’s the rules, Matthew, sorry.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Now, are we going to play some football? Or are we going to lollygag around for ages?”

“Hey Matthew!” Jero shouts.

“What?”

“I used to lollygag like you…”

“Don’t you fucking DARE say it!” Matthew exclaims at the top of his lungs, now starting to chase Jero around the grass.

“BUT THEN I TOOK AN ARROW TO THE KNEE!”

“YOU’RE DEAD!”

“Come at me bro!”

Jero quickly whizzes around the pitch, just barely keeping up with him. Blake watching the whole time, laughing his arse off that much, that he fell on the floor because of it. “You guys!” He starts to gasp for air because of the laughter, “Stop it! It’s too funny!” His face is screwed up from the laughter, rolling around on the floor laughing, grabbing his sides.

“No! He’s going to pay for saying that, he knows how much I hate it!” Out of nowhere, Matthew smashes Jero to the floor; they tumble for a while across the grass, until eventually coming to a stop, Matthew on top of Jero, he’s about to put Jero into a headlock, when he suddenly moves and squeezes through his legs, racing for Blake now. “Get back here you twig!”

“NOPE, NOPE, NOPE!”

Chapter 5 - Endgame

While we’re walking in silence, it’s starting to get dark now. We decide to take an alternate route, which is more lit up than the actual way to her house, but it brings us to the back of it. We’re just walking along in silence, passing fancy houses on the way, some people playing football on the field and screaming wildly. We take a right turn down a street called ‘Acabus Lane’, it sounds very familiar, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. We carry on walking down the street, until we come to a small group of people. We take no notice and try to walk past, but one of them sticks his arm out, stopping us from passing.

“Well, well, well… What do we have here? The fagot ‘Brony’ couple, don’t think we’re leaving you out of this, this time Bitch!”

I quickly push Lucy behind me, taking the blunt force of his fist to my cheek; I stand my ground and look away for a few seconds, before looking back. “Leave us alone.” Is all I can say.

“Or else what?”

“Or else something bad is going to happen.” I stare right into his eyes, trying to force fear into him, but it doesn’t work in the slightest. Quite the opposite actually, all three of them start to burst out laughing.

I then suddenly recognize the laughs as J-Z and Drogh coming from behind him, they step closer, snatching Lucy from behind me, and walking behind Brock.

“Let her go!” I try to push my way past Brock, but he holds me firmly in position, and with his right hand he goes into hit back pocket, pulling out a knife. My eyes widen, and I back off about half a meter.

“Now, you’re gonna go home and prance to your mummy and not say a word about this, you got that you piece of shit?!”

“This is where you’re wrong, you stupid fuck…” He cocks his head towards me in astonishment; I suddenly feel a burning sensation rush through my blood. I clench my fists by my side as he walks close to me, holding the knife to my neck and I remember my training. I wait until he brings his head close to mine, before he can speak; I slap the knife away from him. He still manages to keep a hold of it, but I grab him by the throat, lifting him into the air slightly. His friends look shocked, and start to close in behind me, leaving Lucy on the floor. “YOU NEVER HURT A WOMAN!” I slam my fist into his cheek, making him slightly dazed, and then throw him to the side of me, but he manages to keep his balance. His friends come towards me, J-Z throwing the first punch. “BIG FUCKING MISTAKE!” I grab his fist, keeping his momentum, I turn around and crouch down, flipping him over my back, then twisting his arm until he yelps in pain and I hear a slight cracking sound.

I forgot about Drogh who grabs me in a bear hug, and lifts me into the air; Brock walks over to me, and slams his fist into my kidney, forcing the air out of my body. I quickly kick Drogh in his nuts, making him drop me on the floor face first, while he grabs his tender regions. I quickly stand up, and brisk it off, ignoring the pain in my side. I slam my right foot into Brock's side, but be catches me, and hits my shin with his elbow, sending a shock through my body; luckily I jump up in the air, and kick him in the neck with my other foot, sending him and me both to the floor.

I slowly stand up, to see J-Z running towards me. I duck and tackle his legs, making him flip over me, but before he can land, I turn around and grab his right foot. Mustering all my strength up and spinning him around to face the other way, sending him flying into Drogh. They both look dazed or unconscious, so I turn my gaze to Brock, only to be greeted by a fist in my face. Sending me hurdling back, he charges into me, slamming another punch into my other kidney. He tries again, but I catch it this time, reversing it into a hold. I slam his face into the concrete floor, I hear Lucy scream behind me, telling me I’ll kill him if I don’t stop, but I carry on. I lift his head up, and open his jaw and placing it on the curb. Then slamming my boot on the back of his neck and pushing down, hard, but not hard enough to break his jaw.

I suddenly feel weak, I grab my side and look at my hand, noticing blood gushing everywhere, Brock stands up quickly and runs away, luckily he moved, because I slump to the floor. First my knees, and then followed by my head, which makes a loud cracking sound as I hit the curb. I feel my vision become impaired, I think my glasses must of broken, then I feel someone rolling me over, it’s Lucy. Her face turns to shock as she looks at my side, I try to lift my head up but she holds me in place.

“You can’t see it!” She yells.

“Let me see it!” I force my head up and look down, just to notice a knife sticking out of my kidney, and a pool of blood forming around me. My head slumps back down to the curb, “You were right…” My vision fails me, and I feel my head fall back fully now, and my body almost fully let go. The last thing I hear is Lucy phoning an ambulance, screaming that she needs help, while still crying.

*****

I open my eyes; I’m laying on the floor of a mossy brick road, with wildlife all around me, weeds shooting through the brick itself. I rub my eyes, noticing I am not wearing my glasses, I stand up and start to look around for them, but then it occurs to me that I don’t seem to need them and I have perfect vision. I wave my hand in front of my eyes as a sort of test, all it shows is that I can see it, I am so stupid.

I rub my eyes again, taking in my surroundings, there appears to be a lot of trees where I am and it’s night time, but the ground is lit up with some sort of floor lanterns. I pick one up and hold it in front of me, and start following the path along into the woods.

Usually, I would feel very scared right now, waking up in a really weird place that’s almost like a jungle, but for some reason, I feel very peaceful. While I am walking, I try to collect my thoughts but it doesn’t seem to work. I can’t remember anything about what’s happened, but I keep following the path, after a couple turns I come to a small opening in the forest. It’s flat with a small cottage in the middle, it looks to be abandoned.

I slowly edge towards it, and the door opens slowly. Inside I see a well lit room, with a table and food on it; my instincts take over and force me through the door, which closes behind me. I jump back and see no one, and nothing. I turn around slowly, fearing what might be there, and I see a shadowy figure in the room. In the far right corner of the room, but I don’t feel afraid, I feel warmth, and happiness. I feel it wants me to sit down, so I pull out a chair and sit.

“Hello, Mark.” The figure says.

“Who-or should I say what, are you?”

“Well, that’s not important, but what is important is that you realize where you are. Can you remember how you got here, Mark?”

“No, why?”

“Good.”

“How is that good?”

“Don’t worry, please, eat. You must be hungry.”

“I think I’m fine, why don’t you come out of the shadows?”

“Well, if you insist.”

The figure slowly steps out of the shadow; he wears a long black coat, with black boots on, black jeans and a red shirt on, along with a black tie. His face is hard to describe, because he doesn’t seem to have a face, just the indents of where the features should be. He takes his hat off and holds it to his chest, taking a bow in front of me.

At first I am taken by his features and I presume I am scared, but I try not to show it. “H-How come you’re bowing, to me of all people?”

“There is no need to be afraid, Mark.”

“How did you- Wait, how do you even know my name? And answer my question please.”

“Well, I am something you Humans’ call ‘Death’, ‘The Reaper’, ‘The Grim Reaper’, so on and so forth. And I can tell that you have just become even more scared, as you have just puzzled together as to where you are, now please, eat.”

“Wow, why do you want me to eat?”

“Call it a ‘last meal’, if you wish.”

“Wait, so I’m… I’m dead?”

“Well, you almost are, unless they save you, of course.”

“I can’t die!”

“We all die, Mark, you are called Mark in this life, are you not?”

“Y-Hang on, what do you mean in this life?”

“Well, Mark, we have met before, you see. Hence why you fear me a lot less than you think you should. That little itch in the back of your mind that you feel sometimes, like the feeling of Déjà vu, it’s sort of like that. That constant itch, but you can’t itch it, unless you’re here, in this cottage.”

“Wait, what are you trying to say?”

“Well, you have lived a total of 4,999 lives so far Mark. Reincarnation etc, and when this life is over, you can sort of ‘choose’ a life you wish to live. It can be anything of course, but it will end one day, and then you will have to live another 5,000 lives to be able to do this again, do you understand?”

“Yes, bu- Whoa…”

“Ah, do you feel that itch now, Mark? Do you feel it slowly covering your entire body?”

“What the heck is going on?!” I scream out, starting to thrash around, standing up and knocking over the chair.

“Calm down, Mark. It’s just your old lives coming back to you, come here.”

The man walks towards me and touches my forehead. Immediately, I feel calmed down, and stop thrashing about.

“Wow… I’ve lived 4,999 lives! I can remember being a girl, what?”

“Yes, you have been female, and male, even transsexual.”

“Oh, that’s just nasty.”

“Well, it’s your lives, not mine.”

“So, what happens now?”

“Well, if all goes to plan, you will be able to pick another life, unless they save you, of course, now please, eat.”

“How long does this usually take?”

“Eat, and I will tell you.”

“Ugh, fine. Why are you so obsessed with me eating something?”

I take a seat and put some salad on my plate, followed by some chicken that was in the middle of the table.

“Well, because the food will balance you out, preparing you for your new life.”

“I see…” I take a bite out of the chicken leg and slowly chew it, taking in all of the flavor. “Wow…” I take another bite, filling my mouth with the chicken, “This is amazing!”

“I thought you would like it, at least in this life, anyway.”

“Can I ask you something?” I set the chicken bone down on my plate for a second.

“Go ahead; you were always a curious one, weren’t you?”

“Yeah, I think so.” I chuckle a bit. “Why don’t you have a face?”

He seems quite shocked at the question, even though he has no facial features, I can tell he is. “Well, death has no face.”

“Wait, why can’t you have a face?”

“It’s just the way it works- I think it’s your time, Mark.”

I feel a shudder behind me, I turn around to see a door with a blank title on it form before my very eyes. It looks to be an oak door, bright brown with those wooden swirls on it that you get in trees, I think it’s meant to tell you how old it is. The door suddenly opens and all there is a bright white light. Death walks me to the door and pats me on the shoulder, telling me its okay. I step forward to the door, putting my arm in first, it feels funny. Like a slight electrical shock working its way up my arm, but the feeling of it being covered in water, it’s almost making me giggle, but it feels warm, and beckoning me to go in. I put my right leg in and try to find some sort of ground; I turn to look at Death, who is starting to look transparent now. He gives me a nod, and I turn to face the white light again. I push my head in and feel the door close behind me and I walk through the light, it feels so warm and delightful, so inviting.

“AGGHH!” I scream, sitting up in a bed, wearing some sort of apron like thing, and a sort of mask on my mouth. I quickly look around, I see a machine beeping, and some wires connected to my arm. I rip them out which hurts a lot, forcing a scream from my mouth, “FUCK!” I start to hold my arm, squeezing it tightly, “That hurt like a bitch!” I turn around to see a nurse standing there with a clip board in her hand, staring at me in disbelief. She rushes around the corner, I quickly follow behind her, looking at my hands and feeling my face on the way there, realizing I am wearing my glasses again, and that I must be the old me.

I peak my head around the corner, noticing the doctor that I spoke to before is stood there talking to the nurse. He sees me spying on him, and turns his head to face me. He looks astounded by his reaction, and starts to hastily walk towards me, I turn around and sit on the bed, waiting for him, when he comes around the corner, he eyes me up curiously, checking my heart beat etc. After another few simple tests, he looks up at me, and wraps his stethoscope around his neck.

“Wow… He’s perfectly fine.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well Mark, to put it bluntly, you were stabbed and you lost over two quarts of blood, and you had many transfusions. You literally died for a couple minutes, and we had to call your death time. Your uhm, friend went home crying not too long ago, as well.”

“Was it Lucy?!”

“The girl who brought you in, I believe so, brown hair, green eyes?”

“Yeah, that’s her!”

“Yes, she left after we said you ‘died’, can we run some more tests on you, please? It could help us a great deal.”

“Not now, I have to go find Lucy, who knows what she could end up doing!?” I stand up and start to head out of the hospital, before I hear the doctor calling me back. “What?” I ask, trying to hurry along.

“You forgot your clothes.”

I look down next to the bed and notice my shoes and my clothes, I grab them and hurry out of the hospital, simultaneously getting dressed, hopping along. After a few minutes, I am out of the hospital and fully clothed.

I rush down the road towards her house, on the way I notice J-Z and Drogh standing next to a lamp post, they see me but don’t react, things might finally be looking up for me. I speed past them swerving traffic as I run down the road instead of the path, taking right turns and left turns. After a couple of minutes of non-stop running, I arrive at her house. I knock on the door furiously, but no one seems to be home. I try the handle on the door, it’s unlocked, and I rush upstairs to see Lucy on her bed with her wrists slashed and her lying down, with a picture of me and her on her chest, covered in blood.

As I walk inside, a tear comes to my eye, followed by many, many more. Her eyes are closed, but she looks so peaceful, I look around to see if she left a note. I don’t see one; I just sit next to her on her bed, staring at her dead body.

I pick the picture up, and a white parchment falls from behind it, I bend over and pick it up, it reads:

I am sorry for what I have done, but it has to happen. I can’t live one day without Mark with me, I just can’t. He was the only reason I stayed on this planet. I love him, and I never even got the chance to say it to him, but I will now. I’m going to go see him, mum and dad, I’m going to go see him, I love you all, and I am sorry for the pain I may cause, but just know he is my life.

Chapter 6 - Equestria

I stay next to her body for a while; I can’t believe she ended it because she loved me… Why didn’t I even notice? I thought she was just a friend, yet she loved me, all this time. I reach over her side and spot her razor blade, I don’t know why, but I am compelled to end it, too.

I pick up the razor and stare at it for a while, while still crying. After a few minutes of staring, I decide I have to end it, too. I don’t bother with a note, I grab the razor blade and bring it to my wrist, and I look away as I can’t bear to see this happen. I quickly move my hand across my arm, letting the blood gush from my major artery, fumbling around I put the razor blade in my other hand and slice my other wrist. Then, with the little strength I have left, I wrap my arms around Lucy and give her a kiss on the back of her neck, whispering into her ear; “I’m coming, Lucy, I’m coming for you.”

I lay there, while the blood slowly leaves my body, covering the sheets and both I and Lucy. My vision eventually starts to go, and my eyes become heavy, after a while, all I see is blackness, then a sudden tap on my leg.

I open my eyes to see Death again. He’s standing over me, wearing the same attire as he was before, but he isn’t speaking, he’s just staring at me. I look down at my wrists and notice they have healed, looking around, I notice I am again in the same type of forest as I was before, like a memory coming back to my mind again after it was lost. I stand up quickly, but Death does not speak to me this time. He sets his gaze and walks along the cobbled road, not making eye contact. I look up at death, but he doesn’t look back, “Is something wrong, Death?”

“You know what’s wrong, Mark. In fact, if you weren’t an anomaly, you would be reincarnated at a beetle or something like that.”

“D-Do I still get to choose?”

Death sighs, then after a few seconds, he brings his head back up, “Yes, you do.” He suddenly stops, and I look ahead of me, I see the cottage we were in before. “We’re here, but this time you do not need to eat the food, you should have died last time, anyway.”

“I take it as that’s why I am an anomaly?”

“Yes, now where would you like to go?”

“May I ask where a friend is?”

“If you’re talking about Lucy, then she is fine. She is waiting for you, and she will join you in your new life.” I feel a buzz of excitement, but cut short by Death as he raises a hand, “However, your mind will be wiped, and you shall not remember this place again, just like usual, and you will not remember any of your old lives again. You may recognize her when you get there, but I wouldn’t count on it.”

“Okay, do I just think of where I want to go?”

“Yes, now step through the door.”

I turn around and look at the open door and the bright white light inside it. I turn to face Death once more, but he’s no longer there. I turn and look at the door, and walk inside, allowing the light to engulf me; I keep one thought and one though alone on my mind. ‘Equestria’.

*****

“AGGHHHH!” I fall to the ground, hitting my head. I slowly rise up, rubbing my head with a hoof. At first it feels new to me, but then I feel a sharp pain in my mind, images flashing in front of me, text, scripts, history flowing through my mind as every second goes by, I feel I am learning new things all over again.

After a few minutes of the pain and images rushing through my head, I try to stand up, but I can’t seem to get the hang of it for some reason. Just trying to stay on all fours is hard, I keep trying and trying until eventually, I manage to stay up. I am about to take a step forward when a pink blur comes shooting towards me, tackling me to the ground, which I just tried to stand up on for a long time.

“Hi, what’s your name? How come I haven’t seen you here before? Are you new? OH! You’re one of the new ponies to come to Ponyville, aren’t you?! I bet you are!”

Without thinking, I push the pink mare off of me and start galloping down the hill. I am amazed at how I couldn’t stand a minute ago, but now I’m galloping, that’s real progress.

I keep galloping down the hill, trying to pick up speed, but the pink pony just keep bouncing along close to me. I rush through the Ponyville market and through some sort of gates; I rush up the other hill and spot a cave of some sort. I quickly rush inside and hide from the crazy pink mare. I poke my head outside to look down the hill, and I spy the same pink mare bouncing along up the hill, I assume looking for me. I decide to wait it out in the cave, but from what I could call day, it instantly turns to the night and a moon pops up out of nowhere and stays in the middle of the sky. For some reason I am amazed, but I feel I shouldn’t be, like I’ve seen it all happen before.

After what I would only say is thirty minutes of waiting, I take a step outside, but the moment I do, it starts to rain. I cower and run back inside of the cave, petrified of the weather; I curl a wing around me, and shake, holding my hind legs close to my chest, in the fetal position.

Chapter 7 - The cave

I lay there, my left wing covering my face from the rain as I shiver from head to hoof. I feel like I am in an iceberg, so alone, so cold, nopony to hold me tightly when I need a hug. I feel a sense of longing for someone, like my heart is trying to call out for somepony, but I have no idea why, I just feel sad, and defenceless.

I close my eyes, trying to get some sleep in the cold, which is hard enough with the rain patting my wing and covering my body, forcing me to become colder by every second that goes by. Even though the cold is shooting through my body, I force my eyes closed and try to think of happiness, I try to think of my mum… But for some reason, I don’t even know what she looks like, or any memories about her.

A sudden shock of thunder & lightning send me to my feet, and forces me further into the darkness of the cave, the blackness engulfing me as I step further in. I reluctantly keep going further, until I can’t even see my hoof in front of my face anymore, and I lay down again, still shaken by the thunder and the cold. I attempt to sleep again, the miserable weather no longer hitting my sides.

Once again, my eyes are closed, and I try to fumble around my memories, attempting to work out why I can’t seem to remember anything. Yet all I can feel is loneliness and depression settling in as the minutes pass by. Eventually, I drift away, I feel my body relax, and my mind flutter away, without a care in the world…

*****

“Come on guys, throw it to me!” I shout out to the figure, which is running away with my ball.

“Come and get it Mark!” He shouts back at me.

I sigh, taking a deep breath, I run after him, my legs pushing them hard, but the mysterious man is still faster than me. I chase for what feels like hours, until he comes to a stop, but as I near him he bolts off again. I give chase, but this time he runs inside of the old abandoned hospital, which I follow, fearing the worst.

Upon entering, there is rubble scattered all around the floors, with the roof partially collapsing in on it. Wooden beams and planks blocking some routes are cut off, leaving a dense kind of mist in the air.

I wade through all the rubble, looking for the culprit who stole my ball. After a few minutes of checking the directions I can go, the left hallway, closest to the entrance seems to be the only way that isn’t either very dangerous, or encased in rubble. I move under a few wooden beams, and then I see that the rest of the hallway is fully clear of all rocks, and other junk. I look upwards, down the hallway to see the figure who stole my ball run into a room, I chase after him again, and slowly looking in every room as I pass, but they’re all empty for some reason. Eventually, I get close to the room and stop running, knowing he has nowhere to go now, but just as my thoughts begin to wonder as to what I will do to him, I hear crying from inside the room, which instantly freezes my in place.

The crying persists, and I finally work up the courage to peek in. I hold onto the door frame, letting my head look inside the room, and as I do, I see that someone is crying into a woman’s hand, but for whatever reason, I feel like we are both connected. Out of nowhere, tears start to fall down my face, and I start shaking, all of this seems familiar too me, but I have no idea why, “What’s happening to me?!” I shout out, hoping the man crying will respond, but all he does is continue crying, his sobs filling the air with sadness.

I look to the left, and I see a girl sat on her own, following his sobs as he goes along, she doesn’t notice me, so I walk closer, waving my hand in front of her face to gain her attention, but all she does is keep her eye sight towards the bed, and the man crying.

I work up the nerve to crouch down next to him, and place my arm around him, for some reason I feel I should, that I should comfort him, telling him that it’s okay. “Did… Was uhm, were you close?” I ask him, yet all he does is cry. I feel I should leave them both alone, so I turn around to head out, only to be greeted by a mysterious figure. I look him up and down; he wears a long black coat, with black boots on, black jeans and a red shirt too. His face looks very peculiar, at first I don’t believe what I am seeing, and I attempt to rub my eyes, but to no avail. The figure just stands there, staring over me, even though he has no eyes, I feel that he is looking into my very soul.

“Mark, come with me.”

“How do you know my name?!” I ask, half shouting at him.

The figure just walks away, leaving a small Smokey trail behind him; I closely follow him, leaving the boy and girl in the room, hoping that they will be okay. The figure picks up the pace, but doesn’t seem to be moving his legs, but merely hovering in place, and his body moving, picking up speed. What was once a small walk is now a fully-fledged run, I am now chasing the figure, and he takes me out of the hospital, and down the street, until he comes to an abrupt stop, forcing me to smash into him, sending me hurdling to the floor, yet he remains perfectly still?

“You will leave now.” He speaks, in an angry tone.

A sudden flow confidence flows over me, “Oh yeah? You gonna to make me?!”

“Mark, if you don’t go through that door, I will throw you through it myself.”

“Come at me bro!” I hastily take a swing at the man, who instantly disappears when my fist comes in contact with him. I spin my head around, wondering where he went. I turn my whole body around, to see the man looking at me, face to face, only a couple of centimetres apart. Fright fills my entire body, but then everything is a blur, as I am knocked through the now open door. I open my arms, latching onto one of the sides, which seems to make the man perk up.

After a few seconds, the man walks towards me, the once white light that was surrounding me turns to a horrible black, as black as the night itself. It starts to scare me, as I imagine never coming back, yet the man grabs my hand, pulling it off of the door, but still hold into me.

“Goodbye, Mark.” He starts to chuckle, which turns into a fully blown evil laugh as he lets go, and I am sucked into the blackness, like it was a black hole. I scramble to try and grab the door, but it closes, sealing me in complete darkness. A flow of emotions flew over me like a waterfall, sadness, loneliness, scared, and all I can think about is how much I want my mum to hold me, telling me it’s okay.

I feel my body starting to pick up speed as I dive through the blackness. I can’t even slow myself down, until I notice some sort of ground appear before me. I know the impact will kill me if I fall, I just know it. A mountain of some sort with a cave going into it comes into view, and I can feel my body targeting it. I’m going to crash any second now, I hold onto the thought of my mum, holding me tight, even though I can’t remember what she looks like. I try to image her, her blond hair waving around as she holds me in her arms, rocking me back and forth, her eyes staring at me, letting me know everything will be okay.

*****

“AGGHHHH!” I wake up, wiping my forehead with a hoof, almost instantaneously forgetting my dream, but the remainder of knowing it was scary staying put in my mind. I look around, and notice a butterscotch Pegasus, that has been holding me close to her, I look up at her, her eyes signalling that everything will be alright. I feel warm, and happy as she rocks me back and forth. The feeling of dismay leaving me, sadness filled with happiness, and the feeling of actual warmth, flooding my body.

The butterscotch Pegasus slowly lifts me onto her back, her voice is almost unheard, it’s so gentle, and kind. “Hold on little buddy, we’ll be safe soon.”

I instinctively wrap my hooves around her neck, and she walks out of the cave into the rain. She lightly opens her wings and sets off flying, staying fairly close to the ground, but still flying. Eventually, I drift off to sleep again, forgetting my previous nightmare completely, being filled with warmth and delight.

*****

I open my eyes, rubbing them once again, with a bandage on my head. I look around the room, not frightened for my life, I’ve been moved and I can’t even remember it happening. I’m in a small bed, with pink covers on it; it’s next to a wall in the furthest part of the room I am in. Next to me there is a table with a small bowl of what appears to be soup next to it, and a pill next to it. I am immediately scared, ‘Could I have been foalnapped?’, ‘could I have been drugged, and now being held hostage?’ Possibilities rush through my mind, almost hurting me to an extent, I’m going to have to form some sort of weapon if I’m going to defend myself, but there is nothing around me that could work. The room is almost fully clear of anything, other than a nice paining of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna hanging on the wall, this bed, and the stand with the food and the pill on it, the room is bare.

I shift around in the bed; I was tucked in really tight. At first I thought I was being held down, but I realized it was just the covers. I feel isolated, but then I suddenly feel hoofsteps in the background of the house. I hide under the cover instinctively and start to shake, moments later; I hear the door open, and a small voice say; “Oh dear, is somepony scared?” Which causes me to shake more, but then her voice tumbles through my mind, a voice I have heard before, it sounds so heavenly. I very, very slowly take down the covers to look at her. The first thing I notice is her pink mane, lightly covering her eyes. She gives me a warm smile at first, but then I cower under the sheets again, afraid of her for an unknown reason. I cower into the fetal position, wincing my eyes shut, covering my face.

After a while, she pulls the cover off of me with her teeth. I turn my head slightly, and peek an eye open, she is still looking at me with a warm smile. She nuzzles my side, causing me to slightly yelp and sit up straight. “H-How…” Is all I manage to spit out.

“Don’t worry; I’m going to nurse you back to health. If that’s okay with you, of course…” She shyly turns away, pawing at the floor.

“P-Please…” I cower further into the corner of the bed, afraid of her.

“You uhm, you don’t have to be afraid, I won’t hurt you…”

Her voice, it’s so heavenly, almost forcing me to calm down. I start to comfortably lie back down in her bed again, bringing the covers back over me.

“There, there, now drink up your soup, you need your energy.” She turns and starts to leave the room, but before she does I reach out and touch her, which causes her to slightly yelp at the sudden surprise.

“What’s uhm, uh, what’s your name?” I ask, very sheepishly.

“Oh, it’s Fluttershy.” She turns around and looks at me, the same warm smile on her face, “What’s yours?”

“Uhm, Speedster?”

“That’s nice…” She turns away and leaves, closing the door behind her, leaving me to solitude once more.

I eye up the soup, wondering whether to eat it or not, or should I say drink it. Cautiously, I pick up the bowl in my hooves, almost dropping it several times in the process. I bring it over to my lap, it looks like it would be tomato soup, but I’m not sure. I once again pick it up and bring it to my mouth, slowly taking a sip of it, and wow, I was amazed. The luxurious taste of it sliding down my throat, and the sweet taste of tomatoes combining it to make it amazing, I can also taste a tiny pinch of salt. It reminds me of how somepony used to cook it before, but I can’t quite put my hoof on it.

After a few more sips, I gratefully chug it all down, throwing the pill in the last gulp that was on the side. I lay back down on the bed, resting my head on the fluffy cushion and try to drift off to sleep again, that soup make me… *yawn* tired…

Chapter 8 - Getting away

That same dream again… I don’t even know why it keeps haunting me; it’s like someone is forcing me to watch a program over and over until I have fully memorized it and I can’t get it out of my head. I’m just lying in Fluttershy's bed, keeping my eyes closed and relaxing in pure bliss. I hear something enter the room. I assume it’s Fluttershy so I stay still, pretending to be asleep. God, I hope she’s made some of that awesome soup again. That stuff was delicious.

“So, is this him?” I hear a new voice ask.

“Y-Yes” I hear Fluttershy say. I can only assume that they are having a conversation.

I try my best to relax and not move, pretending to still be asleep.

“All right, do you mind if I do some tests?” The strange voice asks.

“Go right ahead, I hope he’s okay…”

“He should be fine, don’t worry.” She reassures Fluttershy, but not so much me on the other hoof.

After a few seconds of nothing, I suddenly feel my body wash with some sort of energy, like I was just put through a scanner. This mysterious energy goes all the way through my body- from the tips of my ears, all the way down to the ends of my hooves. It’s frightening and feels scary.

“It seems that his flames are receding. I am flabbergasted as to why they are not burning anything, even when I touch them, see?” I feel the strange pony put her hoof close to my head, but what is this talk about ‘flames’?

After a couple more seconds of this ‘scanner’, I open my eyes only to reveal a purple maned mare staring intently at me. Her horn is glowing too. Immediately I jump back, slinging the cover over me to hide and making the energy stop.

“Wow there uhm, Speedster is it?” The purple mare says, “I’m only running some tests to make sure you’re okay.”

I shiver under the covers as she bites a corner and pulls them off of me. I lay there with my front hooves covering my face, while only slightly peaking past one to see what they are doing. I spy the door slightly open. Out of nowhere I make a bolt for the door, jumping off the bed landing on the floor. Luckily I don’t wobble around as I start to gallop through, only to be stopped by that same energy which lifts me up and puts me back on the bed.

“Wow there tiger, calm down. I only want to do some tests on you; after all, it’s for your benefit.”

I franticly look around for anything to throw at her, and I spy a cushion by my side. I pick it up and throw it at her with all my might, which seems to break her spell as it sends her tumbling to the floor. I quickly make another dash for the door, this time actually getting through. I hear a voice behind me shouting for somepony to grab me. I ignore it and turn my head back around to face the door, only to trip over something and roll flat on my face.

I cover my cheek, wincing in pain as an orange hoof comes towards me; I spring to my feet, only to fall back down again, so I shuffle across the room, getting closer and closer to the door.

I stagger up and try to go for the door again, but a rainbow maned pony grabs my and brings me up into the air. I try to kick and wiggle around but it doesn’t seem to do anything.

“Calm down, damnit!” I hear her yell, getting agitated.

“No!” I scream out, frantically wiggling my front hooves around so she would let go of them, but it’s to no avail.

I look around to see if I can kick anything, but unfortunately nothing is around me. The rainbow maned Pegasus flies me into the center of the room, still holding onto my front hooves. Another purple maned unicorn trots close to me, except she has a white coat and looks like a marshmallow, causing me to give a slight giggle.

“Oh whatever is wrong with you dearie, hmm?”

I give my hooves one last wiggle, forcing them out of hers which thankfully made me drop onto my haunches and not my face this time. For the third time and hopefully the last, I set off for the door. This time, however, I open it and quickly shut it behind me, galloping off towards what I only assume is Ponyville.

*****

After a couple minutes of galloping, I arrive in Ponyville center. Around me, ponies are slowly trotting around. Some are minding their own business, while others seem to be looking at me with a worried look which causes me to lower my head and slowly trot away.

Not watching where I am going, I smell the sweet smell of apples in the air. I look up, only to crash into somepony who was putting them into his saddle bag. We both fall onto the floor, but luckily he keeps hold of all the apples.

We both look up at each other, making awkward eye contact. His horn seems to have an apple on it somehow; even though I never saw any of them move. I let out a small laugh, pointing at his horn. He looks at me a second and then up at his horn, which he can blatantly see a stuck apple. He too lets out a laugh, causing us both to laugh in the process.

We both stand up and I pull the apple off of his horn. Suddenly my stomach rumbles. In any other situation it would stay quiet but no; it wants to make me look desperate now, of all times.

“Dude, your hair is on fire!”

“What?” I ask in bewilderment.

“Dude your hair!” He points a hoof to my hair, which I follow.

I look up, finally noticing the flames on my head which send shocks through my body. They turn a bright yellow. I gallop around frantically while slapping the top of my head trying to put the fire out, but it doesn’t work at all. The stallion I bumped into runs over and throw a bucket of water on me; where he got it, I don’t know, but it seemed to work- for about 5 seconds, that is.

“Why isn’t it working?!” I start to get slightly angry. The colour of my ‘hair’ slowly turns to a deep red.

“Wait; do you feel it actually burning you?”

“What? No why- Oh…” I pause, calming down and focusing on the flames as they just burn away at nothing. “How is that even possible?!”

“I don’t know, but it’s really freaking me out.”

“Sorry…” I start to take in his appearances. He is a dark green, fading into a dark red coated stallion. His eyes are a bright, deep green, too. His mane seems to have taken on the same kind of style as his coat; it being a half mild, fading into a darker brown, while both his mane and tail are short and spikey. His cutie mark seems to be a cluster of trees with some clouds overhead. It looks very strange if you ask me, but also cool at the same time.

“Uhm, I hope I’m not being too personal but, do you mind telling me your name?”

“Sure, it’s Dark Woods.” He beams a grin at me as he says it, looking proud of it. It appears it might have something to do with his cutie mark, too.

“Awesome!”

“…And yours?”

“Oh, mine’s Speedster. Pleased to meet you.” I extend a hoof towards him, which he happily shakes.

“Hey dude, you want this apple? I don’t think I’ll need it anymore.” He gives a sheepish grin and my stomach grumbles again, begging for me to say yes.

“No, it’s fine.”

“Dude, here.” He takes the apple off of his horn as puts it in my hoof. I smile at him for hen generosity, but I hate taking things from other ponies. It feels wrong.

“Seriously, I’m fine.”

“Too bad.” He lets go of the apple, leaving it in my hand. I grunt and accept his kind offering, even though I hate myself inside for doing so.

“Fine… thanks.” I take a big bite out of the apple with a hole in it. It tastes quite peculiar; maybe it could be because of his horn or something, but it has a very sweet taste to it. The taste is very exquisite. We set off in a slow trot going in no particular direction.

“So uhm, *crunch* what do you do around here, Dark Woods?”

“Well, usually I wait until night time and I go hang around the Everfree forest. I think it looks most beautiful at night.” His eyes widen and his facial expression turns from one of blankness to one of happiness. “Hey, you should totally come with me tonight!”

“Well uh, I’m not exactly doing anything, so sure. I’ll be there.”

“Alright, cool.”

“One problem, though. *crunch*”

“What’s that?”

“Well, I’ve never been to the Everfree forest…”

“Wow, really?”

“Well, I kind of only just got to Ponyville.”

“Oh, you must be one of the new ponies then, eh?”

“What do you mean, ‘new ponies’?”

“Well, a couple of new ponies came into Ponyville not too long ago. Are you not with them?”

“No. I can’t even remember how I got here.”

“Seriously?”

“Well, yeah. *crunch* I just remember falling flat on my face, and having to learn how to trot again. It was like I was a colt for the very first time.” I finish the apple, throwing the remainder of it into a bin close to me.

“Hmm, that’s interesting.”

“How so?”

“Well, when you hit your head, you might have suffered some memory loss.”

“Well, I don’t see any other logical explanation, so I guess you might be right-“ I stop talking, cocking my gaze to a pink blur like pony which is bouncing along the dirt roads. “Shit.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Uhm, I’ll catch up with you later, okay? I have to go like, now.”

“How come?”

I clamp on his muzzle, “Keep your voice down! She’ll hear me!”

The pink mare stops in mid bounce, hovering in the air somehow. She turns her gaze towards me, followed by her body. A huge grin forms on her face. “Speedster! Oh my gosh! I’ve been looking for you everywhere, where did you go? Oh, oh! I bet I know! Did you run away because Twilight was examining you and you were afraid she would do something to you and it might hurt you? *deep inhale* Am I right? Huh? Huh?!”

I let go of his muzzle, and start galloping away from the pink mare. I hear Dark Woods behind me yell “I see your point! We will be on the cliff edge tonight! Don’t be late!”

*****

Dark Woods starts thinking to himself while turning his gaze away from Speedster and Pinkie Pie. ‘Wow, that Speedster sure is weird.’ He rubs his chin for a few seconds, pondering. ‘Maybe I should go after him and help… Nah, I think I’ll go hang out with my friends, instead.

Dark Woods sets off in a slow trot, taking in the scenery. He is near Sugarcube corner, so he opens his saddle bag and takes a quick peek inside. ‘Hmm, forty bits. I guess I can buy some sweets and have enough left over for rent.’ He pushes the door of Sugarcube corner open and trots inside, closing it behind himself as he enters.

“Hello, I would like to buy some sweets.”

Mrs. Cake looks up at him, wide eyed. “Oh, well you must try some of our brand new cupcakes, they are absolutely splendid!”

“Hmm, well I-” He is immediately interrupted by Mr. Cake trotting inside, holding a batch of what appears to be carrot cakes.

“Now my boy, you must buy some lovely carrot cakes, they are so much nicer than cupcakes, by far!”

Mrs. Cake seems to glare at him for a second, before brightening her grin to look at Dark Woods; “Oh no, no, no my dear, these cupcakes are absolutely to die for!”

Dark Woods sighs as he face-hoofs; while Mr. and Mrs. Cake keep going at each other’s throats. ‘This is going to be a long, long time before I even get to eat sweets, isn’t it?’ he thinks to himself. He looks up at Mr. and Mrs. Cake who are now muzzle to muzzle yelling at each other, causing him to sign again. “What have I gotten myself into…?”

Chapter 9 - Bounce, bounce, bounce!

I keep galloping away from the never-fatiguing Pinkie Pie as she merrily bounces towards me, not a blink of exhaustion. I turn my head away and slam into a tree. ‘I really should watch where I am going…’ After I slam into it, I rub my forehead; immediately when I open my eyes, Pinkie Pie is towering over me with a huge grin.

“Hello, Speedster!”

I lay down, silently, pretending to ignore her words. It’s not like she’s… ‘Going to carry me…’

I hesitate and, without thinking, open my big yap; “Put me down you pink blob!”

She stops trotting, her grin slurring into a frown, but then suddenly back to a huge grin as she carries on trotting away with me on her back. I don’t even try to react; I have been galloping for what seems hours now, fighting would be useless. I just rest when she continues to bounce away, almost dropping me. I swear she is trying to drop me on purpose.

*****

After what seems like only a couple minutes of bouncing, we arrive at some giant tree thing. Pinkie Pie trots in instead of bouncing for once and drops me on the floor, causing me to land on my face. When I look up, I quickly wince from the pain, rubbing my snout. The same purple mare that was using her magic on me approaches with a warm smile, which I start to back away from instantly.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Speedster!”

“I don’t care!”

“Why don’t you want to take a few damn tests?!” Her face is now scrunching up in annoyance.

“Because I said so!” I scowl at her. Sticking with my decision, I stay where I am. But as soon as I do, her face droops to one of sadness.

“But why, all I want to do is learn…” She turns her head, now facing towards the rest of what I think are her friends, even the marshmallow is looking away from me, joining the rest in the ‘Humph!’

“Ugh… the reason I don’t want you to test me is because… I want to annoy you?”

She snaps her head towards me instantly, her scowl wiped across her face, “Just so you can ANNOY me?!” It appears like she is breathing fire at this point because of her rage. “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW STUPID THAT SOUNDS?!”

I back away from her, covering my face with my hooves; “Because I hate tests!”

Her rage seems to flush away as I take a peek at her. Her friends even give me a reassuring smile. “Why do you hate tests, Speedster?” She extends a hoof towards me, which I don’t take straight away. But after a while of leaving her hanging, I take her up on it, standing up on my hooves once again.

The orange mare trots up beside me, putting a hoof around me. I back away instantly; “You tripped me up!”

She looks confused for a second, and then puts on a light smile, “Ah din’t I swear! I was trying to help y’all up when you went on galloping aught ah Fluttershy’s place.”

“Oh… Sorry…”

“Might fine Speedster, tha’ names Applejack, pleased to meet ya!” She extends her hoof towards mine. I happily accept the offer. “Ova’ there be Rarity with tha’ purple mane and white coat-“

I immediately start laughing, she gives me another confused look; I think I’m about to fall over from laughing so much. I point my hoof at her and smile from the laughter, “I thought she looked like a marshmallow!” I can’t even contain my laughter as I fall on the floor again, rolling around in laughter.

They all give me the same look of confusion. I push myself back up to my hooves and suddenly lose my laugh, realizing what I just said.

Applejack is the first to talk, “What uh, what’s a ‘marshmallow’, Speedster?”

“It’s a… Uhm… Wait, I think I just forgot what it was…”

They give me a blank stare, and an uneasy laugh. Thankfully though, Applejack speaks up yet again, “So uh, as ah was saying, that there is Rarity, this one who was uh, ‘scanning’ you is Twilight. Over there is Fluttershy, and as you can guess she is very shy, so be careful with her. Over here we have Pinkie Pie who ah is well assured you’re acquainted with. Lastly, we have Rainbow Dash, ‘the fastest flier in all of Equestria.’-” She’s cut short by Rainbow Dash flying towards me.

“Damn straight I’m the fastest!”

I let out a sigh and a ‘Humph’ as she starts to go on about how fast she is. She hesitantly notices that I’m not paying any attention to what she’s saying, just letting it pass through me.

“Are you even listening to me?!”

“To put it frankly, no. No I’m not.” She beams me a look of hate, yet I continue. “You’re gloating about how fast you are, and how you can pull off an amazing stunt like the ‘Sonic Rainboom’, yet all I can hear is “blah, blah, blah, I’m awesome, blah, blah, blah. And by the looks on your friends’ faces, they’re fed up with it too, they just tolerate you.” I end taking in a deep breath as they all stare at me with blank faces; all except for Rainbow Dash that is. She’s sending signals my way that I really don’t feel comfortable with. Her eyes are filled with hate and sadness at the same time.

“I... Wha-” She flies out of the room crying; her face in her hooves while she flaps off into the distance. All of the other ponies give me the same look she did.

Pinkie Pie trots forward, her hair flattened and only a little poof in it; “You… You just stood up to Rainbow Dash, you uhm… Meanie!” She bellows in a slightly confused tone.

“Well, I hate gloaters. Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you should rant on and on about it, does it?”

Twilight trots towards me, “Well, no but-”

I cut her off, “But nothing, it’s not fair to everypony else, is it?”

“Again no but…-”

“No buts, it’s really not fair. Now, what were these tests about? I want to get them over and done with, if you may.”

Everypony else except Twilight huffs and leaves the tree, their head held high, as if trying to say ‘We’re too good for you, huh?’

“Yeah, sure… Just go upstairs and lay on the bed, please.”

I hear the door slam and tap on Twilight shoulder as she turns away, “Twilight, I didn’t mean to offend anypony, I don’t know what came over me…”

“Well uh- I might have something to do with that…” She bows her head and starts to paw at the floor hesitantly, “I think my magic may have had a slight confidence boost on you for a while- sorry.” She stops pawing at the floor and gives a small, yet weak smile.

I stay there for a while, stricken by why I even said those things, those horrible things… “It’s… it’s fine.”

“Wait, really?”

“You have no idea how hard it is for me to speak to mares, and being able to felt really good, even if I was being meant on accident… Oh Celestia, you don’t even understand how hard it is to talk to you right now.” I give a sheepish grin, trying to look for something to distract me, but all I can seem to stare at is her warm smile.

“Wow, I didn’t think you would actually forgive me. Heh.”

“Well, can you do me one favour?”

“That depends, I don’t even know you, really.”

“Well, you know that you can cast magic and stuff?”

“Duh. But yes, go on?”

“Uhm… Can you somehow put it into a like, a potion or something?”

“Why would you want that?”

“Well, I find it extremely difficult to talk to other ponies. Stallions I am okay with, but it’s just mares…”

“Well, I guess I can try, but they won’t be for free you know.”

“Yeah, right. How much will they be?”

“That all depends on how long it would take. I might ask Zecora to help me; I think she can do it somehow.” She pauses, rubbing her chin with her hoof, “I’d say about 10 bits for maybe 6 or something, and does that sound okay to you?”

“I guess so, how does someone earn bits around here, anyway?”

“Oh that’s right, you’re new, aren’t you…”

“Yeah…”

“Well, I guess I could pay you if you help me around the Library?”

“Where’s the Library?”

“You’re standing in it silly!” She waves a hoof around the place, which I carefully follow.

“Oh… What would I have to do?”

“Well, what my assistant Spike usually does, but he’s on a holiday for now.”

“And uh, what does that entail?”

“Well, he only does a few things: Cleaning, dusting, cooking, book re-shelving, carrying things, more cleaning, writes my messages to Princess Celestia and then sends them. He does that each day. It’s not too much, is it?”

“I uh…” I gulp hard, almost hard enough for it to echo, “I think I might get a different job, sorry…”

“Well, alright then. But if you ever need something to do, I can happily give you some chores- I mean uhm, working situations for you to handle!” She beams a scary smile at me, almost touching my face with it.

“I uh- Sure…”

*****

‘Ugh, these Cakes don’t seem to want to quiet down, I’ve been stood here for about an hour! All I want to do it buy a damn cake!’

“Hey uh, I want a cake?”

Mr. Cake pops his head towards Dark Woods, a giant grin forming on his face.

“A carrot cake?!”

Dark Woods quickly put a hoof on Mr. Cake’s mouth before he starts yet another rant. “How about you put the cupcake ON the cake, sound good?” Mrs. Cake and Mr. Cake stare at each other in disbelief and then back to Dark Woods. “What, you never thought of that before?”

Mrs. Cake starts to talk first; “N-No, actually we haven’t… But that might be amazing! Come on, we have to make this cake!” She grabs Mr. Cake and gallops into the kitchen. Moments later, they both emerge with a cake, covered in white icing and a cherry on top of it. “Quickly taste it!”

Dark Woods picks up the cake in his right hoof, bringing it his mouth as both the Cakes watch him with anticipation. He takes a big bite out of it, cherry and all. He chews slowly, then picks up the pace, moving it around his mouth slowly, trying to get every single bit of flavour out. The carrot cake and the icing seem to be fighting inside; battling about which flavour is better, bursting with energy.

He finally finishes it, swallowing it all, and then throwing the next half in his eagerly waiting mouth. He snaps his eyes to Mr. Cake without thinking and tries to talk, carrot and icing spluttering everywhere. “Mmfm- This is really- mmhf- really good!” He swallows hard, rubbing his stomach afterwards.

“I’ll take 6 more!”

Both the Cakes’ faces lighten up with anticipation, bursting in and out of the kitchen one after another; each holding a small slice of cake in a hoof. Mrs. Cake looks curiously at Dark Woods for a second, before taking a deep breath in; “How much would you pay for these?”

“Well uh, since I came up with them, I think I should get them half price, so I’d say 3 bits each?”

“Well, since you did make them, deal. That will be 18 bits total; you can have the first one free.”

“AL-RIGHTY THEN! He grabs a small pouch of bits from his saddle bag, almost knocking an apple out in the process. He places the bits on the table, and then places the newly found cakes into his bag, closing it afterwards. “Thanks, maybe I’ll come along again sometime, these are awesome!”

“Be sure to! Tell your friends!” Mrs. Cake quickly yells before the door closes.

‘Hmm, maybe I should go find Speedster, I think he ran towards Sweet Apple Acres… Nah, I’ll go to the Everfree forest and meet up with my friends. I think Pom-Pom will especially like these.’

Chapter 10 - The Flaming Feather

Info: Buck yeah, Point of Views.

Time taken to write: 3 Hours.

Proof reader: Neogreenyew, Me

How many times proof read: 2

Team: SapolTop, DerpyStoryTime, and Dammriver. These are my as you can say ‘brainstorming’ team, as well as being my very close friends. They help me with the ideas of which I write, I’m not asking you to go ahead and spam them with messages saying; “Ideas please!” I am just asking you to leave a comment/send them a message saying thanks, if you say thanks in a comment, I will pass it on immediately, I appreciate it, and so do they. If it wasn’t for these guys, I wouldn’t have made the story (And thanks to Kickass222urmom), as they’ve helped me a ton, thanks guys!

“So Pom-Pom, do you like the cake?”

“Yeah, they’re awesome Dark!” She gives him a hug and a small peck on the cheek before taking another small bite. His face lights up with two blotches of red on either side of his cheek.

After a while of sitting, Dark Woods sees me walking up the cliff side, panting.

“Hang on guys; I’ll be back in a minute.”

------Speedster’s POV------

I notice Dark Woods galloping towards me; stopping just before he gets to me. He reaches into his saddle bag and pulls out an apple, tossing it to me. I quickly leap up into the air with what little strength I have left, catching the apple.

“Thanks, Dark Woods.”

“Please, just call me Dark.”

“Oh, all right, Dark.” I chomp into the apple, slowing my pace down; allowing the sweat to drain off of me. “Damn, that was a really long trot just to get here dude, I got lost like eight times!”

Dark beams me a look of confusion, and then laughs at me, “Dude, why didn’t you just fly overhead to find us?”

“Oh… I forgot I had wings.” I give him a sheepish smile, taking yet another bite of the apple.

“Anyway, want to meet my friends?”

“S-Sure…” I follow up behind him as he sets off towards the tip of the cliff. Upon reaching it, I notice that there are two other ponies sat on a log, each has a satchel in front of them. I get closer and start to take in their appearances. One is a Pegasus, a green coat with a white mane. His hair is a shaggy kind of style. I can’t see his cutie mark because it’s covered up by the other pony. The pony next to the white maned one is an earth pony; she has a midnight blue coloured coat, followed by a flat midnight blue mane with red streaks running through it, interlacing with the blue. Her coat has some really strange red markings on it, like a zebra’s stripes, but blood red. Her cutie mark appears to be some pom-poms.

“Hey guys, this is Speedster, he’s a friend I bumped into on the market a couple hours ago.”

The female earth pony speaks up first; “Well hello, Speedster.”

I bring Dark’s ear towards me so I can whisper; “Dude uhm, I don’t really feel comfortable around that earth pony for some reason, why does she have stripes?-“

“Hi!” A mysterious voice next to me yells; I turn to see the Pegasus looking at me, wide eyed. “My name’s Flaming Feather, you can call me Flaming for short, pleased to meet you!” He starts to furiously shake my hoof, almost making me bounce off of the floor.

“Uh- I’m Speedster, nice to meet you too. What’s uhm- What’s your cutie mark mean?”

He gives me a blank expression before turning back to a smile; “Oh that? I got it when I was fighting. I think it’s a phoenix because of its fire, but hard silver because I am well- I guess tough.” He gives a slight chuckle before turning to the mare and pointing a hoof at her. “Over here, we have Pom-Pom, come say hi, Pom-Pom.”

“Hi Speedster, what’s with the fire?”

I hesitate as first, looking up at the flames; burning nothing in its path, yet still alight. “Well, I have no idea really; Twilight said she was flabbergasted about how they won’t burn anything.” I give a sheepish smile as she continues to stare at the flames.

Dark Woods’ expression turns to delight suddenly, “Oh Speedster, I got a cake you should definitely try!” He reaches into his saddle bag and pulls out some sort of cake with icing and a cherry on it. “Try it dude, it’s awesome!”

I grab the cake out of his hoof and bring it to my snout first; upon sniffing it, I smell carrots and a beautiful icing mixed with the delicious, mouth-watering cherry. I take a small bite from the end, leaving the cherry. My mouth suddenly explodes with flavour; the creamy icing battling it out in my mouth with the delicious carrots. I blink a few times, turning my gaze to Dark Woods; “Wow…”

“I know right?! Isn’t it the best thing you’ve ever tasted?!” His eyes lit up with joy, he is almost bouncing like Pinkie Pie from the excitement. “Dude, come take a seat with us. Oh that reminds me, we’re camping out tonight, want to join us?”

I glance around looking for something to sleep on other than the hard ground, yet I see nothing. I am given a reassuring look from Pom-Pom and Flaming Feather, so I nod and take another bite of the exquisite cake, its deliciousness filling my mouth once again.

Pom-Pom trots over to me, taking my hoof in hers. “Come on Speedster, I’ll show you the tents we’re sleeping in.”

“I... uh- Okay?”

Pom-Pom trots past the small campfire that was hidden out of sight, going behind a bush. I am cautious at first, but once I follow her, it reveals three tents laid out on the ground, already seeming to have sleeping bags in them. Around the tents are some spare pegs lying on the floor, some hiding in the tall grass too.

I look around near the tents; they seem to be in some sort of mini-alcove sort of thing, encased with trees; the moon light shining down from above. Flowers are popping out from within the tall grass which seems to go on throughout the forest up until it reaches this cliff edge, where it is all flat and smooth, unlike its natural rough spikey texture.

“So uh- where will I be sleeping then?”

“Oh, you can share a tent with me, if you would like?”

Suddenly, my head seems to feel slightly hotter. I look up to see that my ‘mane’ has started to glow a deep pinkish colour, and is flaring out quite a bit. I glance back down to Pom-Pom who is holding a hoof to her mouth, giggling slightly.

“That looks funny; I hope they don’t burn down the forest, though.”

“Uh… I don’t think I want to share a tent with you, Pom-Pom.”

I look towards the place where Dark Woods and Flaming Feather are sat, but my view is blocked by a shrub.

“Why not?” She asks, in a slightly angry tone, causing me to pace back slightly. “Is my tent not good enough for you or something?”

“No-No! It’s just that well uhm…”

“Come on, spit it out!”

I let out a deep sigh, the feeling of an outburst coming on; I try to keep it down with all my might but it doesn’t seem to work, “You come across as a whore, Pom-Pom.” My ear twitches as I pick up a laugh in the background, then a pissed off look on Dark Woods’s face comes through the foliage.

“What did you just call her?!”

“I didn’t mean to, I swear!” His eyes flare an angry red, and then his hoof rises up in the air, smacking me in the jaw as I crumble to the ground. “What the heck was that for?!” I ask, obviously knowing the answer.

“I thought you were my friend Speedster. I think you should just leave!”

“I-I…!”

“Leave, Speedster!” I hear Pom-Pom yell holding a sadistic look in her eye as I stand up and trot away into the forest, the tree branches smacking my face as I pass, and the grass scraping my hooves.

I venture further into the forest in shame, holding a hoof to my jaw; ever so slightly touching it, making sure not to put too much pressure onto it just in-case it’s broken. The thick, tall grass is starting to scrape my hooves even more, almost reaching my neck in the process. After wading through the grass for a long time, I appear at a small clearing surrounded by trees. It appears to be big enough for a small house to be here, making me wonder why one actually isn’t.

I look around for a while, trying to locate some small sticks I could maybe start a fire with but to no avail. I trot to the middle of the clearing and lay down on my haunches. The grass here is nice and soft, unlike the surroundings, which are all jaded and create small cuts on my hooves.

I look up at the moon, now lying on my back and my hooves behind my head. I stare at the passing stars, occasionally seeing a shooting star fly past. I think to myself, ‘that’s odd, shooting stars are supposed to be rare.’

After about an hour passes, I notice the moon has moved significantly, and I decide it’s about time I try to get some sleep. I stand to my hooves and walk over to a nearby tree; I notice it has an exceptionally large branch with a ton of leaves on it. I bite down at the root, gnawing at it at first until it eventually comes loose, sending me stumbling backwards, but I luckily remain on my hooves. I slowly trot over to the clearing, carrying the branch in my mouth. I place it down carefully and lay down next to it, pulling it onto me. Immediately I notice that it’s providing no insulation, but I keep it on me in case it rains.

‘Looks like another cold night for me…’ I think, as I slowly drift off to sleep.

*****

Flaming Feathers POV

Dark’s neck snaps up in a flare of anger, eyes still brimming to the point of popping out as it would seem, “I can’t believe that guy! I trusted him, I was kind to him, and I even gave him one of my new found cakes for Celestia’s sakes!”

Pom-Pom puts a hoof on his shoulder, causing him to calm down almost instantly, “It’s alright Dark, and he was a stupid friend after all, right?”

“I-I guess so…” His eyes stop flaring the almighty red of hate, and calm back down to his normal deep green colour again. “I just can’t believe he called you that, Pom-Pom…”

“I really think you shouldn’t hang around with him anymore, okay Dark?”

“Alright…”

Flaming Feather raises a hoof, and takes his gaze away from the two, focusing on the path which Speedster took; “Whoa, hold on now- You’ve just let him go off all on his own, with no food, water, or even shelter?”

Dark bows his head in slight shame, “Well, when you put it like that…”

“No!” Pom-Pom yells, “He called me a whore, and I don’t really appreciate that, alright?!”

Flaming Feather lowers his hoof, letting out a sigh as it lands on the smooth grass, “Well, that doesn’t mean we should abandon him, I’m going to fly ahead and look for him, feel free to follow me if you have the decency to do so.” He quickly sets off in a trot which quickly turns into a gallop. He unfurls his wings and takes off into the air, heading in the general direction of Speedster.

‘I sure hope Speedster is okay…’

Chapter 11 - The Flame

Info: The flame connects these mysterious ponies is in ways unimaginable. In life, death, sorry and happiness. Each will feel one another, and each will be there to help. The flame which combines them shall never be broken...Unless Discord returns...

Time taken to write: 5 Hours. (I was gaming just before, and that's all I could think about, so I washed my brain with ponies)

Proof reader: Damnriver, Neogreenyew

How many times proof read: 1.5 (I slightly did a once over :twilightsheepish:)

I set off flying above the trees scoping around for Speedster. ‘I have no idea where he could have gotten to, maybe if I call out for him. Yeah, that should help.’ “Speedster!” I wait, hoping for a response, yet it is to no avail. “Speedster, where are you?!” I call out for a second time as my ears suddenly perk up, hearing the slight rumbling of a storm nearing. ‘Ugh, damn weather ponies making it even harder for me to help somepony. They just couldn’t pick another time, could they?’ I silently ask myself, almost being cut short by a loud strike of thunder slightly behind me which forces me to push myself forward faster, still looking around the ground. “Speedster come on, this isn’t funny! It’s going to rain any… Minute...” I slow my words as rain starts to force its way down through the grey clouds above me, soaking me from mane to hoof.

After a few moments of raining, I go closer to the floor and fold in my wings, as they’re too heavy to carry me in this weather now. “Come on, Speedster. Say something!” I look around past the trees and notice a clearing. ‘Surely he would be smart enough to make a small shelter if he’s here, and Celestia, I hope he is.’

I push through the vines and the sharp grass which is scratching against my hooves and neck and I eventually get into the clearing. I look around but don’t see anything. I move closer into the middle and notice a fairly large rock with a leaf on it right in the center. ‘Strange… I guess I could use a sit down right now, I’m knackered!’ I trot over to the rock and try to sit on it, but the moment I do it moves out from under me, causing me to fall flat on my flank. “What the hay?!”

“Whoa, did you just try to sit on me?!”

‘Guess he is stupid enough to be out here, then…’ “I uh- I thought you were a rock!”

“Well obviously I wasn’t, was I?”

“Well, I can see that now and you’re coming back to the camp with me, so come on.”

“I’m not going…”

“What do you mean you’re not coming with me? It’s raining out here! You can’t stay out by yourself, you’ll catch hyperthermia!”

“Well so be it, the world would be-” his tone lowers and he looks away from me.

“The world would be what?”

“N-Nothing, I’m not going with you.”

“Dude, you’re coming with me if you like it or not. I’m not letting you stay out here alone to catch your death.”

--Speedster’s POV--

Flaming Feather starts to trot to me. I trot away but he speeds up into a gallop chasing after me. I gallop away from him, keeping a fair distance between us. He unfurls his wings, flies up into the air and lands on me.

“Get off of-”

I try to finish my sentence but the moment that he made contact me, a jolt of electricity shoots through my spine and an illumines white glow starts to erupt from between us. I try to move and get free, but nothing seems to work. As we ascend into the air, I look at Flaming Feather with a distressed look. Not knowing what’s going on himself, he gives me the same look back. I stare at the light but suddenly the white light engulfs us into an orb of white, however it quickly turns to embers burning around us.

At first I am scared, but then a feeling of euphoria sweeps over me. I turn to look back at Flaming Feather whose eyes are now filled with an empty white. I push him away from me and he moves over about a meter. I try to push my way out of the orb of embers, but nothing seems to help. The flames seem to be an impenetrable wall and pushing doesn’t seem to do anything. I attempt to punch it with my hoof but it doesn’t work. I take a slight glance over at Flaming Feather whose lower body is engulfed in flames; his hooves burn with the embers such as my mane and tail.

He starts to look at his hooves, and his expression turns to one of emergency. He starts to flail his limbs around and the bubble that was holding us in the air bursts, making us fall onto the floor.

He quickly stands up and starts running around, rolling back and forth across the floor while screaming out, “HELP ME DUDE, I’M ON FIRE! AHHHHH!”

At first I am worried for him, so I immediately get onto my hooves and charge at him. I start patting on his hooves trying to put the flames out, but it doesn’t seem to be doing anything at all. I pause for a while and look at him still flailing around under me, and I put my hoof on his chest. He looks up at me, ignoring his limbs for the time being. I feel the same electrical feeling shoot through my body like before.

After a few seconds of nothing, the rain stops falling and his flames are no longer alight. I stare blankly for a while before rolling off of him and falling on the moist floor. The grass isn’t so prickly anymore, so I snuggle down and close my eyes. After a few seconds, I feel so sleepy my head drifts away to dream land…

*****

“Ugh, I hate this sand!” Daring Do silently says to herself, covering her eyes with one hoof as she trots through the vast amount of sand around her. The blaze of the sun beats down rays of heat upon her hat, but pokes past, hitting her in the face. “Ohhmmf… If I don’t find some water soon, I’ll never find the Flaming statue!” She exclaims as she starts to pant for breath. “I hate this stupid sand.”

Daring Do trots for a few more paces and eventually comes to the top of a small sand hill. She looks down upon the vast sand scape, prolonging for what seems for miles upon miles and miles. At the bottom she notices a lake of water. Her eyes glisten with delight and her tongue hangs heavy in her mouth. She bolts down the sand hill as fast as her legs will carry her, almost tumbling over occasionally. Upon reaching the bottom of the hill, she looks at the glistening lake, the beautiful water just begging for her to gallop and jump in, so she does so. Her legs carrying her ever tiring body, she makes a huge leap into the air, closing her eyes as she is about to land in the beautiful lake. Unfortunately, she lands face first on the floor, wincing in pain. She rubs her head with a hoof and opens an eye, but only to stare at sand and sand alone. “It was… A mirage?!” She hits her hind leg in disappointment, and stares up at the sun. “I’ll never make it in time. I have no food or water!” She slumps to the floor, heat exhaustion quickly getting the better of her, and closes her eyes; her hat resting on her belly as she rests in the boiling sand and the boiling hot rays of the sun.

Daring Do lies down on the bed with a bandage around her forehead, covered by a blanket. She opens her eyes to notice she is in a small hut-like room; slight décor of banners within, and a small door-less opening that leads into what seems the desert. “Wha- What is this? Where am I?”

An old looking mare trots inside the small hut and stands next to Daring Do. “Hello there, you seem to finally be awake.”

“Who are you?”

“My name is Brocktufa; you were traveling around the desert and you seem to have hurt yourself. Why, if it wasn’t for our patrol, you sure would be dead by now.”

“I see.”

“Now, drink up.” Brocktufa hands Daring Do a small bucket with some water inside. She eyes it up curiously for a few moments, giving it a slight curious look, but then dives her snout inside and gulps down the water furiously. A small chuckle leaves the elderly ponies mouth before she takes away the empty bucket from Daring Do and sets it back down next to the bed. “Now, I understand you must be parched and we can supply you with some water, however we don’t have any spare food for you, sorry.”

“That’s fine, but could you point me in the direction of the Flaming Temple please? I am try-“

“Ah…” Brocktufa interrupts, “I see you’re hunting for the Flaming Statue, yes?” She gets up and starts to trot towards the exit.

“H-How did you know?”

“It’s best left alone for now. What’s your name again?”

“Daring Do… Do you know anything about the Flaming Statue?”

Brocktufa seems to seize up, freezing in place, “I know that it should be let alone, alright?”

“You see, I am on a quest to find it and I have come too far to just leave it here. Now tell me, do you know anything about it?”

Brocktufa sighs before turning around to face Daring Do once more. She pulls a stool from out the underside of the bed and places it next to Daring Do. Upon sitting on it she takes a deep breath and looks at Daring Do, “Are you sure you want to know?”

“I am certain.”

“Well alright then… Thousands of years ago, there was a race of ponies that lived in this very desert. They were called the Myanis. They would worship the lord of fire itself, and they built great big statues for him as a token of thanks for allowing them light and warmth. While they started to advance in crafting, they built the biggest statue they could gather the materials for; it was a 100 ft. tall pony, but after a while, they started to demand more and more from the fire lord until one starry night, the heavens themselves seemed to open up and a light beamed upon the great statue setting it ablaze with fire.

The entire statue was consumed in an everlasting fire; it’s mane, tail, eyes, body, front and back hooves, wings, horn and it’s to be known that its very mind was the nature of fire, lacking the very intellect we everyday ponies have.”

Daring Do held up a hoof for a second, causing Brocktufa to stop talking. “Wait, so it was an Alicorn, too?”

“Well, we know that it was now, and may I carry on?”

“You may, sorry.”

“The statue started to show signs of life almost immediately. When he looked upon his servants as they fled in terror, he cast a circle of fire around the village and burnt down the huts that used to house the ponies. They were burnt down to ashes, which would only sweep away in the distance. Once he burnt down the entire village, his booming voice shot across the desert, commanding that they build him a temple in forgiveness to house him for centuries to come. Unfortunately for the flaming lord, they double crossed him and once the temple was made and he was placed in it, they built a large machine which chopped its limbs off, tearing the very spirit away from him.

The most mysterious thing happened then; the body parts which were chopped off shrunk into normal sized parts and fabricated into solid gold. The peasants tried to hoard the parts all for themselves and many were killed in the process until eventually words got out to the large armies of Tabethia, Roctortis, Blorfudah, Porktarsia, Alfortis and also Ventortis. They sent wave after wave of ponies to fight for the parts over the thousands of years, up until eventually a part resided with a different army across the globe, but some were lost in the process. That is of course, until one faithful night when each of the parts began to glow the same glow of the eternal blaze which once consumed the flaming lord.

Each king and/or queen gazed upon the part until a flame started to engulf the item. Some tried to put the fire out, yet it would never stop burning; they tried to drown it in water which didn’t do a thing, they tried to cover it with a blanket but that did nothing as well. In the end, the part stopped burning on its own. It was no longer made of gold, but made of an impenetrable sort of material that, to this day, no pony has seen the likes of. The material is unique; it glows with the flame of a thousand suns, yet to the touch it is as cold as ice. The look of it is very weird; it’s to be told that it is some sort of wavy thing, where it changes colours of the flames which once engulfed it: red, orange, and sometimes even blue or white.”

“That’s a lot of information to take in… I thought it was just a small statue or a gem.”

“Well, I wish you luck on your quest Daring Do… I really wish you wouldn’t go though.”

“Why’s that?”

“Well, anyone who dares to go on the quest was never herd of again. Ponies believe that the lord of the flame still resides in the temple, yet others believe that the spirit from the parts was re-born into another pony. What you wish to believe is up to you, though.”

“Do you have any idea where the parts are?”

“I’m sorry but I don’t know where they all are, nor does any pony. However, I can point you in the correct direction of the Flaming Temple, if that helps. It’s been long since abandoned, but some ponies do travel from time to time to see it.”

“That would help me a lot, thanks.” Daring Do takes the covers off of her and stands up next to Brocktufa, “Which way is it?”

“It’s right…”

*****

“GAHH!” I scream as I snap my eyes open to reveal Flaming Feather standing above me. “What the heck dude! Why did you hit me?!” I grab my chest in pain, ‘That punch really hurt!’

“You wouldn’t wake up! I’ve been trying for hours!”

“Oh… I had the weirdest dream…”

“Oh really? Well I’ve been sat here for almost two hours trying to wake you up, Mr. Lazy Pants.”

“Sorry, guess I’m a heavy sleeper.” I give a sheepish smile while rubbing the back of my mane before standing to my hooves and looking into the forest. “So, what time is it?”

“Well, judging by the sun and the moon, I don’t give a damn.”

“Oh.” I let out a hard laugh before wiping a slight tear from my eye, “Well, I think we should get going then. I wonder what happened to Dark and Pom-Pom.”

“Well, I don’t think they like you right now…”

“Oh yeah, almost forgot about that.”

“Hey uhm, do you remember what happened last night?”

A flash of images start to flash through my mind as I recall what happened, “Well, it’s kind of a long story…”

“We have time; come on, open your wings and let’s fly to Ponyville. You can tell me what happened in the library.”

“All right, cool. Just one problem, though.”

“What’s that?”

“I uhm… I don’t recall ever flying before…”

Flaming Feather’s mouth drops agape as he looks at me, seeming to try and hold back laughter, “Dude, you’ve NEVER flown before?!”

“Kind of, I think.” I give another sheepish smile while pawing at the floor.

“Wow well, you have some training to do then, don’t you?”

Chapter 12 - The Mysterious Voice

Death strolls around the cabin, slightly tapping his heels as he walks around; his arms behind his back while he hums a pleasant tune through his nonexistent lips. He stops suddenly, a foot still in mid-air swinging slightly through the air incoherently. He twists his body and pulls out a chair from the small table against the wall; upon the table lies but a vase with a single rose in it, blossoming in the summer-like air.

"Be what tune does thou be humming, old friend?" A mysterious voice calls out.

"Ah, I see we meet again, old friend."

"It has been a while, has it not?"

"Much too long. How are things?"

"They are going fine, along with all the chaos of the world around me and what-not anyway. What about you?"

"Same as always; leading people onto other lives, telling them the same story each time."

"Well, something must of happened recently which made thou call upon my presence, no?"

"You are not mistaken. Do you recall your child, Mark?"

"Ah yes, the boy who had to end in such the way he did, yes?"

"I see you know him well, as do all of your children, though. Well there seems to be something wrong with him..." Death's voice trails off as he turns his head sideways to face the fireplace. It's burning flare begging for more wood to burn through, never giving up a chance to flicker outwards.

"Well, do you care to tell me what has happened?"

"Gladly, sir." He turns is head back to face the opposing seat which appears to be empty, yet he gives it a warm look, as his head molds into one of which would appear to be a smile. "You see, he is starting to regain his memories." Death stands up and places his long arms behind his back, slowly humming the same tune he was before. "And this is very bad, for him."

"I see... And what could possibly go wrong?"

"Well, he seems to be recalling past events which will have an immediate effect upon him soon, and when the time comes he may not be ready." Death sighs heavily, before lifting his head back up to face the brick fireplace, "And he seems to be having foresight."

"So you're saying that he is seeing into the future?"

"Not extensively, but something from his past is starting to leak into his mind. A very far off past, close to one which he first lived. The problem is that his mind will not be able to take it, and he will sure enough die from the strain."

"I see... Well, what could we possibly do?"

"Well, there arises a problem. He resides in stone, but I am sure enough you know the limit of his powers, and what he can do, yes?"

"I do indeed..."

"Well, it would seem that he is trying to affect Mark in such a way which will make him chaotic, and evil." Death turns around to the empty seat which still opposes him and stares for a while, before again looking back up and unfolding his arms, "Do you recall the 'Flaming Statue', friend?"

"I recall it well, yes."

"Well it seems that Mark has been birthed into not one, but two parts of that statue; the mane and the tail. Each part holds such a power that if it were to be in contact with all of the other parts at the same time as Discord, there is no telling what could happen."

"Is there a way to stop such a thing from happening?"

"Well there is, but only you have the power to do so."

"I see... But, removing one’s mind is a terrible thing, a thing we know a lot about, yes?"

"I do remember, but it's the only thing we can do; if we remove the link between all of his past lives, it will remove the anomaly, and stop Discord's plan from ever happening."

"I do not wish to remove the mind of my child; it's not fair on his part, since he has no say in this."

"But old friend, it's the only way to stop the imminent destruction."

"You're forgetting how powerful Discord is, aren't you? He could bring back the boy's memory within seconds if he wished it so, all he has to do is gather all the other pieces and that the chaos will be back."

"We still have to try, sir."

The mysterious voice sighs, taking in a deep breath which is heard from the empty chair, but then returning back to an abundant spread across the entire room, "If it is needed, I shall perform said task, but is there not a way he can keep his current mind?"

"Well I believe you could do that, but that is up to you, we must sever the link between him and his old lives. Being one part of the ancient statue is bad enough, but having his souls engulfed by two of the parts... It must be burning him apart inside.”

"Then it is done. The next time he should awake; he should forget about his past lives, but you know the rule, he will still dream about the last one he lived. That is something I cannot change."

"I understand. It was good seeing you again old friend, shame I don't have eyes, though."

The mysterious voice gives a chuckle of laughter, before it dies down it to only a whisper and the sound of a chair moving is heard, "Well old friend, I must bid you goodbye."

"I understand that duty calls, sir. I wouldn't like to keep you from it this time, there's no knowing what you'll take from me this time, right?" Death lets out a weak laugh, before turning back into a serious tone.

"Don't worry friend, I shan't be taking anything back. As you must have noticed, I allowed your emotions to settle in."

"Wait, that was you?"

"Ah yes. I did it just before that Mark fellow stepped into your small er- 'House'."

"Well... Thank you, old pal."

"We should meet again sometime, but under lighter circumstances, no?"

"That we must." Death takes a deep breath in and extends an arm towards the door, "I'll see you again, God."

A whisper of wind fills the room and s spark of lightening erupts from the door showing a blinding light with Death only seems to smile at. The light vanishes, and a man with a long white beard appears, draped in a white gown and some sort of walking stick in his right hand. "It's been good seeing you, Death."

Chapter 13 - Flying

Info: [EDITED] I will be doing a lot of chapters for this remember and I will try and get each of them 3,000 words. I recently was able to start gaming again, so I have been playing TF2 a lot now, so it's distracting me sorry. Got any spare items? :D

Time taken to write: 2 Hours. (i watched a film in-between that though, hence why it's up late. [Hunger Games])

Proof reader: And Neogreenyew (He is sooooo awesome :trollestia:) [I do read what you type, bitch :rainbowkiss:]

How many times proof read: 1

Flaming Feather’s POV

“Come on dude, you can do it, it’s easy look!” I unfurl my wings and briskly levitate up into the air, only slightly flapping. “See? Easy.”

Speedsters face fills with sorrow and he bows his head, pawing at the floor, “It doesn’t work, see?” he lifts his head up and attempts to unfurl his wings. They vibrate slightly but don’t unfurl at all, staying firmly in place. “They just won’t budge!”

“Here, let me help.” I descend to the ground and furl my own wings inward until they are tucked firmly in place. I slowly trot over to Speedster who is still trying to pry open his wings. I grasp one of his wings and try to pull it out but to no avail. “Why won’t they budge?” I ask, gritting my teeth as I try to still open his non-budging wings.

“How am I supposed to know?!” Speedster yells, his wings sill staying firmly in place.

“Well they’re your wings!” I yell back, almost straining my hooves as I put all of my might into tugging but still to no avail. “Hey uhm, I need to ask something…”

“Yeah, what is it?”

“Well, what happened last night? I don’t seem to remember a lot of it, you see.”

“Oh well, you put a hoof on my chest and then something happened, but I have no idea what happened after that, I just remember waking up, sorry.”

“Oh I guess that’s okay but I have this really weird feeling in my hooves, do they look weird to you?”

Speedster’s head bobs to the side to look at my hooves which are still tugging on his wings, “They look fine to me, if not a little burnt around the sides.”

“That’s what I mean!”

“I’m… -I’m not sure I follow.”

“Well, whatever happened last night must have burned my hooves, right?”

“I…-I guess so?”

“Well whatever happened, it must have been good, because I feel awesome today. If only… These… Wings… Would… BUDGE!” I almost rip off my hoof as I try in one last desperate attempt to open his wings but luckily this time, the wing pry’s open.

Speedster’s POV

Flaming Feather’s face seems to light up a giant tomato red as he tries to open my wing, it looks like smoke is coming out of his nostrils and his ears; he’s trying that hard. I suddenly feel my left wing blow open and immediately I feel the cool air under my wing for the first time since I can remember. The feeling of the air sweeps under my wing, whisking around my feathers so majestically. It feels like the single best thing I have ever felt before, it’s purely euphoric. I toppled over onto the dew soaked grass with just that one wing open. As I role around in the grass, I notice that it isn’t as dry, hard or even prickly like it was the other night. ‘Things in the Everfree Forest are really weird…’ I think to myself as I continue to roll around in the luscious grass.

“SWEET CELESTIA MY HOOF!”

I failed to notice that my friend seems to be thriving in pain on the ground, holding his right hoof with his left. “Oh dude!” I quickly get up, furling my wing back into my side, “Are you okay?!” I put a hoof on his, hoping to calm him down but he flips out and continues to thrash around on the ground.

“Do I look okay?!”

“You do, but your hoof doesn’t.” I let out a slight giggle, covering it with my hoof to stop any more adverse laugher.

“…You’re gonna’ pay for that.”

“Come at me, bro!” I step back and onto my hind legs assuming he will go along with the little game but to my surprise, he doesn’t. He gets up rapidly and storms towards me, immediately I regret this decision. Out of nowhere, my wings unfurl and I slightly lift into the air, just enough for him to clip my hind legs with his hooves. “D-DUDE, I’M FLYING!”

“Wow, all it took was a little scare to make you fly? Are you kidding me?!” He holds his hoof with his other and looks up at me continuously as I slightly flap my wings in the air, somehow it feels natural now, like a sixth sense.

“Dude, this feels so awesome!”

“Yeah well, let’s see if you can beat me in a race, eh?”

“You’re on!”

“Oh, getting cocky are we now?” I flutter up into the air further to gain some altitude before Flaming Feather dashes past me even further in the air. “Come on, you’re not afraid of heights, are you?”

“Of course not!” I take a slight glimpse down keeping my brave face on but the moment my eyes notice how high I am up, my wings start to stiffen up and my breathing rapidly accelerates, “D-Dude?!”

“Yeah, what is it?” His head turns to notice me slightly falling behind, “Come on, you’re not scared of heights, just flap your wings and get your flank up here.”

“I’ll try.” I attempt to flap my wings harder but the stiffness seems to be getting the better of me. I try again and again until eventually I start to gain some more height, not too long until I appear next to Flaming Feather. “I did it!”

“Cool… Now, ready to race?”

“Wait hang on, can we do a simple flap for a couple minutes? I need to get the hang of flying.”

“Ugh fine. I still can’t believe that you’ve never flown before, it makes no sense.”

I start to fly forwards a bit more, willing my wings to push forward and after some compromise, they accept and start moving me forwards. “I just haven’t ever needed to fly I guess.”

A couple minutes of silence pass by as we slowly move forward before a slight pain in my mind starts acting up, “Oh wow, my head’s killing me!”

“Want to slow down?”

“No, it should be-GAHH!” I grab my head as I start to wince in pain, tears immediately running freely and I clench my head, wings stiffening up as I start plummeting to the ground. I attempt to bring my wings out but my head is killing me so much I can’t focus on it enough to make it happen. It feels like someone has a hold over my entire nervous system and they’re ripping it to shreds with a knife, slowly cutting into each nerve sending a bolt of pain to my mind, “SWEET BUCKING CELESTIA PLEASE HELP MEEE!” I scream, my arms flailing as I open my eyes, realizing there is a tree below me.

I hit the tree and plunge towards the next branch. Leaves, bristles and twigs keep hitting me in the face and on the sides, scratching me in the process. I hit a large branch on the way down which slows me down dramatically, unfortunately I landed on my left wing and I hear the sounds of bone crushing to tiny pieces; the sound ringing through my ear as I slump off, landing on my other wing on the floor. The last thing I feel or even hear is the sound of more bones crunching as I let the last breath leave my body.

Chapter 14 - Wings

Info: Well, I hope you like this new installment, I would of uploaded it last night but I was way too tired.

Time taken to write: 3 Hours. (Straight!)

Proof reader: Neogreenyew

How many times proof read: 0 (I will give it a once over when I get the proof read version back, so don't worry.)

Death sits patiently in the small shack, sitting in the same chair in which he always sits. He lifts his head up and looks towards the seat opposite of him and gestures a small wave, “Hello again old friend, how is Mark?”

“Well… I wiped his memory of his past lives, but it seems that his mind didn’t react so well when it happened.”

“Is he okay?” Death stands up, hands flat on the table.

“I sure do hope so, but I can’t tell right now.”

Death sighs, slumping back into his chair. “What about his dreams?”

“We will have to just wait and see, I’m afraid.”

“Wait… Something’s not quite right.”

“What is it, Reaper?”

“Well… I’m sensing another person here.”

God immediately stands up; turning invisible instantaneously which the chair moves back as to gesture he is moving away from the table.

Death stands up and strolls to the door of the cabin, opening it slowly to see Mark stood on the mossy cobbled pathway leading deep into the forest. Death’s facial expression seems to change slightly from one of worry to one of slight delight. “Mark, it’s good to see you again- I suppose.”

“Uh, hi…”

“Be careful when you come in remember your mem- Oh wait…”

“Why, what’s happened?” Mark’s face looks to one of fear and a desperation for an answer, “Did I…- Did I die again?”

Death turns away from Mark to look in the shack; staring at a blank wall to himself he knows who really stands there. “Please, do come in, Mark.” And with a sigh he picks his head back up, “We have much to discuss.”

Mark’s POV

I shakily walk into the shack, not knowing what awaits me. I can’t help but wonder what Death was trying to say about something; he stopped right before I could make it out. I take a step into the cabin and I expect my head to hurt for some reason, but it doesn’t. I stare at Death for a moment, wondering what’s going on but he just turns away and sticks his thin, almost elastic arm out, pointing towards a chair, silently asking me to sit down. I oblige and take a seat, in turn he sits at the opposite side as me.

I feel a chill on my shoulder; as I look across, I notice a very pale skinned hand touching my shoulder. I feel his firm grip relax as I look up at him, his flowing white beard almost reaching his knees and I feel that I am in the presence of someone or even something- very powerful. “Are you…-“

“Yes my child. Do not be afraid, but we must talk.”

A chair appears literally out of thin air and it is brought close to the table, which he sits on and places his walking stick on the side. Upon doing so he takes in a large breath and looks deep into my eyes, like he is looking into my very soul, “D-Did I do something… Wrong?”

“Not so much you, but I, my child. You see, I assume Death told you about your previous lives, yes?”

“I kind of remember something like that… How come I can’t remember any of them?” I ask with a worried expression on my face.

“Well you see child, a Human’s brain can’t cope with such memories, especially you. You’ve lived 5,001 lives now, which is why you were eligible to pick where you lived next. Upon doing this however, we seemed to of activated something within you, which is very, very bad.” His face darkens, a sight of sorrow in his face but he seems to hold it together, “Well, you realize that every kind of world has a God and a Devil, yes?” I nod my head, not wanting to interrupt him, “Well, in Equestria where you chose to live your new life, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are what represent God, and the devil… That’s Discord.” He shudders; I assume they must have a bad past of some sort. “Thousands of years ago, Discord came very close to destroying the world, and a part of him is in you.”

I push myself back, grasping my chest for whatever reason, “Wait, the devil is INSIDE me?!” I start to rapidly breath, coming close to hyperventilating but then the pale skinned man looks at me and I instantly calm down for some reason. I sit back down and pull my chair back in and try to remain calm.

“Now my child, it’s nothing to be afraid of. Thousands of years ago there was something very, very strange that happened. A race of ponies called Myanis worshipped fire itself. They built great structures in dedication but they got greedy and one night, the biggest statue they made possessed and came to life, flames blazing through the very sky. The flaming statue demanded that a massive structure be made as an apology for them being so insolent but when it was made they laid out a trap inside which cut off the statue’s limbs one by one, rendering it useless. I shan’t go on about the story as it will take far too long, but eventually the pieces of soul which were attached to each part were set free and they entered other ponies. Two of them reside in you, Mark; the mane and the tail which contain the everlasting flames themselves. Now, these flames are attached to your emotions and when you connect with another piece of the 5 that remain, you will make a spiritual connection which is good in way and also very, very bad. If Discord were to ever get his hands on such power, he would be un-stoppable. This is something that we can’t have happen but it seems that it’s already begun. You made a connection with somepony called Flaming Feather, yes?”

“Y-Yes…”

“Well, he has the everlasting flames in his front hooves, and when he came in contact with you, it ignited them from the connection you both share, however they will only come alight when angered. Unlike yours which will always be on show unless you’re scared. Remember though, once you become angry, the flames also become enraged themselves and they can do monstrous things. It’s not something we should dwell on.”

“Well… How can I tell if someone holds part of the spirit like what I and Flaming Feather do?”

“You can’t, that’s the problem.”

“Well, what will happen if we all were to come in contact?”

“Things that aren’t worth thinking of… Catastrophic things.”

“Well, what happens to me now?”

“Oh yes, I forgot to mention, you were in a severe accident back in your world which I don’t know what happened to you yet, but I don’t think it’s good. It’s down to me, really. I had to wipe your mind so that you wouldn’t be able to re-connect with the other parts but I’m not so sure it will work, considering what happened with Flaming Feather.”

“But… What about my memories?”

“They’re gone, for good. They were going to cause you too much pain and eventually, you would die because your brain couldn’t cope with it all.”

“Well, what are these weird dreams I keep having?”

“That’s the life you just lived, Mark.”

“Wait… So everything I have dreamt about… Actually happened?”

“Well not specifically everything but more or less, yes.”

“…What about the girl in the hospital? I feel I should recognize her.”

“Just this once I will allow you to remember your old life. However, as soon as you leave this place, they will be but only a dream again.”

“But that’s not fair!” I yell, hoping to make him let me keep them.

“That’s the rules, now stay still.” His hand guides towards my forehead and he places his palm on me. After a few moments, pictures start to flash before my very eyes, millions upon trillions of images passing by every second. The feeling of learning all of these memories is bad at first, but I get used to it and start recalling my past life.

“Lucy!” I scream, “What happened to Lucy?!”

“She… She went to a place we shouldn’t speak of. The Devil’s domain.”

“I want to see her, now!”

“That is not going to happen and you know very well why. She committed a very harsh sin which in turn caused you to commit the very same act, yet yours was in love, and that you couldn’t cope without her. The only reason you’re not there as well is because of the amount of lives you have lived. You are a lucky one, my child.”

Death steps forward, almost looking like he has a tear in his eye, “I will bring her back.”

The pale man looks up at Death with a face filled with shock, “You shall do no such thing!”

“Listen old friend, we have known each other a long, long time. Ever since time was made we have been friends, now please, let me do this one thing for him.”

The man sighs, looking away from Death and right back to me, “On one condition.” I’m about to speak up, but I am interrupted by Death.

“And that is?”

“Her mind is to be wiped of ever meeting Mark, forgetting her entire past and starting anew. She is to be far away from him and he must earn the right to be with her, is that fine by you, Mark?”

I hesitate but my mouth takes over before I can even think, sputtering out “Yes!” immediately.

“Very well then. You are to return now but when or if you wake up, you will not remember a thing about this. Your past lives will remain a dream as usual, but you won’t remember Lucy at all, either.”

“O-Okay…How do I go?”

“Just think about your home and you shall be there.”

I immediately start thinking about home, my friends or should I say friend, Flaming Feather. Closing my eyes I feel my skin starting to tingle with a slight burning kick behind it. Right after, I feel myself falling, I immediately snap my eyes open to be greeted by a dark, blurry room. I feel my left eye with a hoof and notice that it has some sort of cover over it. I look down and notice the upper half of my body has a bandage wrapped around it and I am covered with a thick silky sheet.

I look around the room to try and focus on something, anything really but I can’t really do it well, and my eyes seem to be all out of focus. I close them for a minute or two before opening them again but this time the room looks fine. I look around and notice some sort of nurse turning away from me, doing something on a table at the back of the room.

I attempt to speak but it feels like my vocal chords are strained beyond belief, so instead I tap my hoof on the nearby bedside table, immediately getting the nurses attention. She turns and looks at me but instantly drops everything she is doing and rushes out of the room. I am shocked at first but I tug on the sheets until they eventually un-tuck from the underside of the bed. I swing my haunches around to the side of the bed but fall onto my side, wincing in pain. I look down to see my wings are completely covered in bandages. I face hoof as I remember what happened before. I quickly stand up trying to endure the pain and I attempt to follow where the nurse went, but as soon as I get to the door a doctor comes inside with the same nurse with him.

“Ah, Speedster, is it?”

I wheeze slightly while holding onto my throat trying to make my vocal chords work, “Y-Yes… *cough*”

“Ah well, it seems that you broke your wings in at least 42 different places, and we have had to perform extensive medical procedures on you. You were also in a medically induced coma for 2 weeks. You won’t be able to use your wings for at least a couple months, we have added the plating inside and corrected as much as we can with magic thanks to your friend Twilight Sparkle, she was able to correct some of the very heavy injuries on the bone.”

“I see… Where is she?”

“Well, we’ve alerted your friends and they should be here shortly. Oh and I almost forgot, here is your bill since you didn’t have insurance.” The doctor pulls out a note from his coat pocket with a large figured number on it. He hoofs it over to me and I glance at the number, ’350 bits?! That’s extortionate!’

“Uhm, excuse me but, 350 bits? That’s a bit wrong, don’t you think?” I hand the note back to the doctor and his eyes light up immediately.

“Oh I’m sorry Speedster; it seems I gave you the wrong bill.” He chuckles to himself before pulling out another note and hoofing it over to me after giving it a once over, “This is the correct amount.” I take the note from him and my eyes widen in horror from what I read.

I do a double take just to make sure, but it’s still the same, “ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDERED AND ONE BITS, ARE YOU CRAZY?! WHO EVEN HAS THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY?!” I yell at the top of my lungs, almost bringing the roof down in the process.

“Now, now calm down Speedster, you can pay us monthly until it’s all paid off, don’t worry so much about it.”

“You just thoroughly rustled my jimmies, doctor.” I say in an angry subtle tone.

“Well, I’ll leave you to it then, your friends should be around soon, have a nice day, Speedster.”

“…Thanks.” The doctor trots out of the room leaving me there with the paper in my hoof and a gobsmacked expression wiped across me. “I need a bucking job…” I mentally face hoof myself at the thought of why I don’t even have one yet.

*****

“Hey Dark, can we go visit Speedster earlier today? I know we said we’d go visit him in the afternoon, but I want to make sure he’s okay, you know?”

“Well sure we can, just let me pick up some more of those delicious cakes, yeah?”

“Sure, I’ll meet you half way; you pick up the cakes and I will trot down the path to the hospital, all right?”

“Sounds awesome, I’ll see you soon babe.” Dark gives her a kiss on the cheek and quickly grabs a small bag of bits from the counter, heading outside in a trot. His trot turns into a gallop as he makes his way to Sugarcube corner. After a few minutes of galloping and a lot of heavy breathing, he arrives at his destination. He pushes the door open with his right hoof while holding the pouch of bits in his teeth. As he trots in, he is greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Cake as per usual and he throws the bag of bits on the counter. They nod and give him a bright smile, fetching a tray of his delicious carrot cake cupcake cakes out from the back, but this time with added sprinkles and more cherries. “Oh wow… my mouth is watering again from just looking at them!” He lets out a small laugh before they are put into a small bag for him and Mrs. Cake takes the small bag of bits away.

“We hope you enjoy the cakes dear, do be sure to come back again sometime, yes?”

“Oh don’t you worry, I’ll be back here again and again, and even again and again! Your cakes are the best cakes I have ever had in my life!”

“Aww well shucks, we do try out best!”

“That you do. Thanks again, and I’ll see you later!”

“Bye now, have a nice trip!”

Dark opens the door and trots off again, quickly scoffing down a delicious cake before tucking the bag back up and holding it in his teeth. He sets off into another gallop heading down the path to the hospital, half way down the road he notices Pom-Pom merrily trotting away to her hearts content, humming a low tune to herself.

“Hey! Hey Pom-Pom!” Dark yells, but she doesn’t hear him. “Pom-Pom!” He calls out again, this time getting her attention, “I got the cakes!”

“That’s nice, now come on, let’s get to the hospital, we don’t want to keep him waiting any longer now, do we?”

“I guess you’re right, we should hurry up.” They both set off into a semi-gallop, arriving at the hospital a few minutes later with a bag almost filled with carrot cupcake cakes. They open the hospital doors and are greeted at the desk by a nurse. After telling her who they were looking for, she points down the hall, to their right. They follow all the way to the end and come to open door. They push it open more and see Speedster curled up on the bed, as they enter his head perks up, but soon lowers when he sees Pom-Pom.

Speedster’s POV

“Hey uh Pom-Pom, I’m-“

“It’s fine Speedster, really. Oh, you don’t know about me and Dark, do you?”

“Well not really, what’s up?

“Well, we’re a couple now!” She lets out a squee and starts clapping to herself while smiling brightly.

“Oh, I’m very happy for you both!”

Dark cuts in, “Thanks Speedster, it means a lot to me coming from you, anyway.”

“Oh well, glad to uhm- Glad to help, I guess.” I give an awkward smile and start looking around the room to distract me from this awkward conversation. My eyes drop on the small brown bag Dark is holding, “Hey Dark, what’s in the bag?”

“Oh dude! It’s those awesome cakes from two weeks ago, do you remember them?”

“Heck yes I do, it was the best thing I have ever tasted in my life!”

“You want one?”

“Please, it feels like I haven’t eaten in forever.” Dark pulls out a cake from the small brown bag, hoofing it towards me which I happily take and scoff into my mouth. Instantly, the taste of the carrot mixing perfectly with the icing sugar and the cherry causes an avalanche of flavours in my mouth. “Oh wow, this cake is so totally awesome!”

“I know, right?” He pulls out another cake and hoofs it to Pom-Pom who lightly declines it. He understands and scoffs it into his mouth without a shadow of doubt. “So, what’s with the wings?”

“Oh, well they’re broke is like forty two places or something, so I can’t fly for like two months. The unfortunate part is that it was the first time I have ever actually flown. The moment we got into the air, I got a splitting headache and I tumbled all the way down to the ground, landing in a tree but on my wing, and then landing on the floor on my other wing. At least that’s all I can remember.” I let a deep sigh out, I really liked flying, it felt so good to have the wind under my wings, whistling through my feathers; the cold, fresh air of the day which I now won’t be able to do again for a while.

After a few minutes of sitting quietly, a purple coloured mare named Twilight Sparkle trots into the room with a smile on her face. “Hello, Speedster.”

“I uh- hello, Twilight.”

She strolls up to me while avoiding my friends and her horn starts to glow, immediately I back away and her smile drops, “You’re not scanning me!” I yell.

“Oh for Celestia’s sakes, this AGAIN?” she yells back at me.

“Ugh, why do you even want to scan me?” I ask, “What’s so important about ME?”

“Well, nothing much but you do have FLAMES for your mane and tail, Speedster.”

“And your point is?”

Her eyes widen and she looks gobsmacked for a while before bringing her jaw back up, “Ponies don’t just have flames in their mane, you know? I want to know what’s so special about you that you have them.”

“Could of said it a bit nicer than that…”

“Look, are you going to let me scan you, or not? After all, I did help them re-build your wings.”

“Fine…” I eventually say with a sigh.

Chapter 15 - Awkwardness

Info: So uhm yea, awkward moments!

Time taken to write: 3 Hours.

Proof reader: Neogreenyew

How many times proof read: 0

Team: DIDN'T EVEN HELP ME! >:(

So Rainbow Dash,” I start, “What do we have to do, then?”

“You’re such a noob, you know that?”

“I-Er… Okay?”

“Ugh!” Rainbow grunts, “Why is it you’re such a… an arse!?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking-“

“Just shut up and let’s get on with the training.” Rainbow swoops down from the cloud she was laying in, landing on the floor in front of me. “First we’re going to have to take off these bandages.”

“Hey hold on!” I grab Rainbow’s hoof as she’s about to grab my wing, “Didn’t the doctor say something about not taking them off?”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Rainbow laughs, waving it off. “Too bad, you’re doing it my way, you got that?”

“Is this because of what I said before?” I ask nervously as she nears my face, positioning herself awkwardly while taking off my bandages.

“What? No, of course not.” She quickly shies away, focusing her view on the bandages, tearing them off my wing. I assume, trying to cause me discomfort.

“Well, okay-“

“You know what?” Rainbow starts, “You’re a huge arse, you know that right?”

“Oh, we’re still doing this? Okay. I’m an arse, but why am I?”

“You said all those hurtful things in front of all of my friends, and you don’t even know me – That’s why you’re an arse!” She yells, tearing the rest of my bandages off in one last pull, causing me to wince in pain biting my bottom lip.

“Well, you kind of are all of those things…” ‘God damnit brain, why would you make me say that?!’

“Wha- What?”

“I… I’m sorry, it’s just that you come off like that I guess, that’s all…”

“I’m not like that, you know.” She moans, sulking her head slightly.

“Well again – I’m sorry, okay?”

“Well sorry isn’t really enough, but it will do for now. Anyway, let’s get this show on the road, shall we?”

“But, I can’t fly?”

“Pfft, like I care. Now, open your wings, and that’s an order!” She booms, scaring me slightly.

“Er… Okay?” I ever so gently open my wings, causing a lot of searing pain to shoot through my bones and muscles of broken tissue starting to rip again. “Rainbow – GAH! - I don’t think this is a good idea…”

“I don’t care. Now either you open up your wings, or I’ll do it for you.”

“Alright, geez!” I bark back, finally opening my wings to their full extent, then allowing them to flop down to my sides as I used a lot of energy.

“Ugh…” Rainbow sighs, face hoofing. “Right come on, we’re going to fly over the Everfree forest.”

“Wait, we’re actually going to fly?! Are you crazy?!” I yell, backing away from her.

“Well you don’t get a choice in it. I’m here to make you better, and that’s just what I’m going to do.” Rainbow charges towards me while opening her wings and I can already see what’s going to happen. She grabs my fore hooves and drags me into the air. I can literally see her muscles slightly wincing from the extra weight as we pick up from the ground.

“Rainbow, are you insane? I was told not to fly, remember!”

“Too bad.” She says while lifting me even higher into the air. From what I think, it looks to be around 50 metres high, and actually looks very daunting.

“Rainbow, PLEASE don’t drop me!”

“Heh, this should be fun…” She whispers, only just loud enough for me to hear. It suddenly dawns on me that I was in fact right, and she is going to drop me to the ground, and I can’t do a single thing to stop that.

“Here we go!” She yells, throwing me up in the air. My gaze meets hers and I notice a very sinister smile staring back at me, like daggers are in her very eyes as I start to descend back to the ground.

“Come on!” I yell out, flailing my hooves in the air, trying to use my wings but the sheer shock of the floor meeting my face in the very near future stops me, almost fully paralyzing me fully. “This isn’t funny, Rainbow Dash!” I call out, trying to hint for her to help me but to no avail. I notice the floor nearing by the second and the next thing I know I am chewing dirt and I land face first on the floor, my wings flopping over my sides in the process.

I groan as I roll over, rubbing my snout from the pain. “Rainbow… What in the hell was that for?!”

“Payback.” I hear from next to me. I turn over to see Rainbow standing above me with a smile on her face, clearly holding in laughter.

“…I stand by my comments about you, then,” I slyly say under my breath, barely audible.

“You’ll regret saying that.”

“Ha, and you’re supposed to be the element of Loyalty? Sure.”

“H-How do you even know about that?” She asks, curiosity thick in her voice.

“You’re in pony history, everypony knows that.”

She hums while rubbing her chin slightly before turning back into a slight grin. “So, let’s do it again!”

“Wha-What?!”

Before I can fully finish my sentence she grabs me again and sends me flying up into the air, this time I stretch out my wings as broken as they are and blissfully glide down back to the floor, shocking Rainbow Dash at the same time.

I only say “Ha” in response. She gives an uplifted eyebrow before she again launches herself at me again but this time I saw it coming and duck, grabbing her tail as she shoots ahead of me, making her stop in mid-air. She flaps her wings to try and get away but I use my remaining strength to pull her backwards, shoving us both into the floor, this time her face in the dirt and me on top of her.

For a few moments I can only assume we’re both stunned slightly. I shake my head and notice Rainbow staring up at me with an expression I haven’t seen on her before. I quickly get up and shake off, leaving her in the dirt. I feel bad about shoving her in the dirt so I extend a hoof and a cheeky smile to her, allowing her to use me as leverage to get up.

She grabs my hoof and wipes the dirt she has left on her face off. I quickly perk up, “Shouldn’t we be doing stretches or something?”

“Y-Yeah, sure. Let’s start with the basic wing stretch, bring your left wing to your front hoof and try to leave it there for about 10 seconds. Then do the same with the other wing to the other hoof.”

“Alright, gotcha.”

*****

A couple hours later

“You should be in better shape now, and your wings should heal up nicely.”

“So, when do we *pant* when do we do this *pant* again?”

“Eh… Maybe a couple times a week. Hey, maybe you could be as fast as me some time, eh?”

I give her a warm laugh and then my brain randomly takes over, wrapping my forelegs around her neck, embracing her into a hug. I quickly take back control and let go of her, pulling back as fast as I possibly can. “S-Sorry, I didn’t mean, er-“ I quickly feel something brush across my cheek, then I realize it was nothing else but the lips of Rainbow Dash giving me a kiss. I put my hoof on my cheek and blush awkwardly as I look at her, but she quickly turns and gallops away, leaving me there – stunned.

“Did… Did she just kiss me?” I ask myself, still bewildered. “Oh crap, I need a job!”

I quickly hurry off down the dirt road coming close to Ponyville which is just in the near distance. After a few minutes of galloping I crash into a purple blur which I recognize as Twilight Sparkle. A few books fall on the floor as we both fell to the ground, pieces of paper slightly blowing in the wind. I stomp on some of the papers to catch them, but then I look up and notice her horn already glowing, making the papers and books stack upon each other then back onto her back.

“Sorry about that Twilight, I didn’t mean to bump into you like that.”

“It’s fine, it’s just with Spike gone, I have to do all of the chores he would usually do.”

“Oh, where is he?”

“He’s on some royal business or something, so I have to do everything he usually does.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah, I hate having to do all of this work, which is why I give it all to Spike. It sounds harsh on him but it’s really annoying having to do all this, work on my spells, write to the Princess, catch up on my reading and all sorts.”

“Well, is there a job open?”

“Hmm, I don’t usually have to pay Spike to do it, but I guess you could say that. Of course, I will have to test you first though. Oh goodie! I won’t have to do all of this boring stuff again- I mean uhm… Wonderful mind gig- Oh you know what I mean.”

“Sure, when can we start the testing?”

“Right now!”

Twilight’s horn starts to glow as her smile begins to stretch from ear to ear. Sparks start to slightly wiz and whirl around us and a small flash is seen, encasing us in an orb. Our surroundings quickly disappear and we arrive in her Library.

“Wow, I don’t feel so good…” I say, covering my mouth.

“Happens to all the first timers. There is a bin in the other room. Help yourself, I guess. Testing starts in 5 minutes!”

“Goodie…” I whisper before bursting into the other room and heaving into a bucket which sits silently on the floor.

*****

Meanwhile on the other side of Ponyville, just on the outskirts…

Shadow Breeze’s mane slowly blows in the wind as the black and deep blue start to separate in the air. His usually dark greyed coat is now a shimmering grey as a reflection of the sun. He casts his brown eyed gaze to the beautiful daffodils which are sitting so quietly in the dirt, swaying in the breeze without a care in the world.

“So majestic…” He says under his breath, slowly pouring some water on top of them from his watering can. “Hard to think how easy life is as a flower, and yet how hard it is, too.” He slowly puts the watering can back on his back and slowly trots sideways to some other flowers; roses in particular. He lowers the watering can above the flowers once again and lets the water flow freely above them, careful not to drown them.

Out of the corner of his eye he spots a certain yellow Pegasus humming a quiet tune to the bees that are collecting pollen for their queen. The melody causes Shadow Breeze to smile, catching the yellow Pegasus’ eye. She in turn shies away from him and he quickly makes his way to a bench to sit down. The yellow Pegasus turns her head to face the flowers again, only to notice the bees had left. This causes her face to slightly sadden, but quickly illuminates with happiness when she sees the bees return again, collecting more pollen.

Shadow Breeze admires her from afar, being careful not to look like he’s a stalker of any sorts – quickly catching a glimpse of her then looking away at the sky. After a few moments the yellow mare trots carefully to the bench. Shadow makes no sudden movements and tries to stay calm, even though he is clearly sweating.

The yellow Pegasus sits on the bench and faces away from him for a while before letting out a sigh and turning towards him. “I’m- I’m Fluttershy…”

Shadow Breeze is startled at first, causing his wings to flinch in the process. After going over the entire conversation he will have with her in his head several times, and what could go on from that, he works up the courage to say something. “Hey, I’m er… Uhm…”

“Shadow Breeze?”

“Yeah, how did you know?”

“You’ve been watching me for a couple weeks now, I thought I should just say hello for once.”

“Oh, well sorry. I guess I just don’t know how to speak to mares. Especially one like…”

“…One like what?”

“Oh, nothing. I’ll probably end up regretting it eventually, so I should keep my mouth shut, sorry.”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me, I understand.” Fluttershy looks away and her face fills with slight sorrow.

“Ugh fine, you’re well- You’re beautiful, okay?”

“Oh…”

“See, I told you I shouldn’t have said anything… I’m sorry, I’ll just get to my flowers.” Shadow Breeze stands up and starts to trot away before he feels a hoof on his arm pull him back, Fluttershy’s hoof.

“It’s okay, not a lot of stallions call me beautiful is all…”

“Well, you are.”

“Thanks. I have to get going now, my poor sweet Angel bunny will need tending to, and I can’t leave him all alone. You’re uhm… You’re welcome to come with me, if you would like?”

“I… I would love to!”

Chapter 16 - A working pony

Info: Working pony!

Time taken to write: 3 Hours.

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I let out a loud grumble as I heave into the bin next to me. Twilight stood on my left rubbing my back as I continue to hurl into the bin, seeing the little food I have eaten over the past days.

"Not everypony is up for work with the Library, Speedster. Don't worry about it."

"But-" I hurl again, almost fully missing the bin this time. "Ugh... But, I er- I want to work for you." I wipe my mouth and look away from the disgusting site of what lies in the bin.

"Well, you only have one more test, and that's only re-shelving the books. Easy, right?"

"Well..."

"Excellent." Twilight gives a clap of her hooves and a nice smile before trotting away into the main library. "I will sort it out for you now."

"Great..." I take one last look in the putrid bin and instantly turn away. 'Wow, she really works ponies to the bone!' I stand up on all fours and trot out, once again wiping my mouth."So..."

Twilight's horn glows a purple lights, wrapping a mystical tether around each of the books in the library. With a loud, sharp cracking sound, each of the books are pulled to the floor, hitting each other in the process. "All right, you just have to organise each of the books in alphabetical order, and also in sets. So, a book which has a spell in it will go in the left section, and depending on which letter it begins with, you put it in a certain order. Sounds easy, yes?"

"I uh... Sure, I guess?" 'Oh sweet Celestia, I think I am going to throw up again. This work... It's too hard!'

"Okay, so if I start over here..." I mumble to myself, quickly interrupted by a cough from behind me, and a glare from Twilight's eyes looking over my shoulder, as if to say "You're doing it wrong, just stop now."

"Uh, is their a problem?"

"Oh what? Oh, of course not."

"Oh, oka-"

"Well," She starts, "If I was going to do it, then I would start over here. But, it's your test, so you do it how you want." She gives a reassuring smile and trots over to a desk, writing something down.

I turn away and look towards the same pile of books as I was before, ignoring her obvious push to make me do it the way she likes. I continue to mumble to myself, sorting through the books as I read each name out under my breath. Again, I hear a small cough from behind me. I ignore it, yet she coughs again but louder this time.

"...Yes?" I ask, letting my annoyance slip into my voice.

"Oh nothing, it's just that Spike always starts with the Tabethia in the map section, but that's fine, I guess."

"...Tabethia?"

"Yes. It's a place on the other side of Roctortis. You've heard of that, right?"

"Well, they sound familiar. Weirdly familiar that is."

"Well, keep on going, it's already been 5 minutes."

"Wait, you're timing me?"

"Well of course! Spike usually has it done in 10 minutes or less, so you best pick it up!"

"Come on, you kept distracting me!"

"6 minutes!"

"Fine!" I let out a huff and start placing the books in the shelve as quick as I can read them. A few I feel I mess up on, but I try to focus on the speed, trying not to slip up.

After a while, I feel a tap on my shoulder from Twilight. She holds a stop watch in front of me with the numbers '10:00' written on it. "Oh..." I let out, sweat dripping down my white coat, soaking it on the way. "I guess I failed then, huh?"

"Well... Not fully. You scored a 6/10, so you kind of passed, but not 'Spike' passed, sorry."

"Nah, it's fine. I guess I'll look for a job else where then."

I wipe my brow and start trotting out the door. I open it, and am immediately greeted by Rainbow Dash flapping her wings, keeping a drift in the air. I remember what happened a while ago, and blush slightly as she looks at me - But then I realize that she wasn't looking at me, but rather past me, at Twilight.

"Hey Twi, can you help me with something please?" She pushes past me and flies inside, sitting down on the couch

Chapter 17 - The dreams are back...

Info: The dreams are back...

Time taken to write: 1 Hour.

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"Ugh..." i sigh, closing the door behind me. I hear some muffled talking about some sort of urgent event, but I don't try to understand what was said. I only pick a few words though, but nothing that means a lot. Just "I just... I can't believe... Oh my gosh!" from Rainbow Dash, but nothing from Twilight.

Setting off in a small trot, I walk down the path towards the forest. Whilst I'm happily trotting away, I trip up over a rock and fall flat on my face. "Ouch!" I cry out, quickly standing up and rubbing my nose. "Dang, that hurt." To my surprise, no one even cared that I'd hurt myself. In fact, their wasn't anyone even around me.

I notice a poster out of place on a stand close by. Being the curious pony I am, I trot over to it to eye it suspiciously.

it reads "Big top Binanza - In town for ONE day only! Come get it while it's hot!"

"Hmm..." I rub my chin in curiosity, fumbling through my brain about such a bizarre event. Nothing seems to appear through my bleak mind about hearing anything related to it, but I think "What the hay, I don't see why not." I rip the poster off and quickly glance over it.

"You'll know where it is. All you have to do is look!"

"Hmm. Nah, I'm far too tired right now. i think I'll take a nap somewhere." I quickly spy a bench perfectly close to me. I take a few steps and curl up into a ball. I let my eyes flutter shut and think about life - Something I enjoy doing. I like to ponder what it's about, where I am going in my future, ponies I will leave behind, new ponies I will meet and so on. Knowing that I won't keep my friends somewhat distances me from ever having a true friend, and maybe, just maybe, I can get over that soon enough.

I feel my consciousness leaving me, and the blackness seeping in, drawing me ever closer to a dream. But, an immediate thought conjures in my mind - Why I don't seem to remember my mother. Before I can think on further, I drift away.

*****

I look around, and notice I'm in a house of some sort. A house I recognize immensely. It's my house! I stand up, and I attempt to set my mind at ease, yet being back in my house again… All I feel is a sadness building inside of me, begging for it to be released. Not having my mum around anymore is something I would not want anyone to think about in detail, yet it’s the only thing on, my mind right now. I turn and look at the open curtains, the way they hang to majestically, the curls in them reminding me of my mother’s hair.

I think back, remembering something she- I mean we always used to do. The constant reminders seeping through my mind the more I continue to think about it – I take step forward towards the curtains and reach my arms out, closing them the same way my mum would close them. The right one first, then the left one – I always wondered why she did it that way but I guess I will never find out. It pains me to think about my mother, but again it’s the only thing on my mind.

I turn around and take a small stride across the floor, knowing I will never be able to again. Thinking back to all of the memories I had with my mum; playing games in this very room, tickling each other, talking, hugging, watching television, yet none of that matters now as they’re just memories, not the real thing.

I take another stride forward, remembering even more things we used to do in this very room. I pause, feeling my eyes welling up, yet not even a gasp leaves my mouth. I hold back the tears, wanting to think my mum wouldn’t to see me cry yet as time goes by, I find it harder and harder to hold them back. I take a few more strides, making my way to the door at the opposite end of the room – I look back at the memories I used to share with her all those years ago, remembering how happy we was, how sad we were at times, even the times I thought she hated me yet I know now that she would never hate me, she never could. My mum loved me with all of her heart and her soul as she used to say. I remember the phrase all too clearly, like she is saying it in my ear right now, “I love you forever and ever and a day, with all my heart and soul.” And then she’d kiss me in my cheek, leaving me to go to bed.

I flick the light switch, shutting away the distant memories for good, and closing the door behind me, leaving me in the kitchen – The place where all of the perfect meals were cooked. At least, in my eyes they were. I look to my right and notice the table and chairs we had for so many years I’ve lost count. I feel more memories flooding back into my mind, each and every single meal she ever made me in this kitchen, the amazing flavours, the amazing food, the amazing everything, and all that taken away in just mere seconds.

To my left, I notice the cupboards where she stored all of the food, and the fact that I could never find anything, yet she knew exactly where everything was and could pluck it out in mere seconds. Another thing I will never know why or how she organised it such a way, and it pains me to think about it.

I take a few strides and look out of the window, like a window to my memories and I see the first time I got roller blades, I was so happy and that made my mum happy, I even remember the huge smile on her face as she pushed me away to start off. I even remember the first time I rode a bike properly with no stabilizers. I fell a lot, but my mum was always there to pick me back up, no matter how much work she was doing, she was always there for me, through thick and thin, through rough and everything that came with it.

I take a step out onto my landing, the bottom of the stairs. I think back to one memory in particular; My mum recently bought me a huge teddy bear, and I loved it so much, but I always wanted to jump down all of my steps, so I grabbed the teddy and did so, landing my body on the teddy, and my face on the floor. My mum came rushing out to help me, and I turned out fine, because she was there for me. Not my auntie, not my cousin, she was there, and thinking back to it now, I would not change a single thing, no matter how much I got hurt.

I take my first stride up the stairs, going slowly, and thinking back to when my mum used to carry me upstairs when I was smaller. I would either be on her back, over her shoulder, or just in her arms, in safety. I continue to take strides as I think about such a precious moment, then noticing that this entire time my eyes have been begging to erupt in tears, yet I am luckily holding them back.

I reach the top of the stairs and I see my mother’s bedroom door open. I push it open more and take a step in, her ben unmade, and covered in clothes. I walk over and make the bed perfectly, removing the clothes and tidying up a bit, hoping that she isn’t really gone, and I will wake up the next morning to find that she slept, and the bed is untidy again. Yet, I know that is impossible, but I keep telling myself she isn’t gone, in such a way I am almost convincing myself. I look around to see the giant teddy she once bought me, sat in her fireplace, gathering dust. Yet another memory gone to waste.

I turn around and leave the bedroom, placing a door stopper to keep the door open and put my hand on the light switch but something catches my eye; photos, photos of my mother in her youth, me as a baby, pictures of her and her friends, pictures of her holding me and I realize it’s the final straw for my eyes, and I feel a single tear roll down my cheek, like a cat slowly awaiting its prey, it follows slowly until it reaches my hand and I brisk it away. Suddenly more tears come and I can’t just wipe them away anymore. A hum leaves my mouth, a hum of sadness, regret, and hate. Hate for myself because I wasn’t the perfect son.

I look at the pictures for a few more minutes and notice one of my mum, and her sister. I look into my mum’s eyes, and all I can feel is pain. I couldn’t help her in her time of need, and all I can think is that it’s my fault. “Mum… I know you can’t hear this- Well, I don’t know if you can, but all I want to say… Is that I’m sorry. I’m sorry I wasn’t the perfect son, and I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you in your time of need, I just… I just wish we had spent more time together, and it’s my fault we didn’t, I was selfish, and didn’t think about you, or your feelings. I… I love you, mum. Through thick and thin I have always loved you; I just wish you didn’t have to leave me so soon. I… I’m sorry.”

I look away from the picture, tears streaming down my face as I enter my room, turning the light off just before, closing the door behind me. Thus, closing the memories away with it. I feel the tears drip off from my chin at a rapid rate, as though my eyes themselves were a waterfall. I collapse onto my knees, my hands virtually throw themselves at my eyes to stop the tears, but nothing seems to help.

"I love you, mum..."

Chapter 18 - The Big Top Bonanza!

“Gah!” I yell out, clutching my heart like it’s about to jump out of my chest. ‘What… What just happened?’ I ask myself, shocked.

I let my heart calm down and try to focus on the fading face that was in my dream. I grab hold of the memory, placing it in a box in my mind. ‘I won’t forget this dream. Not this time… Mum.’

I sit up, closing my eyes, wiping away the loose tears and take a large breath. I decide I best go investigate this ‘Big Top Bonanza’ – After all, what've I got to lose?

I set off walking towards the large tent sticking out above nearly every rooftop, knowing this must be what the posters are all going on about.

After a few minutes, I’m there. I push the very large, yellow and pink curtain, open to reveal an enormous centralized stadium with a band playing what seems to be either an opening song, or a closing song. What seems like millions of ponies are all covering the stands, leaving no place to sit down. ‘Oh well’ I think, ‘Mustn't have been that great anyway.’ I start to head out, opening the curtain like before but I feel some sort of stick on my shoulder. I instantly spin my head round looking at a quite tall penguin in a suit and red bow tie standing behind me.

Before I can say a word, a large booming voice echoes around the tent, “WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER!” and suddenly there is uproar of gasps followed by the clapping of millions of hooves, screaming at each other. Before I have a chance to say anything, I’m lifted into the air on what I know is not a stick but in fact a very large cane. He lifts me that high I end up on the tip of it, about 100ft from the ground. I try to open my wings to fly down but they’re stuck yet again. I freeze to the spot not wanting to move as the thought of looking down and suddenly falling to my death frightens my very soul.

A pair of hooves grabs under my very own and I’m lifted on top a rope, now even higher than before. I restrict myself from looking down, looking at the pony that lifted me onto this rope. I don’t know how it’s even possible for me to balance in such a way but somehow I’m doing it anyway. I push up a bit and take in my environment. I feel shell shocked – I can’t even remember how I came to be here anymore, all I know is I don’t want to look down and the male pony seems to be holding out a hoof to me. He is completely white, like me; however his mane and tail are tucked away under what seems to be a very tight suit. I reach out, again still somehow maintaining my balance but before I can hold onto it he does a back flip, landing perfectly on the rope once again.

I take a few steps forward – The pony gives me a nod and I assume he’s saying for me to attempt a backflip. The crowd are all still in a modest uproar but it seems they have seem him nod and they’re now all expecting me to do the same. A slow chanting starts to form of ‘flamer’, first starting with but only a few ponies but now the entire stands are chanting as one.

I take a deep sigh, whispering ‘I can’t do it’ under my breath, however apparently loud enough for the pony in the suit to do it. I look up at him and notice him smiling through his costume, trying to encourage me.

“Come on man, give it a shot. You got wings anyhow!” She says, astonishing me.

“Ugh, fine. What’s the worst that can happen?”