Bronies, Unite!

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.)

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!

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.