Nuzlocke: Hearts of Gold and Souls of Silver

“'Can it get worse' you ask me. 'of course it can' I answer 'but maybe not just yet' I will later add. We will then keep on moving until that day comes”

“Just because I'm injured...” I said as I walked to where ponies were running from. All my pokemon were following me with a look of determination in their eyes. “... And because I just lost both a friend and my father...” I kicked open the door to the pokemon center. “.... You think you can just come in here...”

There was a pony with a Lairon, a Nidorina, and a Combusken, out o their pokeballs, helping the trainer keep everypony on the ground like in a hostage situation.

“You think you can just come in here and show me this bullshit?” I said it out loud this time, everyone heard it. The pony turned and I looked him in the eyes. It was not Freddy. I didn't care. I only glanced at him.

Scout flew over me with the speed of a bullet, aiming for the Combusken just like I would ask him, but he read my thoughts first. Phoenix and Venom did the same, going for the Lairon and the Nidorina respectively. The pony in front of me acted quickly, but not quickly enough, commanding his pokemon to attack back, not saying a word as well.  “Who the hell are you?” He asked me.

I didn't answer. I only felt my face putting on an sorta evil grin. Phoenix and Venom were quick with their foes, putting them down pretty quickly. I even doubted this was a battle between two competitors for a moment. Scout did a good job as well, but I asked him to hold back on the Combusken and just pin it down for a moment. The pony's face quickly changed from a courageous, full of self-esteem, face to an scared and surprised look in his eyes. He started trembling. “Your eye...” His voice was breaking. He started backing off but was stopped by the desk where the center's lady would stay. “It changed colors!”

I looked down, at my reflection on the ground. It was hard to see a difference in the ground, but I stared at my own eyes enough through the clean ground to notice the change of tone. My right eye went from blue to red, while my left eye stayed the same. You seem to be doing a good job. I heard the voice of Janus at my head. “You too.” I mouthed at my own reflection. I looked back up and gave the command for Scout to finish his job. After the permission was given, I only looked back at the door and walked out with my pokemon.

I heard the sound and the light coming from behind me. Scout quickly joined us after finishing his foe and eliminating the scared pony.

The storm started and the sound of thunders hammering the ground not so far from the city could be heard.

One down, a bunch left.

I don't know what I'm feeling. I doubt it is anger or the feel for revenge. At most, I'd say as a way of me letting go of all of this bad stuff that happened lately. I'd be feeling down, probably down on my bed right now if it wasn't for this. First, I have barely paid any attention to my wound. I do feel it's pain, but it hasn't stopped me, and I'll probably get it's headache back as soon as I'm done with this, if I survive this in the first place. Second, I don't even know what got me into wanting to save this folk. I always loved helping ponies out, but this? I have never thought of stopping an evil group from taking a town. Not on my own at least.

who are you calling evil? The thought flashed in my mind. It was true. To me, and maybe to a lot of those ponies, this group was made out of bad ponies, evil ponies. But maybe to them they were doing the right thing, whatever it was. Quit it. I might not be the best pony in the world, but I sure don't terrorize others. Then the memory of me throwing a pony out of a building and people later recognizing me for it later. I mean not like this.

I walked up to the gym and opened the double doors. Two ponies from the same group were now blocking the entrance and keeping the ponies that worked for the gym inside. The leader didn't appear to be there though. A pegasus and an earth pony. They both turned and looked at me once I had opened the door. “Hey, what are you doing in here?” One of them rudely asked me, the earth pony. The other one scanned me and I saw his eyes widening when he stopped at my face a second time. I wasn't sure if it were my eyes or my wound that surprised him. Or maybe the pokemon standing behind me.

“Hey, I think the kid wanted a challenge in the middle of our attack.” The pegasus pony who scanned me said to his friend, but his voice was low, and almost breaking, but still trying to get a laugh out.

“You are god damn right.” I smiled.

“Then you came to the gym at the wrong time, pal.” The earth pony replied, courageously. He didn't seem intimidated by me as his friend was. Big mistake. Them both picked up their pokeballs and got their party out. This time I was against 12 foes

I was up against an Ivysaur, an Raticate, an Fearow, an Ninetails, an Arbok,  an Jolteon, an Scyther, an Ariados, an Skarmory, an Zangoose, an Staravia, and finally an Luxio. A pretty big and well trained team, I'd say by it's looks. I might actually have trouble on this one, but it sure sounded like a challenge.

Ivysaur and Zangoose were up first. I went with Scout and Venom. My pokemon already knew what to do. When the battle came to an start, Scout flew directly and the Zangoose, who went running on a straight line to Venom. Venom kept an stance like if he was ready to attack, but he aimed for the Ivysaur. Scout tried bringing the Zangoose down, but the foe was fast to dodge and went back to his track. The Zangoose's claws now glowed. Scout did an U-turn and got the Zangoose on the back. The foe was not fast enough this time. The Zangoose cried in pain while he went flying to Venom.

Venom quickly spun and hit the Zangoose, making it fly to it's Ivysaur friend. The Ivysaur was also quick to act and grabbed his friend, now already fainted in the air, but was unable to dodge what came for it next. Venom dashed to the little plant with an speed I never thought would be possible from such a big pokemon as Venom. His right hand was glowing purple and he dug it at the Ivysaur, sending it and it's dead friend flying to the wall. Our next foe's were sent out: Scyther and Luxio.

Right after being sent out, the Luxio tried shooting a few lighting bolts at Scout. They were fast, but Scout was smart. He went flying right behind Venom, who took the last bolt but wasn't affected by it.  Venom was about to counter when the Scyther came to join the party. Sliding under Venom's legs and dodging his tail, the Scyther climbed Venom's back and hit him on the back with it's blades several times. Venom took the hit, not being heavily damaged that much by it. Both foes could barely deal any damage to him since he was a poison and ground type. I Switched Scout with Phoenix, while Venom counter-attacked.

Venom grabbed the Scyther took it out of his back, throwing him on the other side of the our little battlefield at the gym's entrance. The Scyther recovered fast enough to land safely on the ground. Phoenix turned into her wheel of fire and went directly for the Scyther. The Luxio ran up to Venom and tried biting him. Venom jumped backyard just in time and tried hitting the foe with his tail. The Luxio, however, jumped right over it and backed off.

Venom then dug a whole in the ground, missing underground. The Luxio stood on guard, trying to see Venom's next move. Meanwhile, Phoenix Arrived at the Scyther, who only dodged her attack. Phoenix got out of her wheel attack and started flaming the bug down, who tried to run away from the flames, but was running out of space due to Phoenix and her flames.  I stood there, observing the whole thing, and I could see this could be going on forever with all very well trained pokemon, although mine seemed to stay in sync with each other and me. I noticed it we could take both foe pretty fast, all I had to do was switch targets without making them notice it.

I tried a new thing. I thought of my plan, and ordered my pokemon through my mind. If we had a good connection with each other, and if that lady back at the pokeathlon was right, I should be able to put this through. Phoenix seemed to get my message. She kept chasing the Scyther, but she was luring her near the Luxio just as I asked. The Scyther, even if fast, wasn't smart to see our plan. Now it was Venom's part.

Venom jumped back to surface, just under Luxio until the electric pokemon moved out of the way. He ended up appearing just in front of the Scyther, one of it's hands glowing purple again. Phoenix jumped over the Scythe who slowed down as he saw Venom. Phoenix flew directly at the Luxio, who tried shooting another electric bolt at her, but missing in it's panic. Phoenix landed, letting her flames out again and burning the foe down. Meanwhile, Venom landed a Poison Jab at the Scyther, sending him flying away. Both foes now had fainted.

8 foes left.

I stopped watching the battle that was going on before my eyes. What was actually happening in seconds seemed like minutes to me. This battle was one of the most intense I had gone through, and even with the double amount of foes to battle, I was pulling through it. We were pulling through.

I looked aside, and found myself looking at Aurora. She looked at me worried, confused. “Why are we fighting?” She asked me, still not understanding why I was doing such a thing.

“I...” I tried to explain, but I found myself without words. I looked down in shame, like if I had just failed her. Moments later I got back to my battle.

Ninetails and Arbok were hard foes, they put up for a good battle. Being the same type of Phoenix and Venom, they resisted more than usual and were able to put up a fight, although they lost,  only injuring my teammates a bit. I ended up switching to Scout and Pulse. They held well against the Ariados, Fearow, Raticate and Staravia, even if they got seriously injured. It was Pulse and Scout against a Jolteon and a Skarmory.

First things first, I switched Scout for Phoenix, seeing she was in better condition than my bird friend, and I used a hyper potion on Pulse. it was more than he needed to heal, but I wanted him at full health. I was not taking risks.

My two foes were on their last pokemon. They had seen their other friends go down already, so I suspected they were somewhat hopeless, but the expressions of tension and courage on their faces only told me they would keep on trying.

Ponies with this kind of determination don't seem like they would work for Freddie. I thought. Maybe they were just another group... but they were causing terror nonetheless.

The Skarmory flew directly at Pulse. Phoenix jumped in front of him to stop. Flames beat metal, and the steel bird knew that. It stopped almost immediately. I felt Phoenix grin, as if the lion just found it's new prey. Phoenix begun running after the bird like a hungry cat with an speed I never seen from her. It was definitely faster than Scout, and faster than a Quick Attack; maybe an Extremespeed.

She flew. Celestia be my witness, she flew like a pegasus. Launching herself up with flames, she flew with enough speed that she was surrounded by an white aura. She hit the Skarmory right in the chest, making it last by force and hit the wall after sliding on the ground a bit. Phoenix took the time it used to recover and gladly burned down the steel bird like if it was a piece of wood. I stopped looking, it was somewhat disturbing for me to watch a fried metal chicken in the making, as a not so found of metal/meat animal that I'm (Although, I'm curious about the taste, since Blackburn told me about the making of a steak he saw when selling pieces of meat to an mare back in Ponyville).

In the meanwhile, Pulse was battling his kin. The Jolteon was not so different from Pulse, only difference was it's form and type, but other than that both were the same at one point in life. Pulse was more defensive, evading each lighting bolt with precision and care, not to be hit. The Jolteon was defensive as well, but more aggressive as it missed more and more of it's electric attacks. It was starting to become more and more anxious, nervous. That lead it to being even more aggressive into trying to take down Pulse, and so probably it's biggest mistake was to not listen to the unicorn who was alone now, as his friend disappeared before his eyes. The Jolteon missed at probably point blank range, making it a easy prey for Pulse while it recovered from the recoil. Pulse did not have mercy, and I bet he couldn't at such a moment.

And so like that the battle was over. The gym was open again and I got the money the two of them held. My business here were done. My pokemon, now with a greater idea of what we were dealing with, lead the way, but I stopped them.

“Hold up.” I ordered. They all turned, looking at me with curious eyes. “Rest up a bit, I'm gonna heal you all up and we will go. I doubt there are many of them left, but we gotta make sure we are going to win this.”

They took no time to think, they only nodded and walked back to me. I delivered what I promised and we rested for a moment.

“Another one down.” I said out loud while Phoenix finished another foe without any difficulty.

I was defending the pier this time, it seemed they wanted something there. Steal a boat or something. I didn't know for sure, and I didn't care to know.

A pony in one of their jackets walked down the pier, at my direction. He didn't seem surprised by my eyes or nervous about the situation. He was far too calm for all of this, specially in the middle of a raging storm such as this. Something from inside me told me this was a problem.

The storm became a drizzle out of sudden. “You think you can defend this place just because you defeated all my friends?!” The pony screamed from his lungs. He was a unicorn, I could see now that the storm settled down for the moment. A white, red haired stallion, wearing the black jacket. No different from my other foes. I could also see the smug on his face.

“I'm gonna only going to give this warning once!” I screamed over the rain back. “Leave this town alone and tell Freddie this was useless plan.”

The pony started laughing. “like if I was going to work to that freak.” Then he kept on laughing. “Join an army just so can take the best pokemon I have away and leave me with a max of three or four just for a small percentage of the two hundred thousand bits prize?!” He made it sound like a crazy idea.

So he didn't work for Freddie, at least if he told me the truth. I felt a bit of guilty running over my mind as one of the reasons I was fighting them was for thinking Freddie was trying to take over the world, but it wasn't really the case. They were causing terror in the town nonetheless. Somepony had to stop them.

“Let's get this show on the road.” The unicorn said. Right after that picked a single pokeball out of his pocket and showed it to me. I brought up my gadget, and it told me my foe had only one pokemon. Either he lost the others, or he never had any more of them.

He threw it. The storm came back and now it was hard to say anything unless I screamed. It got hard enough to see over the curtain of gray the rain brought, with the sensation of wet fur over me and specially my wound and it's bandage.

Suddenly, sounds of steps came over to me, louder than the rain, and strong enough to make the ground tremble. I saw what seemed like a green wingless dragon coming closer, with a few dark holes over it's chest. It can't be. I thought. I was going up against a Tyranitar.

The monstrosity of a pokemon stood in front of me and my pokemon, and I had no idea of what to do next. Tyranitar was the last evolution out of a pokemon, and it could only evolve into a Tyranitar at level 55, according to the games. Sure, I never kept track of levels, and it didn't seem to matter all that much around this world, but on the game, this kind of thing wouldn't be here yet.

It's all right, you can deal with it. You can manage. I thought. It's just a Dark and Rock type pokemon. I was getting nervous and it was getting over me. Venom! The idea of using him against the Tyranitar for his one Fighting move and for being the bigger pokemon in my team, even if still smaller than the Tyranitar. I looked back at my friend, who was standing endlessly into the Tyranitar with some fear on his face. If it has any Ground type moves, then it means trouble, but I think Venom might be faster.

The thought was followed by the two dragon-like creatures fighting over one another, each with it's advantages over the other, and both the image of success and defeat. Venom was, after all, my best chance of getting out of this fight without having to bury someone as the storm ends.

No, Venom won't take the guy out fast enough not to suffer any kind of damage. I thought. I was trying to save lives here after all, and not risk them. Scout and Phoenix are out of the question, weakness to Rock. Pulse is the only one left. Not weak to either of it's types, specially against Dark. The thought continued. So I was planning on using Pulse at the start to weak it a bit. He was quick enough to avoid some hits, then I would bring Venom out and put the thing to an end.

The Tyranitar slowly walked forward, coming closer. Well, planning is over, time's out. “Alright, Pulse, you're on!” I pointed my hoof forward and Pulse caught my drift immediately. Running up to the beast, which surprisingly enough stopped and focused on Pulse's "running-in" strategy.

Pulse jumped, and turned around, his tail facing the foe and aiming it like if it was a baseball bat. Moments later the tail flashed in steel gray. Iron Tail. Since when does Pulse knows that move? I was amazed by the fact that my pokemon keep surprising me even after weeks since we met. The Tyranitar lifted it's arms up to his face to protect himself. The hit made the sound of a slash and made the Tyranitar back off a bit, I could now see the Unicorn near his pokemon, but still away, enough so I could see him through the monsoon.

"It's super effective!" The gadget announced in text. It was a good hit, but I was still a long way from defeating the thing. It had a good defense after all, so my hit wouldn't have done much anyway. I was hoping to get two or more hits on the Tyranitar before switching, but I had a guess that the amount of turns Pulse was going to be part wasn't really up to me.

“Our turn, Blaine.” The unicorn called to his Tyranitar. Blaine now was going to make his move, and this Tyranitar sure was up to battle. It stepped on the ground, making it tremble. I suspected he had summoned an earthquake. I was right.  The move had hit Pulse with the force of a mountain, making him fall over.

I started running up to him, but Pulse quickly got back to his paws. He was badly injured. I have got to take him out. The first thought came over my head. But if I do, Venom, might not be able to take it out, then I will be left with one or two dead friends. The panic stated taking more of my mind.

“Atlas,” A voice spoke with me. Pulse's. “I can handle the next two rounds. Trust me.”

I looked at him. Even my eyes were trembling now. “Are you s-sure?”

Pulse nodded. The other round had started.

Pulse stood still, trying to see what Blaine would do next. Blaine did the same. Pulse decided to make a move first to speed things up. With the blink of an eye, Pulse had summoned other Umbreons to the field. No, it wasn't other Umbreons, they were all Pulse, illusions. I lifted my gadget up to my field of view. "Pulse used Double Team." It read. "Evasiveness was boosted."

The Tyranitar, unsure of where to attack, decided use another Earthquake, and so covering all the field we were battling in. Pulse was faster, he quickly sent all his "copies" with himself forward. He climbed Blaine's back, interrupting his move. Blaine flailed his arms around trying to catch Pulse, but fortunately for us, his arms were too small to reach for the real one. After missing the first one, Pulse took the moment and  jumped on the Blaine's head, and then jumped again, using Blaine's head to boost himself higher than usual. Blaine didn't notice it though, he was too busy worrying about the illusions.

Pulse was now rolling in mid air, his tail standing out of the wheel form he got himself into. I caught what he was going to do now. Every moment that passed, Pulse was getting faster. The unicorn behind Blaine saw it, and tried to do something about. “Blaine, above you! The real one!” He screamed.

It was too late. Pulse started falling, and with an amazing speed, landing an Iron Tail at Blaine's forehead. The Tyranitar was startled by the hit and fell with it, hitting his chin on the wet ground. Pulse landed safely on the ground and quickly got back to my side. “I'm switching you up now, I hope you don't mind.” I whispered in his ear. Pulse nodded. “Oh, and don't scare me like that again, okay? I had enough of it back on Violet city.” I added.

Venom walked forward. He positioned himself while Blaine got back to his feet. I brought the gadget up again and opened the log of the last round. "Foe's Tyranitar used Flail. Pulse avoided it; Pulse used Iron Tail. Critical Hit! It's super effective! It read. I now took a look at Blaine's health. He was down to near the red are of the bar, that was good news since we can't heal in player battles. The next round was about to start.

“Blaine, use Hyper Beam!” The unicorn screamed over the rain, loud enough for me to hear it and filled with rage, so it was. A shiver came down me, but I wouldn't notice it since I was wet from the rain, if it wasn't for the neutral temperature that washed over me that moment. Blaine opened his mouth and a beam of light, cutting through the rain, hit Venom directly. It was a hard hit, but I could see Venom had taken the hit and handled it well. The gadget told me his condition was very critical, but I had two moves ahead of me, Blaine had to recharge after all. I saw the expression in the unicorn's eyes. He had made a mistake, he had raged. “B-but how?!”

I smiled. I turned around and looked at Aurora. She was under Scout's wing to protect herself from the heavy rain. She looked at me waiting for me to give an answer. I turned back to the unicorn. “Because even if we might not be well suited for this, or even prepared for such an opponent, we work as a team. We work as friends.” I answered his question out loud. To him, it didn't make any sense, but to me, it was all I needed to say, and looking at Aurora again, I saw she finally saw why we kept going. “Venom, use Double Kick!” I ordered out loud. Venom ran with all his strength up to the recharging Tyranitar and jumped. Lifting one of his foot up and hitting Blaine with it, then turning and giving it another kick, Venom successfully landed too super effective hits at the Tyranitar, throwing it at the ground and leaving it to the rain. The unicorn behind it disappeared in a flash of light.

And like that, it was over.

I healed Venom and Pulse afterwards, both had done a pretty good job, and we had defended the city with success. I got all my pokemon on their balls so they could rest. I moved slowly to the cafe again as exhaustion hit me after the all the adrenaline left, and also the pain from my wound, now wet, itchy and screaming in pain even more after the runs and movements it made while it wasn't really fit to.

I opened the door of the cafe. All the customers, both the sailors and the civilians, were looking at me with surprise in their eyes. They were looking at a wet unicorn with an red and a blue eye and a bandage on one of the legs, who just defend their city with his team. Yet, they didn't seen him like a hero. The rain had made it difficult to see and all they heard were loud scary sounds after all, as well as explosions.

I moved up to the desk in front of the kitchen, where the sailors would sit to easily refill their drinks. I sat and directed myself to the waiter pony without making any eye contact. “I'd like a cup of water. Cold water, and put ice on it,” I ordered. The waiter didn't move, I guessed she was scared. Probably thinking I had gone insane. “Please.” I finally added. The waiter didn't wait any longer. She moved into the kitchen and got to work.

One of the sailors, an earth pony, walked over to me. “You think you can just come here and order something after terrorizing the whole town?” He tried to intimidate me, but even his voice was breaking in a deep fear.

“Well, excuse me, but as I recall I just saved the town and one of those boats you are probably going to get stuck in for the next week or so.” I turned away from the desk and to the sailor, getting up from my chair. “I put my own will of staying in a fucking inn until I got better just to save this place, and to have you calling me something similar to the folk I just eliminated after I over push myself is not the high point of my day, buddy.” I widened my eyes. “Now look here, cully. Look into my eyes, look at the innocent blue eye first, and then to the other, and tell me.” I saw his eyes moving to one side to the other. “Tell me if I'm afraid of your so called muscles and masculinity, because the piano player here ain't a pushover like you think he is.” He was now trembling. It was like he saw his worst fear before his eyes, and maybe, just maybe, he really did. I pushed him and he fell back to the place he was standing before. I turned back to my desk just as the waiter came out of the kitchen. I sat down again, put a few bits on the table for the water and started drinking it, with all the time of the world. The cafe kept silent.

Well, I might have just proved those ponies I might really be a monster. I thought, I laughed in my mind right after. But in reality, I was just tired, exhausted and stressed. I didn't want to really deal with any sailors trying to put up with me right now, and all I wanted was some water and then to go back to my inn, even in such a rain.

Actually, you did good. Another voice spoke. Janus' voice. You saved them, but at the same time proved them you are not a pushover. With them fearing you, no way they are going to consider trying you.

I appreciate the help Janus.

I didn't do anything. He replied with something that surprised me. That was all you.

What about the colors in my eye? I asked. Why did one of them go red?

It's an ability you have that boosts your magic and resistance. He replied. I bring it with me everytime I take over you, that is why you assimilated it to me. The explanation made some sense. It was also scary and dark, but it made sense to me. I didn't know what it was or why did I have it, but I was going to get deep into that later. Although, you only got half of it, since your other eye didn't change.

Yeah, alright. I thought. I'm too tired for this anyway. I told Janus over my head while I finished my cup of cold water.

Less than ten minutes I was back at the inn, tired as exhaustion and pain caught up with me completely, and laid on my bed for a so waited rest. I was still in the middle of the afternoon, but it didn't matter to me. I wanted to sleep.

“Ah, the tree.” I said, looking at the place I wanted to go after everything had happened. “Not a completely bad day after all.”

I saw the tree on the top of the same hill as always, and I was at the same place I always stood when I found myself dreaming about this place: Down the hill.

So, I started making my way to it. As I forced myself up the grass hill, I looked up again and saw the shadow of a pony. Luna was visiting me tonight.

“Atlas!” Luna said in relief. She flew over me to meet me halfway up to the tree. “I was starting to think you wouldn't be coming up here tonight. I guess that wound of yours really got you pinned.”

I looked down to my hoof and saw the bandage. I never recalled having my wound in my dreams, this was the first time, but it felt like the same. “I guess so. I'm just glad you decided to hang with me tonight.”

“I'm sorry I couldn't talk with you yesterday.” Luna landed and started walking by me, keeping me company. “Something had happened to you yesterday, and I wasn't able to talk with you”

“Don't worry about it. It's okay.” I said. “I'd like to think that would have helped through the day I had, but with the death of my father, it wouldn't have made such a difference.” I hung my head down. Even if I tried to hide it from myself, the fact that both my parents were now gone was hard for me to take, and if made my heart fell bottomless.

“I have heard the news. I'm sorry about your father Atlas.” Luna placed a hoof over my back and tried to comfort me. Even if her voice can do that to me most of the times, this time the effect wasn't the same. “At least Shining Armor is lending a hoof, by even lending you a favor if needed.”

“Yeah...” I replied, not really bothering that much with favors. “I'm more worried of how things will be.”

“There, there, Atlas. You just need to calm yourself about the whole thing. It will take sometime to get used to.” She said, and later added: “Your friends and I will be by your side during this time. As for now, what do you say about if we settled down by the tree and relaxed for tonight?”

“I think I'd like that.” I lifted up my head, showing Luna a smile which, at least for me, showed that I appreciated what she said and meant.

We finally finished climbing the hill and arrived at the tree. I moved slowly to the place I'd sit, next to a branch that extended itself for a few meters before deciding to dig itself back down. Luna accompanied me, sitting by my side. We both sat there in silence for a while. Me because of the recent events, and Luna with one of her legs hugging me, since she barely knew how to deal, or help with this loss, other than just sticking around and being a friend.

“It was nice of you to protect the city back there.” She broke the silence. “It sure was a lot of work, but you did it all by yourself. A noble goal.”

“I don't know what I did and why I did it.” I said. “I try to believe I was trying to protect them, but in reality I probably was letting some of my anger out or trying to hit Freddie's plans, but neither of those feel true. I have no idea of why I really dealt with those guys.”

“Besides, they were terrorizing the place, somepony would have done the same if I didn't.” I added.

“Nonetheless, you did it.” Luna continued, trying to cheer me up a bit. “You stood at your current condition, under a thunderstorm, and stopped them even if you might caught a cold or even get eliminated.”

I smiled at her. “Yeah I suppose so.” I then looked forward, as trying to find something far, far ahead. Trying to find the reason. “It just doesn't feel like it.”

“Oh.” I remembered something. The eye color change. “Did you see how my eyes changed from blue to red, at least one of them? And do you know what it is?” I asked her, looking for more information then what Janus told me.

“Ah, yes, I noticed such a change.” She said looking for memories in her temple. “It's an event similar to the extra magic fields in a horn while it performs magic, but more rare. While the tiers happen when a unicorn exceeds it's normal magic limits by effort, which can lead to the malfunction of magic until it's back to normal, the eye changes are triggered by anger or determination. Such an even is rare, as only few ponies are capable of performing such a thing, not only unicorns. It acts like a booster to adrenaline, boosting physical and magical abilities without and withdraw until the event is over.”

“An unicorn long ago created an amulet enchanted with such ability, and only the pony wearing it would be able to take it off. It gave unicorns magic powerful enough to nearly reach Alicorns, but it also turned the user reckless, and refusing to listen to reason after a while, in other words, it corrupted the user. It was called the Alicorn Amulet, but it was lost long ago.”

“At first I thought it was your other you taking over, just like back in Goldenrod, but I suppose you're asking me because that isn't the case, is it?”  She then asked.

“Apparently I triggered it myself.” I said.

“I haven't seen something like that since years before my original banishment to the moon.” She looked at me with curious, analyzing eyes. “Atlas, what you have there is a gift! A dangerous gift, but an gift indeed!”

“The way you fought with it, planning everything carefully, and yet not being taken down by weakness. It's clear that you know how to handle it.” She added.

“All right, all right.” I stopped her. “I'm not going to be triggering this thing all the time, because recalling it gives me the chills and I'd hate being corrupted. I just wanted to know. Thanks, your highness.”

She giggled. “You know you don't have to approach me like that, Atlas.”

“I know.” I said. “Just wanted to be a little more formal.”

The night followed. We chatted, laughed, and she was more than able to help me through a difficult night. No, I will not get better right a way, but she and my other friends will sure help along the way.

I heard a knock on the door. “Come in!” I said it loud enough to be heard well through the wooden door. I had been laying in my bed since I got up in the morning, had a walk around town, changed my bandage (the infection looking worse than before), and came back to pass the day, since I wasn't really expecting Blackburn and Violet to come back after just one day together all by themselves.

To my surprise, I was wrong. Both my friends came by the door, greeting me right away. “Atlas! We are back!” Violet said.

“And we got your medication right here, sick boy.” Blackburn added. Both of them were looking happier than before. I suppose they might have enjoyed the free day I gave them, after rushing them down to this place and not giving them enough time to explore and see the places we have been past already. I hope it's not too late to go back to them once we make our way back.

“Oh, welcome back guys.” I said, greeting them back. “So you guys really found an antibiotic?”

“Well, they didn't have for ponies, but we convinced them of producing one just for your problem.” Violet explained. “Fortunately they were kind enough to mix it for you.”

Blackburn took a small sack out of his saddlebags and threw it by my side in the bed. “That should get you going right away.” He said. “Funny how medicine works faster now days. I'm not sure if it is because of this place, or because we got them from zebras.”

I took the sack and opened it with my hooves. Inside there was a bunch of small, brown colored balls which looked like gum to me. I took one and got it in my mouth, then getting my cup of water on the end table and swallowed it after drinking some. The taste wasn't that good, but I could feel it already working at getting my body all new again.

“We are deeply sorry we took this long Atlas.” Violet started explaining, her face became a little red afterwards. “We came across some, uh, trouble, over there.”

I looked at Blackburn, he winked at me with his right eye so Violet wouldn't notice it. “It's all right Violet, no problem at all.” I said.

“Oh, we also heard of what happened around here...” Blackburn seemed somewhat uncomfortable. “Atlas, what did you do?”

“Well, I, um...” I looked away, memories of everything I had been through yesterday filling my mind. “It's a long story.”

“We were taking a look at the news channel when we see an attack happening in this city.” Violet started adding more information, showing me they knew part of it. “Later, we saw a picture of you challenging what looked like a dinosaur.”

“A Tyranitar.” Blackburn corrected. “Atlas, what happened yesterday? I thought we told you to stay here and rest.”

“Well, I got up trying to get myself some food over the saddlebags there,” I looked over to the table. “And I found myself looking over the letter I had received the day before...”

“Turns out the letter was from the captain of the Royal Guards, and it informed me of-” My voice started breaking. “Of the death of my father.” My friends' eyes widened in surprise after that, Violet also gasping. “I got overwhelmed and went over town trying to find something to help me. After passing by one hell of a stupid idea, I walked back here, where I would just rest, but I saw a group moving into town. I thought they worked for Freddie.”

“Turns out they didn't, at least from my understanding, and they wanted something from this town. I heard something about a boat, but it doesn't matter. They started terrorizing the town and I decided to stop them.” I continued. “I just had.”

Both of them kept looking at me for a while after my whole explanation. “Dear Celestia, I'm sorry about all this Atlas.” Violet said, still getting around everything and trying not to bring memories to herself. “I don't suppose that was a way of you letting some rage out, or even because you just wanted to save this folk, right?” Blackburn added.

“It wasn't either of those, Black.” I replied. “I just felt I needed to do that. Maybe not for me, but for someone else.” I said as I looked at the pokeball that held Aurora.

“But uh...” Violet continued. Her face told me she was worried to her core. “How you holding there?”

“I'm fine Violet. I just need some time, a few days, to get used to these events.” I answered, feeling much stronger now because of the medicine.

Violet was about to ask another thing, but Blackburn poked her o the back and looked her with an expression that told her it was better to ask questions later. She nodded and the both of them looked back at me. “When do you think you'll be ready to walk with your old pal again?” Blackburn asked.

I pushed the blanket aside and got on my hooves. One step. Weak. Another, pushed by my determination, shaking with cold. “Atlas, you all right?” Violet asked.

A third step, powerful. Fourth. Invincible. “Now is gold.” I replied, floating my items to me. I wore my saddlebags again after days since yesterday and got my pokeballs back to their places. The three of us walked out and headed outside. After all, we had a boat back to Cianwood to catch.