Author's Note

About the comment on the grammar please note, I wrote most of this chapter before the comment. I will try and work on the comma's starting from chapter 6!

Chapter 5

Ok, perhaps he had slightly underestimated how far the dining room would be from the infirmary, but it wasn’t a big deal his better physique had not let him down. Johann finally arrived at the door of what was supposed to be the dining room (or hopefully for Rainbow Dash because if she had purposely made them go the wrong way she would get it.) the entire goddamn way the annoying blue pegasi had kept her gaze locked upon him to the point he had needed to suppress himself from knocking her out.

Suppressing that was something he hadn’t needed to do in a long time and already he had to put up with her behavior he knew sooner or later this would end badly for the two of them no doubt no one would like it if he hurt the blue mare (minus James).

“We’re here monkey things so you better behave.” Rainbow stated warningly.

“You better pray this is the right location or I will give you a close up from the floor and walls of this hallway!” Johann hissed back with quite a lot of venom mixed in with his cold voice whilst she kept up her tough posture he could see the fear in her eyes building up.

“Johann that wasn’t kind of you and I had expected better from you as well Rainbow.” Twilight stated disappointed in the two which only earned her an annoyed sight from the masked human and some mumbling from Rainbow.

Rarity also sighted she could already tell the masked human was not having a high opinion of Rainbow it would be for the better to keep Rainbow away from the two as much as possible. James had been silent the entire way seemingly uninterested in the argument not that she could blame him she herself would have liked to just go alone to the dining room rather than putting up with the high tensioned atmosphere around them.

The guards next to the door silently opened the door seemingly ignoring the argument between the creature and one of the element bearers. The group stepped into the dining room and the doors closed behind them.

The dining hall was well big very big enough to make both men think it was a ballroom. The walls were white with some golden curves here and there. The dining table was the biggest both men had seen in their lives. The only two ponies of interests where Shining Armor and Cadence who James guessed Celestia had called up he recalled her speaking about the humans being acquainted with all the royalty (he wondered if Johann was notified of this).

Johann silently put Twilight in a seat next to her brother and looked around to see only a free spot next to Luna. ‘Fucking great!’ Johann thought to himself not that he did not like the princess, but he had gotten a nightmare when he had fallen asleep at night and he dared to bet she had seen it, her attempts at averting her eyes at him confirmed his thought. ‘This is going to be awkward.’ Johann sat down next to the princess unsure how to react.

Unseen by anybody Cadence started shivering as princess of love she could sense emotions love was a warm emotion, but the masked creature was well she felt nothing he wasn’t warm or cold. The masked one only possessed a calculated hatred and the other one possessed a hot fury combined with sadness and longing whilst these later ones were also present in the masked one he more represented an empty void.

Both humans were in a bad mood not only had the nightmare from Johann once again made his hatred of James rise and James inability to find sleep his hatred of Johann there had also been a certain annoying blue pegasi who had pissed off the men already.

“Good morning James and Johann.” Celestia said whilst both men were not in a mood to say anything they did not want to be disrespectful to their host and managed to pull themselves together enough to give a polite answer although both Cadence and Shining Armor shivered from Johann’s cold voice.

After both men had taken a seat the princess spoke again. “So what will you two eat?”

“I will take a fried egg, some bread and some orange juice,” James said.

“I only eat in solitude so I will just take a cool glass of water if possible.” Johann replied Celestia frowned a bit, but quickly regained her normal posture.

“Are we not good enough to share a meal with.” Rainbow challenged.

“I withhold my opinion about your friends for a while, but I can guarantee you that I do not see forward of sharing a meal with you.”

If Rarity had not used her magic to hold rainbow’s tail she would have probably charged at the human. James took off his gloves and tossed them on the table before laying back in the chair. Johann chose to sit as motionless as possible making an uncomfortable silence fall over the group.

Luna did not look at Johann she knew he knew she had seen his nightmare and the glance he had shot her was all too clear ‘Don’t say a word about it.’ It was a cold, threatening, hateful and what hurt the most a disappointed look. He was disappointed in her for looking in his dreams she knew she had broken his trust and regaining that would be hard.

She had tried to appear to not have seen the nightmare, but the horrors it behold were too much to hide and he had seen it in her eyes her fear, her disgust, her pity for him. “Sorry.” She whispered almost inaudible.

“You should be! Make sure it does not happen ever again and I am prepared to let this one fall.” He whispered back empathizing the word ever. His tone was cold and the warning was clear although it lacked the hate his glance had contained she knew he had not forgiven her and would never forgive her this was the best she would get. She meant sorry in more than one way not only had he been sorry for intruding in his dream, but also for him having to live through such horrors.

Johann realized he was harsh against the lunar princess, but she should have been smarter than to come uninvited in his dreams the only reason he had let It fall was because this was part of her job entering the dreams of her subjects to help them and guide them through their fears, but he would not forgive her because that would have been a lie he knew he would never forgive her truly. He knew he could not there would always be some distrust left in his heart.

“Do you two miss your homes?” He heard Rarity ask. Did he miss his home? His sole purpose there was to get revenge and whilst James friends were now out his reach he could not exactly say he cared those who he really wanted he had already killed. He had no one left and lived in constant fear.

“No!” he heard James reply emotionlessly.

“No, not a bit.” He replied. This earned shocked looks from everyone except from the three princesses that knew the story.

“But isn’t that the place where everything that makes you happy is? Like your friends and your family don’t you miss those?” Pinkie asked shocked both men became silent it had been a while since both thought back about those who they had lost.

“Girls!” James and Johann prefer to not talk about their homes.

“Why?” Rainbow asked now getting extremely suspicious.

“Ah reckon you guys own us some answers.” Applejack said looking at the two. “Ah can tell both of you are hiding something.” James looked at Celestia and Luna for some help whilst Johann just remained silent hopefully the princesses changed the subject after a little bit both men knew there was no such luck.

“We own you nothing!” James hissed angrily his tone not being liked by Rainbow whose temper would match a burning lit which had almost reached the barrel of sulfur it was attached to.

“Now you listen,” She started before being interrupted by Johann.

“No, you listen you flying pain in the butt you keep that annoying mouth of yours shut unless you want to be in the infirmary in Twilight’s place and I will make sure of it you won’t fly for quite some time is that clear!” Johann’s outburst startled everyone yeah sure the two had make threats earlier, but now they could all sense that for the first time Rainbow was standing on extremely thin ice.

“You are just a big grumpy Meanie Mcmeaninson Do you threaten everypony where you are from to put them in the infirmary I doubt you have much friends or people who like you.” Pinkie said angrily as she jumped in her friend’s defense huffing in annoyance.

BOOM!!! The sound echoed through the entire room as Johann’s fist connected to the table making all the ponies look at the masked human. He looked at Pinkie Pie with eyes filled with rage and hatred which made her start trembling “And you.” He pointed at Pinkie Pie. “Let me get one thing straight you pink nuisance! I have never threatened someone before to kick their asses in the infirmary if I threaten someone those persons end up needing a morgue rather than an infirmary is that clear as to your comment on friends they are no longer of my concern!”

Pinkie was now shaking in fear, but Johann wasn’t done yet with his rant now he was busy, he would say his thoughts now loud and clear for everyone to hear. “And you!” He spat now he pointed at Applejack who shrunk under his glance. “Next time you think you think someone owns you something you better make damn sure those persons actually own you something and one more thing you better start working on speaking to me with a tad more respect because the only thing that has prevented me thus far from sewing your mouths shut are the princesses is that clear” All three of them nodded still shaking in fear.

Johann calmed a bit when suddenly a yellow blur was in his face and he looked at a very angry Fluttershy. “Do you think you can just go around and threaten somepony! Do you think it is fun to do so!” She then stared in his eyes attempting to use the stare.

He countered with his own stare and his was clearly superior as the yellow mare started trembling and shivering. “Still feeling up to challenge me?” Fluttershy quickly shook no and returned to her place. Johann grinned inwardly he had reduced four ponies to absolute wrecks.

“Stop this immediately!!!” Celestia bellowed sternly.

“I will stop this indeed immediately! I am out of here I have been disrespected enough times today already!!!” Johann bellowed rivaling Celestia’s voice. “I have been threatened, offended and discriminated and I still don’t even have my bloody cool water!!!! I am disappointed in you ponies! You tell us about love and tolerance yet those three!” he pointed at Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Applejack “Those three have discriminated me more than I have ever been in my entire life before I even got my glass of cool water!” All the ponies shrunk back in their seats whilst James was watching with great amusement.

“I am out of here!” Johann exclaimed before storming towards the door.

“Johann.” Celestia tried, but was silenced immediately by him.

“Save your voice princess! I will find that water on my own! I hope you enjoy your breakfast.” That was the last they heard of him before he stormed out of the room. Followed by the ponies coming in with their food looking a bit pale. ‘A calm Johann is creepy an angry one is just a living nightmare.’ James mused happily in his mind as a pony set down his order in front of him and he started eating like nothing had happened whilst the pones seemed to have been petrified in their seats.

****

Johann was walking through the hallways he had managed to calm down quite a bit already not a single guard had stopped him although he did notice a lot of ponies hurrying away from him not that he cared he doubted they would be useful for him anyways. He walked around a corner and bumped against a green flying blur.

“Awh! Oh I am sorry oh it’s you uhm,” Dream said as she saw who it was.

“Johann Wolf, but just call me Johann.” He replied as he helped Dream back up.

“Thank you Johann once again I am sorry for bumping into you.”

“Don’t be it was as much my fault as it was yours anyway what are you doing here?” He asked, secretly quite happy he ran into the mare as he found her rather nice company making her besides Luna and Twilight the only enjoyable pony in this castle so far.

“I was just wandering a bit I just finished up arranging the storage room so I have some free time. How about you? What drove you to this part of the palace?”

He debated on whether to tell her what had happened in the dining room or not after thinking it through he decided to go for it so he told her what had occurred she seemed hocked at his story. “Dear Celestia! I had not expected four of the elements of Harmony to react such way.
”
“Don’t fret about it although I still haven’t found a drink it seems wandering a second time aimlessly hasn’t brought me to a place to grab a drink as of yet.”

Dream looked at him with a sympathetic smile. “Follow me I know where to find a drink.”

The two walked through the hallways. Johann happy that he was finally making some progress after a while they arrived at Dream’s room and entered. “I hope you don’t mind, but I am afraid if I bring you to the kitchen there’s going to break out panic.”

“It’s no problem I am grateful for your hospitality and helpfulness I shall find a way to get some food myself.”

“I have some leftovers if you want it’s not much, but it’s yours if you want.”

“I am grateful once again for your help however I prefer to eat in solitude I hope you understand.”

“Don’t worry I prefer that as well.” Dream went over to a table and showed him the leftovers of some cheese, bread and a jar filled with water. He filled a glass with the water and took out another straw and started drinking whilst he didn’t say anything Dream saw the water did him good as he visibly relaxed as he drank.

“You seem to enjoy your water quite well.” Dream noted.

“Yes, water is my favorite beverage and I was quite thirsty.”

“Not to pry or anything, but why do you actually wear the mask to begin with it doesn’t seem to be that handy?” Dream asked curiously.

“You would be surprised how many times this mask has helped me whilst it’s makes me unable to eat as long as I wear it and only able to drink through a straw it makes me able to withstand certain types of bullets not all, but a few of the more used types for handguns above that melee weapons are also not very efficient so they can’t land any cheap blows on my face above that one cannot find a man of whom he does not know how he looks making it harder for my enemies to track me down.”

“I assume you had many of those.” Dream stated not exactly knowing what guns were.

“You could say that although most of them are dead by now.” Johann stated flatly to his surprise she didn’t cringe or anything when he stated they died like the other ponies had when he told them about death. “You don’t seem very taken aback by me stating they died whereas all ponies I have told this to cringed at least well besides Luna, but god knows what she all saw in the nightmares of her subjects although even she was fazed when she intruded my nightmare.

“Well, it’s personal, but let’s just say I dealt with death on more ways than most ponies before if you ever need a listening ear come to me,” She said smiling weakly.

He was touched by the offer and glad he had someone besides Luna who had gone through some hard times well Celestia had probably seen her fair share, but he did not like the princess that much as he was certain of it she was watching him with hawk eyes to see if he messed with her subjects.

“Thank you I will be sure to take you up on that offer one day know that. Know that the same thing applies to you if you need a listening ear just come to the hairless monkey thing.” Johann said using the nickname Rainbow Dash had given him (he would get her back for that one from the moment he found a good one).

Dream needed to suppress a giggle at the name granted his cold voice (she was sure of it that voice was his natural now). Didn’t make it sound like it was a way to break the ice so to speak, but she knew he did mean it like that even if he didn’t show it. Oh how she wondered how he looked underneath that mask did he look like the other creature or did he look completely different, but for now she took contentment in it that she was one of the few the human (as she had found out his species was called) trusted.

****

James had had an interesting day to say the least he had seen Johann lose his calm, had seen all ponies including the princesses get petrified and had eaten a good meal for the first time in quite some time. He knew Johann wasn’t truly offended as much as he had made it look, he was just a good actor no doubt he just wanted to make them feel guilty.

If that was the case he had succeeded the looks the ponies had after his department where priceless and made him wish he had a photo camera or anything else to record them with. To his delight princess Cadance had turned out into a pleasurable conversation partner and even if her husband needed some improvements he had been better than most of the elements although it was quite hard to give him a worse welcome than that of the elements.

Now his day had returned to being boring (meaning aimlessly around the castle). “Oh Johann so got lost in this place, no way he found that storage room on purpose.” He mumbled under his breath as he wandered on occasionally passing a guard or some servants none bothered to greet him instead opting for hurrying themselves away from him even the guards, although they made it a bit less obvious.

“James wait up!” He heard a voice call out and when he turned around he saw princess Luna, so he waited a bit for her to catch up.

“Have you had any luck locating Johann?” Only after Luna had asked the question did she realize how stupid that sounded granted the two had not had any more knife fights (to her knowledge), but they definitely didn’t get along enough for James to worry about his current location.

“Can’t say I have.” He replied drily wondering if the princess realized how ridiculous the question sounded.

“Listen I want to apologize for everyponies behavior to you and Johann, although I have a lot of trouble to track him down due to your resistance against magic.”

He could feel genuine sorrow in her eyes. “Listen you have nothing to apologize for as you have not offended me in any way nor have you done such a thing to Johann.” However as he said that he could see the princess’s eyes darken a bit if only briefly.

“You did something stupid with him didn’t you?”

“Yes, but promise to not tell Johann or anyone else off of this.”

“I promise.”

“I went into his dreams to try and get a better understanding of how your world looked and let’s just say, I got more than I bargained for and he was able to somehow figure out I intruded his dreams and well he made me promise to not tell anyone what I saw.” She finished silently.

He had conflicted feelings one part of him wanted to comfort her for he had an idea what kind of madness she saw in there, but another part wanted to lash out at her for daring to intrude into someone’s dreams even if that guy was Johann. He decided to comfort her as he was sure of it Johann had already got the point across.

“I am sorry you saw that I can imagine what it was like.”

“Thank you I shall not intrude either of you two’s dreams anymore.” Luna spoke up before turning to walk away. He could hear her unable something along the lines of. “So many and so violent!”

Right before she exited the room Luna turned around and said. “If you find Johann please tell him to come to the throne room at midnight. We have some things to discuss.” Before she closed the door behind her whilst James had no clue what was so important that Johann needed to talk to her at midnight he assumed she had her reasons and so he continued his path.