Time passes quickly when you give up. I never knew that, but then again, I've never given up before. I always tried my hardest, gave it my all. That's how I managed such good grades in school, how I was able to complete a series of short part-time jobs that allowed me to afford my telescope, how I was able to put up with all the crap I got from the other more popular kids at school. I always gave it my all, always ignored the impossible, and I always achieved my goal. No matter the difficulty, I always prevailed. If there was a last minute quiz, I had my notes ready. I would stay up half the night studying for finals. I always achieved my goals...

When I needed money to go on a school field trip, I dipped into my personal stash of cash I had from my short jobs. I was able to easily replenish it with a few tutoring classes I gave after school in the library. The field trip was strenuous. Everything went wrong. The bus got a flat tire in the middle of the trip, and we students refused to give up that easily. All sixty-seven of us had gotten off the bus with the bus driver. He had the spare attached to the front of the bus, but no way to jack up the bus. So what did my friend Richy suggest? Nothing; he thrust me out into the middle of the crowd and gathered everyone's attention. I ended up making the stupid suggestion of all of us helping tilt the bus up to help the driver. It was a simple and ridiculous idea, but to my surprise, everyone had done it, and we were back on track. Even my stupidest ideas seemed to work. But now... I can't even fathom any possibility of reaching my goal to live. I'm breathing on borrowed time. And there is nothing the most powerful magical beings in this world can do about it.

I was not going home... I was not going to see my parents or my friends again... I was not going to live through this...

Shortly after my encounter with Silver Star, the princesses Celestia and Twilight Sparkle, accompanied by two guards, had shown up in my room. Twilight was at a loss of words when she came to my bedside and tried to speak. Celestia merely shook her head. I can still remember the words she spoke.

"I realize that my orders are the cause of your current predicament. As the co-ruler of Equestria, I have sworn to protect all life... and I have failed. I was worried. And I know that is no excuse for putting you through what I have, but having such a unique and unusual creature such as yourself show up so soon after one of the greatest threats to Equus was defeated... I became paranoid. And in my delusions, I have killed you. I am so sorry."

Twilight had learned from Luna as well the nature of my being here, and to put it lightly, she became a nervous wreck. Once she was at my bedside, the tears came heavier than my own. She rambled off apology after apology after apology, trying to make me understand how sorry she truly was. It was very unprofessional of a princess, I thought, but Celestia had said that she was very new to being royalty and had not adjusted to the responsibilities that came with the title of 'Princess.'

I was in no mood to talk, so I simply turned over in my bed and huddled up into a ball.

Night came and went, and my second day was at hand. My body was beginning to show signs of taking in too much magic; my limbs were heavy, my head swimming in a haze, and slight nausea. Luna has gotten the royal fabric workers to make me some sort of outfit, which I gratefully accepted. The black shirt was baggy and loose, and the pants were a bit long, nearly covering my toes, but this made me as happy as a dying man could be. I still didn't know what happened to my underwear, but that was the last thing on my mind. A hug from the princess of the night and she was on her way.

A few hours later, Breaking ground, Wild Berry, and Bytes came in, shimmying along various machines into the room with them. I was dead to the world, so I offered no resistance while the poked and prodded me with various needles, measuring instruments, and other assorted medical items. Wild Berry was not happy with me for some reason (as if I didn't know) and multiple times she vigorously shook me in an attempt to get me moving again. I promptly told her to fuck off and she left the issue alone.

For the next good while, the three research ponies tested my reactions to various tests with the machines. One certain test required the use of a spell, so Wild Berry was quick to act and cast it on me to see if that would improve my condition. I'm not going to sugarcoat it; it was the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life. I would rather pull out every one of my teeth with a pair of pliers and try to eat them than go through that again. I blacked out after writhing in pain for nearly a half hour, all the while the guards and even Princess Twilight was yelling at them, explaining in detail the effects magic would have on me.

The third day was absolute hell. It hurt to breathe, it hurt to speak, it hurt to be alive. I wanted it to end so badly, but a little voice in the back of my head kept telling me to hold on for one more day. Just in case the princesses find something, just one more day of waiting.

I should have ripped that voice out of my head and beat it to death with a soup ladle.

Pain spiked every time I moved. Even the beat of my heart sent waves of suffering throughout my body. Princess Luna was adamant not to leave my side during this time, as she kept saying this one sentence over and over.

"Just let me know."

But that voice just kept telling me to hold on, and so that's what I did. I suffered through the rest of the day and into the night. I was unable to fall asleep because of the physical torment flowing though my veins. And so, I was cursed that night to stare up at the blank ceiling for the whole night, all the while noticing how much worse the pain had been getting as I took more magic into my body. I was constantly in tears that night, and the magma flowing through my body was only getting hotter. My vision would blur and then cease for moments, then return in a fit of pain. My hearing would do the same, and even more cruel, so would my sense of feeling. I would be in such a peaceful bliss of nothingness for just a few seconds, and then my senses would come to life and fill my being with nothing but agony. Eventually, I lost the ability to cry; I had shed so many tears that I could no longer do so. I had not eaten in over a week, and my entire existence was nothing but pain.

Which brings us to my current position.

Luna had left for a hour or so, such a slow terrible hour, but returned with her sister Celestia, Twilight, and Swift Lightning. They gathered around my bed and murmured amongst themselves. At the moment, Swift is next to my bed with his forelegs placed on the edge of my mattress to prop himself up. He doesn't have his helmet on right now so his black mane is free and hangs over his left eye. He does, however, have on his golden armor and hoof guards.

"Hey... how you holding in there?" he asks me in a soft voice.

I slowly turn my head to look at him. "...Swift... has anything come up?" I croak.

He shakes his head. "No... nothing has."

I turn my head back to the ceiling. "...Thought so."

Swift shuffles his weight and his wings flutter. "...Maverick..."

I bring a hand up to silence him, even though it hurts. "Swift... Listen to me. Get the others over here."

Swift nods and jumps down from my bed. I close my eyes for a second, but when I open them all three princesses and Swift Lightning are standing around my bed.

I nod ever so slighty. "Thanks."

"Is there something you need Maverick?" Twilight asks, sadness dripping from her voice.

"Yes," I answer. "I need... to talk to you all." All four heads lean in closer. "...I'm not going to last much longer." I look into each pair of eyes to gauge their reaction. "...Swift..." The pegasus leans even closer and I raise a hand. My hand comes down heavily on the top of his head, and I ruffle him mane. "I want you to know... that even though we barely know each other... I consider you a friend. You were very nice, very cool... very friendly towards me, and I appreciate that."

"Maverick..." Swift scrunches up his face.

"Hey Swift... do me a last favor... Two, actually."

He hastily nods. "Anything."

I nod back at him. "When you see Silver Star... smack her upside the head for me... and tell her there's no hard feelings between us." He nods, so I continue. "...My other favor... Do you still have any of those flower extract smokes?"

Swift's eyes widen at my request, but he opens the front of his armor and reaches inside. He pulls out the small case I remember from when we met and flips it open. Gingerly, he takes a single cigarette out of the case and places it between my lips. I nod as he takes out his lighter and flicks it open. I lean forward as he brings the flame closer to me, and I inhale deeply once it's lit. Instantly the cloud of relieves some of my internal pain, but only for a second. I cough as I exhale, sending the ponies around me into worried fits.

I recover after a few seconds and clap Swift on his shoulder. "Thanks man."

"No problem," he replies.

I move my head to the next pony I wish to speak to. "...Twilight," I say, smoke billowing from the corners of my mouth.

The purple pony princess adjusts herself. "Yes Maverick?"

"I want you to know that I don't blame you for this."

"But," she starts, "it's my fault you are here!"

"Luna already explained it," I say. "If you hadn't done what you did, Tirek would have taken over. Don't... Don't blame yourself for something that happened almost a year later that no one could have predicted." I nod at her and inhale another lungful of smoke, pain emanating from my chest as it expands. "...I just wanted you to know that."

She hesitates for a moment, but nods.

I move my eyes to the white alicorn. "Celestia." Her stoic gaze falters when I say her name. "...You ordered to have me to be thrown in the dungeon. Ordered to have me moved to a nicer room, but remain a prisoner. You ordered to have me examined. You ordered to have my magic restrained," I say the last part while rubbing the section of my neck that had been covered by the stone collar Twilight had given me. "You ordered the lanterns to be placed outside my door."

"I did not mean—" she begins, but I cut her off by blowing a large mushroom cloud of smoke into the air near her snout.

"You did not mean to kill me. I know." I take another drag and wait before exhaling. "...Can I be honest?" I wait for her to nod. "I don't like you, Celestia. I really don't. And I know that you know why. But regardless, you were acting on impulse. You were worried for the safety of your kingdom. And while... ugh, while I do hold a bit of acrimony towards you for doing this, and I'll probably never let this go, I completely understand your reasoning... I think."

Celestia's head hangs so low that her nose touches my shoulder. "I'm sorry," she says quietly. "I'm so sorry that this is happening. I never intended for any of this to happen. I'm sorry..."

"Celestia." My voice brings her head up. "...I want you to know that regardless of everything you put me through, you did it because you wanted nothing but the safety of your subjects. For the most part, you are a good ruler, and I hope you continue your reign for years to come. Just don't be so rash next time. And I'm sorry for acting like I did."

Celestia shakes her head at me. "...I was wrong about you, Maverick Garcia. I am truly sorry."

I nod at her. "And finally," I say as I turn my head to the last pony. "...Luna."

She comes closer and nuzzles my cheek with her own. "Yes, Maverick?"

"I want to thank you... for everything. That dream you gave me, it made me realize how much I really had. And even though... Even though I'll never see my parents again, never see my friends... You gave me one last look at them. I even got to... to play my sax." I wipe my eyes as dry tears try to form.

"You are welcome Maverick," Luna answers. "...It is such a shame that this must happen. I was really looking forward to hearing you play again."

"Yeah..." I say as I turn my head back to the ceiling. "...Me too." I close my eyes and wait for the next wave of pain to slow. "...Luna... It's time. I can't stand this anymore."

"Right," Luna calmly says. I hear her move and feel something heavy land in my left hand. "Here."

I open my eyes again and look down. A small brown sack with a yellow string sits in my palm. I slowly reach over with my right arm and tug at the yellow thread holding the bag shut. Once it's off, I open the bag and pour out it's contents into my hand. Two gold coins.

"You'll need them in the other life," Luna tells me.

I close my fist around the coins. "Thank you." I cross my hands over my chest and the cigarette falls from my lips. "...I'm ready."

I feel Luna press her horn to my forehead. "You won't feel a thing." Her horn begins to slowly get warmer as it charges. I can feel the magic in my body flow towards it, welcoming it. The pain begins to lessen, and I sigh in short relief. "Goodbye Maverick," Luna coos. "May your afterlife be a pleasant one."

"If it isn't, I'll come back and haunt your flanks." Despite the situation, everyone gives a soft chuckle. Including me. I feel myself begin to slip over the edge, and I don't resist it's cold and tender embrace. The insides of my eyelids turn bright pink, and then white. The sounds of the outside world begin to fade, and the whiteness begins to darken. The pain... it's almost gone. I force myself to smile as it dissipates, and finally, I'm at—

A loud bang! throws me back into the world of the living, and back into my inferno of torment. Every nerve is screaming at me, and I can't help the animalistic screech that rips itself from my throat. I bolt upright and hold my head in my hands, trying to make the pain stop.

"Stop! Don't do it! Not yet!" A heavy form bounces onto my body and forces me back down. I crack my eyes open just enough to see an armorless Silver Star straddling my chest. She's rummaging through a small sack that's tied to her body, and after finding it, Silver pulls out a small flask.

Luna is trying to push her off of me. "Chief Executive Silver Star, what in heaven's name to you think you are doing!?"

"I'm saving his life!" Silver yells back. "Everypony hold him down!"

"What are you doing!?" I hear Swift ask.

"Just do it!" she screams.

With that, each pony takes one of my limbs in their grasp as Silver pops the top off of her flask. A second later, she literally rips my shirt open and pours some of the flask's liquid onto my bare chest. It's reddish brown, smells terrible, and it fizzles and stings as it makes contact, and I'm barely able to contain another scream as my already-doomed nerves experience more torture. Silver then leans back and pours some of the liquid onto her own chest as she works the goop on my chest into a messy pattern. She recreates the pattern on her own barrel and reaches back into her bag with her soiled foreleg. Her hoof comes up, and in it's grasp hangs a silver locket.

She thrusts the locket towards me. "Spit on this." I open my mouth, but can't move. I end up leaning back into my pillow trying not to struggle. "Argh!" Silver screams at the air, then her head dive bombs into mine. She forces me into a kiss. There is no passion behind it, no heat, no resistance on my part. Her tongue runs over my own, grazes my teeth, and wipes my gums. Silver Star pulls back after a period of time, mulling something over in her mouth, then she brings the locket up to her mouth, opens it, and spits inside. With a quick motion, the locket is closed and she puts it over my head and lets it rest in the mess she has drawn on my chest. Silver then lays down on top of me, making the locket dig into my chest.

Silver's forehead presses against my own, her horn vibrating against the top of my head, and she begins to chant. The words are unfamiliar, foreign, and powerful. I can feel the power they hold, and I'm certain the others can as well. Through clenched eyes, my mind's eye can clearly see the shock on the other occupants of the room.

Suddenly, the pain in my body increases tenfold, and I unleash a primal howl of death. This causes the room to go into a panic; Twilight and Luna try their hardest to pry Silver Star off my body, while Celestia and Swift try to stop me from coming with her. All of the ponies are yelling, and the noise is driving nails into my brain. I let out another howl as Silver Star begins another verse of her magic words.

And then... the pain is gone.

Silver stops chanting, the others stop yelling, and my eyes shoot open. I take a deep breath, deeper than I have ever before, and let it rush out. I do this multiple times, trying to fill my lungs, but with each breath I just can't seem to get any oxygen. Silver Star says one more word and relief rushes into my body. Pure bliss overrides my senses for a split second, and I take another breath, this time being able to actually breathe. Silver Star moves slightly and the locket stuck between our bodies slides out and comes to a rest in my armpit. The string attached to it is wrapped firmly around my neck, tangled.

"Will somepony explain to me..." Celestia says as she tries once more to move Silver's body off of my own, "...What in my name has just happened!?"

"I think she preformed a spell," Twilight says quietly.

"We can see that," Luna says firmly. "What's going on?"

"...Maverick?" I look down at the pony slumped on my chest. Silver Star is looking right back, a smile on her face. "...You're alive."

"...What did you do to me?" I ask her.

"I saved your life," she answers, clearly tired. "You are my responsibility, and I will not let you die while you're under my watch." Silver gives me another smirk before she passes out. Her body begins to slide off of mine. I ease her onto the bed beside me, moving slightly to make room for her. Her head rests right on my neck, her horn a bit too close to my chin for comfort, but I ignore that and turn back to the four ponies staring at me.

"...What did she do to me?"

"You tell us," Celestia replies. "...How... How do you feel?"

"Do you want us to continue?" Luna asks me with a worried expression.

I wave my free hand at her, seeing as how my other is underneath Silver's sleeping form. "No, no... Not yet. Maybe not at all." I look down at my body. "...Whatever she did... I don't hurt anymore."

My four guests relax a tad, but still retain their serious attitudes. Luna turns to her sister. "Should we get another bed?" she asks while motioning to the unicorn asleep next to me. I wave another hand at her.

"Let her sleep," I say. "Moving her may not be the best idea." I work my trapped arm out from under Silver Star and wrap it around her barrel. In turn, she snuggles closer to my body. "...This isn't considered wrong, is it?" I ask to the group.

"No," Celestia answers. "It is fine. But we all have some serious talking to do once she awakens."

The princesses talk amongst themselves, trying to understand what the guard pony had done that they couldn't. Swift is by my side again running his hoof over his stepsister's mane. He asks me the usual questions; Are you okay? Is she okay? What do you think she did to me? I tell him 'I don't know' to all of his questions, but he doesn't leave. I'm glad for it, too. even though she's asleep, this is the closest I've been to Silver Star, and that makes me feel uncomfortable. She's the crazy unicorn mercenary who, within the first twenty minutes of meeting her, nearly made me sick, stripped me down to my birthday suit, and abandoned me in the bathroom. The crazy unicorn who's smart aleck mouth always cut into my ears, the crazy unicorn who decided it would be a good idea to play with herself while I was bathing.

The crazy unicorn who may had just saved my life.

I am not going home... I am not going to see my parents or my friends again... But thanks to this crazy unicorn, I'm going to live for short while longer...

Author's Note

This whole chapter is nothing like I had planned! I had every chapter written in my head, but as soon as I start to type, it messes itself up and turns into this! I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing! I still have a general idea of how this story is supposed to go, but it keeps changing from my initial plans! Argh!

Oh well. As long as it gives me something to do.