Chapter 9: Dark days ahead....

Chapter Nine : Dark days ahead...

Thankfully Octavia had a spare bedroom i could stay in, she told me i could stay as long as i have to. Since i couldn't sleep i went down to the kitchen, pulled a dust tray out of the bag and a lighter, opened the window and lit a cigarette, surprisingly she didn't wake up to the smoke, either did anypony think there was a fire from the smoke. What now John, you really messed up this time... I was just taunting myself. Who knows, maybe i'll pick up a job as a mercenary... My train of thoughts was interrupted when i realized. Shit, i have to go to the *Crystal Empire** tomorrow...* It wasn't too late, so i decided to ask Spike to send a letter to Cadence for me about me quitting the job and many apologies. "Thanks Spike, owe you a favor" He grinned.

"Let's just not wake me up late night next time" I left and went back to Octavia, she was sipping some tea in the kitchen, i guess she's about elegance just like Rarity. As i stepped in, she greeted me with a simple.

"Can't sleep much?" I nodded, and took a seat next to her at the table.

"Oh Octavia, what should i do?" She began thinking.

"Do you have anywhere to go? A friend or relative yet?"

"Well, only Brian... But i wouldn't be a burden on my brother, either on you" I crossed my hands on the table in front of me and laid my head onto them.

"Hmm, anything else you're good at? Other than... you know"

"Not much... Wait, i do have somewhere to go but, i promised not to tell anypony what and where it is..." She looked less worried now.

"Let's go to sleep now..." We went back to our rooms, and slept. That night was another nightmare, tho it was shared with Brian.

"Hey Brian, am i just dreaming you or are you actually here?" He grinned.

"As much as i'm not imagining you... Look John, i have something important to tell you... bad news..." I turned to a frown, he looked depressed, soon i understood why. "I have a heart disease, sooner later it will fail and... i'll have to say goodbye to you, and all of our friends... I'm fully aware that you however are not-capable of death" Tears formed in my eyes, just the thought of losing my brother and being stuck in this body for all eternity separated from him was crushing...

"No... That can't be true... There must be a way! I'm immortal, i can survive without my organs, i can give you my heart and..." By now he was standing in front of me, one of his hands on my shoulder, slowly shaking his head.

"It would be unfair to others... I still have a few months tho, i just wanted to let you know, Dash already knows" I took a few steps back, letting myself fall to despair and sorrow.

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John was now barely visible, yet he was about a meter away, he was enveloped by some dark mist and his eyes turned red, piercing throught the darkness of the could that was now surrounding him. "No... Even if you die... I will find a way to bring you back..." Okay, now he was getting creepy.

"John, please understand, i lived a happy long and loving life... I don't want to spend my last weeks knowing you are stressing out about me." His eyes turned back to normal, the red pupils were gone. His eyes were just like when i let him in back on earth, the cloud disappeared yet his face was covered by teh shadow his hood made.

"Brian... How do you want to be burried? Coffin, cremated?" Good point.

"A coffin would do..." Then, i heard him gasp and soon sobbing followed, he was crying for me... I walked closer to comfort him with a brotherly embrace, but when i got close enough i noticed i noticed he was... crying blood... Blood poured out of his eyes, making their way down his clothes, i embraced him into a bear hug and tapped his back. "It's okay John, it's okay..." Then, he let me go, i let him go.

"Brian, one question..." I raised an eyebrow. "What would happen to... Dash?" That question hit me off guard, i knew he had endured much more pain than i have, the pain of my wings were nothng to measure to his suffering for others so far...

"John, how much does getting stabbed hurt?" He raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean? Why do you want to kno... No, don't you dare do that!" I guess i gave him the wrong idea...

"No, i'm not planning on doing that, just tell me how much. If you stab me here in a dream i will simply wake up but feel the pain, and will not be hurt" He sighed, with and unexpected *Click* a long blade extended from his wrist.

"Where do you want it? Stomach, heart or throat?" I grinned.

"You know how to do it don't you? Whichever is the quickest way to go" He sighed again.

"You're the one who asked me to do this..." Suddenly i felt pain like never before, he stabbed me in the stomach, heart and slit my throat. He gently let me fall to the ground, and closed my eyes.

"Requiescat In Pace, Brother" Was that really how the assassin's gave their enemies their final rights?

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He slowly started fading away, i guess he was waking up. "See you tomorrow" With that, he disappeared. A minute later i heard a familiar voice talking to me.

"Isn't that just terrible, John?" I looked around, in the total darkness around me. Suddenly another beam of light appeared, and a familiar cyan coat pegasus walked up.

"Hey Dash, you know about it don't you?" She nodded, tears in her eyes. I knew i probably was the one who was in the worse situation, seeing that i will never meet up with him, or her, or any of my friends in the afterlife... but she was about to lose her father afterall, something i already been through. I woke up breathing heavily and sweating, it was morning. I checked the kitchen, looks like i wasn't the first to wake up.

"Morning John..." I walked up to her.

"Thanks for letting me stay, if you'd excuse i would leave now, i have a few things to take care of" She nodded.

"Any time, and good luck" I left and made my way over to Brian's house, i knocked on the door.

"Who's that?" I rolled my eyes around.

"Who do you think i am? Santa?" The door opened, Dash welcomed me with a half smile.

"Where is Brian?" She frowned.

"In the hospital..." Was he really that sick?

"How and when was it discovered?"

"Under the 3 years i was away on flight training, and if i remember correctly you were away as well" I nodded.

"Let's go visit him" She nodded and we left for the hospital, on the way we were in complete silence. When we got to the enterance we stoped.

"John..."

"Hmm?"

"Race to Brian!" I grinned, she flew upwards, i turned into a could of smoke flying through the building, getting there before her.

"About time to arrive Dash" Her jaw dropped, i looked back at my brother.

"Is it really that bad already?" He nodded with a frown. I walked up to the wall next to his bed, and then. *Thump* *Bang* *Boom* *Thump* Soon the wall gave to my headbutts and i made a hole. "I hope they have insurance against idiots" I commented, they broke out in laughter, tho is quickly died down.

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When i woke up, i looked at the medallion still on the ground, i know John was rightfully upset, now also knowing the grave news about his brother... He must be in a terrible state of mind, i walked down to the kitchen for breakfast, usually we have breakfast together with Tia. So before the kitchen i went to her room. "Hey, Tia. Are you there?" A yawn replied, the door opened and we walked down to the kitchen, and sat down for breakfast. "I should've been more careful about my emotions, that must have been painful for John, getting all of his bones shattered to dust and organs turnd into mush..." Tia nodded. "What if he decides to turn against us?" A while later i found the anwser to my question. "No, don't you dare put him through that like you did to me" She sighed.

"Look Luna, i know you have faith in him for his loyalty to bring him back here, so do i but... He does have his own will and life..." Tho i wanted to disagree, she was right...

"But if you banish him, he'll simply go insane, and like everything, the banishment will come to an end as well... I don't think having an immortal assassin with a legendary weapon roaming free in Equestria would be the safest for our subjects..." I caught her off guard, she made a facial expression and i had no idea about it's meaning.

"I guess you're right... but... What should we do?" I facehoofed.

"Maybe what's appropriate and apologize? Maybe?" After that sentence, she slammed on the table.

"What do you mean apologize? We are royalty, do you know what would happen if we would start apologizing to everypony?!" I looked around, the guards at the door gave me a nod showing their agreement, but with a worried face.

"Celestia, we are the rulers, all those ponies outside rely on our decisions! Most of them expect us to show them or tell them what is right! Don't you dare let your pride get in the way of your duty!" As i finished the sentence, another guard rushed in through the door.

"My aplogies your highnesses, Princess Luna, there is an unicorn claiming to be your daughter waiting at the gates" I stood up, and gave the cook an approving look, soon after Tia did the same.

"Thank you, your hignesses" We left the kitchen, i went to the gates while Tia went the other way, when i got there i wasn't surprised it was Moonsinger.

"What bring you here Moonsinger? Shouldn't you be home with your brothers and sisters?" She shook her head.

"We were attacked by the changelings, we managed to fight them off but... we need some help with the repairs, or at least defending our workers" That however did surprise me.

"What?! The changelings?! Go look for John, i know he won't hesitate to help you... Unfortunately i have things to do here... Belive me they are worthless things, but they have to be done" She nodded in response.

"I hope it won't be too late..." As she turned around i got an idea. "Wait!" I turned to two of the pegasus guards. "You two, take her to Ponyville A.S.A.P!" They nodded.

"Yes your majesty" Just a second later they flew off towards the town. **John, please help them...

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I was wondering why, the same doctor i woke up to came in through the door. "Good morning Mr.Dash,Ms.Dash... And good to see someone as recognized and important making time for his brother here too sir" I guess it was me he was talking about...

"Good to see you're still okay doc" He nodded, then turned toward Brian.

"Mr.Dash, you should be fine for a good while now... Just don't stress yourself or do too hard labor. You're free to leave the hospital" Brian smiled, so did we all.

"Thanks doc" He replied, i helped him get up and they gave him his clothes back, we left the room to let him change back, when i saw him i was surprised yet honored at the same time. Turns out he had worn the military equipment i gave him, every day...

"What did you expect?" I had nothing to say, i was proud of him. We walked back to their house, when we got there the door was busted open.

"What in the name of Celestia?" Dash stood in the doorway, looking around she noticed nopony inside. I reached into the bag, and handed Brian my pistol, he was hesitant as first but he took it.

"Hang on to it" He nodded. "Dash, sorry to ask but stay out here, Brian cover me" To my surprise instead of saying Sure they replied with a Yes sir! I chuckled, throwing a flashlight over to him, he saw enough movies to know how to properly hold those two together. When we got to the bedroom i noticed a figure rummage around, i bumped his elbow. "Over there..." I whispered, he shined the flashlight at the figure, it was startled of course.

"Hey, who are you?" Brian asked, pointing the pistol at Moonsinger.

"Oh, hi John, i was just looking for you! Uhm, would your friend mind pointing that thing anywhere else but at me?" Brian lowered the pistol.

"What is it Moonsinger?"

"Please come with me back to the garden, i'll explain on the way" We cleaned up the mess she made and fixed the door, in the meantime she told me about the attack and that they need help.

"Hey, mind if i come too?" We swapped glances.

"What about your heart?" He grinned.

"The doctor said no hard labor, standing guard isn't. And it wouldn't be stressful either" We agreed to let him come over, but not to tell anypony the whereabouts and what it is. Dash heard it all of course and ran up to him.

"Dad! Be careful..." He gave her a hug and told her.

"Don't worry, if i survive then i'll see you tomorrow" It was broad daylight, yet a while after entering the forest we were attacked by bandits.

"Look what we have here, your equipment looks like a lot of money..." Their leader said, Brian pulled out the pistol to which they got ready to attack, i told him to wait pulling a molotov cocktail from the bag.

"Hey, could you all stand over there in a crowd?" They were dumb enought to do so...

"John, don't you dare..." I slowly pulled the knife out too, they raised an eyebrow in response.

"Hey, Brian... When was the last time you ate meat?"

End of Chapter 9