Goodbye old friend

"Did you hear about the graveyard? People are just dying to get in there."---------

It had been one week, one long week since Mr. Jefferson had passed away. Everything had been arranged, he was buried and his family mourned his death. Dave had visited his grave two days after the funeral. Dave was not his normal self; after Mr. Jefferson's death, he was feeling really bad, but he was angry; angry at all those family members that left James Jefferson to die alone in that lone hospital bed.

Dave had been wearing the necklace he had been given by Mr. Jefferson; every day.

But like any good nurse would do, Dave had to move on, leave the past behind. But he would not forget Mr. Jefferson.

And now, our faithful nurse was walking home.

"Finally." Dave said while running towards his house.

Dave was a healthy person, he lived near the hospital,  so when he had to go to work, he would always walk.

"Well, here goes nothing." Dave said while grabbing his keys. He unlocked his door and stepped inside.

"Mom, I'm home!" Dave said while closing the door behind him.

"And where the hell have you been?!" His mother shouted.

Dave sighed. "Mom, I have been working." Dave said while turning around and facing his mother. "And you have been drinking.... Again."

!How dare you! How dare you, I'll let you know that I'm an adult, don't talk shIt about me; you worthless sack of shit!" His mother shouted while taking a sip from the bottle of liquor she was holding.

"Mom, please just... Go to bed." Dave said while rubbing his temples. "This week has already been stressful enough."

His mother walked up to him And gave him a smack on his head. "Watch your fucking mouth and don't you even dare to talk back to me!"

Dave sighed and grabbed his mother's arms.

"Mom, give me the bottle." Dave said while looking her in her eyes.

His mother tried to shake her arms loose from Dave's grip, but Dave wouldn't budge.

"Let me go!" His mother shouted. "It's your fault your father died in that car accident!"

Dave's mouth stood agape in utter shock and he let go of her arms.

"W-What did y-you say?" Dave asked.

"You just had to have that stupid school play that night, I told him "Honey, you shouldn't come, it's storming outside", but no; he just had to see you perform!" His mother shouted.

"That's not true." Dave said while stumbling backwards.

"It's your fault, you are nothing! I think I'll call you: Mr. Nothing!" His mother shouted while walking closer towards him.

"That's not true mom." Dave said.

"You worthless excuse for a son". His mother said while pushing him, making him fall against the door.

Dave winced in pain.

His mother walked closer towards him, until she towered over him.

"You piece of shit." She hissed while pouring the bottle of liquor over him.

Dave sat there; motionless, not knowing what to do. This had happened a loyal of times, ever since his father died in a car accident, his has never been the same. She wasn't like this at all, she used to be so caring and sweet, but ever since she got her hands on alcohol, things have been really hard for Dave.

"Go to your room and stay there!" His mother ordered.

Dave sighed and got up.

"I'm going to take a shower, I hope that is acceptable Miss Adolf." Dave said while walking past her.

His mother turned around and threw the bottle of liquor at his back.

The sudden blow made Dave stumble forwards , but luckily he didn't fall.

"Shut your goddamn mouth!" His mother shouted.

Dave ignored her and walked upstairs.

He opened the bathroom door and stepped inside.

He looked at himself in the mirror, his spiky black hair was now drenched in liquor.

Dave sighed and started to undress himself.

"I hate her." Dave said while removing his jeans. "This is why I'm planning on moving out..... When I have enough money that is."

After getting completely undressed, Dave grabbed a washcloth and stepped into the shower. The warm water landing on his body made him feel relaxed, he closed his eyes and gave a relieving sigh.

Dave began to wash his hair first, making sure every last drop of liquor was out of his hair.

"My back hurts." Dave mumbled while grabbing his washcloth. He poured the his Axe shower gel over it and started to wash his neck and arms.

As Dave was washing himself, he couldn’t help but think of Mr. Jefferson, sure he had known the man for just a couple of hours, but he still had a soft spot for him; ever since he spend the final night of his life with him.

"I hope God’s been nice to you." Dave said while washing his legs. "Because you were a fun man to be around."

Dave quickly finished the rest of his body and turned the shower of. He stepped outside of the shower and grabbed a towel from the nearby cabinet.

'Luckily I have the day of tomorrow.' Dave thought while running the towel through his hair.

Dave dried himself of and walked towards his room, butt-naked he opened the door and stepped inside. He sighed and opened his closet.

"Let's see." Dave said while searching for his Star Wars t-shirt. "Ah, there it is." Dave said while grabbing his t-shirt. He put it on and opened the second door of his closet, he grabbed his underwear, jeans, socks and closed the closet.

Dave put all of his clothes on and sat on the edge of his bed.

"What can I possibly do now?" Dave asked himself.

Dave sighed and booted up his Playstation.

"Guess a little Dark Souls couldn’t hurt." Dave said while putting the game inside the console.

"Oh, I almost forgot." Dave said while walking out of his room and back into the bathroom. He grabbed his old jeans from the laundry-basket and emptied his pockets.

"There you are." Dave said while grabbing the necklace he had been given by Mr. Jefferson. He hung the necklace around his neck and walked out of the bathroom.

He walked back into his room and sat grabbed his controller. He sat down on his bed and began playing the game.

"Alright, now I believe I was stuck on-- Goddamnit!" Dave shouted while punching the bed. "I hate Anor Londo and I hate those Silver Knights; with their stupid Dragon Slayer bows."

Dave sighed and began to play again. Twenty minutes later he had passed the Silver Knights.

"Oh my God." Dave said in surprise. "I'm at Ornstein and Smough, holy shit!" Dave exclaimed.

Dave looked at the necklace which was hanging around his neck. "I think you are bringing me luck." Dave said while grabbing the necklace and kissing the radiant sun; that hung from the necklace.

"Well." Dave said with a stern expression. "Time to rock." Dave said while traversing the white light.

The cutscene started.

"I came here to kick ass and drink Estus." Dave said. "And I'm all out of Estus.... Literally, like how the hell am I going to beat these guys?"

Five minutes later, the boss-fight was over.

Dave dropped his controller in utter shock. "Holy shit." Dave whispered while looking at his TV which currently said: "You defeated". "I-I killed Smough on accident, and I still beat super Ornstein". Dave said while wiping away fake tears; of joy. "This is the best moment of my life."

Dave eventually reached a bonfire, he rested at it and quit the game.

"That's enough Dark Souls for today." Dave said while placing his controller on his desk. He sighed and looked at his clock. 'It's 09.00PM, maybe I could  call Yuri and ask if he wants to go to a bar.' Dave thought while grabbing his phone. 'Oh shit, Yuri is at his girlfriend's house, I forgot.' Dave thought while placing his phone back on his desk.

Dave looked around his room and sighed. "Might as we call it a day." Dave said. He grabbed the necklace from his neck and held it up. "Maybe you brought me good luck, I mean I've tried so many times to get past those Silver Knights, and now they were a piece of cake." Dave said while smiling.

"Thanks Mr. Jefferson, Rest In Peace." Dave said while clenching his fist, holding the necklace tightly.

"James?" A faint voice echoed in Dave's mind.

"Wha?" Dave said while frantically looking around his room. Who said that.

"James." The voice echoed again.

"Alright, this is getting really weird." Dave said while stumbling backwards.

"James, can you hear me?" The voice echoed.

"Who's there?!" Dave shouted.

"Oh thank Celestia, Princess we've finally found him." The voice said.

"Quickly, gather around me, while I focus all of my magic on the necklace's location." A different voice said.

'Am I going crazy?' Dave thought.

Suddenly, he felt a tingly feeling in his hand. He opened his hand and saw that the radiant sun that hung from the necklace was glowing.

"What the hell?!" Dave exclaimed while throwing the necklace at the wall.

The necklace fell to the floor, the light becoming brighter and brighter. Dave held his arms to his face and closed his eyes.

After a faint few seconds, Dave slowly lowered his arms and opened his eyes.

He looked towards the spot; where he had thrown the necklace at, what he saw, would stay with him forever.

On that spot stood ten horses, freaking horses! One of them was big and her coat was the purest of white, the other's coat was dark blue, there was another one who was a dark pinkish color, there was a lavender one who was wearing a crown. Actually, the white, blue and pink one were all wearing crowns and other regelia.

Then there were five smaller ones, one was white, had thrown a purple mane and a horn, then there was a cyan like color, she had a rainbow like mane and had wings, then there was a yellow one; with wings as well, she had a pink mane, there was another pink one, her mane was also pink and very curly; she didn't have a horn nor wings, then finally; there was a orange one, she had no wings or horn as well, and she appeared to be wearing a cowboy hat.

"Whoa, where are we? "The cyan one asked while flying across the room.

"I don't know, maybe this is James's home." The lavender one replied.

"Uhm girls, has anyone noticed we look..... Different?" The yellow one whispered.

The pink one gasped and looked at her hooves. "Oh my gosh!" She exclaimed while zooming across the room. "We're young again!"

"Oh this is marvelous." The white one exclaimed, she had a thick British accent for some reason. "Now I'll never have to use make-up ever again!"

"Easy for you to say." A child's voice said from behind the white horse. "I'm a baby again!"

"Oh my little Spikey Wikey." The white one said while grabbing some sort of lizard like creature into a hug. "You are still my big dragon." She said while kissing him on his lips.

The lizard returned the kiss and smiled. "I love you Rarity."

"I love you too." She replied,

"W-What the fuck." Dave said in shock.

All of the horses turned their gaze towards Dave.

"Who's that?" The cyan one asked.

"Ah don't know, but that sure ain't James." The orange one replied. She talked with a Southern accent.

"He looks.... Younger, like James was; when we first met him." The lavender one said.

"I think it is James." The white one with a crown said.

"W-What a-are you?" Dave asked.

The white one with the crown walked up to him and smiled.

"James, don't tell you don't remember this." She said while kissing Dave on his lips.

Dave quickly pushed her away and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

"What the fuck!?" Dave said in a muffled tone.

"J-James, w-what's wrong?" The white one asked.

'Wait, James?' Dave thought.

"James, what's wrong?" The lavender one asked while walking towards him. "Don’t you remember us? Don’t you remember your own mare?" She asked while pointing her hoof at the white on.

"James Jefferson?" Dave asked.

The lavender one smiled. "Yes, that is your name, do you know ours?"

"M-My name isn’t James, it’s Dave, Dave Bal." Dave said.

Everyone went silent, except for Dave.

"Mr. Jefferson was a patient at  St. Rose Hospital, the hospital I work at." Dave said while looking at the horses in front of him. "H-How in hell’s name can horses talk? "Dave asked.

"We’re not horses, we’re ponies." The lavender one corrected. "James said that to Princess Celestia; the first time he saw her."

"Wait." Dave said while pointing his finger at the lavender pony. "Twilight Sparkle, Celestia, Luna, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity right?" Dave asked.

"And Cadence." The pink one with a crown added.

"How do you know our names?" Celestia asked while walking towards him. "James is the only Human who knows us. She said while pushing him, making him stumble backwards and fall on the floor.

"What have you done to James." She asked sternly.

"I-I didn’t do anything, h-he…. Passed away, one week ago." Dave said while slowly getting up.

Everyone went silent again.

"Passed a-away, d-do you m-mean he’s?" Celestia asked.

Dave sighed. "Mr. Jefferson passed away last week, he…. Told me about you, about his adventures, that’s how I knew all your names." Dave said while walking towards his desk. He opened the second cabinet to his left and grabbed the note; Mr. Jefferson had given him.

He wrote this, he wanted me to read it. Dave said while handing her the note.

The note was suddenly covered in a golden aura and flew up to Celestia’s face.

'Hmpf, magic huh?' Dave thought while watching Celestia read the note. 'I should be freaked out by this, but for some reason I am not, maybe it’s because Mr. Jefferson really was telling the truth.'

Celestia had finished reading the note, the golden aura suddenly vanished and she collapsed on the ground.

"Sister!" Luna exclaimed while trotting towards her, she wrapped a wing around her sister.

"H-He--." Celestia cried.

"Shhh, it’s going to be alright sister, it’s going to be alright." Luna said comfortingly.

All of the ponies plus dragon, slowly made their way over towards the hugging Princesses and joined the hug.

Dave gave a sad look and sighed. "I-I’m sorry, but know that…. He still loves you, he might be gone but that doesn’t mean his love will fade away."

Celestia looked up at him with teary eyes, she gave a small nod and slowly got up.

"But how?" She asked. "I felt the magic, I could feel the power of his necklace and-- the necklace!" Celestia exclaimed.

"Got it." Rainbow Dash said while grabbing the necklace.

"How did you get this?" Celestia asked angrily, while holding the necklace in front of Dave's face.

"I-I--."

"*gasp* maybe he stole it!" Pinkie Pie said.

"No I--."

"He probably stole it from James after he--after he... Died." Celestia said while lowering her head.

"I didn't, Mr. Jefferson--."

"His name is: James!" Celestia shouted.

"Shhhh, not so loud, my mom is probably asleep and she doesn't like to be woken up." Dave said.

"How. Celestia said while poking Dave's cheek with her horn. "Did you get this?"

"Mr. Jefferson gave it to me, well he kind of did." Dave replied.

Celestia sighed. "Eyerypony, please leave us,"

"Sister, does thou think this--."

"Luna, leave us, don't worry, I will return to Equestria when I'm done talking to him." Celestia cut her off.

Luna sighed. "Please gather around, my little ponies.

Everypony did as they were asked. Luna, Cadence and Twilight's horn started glowing, and in a split second; they disappeared with a small poof.

"Would you please enlighten me?" Celestia asked coldly.

"Mr. Jefferson told me about you, about his adventures... And his marriage." Dave said while grabbing the necklace from her magical grasp. "He gave this to me, because he thought I deserved it." He said with a sad smile. "But if you want it back." He said while holding out the necklace.

Celestia looked at the necklace. "Why and how?" She asked.

"Why did Mr. Jefferson give this to me?" Dave asked.

Celestia shook his head. "Why weren't you frightened to death when we appeared in your chambers?"

Dave looked at the necklace. "Because in a strange way, I knew who you were."

"I'm surprised you believed his story, James told me that--."

"If he would tell his story to other people, they would call him crazy and laugh at him." Dave said, finishing her sentence.

Celestia nodded.

"Listen, I can tell you everything that happened." Dave said.

Celestia shook her head. "You don't need to."

"Huh?" Dave asked confused.

"I want to see it with my own eyes." She said while touching his head with her horn. "This might sting a little." She said while closing her eyes.

Dave felt a sharp pain on his head, he brought his hand up to his head and rubbed it.

"Ouch, I thought you said it would sting a little." Dave said while rubbing his head.

"Hello Mr. Jefferson, how are you on this lovely evening?"

"Huh?" Dave asked while turning around. "Wait, this place looks familiar."Dave said while looking around the room.

It appeared to be in a hospital room, but there was something off, Dave had been here before.

"Wait a minute." Dave said while turning around once more, now a familiar bed, with a familiar man laying in the bed. "That's Mr. Jefferson!" Dave said. "And that's me!" Dave said while pointing a finger at himself.

"That is correct." A familiar; feminine voice said from behind him.

Dave quickly turned around and saw Celestia walking up to him.

"What is this?" Dave asked while pointing a finger at his 'second' self and Mr. Jefferson.

"This is your mind, we're inside you consciousness, this is one of your memories." Celestia replied while walking past him. "And it appears you weren't lying after all." She said while walking towards the hospital bed.

"I know you're not supposed to have this." The second Dave said.

"That's the chocolate bar I gave him, he really seemed to enjoy it." Dave said while walking towards himself. He held a hand out and tried to touch his second self, only for his hand to go right through him.

"Whoa!" Dave exclaimed while quickly retracting his hand.

"You can't touch your memories." Celestia said in a; as a matter of factly tone.

"Thanks for telling." Dave said while rubbing his hand.

Celestia smiled. "Just like I remember him, only he wasn't bald."

'Should I tell her about the Cancer?' Dave thought to himself.

"Oh, his voice still sounds the same, even after all those years." Celestia said while tears started to form in her eyes.

Dave couldn't cry, he didn't want to. But re-living this memory wasn't something he wanted to do either.

"Listen, could we please leave?" Dave asked.

"N-No I want-- I need to see what happened." Celestia replied, tearsdripping from her face, falling onto the floor of the memory.

Dave sighed and turned around, he closed his eyes. "I don't."

As Celestia watched, while Dave was the other side, not wanting to look at the scene that played behind his back. He could hear the constant sobbing and muffled "I love you's" from Celestia, but he still didn't want to turn around. He just didn't.

Celestia was watching the scene with teary eyes, she watched as her husband told his tale, she watched how Dave listened, she watched as two strangers became.. Friends. At first she thought Dave was going to walk away, James told her how other people would react if they would hear his tale. But Dave stayed, he stayed and listened, he truly did care about her husband, and he knew him for just a few hours. Eventually the memory was at an end, with Mr. Jefferson closing his eyes and drifting of to sleep, while Dave opened the door and said his final words to her husband.

"Goodnight Mr. Jefferson."

And with that, the memory ended, a bright white light blinded Dave and Celestia and within seconds, they were back in Dave's room.

"Seen enough?" Dave asked with a hint of anger.

Celestia tuned her head and looked at Dave with teary eyes. She walked up to him and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you." She whispered. "For everything, for making my husband's last hours, the best ones of his life."

Dave hesitantly hugged her back. "I don't think those hours were the best ones of his life, I think he already had those, in his time on Equestria."

Celestia's bottom lip trembled and she cried into Dave's chest. Dave gently patted her back.

"D-Did he die painless?" Celestia whispered.

"Yes." Dave replied. "He.... Didn't feel a thing."

Celestia smiled and broke the hug, wiping away the tears from her eyes.

"I miss him, I thought I was finally going to see him again; after all those years." Celestia said while lowering her head. "I should have seen this coming, I'm immortal and he was not, death was going to come for him either way."

Dave lowered his head and opened his hand, looking at the necklace he had been given by Mr. Jefferson. He gave a sad smile and looked up at Celestia. He walked towards her and spoke up.

"Hey, I've got something for you." Dave said.

Celestia felt something cold on her neck, she looked up At Dave and saw that he was smiling and looking at something. Celestia lowered her head and saw that a familiar radiant sun hanging from her neck.

"I think he'd want you to have it." Dave said with a smile.

Celestia looked at him and smiled. "Thank you, but I can't." She said while removing the necklace from her neck; with her magic.

"Why not?" Dave asked confused, while grabbing the necklace out of Celestia's magical grasp.

"Because I already have one." She replied. "I gave him this one, as a memory of our undying love for each other."

Dave slowly nodded.

"Dave, I-I have to go, I have my duties as a Princess to attend to." She said while turning around. I thank you, for everything.

Dave smiled at her. "You're welcome, Princess."

Celestia turned around and walked towards him, she gently nuzzled his cheek.

"Please." She said while giving him a smile. "Call me Celestia."

Dave nodded. "I wish you the best of luck Celestia."

Celestia nodded. "Please stand back, I don't want to teleport you with me to Equestria.. Not that I'd mind, it could be fun; having another Human around." Celestia said with a smile.

Dave shook his head. "Sorry, my life is here, on Earth."

Celestia smiled at him. "I understand, but could you do a favor?"

"Sure." Dave replied.

"Please return the necklace to James, I want him to have it, so I know he won't forget me." Celestia said while a single tear fell from her cheek.

Dave nodded. "I will, have a safe trip home."

Celestia smiled. "Thank you do Dave, may your life, turn out the best for you."

Dave sighed. 'It won't be.' He thought.

"It will." He heard Celestia's voice echoed in his mind. "I'm sorry about your father."

Dave looked at her and gave her a sad smile.

She gave a small smile in return. Her horn started glowing, Dave closed his eyes before the white light could blind him, after a few seconds, Dave opened his eyes, only to see an empty room.

Dave sighed and looked at the necklace in his hand.

"Time to go." He said while walking out of his room. "Oh, can't forget you." Dave said while opening the first cabinet of his desk, grabbing the pocket knife that lay inside of it.

Dave walked downstairs, he could hear the sound of light snoring coming from the living room. He walked inside the living room, only to see his mom sleeping on the couch.

Dave gave a small smile and walked towards the couch. He grabbed a blanket from behind the couch and put it over his mother. His mother gave a small hum and snuggled into the blanket. Dave smiled and kissed her on the head.

"Goodnight" mom. Dave whispered.

Dave might hate his mom, but he couldn't blame her for getting drunk, she lost her husband too.

Dave walked out of the living room and walked towards the front door. He sighed and opened the door, he stepped outside and walked towards his car.

"Time to visit an old friend." Dave said while stepping into his car.

****

As Dave walked through the cemetery, looking at the many graves, he started to think back at his final moments with Mr. Jefferson. Now that he knew he was telling the truth, it just made him feel even worse for him, while he was telling the truth, nobody except him believed him.

When Dave saw a familiar grave, he walked over to it just and smiled.

"Hey there Mr. Jefferson." Dave said while getting on one knee. "So uh, you won't believe what happened to me today." He said with a smile.

"But I think you already knew that, you knew what that necklace would do, didn't you?" Dave asked.

He got no response.

Dave sighed and removed the necklace from his neck.

"Here you go." Dave said while placing the necklace in front of the grave stone.

He grabbed his phone and turned it on, he turned on his phone's flashlight and started reading the description on the grave stone.

"Here lies James Johannes Jefferson;

A kind man with a heart of gold;

Always making people laugh with his crazy stories."

Dave digged a hand into his pocket and grabbed his pocket knife.

He gave a determined nod and started carving into th stone, writing something, that should have been written on it when he was buried.

"Much better." Dave said while putting the pocket knife back in his pocket.

Dave looked at the grave and smiled. He got up and turned of his phone's flashlight.

He held his right and to his heart and lowered his head in a respectful manner. He looked at the grave one last time and walked away.

Here lies James Johannes Jefferson;

A kind man with a heart of gold;

Always making people laugh with his crazy stories

And a loving husband;

Rest In Peace.

Dave walked through the cemetery, looking for one grave in particular. He stopped when he saw the grave, he walked towards it and looked at the grave stone. He didn't need to turn on his flashlight, for he had read the description a million times before.

"Here lies Erwin Cornellius Bal;

A loving father and husband;

A man that will never be forgotten;

Rest In Peace."

Dave gave a sad smile. "I miss you dad, I really do." Dave said while getting on one knee. "Mom hasn't been doing to well, I'm trying the best I can but... Being the 'Man of The House', is hard."

Dave placed a hand on his father's grave.

"Dad, the strangest thing happened to me today, but I'm guessing you knew that too?" Dave asked

He got no response.

"Dad, I love you, I will never forget you." Dave said while a single tear ran down his cheek

Dave sighed and got up. He looked at the grave and held his hand to his heart, he bowed his head in a respectful manner and stayed like that for a few minutes.

Dave  turned around and started to walk away from his father's grave.

While he was walking towards the cemetery's exit, he thought back to everything that had happened today, how he met the ponies that Mr. Jefferson had befriended, how he comforted Mr. Jefferson's wife, and mostly, remembering the good times he and his father had. All thanks to one old man, one Princess from another planet, and one hell of a dad.

Dave smiled at the thoughts that crossed his mind.

Dave could only think of one thing to say before he left the cemetery,

"This is good, isn't it?"