Chapter 6: Mortal Meets Demigod

[Manehattan Luxury Suites.]

  The moon glowed amongst the stars in the sky above Manehattan with a glorious shine. Buildings lit the streets with a golden glow along the sidewalks and streets. A skeleton gazed at the glowing city from the height of his suit. The fire around his skull glowing like a firefly in the dark room. The room was silent, not even the sound of the city reached the hotel room. He had been standing there for hours. Unable to sleep. It isn't the first time Ghost Rider hasn't been able to sleep. To him, it was a way of telling himself something was wrong with him. Or wrong in the world. He signed, turning away from the window and walking over to the snowy couch. He sat on the couch with a grunt, staring at the ceiling in boredom. He turned his neck to see the TV remote next to him.

'Ah...to hell with it.' he thought.

  Realizing he might as well try to tucker himself out. Ghost Rider dropped his hoof on the remote, making the remote make a small click sound. The TV flickered on, Ghost Rider scrambled as the volume was up extremely high. The sound of the TV ringing through the entire living room. Ghost Rider grabbed the remote and clicked the volume button repeatedly, making the volume turn down to a point of no sound. He signed at the close call, clicking the button so the volume was somewhat higher. He looked back at the TV screen, a news report on the flat screen. Ghost Pony Rider raised an eye socket as it looked listened to the interview. It sounded like it was about him. He leaned in as two mares, one wearing a fancy blue suit with a red tie, and the other mare who he was all to familiar with. He listened on the conversation.

"Good evening Manehattan! My name is Mellon Collie and I am bringing you on a topic that I bet is one most of your minds. Should we trust the one called Ghost Pony Rider? With me here tonight is a mare who claims to know the creature herself! Thank you for joining us Caramel Sweet."

  Ghost Rider narrowed his eye sockets at the interviewer. Creature? She didn't even bother to tell he was an actual being not just some animal. The camera paned to Caramel to show her in a red fancy dress with her hair in a bonnet style. Her eyes shining like diamonds in the light of the news room. It was almost hypnotizing to stare into her eyes for Ghost Rider. She looked so beautiful, so well dressed, so-

  Shacking his head to get the thought out of his mind. Ghost Pony Rider brought his attention back to the interview.

"Thank you for having me Collie. It is an honor to talk to you about me dear friend this evening."

"Dear friend you say? How long have you know each other?" Mellon asks with a raise eye brow.

"About a day or so." she answers nonchalantly.

'Thanks Sweet.' Rider thought, blowing air through his nose.

  Mellon placed a hoof to her chin and narrowed her eyes. Ghost Rider prepared for the worst, he knew that look anywhere.

"Well then. What do you think about ponies here in Manehattan thinking of your friend as a monster? Now, I don't agree with any of these rumors. However, in the current news that I've received about him and what our historians are telling me. He has a both good and bad reputation in Equestria. Some told about how he saved them from certain doom, and getting them the help they need. Others say he was a vicious killer who deserves to be locked up and never be let out. Matter of fact, some say he should be killed."

  Caramel gave a shocked looked and placed a hoof to her mouth. Ghost Rider grinded his teeth. The room and the interview went silent. Time went by for a few seconds before Caramel coughed, collecting herself to answer the question without shooting the messenger.

"Well...I do think that the reports of himself being evil are wrong. I mean, he saved my life and many others during his time here in Manehattan I'm sure.. I believe everypony has good in them, even if they don't appear to be so."

  Ghost Rider's eyes went wide as Caramel looked toward the camera with a caring look. It zoomed in on her until almost her entire face was on the screen.

"I wont judge his motives or what he does, but I keep in mind he does and what he sacrifices to protect ponies."

  Ghost Rider switched the TV off, the screen going black. Ghost Pony Riders fire the only light in the dark room. He stared off into space, thinking about what Caramel had said for most ponies in Manehattan who thought of him as a good guy. In his skull, he recalled most of the times ponies, no matter the age, showed thanks to him for helping them no matter the case. He chuckled as he recalled a time where he saved a filly from a burning building in a small town, the entire town appreciated him and promised to never forget him. Ghost Pony Rider had to admit it, he could get a little extreme with some of the creatures and ponies who hurt others. He wasn't going to deny it, he was violent. More violent then a angry dragon. He tried to keep his anger under control ever since The Dark Ones made him destroy all of PonyVille a few months ago. Ever since then, he promised to his friends and the princesses to never let his anger corrupt his mind. To never let his enemies use his past against him. He signed and laid his skull on one of the cushions, drifting into a deep sleep.

  Ghost Rider could feel cold. Not winter cold, but refrigerator cold. He could feel his body quiver from the ice feeling as he adjusted himself and the ground. Wait, ground? Feeling around him, Ghost Pony Rider could feel solid dirt instead of a couch. Straitening himself out, Ghost Pony Rider looked around in a frantic state. He looked in shock to see the world around him was on fire. Trees were burnt down, buildings were in ruin, and the sky was fiery red. The clouds were black. He didn't see anyone, no one alive anyways. Black skeletons were slouched and scattered around the ground and in front of what looked around a barn. He started panicking, his breathing increased, he could feel his heart race out of control.

"Calm yourself skeletal one." a voice echoed.

  Ghost Pony Rider narrowed his eye sockets in anger as he turned around with a growl. His chain hanging from his arm, blazing with fire. A look of confusion came across him as he saw nothing where the voice came from. A chuckle came behind him. He turned again to see nothing again. He looked aimlessly around him, trying to find the origin of the laugh. The feeling of pain shot through his body as a large blast of energy hit him, sending flying through the barn. He groaned in pain as he lifted himself from the ground. Another blast hit him square in the face. His body sliding in the ground, leaving a trail in the ground. He shacked his head, getting up much more quickly this time. He waited for the next blast, trying to find where its coming from. Nothing came. Even the laughing stopped. Another pain, much more sharp hit him in his spine. making him freeze before collapsing to the ground. He couldn't feel his body, everything was numb to him. He could feel his skull still but he could feel anything else. The laugh erupted, this time from behind him. Ghost Pony Rider could feel his breathing grow. A huge hand grabbed him by his jacket, dragging him until he had his back up against the barn. His body like a ragdoll. The same hand grabbed him by his jaw, lifting it until he saw his attacker. It was a gold misted figure with pitch white eyes. It looked to have a bipedal body and a huge lion mane. Ghost Pony Rider narrowed his eye sockets.

"What the hell did you do to me!?" he said.

"If you don't calm yourself the manticore venom will make your condition worse." it shot back.

  Ghost Rider breathed through his nose as the figure let go of his jaw. His head slouching on his chest.

"Your pathetic, you know that?" the figure said in a cocky tone.

  Ghost Rider growled.

"And why is that?" Rider asked.

  The figure casually walked in front of Ghost Pony Rider, he stopped, turning a full 180 degrees and narrowing his eyes at him.

"You choose to play the hero in a world that fears you. You see, you and I are the same!" he exclaimed.

"I'm nothing like you!" Ghost Rider spat.

  The figure walks up to Ghost Rider swatting his shoulder in a playful manner and leaning against the barn.

"Listen. Their are over millions of different creature on this planet. Half of them embracing you, half of them scared of you. I can make it to where they will embrace you!"

  Ghost Rider gave a confused look. What was this thing getting at? The figure then knelt next to the paralyzed skeleton, gripping his jaw in his fingers.

"I could kill you here and now. However, I have a proposition for you." he sad with a grin.

  Ghost Rider could feel his nerves slowly returning. He lifted his head to see the figure standing a few feet from him, looking down at him. He gave the figure a confused look.

"I am offering you a chance to be adored by all Equestrians. All you could ever whished for at your hooves. Money, mares, luxury, you could have it all."

  Ghost Rider scoffed. The figure gave a annoyed look to the skeleton. He thought he would get his point clear now then later.

"Listen you stubborn skeleton. In spite of everything you've done for them, eventually they will hate you. Treating you like a villain then anything. I suggest thinking about my offer Rider, before its to late."

  The figure started lifting himself in the air, racing towards the sky. His voice echoing off after Ghost Rider's vision went dark.

"THINK ABOUT IT! HERO!"

  Ghost Pony Rider woke up in a frantic state. He was still in his hotel room, however it was morning and everyone was in the kitchen talking. He sudden gasp caught all their attentions. Their wide eyes staring at him. Ghost Rider realized his breathing was fast and he felt tired. Twilight made her way to the panting skeleton. Seeing him rubbing his skull.

"You look like you had a bad nightmare." she said.

  Ghost Pony Rider breathed through his nose as he looked at his friend. She was giving him a worried look along with the other princesses.

"You could say that."