Canadian Pacific 5-5

Sure enough, when we woke the next morning my crew was tasked a job we could keep the Mane 6 close by while doing. We were assigned the task of cleaning out left-behind vehicles. When done we had a sticker to apply to the vehicle’s hood that said “Ponified” signaling for one of the other volunteers to drive it out of the parking lot. All Canadian Bureaus had a policy that required those signing up for conversion to leave behind any car keys so they could keep the lot relatively clear. Inevitably there was always about a row or two of cars that still needed to be cleared. As we got started on the task at hand I asked them if they would like me to continue telling them the story. After a unanimous decision I began to recount as I worked.

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Chapter 13: The Inevitable

Later that day I headed to the caf to meet up with my friends. I got to the foyer as it began to clear due to the leaving teens. I saw Brody and Andrew walk into the foyer from one of the other hallways moments after I arrived. Spotting John and Brent walking toward us from the caf I stopped to talk with Andrew and Brody. Just after John and Brent stepped away from the caf doors they slammed shut along with the front doors that had been slowly swinging closed. I turned to the sudden movement of steel and glass and felt a presence behind me. I turned as I took a half step away from whoever it was.

It took me a split second to realize that what I was looking at was the Wraith and less time to draw my sword. I got a good look at Wraith as the others drew their swords. It looked almost exactly like Andrew except for the fact that the Wraith was translucent and made up of flickering 1s and 0s. We all stood for a moment pondering the Wraith’s first move. We were unprepared for what it did next. The Wraith took a flying leap over my head and ran out the front doors. We stood stunned for a split second before chasing after it.

“Anyone else see a 2 in that thing?” Brody asked as we chased the Wraith out onto the school’s front yard. The Wraith kept running though and we were forced to follow it around to the football field behind the school. Brody got fed up with chasing the Wraith and ignited a quick burst of flame that launched him well over the Wraith to the far side of the field. Everyone stopped dead in their tracks and stared at one another. Just then the Wraith emitted a blinding flash of light. When I looked back I saw a beast standing in the middle of the football field. I knew it had to be the Wraith because it was also made of binary digits. “It’s a Sphinx,” Brent said, “Why is it a Sphinx?” “I don’t know,” I replied, “But I think it’s time to get mythical.”

“That was terrible,” John commented as we all sheathed our swords. “I know,” I said as I laughed, “Just thought I’d try.” As the others shook their heads at how bad my joke was they transformed into their mythical creatures. Brody burst into flame as he grew to twice his original size and remained alight as his arms became wings. Shadows swirled up and around Andrew hiding his transformation. The shadows fell around him like settling dust revealing the three heads he now possessed. A dense dome of fog formed over John to conceal his transformation. The fog dispersed instantly with one immense downbeat from John’s wings as he gained lift.

Brent was swallowed by a small tornado of water that vaporized as he revealed all seven of his heads. Inspired by the show my friends had put on I focused on becoming a golem. In an instant I was caught between two large boulders and the world disappeared for a moment. When light returned I realized that I now stood around fifteen feet tall and was made entirely of iron. I looked to John as he hovered at my head level and I could have sworn he’d managed to grin. He nodded and I took that to mean a direct attack from all sides. I turned my right hand into a massive sword and lunged at the Wraith with speed and agility that surprised even me. To my dismay the Wraith easily sidestepped my attack and sent me flying with a swift paw to the head.

The next thing I knew I was being woken up on the hill beside the schoolyard. As my friends stood over me I realized that I was human again. “We got our butts kicked again didn’t we?” I asked. “Yep,” John replied, “Happens every time doesn’t it?” “Seems so,” Brent commented. “Any damage?” I asked.

“Nothing here. Just bruises.”

I’m OK.”

“Just a few dents. Nothing critical.”

“I’m fine. Know how to fix a torn sleeve?”

I laughed a little and patted Brent on the shoulder, “Not a clue. Come on we should get back. What time is it?” Just before anyone could answer my watch’s alarm went off. I chuckled at the timing, “Ten to twelve. Full lunch, eh? Come over to my place after school, I’ll straighten out any dents you may have.” As we walked back toward school I noticed something odd about Brody. “How come Brody’s walking funny?” I asked. “The Wraith nailed him in the nuts,” Brent answered. “But I didn’t think birds…” I trailed off. “Not exposed ones,” John said, “The Wraith had already dunked him in the pool which turned him back into a human.” “We learned something from that battle at least,” Andrew said, “Brent can keep Brody in line. Besides I don’t think he’ll be doing anything too brash in the near future.” We all chuckled and headed to our separate classes.

After school the five of us walked together to my house. As we walked the others recounted the brief and demoralizing battle that had occurred while I was out of it. “Shortly after the Wraith sent you flying it knocked Brody through the school’s wall and into the pool,” John began. “So I climbed out of the pool and said, “I don’t go down without a fight!”” Brody continued, “But it kicked me in the balls just before I said ‘fight’.” “In other words, he said ‘fight’ about an octave higher than he should have,” Brent chuckled, “Just then though, it grabbed the rest of us and body slammed us into the ground. With all of those heads being knocked around; I blacked out.”

“I wasn’t too much better off,” Andrew sighed, “I didn’t get knocked out but I did black out for a split-second which changed me back to human just before the Wraith swatted me with the back of its paw. That’s why I’m the only one with dents.” “The Wraith then threw me onto Brent so it could teleport away,” John said, finishing the story, “I got right back up but one of my talons got caught in Brent’s shirt before I turned back. That’s why there was a rip.” “Wow,” I replied, “Sounds like I missed out on some quality butt kick! Seems like John’s the only one who got off lightly.” “What about you?” Brody complained to me. “He got knocked out for half an hour!” John exclaimed in my defence, “In truth, I think he should go see a doctor!” “No,” I sighed, “Brody’s right. I think I was only unconscious for a moment or two after that I was just asleep. I’ve not been getting a good night’s rest recently and I think that knock to the head helped me catch up. Thanks for your concern though."

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“Wow,” Fluttershy said, “It really does sound like you were knocked out for a long time. Maybe you should have seen a doctor.”

“No, no,” I said as I adhered the sticker to the car’s hood, “I knew what I was talking about and I’ll explain it in just a moment. First I have to tell my friends that I never told them this before now because…well…I wasn’t sure what to make of it.”