Conduit, Not Monster

The Monster I Made Myself

Meanwhile, at Zeke’s place, the Electric Eight just couldn’t get enough of Applejack’s new powers. AJ was so happy because she finally felt like she belonged in this dysfunctional family of Conduits.

Rainbow Dash said, “If there was a way to make me jealous, then you just did it!”

“That’s what I said!” Cole agreed.

Pinkie Pie was bouncing up and down in excitement. “Do you know what this calls for?! A ‘Congratulations On Getting Your New Powers Applejack’ Party!!”

“Ah don’t think that now is the best time, Pinkie.”

Pinkie’s hair deflated as she heard this. “No party?” she said with watery eyes.

“Ah ain’t saying that Ah don’t want a party! Ah’m just saying it can’t be right now.”

Pinkie’s hair poofed back to its normal, cotton candy shape. “Okie dokie lokie!”

Cole and Dash looked at each other, then to Pinkie, and said, “Pinkie Pie. You are so random.”

Twilight studied Applejack’s vines closely and tried to make sense of it all. “What was it that made you gain these new powers? Was there some sort of trigger?”

“Hell, Ah don’t know. When Ah saw that that one Reaper guy was in trouble, some voices popped into mah head and Ah did what they told me to do. Ah got no idea bout what coulda caused it or nothing.”

“Interesting. So, it seems like these vines as an extension of your will. They must respond to your emotions and sense when you’re in danger. In short, they must act as guardians for you as if you had a special connection with them.”

“Well, Ah used to work on an apple farm with mah big brother and mah Granny. Ya think that could be it?”

“I’m not sure. Have you tried doing anything with your powers? Like creating something big?”

“Ah don’t think so. Hang on a second.” Applejack looked around to find something to use. She then spotted a pot of soil without any plants in it. She walked over it and put her hand on the side of it. She closed her eyes and focused. A few seconds later, the pot started to shake. Her friends all gathered round to see what was going to happen. Suddenly, a tree popped out of the soil bearing fruit. They all jumped back in surprise Even Applejack was surprised at her handiwork. Curious, Spike went over to the tree and picked a fruit. It was the biggest, reddest, most tasty looking apple he ever saw. As soon as he bit into it, his eyes started to water and his taste buds felt like they had gone to Heaven. Well, if Heaven was a perfect, succulent, red delicious apple.

“Best. Apple. Ever!!” he shouted as he started to gnaw wildly away at the apple. He finished the entire thing in record time. He let out a loud fiery belch, much to the girls’ dismay.

Zeke stepped forth. “Okay, so AJ’s got some new powers. But, it can’t be a coincidence. She can’t be the only one. Maybe all Conduits shared the same thing. If you make the right choices, then maybe your powers get upgraded. Do something good and get a new power. Do something bad and still get a new power.”

“So, it’s sort of like Karma?” Twilight chimed in. “Your actions will be your reward? That doesn’t make sense.”

“So, what?  You’re saying that someone or something is out there giving us new powers based on what we do? How is THAT possible?” Cole said.

“I don’t know. I’m just a logical person. There has to be an explanation for everything.”

“Twilight, you have telekinectic powers. I have lightning in my body. Rainbow Dash can fly, Applejack can make trees, and Spike can breathe fire. Tell me one part of this that makes sense.”

Before Twilight could respond, something crashed on top of the rooftop. It kicked up dust and had everyone coughing and hacking. When the dust cleared, they saw a familiar figure. “Miss me yet?”

Pinkie Pie suddenly jumped up. “James!! You came back!!” She then turned to Cole. “Are you excited because I’m excited I’ve never been more excited well except for that time that I found out about Applejack’s powers and I was all *LE GASP* but really who could top that?”

Just Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie, Cole thought. “What do you want, James? What happened to all that crap about how you wouldn’t help and that you don’t trust me?”

“I got no choice, McGrath. Some crazy lady tells me that there’s something weird going on around here, and it involves you and me.  Maybe even your friends.”

“What crazy lady?”

“She calls herself ‘Celestia’. That name ring any bells?”

Cole thought hard for a moment, but couldn’t remember any kind of name like Celestia.

Zeke stepped forward. “Anyway, what’s the big thing going on between you and Cole?”

“Recently, I got some intel that there’s a guy in Empire that’s looking for me and McGrath. I don’t know why, but it can’t be good whatever it is.”

“What do you know about him?” Twilight joined in.

“Not that much. All I could gather is that he’s pretty high up. He was recruiting guys to look for us, do recon work. He even bribed a couple of guys by saying that he would help them get outta here.”

“Do you know who or what he’s charge of?”

“All I could see was that he wore a black hood. He actually looked like he could be a Reaper.”

Applejack perked up at this. “Cole, ya don’t think that that could be him, do ya?”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

“Who’re you talking about?” James asked.

“There was a guy that was being forced to kill a group of people to keep his family alive. It sounded to me like his ‘employer’ had to be a pretty high-ranking bastard. Maybe we’ve got the same guy?”

“I don’t know, Cole,” Twilight said matter-of-factly. “The chances of two people running into the same perso-” She was suddenly cut off when Spike put his hand over her mouth.

“Could you not try to ruin our enthusiasm for once?” he said coldly.

Cole continued, “Well James, we’ve got a common enemy now. So, it only makes sense that we work together right? It could speed things up and we can finally get this crap out of our hair.”

Pinkie interrupted, “Well, technically neither of you guys have hair.” This was answered by glares from James and Cole. Once again, Pinkie zipped her mouth shut in response.

“So what do you say?” Cole asked as he put a hand out.

There was a moment of hesitation, but eventually the two shook hands. “Just for now, McGrath. Try anything funny and I won’t hesitate.”

“Likewise.”

LATER THAT NIGHT

Cole was keeping watch while everyone else was asleep. Naturally, he sat the furthest away from his new “ally”. Everyone resolved to sleeping close to one another just in case their common enemy tried to kill them in their sleep.

James was having a very strange dream. He was running from something, but he couldn’t bring himself to turn around and see what it was. Suddenly, his path ended and his dream shifted to an empty white plain.

“It is alright, James Heller”, an angelic voice answered. “You don’t have to run anymore.”

Standing in front of him was a beautiful woman. She wore a flawless white gown like some sort of Greek goddess and her long hair was all the colors of the rainbow. She also had wings on her back that looked like that of an angel. And for some strange reason, her hair was flowing and flapping in a nonexistent breeze. James didn’t recognize the face, but the voice was familiar.

“Celestia?”

“Correct, child. I wish you congratulations on finding your friends.”

“Friends? I’m sorry, but that’s kinda pushing it.”

“Why do you insist on pushing others away? As that old saying goes, ‘Strength in numbers’.”

James hung his head in shame. “Look at me. Do you know how I’ve come this far? By consuming other people. I’ve taken their memories and implanted them into my brain. I’ve killed them for my own benefit. A person can only take so much before he gets fuckin tired of it.”

“You believe yourself to be a monster?”

“What the hell would you think? I know you’ve seen what I can do, what I’m capable of. There isn’t another word to describe what I am.” A tear started to run down his face. “Sometimes, I see other memories. Fathers seeing their newborn babies, young girls getting their first kiss, men proposing to their girlfriends. I’ve consumed all of them and ruined so many lives. Any sense of reason I have left tells me that I’m some kinda demon that doesn’t deserve to live.

“Is that why you choose to hide your emotions from the others and only show anger? Are you afraid of what would happen to them if they grew too close to you?” James was silent. “Then that only shows that you care about each of them. Even Cole McGrath.”

More tears started to run down James’ face. “They’re all so young. They haven’t lived to see real horror. What if Pinkie Pie saw the things I did? She’d go fuckin insane! I don’t want that! I want her to stay the way she is and be happy all the time! I don’t want any of them to turn into a monster like me!”

“Even if they saw you kill a person, they would respect you. They may be young, but they have gone through hard trials as you did. Perhaps not as... graphic, but difficult nonetheless.” Celestia went over to James, lifted his head up and wiped away that single tear. “Listen to me James. You are no different from any of them. You are a Conduit, not a Monster.”

“What do you mean?”

“In time, you will find the answer. But, my time is short, so listen carefully. An old foe is coming back to seek revenge. It will endanger all of you if you do not prepare.”

Naturally, James wasn’t afraid. “He can’t be all that tough. If we manage to work together, then we can take him down.”

“Not as you are now. You know of Applejack’s new powers, correct?”

“Yeah. The whole plant-control thing?”

“There was a trigger that brought out those powers from within. That must be done for the rest of your friends. You and Cole McGrath must work together to find those triggers and help each of them grow stronger. When the time comes, you will need all the help that you can acquire.” Celestia started to fade away. “I wish I could tell you more, but my power grows weak. Farewell, James Heller. And take special care of Twilight Sparkle. I wish to see her again when this is all over.”

The words left James, so all he could do was nod. With that, Celestia faded away and James jolted awake. Everyone was still fast asleep except for Cole and Zeke sitting at the edge of the rooftop. Quietly, James got up and went over to them.

Cole was the first to respond. “What the hell do you want?”

“I just wanted to say I’m sorry,” James responded. This took Cole and Zeke completely by surprise. “I know. I’m kinda surprised at it too. But, just listen.” To make sure he wasn’t joking, Zeke and Cole got up and stood side by side towards James. “I’ve done a lot of crazy shit in my life. I’ve seen things that no one should have to see. That’s why I’ve been acting like such an asshole. I’m angry that I had see them and turn into the freak I am today. I’ve been afraid of what’s gonna happen to you all because you got too close to me. But, like it or not, we have to work together. That’s why I wanna make sure we’re all on good terms. So, why don’t we start off on the right foot?”

James held out his hand. Completely taken back, Zeke and Cole stared at James to make sure he wasn’t joking. Finally, with a smirk, Cole took his hand and they shook. When James did the same thing for Zeke, he got pulled in for a bro-hug.

“Always room for another in the Conduit Clan!”

“Zeke, you’re not a Conduit. For that matter, I’m pretty sure James isn’t either.”

“Technicalities,” Zeke dismissed.

James smirked, “Good. Now that that’s taken care of, it’s time to get to business.”