Same Life, new Body

Soo… We've been walking around this place for a while now. And the halls are pretty empty too, the only regular occupants being the guards standing… guard, every few yards. I mean, I know why they're empty. But, is this place really that big? Big enough that two people with a few guards behind them can walk around it without seeing another being?

Apparently so. This place must like the labyrinth in Harry Potter. That’s pretty cool, actually.

That’s a lot of room for activities.

Anyway, while we were walking, Princess Luna wanted to spark up a conversation with me. It went about as well as talking to a depressed, maybe suicidal, person could go.

“What doth thee think of this castle?” She asked.

“It’s very big.” I said. “Being able to walk around without seeing anyone else? This place must either have not that many people, or it’s really fuckin’ big.” I stated.

“Canterlot Castle is indeed very large.” Princess Luna commented. “Sometimes, we have our own guard escort us around.”

“Big castle then.” I remarked. Getting an agreeing nod. We continued walking for a few more minutes in silence after that. Bet’cha anything it's getting awkward for Princess Luna.

“Michael?”

“Yes?”

“Why didn't thee leave thine room?”

Hmm… I thought she already knew why.

I think she does, she probably just wants to be sure. Can't be too sure with a person like me, I guess.

“What would've been the point?” I asked rhetorically. “I'm likely to never see my friends; my family ever again. I can't even tell them I'm alright. And who the fuck knows what's happening back home? My parents probably think I'm dead for all I know.” Again with the speaking before thinking, and with a flat tone this time.

Huh, I don’t seem to care this time. I wonder if that’s gonna be a thing. Probably, I am basically a hollow husk of my former self.

And, how the hell am I just admitting that like it’s fact?

“Please, do not think like that…” Princess Luna said. Kinda in a chastising, but pleading, tone.

The fuck is she talking to me like that for? I’m not a fucking child.

“Princess Luna. Don't sugarcoat things for me.” That pissed me off, actually. “I heard what you and Princess Celestia said in the carriage. I'm more likely to spend the rest of my life here than getting back to my family.” I stopped walking and bodily turned to her. “I don't want to live here; no offense. And… To be honest…” I was about to her tell her that she should've just left me in my room, but… “never mind.” I finished. “I'm going back to my room.” I looked to one of the guards. And she had this pitiful look on her face before she nodded and lead me back to my room.

Didn’t know there were women as guards.

Michael's behavior shattered Princess Luna’s heart.

He pretty much confirmed what both princesses feared: a lack of a will to live. Now, it's only a matter of time before Michael does something about that.

She just realized, he already did, there was a reason Luna found him in that state in his room. She didn't want to believe it, but at this point, the truth is irrefutable.

Michael attempted to kill himself.

Albeit, he attempted to do it by letting himself starve to death. But it's only a matter of time before he does something more… drastic.

And this something Princess Luna can do. As far as keeping Michael from… ending his life.

But, how will she go about doing it? She can't just watch every little thing he does. She doesn't want to make his life here any more miserable than it already is for him.

Aha! Maybe her sister knows what to do! Luna needs tell her sister these things anyway.

With that in mind, Luna teleported to the courtroom, surely, Celly would take time out of her day to assist Luna in assisting Michael. Right?

‘The nobles act more and more like foals these days.’ A certain white alicorn thought to herself. ‘Another hum-drum day spent listening to them fight like foals as well. I remember times when they actually argued about important matters, and they where actually honorable about it.’ She sighed while looking out one of the many stained glass windows. The open air and landscape looking very inviting right about now. ‘I wish something, anything, would just happen. Anything to at least to take the rest of the day off.’

The Princess of the Sun swore she heard angels singing when she thought that.

But, unfortunately, nothing happened, at first. She was thinking about hiring a secretary when her sister teleported right beside her.

“Sister, thou must come quickly, it is about Michael.”

Oh, well… She certainly didn’t expect this to be her excuse.

“One moment, Luna.” Celestia turned to the arguing nobles. They never noticed Luna teleporting in. Flankholes. “Day court is adjourned.” Ha! An excellent ‘buck you’ to the face.

“What?” One of them said while turning to their princesses.

“We will continue today’s… dispute, at the next available time slot. Have a nice day.” She said right before teleporting to her bedroom. Her sister not far behind.

“What is it Luna? Something happen to Michael?” Luna nodded.

“We entered his chambers and found him as a… lifeless puddle, on his bed.” Celestia’s eyes widened. “But we were able to, revive, him. We do not know if that is the proper word to use. But Michael is well now.” Celestia sighed while adopting a more relaxed look.

“That’s good. Is there anything else?” Luna nodded, but looked hesitant to say whatever was about to be said. That can't be good…

“Tia… we were correct.” Luna said. “Michael… he has no will to continue living. We saw it in his eyes…” She shuddered. “They… We saw no life in them.” She muttered.

“Oh dear...” Celestia picked up a hoof to cover her mouth.

“Has lady Sparkle sent thee anything sister?” Luna asked desperately changing the subject, hope brimming behind her eyes.

“No… she hasn’t...” Celestia answered. “She hasn’t even sent a friendship report...”

“Damn it all to tartarus.” Luna spat.

“Lulu! Language!”

“We apologize…” Luna sighed. “It is just… he heard us. Tia, he overheard our conversation in the carriage.”

Now that was a shock to the system.

“H-he did?” Celestia said, Luna nodded.

She surprised herself with the minor stutter. It’s been awhile since that happened.

“Oh… He thinks..?” Luna nodded. “Oh, mother of me...” Her whole form visibly sagged at the revelation. She was hoping she could give Michael at least a sliver of hope.

“What doth thee think we should do Tia?” Luna asked.

“I… I don’t know Lulu.” She breathed. “For once, I am at a loss at what to do.”

Tssss… ooooh… That was the last thing anyone expected Celestia to say.

That spells bad news for our gooey friend.

“Th-thou art pulling our leg, sister. Correct?” Luna asked with a twitching smile. She didn't get an answer, not verbally at least. Her head feel upon the unspoken answer.

“I'm sorry, Luna.” Celestia said. “I wish I knew a way to send Michael back to his home.” She wrapped her sister in a consoling hug. Haaaaa~ She always wanted to hug her sister again.

“It is not fair…” Luna whispered.

“What was that?”

“It is not fair!” She screamed. Startling Celestia as Luna put her in a death hug. She then felt moisture on her shoulder.

Wow, she feels this strongly about Michael.

That trip to the moon really affected her then…

Can Princess Celestia feel anymore like a flankhole?

But, she let those parasites feed of her emotions! She let them in take her! Oh, Faust! She can't be thinking about this now! There are more important things to be thinking about!

Aaaand Luna is full-blown crying into her shoulder. Big sister mode, go!

“Shhhhh…” Celestia said while stroking Luna on the back of neck. “It's ok, Lulu. We will find a way to send him back to his home.”

“H-how doth-th,” Luna sniffed. “thee think so, Tia? Thou-” Another sniff. “thou art putting the task upon Lady Sparkle’s wh-wh-” A third sniff. “withers.”

“I know Lulu.” Celestia said. “But, I have faith in her. My student has yet to fail me.” She pulled away from the hug. She then put her golden-clad hoof to her sister’s chin and made Luna face her. Oh, wow. The little blueberry looks absolutely adorable when she's crying. But Celestia can't say that, it’d ruin the moment. “She and her friends reunited us, didn't they?” Luna tried, and failed, to swallow the lump in her throat before answering.

“Yes…” She answered quietly. “They did…” Luna sniffed again slightly.

“If they can do that. Then Twilight can find a solution to this whole mess.” Celestia said with a warm smile. “Now, come. There is a chocolate cake with your name on it.” Once that was uttered. The lunar princess smiled widely. “Oh! And one more thing.” Celestia said, earning a confused look from her sister. Celestia leaned forward, putting her muzzle right next to Luna’s ear. And whispered, with deliberate slowness. “You are a terrible crier.” She pulled her head back and shot her sister a playful smirk before trotting off. Her destination: the royal kitchen. Her sister soon joining, A smirk of her playing on her lips.

I'm bored.

Like, reeaally fuckin bored. I somehow find it a chore to lay in my bed now. And I want to do something. But at the same time, I don't.

The hell is wrong with me?

Oh. That's right; nothing's wrong with me. Except, maybe, just maybe, I'm just deeply broken. At least I know I'm dead inside. That's also probably why I’m able to think of the sweet release of death so much. And yes, I calling that bit of nothingness that. You’re not my mom!

Anyway, a bath or shower might occupy my mind for a bit, let’s do that. But… which door? Hmm… The one closer to the bed might it, makes sense in a way. Let’s try…

*Click*

*Kreeeeeeaak*

Yep, I was right, and it’s a bathtub. Huh, haven’t had a bath in forever. It even has the same hot and cold knobs like on Earth…

Yeah, anyway, I want a cold bath, so cold knob gets a full turn while hot knob get a quarter of a turn. And the tub filled up pretty quickly... oh, the nozzle’s kinda big… Oh, right, hooves and all that. The nozzle must be just small enough for hooves to not get stuck in there.

Anywho, into the tub we go…

*Splish*

Oooh~ That’s the stuff. Funny, I don’t remember pools being this awesome, might have to do with me being a gooey… thing.

Op, and my body isn’t visible in the water. Like, I perfectly blend in. Cool.

Hmm… I wonder if I need to breath…

… Mmm nope. Dammit. But, I can stay underwater for as long as I want, cool, I guess.

There's a drain. Maybe… Fucking dammit, can’t pour myself down the drain.

Ooo! There's the balcony, totally forgot about that. But… Nah, I'll probably just go splat all over the place without dying, if anime has taught me anything. So no falling to death.

It also kinda sucks that I don't have a ‘core’ or something like that. I could smash the thing and be done with everything. C’mon, there's gotta be a surefire way to to through with this…

Wait… Fire…

That's it! Fire! I think since I'm literally a liquid thing I can evaporate myself!

I haven't seen any torches around though… But I do have a fireplace. I can probably just ask one of those guards to get someone to lite it up for me.

Perfect.

So… I wonder if I need to dry myself off..? Mnope. Alright then. Should I bother draining the tub? Eh, fuck it.

“Excuse me, but can you get some to start the fireplace for me? It's getting kinda fresh for me.”

“Of course sir.” They both nodded and marched off. I retreated back to my room. Ooh! Gonna want to make it convincing with a blanket or something. And a few minutes later they came back with a unicorn guard. They looked over to me and and saw me covered in sheets. They adopted a pitying look before materializing some wood from thin air and placed then into the pit, then they ignited the pile with a simple spark from their horn they nodded and left with a satisfied smile. And then left the room with the other two in tow.

I sprung into the action as soon as the door closed. Using the pick and shovel I expertly maneuvered a flaming piece of wood over to my bed. The thing instantly catching fire when they made contact. I waited a bit to let the flames build up. I even managed to get a few more burnable things to turn it into a damn bonfire. I looked at the dancing flames for second, and without any form of grace. I jumped into the building inferno.

I expected to feel pain as soon as my body touched the fire. But the I only felt heat. And not much of it. But, then I felt… I don't how to properly describe it. But it feels like my body is shrinking. And I'm losing consciousness again. Yes, fucking perfect.

The door to my room opened… fuck….

Today was really looking to be an average day for Nightshine and Flicker; guard the weird gooey creature, get anything if he asked for anything. And make sure he's still alive by the end of the day shift. It wasn't something hard to do. In fact, it seemed their princess was undermining them with this overly simple task.

And then smoke began to seep from the door of the creature’s room.

The two bat ponies shared glances between themselves and the smoking door. Then Flicker galloped off, leaving Nightshine to deal with the problem. She sighed and opened the door. And immediately felt a blast of hot air cascade over her fur, and not in the good way.

“The buck!?” She rasped while backing away. She covered her eyes when the heat wave hit her. She brought her leg down and gaped at the sight before her. Or rather, the lack of. Since all she saw was a wall of fire.

“Move beside thee!” Her princesses shouted, only having enough time and brainpower to sidestep just in time to allow Princess Luna to… Do whatever she is going to do.

Her horn flared brightly and fire instantaneously ceased to be.

Oh, well then…

Luna wasted no time rushing into the now scorched room. Almost every surface was black.

But that mattered little to her. For she was more worried about her friend.

She began looking frantically for young Michael, eventually finding him under a large pile of burnt wood that was once a bed, once again as a little puddle. This time the puddle was about the size of her hoof.

Bucking Tartarus!