Author's Note

Chapter Edit: Special thanks to "Hein des Nisseroi" for spell and grammar checking! Thanks again dude!

Chapter 12 - When Ponies Fly

["Kneeling in front of a pissed off Goddess was not how I want to spend my ... Morning? Afternoon? Whatever, this isn't fun."] Ash said internally, musing over the fact that he's probably going to get executed for saving her subjects, he somehow had a feeling that this was reoccurring considering she doesn't do things anymore.

Celestia was looking at him with a very stern look, she looked at the rest of her guard and then said. "If you will please leave us, I wish to talk to this criminal alone."

["Ouch..."] Ash said in his mind as he felt his heart twist at the unnecessary choice of harsh words.

The captain looked at Celestia like she grew two heads and had to interject. "With all due respect, your majesty! He murdered his own kin and--!" However, Celestia wasn't going to have no for an answer. "I am fully aware. I can take care of myself if it ever comes down to it."

"That's reassuring..." Ashton said out loud, he had just realized this and the captain gave him a swift buck to the gut and a painful cough escapes him, he reels in agony and putting a hand on his torso, those ponies don't mess around with those kicks. "Quiet while you're in front of your majesty!" She exclaims.

"Please, I must commit to a thorough investigation." Celestia said, seeming to let the abuse slide. The captain looks at Ash with a face of disgust and scoffs at him. "You better act on your best behavior, or you will--" She stopped as she saw tears coming from Ash's eyes. From the pain, not because of the sudden betrayal.

She sighs and then just looks around at the guard. "You heard her, let's move." She and the guards stationed in the throne room finally exit the said room, leaving them alone.

Until that door closed, Celestia kept a stern look towards Ash. Finally, the second after the door closes, her features soften dramatically. "You must forgive them... They aren't aware of the situation." She mused. "And I didn't mean to cause offense, I had to play a role you see." She explained.

"That's fine..." Ashton softly said. The pain he endured had calmed down rather quick and he felt relief wash over him, that was very unpleasant. "So you don't care I killed one of my own?" He said, wondering if Discord was right about this.

"Of course, I care. He was another life, but even I know it had to be done." She said solemnly. "My subjects, however, do not and may not care to understand why death is sometimes a necessary thing for peace. Especially when war is involved." She sighs as she continues. "I do care for all life but there are those that wish to disturb that and thus I tend to have exceptions to the rule..." She heads back to the throne and looks at it.

"I suppose that makes me a hypocrite, but... There are no other options." She looked as if she was depressed. "I suppose Discord has given you the information." She said, with Ash nodding and getting back up. "Yeah, but... I have more questions. Why ME? Why can't it be some other chump in another apartment room?"

Celestia giggles a bit at that. "Because you're the perfect candidate." She said simply while looking back at him. "You were alone in that apartment, you had no goals and of course no friends. "

"Ouch!" He said out loud and with a bit of a joking tone. "I mean yeah, you're right but there are so many other people that fit the bill. There has to be another reason why I'm here." He shrugged, hoping for the answer and then puts his arms back down.

"Well, there is one other reason." She said as she sat back onto the throne on her haunches. "You have a bigger tie to Equestria than most humans I have 'reviewed' thus far." She looked into his eyes. "Besides, you seem to be the only one that prefers to 'go with the flow' as most would say."

Ash then looks to the side, that wall was rather interesting. "...I wouldn't say that. I usually complain about a lot of things. I used to have such a cushy life, a rich family, I wouldn't have to work a day in my life... But my parents thought it would do me good to get a new place, a job, and a girlfriend so they could have grandkids to spoil." He sighs, putting a hand on his forehead.

It was painful remembering his parents, the last thing he said to them wasn't exactly pleasant and he would do anything to talk to them again. "But maybe you have a point, I sucked it up eventually. I got a pretty crappy job that could barely afford rent, a shady landlord WHOM I am convinced sells crack in an alleyway and an apartment without any heating! How is that for fair!?" He groans and notices she was paying attention to him. Listening to him with a smile on her face.

That made him double-take as he saw that she was just... Lending her ear. "I... I'm sorry, I don't--" She laughs a little. "Don't worry about it, how you humans talk and explain things about your day interest me. Normally my subjects would complain about the little things but you seem to have had it rough." She then noticed what she said and looked sheepish. "And I suppose you still do with how my subjects are treating you now." She said rubbing her front left hoof with her right hoof.

"About that." Ash wondered, folding his arms. "So... What's going to happen now? Is my time with the girls up? Am I like some sort of secret service agent or something now?" He said somewhat disappointed, he felt a little empty and sad.

Celestia puts a hoof on her chin. "Ah, yes..." She looks at him, she couldn't help but feel bad for the boy. "I suppose we can clear your name, then." She said as if to nonchalantly bring it up.

"Wh-how?! They saw me kill that guy! How are you gonna clear my name when they were witness to the ENTIRE THING?!" He exclaimed to Celestia, confused and somewhat a little amazed she would just say it like that.

Again, Celestia kept that hoof on her chin and used her horn to grab a parchment and feather. "Yes, that would be a problem, wouldn't it? That is why we are going to invite them here to explain everything."

"Wh-huh... Nani the fuck!?" He said out loud, utterly confused. He then noticed he swore and said. "Whoa, I didn't mean to--" Celestia just laughed like she heard one of the funniest jokes in such a long time. "Ah, don't worry about it." She said trying to calm down. "I don't mind if you speak casually in my presence, it's fine. Besides, I prefer it." She smiled at him as she then writes down what she needed.

Ashton scratches his head and puts a hand on his waist. "You know they aren't gonna be happy about all this, right? And I don't think they'll like seeing me after what had happened."

She nods. "You're right, they wouldn't. That is why you're going to have to stay in the room I gave to you until they are ready to see you again. Think of it as house arrest but in your old nicer room than a dungeon."

Tilting his head, keeping a hand on his waist. "Wouldn't your subjects be cautious?" He questions, but Celestia just continues with that smile as she continued writing. "They have already been informed that it was a misunderstanding."

Again, Ashton couldn't help but be confused. "H-Wh-buh... HUH?! Wait, was Luna in on this!?" He said finally getting it.

Celestia giggles this time. "Yes, she had a role to play in on this as well. So was Princess Cadence, but I had to cut corners with my stu-- I mean... Twilight. She isn't aware of the situation, that is why I'm going to have to play this diluted..."

Looking down at the ground, Ash was just so torn. "W-wait, why didn't you just do that in the first place rather than let me get marehandled like that!?"

"It was to show we meant business." She continued the smile. "So that if you killed any of my subjects without any good reason and you suddenly develop a taste for it, the treatment would have been 3 times as harsh that will inevitably end in a painful death."

This just made Ashton audibly gulp, feeling chills going down his spine as he knew she meant it. "R-right, I'll keep that in mind." Now he was left in a stunned silence.

A few minutes had passed and after getting over the initial shock, Ash was sitting by the throne next to Celestia and she then finally spoke. "There, finished." She said before magically poofing it away and then looks at him with a bit of a scrunch. "...No offense, you smell like blood, sweat, and dirt..." She sort of had to bring that to attention.

"Yeah, didn't have a shower. I take it I should start with my 'house arrest'?" He said, getting up. A simple 'hmm' as a reply and she got up also. "Follow me to your room. You never know if that captain is ready to take you down again." She said in jest, now walking to the doors.

Ashton shrugged and ended up following her out of the doors that she opened with her horn and they both head down the hallway.

A few stares here and there, but for the princess more than the 'criminal' beside her. Ash could see the Captain staring daggers right at him, Celestia was right on the ball. If he was alone right now, she would have probably killed him right then and there. That mare is a loose firecracker.

After getting past the stares and random bowing, they finally make it to Ash's old room that would accommodate him until he was shipped back off to Ponyville, it seems that the room itself wasn't touched other than the maids cleaning up after him. Now he felt bad.

"Ah, we're here." Celestia had said before looking at him one more time. "I will bring somepony to warn you about our arrival, once they are ready. Make yourself comfortable and make sure to rest, you look like you need it. There are fresh clothes and yes, there are beverages available inside."

Ash couldn't wait to get a nice cold soda down his gullet. He smiles and bows to Celestia. "Thank you so much, your majesty." He teased, making her giggle a little. "Why, you're so welcome my little human." She teased back. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to call." She said before heading back to the throne room.

Leaving him to his devices, he opens the door and closes it behind him as soon as he entered. As Celestia mentioned there were fresh clothes and a nice bottle of 'Sparkle Cola' and a few drinking mugs. "... What fine mess have I gotten myself into..." Ashton muses to himself before looking at the bathroom door. "Shooowerrrrr~" He groans and enters the bathroom.

Taking his clothes off, he caught a whiff of blood, sweat, and dirt Celestia was talking about and it made him shiver. "How the hell did the girls not say anything?" He said as he finishes getting undressed and starts looking at himself, no scars, no injuries. "Gonna get used to this power..." He muses before opening the door and turning the shower at a perfect warm temperature... Or so he thought, he couldn't really tell anymore... before closing the door and stepping right in.

Divine 10 minutes of shower time, it was a relief to be out of dirty clothes and his skin being so soft and clean once more. "Hell yeah." Ashton said outloud to no one in particular.

After all of that he heads out of the shower and grabs a towel. He starts by drying himself off and then dries his hair with the towel while walking back into the room, confident that no one would be silly enough to barge in while he was nak--

"Eek!" A bit of a scream pierces Ash's ears and it made him coil back, he takes the towel off of his face revealing very messy and damp hair and starts looking for the sound of the shriek.

It was a pony maid.

Staring right at his junk.

Blushing like a ripe tomato.

This made his face brighten and then covered himself with his towel. "DUDE, NOT COOL! I JUST GOT OUT OF THE SHOWER, SOME PRIVACY PLEASE!"

The maid then bolts it out of the room, looking as if she was going to faint.

"Drama queen..." Ash said rather ironically as he was unaware of his dramatic way of covering his embarrassment. Noticing the clean clothes, he took the initiative and got ready within a speedy 1 minute and 36 seconds. His new clothes were rather casual and quite snug.

A grey zipper hoodie that was currently open with a black shirt underneath, black cargo pants to compliment with the black shirt. "Huh, most of these were from my apartment. I guess they didn't take 'everything' for evidence... Why does this feel so different though?" He said to no one in particular and looks at the door.

Thinking the maid was still out there he decided it was time for her to come back in. "I'm decent..." He said out loud.

The maid opens the door and carefully peeks, looking rather relieved when she saw that he was now in his clothes. "V-very good, sir. I s-shall bring the princess and her subjects along once they arrive." She took a quick bow and closes the door behind her once she left.

"Wait, that's it?" He said a little too late as she already left, he didn't blame her for bolting out of here and shrugged. "Now what? I wish I had my 3DS, I could have played Ace Attorney, but nooooo! They had to take it from me." He complains rather sourly before noticing a bookcase in the corner. "Hmm. I guess a book won't hurt."

Wandering over to the bookcase, he saw that there were a few interesting series that caught his eye. Both fiction and non-fiction... But some he couldn't rightfully distuingish between either of them. "The Manticore Lair. Mating Calls of A Cockatrice... Curses and Abnormalities... Daring Doo and the Curse of the Werepony... Basic Magic For Unicorn Foals... And The Lusty Argonian."

Wait, where did he hear that last one from again? "Ah, doesn't matter." He said that last bit out loud as he took that one and wanders back to his bed and starts to leisurely lay down on the softest and most comfiest material he has ever felt in his entire life.

He opens the first page and then starts reading it. "... Heh... Polishing spears... Cause handjobs." He said awkwardly to himself and then sets the book down straight away. "Well, I was hoping for a laugh and all I got was a boner. Thanks hormones."

"I guess sleep doesn't sound too bad." Wondering to himself as he just turns around and lays on his right side. He yawns a little bit and just slowly begins to close his eyes.

Once they were closed, he felt something inspire him. He was fighting against the machete cannibal again but in some sort of weird contrast coloration to mess up his dream's vision, but this time Ash had the upper hand and looked way more confident. Just as the maniac swings his sword, Ash dodged, grabbed his hand and with his left elbow slamming against the maniac's elbow, dropping the machete, after the maniac drops the machete, Ash kicks the man in the chest with incredible force, but before the man went flying Ash grabbed him by the belt, leaps and the maniac was forcefully slammed onto the floor with Ash being used as a counter weight, it would be enough to incapacitate the guy.

Quickly getting up, he looks at the man on the ground and seeing as he wasn't moving he dusts himself a little bit.

After that short dream, Ash had woken up and felt his mind at ease once more... But he also felt like he learned something, did he just meditate a new technique? "...What the hell is this power?" Was all he could say softly to himself before the door starts knocking.

The doors open after the knocking stopped and immediately he could hear Rainbow Dash. "So what you're saying is, he's NOT a spy?" Ash could hear a sigh coming from Applejack. "Fer' land sakes, girl! Haven't ya heard what Celestia told us?"

Celestia and the six mares had entered the room with Celestia looking like she was babysitting the most stressful kid in existence, Twilight looked sheepish and upset, while Applejack and Rarity weren't really that surprised to be seeing Ash. Applejack he could understand, but Rarity? Fluttershy looked unsure what to think, Pinkie looked... Well like Pinkie does and Rainbow Dash was conflicted. As to be expected from little miss flying skittles.

"As I've told you countless times. There had to be a reason, Twilight. You REFUSED to listen to me." Rarity had spoken but Celestia decided it for it to be enough. "Rarity, that is enough. We all know that it was necessary, and believe me. I didn't want this to happen anymore than you do... But that creature had to be stopped."

Looking a little bit worse for wear, Twilight then said. "By... Killing him?" Celestia nodded. "Yes Twilight... He was wearing fur and skin of other ponies and he was also known to be eating..." She looks at Ash. "Other humans..." Ash felt revolted as he learned that the big guy was wearing ponies as a poncho... That... made him sick to his stomach even, no wonder it looked weird and off putting.

But this revelation made Ash question Celestia a little bit. "Hold on, where did you get that information?" Ash butts in, but Celestia had an honest retort. "I read his memories. While even if one dies their brain still holds valuable information... He was a danger so cruel that we have yet to face, so I did something that would normally be taboo... But at the same time, I had to get to the bottom of this." She looks at Twilight, who was still upset. She gave a slight smile and begins to console her. "If he didn't do what he did, those fillies would have met a grizzly fate."

She didn't want to understand, but she looked at Ash with a little bit of anger... She tried so hard to find if there was anything he can catch him on but... The more she looked, the more she eased up and tears continue to fall down her cheek. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry I doubted you."

Ash blinks in confusion. "...D-don't worry about it?" And then all of a sudden Twilight started hugging him. "I never wanted to doubt you." Again Ash just blinks, he was confused on what she was doing and saying. ["This is ALL wrong."] Ash thought. "Err, yeah. Again its fine."

Celestia had a bit of a knowing smile on her face. "Well, I'll let you all catch up. I need to head back, in case the captain starts making more crazy conspiracy theories." She left with that before anyone could say anything and Ash wondered what to say to the girls, the little reaction he got just now was eating away at him.

Applejack then looks at Fluttershy. "See, Flutters? Ash ain't harmin' nopony." Fluttershy just nodded and kept an eye on Ash in case he did do something to Twilight.

But all Ash was doing was petting Twilight. Though, he wasn't really aware that he was petting her, though Twilight was enjoying it. Ash couldn't help but feel that Twilight and the others were way too easy to forgive.

Pinkie thought it looked interesting so she jumped up on Ash's lap and wanted him to pet her too, he did so begrudgingly and then Pinkie was panting and sticking her tongue out like a dog would when you give it praise for doing a good deed. It was rather cute actually.

He literally had both hands petting Pinkie and Twilight and the other girls were just... Watching with curiosity.

"So, Ashton. Do you like your new clothes?" Rarity said with a smile on her lips. "I made them fresh from some designs of your old ones, via Princess Luna's request." Ash smiles. "They're great Rarity, thanks... Remind me to owe you one." He said with a bit of a chuckle and Rarity just shook her head. "Oh no, its nothing... But if you insist, I wouldn't mind cashing in a favor at some point." She winks at him.

["Did she just wink at me...?"] Ash said in his mind... This was getting weird, not that long ago they were all shocked and appauled by his existance and now they all of a sudden want him to stay?

Mares be cray-cray.

After a few minutes of catching up, Twilight had finally eased up more and just felt more comfortable around Ash now that he was the 'tame' human that she knew and preferred. "Well, I suppose we can head back home." Twilight said with an audible sigh.

Rainbow then cuts in. "Not right now. I want to know more about what's going on here. If Ash is just some normal hooman and that other guy was a cannibal and a freak... Does that mean there are more of these things around?" She then noticed what she said. "Oh, buck! I mean--"

"No offense taken, Dash." Ash had said to ease her. "To be fair, I am not really in favor of what humans at my home world do neither. There are some good people but there are definitely 'those' all over the place. Not in abundance, but I mean in every country you'll get some wackjob similar to that guy. And it's all about survival of the fittest for them."

Continuing, he had to stop petting Pinkie, much to her disappointment and puts the hand on his chin and strokes it while musing. "Not to say that survival of the fittest is a bad thing to practice, only when the situation calls for it. But not against other humans, that's just evil in my opinion." He shook his head, trying to stop thinking about such things. "Anyways, even if there ARE more humans around then let's hope that not all of them are bad people."

Pinkie starts to singsong. "Amen to that~!" She said as she refused to budge and used her muzzle to poke against his hand, to which he returns to petting Pinkie again, god she is cute. "Yeah, but if it's all the same to you girls, I'd rather rest a bit before we head back... You're free to stay in this room, I'm sure Celestia wouldn't mind if we hav--" Pinkie then bounces away in excitement. "A SLEEPOVER!!!"

"...Yeah that." Ash confirmed, looking over at Pinkie with a look of confusion. ["Can't even read her..."] He said in his head. "Hold on, as much as I'd like to continue this... Why is everyone so quick to just... Accept that I killed something?"

Then the room sort of grew silent. And a little awkward. Applejack was the first to speak. "Well, we aren't strangers to that sorta thang' sugarcube... Despite what the princess may have told ya'll, we actually do witness death quite commonly. We just don't show it nor like it."

"Uh... Wow." Ash couldn't really find the right words to reply to that.

"Applejack is right, dear..." Rarity speaks up next. "There are actually some ponies, griffons and dragons among others who have perished from all sorts... Disease, poverty and starvation... Monsters killing adventerous ponies by being turned to stone and breaking apart." Twilight shivered at that but Rarity continues. "Or a Chimera eating a filly because the filly was lost." Applejack cringed and grits her teeth at that memory. "Its more common than you think." She ends her piece.

Now it was Pinkie's turn and she was very solemn compared to her bubbly counterpart this time. "Or even a murder..." She seemed sad after saying such a thing. "There may be peace and harmony and all that, but there are ponies who have committed terrible things and haven't even been caught yet." The girls were a little shocked at how Pinkie was so calm and sorrowful while explaining, but they knew better than to question it.

"Seriously, am I the only one who can't get a read on her?" Ashton said out loud with Twilight giving a retort. "Don't even start." This time it was Twilight's turn. "And there have been magical mishaps when learning and creating new magic for self-defense o-or even changing the world around us for the better! Death is very common, but I'd imagine its worse for you since..." She looked down.

Fluttershy waves her hoof in the air rather cutely and spoke up next, similarly sad to how Pinkie was but more of a depressing tone. "When taking care of animals... Sometimes I have to face the inevitable when a bird or a kitten is sick and they can't ever get better... I get upset but I learn that its part of life, you can't change it."

Rarity clears her throat. "I... Even make outfits for the deceased..." That was all she would say and care to explain. It was Rainbow's turn. "Hoo boy... Uh... What better way to say this, I-..." She was struggling a little before finally speaking. "I get the occassional raincloud over a funeral as part of my job when moving clouds and such. And th-then there's..." She was looking very depressed but Applejack stopped her from talking. "Shush, sugarcube. Ya'll don't have to say it."

Ash was curious on what she was going to say, but clearly she was a little too shaken up for that. "Yeah, I get you. So, you forgive me?" He said with all the girls looking at each other and then looking back at him with a gentle smile. "Shucks fella, Ah can't be mad at somepon-- err someone for doing the right thing... Even if the right thing had to involve takin' a life."

Fluttershy gently nodded in agreement to what Applejack said before getting closer to him. "Yes... I forgive you." Pinkie giggles. "Of course! You're still very nice to us!" Rarity gave a soft smile. "For being selfless and risking your life for two fillies? There's no need to, darling." She perks up. Rainbow looked at him before scoffing. "Yeah, I guess we're cool..."

Then, it was finally eyes on Twilight whom earlier may have already accepted... But to make sure. "While I don't agree with what you did..." She looked like she was angry at first... But then eased up. "I can also understand you did it for us... And for that I can't help but feel a little safe with you around." She puts her hoof over his left hand. "Just don't scare us like that again, please."

"Yes, I promise." Ash said and gave Twilight a quick hug. "...Thank you. I'm sorry for putting you all through that." Twilight then hugged back with her forehooves and then the girls started crowding him and getting into a big group hug.

The smells of these mares were intoxicating... They all had some kind of weird candy scent to all of them. ["! Focus!"] He said in his mind and closes his eyes.

Pinkie then all of a sudden came out and said. "Soooo. About that sleepover."

This'll be a fun night.