Lonely Among Us

That night the nightmares had returned, but they were different this time - I could see images... Equestria was burning, chaos and destruction everywhere, dead ponies lying left and right. I was looking at the horror through my eyes - but I couldn’t control my body. It felt like I was working on autopilot, just walking and observing.

I was fully healed, my skin glowing red, I felt the power. I was strolling through the ruins of Ponyville, looking around - suddenly I noticed a group of ponies, hiding from something. It was then, I realized they were hiding from me. “Targets acquired,” I shouted, pointing my particle cannon at the poor creatures. They tried to run, but it was no use - one by one they were struck and killed - every last one of them, including foals.

I noticed another group hiding inside the abandoned house - this time flamethrower was my weapon of choice. I had blocked the exit, and without showing any emotions - fired the flames inside the building. Soon screams filled the house. The ponies had dashed towards the exit, but I just held the door, they were begging for mercy - screaming something about children, but I just ignored them - instead, enjoying every scream they made, as they were burning alive.

My real self, watched the actions of my 'alter ego' in horror - I tried to stop him, but I was powerless - it felt like watching a horror movie from the perspective of the main villain. When it was over, I noticed another pony crying in the corner of a nearby building - this time I didn’t shoot right away. Instead, I approached the creature.

“No… NO! RUN!” I tried to scream, as I realized it was Fluttershy.

She was holding the body of one of her friends, tears were flowing from her eyes, when she asked, "Why… why…?” I didn't have the answer.

For a moment we just stared at each other… but soon the silence was broken. “Target acquired,” my 'alter ego' said with emotionless voice, and then my gun discharged. Suddenly, I regained control - I had picked up Fluttershy's body - hoping for a sign of life - but her cold eyes told me, it was too late - she was gone.

"No... What have I done," I embraced her dead body as tears of horror started flowing from my eyes. "I'm sorry... So sorry..." I mumbled with a cracking voice.

Suddenly everything went white - Fluttershy’s body disappeared, and I was no longer standing in the ruined Ponyville. “Wha…? What’s going on?!”

“We meet again, captain,” Luna said with her calm voice. "Don't be alarmed - it was just a nightmare."

My mind was slowly beginning to comprehend her words - still, I felt terrible from what I just experienced, and my hands were trembling. It took me a moment to respond. “I remember you - Princess... Luna, was it? But I don’t remember introducing myself - how do you know who I am?”

“Twilight Sparkle has reported your arrival - as well as the fact, you had helped save the element of generosity herself, for which we are grateful,” Luna answered with stoic voice.

I was even more confused than a moment before. “What do you mean I save ‘element of generosity’? I don’t understand.”

“We mean, the one known to you as Rarity - she is one of the Elements of Harmony.”

“The 'Elements of Harmony'? OK, I’m confused… let’s leave it at that for now, shall we?”

Luna nodded in agreement. “Very well, In fact, we would like to discuss a different matter - your dreams, or shall we say nightmares.”

I was embarrassed, my dreams were always vivid - especially the nightmares - and now, somebody other than me had seen them... I could only imagine what she thought of me at that moment. “What is there to discuss? They’re just that - nightmares, I had them ever since I was changed… Of course, then, there were people there instead of ponies, but I guess the change in scenery explains that part.”

Luna approached me and - to my surprise - put a smile on her face, this definitely wasn't the reaction I was expecting. “You can try to deceive us, but you should not deceive yourself, captain - such dreams are the creation of extreme guilt.”

Staring at the ground, I responded with irritation, “What do you know about guilt...”

Her smile quickly faded away. “Unfortunately, more than you realize… but perhaps it’s enough for now. Farewell, my dear subject - we shall speak again.”

“WAIT! DON’T!” I shouted as I woke up, only to realize that scared Fluttershy was standing next to my bed.

“I… didn’t mean to… I just… brought you breakfast,” she said softly with her shy voice.

Without thinking, I grabbed the yellow pegasus and hugged her - after what happened in the nightmare, I just couldn't control myself. Fluttershy was confused, but she let me embrace her anyway - after a few seconds she asked calmly, “Um… are you ok?”

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t yelling at you - I just had another nightmare, I’m so glad to see you are fine...” I responded with an embarrassed voice, trying to hide tears of joy flowing from my eyes.

“A nightmare? Oh goodness… I hope you are all right?” Fluttershy asked with her calm voice.

“I’m now…”

***

We ate the breakfast, while not required - my stomach was fully capable of digesting it… or anything for that matter (yup… even my goddamn belly was nano-enhanced...) - surprisingly, pony food wasn’t as bad as I expected, I actually enjoyed it - Fluttershy was a great cook.

After breakfast, I had helped Fluttershy feed her animals. I learned we both have the love for various creatures, and for some strange reason - they like us both as well.

“All done…” Fluttershy commented when we finally finished feeding last of her 'pets'.

“You are a druid or something…? I mean, you are great with animals.”

“Oh… It’s just my gift I guess - but I don’t think it’s anything special,” Fluttershy responded calmly.

I put a smile on my face and said, “Except that it is… I don’t mean to embarrass you, but, to be honest - you are the kindest person I’ve met,” Fluttershy blushed a bit when she heard my words. “If we had more people like you in my world, perhaps we could have avoided everything that happened...”

“What do you mean?”

When I realized what I said, my smile faded. "I'd rather not talk about it right now - it's a painful topic... Anyway, what do we do now?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

“Well… I need to visit Ponyville, to buy food for the animals, you can accompany me if you like…”

“Sure!" I shouted with an enthusiastic voice, as the smile returned to my face, "I wanted to visit that town of yours for some time now, lead the way!”

We quickly packed the necessary stuff and went in the direction of Ponyville.

***

We arrived a few minutes later and went directly to the market. I realized everybody was staring at me and whispering between themselves - I guess I can’t blame them, after all, I was something they have never seen before. But then I heard something disturbing (thanks to my enhanced hearing - of course).

“Perhaps he has something to do with the missing…” one pony whispered.
“Yeah, I heard he killed the poor diamond dogs after they surrendered…” another responded.

I didn’t let them know, I was hearing their conversation… It was a bit alarming - but I guessed that every town has a few gossiping idiots.

Finally, we arrived at the pet food shop. “It will take a few minutes - you can wait here, if you want,” Fluttershy said with her calm voice, and I nodded in agreement.

I stood there just looking around - this market was pretty big for a town of this size, they had everything a man… or a pony would need… it kind of reminded me of the markets we used to have back home, before the war - those were good memories.

“You gotta be kidding! Three bits for this crap? I’m not paying more than one!" I heard someone shouting from behind the corner, I went to investigate - two fillies and a stallion were arguing over the price of something.

“Hey! You drank it, you have to pay for it!” said the kid with a pink mane and orange body.

This angered the stallion, who grabbed the filly by the neck. “Or what? You gonna call your favorite, Rainbow Crash to the rescue?”

My blood was boiling - if there was something I couldn't stand, it was child abuse - that, and the stench of peeled fresh cucumber, yuk - I decided to intervene, “Hey, what’s wrong with your cutie mark, man?” I said calmly.

“Wha…” stallion dropped the kid and glanced at his own flanks. “What are you talking about, looks fine as always…”

“Odd," I scratched my chin - pretending to be surprised, "I thought a guy acting like that towards children should have an asshole as his cutie mark,” I said putting a little sarcastic smile.

After hearing my words, the stallion was stunned for a few seconds, while two fillies kept giggling. Finally, his brain rebooted. “WHAT?!... Wait a minute - you must be our local freak, everypony is talking about! You are far from home, buddy - so you better beat it, before something bad happens to you!” he said, trying to sound intimidating - of course, I laughed inside.

I was about to respond when I saw Sweetie Belle and Fluttershy coming from around the corner. “Oh, James, here you are, I was… oh… hello Hoops...” suddenly Fluttershy stopped talking and looked to the ground.

“I should have known!" Hoops shouted with a grin, "You are a friend with Klutzershy! Two local freaky friends! Ha! Ha!”

I glanced at Fluttershy and noticed a tear begun to form in her eyes - she was obviously hurt by what that idiot said - that was the final straw. I just went on autopilot - my right arm grabbed the stallion pegasus by his mane, and pushed his muzzle to the ground with such force that he was unable to breathe.

"Mhh… MHHH!" he had mumbled while trying to break free - but with adrenaline raging through my veins, there was no way. Then he tried to buck me with his hind legs, but since I was already pretty much healed, I barely felt anything.

Fillies were watching my actions with fascination in their eyes - Fluttershy on the other hand just froze, she couldn't say a word - but I could see in her eyes she wanted me to stop.

“Not so cocky against someone who can defend himself, are you?” I said with an irritated voice, as I lifted him in the air by the throat. “You can call me any names you want - I don’t give a damn… but Fluttershy is the kindest person I’ve met, and I will not let a TRASH LIKE YOU, bully her!” I shouted, looking into his eyes.

By then, he was scared shitless. I could feel his pulse - his heart was pounding like there was no tomorrow. “This is your only warning - say or do something like that again, and I swear - will find you, and then...” I crushed his throat strong enough to block the air intake. "Do we understand each other?"

With horror in his eyes - he quickly nodded in agreement. I lowered my grip strength, finally allowing him to breathe. “GOOD! Now, pay the kids what you owe them, apologize to Fluttershy and get the hell out of my sight.”

He did exactly what he was told - quickly paid for the drink, mumbled “I'm sorry…” to Fluttershy, and then flew away as fast as possible.

“Thanks for the help mister. That was awesome! Sweetie Belle was right about you” filly with pink mane shouted with excitement.

“Yeah! If it wasn’t for you, who knows what he would do!” added the other one, with a pink bow on top of her head.

“Well, what did I tell you? Captain that’s my friends - Scootaloo on the left and Apple Bloom on the right” said Sweetie Belle, pointing at the two fillies.

“Pleasure to meet you… I’m just glad I was able to assist, now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go help Fluttershy.”

As I had turned around, I noticed Fluttershy was still staring at the ground, with a sad look on her face. We had quickly packed the animal food, and started walking back to her house - Fluttershy was quiet all the time.

Finally, after some time I decided to break the silence. “Look, um... I'm sorry if I upset you," I said with an embarrassed voice. "I just can't stand bullies."

“You didn't... It’s just… you can get in trouble for what you did," Fluttershy sounded sad, yet concerned at the same time, "I… I just don’t want you to get hurt because of me… I… I am not worth it.”

I smiled and replied calmly, “I doubt anyone in this world is able to really hurt me - and if you worry, I will go to jail, then... Well, I say putting that bully in his place was worth it,” she blushed a bit hearing my words. “But don’t worry - I doubt Mr. Hoops will report this incident - people like him rarely do - trust me.”

***

As we arrived at Fluttershy’s house, I noticed two pegasi guards waiting in the front, next to some carriage. “James Gaz-tozki?” one of them asked.

“Gastovski,” I corrected him, “That’s me.”

“Good day, sir. We were sent by the Princess - she would like to talk to you ASAP,” the other guard said with a stoic voice.

Fluttershy put a surprised look on her face, “Princess wants to see you? Oh my… that’s a real honor.”

My experience from Earth taught me to always be cautious - for all I knew they wanted to cut me to pieces - for 'science,' or to see if they could steal the nano-tech. I decided to do a little test. “And if I refuse…? Do you have orders to bring me by force?”

My question confounded the guards, as well as Fluttershy - it was obvious they were all surprised. After a moment of silence, one of the stallions replied with an uncertain voice, “Um... No sir, but-”

I interrupted before he could finish, “If she doesn’t want to bring me by force, then that's fine - we can go... If that’s ok with you Fluttershy?”

“Of course! Talking to the Princess is an honor and duty, you must go,” she responded with an excited voice. I nodded in agreement and went for the ‘pegasus taxi’ - or whatever this carriage-thing was called.

Some time later we arrived in a city known as Canterlot.