A Thousand Lives

I found out a few things once the carriage took off. One, was that the clones weren't clones. After a few moments Dive Bombs took off his helmet, and his color shifted from white, to a dull grey. The carriage was small. In fact I probably wouldn't have gotten in if I couldn't net a seat near the middle window.

He looked at me and smiled. "Well Traveler, what name do you go by today?"

"Shit." I said, trying to get comfortable on a pony sized seat. "So, can we cover what happened in private?"

"Only once you give me a name."

He said this with a smile, so apparently my soul wasn't exactly horrifying. I nodded. Then asked a question. "Do you already know it?"

The captain smiled wider. "But of course, though the list was rather long, so I shouldn't assume which one your using. Though if you haven't decided I think Ang-"

I cut him off. "No." He stared at me, and smirked. I looked back. "I'm Draitha."

He smiled wider. "Of course, that one was second on the list after all. Well then, we shall not talk of what we saw until after our post mission party." At that several of the ponies cheered, several more looked at me uneasily.

One looked between me and the captain calmly. He was a tan earth pony, with an electric blue mane. He cleared his throat, before raising a hoof. "Hey sir, is it going to be okay taking this thing back with us?"

The captain seemed surprised. "How could I have been so negligent. You are an excellent guard private Straight. Get Clear to send a message we're bringing a guest. How could I have forgotten to send word back to command?"

The private nodded towards a unicorn beside him. "I more meant sir, that he used the word kidnapped when you grabbed him. Also he may be a fugitive, as we have never seen a creature like him before."

The captain smiled. "Ah, putting all that watch training you had to good use eh? No, SHE will be perfectly well behaved, as well as we treat her right. She'd never hurt an innocent. I've never looked at a pony as completely protective as she is." I liked that he put emphasis on she. I didn't want to be called a dude.

I glanced at his word choice. I was rather protective, but I didn't think I deserved it as my intro. I shrugged it off and stuck a hand out to the pony. "Draitha, hi, sorry. You were talking about me. I'm right here, you know, able to answer your questions." I hated when people talked like I wasn't there.

Straight looked at me, then to his captain. "Sir, that thing is an unknown. Personally I find it to be totally untrustworthy, and it should be reported to the princess."

I blew out a raspberry. "If you do send for Luna. I think Celestia is a bit tiffed at me at the moment. Actually I think she's been mad since I blew her up." I paused as the various guards stared at me in horror, and as Bombs smile grew wider. "What, I left a note at my house, she ignored it, then she blew up a little bit. She hasn't been so happy with me since though."

The unicorn that Straight nodded to earlier looked horrified. Her horn glowed much brighter for a moment before fading, and an expression of false ease settled. "Of course." She had a voice betraying her gender. Made it easy. "Why, I know my house explodes if people don't follow notes."

I smiled. "Really? That's weird." Her expression faltered. "Only my door does that. Keeps people from barging in uninvited." I stood up and stretched. I knew how some loyal soldiers would respond to this.

The carriage was quiet for a moment, before a light blue pony raised it's hand. "Uh, Ms. Draitha. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that means that princess Celestia tried to get into your home, and then you blew her up."

I nodded. "That is an acceptable short hand of events. Yes." I could feel the anger behind me. Gods I could swim in it.

I heard a pony behind me scream. "GET HER!!" And I heard hooves fly behind me. I didn't have time to do anything fancy. The first pair of hooves circled my waist, trying to restrain me. I threw an elbow, knocking my shoulder into a horn. I felt a minor amount of sweat bead on my brow as I rolled forward. I felt the hooves release me as I made it to the back of carriage. The wall behind me was bare, and I could see three ponies staring me down. I glanced and saw that most of the ponies had remained seated, including the good captain. I shot a glare at him before the brawl resumed.

Now I don't have any official combat training really. But I am a many year veteran of brawls in both bars and life or death situations. The first pony was an earth pony, who I side stepped as he charged. The Pegasus beside him however manged a clean tackle to my gut. However the plate carrier kept me on my feet. I ripped the helmet from his head and threw it at the unicorn, who had been doing some magic nonsense with her horn. It clanged of her forehead, ceasing magic for the moment. I heard Dive Bomb cheer. I looked down at the pegasus and planted the skull ring on my right hand on his forehead. "Rooty Tootie!" The energy in the ring shot out, sending the poor pegasus out the back door.

The other two brawlers froze. I held up a finger. "Gimme a bit." I walked to the rear of the carriage, and saw the pegasus flying to catch up. I waved at him. "Glad you didn't die." The pony stared at me as he caught up. I heard a few hoof beats behind me. I waited for a split second, letting the pegasus close with me. "Sorry friend." I reached out and grabbed a hoof, pulling him into the carriage. I didn't stop, and spun around, knocking the pegasus into the Earth pony who had been moving behind me. I dropped the Pegasus and let them both fall in a tangled heap before looking at the unicorn, who now looked mildly terrified. "You wanna go one on one?"

The unicorn fainted. I pumped my fist. "Boo-yah, finally my terrifying presence does something good." I sat back down beside the captain and fished out a smoke, lighting it with a snap. I turned to him. "Please tell me those were the new guys, that unicorn could have just nudged me out of the carriage. Honestly I was already trying to think of all the little toys I might have to survive the trip down."

The captain smiled. "But of course. All my other ponies know that we are only sent on the most acceptable of assignments. They know not to let a guest work them up so easily." He said it, and everything now that I think about it, in a boisterous manner. Like he was in a constant shouting match with himself.

I settled down again, before nodding to Straight. "Kinda wish you were in there munchkin. You seemed like the smart one."

His face didn't move a muscle. He also didn't respond, which I found rather rude. It wasn't a big deal, because I could feel the carriage begin to drop. I held my seat with my smoke free hand, waiting for the big drop as we hit the ground. It never came, as the carriage came to a smooth stop. I glanced around and saw the ponies getting up. I waited until most had filed out before I got up. Dive Bomb tapped my back and I took the hint, moving up and out of the carriage.

I found myself in a large courtyard. Guards were running back and forth looking like they all had things to do. Dive's group had begun funneling into a door near the carriage, which I followed easily enough. I made it through the door and saw a clean entertainment room. There was a small bar in the corner, which Straight walked behind and flipped an open sign on. There were a few tables, and a few board games shoved onto a bookshelf. The three ponies who had tried to start a fight were in a corner, muttering darkly. I gave them an over exuberant wave, which they did not return. I heard Dive behind me. "I won't do anything to them, they were technically doing there jobs y'know."

I smiled and moved to a table, sitting down and tossing the stub of my finished smoke into my bag. "Wouldn't have it any other way chief. So, we gonna talk about what happened?"

He smiled wide. "Of course my friend. It is not everyday you see into another's soul."

I faltered. "So you know what happened?"

"Not the exact science behind it, but a unicorn has a feeling for these things. I suppose you now have more insight into me then I do."

I nodded and waved at Straight, making a motion with my hand for a drink. He filled up a mug and brought it to me. I took it and gestured to the seat by the Dive. "So Straight, let's play a game. It's called tell me which princess the unicorn called so I know whether to run or chill out."

The private stared at me before shrugging. "Well Celestia is currently in court, so she thought that Luna might respond faster. Either way they will be here to restrain you soon."

I nodded. "Well as long as you called Luna it's fine. She's the fun one. I blew her up a little to, but we had a tea party afterwards so it's all good."

Private Straight seemed to catalog all this and nodded. "So I take that to mean you already know the both princesses?" I nodded while taking a sip of my drink. I stared at it afterwards. It was hard cider. And damn good hard cider too. I was so distracted that I missed the first part of Straights next sentence. "-ld mean that they are both familiar with you too. I fear calling her may have been a bit hasty now."

I tilted the mug towards him as a guard wandered behind the door and played with something under the counter. Music began blaring through the room, and a few ponies moved tables to make a dance floor. I watched as half of the group began dancing with one another, cider cups in hand. I smiled at it, and shook my head. "Hey Dive, hold my drink?"

He nodded and continued watching. He spoke in an annoyed tone. "How I wish I could join you, however a captain cannot dance with his ponies. Might cause troubles that would dishonor my family name."

I left on that note, and moved to the dance floor. A few ponies left at that, but to my surprise a few ponies began staring. Apparently human dancing was something to see. They were going to be disappointed. I knew exactly one dance, and it was the carlton. Which I busted out with gleeful abandon. I heard some giggles as I flailed about like an idiot, and after the song a few ponies walked up. Most kinda stared at me, but one was brave enough to comment. "Please tell me that's not how most of your kind dance."

I smiled. "Nope, I can't dance to save my life."

The brave one walked up. A sea green unicorn with a darker green mane. "Yeah, well if you wanna dance again come see me for lessons, I'm sure I could teach you better than that."

"Of course, and you are?"

"Silver Light, Platoon inter-species relations expert."

I raised an eyebrow. "A platoon level inter-species job? Wouldn't that be more of a Battalion position?"

"Nah. Well, yes, but Dive here gets all the weird missions, so we have to have a varied bunch."

I nodded and a smaller swarm of ponies began chanting. "In the pit! In the Pit!"

I glanced at Silver Light. "So what are they doing?"

"Well, whenever somepony joins up they aren't considered in the group until after the first mission." I didn't resist as the small group lifted me on there shoulders. Silver light followed as they walked to the rear of the building. "And then, when they get back, we have a party like always. Finally they get thrown in the pit, and when they walk out, they're considered one of us."

My brow furrowed. We walked out a door into a small yard. I was facing the wrong way to look. I stared at Silver Light. "Wait, how big is the pit?"

I never got an answer in the form of getting tossed in. It was dark inside, and I heard a thump as the door closed. It was more of a locked cave than a pit, but it was still dark and cramped. I tried to breathe, but it was hard. I pulled my revolver out of it's holster. "I'm not starving, I'm not dying. I just have to push through this. Find a weak point." I began tapping on the wall, trying to feel out a structural weakness. I couldn't find an obvious one. I took another deep breathe, and felt my heartbeat surge. I took a dip in my magic bag and pulled out a flashlight. My hands shook the whole while, and dropped both my bag and the light. I felt both land by my feet.

I heard a loud noise outside, and centered my aim on where I thought the door was. I heard voices shouting outside. I kept talking to myself, trying not to let my thoughts go wild. "They aren't talking about how to kill me, they aren't deciding whether to starve me out or make this quick. They will let me out soon, and if it's to taunt me I will shoot them, then I will leave." I stared at the darkness some more, and then switched to a one handed grip on my gun. It shook like mad, but I managed to grab my bag in my free hand. I hauled it up on my shoulder and kept the gun pointed at the door. "I am going to get out of here. I am not going to rain death upon this whole damn city. I am no-" The door opened a crack, letting in sweet blessed light. I charged it, knocking whoever opened it on their ass. The gun followed my sight as I scanned the crowd. Lots of sad faces followed. A few faces had looked amused when I first broke out, and morphed into fear as they saw my face. The captain was at the end of my scan, looking extremely angry, as well as Princess Luna, who looked... looked.... Well she looked impassive.

She spoke to me. Very calmly, but not quietly. "Draitha, remain calm. These ponies are not Ghoulie, they did not mean to do that."

I moved the pistol towards her, but stopped myself. I heard my voice crack as I spoke. "Bullshit! Last hole I went in was torture, they put me back! I swear they're doing something!"

Luna took a step towards me, her voice still calm. "They meant to welcome thou. It is their way, they would not have starved thou."

One clever pony decided to speak then. "Well I might've."

The pistol flew to the voice. Some unlucky guard still in full armor. I pulled back the hammer. "See Luna, that one admitted it. I ain't going through that shit again. They ain't putting me in for another week."

I heard a few voices mutter about that. I wasn't sure if it was fear at me or the thought of a week in a hole, but they were agitated. Luna spoke again. "And thou shall not go back in. Lets be smart for a momen-"

She was cut off by Dive Bombs shouting at me. "Draitha, if you don't calm down right now you'd do something that would break all of Justin's rules."

I moved the pistol fully to his head, and paused. I knew he was right. "Damn you." I lowered the gun. "Damn you and that low blow." I holstered my pistol. I moved beside Luna. "Remember those cookies?" She nodded. "I need one."

A soft smile graced her face. "But of course. We think thou need a moment. If thou wouldst allow us, we will take you to a more private venue."

I nodded at her. "Yeah, less creepy ponies. I need to clear my head." I felt her magic overtake me, blocking light and sound for a brief moment. I reached for my pistol on reflex, but by the time my arm moved It was light again. I took a deep breath, and flopped onto the floor. "Damnit Luna. I swear I almost killed them." Which was true.

She sat beside my prone form. "Yes, but you did not. I think that the captain gleaned part of your issue. I admit I had waylaid him when they grabbed you, once we discovered the issue he was as mad as I was."

I raised a hand and waved it in lazy circles. "We reached an... understanding earlier. He gets me."

Luna giggled. "I thought that safe to assume. Who is this Justin he mentioned?"

My hand dropped, and I was silent. Luna took the cue, and didn't talk until the door opened. The revolver was up and pointed before the first hoof fell in the doorway. My sights centered on a white pony with brunette hair in the doorway. She cleared her throat once and spoke primly to Luna. "Princess Luna, those cookies you messaged for will be ready soon." She looked to me. "And Celestia asked for a formal report on what exactly happened in her special use squad barracks not to long ago."

"Tell her there was a rather large cultural misunderstanding. I shall have an official report written during night court."

The pony nodded. "Of course Princess. Is there anything else you require?"

I couldn't see Luna from keeping the new pony in my sights, but she seemed quieter in the next sentence. "Yes, send for captain Dive Bombs and three guards of his choosing here. I feel he will want to speak to my guest about the incident."

I flinched. I wasn't ready for that. But Luna had a point. If I was right about those pictures, I had threatened his ponies, and that's the whole reason he does what he does. I'd need to deal with the fallout. I stayed on the floor for a minute more before I spoke. "Alright Luna, So you want to know about Jacob?" I felt her tense beside me, but she didn't speak. "Well, I'm not up to telling you about him. Let's just say he had a lot of little rules for if something went wrong. I follow them."

She relaxed. "Fair enough, may I hear them?"

I nodded, and moved to a sitting position so I could see her. "Rule one, if they're innocent, don't hurt them. If everythings gone to hell you shouldn't make it worse. Rule two, assume you're the only one that follows rule one. All the other rules are less moral, more like survival advice. Always eat if you can, never stress little things, that sorta thing." I cracked my neck once, trying to calm down.

Luna looked me over and tried to look me in the eyes. I averted her gaze as she spoke. "He sounds like a wise man."

I scoffed. "Nah, he was crazy, planned for all sorts of shit he knew would never happen. I tried to calm him down a few times, but I think he was honestly a little insane. But he was a good guy. He had one more rule, but It's not relevant right now."

I heard the voice of Dive Bomb behind me. "On the contrary, I think I quiet enjoyed the Harkness rule is very amusing. I got to see them all in there own little plaque."

I flinched. "Damn it Dive, I don't go around spouting all my epiphanies about you."

He looked heartbroken. "But of course, and the way I let my men throw you in that pit, unforgivable." he fell to his knees. "I saw the pain it would bring you, but I was foalish. I thought they wouldn't accept you so easily. I knew they loved a pony who could do the hard jobs but..." I swear there were tears in his eyes as he looked down. This guy was a major ham. Of course I knew that already.

Luna coughed. "I feel as if I am missing something."

I heard Silver Light speak, and saw her, Straight, and another pony enter. "We all are princess. Captain's been yelling at us since you left, something about besmirching his family honor."

I smiled at her, then at him. "No honor besmirchment here Dive. They didn't know. And for what it's worth, I only kinda want to kill them now."

Silver looked at me. "Kinda?"

I shrugged. "Take what you can get."

Luna looked at me. "No, I require an explanation about all of this. How are you and Dive so well acquainted?"

I sighed. "Alright princess. You know I can use magic, right?" She nodded. "Well when I found that out, I found an ability that human wizards have. If we make eye contact for a little bit, then both people get thrown into the other's soul. You see each other with no blinders. Evil, good, or anything in between is shown for what it is." I leaned back. "And it shows a few things outright, but it also gives you... feelings. Like knowing stuff about them innately. It can change, but the stuff you see. The stuff you see is the most important."

Luna nodded, and Dive bomb rose. He talked first. "And your soul, what a marvelous things. It was everything, I saw regrets, loves, all intermingled into a wondrous portrait. Why, a lesser Stallion might have wept." He said this while weeping. By God this stallion never went down from eleven.

I stared at him, while Luna looked at me with new eyes. "You can see into a ponies soul at whim?"

I had to think on it, drudging up memories on Sensei's lesson. "Yes, but it's dangerous. You never know what you'll get. That and, you can never forget it. Me and Dive will remember this snapshot of our souls until we die. We'll remember it just as vividly as the moment it happened. So if we got a look at bad souls, then it would stick. A cavalcade of horror constantly playing in your head."

Luna looked at Dive Bomb. "Thou willst give us a full briefing of the contents of Draitha's soul by end of court tonight."

Normally I would have shot that down. I would have if anybody but Dive Bombs was there. Now I was one of his photo's though. "Absolutely not princess. Nopony should get access to another's soul in anything as crass as a report. Why, I feel as if you insult Ms. Draitha by the very idea."

I was. "Honestly yeah. A soul's too personal to share with people. I've never done it before, last time was an accident."

Luna shrank back. "Of course, I apologize. It would just solve so many unknowns to know exactly who we are dealing with, meaning no offense Draitha." I took offense, but there was no use in showing it.

I let out an easy smile. "Course Luna, you're looking out for yours. I'd do the same."

Straight, who had been watching this whole time spoke up. "As informative as this was, I believe that Corporal Vice had something to say, and he looks scared enough as is."

I glanced at the third pony in line. Some Pegasus. white fur, black mane. Couldn't see the cutie mark through all the mail, but I didn't need to. He nodded. "Yeah, uh. I wanted to apologize for my comment after you got out of the pit."

I nodded. "Water under the bridge man. But you all deserve an explanation. Let me tell you a story of a gang I used to run with." Luna sat beside me as I told the tale of Ghoulie, and all the details of the fun trip in the hole. She cut me off at the end, leaving the unknown fate of Marks even more unknown.

I finished up, leaving the room in silence for a while. I thought they would run screaming, well Vice looked ready to, but the rest seemed somber. I sat there for a minute, waiting for a reaction. Silver was the first to move. She trotted up to me, before wrapping me in a huge hug. "I am so sorry Draitha." I returned it, and soon the other ponies moved in. Luna first, then Dive, and finally Straight. I smiled as I sat there. It was nice to get a hug every now and again.