Twilight stared at the darkened Manehatten apartment. It had been a week since John left. He said he would only be gone a few days, to talk to the pony who brought him here. They accepted this easily, he had been looking into the strange circumstances of his arrival since he had calmed enough to arrive. But this, this was not what they had expected.
They had heard the explosion from the street and ran up to it as soon as they could. They could tell from their tracking spell that John was there, where whatever exploded was. And they found him. They stared at him as blood seemed to slowly pool from a knife lodged firmly in his chest. In his hands rested a strange device they had never seen, smoke wafting from the hole at its end. And the unicorn in the corner, his face seeming to be a mass of blood and bone. They stared as John let out a cough, and began to sing.
Rainbow Dash was speechless, as she began to stumble forward, stopping beside John's bleeding chest. She blinked back the tears in her eyes, as she rested her head by the knife, placing her head on her dying friend. The others couldn't hear her as she murmured into their dying friend, but they heard the first sob.
***
It was a normal day for Rainbow Dash. She had been flying circles over Sweet Apple Acres, and only occasionally grabbing an apple from AJ mid-buck. She was forced to stop as an odd creature ran out of the bordering forest, bending over as it attempted to catch its breath. She flew down slowly, unsure of the creature as it leaned back and drew in a gasp of air. It spotted her as she lowered herself and froze, seemingly ready to sprint away in a moments notice. Rainbow remembered the apple in her hoof and gestured it towards the creature. He took a slow step forward as Rainbow floated towards him. When they met it grabbed the apple, taking a large bite. It smiled towards her and nodded. "Thanks, names John."
Rainbow didn't move her head as Pinkie Pie trotted up. Her stumbling steps and deflated mane making her a ghost of her former self. She could barely make it beside Johns' head, collapsing in a heap as soon as her muzzle reached his softly singing mouth. She began singing along, committing each word to memory. She would never forget this song, not the one that accompanied her friend's death.
***
John had been welcomed into Ponyville with open hooves. He had quickly gotten a job as record keeper for the small town, and squirreled himself away in Twilight's library at all off hours. Pinkie had devised a masterful plan to trap him in a party. The castle's library had been set up with half the town hiding behind bookshelves. As soon as he walked through the front door the ponies sprung into action. They thought from his tears he was scared. But after Pinkies introduction, he wrapped her up in a massive hug, before falling to his knee's. The whole party could hear his sobbed thank you's as he tried to control himself. Pinkie smiled extra-wide, content that she had helped her new friend.
Rarity stared in place, before she walked numbly, nary a hoof out of place to the metal machine in John's trembling grip. She couldn't utter a noise as she saw the engraving. 'Michael'. While she didn't know the name, the song hinted at the fate of its owner. Now she knew what John had been hiding, and that her friends would know the same pain now. The lowered her head and cried freely.
***
John had needed new clothes, and Rarity was happy to oblige. She happily chatted as she sewed a garment around the only human on Equess. She happily mentioned that working on a one of a kind creature was a golden opportunity. She paused as John muttered one of a kind under his breath, and realized her misstep. As soon as she finished his shirt she moved to the back of the store. Calling down Sweetie Belle to get the Crusaders there in no short order. She passed Sweetie a bag and a list. By the time she finished the outfit, John was assaulted by three fillies. Each one telling him a story from their day, all three at the same time. He happily chuckled as Rarity smiled on. She couldn't give him back his life, but she could give him help here and now.
Coughs racked the human's form as he stumbled in his song. Fluttershy came up, barely flinching at the blood as she began tearing at his clothes trying to dress the wounds to the best of her abilities. The scarlet shirt was already wet, but it was the best she could do for bandaging. As she began applying pressure the song began again, as if John refused to die unfinished. Fluttershy knew it was hopeless, but she wasn't going to give up while he still drew a single breath.
***
Fluttershy had been terrified of the towns newest inhabitant and was avoiding him. She was walking back into town when that changed. He had found one of her animal friends, and was laying down playing with it. She watched as he scratched it's belly, causing the puppy to roll happily on its back. He waved a hand at her as she walked past, and instantly returned to smothering the lucky pup with love and affection. He was still there thirty minutes later when she came back. She sat beside him as he played, a collar and set of bowls in her pack. Happy to have found another animal lover.
Applejack simply plopped down in place, unable to come to terms with what was happening. The unicorn in the corner was unfamiliar, and John was laying down, dying before her own eyes. She didn't want to hear him sing, she didn't want to see her friend leaking all over a trashy apartment floor. She stared at the wall, without the ability to see at all. The only thing in her mind was that damn song.
***
Applejack had been watching the human as he walked through town. She knew he was lying about something, but she couldn't find out what. She was following him as the sun went down watching as he waved goodbye to a few of his friends. He turned away from town and began towards Everfree. She watched as he followed the trail, humming a tune she couldn't recognize. Finally, he stopped at the outskirts of the forest and dug a small collection of items out from his jacket. He set up the photo and candle in front of him as he kneeled down. He lit the candle with a stick that sparked into a small fire and knelt before it. Applejack could see this for what it was and knew what the right thing to do was. She took off her own hat and pulled out a photo of her parents. She trotted up and placed it beside his picture, a human that looked almost nothing like him. He sat beside him and knelt her head with his. They didn't know how long they stayed like that, but when they finished they nodded to each other and left without a word.
Twilight stared as her friends moved, unsure of what to do. She could recite twenty spells in her sleep that could cure a pony with his wounds, and at least three for each other species on Equess. But none for him. She had the power of an alicorn and was still unable to stop the scythe of the reaper as it cut down her friend. Her horn glowed softly, as if she was just waiting for a flash of insight to save him, but none came.
***
Twilight stared at the creature in her library as it sipped on its teacup. She had been alone when she fell asleep on her couch, and now she wasn't. He smiled and gave her a short wave, before gesturing to a still steaming cup beside her. She took a sip of the soft Earl Gray and smiled back. As they both resumed their silent writing she heard him muttering softly, marking his hand with numbers as he saw passages he needed to remember. She levitated him a small blank notebook which he accepted without a glance and began taking notes in a foreign script. Twilight stared as he nodded. When he closed the book he gave Twilight the biggest smile she'd ever seen on him before he spoke. "You know, you're pretty cute when you sleep." She didn't manage to stop blushing until after he left.
All six girls continued their actions as the song faded, and their friend coughed, spraying blood across Pinkies face. He smiled with teeth stained red. The girls all looked to him, and he spoke in wavering tones. "Hey, girls... I'm sorry." They were unable to speak as he began another coughing fit, which made Fluttershy hasten her work. John shook his head, raising his hand to Fluttershy's face. "Don't worry Shy, I'll be fine." The girls could tell he was lying, but the smile sat firmly on his face. He coughed again, and his voice became little more than a whisper. "Don't worry girls. I'll see you later."
He went limp under Rainbows head, and spells flew from Twilights horn. She didn't know if any would work, but she couldn't do nothing. Flashes of purple lit the room, causing the body to jerk violently. It took a tackle from Applejack before Twilight stopped. The six were left staring at the limp body of their friend. It felt like a lifetime before Rainbow lifted her head, her normally vibrant mane now a single streak of red. She stared at a small bag on the side of Johns' body. Inside was a small book, and a picture. A picture of John, and a different human. Both resting their arms on the other's shoulders while smiling. In writing on the bottom was a simple message. 'Michael and John, Friends to the End'
Author's Note
I wanted to write something sad. Please don't hate me if you feel bad. Also please don't hate me if it falls flat, just trying something new.
The tea room of Princess Celestia was considered a holy place by some. It was filled with tapestries made by long-forgotten ponies, rugs from nations that died millennia ago. Today it seemed far to empty for Celestia's liking. She turned towards the guest chair she had put in a few months ago, and almost saw John there. An afterimage of what had become a near-daily occurrence in the past few weeks. John sitting across from her, spouting idle musings about various matters of state and jokes at the nobles expense. She sighed as she moved a sheet over the chair, not wanting to look at it. She moved to her personal cushion, sitting down in a very un-regal position as she summoned a pot of tea from the kitchens. As she waited for her daily drink, she levitated a small unmarked journal from a bag at her side. She opened it, looking over the alien language written in quick, precise strokes. She looked at the language in uncomprehending glances as she tried a translation spell. She watched the spell morph the words into squiggles an lines before they bounced back into their normal shape.
Celestia sighed as she set the book down beside her, trying not to think of what happened, and found herself failing. She knew John would say it wasn't her fault. If the blame lay with anyone it was squarely on Johns' shoulders. He would certainly say so. Probably with some humorous analogy about an ancient myth or historical figure from his home. She moved slightly, adjusting her wings to a more comfortable position as the soft ring announcing her tea's imminent arrival sounded through the room. She watched her tea table as a small tray appeared on it. The simple silver tray held one teapot and two teacups. She stared at the twin cups and took deep breathes, trying to control the flood of emotion that came with it. She kept having subtle reminders that she would be drinking alone, but telling kitchen staff to only send one cup seemed... wrong now. In a few short months, tea had turned into a social occasion. john would come up to Canterlot in order to study, as well as use the previous record keepers archive to finalize his drafts of various minutia the Ponyville filed for. She could still remember the first day he joined her for tea.
***
Celestia wandered into her tea room, sighing in annoyance at the tedium and annoyance that was Day Court. The nobles had been lobbying for less reliance on local farmers due to their prices. This would be fine if they had any idea for alternatives. It's like they expected her to have an innate knowledge of farming that would make changing suppliers instant. Then there was that utter ponce of a noble Tight Lips. He had the absolute idiocy to state that a minotaur naval cruiser had been spotted by his network. In front of the Minotaur ambassador. She was interrupted from her revelry by a chuckling laugh. She turned to face it horn raised, expecting an assassin. Instead, the human from Ponyville was sitting on her couch. He turned the page of a folder and smiled. "Your security suck Princess." She stared in confusion as her tea appeared on the table in front of the human. He calmly poured a glass and moved from her cushion. "Sorry about that, I was curious about how secure your tea room is." He gestured to the balcony. "Honestly, you need a pegasus or something scanning open balconies." Celestia stared before shaking her head and sitting down on her cushion. After a moment she summoned another teacup and gestured towards it. John sat opposite her and poured himself a cup. "Also, I had a few questions about that investigation...
Celestia shook off the miasma of remembrance as she dismissed the second cup. Remaining alone in her tea room. Taking a lone sip she thought back to her investigation. She summoned the reports from the Equestrian Bureau of Investigation. It appears the case against one Blind Leap was only just starting to gain key pieces of evidence. They had matched his Cutie Mark shortly after John's report. However, evidence of his misdeeds was lacking due to his frequent moves and jobs. Celestia looked over his past with a grimace. He had graduated from her school with a focus on Portal magic. He was well known for his ability to create what he called warpgates. Small tunnels from one area of Equestria to another. Of course, there were downsides. They were dangerous if he wasn't familiar with the area the portal was leading to, causing lost limbs in the best scenario, death in the worst. But the dangers had meen mitigated by a few rules he put in place whenever he was hired.
It was easy to see what must have happened. He was experimenting with portals by opening them in the void of space. Distance meant nothing to him, as long as he had a rough area in mind he could place them anywhere. Likely that was how he acquired his fortune. But one misplaced portal in space and suddenly John was here. Then came the bit that Celestia had to use conjecture for. She dug around in the bag beside her and pulled out the photo. John, with his arm hooked around another human. She smiled at it. John sporting a huge smile, while the other one had shrunk under his arm. She could practically taste the friendship at that moment. Like brothers, they were family. She shook her head and re-focused. Michael must have been beside John and sent through the gate. But Michael wasn't here, so where did he go?
***
John was seated in the chair Celestia had moved into her tearoom in the past week. He was working in the official Ponyville book. He paused as he looked to the large stack of files before him, and copying down a small bit of information. Without looking up, he waved his pencil at Celestia. "Howdy, your majesty. How went day court?"
she smiled at him as she pulled the cord for tea. "It went well, everypony seemed ready to sit down about your security suggestions."
He shrugged. "Just doing my part, plus denying teleports except for authorized areas is as much safety as security. Can't have some unlucky soul getting split in half because of a moving curtain."
Celestia raised an eyebrow at that. While John had made an academic study of magic, he was far from a true mage. It made sense he wouldn't know about the safety triggers in your average teleport spell. She shrugged it off as she poured two glasses of tea. "But enough of that, what happened in Ponyville this week?" He groaned and covered his face, hiding behind a hand. Celestia giggled, enjoying his annoyance at the excitable little town.
Celestia tensed. That idle thought during their conversation opened up a dangerous outcome. Blind leap had opened the portal, and both John and Michael came through. But only part of Michael. She couldn't imagine the horror. Being dragged from your home with the gory mess of one like your brother raining upon you. Being in a new and alien realm with no warning. It was a terrifying thought. The more she thought about it the more she hoped she was wrong.
But that still left questions. Why had John never mentioned it? Why hadn't he done more to help the investigation? She pulled his notebook out again, trying to drag answers out of whatever script he wrote in that had eluded both her and Twilight's attempt to translate. She stared at it with tears beginning to form in her eyes. She could think of a million ways to solve this problem now that she had more solid information, but time was against her. She couldn't change what happened, and he had apparently decided her own forces couldn't be trusted. She threw the book across the room, making a soft thump as it landed in the covered chair.
She could almost feel his presence behind her. Resting his hand on her back like he did whenever she got stressed. She thought she heard his voice behind her. "You can't change the past, just make things better for the future."
She turned around as quickly as she could. Finding the area behind her empty, but still feeling the phantom hand between her wings. She shook her head and laid down fully. Celestia was a ruler. Rulers were not allowed to weep for every subject under their supervision. But for a friend, the tears fell with a freedom that had seemed dead since the death of her last faithful student. She let out a quiet sob from her pillow before a knock startled her.
The small voice of Twilight Sparkle came from the other side of the door. "Umm, Celestia. I found a letter from John. It's in his writing, but my name is written at the top. Do you want to see it?"
Celestia wiped her tears off on her pillow before flipping it over. She refused to be seen crying. After a moment she nodded her head. "Of course Twilight. I'll summon another teacup." She watched as Twilight walked in awkwardly. As they began speaking she found herself ignoring the conversation. She was distracted by John's advice, as if he had actually said it to her then and there. She was already thinking of several new laws. Ones that would add safety to any future users of Blind Leaps warpgates.
