Author's Note
Perspectives change, depending on the name following the chapter. If the chapter is followed by something that is not a name, then it is spoken in Third Person.
Furthermore, past the Prologue, some chapters will carry the same events in them, but spoken from the other characters' perspectives.
Prologue - John Doe
The darkness of the Canterlot Dungeons never cease to amaze me... after so long, and so little light, one might say that they kinda get... used to it, after a while.
I've taken the liberty of keeping count of every time I feel the need sleep, and count that as a day... so far, I think I'm eight years in.
But man, does it feel good to be Immortal... or rather, under a Preservation Spell sent by the princesses, themselves! Something about "preventing the extinction of any more races in this peaceful planet", or some shit like that.
Sure, I'm a bit of a loose cannon... some may even call me a Psychopath... but in the end, I'm really just another guy, who was put in a situation that might've caused a rude pony's... tongue... to get pulled from his throat, after I cut a hole in it.
What can I say? He was a noble, and he forgot his tie, so I gave him one, Colombian Style! Easy fix!
...
But even still, it was my little sister Jane that was able to calm me down... even to the point of me surrendering to the Officers that were in hot pursuit. She and Celestia, both, got along great, while Celestia and I... well, we've had our ups-and-downs. Overall, she was a lot more forgiving of me than anyone else on this planet, excluding my sister.
If anything, she was the closest thing to a mother that I had... a proper mother, that is, and not some cheap slut that might've forgotten to take her pill... twice.
Thankfully, she was willing to keep me from being executed on the spot, and instead sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment, with visitation rights for my sister, herself, and any contacts that my sister approves of.
Fifteen years... a little over halfway there at this point.
...
Do I regret doing it? Pfft, of course not! I'd do it again in a heartbeat if someone gets too close to those I care about! To me, the imprisonment mean nothing... and to them, I mean life-or-death. So maybe the next noble stupid enough to threaten my sister, her friends, or I, will score me another fifteen... unless Celestia finds a way to deal with the court.
...
Who knows, though? Maybe Jane will talk some sense into her?
"Excuse me, uh... would you happen to be Mr. John Doe?" a voice interrupts my train of thoughts... a stallion, by the sound of it.
I sigh and roll myself back to my knees, after lying on the cold, stone ground long enough. I open my eyes, and deadpan at the shy-looking guard clad in gold armor.
"Depends... who's asking?" I reply.
The guard gulps, before replying, "I believe her name was Mrs. Jane Doe. She wishes to visit with you... if you'll come with me, please?"
I nod my head and sit back up, smiling slightly. Ah, how it feels good to have a sister that still cares about you... being the only two humans in this world, I've at least got someone I can relate to, and trust.
Sure, when we got sent into this world, I was a teenager, sixteen, and she was a child... Year 10 on this world, and Year 8 in Prison. I've already got a beard growing, and my hair's already looking more like I've jumped straight out of the 70's... not that I mind. Just a little trimming, and I'm sure I can make it work someday.
From what I heard, she was willing to transform into one of these native "Ponies". Not that I really blamed her, nor that I do to this day, what with her getting along with them much more.
Last time I heard from her, she was married to some Fruitcake... literally. I heard his name was Fruitcake.
Honestly, I'd love to say she only married him out of pity with a name like that... but to be fair, the kid's got a good head on his shoulders. When we first met, I told 'em that if he hurt her, I'd shove 'em in an oven, just to see if I can make him taste like a fruit cake.
He didn't budge. He told me, in my face, that he would never even dream of it.
That took guts... and I liked it. He stayed with her during their visits, and I'd joke around with him. I suppose it's just for the best.
After all, there's no telling what I would've done if I were out there when they both met for the first time...
...
Then again, the time has been getting slower and slower... almost like he's becoming more and more of her life, now... and I'll be honest, I've been starting to panic after she stopped showing up as often. First it was a week away, then a month... then two months...
And now, it's been one whole year since we've last spoken.
...
But I digress.
As I step into the bright chamber, chains locking my wrists together and limiting my ankle movements, I close my eyes and take in the light after yet another month gone by without it.
From the other side of the Magic Wall, see-through and all, I can see an Earth Pony Mare standing with a bright tan coat and a bright blonde mane and tail. Her Cutie Mark is that of a green question mark, and her eyes are a bright green color that matches it.
She smiles at me, and I smile back, having seen the all-too-familiar face more times than I'd care to count.
"John!" she calls out cheerfully, waving at me.
I nod my head and chuckle in response. "Jane... wow, you've... put on some weight this past year! The hell have you been eating, girl?!"
Sure enough, she seems to have gotten a bit of a pudge on her belly... not that I judge her, of course. If anything, it means Fruity's just keeping Jane well-fed... which I can't say I had the pleasure of enjoying.
She rolls her eyes, smirking. "Oh, come on! It's not that noticeable, and you know it!"
I return her smirk. "Hey, only thing I noticed is that he's been keeping you away from our good ol' Brother and Sister Time... so where were you, anyways?"
She closes her eyes and looks down. "Well... I've been busy. I'm a working mare, with a job, and a family on this world... including you, Fruitcake, and..."
...
"... And?" I parrot, before realization dawns on me.
"Wait... are you telling me that-"
Before I can finish my sentence, Fruitcake enters the room next to us, wearing a saddlebag with a blanket folded in a round lump... wait... that round lump... it's moving!
Jane giggles, before nodding towards Fruity. "John... I want you to meet your niece, Ditzy Doo."
I stare in awe as the gray pegasus stallion with golden eyes and a blue mane lifts a baby pegasus filly out of the blanket.
Fruity then offers the sleeping filly to Jane, who accepts it and brings it closer to the shield wall.
I reach my hand towards the wall, but as expected, it blocks me from exiting.
However, the filly's little, button-like golden eyes open up, and stare right at me.
I freeze for a moment, hoping the little one doesn't get frightened by my appearance.
Then, to my shock, she giggles and leaps from the clutches of Jane's forelegs, and through the shield wall!
"Ditzy!" Fruity calls out, but it's too late. The little baby filly's in the bubble with me, and instinctively, I catch her with my hands, and cradle her to my chest.
Her little bitty hooves begin to wave towards me, and she giggles playfully, while her wings buzz between my fingers.
And this... this makes me smile. For once, I feel like an ordinary person.
"Heh... well I'll be... she doesn't even act that playful when I'm around, John... I think she likes you!" Jane tells me, seemingly unsurprised by her daughter's antics.
I look towards her, smile still intact, and chuckle. "Heh... doubt it."
She shrugs her shoulders. "Okay, so maybe she does fly around a bit... but what can I say? She probably smells the little bit of Mommy in you!"
I roll my eyes and look towards Ditzy again. "Okay, Ditzy... let's teach you your first word! Look at Mommy... can you say 'wench' for me?"
"John!" Jane says with a deadpan, but this only makes me laugh even more.
"What? Close enough!" I reply.
Ditzy then begins to mumble Gibberish baby sounds... until...
"J-Jun-Jun..." she says, causing both mares (or Mare and Stallion, apparently) to stare at her in shock.
Fruity then smiles while murmuring, "H-her first word...sort-of..."
Jane, however, rolls her eyes and feigns annoyance, though I can still see her smile forcing its way on her lips.
"Great... I worry that she says 'wench', and she ends up saying something even worse!" she teases.
After shaking the stupor from my head, I turn to Jane again and stick my tongue out teasingly. "Heh... you're just jealous she didn't say something stupid, like 'Mama'."
She sticks her tongue back out at me, before she starts to laugh. "Heh... well congrats, John. Looks like you've won this round... but hey, behave yourself and you'll be out of here, listening to her say even more!"
The thought does run through my mind for a bit. Yes... perhaps when I'm out of here, I can catch back up with my family. My sister, my brother-in-law... my new niece.
"Wouldn't that be the day..." I reply. I then grow a bit more curious about things.
"So, you were gone for a year... how old is she, anyways?" I ask.
"She just turned three months old today, actually... I wanted that to be the time to show her off to you... since I knew you'd understand." she answers.
I nod my head in understanding. "Yeah... can't believe so much has passed without me... hell, I couldn't even take care of you these past eight years."
She waves a dismissive hoof towards me. "Hey, you've been there for me more than just those two years on this world... don't forget about Mom and Dad, now."
I frown, as more dark thoughts come to mind. "... I did what I had to do."
Jane notices my frown and quickly works to bring my smile back up. "Well hey, at least we'll have a chance to be a whole family again, right? We'll all be back together again before you know it!"
As usual, her words seem to work on me. I smile and nod my head again, with a bit of determination and resolve filling my heart. "Yeah... and when I'm out, I can probably help you both out with raising her."
Jane motions her hoof towards me. "I know you would do great, John..."
Fruity turns to face the entrance to the room. "I, uh... guess we better get a guard in here to help us get our filly back, so that nopony gets the wrong id-"
Before he could finish his sentence, however, a young-looking guard steps inside the room, eyes facing the door he enters.
Jane looks towards me worriedly, as if bracing for something to happen. "Oh, shit..." she whispers, while the guard looks towards me, and freezes on the spot, eyes glued to the filly in my hands.
"Officer, it's not what it l-" Fruity says while Jane trots towards him seemingly reassuring him that nothing's out of the ordinary here.
However, with my own reputation, jokes that may or may not involve pegasus wings and unicorn horns, and all-about violent streak, the guard immediately jumps into the offensive, rushing towards me and drawing his spear.
"STOP! UNHAND THAT FILLY, YOU MONSTER!" he shouts, waking up, and startling, Ditzy Doo.
She begins to cry and tuck herself deeper into my left arm, staring at the guard frightened.
Immediately, the mood is gone, and I feel the blood in my veins start to boil.
The guard stops short of the bubble and points his spear through it... big mistake.
"This is your last warning! Release the filly, or I will be forced to-ah!"
I immediately yank the spear from his hooves with my right hand, forcing him into the bubble as well.
"Jack! Don't!" Jane calls out, but by the time she does, I've already kicked the stallion in the nose, making it drip blood, before pinning him to the Shield Bubble, with the spear pointed at his neck.
"You. Shut the fuck up. You've scared my Niece..." I whisper to him, covering her ears for consideration.
The guard begins to cry and shiver in fear. "W-wha-what... w-wha..." he begins to stammer.
"I said you're scaring my niece! I know I didn't kick you that hard, to where you'd not know how ta fucking TALK!" I shout, pressing the spear closer to his neck, to where a little bit of blood starts to drip.
"Gah! I-I'm sorry! P-please don't harm me!" he begs.
Ooh, how I love when they beg... thinking I'd honestly give two fucks about their lives... sure wouldn't have been the same story if they weren't such arrogant assholes mere moments ago!
"Now, you take this bubble down, and I'll give my niece back to my sister over there... but I'm giving your spear to my brother-in-law, and not you. Clearly you aren't mature enough to use a weapon.... and for the record, don't make me catch you anywhere near this room again, or within my presence, or so help me, I'll turn you into more red paint for my cozy little room down the deepest, darkest pits of Tartarus... ya got that?" I threaten, squinting my eyes at him.
"Y-yes, sir! U-understood, sir!" the guard replies.
I then immediately headbutt him, forcing him to the ground, forehooves gripping his bleeding snout.
"GAH!" he calls out, while I point the spear his way.
"THEN WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU STILL STANDING HERE?! OPEN THE FUCKING WALL!" I shout in anger.
He immediately grips a small remote and taps on one of the two buttons on it. The bubble immediately vanishes, and he rushes as far from me as he can.
I then sigh, before tossing the spear, handle-first, towards Fruitcake, and gently pat the poor crying filly in my arms immediately afterwards.
"Shh... it's okay, Ditzy... it's okay, I'm here now." I lift her even higher to my chest, gently rocking her back and forth.
"Uncle John's here for you, Ditzy... I won't let those bad ponies do anything to you... not while I'm around!" I coo, shushing her while gently brushing her mane.
She soon quiets down, allowing her mother a much easier time to pull her from my grasp. She whines a little bit, but upon seeing her mom, she calms down immediately, while she, in turn, starts to mother the child to a giggling fit again.
Fruity then looks at the guard and frowns. "I think you should take his advice, good sir... here, tell one of his usual 'handlers' to treat the situation from now on." he says, passing the guard back his spear.
The guard presses the button immediately, forcing the bubble between my family and I once again. He then rushes out of the room, not saying another word.
Jane looks towards me and frowns. "Come on, John... you could've been a little more softer on him, at least..."
I shake my head, grinning at her widely. "Nah... not while he was terrorizing little Ditzy there."
She stares blankly at me before sighing. A weak smile forms on her lips. "I... suppose you didn't kill him, at least... which is a good sign of progress."
With a chuckle, I shrug my shoulders. "Guy was scared shitless, and didn't know what he was doing. Killing someone that pathetic would've just made me feel bad later on... and besides, he could've avoided it if he just chilled the hell out, and let you both speak to him, like a good soldier."
Jane nods her head, before reaching her hoof into the bubble. I firmly grasp it, while my smile softens. "Well... I'll go speak with the Princess, now... let her know what's happened, so that she gives you a pardon from 'Assaulting an Officer' since, y'know... you were simply exercising your rights to Self-Defense against a prejudiced cop that made an improper assumption based on your-"
"Ugh, great. My niece is gonna be a fucking nerd in school..." I cut her off, jokingly.
She puffs her cheeks out, seemingly frustrated, but hey, it's still my job as the Older Brother to embarrass the younger siblings.
She then pulls her hoof out of the bubble, and softens her expression. "Oh, hardy-ha-ha... well anyways, I guess we better get going... but hey, we'll be coming back again more often! Promise!"
I nod my head and wink at her. "Bring the whole Fam, too, Sis... wouldn't miss it for the world! Both worlds, might I add!"
And with that, they start to head out of the room, leaving me to my devices.
I then turn around, and begin to head back down the dark hallways, being led by the Officer that brought me out of the cell.
With a content smile, I calmly walk into my cell again, and return to my original spot in the dark, musky place.
"Well, now... looks like I've got something to look forward to, after all..." Tell myself, before closing my eyes and returning to my own little world, within my imagination.
Time passes by for me. Days become Weeks. Weeks become Months... it isn't long, and I see my family wearing party hats, in honor of Ditzy Doo... her fourth birthday.
Needless to say, I've grown very attached to her. She's always happy to see me... perhaps one of the only ones in this world that would be crazy enough to actually be happy around me...
But nonetheless, it's a welcome change. A change that's gotten me, surprisingly enough, calmer. I've managed to help her do a couple things that, of course, her mother disapproves of... things like calling Fruity a 'Bitch'.
I got a good laugh at how fast she was willing to comply... though I also got a pop in the back of my head from her mother... a pop that I actually feel like I deserved.
But even still, it was worth it to see his reaction!
Anyways, moving on. It's now close to the ninth month of the fourth year... I've just gotten word that my sister is on her way now, carrying the family.
However, she also has Fruitcake's parents with them... turns out, they were interested in finally seeing their new son-in-law, who has been showing good signs of improvement.
I've agreed over the line (because apparently these ponies consider phones as 'lines', apparently) that I would kiss their asses if need be... but she assured me that they're actually quite fun-loving, so I should get along great.
Oh... I should probably mention that, a year ago, I was given a line of my own, and a radio. Turns out, not threatening my cellmates that I would eat their limbs after disemboweling the impurities from their throats also means I can get new toys!
... Obviously, the line is rigged, though. Only certain calls can be made, and they have someone on the other end monitoring the conversations at all times.
Lost it a couple times when I said a few things about them that made them confiscate it from me to avoid disturbing thoughts... but I've started to tame that side of me for a month, now.
I'm on the phone with Jane, now. We're laughing about how her new carriage is just another useless thing that they bought... but then again, I wouldn't mind seeing Fruity carrying her around on it. Horse carrying a Pony, sure.
Ditzy's also on the line, talking and laughing.
"So hey, when's she supposed to start school, anyways?" I ask Jane.
Her voice answers, "She starts in half a year now, John! I can't believe how fast she's grown up!"
I chuckle. "I know, right? Feels like only yesterday that I held her in my hands, and..."
...
"... Hang in there, John. It's only be a couple more years, now. I'm sure they'll let you out for good behavior, or at least spend some time with us... in fact, I was thinking that we might talk to Princess Celestia about you actually coming over to visit us during Hearth's Warming Eve!"
I roll my eyes at her misinterpretation. "Heh... Jane, I believe the proper name of that... is Christmas!"
"Well... the locals call it Hearth's Warming Eve, so I'm sticking to it! But hey, you can call it Christmas if you want! Just don't expect others to understand your Gibberish when you say it to them!" she teases over the phone.
I smirk. "Well, I don't really say it to anyone, anyways, so... won't really matter much. And if they don't like my way of celebrating it, then they can just come over here and suck it!"
"Seriously, John?! I told you our parents are on their way to meeting you, and you're already saying those kinds of things over the phone?!"
I raise my finger up accusingly. "Hey, now! You said that they're fun-loving, so there shouldn't be a problem!"
She sighs. "Well... we're already over Neighagra Falls. Shouldn't be much farther until we reach Canterlot."
"Good... I'll see you guys in about an hour."
And with that, I hang up the phone, and turn on the radio.
A few cute tunes start to play, before a NEWS Report interrupts it.
"Breaking news today, as the dangerous leader of the Lunar Cult managed to escape the raid on their latest base, while several of their newest recruits were apprehended, throwing themselves into the guards as means of distraction. However, we can confirm that the leader is, in fact, a Unicorn, with a golden aura. Strands of his mane brushed from the floor where he vanished appear to be a silver color. More information will be given later on, as the base continues to be swept, alongside the buildings around it.
"Meanwhile, a new student has made her presence known! In Princess Celestia's Academy of Magic, a young filly, by the name of Twilight Sparkle, has shown tremendous amounts of Magic Potential, even to the point of impressing Princess Celestia, herself! More details at ten.
"And now, for the weather schedule! Due to the shortage of rain these past few days, the Weather Patrol has issued a Thunderstorm will be in effect in one hour, with the routes all under careful watch, of course. However, we would like to advise that all Pegasi driving carriages, wagons, and carts, are to wear protective gear to prevent electrocution from the clouds, or to take lower ground so as to reduce the risk of being struck by lightning."
As I zone the channel out, I decide to give Jane a call.
"Bzzt... Bzzt... *Click* Hello? John?" Jane answers.
"Nah, Billy Mays here with a special offer!" I sarcastically remark, making her giggle.
"Well, Billy, would you mind telling John that we're probably going to be delayed for a bit?" she asks.
I sigh in relief, smiling slightly. "So, you've heard it too, then?" I ask.
She replies, "Yeah... already got storm clouds starting to be moved up ahead of us... looks like they're sending an entire Thunderstorm our way!"
"I know... kinda wish they didn't have to control every. Last. Thing in this planet, though. One would think they'd start Automating this kind of thing, already!"
She sighs. "I know, I know... but then they'd have a lot of Pegasi out of a job. I mean, it ̕alm͝ost͡ lo͜o͟k͘s͏ ̧likè ̷the̡y'̡re͡ ̛tr͢ying͡ ́t̀o͞.̧.̛. to..."
The static starts to pick up from the line. "Jane? Can you hear me? Jane?!"
"-What was that? ... Oh, my word..." the stallion on the radio fumbles with words, catching my attention from the line to the radio.
"More breaking news, as an F5 Tornado has just been released over Neighagra Falls! Weather Teams have dropped their tasks to counter the winds, but many of them are already sustaining injuries just from the winds, alone! The Wonderbolts Branches from the neighboring towns have been contacted, and are on their way to join in the efforts to stop the horrendous winds from-"
*RING! RING!*
I immediately spring towards the phone and pick it up.
"JANE! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON THERE?!"
"J́o͘h͜n! ̡I̶-I͢'͝m͢ s͘c̸are͟d, ̢J͡o̶hn! ͠ ͡T̛h̶e͏ sķy'̛s̡ ģetting ͏dar͟k͏er̸ ͜by͝ ͟the ̢sec͟o̴n̶d͠!̕ Ou͞r ͏r̸a͜d͏io w͟en͏t ͝o͠u͜t́!̧ Wha̛t͜'̵s ͘go͠in͠g òn?!" the static is getting annoying, so I respond to her as loudly as I can.
"JANE! GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE, RIGHT NOW!"
"H̕͢͞O̵L̶͠͠͏Ỳ̵̢ ̧͠Ś̶H̨͏.̸͝͞.̸͠͝.̷̨̕͘͠ ̸̛͘͟͡Ĺ̷͝͝Ó̸̶̵O͜K̵̴ ̴̡O̵̕͢͠-̧"
*Click*
The line hangs up immediately.
"Jane?! JANE! JANE!!!"
I try hanging up the phone and calling her back, but it immediately goes to voicemail.
"I KNOW YOU FUCKERS ARE LISTENING TO ME! GET THE HELL OUT THERE, AND SAVE THEM!" I shout at the phone before hanging it up again and rushing towards the radio.
"Debris is starting to pick up, from logs and stones to entire trees, now... wait... what did you say?"
My blood goes cold.
"... A carriage? How many passengers were in there?"
...
"They... they are?" he whispers, much to my horror.
"No... don't you FUCKING say it!" I threaten the radio... but then...
"I... would like to request that parents cover their little ones' ears for what I have to say... but... it appears that tragedy has struck Neighagra Falls, as a family of four Pegasi and one Earth Pony have fallen victim to a tree... one of them was a filly. The others... were likely the parents and grandparents.
"From the Sky Team... it looks like the tree has landed on them all... chances are, there are no survi-" B̸̷͠͝Z̶Z̴̵-҉̢Z͢Ź̛̕͘͏Z̶̵̨̕-̸̷̵Z͜҉̶͢͏Ź̨͢͏T̢҉̸̢
The radio is immediately yanked from the wall, as I toss it across the room. It shatters on impact.
I then lift up the line and throw it across the hallway, where it bounces from the prison bars.
Finally, I lift up my only chair in the room and slam it across the desk, scattering all books and old trays from food before, all across the room.
My heart rate skyrockets, as the world around me turns red. My blood begins to drip from my nostrils, and before I know it, my primal instincts kick in... and I roar as loud as I can.
The guards near my cell immediately hurry towards me, but upon seeing my room, and as soon as I look at them, they hurry as far away from my room as possible.
Everything... m-my family... m-my promises... I... I will... I-I will...
N-no... i-it's a... good... thing that they ran away...
... W-why?
... Because... B-because I will...
... I̷ ͟W̷IL͝L͘ ̨ḰI̶LL̀ ͠T̛H͝ÈSE FU̵C̵K͏IN͟G ̵CO͟WARDS!̧
