Chivalry Reborn

Author's Note: Hearty thanks to PinkiePiedPiper, who is now my proofreader for the story. I look forward to working with ya from here on in.

Chapter 25:

Apple Debatin’

“How much longer are we gonna walk..?” I openly groaned.

“For as long as your mind keeps you here.” Shadow Flare replied, not even bothering to turn around. “So basically, until you wake up.”

I silently huffed, pressing myself onward, following Shadow’s lead. We’d been walking for what seemed like an hour, with no real sign of us making any distance aside from this new area we’ve just stepped into.

I sighed looking around at the new section of the cavern we had just arrived in. The walls have slowly transitioned from a darkish blue to a deep shade of orange, almost appearing red at first glance. The water level has risen slightly as well, engulfing my ankles entirely.

“Any real idea what this thing we’re looking for IS?” I asked slightly irritated.

“Not quite sure,” Shadow answered thoughtfully, “but whatever it is, this place has to lead to it somehow. This cavern travels to all points of your mind, after all.”

“…Ugh,” I lightly groaned, focusing my mind back onto the small fire surrounding my gloved hand.  While I still questioned why I was in this area of my head, searching for something that may take several nights to find, I did understand how this endeavor would help my magical ability.

Not like make my magic more powerful or anything, but allow me to use spells consistently, using them without having to stare at them constantly, or just doing it for a couple of moments before it ended and I had to recast it. You see, magical spells aren’t just cast all willy-nilly and you just leave it be; no, not at all.  In fact, while casting a spell, you have to keep the spell on the mind all the time. It’s the reason why I can’t lift more than two things without constantly staring at them whilst using the levitation spell.  In order to keep the spell going, you need to keep the image in your head at all times, making it so it can follow along in reality at the same time. As weird as that sounds, it’s just how I found it working.

For example, if I were walking down the street as a pony, and using my levitation spell to carry, oh say, three apples, it would not be an easy task. Not only would I have to keep track of all three items in my mind, I have to imagine them following me down the street, making note of anything that may affect them, WHILE walking and looking AWAY from them. Not very easy, you see.

For this spell, it was basically imagining the flames staying around my hand, flickering as I walked down the cave. If my mind went away from the image, or if I didn’t focus enough every so often, the flame began to die. It disappeared completely a total of three times during this walk; and each time it did so, Shadow kicked my in my goddamned shins. I have half a mind to just kick him in the ass. I bet he already knows this, though.

Splish, splish, splish, splish

I stopped dead in my tracks, hearing something running around us in the water. Shadow must have heard it too, seeing that he had come to a halt as I did.

“You hear that…?”

“Yeah…”

I held my lit hand out slowly, scanning around myself carefully. I could barely make out tiny ripples in the water going down the left path in the tunnel ahead. Shadow immediately sped down the way the unknown creature fled.

“What do you think you’re doing!?” I yelled, watching him leave my sight. Goddamnit, that idiot!

I began to run as well, trying to catch up to Shadow. The splashes began to overlap one another, the initially quiet dash becoming a loud fleeing frenzy of splashes. I couldn’t really tell where Shadow or the weird beings were at that moment. The sounds of Shadow’s galloping or the splashing faded away into the distance.

I think I’ve lost them both. Crap... I slowed to a stop, glancing around myself. I can’t see anything within my light’s reach anymore. Just a bunch of water.  I sighed lightly, walking forward slowly.

SPLASH

A loud splash suddenly came from behind me. I spun around immediately, jumping back slightly.

“What the-“

SHYAAAaaaaa!

“WHOA!!!”

I tumbled back as the creature lunged out at me in a hungry rage. My back smashed into the icy cold water, keeping my burning hand out in front of me to keep the freaky thing away from me.  It kept weaving and dodging the flames, moving to get a clear shot of my face.

It had a humanoid shape: two eyes, a nose, with arms and legs. That’s where the human parts ended, however. It had no eyes, just empty sockets that seemed to lead to nothingness at all. Its teeth were incredibly jagged as well, leaving nothing to be seen but black gums and sharp shark-like teeth. Its hands seemed…broken. The way they were arranged, it seemed like they were broken, snapped back into place, and for some of them broken again. None of them were in they’re proper position, usually bending in a strange angle at every joint, with a sharp, chipped fingernail at the end of each finger.

HIIIISSSS~!!!

It hissed at me, trying to bite at my burning hand, only to back off from the immense heat.  It kept trying to swing its hands at me, trying to claw at my face. This thing did not want to give up.

Taken aback, I let my instincts take over. I kept trying to push it back, making sure he couldn’t just tilt his head down and gnaw at my fingers.  I won’t lie: I was pretty damned scared. Even if I realized this was all a dream, I don’t want to be eaten!

“Get off, you mixture of a rat!” I protested, kicking his roughly in the stomach.

SSSSHHHHHHH

It just hissed, not letting this chance to feed go. It was seriously skinny; it’s ribs completely visible through his skin. I narrowed my eyes at it, growing more irritated. I smashed my foot against his chest as I yelled at it.

“Get. THE. HELL….”  It winced lightly, but still lunged forward at my body.

GRRRRR ……

“OFF!!!” With that last kick, I focused all of the force I could into the freak, launching him away from me and across the small cave.

He slammed into cave wall, sliding down against it slightly. I scrambled to my feet, back-stepping until my back hit the wall opposite from the creature.

“Jesus…” I gasped, catching my breath staring at the downed creature.

I blinked, noticed that the cave was getting darker. I slowly shifted my eyes towards my hand, praying that it wasn’t what I thought it was. In my hand was a soaking wet glove and its dying flame, quickly flickering out in my palm. I desperately tried to focus more energy into it, but it merely sputtered in my hand, and then, just like that, it was gone.

Darkness was all around me. I couldn’t see crap again.

“Fuuuuu-“

Kaaaaa….KOFF, KOFF

Something was coughing, probably waking up.

Oh god, please tell me it’s not that thing…

I could hear shuffling in the water, followed by a heavy, raspy breathing.

Haaaa….HAAAAA….

Oh no… I crouched down lightly, balling up my fist at putting my hand on my hip. To my surprise and dismay, however, my knives weren’t there at all. Just the staff I got from the bag.  Are you fucking kidding me!? I mentally swore. Is this a nightmare situation or something!? *COME ON!***

KAAAAAAA….

I could feel its breath hitting my chest and go up my face. It smelled like…hot, sweaty filth. No….it smelled like, corpses. It sounds like it’s about to-

SHAAAAAA!!!!!

“AAAAHHH, GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!!!” I slung my arms in front of me, hoping to not be eaten alive.

Instead, I could feel the sensation of a blanket pressing against my hands as I pushed them forward.

The soft light blue blanket fluttered down lightly to rest against my face, as I realized I was no longer in that dark place called my mind. I was back in real life, in my bed, with my arms extended in midair and lifting my cover up for no reason, exposing myself dressed in a white T-shirt and my boxers.

…Convenient. Without complaint, I quietly moved the covers off as I sat up in bed. I’ll take it. Beats what was gonna happen, that’s for sure…

That…thing was desperate to get me in his damned mouth; that was for sure. I’m not too sure what it was, or why it was in my dream, but it seemed like an abomination…..and I was certain I’ll have to face it again when I went back to sleep. I sighed lightly, dropping the topic immediately and looking up to scan the room. I’ll go to that problem when I get to it.

I glanced around the room slowly, focusing my eyes in the dim room. It was my bedroom, of course, lightly jumbled with my clothes from yesterday on the ground, and my computer on my work desk on the opposite wall. There was a small ray of light flowing into the window ever so faintly, with the faint sound of birds chirping, so it must have been daybreak.

“….” I sniffed to myself in thought. It had been a long time since I woke up before my alarm could wake me. It almost felt foreign, it was so weird. Speaking of… I automatically lean over from my bed and picked up my pants, digging into the right pocket and pulling out my Blackberry. I quickly unlocked it and looked at the time. 6:30 in the morning….

Thirty minutes before my alarm would normally go off to wake me off. Not bad. I usually never got up on my own. Normally when I was young, my parents would wake me up gently for school, and when they passed, I started using my cell phone alarm feature (the things you can do with technology these days. Gosh!), using that by my ear regularly to snap myself awake.

My thumb went into auto-pilot, expertly switching through menus until I got to the alarm settings menu. I just as quickly set it so it wouldn’t go off anymore. No point in hearing it, if I’m already up and about.

I stretched lightly, thinking. Too early to do anything yet outside. I guess I’ll just shower and make breakfast, then I’ll head over to AJ’s to see if I can do any work before heading into town and seeing about Ki-… Baking Soda’s job.

….That’s right. I did learn about Baking Soda’s former human identity.  It’ll be a little awkward having enough information about someone to the point to I could even say “I know you better than even you do,” and be right. I’d have to watch what I said around him now. If I accidently told him about him being human, not only would he kind of freak out, but the others would probably grow suspicious of how I knew.

“Well, no point in sitting here and PLANNING…” I muttered, kicking the covers away from my legs before hopping out of bed. I stretched my legs before letting out a big sigh. “French toast sounds nice….” I spoke to myself, stepping out of my bedroom to go get my morning started right, for the first time since my parents died about five years ago.

“Man, that was pretty good!” I sighed in relief, walking outside as I stretched out lightly.

I was fed from making French toast with orange juice, clean from a nice long and hot shower, and dressed in clean clothes. While I didn’t understand just HOW my house was working, it was nice to enjoy waking up the right way. I was dressed like I was in the old days as a factory worker, I felt so nostalgic. I had a white dress shirt, buttoned up without the top one, with a pair of slacks and brown loafers. I even put on suspenders with a cabbie hat for the hell of it.

Thank you Dad, and you’re absurdly big wardrobe. I mentally paid tribute to my old man. I was already outside of Ponyville, closing in on Sweet Apple Acres and halfway through the Apple Passage (as I started to call it), taking my time as I walked this time around. I kind of felt…better than I usually did, despite the weird dream I had just had. Hell, I felt pretty damned good! I didn’t understand, but then again I didn’t care either. I looked at my wristwatch for the time. 7:42 A.M. Yeah, Applejack should be up.

I walked through the exit of the apple tree forest, stepping towards the old barn, slowly. I could see Applejack and Big Mac (heh, heh…Mickey D’s…) putting some pies onto a big cart display up ahead. It had all sorts of goodies on it, probably all using apples in some sort of way.

I strolled up to them, waving lightly. “Hey Applejack, Big Mac.”

“Well, Howdy Winston.” Applejack put the last of her pies into the cart, smiling at me as she greeted me back.

“Howdy.” Big Mac greeted in his classic old farmer-like voice, checking to make sure if the cart was stable.

“What’s up with the cart?” I asked, looking at all the goodies. “I thought you only went into town to sell on Fridays.”

“Well, seein’ that somepony has been working so well with bucking the apples with me,” Applejack began, arching her eyebrow at me with a grin, “we decided to go into town today and Frahday.”

“Ah,” I scratched the back of my head, giving a slightly nervous chuckle, “my bad.”

“Aw, it’s fine.” Applejack replied kindly, hooking herself to the cart. “Wanna come along? We ain’t got no reason to buck today, so you could help me out with this, if ya want.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.” I said with a nod, pulling my sleeves back down. I was anticipating trying out more quick punch and kick combinations today, but an off day works too.

“Alright then,” Applejack chuckled, starting her way towards the Apple Passage, “let’s git goin’ then. See ya, big brother!”

“Later, Mac!” I waved behind myself at the red farm pony, walking alongside Applejack.

“Eeeeyup.” He answered with his catchphrase, walking off into the barn to get other business that he needed to get done.

Starting down the hill, I began to look around myself at the forest. Even though I had bucked so many trees, there were still plenty of others that were ripe for the bucking (I’ve considered picking, that’d take FOREVER. Besides, punching shit is fun, we all know this). My eyes landed on the orange farm pony’s trademark cowboy hat. She never took it off, now that I thought about it. She was always seen walking around with it on. It got me curious as to why she wore it everywhere she went.

“…Hey Applejack.” I jumped started a conversation as we walked.

“Yeah?” She looked up at me as she moved, up for a topic as we moved

“Mind me asking what’s with you and your hat?” I asked bluntly, putting my right hand in my pocket. “You never seem to take the thing off.”

“What, this ol’ thang?” She tilted her hat up, with a small grin on her face. “It belonged to mah Pa. Quite the nice lookin’ thang, ain’t it?”

“Sure is.”  I replied, smiling back at the cowmare.  Now that I think about it, I’ve never really seen any sign of Applejacks dad before. All I’ve seen of her family was brother, her sister, and a jittery, elderly green mare. I would guess that was her grandma. But I’ve never seen Applejack’s mom and dad before.

“H-”I opened my mouth to ask her on the subject, when I stopped my sentence, noticing her expression.

“…..”

Applejack’s smile had faded away, looking straight ahead with a completely straight face. But there was something about her eyes. It seemed familiar…No, it was familiar. It was look of sadness, of deep mourning over a loved one. The look one gets when someone really dear to them suddenly passes away. The look one gets when their parents suddenly die.

I didn’t need to say anything else on the matter to get the idea. I knew the feeling of being asked about a painful subject. I knew how it was to suddenly lose someone important to you.  So I just walked along with her in silence.

I just looked to the side at all the fresh-baked apple goods on the cart. All of the assorted goods that wafted out a heavenly sweet apple scent, with a hint of cinnamon and honey. It smelled absolutely delicious.

I could hear Applejack giggle lightly as she pulled the cart. “What, y’all hungry?” She asked, having taken notice of my train of sight. “I could hand y’all a slice of pie if ya want.”

“Hm?” I looked back to her, blinking once. “Oh. Nah, I ate before I came here.” I quickly changed the subject away from me.

“So, I’m gonna guess apples are your specialty?”

“Darn tootin’!” Applejack whistled, her grin getting wider. “I take pride in mah family’s skills ta buck, bake, and sell apples! I love ‘em!”

“I get it.” I snickered lightly, watching her flick her hoof as she explained her love for the red fruit.

“What’s yer favorite fruit, Winston?” Applejack knocked the topic puck right back to me.  “Apples too, I reckon?”

Shiiiiit. I can see where this is going. “Oh, my favorite fruit...?” I looked to the side, noticing we were closing in on Ponyville. “Well…”

“Apples are best.” Applejack planted her leg hoofs in front of her, giving me a stern look.

“No, peaches are.” I crossed my arms, giving her a hard stare back.

“Apples.” She leaned onto the cart display lightly, with a foreleg, still looking at me determined to prove her point.

"Peaches” I placed a hand against the top lightly, looking right back at her face.

“Apples.”

“Peaches.”

We were pretty much arguing our favorite fruits, and why they were the best. Applejack for apples, and myself for peaches. We were standing at the side of the marketplace while this happened, with a couple ponies watching us debate in entertained awe. We’ve been arguing ever since we reached the damned town, actually.

You see, when I was asked about what my favorite fruit was, I said peaches. I also said they were the best, because they are to me. I don’t give a damn if apples can be made into so much fancy crap! The texture of light fuzz and the sweet and lightly tangy taste of a peach beats all!

“Apples can run circles around yer cotton pickin’ peaches!” Applejack shot. “They have that annoyin lil’ fuzz on the outside that tickles your throat, anyway.”

Ohhhhh, no she DIDN’T! The dumb side of my mind was appalled. Bitch, you wanna fight!? I’ll scratch your goddamned *EYES** out!*

Quiet, anus. My logic shot my stupidity down, as I countered her argument.

“And what about your weird little skins on your apples?” I snapped. “You need to pick that crap out of your teeth when you’re finished with one. Heck, it doesn’t even have a taste to it! At least a peach’s skin has a flavor to it, not to mention it’s soft.” I cocked an eyebrow. “And that fuzz is pleasant. It makes the meal a sensation to down, thank you very much.”

Applejack tilted her hat up, as the debate intensified. “Yer fruit looks like a pony’s butt.”

“Your fruit smells like manure when it goes bad.” I jabbed my finger as I said that.

We stood there staring each other down, waiting for the other to look away. Neither of us moved, not wanting to miss the others action of admitting defeat.

“Excuse me,” a mare’s voice broke in between us, “could I… uh… get an apple pie?”

“Why, certainly miss!” I immediately looked away and gave a businessman’s smile at the slightly scared pony.

“That’ll be 7 bits, ma’am!” Applejack hummed merrily, quickly exchanging an apple pie for seven golden coins.

“Thank you.” The passing mare quickly finished her business and walked off to her next destination.

“Take care, now~!” AJ and I waved her off in unison (weird), waving her goodbye.

“…” We went back to staring each other down when a light hoof poked my by leg.

I looked down to see a purple unicorn looking up at me, trying not to laugh. “Hi, Winston.”

“Hey, Twilight.” I greeted the librarian, stopping my hard stare at the sight of the local geek. “How’d the whole thing with the mayor go?”

“It went well.” Twilight summed up, moving to the side to let the pony himself speak as he walked into view.

“I got a house on the far side of Ponyville, next to Twilight’s Library.” Baking Soda summarized, with a small smile on his face.

“The mayor said I seemed like a good pony, so she’ll give me the first few months free.”

Wow, that would NEVER happen on Earth. I blinked, quickly snapping myself out of my slight shock.

“Well then, wanna go ahead and see if we can get you a job?”  I asked politely.  “I’m pretty sure Applejack has things here, right?” I turned back to the orange mare, who nodded with a small smile on her face.

“Yes, let’s go.” Twilight nodded, walking down the street of the marketplace.

“Sure thing.” Baking Soda said as he started down the way, following Twilights lead.

I pointed at Applejack with a hard look. “This ain’t over.” I firmly swore. Applejack smirked lightly, giving a small chuckle.

I then turned back around, walking through the sea of ponies to keep up with Twilight and Soda (or rather, see the little bastards.)