Quincy

Before I left the hospital, I put on a new mask, because the one I was wearing smelled like garbage. Now I was once again in the fog. It was more clear than before.

As I walked, I tried to remember why I even came here. I had no reason to. I don't even live here... Right?

Subconsciously, I was hoping that my brother would be here. It's silly. To think my brother would be here. Maybe I’ll get some answers.

I've felt nothing but loneliness since the beginning of the outbreak. It took everything. I almost committed suicide hours ago, because of how much I have lost.

Then Hailea saved me.

I stopped and turned to my left. I saw the house. It somehow looked familiar...

I went up to the front door, and tried to open it. Locked, of course. I took out the key and unlocked it, then opened the door.

It was dark in this house, but not dark enough for the lantern to be used. In fact, the lantern is now broken. It must have broke when Ace tried to drown me.

No, don't focus on that memory. Focus on the house.

It was extremely clean; this place doesn't look like it has been affected by the apocalypse in anyway.

What the hell?

First, I explored the first floor. The kitchen was small, but it worked. It had everything a pony would need: an oven, a coffee brewer, a bread box, a fridge, and a sink. I went to the sink and decided to wash myself up. I was my hooves, then my face. After I washed my face, I decided to clean my knife, which was dirty from Ace's blood and that garbage water.

Afterwards, I went into the dining room. It was small. But it had a long table that six ponies could eat at. I left the dining room to go into the living room. It wasn't anything special. A couch, a comfy chair, some decorations on the walls, a bookshelf. This looks like a home that I would live in.

I looked onto the coffee table, which had envelopes on it.

Then I saw that they were meant for me. What?

They were... Bills?

One was for this house.

I don't live here!

Do I?

Where did I live before the outbreak?

I couldn't remember.

I decided that I needed to check the rooms on the floor above me. So I left the living room, and went upstairs. I went through the door that was closest to me, which I guessed would lead me into the bedroom.

Suddenly, I was back at the Hayside Hotel. The same room me and Mortus stayed in. But it was much cleaner. This was before the outbreak.

I looked around, and noticed a colt that sat on the clean couch. Before I could say anything, I realized that it was... Me?

I heard the front door of the room open from behind me. I turned around and saw... Mortus?!

“M-Mortus?” I stuttered.

“Hey, bro!” He said when he looked into my direction. I tilted my head, but before I knew it, he walked right through me. I turned around and saw that he was talking to the other Quincy. “Guess what I got!”

Bro?

Younger me looked at him, “What? What did you get?”

Mortus pulled out some tickets. Tickets... To the carnival.

“What!? No way!” Younger me jumped off the couch. “Can I go? Pleeeeaaasse!”

“Yeah, dork. I got them for you and me after all!” Mortus said with a smirk.

“Thanks, Ark! You're the best brother that anyone could have!” Little me hugged... Ark.

Ark.

That was Ark.

Why didn't I recognize him?

I blinked, and the Hayside Hotel room was gone. Now I was in my bedroom. It looked like a nice place to sleep. With nice furniture and a nice, big bed.

I left the room and went to the bathroom.

Now I was in the carnival bathroom. First thing I saw, was younger me crying against a tilted up wall.

I turned around and saw a clown. No, the clown.

“Now just come here and this will go quick, okay sweetie?” He said creepily, with a sadistic smirk.

“P-Please. Leave m-me alone!”

The clown took a step closer.

I started tearing up. I don't know if I can relive this...

Then suddenly, the door slammed open. Me and the clown turned to the door, and saw Ark.

“Get away from him, you piece of shit!” Ark barked before leaping at the clown. He punched the sinister clown right in the jaw and knocked him out instantly. Ark was on top as the clown laid on the ground.

He begged.

But Ark didn't care.

Ark started beating in the clown's head with his own bare hooves. First, there was blood. Next, came the chunks of skull and brain.

Then he stopped when he heard Quincy screaming and tearing up... The younger Quincy.

He was breathing heavily. “Quincy! Are you alright?!”

Little me ran to Ark and hugged him. Quincy started tearing up into his shoulder.

“It's okay... He's gone... We need to leave before someone finds us. You need to stay strong Quincy, alright? You need to be tough, like Daring Do. Can you do that?”

Little me nodded.

Everything faded.

I blinked. I was in my bathroom. It was clean. A bit small, but clean.

I left the bathroom. But I didn't enter the upstairs hallway of my house. I was now in my old foalhood bedroom. When I used to live in Canterlot with my family.

First thing I saw, was Ark. He was smoking a cigarette. This was a year after the carnival...

I looked behind me and expected younger me to enter the room. I was right.

“A-Ark?” Little me murmured.

“Oh shit!” Ace said, before quickly putting out the cigarette.

“Ark! W-WAS THAT-”

“Shhhh!” Ark covered little Quincy's mouth. He closed the door, then let go of my younger mouth. “Alright, alright. Yeah, I smoke cigarettes.”

Younger me was quiet.

“Look, I know we swore to never talk about... You know?” Ark said grimly as he looked at my younger self.

Younger Quincy flinched when Ark said that. I don't blame myself.

“Quincy. That night, I took a life. I killed another pony. He was a monster... But I still took his life. That's something that I have to live with now. I have blood on my hooves, Quincy.” Ark started crying. “A-and I c-can't tell mom or d-dad about that. I c-can't tell anypony a-about that. So...” Ark looked at the ground.

“So when dad wasn't looking... I t-took one.” He looked up at my younger self. “And tried it... And it relaxed me, Quincy. I found a distraction from the stress.” He then looked down at the ground. “I didn't say anything, because I didn't want you to feel like you were the problem, which you aren't.”

Younger me was still quiet.

“I'm just... I need to move on from what happened that night, and these help.” He and younger me both looked at the cigarettes. “I'm sorry. I should have told you. I understand if you tell dad about this.” He looked away.

Younger me looked at the ground. “I'm n-not going to t-tell.”

Ark looked at younger me.

Younger me looked at him.

“R-really?” Ark asked.

“Y-yeah. I mean, w-why would I? Y-you're my brother, Ark. W-who saved me. I at least o-owe you th-this” I smiled. The colt version, I mean.

Ark also smiled. Then he hugged me.

The scene faded.

I was now in my hallway. There was one more door, the closet. I went to it and went inside.

Now I was outside, in front of the Ponyville movie theatre. The Daring Do movie was playing. I turned around and saw Ark and me trotting together. They weren't colts anymore, more rather young stallions.

In fact, I remember that this was a year ago.

“Think this movie is gonna be good?” Ark asked as they trotted.

“Meh. M-movies are never as g-good as the b-books,” other me said with a cheeky grin.

“I dunno. You were pretty excited when this movie was announced.” They both went inside the movie theatre. I followed.

They sat at the back of the movie theatre, which was perfect. You don't have to worry about somepony kicking your back, and you don't have to constantly look up at the screen all night. Ark and I never understood the appeal of sitting at the front.

I sat next to Ark as well.

Then the movie started.

It starts off with tons of action. Then a dialogue scene. Some more action.

We all watched the film for an hour.

Until suddenly, I heard loud, unhealthy coughing to my side.

I looked and saw that Ark was coughing into his hoof. Then he stopped coughing. But Ark stared at his hoof with a fearful expression.

I looked at his hoof. And I saw blood.

“Quincy...” He whispered. Other me didn't hear. “Q-Quincy.” He used his other hoof to shake other me.

Finally, other Quincy looked. “W-wha-” He stopped talking when he saw the blood. “W-wha-” His eyes were wide.

“W-we gotta go,” Ark said. Other me nodded and they both got up and left. I also got up, but I didn't follow them. I watched.

Then suddenly, the screen changed.

I looked at the screen. There wasn't Daring Do anymore. Just a doctor, who looked at me.

“I'm really sorry to bring this information to you, Quincy. But... Ark, your brother, has been diagnosed with lung cancer.”

I felt my legs shake.

“I haven't told him yet. Should I?” The doctor asked.

Then I heard myself say, “Should y-you? What k-kind of a q-question is that?! Of c-course you sh-should tell him! Y-you're his d-doctor.”

The doctor nodded with a frown. “Very well... I'll also discuss plans with him. You may join me if you want.”

“Okay, I w-will.”

Then everything faded.

I was in my closet, of course. It was small, but it worked.

I left the closet and went back downstairs.

There was something on the front door. It was one of those carnival tickets. Taped to it, was a key.

I picked up the ticket key.

I guess I know where I'm going now.