Chapters My name is James Phoenix; and I was born in 1992. The current year is 5743. In the year 2000 scientists found a new, incredibly rare, blood type that would speed up the body’s natural healing ability and cure most illnesses; this blood was known as ABZ type and only seven people in the world had it. This new blood type was compatible with all other blood types, besides another with the same blood, as one scientist found out. When mixed with the same blood ABZ becomes volatile and deadly; the blood boils and becomes a gas. It's more potent than sulfuric acid and turns dead and useless flesh into ash, as I've learned when I had my arm cut off.
My brother Isaac and I were diagnosed with an advanced version of it. Our blood was used in 2008 to cure all diseases. After that, Isaac joined the army where he was accepted into a very ‘special’ program; three years later he stopped all contact completely.
The year is now 2013, and the army had come to me asking if I wanted to join my brother. I stupidly agreed. They had taken me to a secret facility where they were testing to see if they could enhance the power of our blood, they had all seven of the ones with this blood type. After asking to be taken to my brother, and being denied every single time, I snuck out of my ‘room’-it was more like a cell really- and explored the base.
After searching through what seemed like the whole base, I heard the general walking towards me. I searched and hid in a dark corner. He walked right by me and up to a wall where he looked around before pressing a hidden button on the flat surface, which opened up into a corridor. I stared from my hiding place until he walked in and the wall closed behind him. Several hours later he came back out and looked around again before heading back to his quarters.
A few seconds of decision making later, curiosity had gotten the better of me and I checked around before searching for the hidden button-finding it quickly. The wall slides open with a slight hiss, the interior of the corridor it hid was very dark and I had a nagging sense that I should just leave and forget that was there. I disregarded it as some silly paranoia and proceeded through the dark hall, lit only by the light from behind.
The wall closed shut leaving me in total darkness before a few lights dimly flickered on. I looked up at the ceiling and saw the aged fluorescent lights and I thought to myself: You’d think they’d be those energy saving bulbs . I continued down the hall that had gone from a straight path to a set of stairs. That nagging feeling made me want to turn back but I kept going, moving deeper and deeper into the bowels of the base.
When I had reached the end nothing could’ve prepared me for what lay beyond a door at the base of the steps. I pressed a button next to a door and it silently slid open revealing Isaac, my older brother, strapped to a large machine with several tubes sucking blood from his bone thin body. His gaze slowly looked me over before he uttered words that would haunt me for the rest of my life, “Kill... me.” his voice had changed from a very upbeat, cocky, and carefree tone to the tortured raspy voice he now held. I stood in the doorway in horror staring at the sight, Isaac pointed to a table next to him with his thin arms.
I slowly walked over to the table and saw a few straps and some tubes that connected to the machine Isaac was in, “What are they doing to you?” I asked him
“They are like vampires.” He answered.
“What is the table for?” I asked already knowing what he was going to say.
“It's their fangs.” I knew what he wanted me to do.
“I can’t do it Isaac, I can’t kill you.” I said being torn apart, I wanted to stop his suffering but I didn't want to kill him. Tears began falling from his eyes.
“Please… This hurts.” He said bringing tears to my eyes.
I walked over to him and leaned on his bare chest gingerly, thinking the bones were brittle and would break on contact, "Why are they doing this?" I asked to no one in particular. He patted my back before repeating his request.
“Please… Do it for me.” I looked into his eyes and nodded before walking back to the table and there was a single button on the left side under one of the straps. I hoisted myself onto the table and lay down, putting my hands over the straps. I put my finger over the button and stopped.
“I-I can’t do it.” I looked at my brother’s tear stained face and I couldn’t bear letting him continue hurting, so I pressed the button and immediately the straps wrapped around my wrists, thighs, chest, and ankles. I was shocked and began trying to fight my way off, but the straps held me down firmly.
I was beginning to hyperventilate when the tubes connected to the table rose quickly from their resting place, stabbing into several veins. I grunted from the pain and turned to Isaac, I watched as the blood was being drawn out of his body through clear tubes, into the machine, and finally into my own bloodstream. From what I heard I had thought I would melt from the inside out by my own blood.
I passed out; the last words I heard were Isaac’s, “Thank you.” I awoke a few hours later; my body was aching all over. I sat up from the table and remembered, “Isaac!” I turned to the machine next to the table, Isaac had stopped moving and the blood in the tubes had dried. I checked his pulse, nothing.
I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing, but I did what he would’ve done here: I stood up straight and saluted "Rest in peace." The door opens up yet again, to the one scientist who was supposed to be supervising me. His eyes widened with shock upon seeing me, but that quickly changed into anger when he saw Isaac. “What did you do!?” He ran to Isaac, pushing me to the floor in the process, and went straight to a terminal next to the machine. He quickly pressed buttons and finished by looking back at me with a very fierce gaze, “You killed him didn’t you?” he said, his tone matching his gaze. I stood up and he grabbed my shirt and lifted me up, “You just ruined years of research!” He shook me as he spoke, “How did you do it?” he said before he saw the table and threw me to the ground, making me see spots.
He ran to the table and saw dried blood on the tubes, “You transfused his blood with your own? How are you still alive?” he looked over his shoulder at me with amazement for a second before it returned to the anger. He walked over to me and put me back on the table, strapping me down. “I don’t care how you survived; I’m going to end you.” He said before walking over to a panel on the wall and opening it to reveal a plethora of tools. The scientist grabbed a bone saw and returned to the table I was on while dragging his finger across the serrated edge. “I’m going to cut your limbs off then leave you somewhere in the forest.”
He did what he said he was going to; first he cut my legs off then the arms. He then put my torso in a bag and took me to the general, “This man here destroyed our little project. His limbs were destroyed in the process. I say we leave him in the middle of the forest.” The general looks at the bag the scientist was carrying.
He nodded, “So be it. Make sure none see you.” The scientist smirks and nods before leaving his quarters and walking through the base.
Several hours later he finally tossed me to the floor next to a tree, spat on me and left. I lay there next to the tree, unable to say anything due to the pain I was still feeling. I lay there occasionally hearing growling, howling, and twigs snapping. The sun had set by the time I felt my newly acquired stumps begin to burn. At first it was a warm sensation that steadily grew until it felt like there was lava on them. I was only able to scream from the pain. I looked at my left arm and saw a bone growing, tendons and ligaments growing next, muscle, fat, and skin growing last. Meanwhile the scientist had returned to Isaac to dispose of the body, and saw there were ash piles where he left my limbs. He disregarded this and continued to unhook Isaac.
This excruciating pain was indescribable. I had no idea how long it had been going on before my limbs had regrown. I hesitantly tested out my arms and legs before I picked myself up, it felt like they were never cut off. I smiled and wiped the dried blood off my arms, my smile disappeared quicker than it arrived when I remembered Isaac. I then began to panic when I heard growling and saw several glowing eyes.
I had gotten away from the wolf pack without too many injuries, and found myself on the roadway leading towards the base. I saw lights coming towards me, a large car stopped when it came into view and the same scientist who severed my limbs appeared from the inside. “You’re still alive!” he yelled. I turned and ran away. I looked over my shoulder to see him aiming at me with a large gun. I heard the bang and I felt the bullet go through my knee before I collapsed from stepping on them. He walked over to my body and I noticed his shocked gaze.
At the moment I didn't know what happened, I now know what he was surprised about, my blood was bubbling but instead of burning through my leg it closed the wound and left ash from burnt skin on it. He smiled and reached down for me, I quickly grabbed his arm and pulled it towards me before raising my other hand and punching him in the face as hard as I could which sent him sprawling to the side, bleeding from his broken nose. I stood up and looked at a guard that came out before running again.
That day the scientist, named John Stratton, when on live television that was broadcasted worldwide saying that he had found a new blood that could cure anything and regrow limbs, he said, “I have discovered a new blood type that was created by putting two subjects with the ABZ blood together. Of the two subjects only one survived, James Phoenix. I will name this new type Phoenix blood on behalf of the other subject Isaac Phoenix.” The day he said this was the day everyone was after me. Those who are after my blood I called them vampires because they were going to drain my blood like vampires.
I had gone into hiding half a year later, and I kept in touch with my family. That was a horrible idea; my Uncle Darren had found my letters and told the government I had been contacting them, for a large sum of money. The general and John then kidnapped my family and sent out a message directed at me. “James, if you want to see your family alive then come to the base so we can start mass producing your blood.” The general said while John was in the background holding a pistol. “Don’t do it James! Stay hidden we’ll be okay.” My younger sister said before John shot her in the back of the head, “The clock’s ticking.” He said before putting the gun to my father’s head.
I had gone back to the base and they tied me down to kill the rest of my family in person. They put me in a cell and I was sitting on the floor, my parent’s blood still on my body, unable to sleep. After a few days a guard came in to bring me to the same machine Isaac was put in, I walked up to him and head-butted him as hard as I could which had knocked him out, I picked up his gun and left the cell. A guard had warned me to drop the gun; instead I just raised the gun and shot twice, the bullets going through his neck and between his eyes.
I began running through the base killing everyone that tried to stop me. When I reached the exit I turned back and saw the splatters from guards along with their dead corpses. I reached for the button that opened the door when I heard John, “Stop! I’m not going to let you leave with your blood.” He said from behind. I slowly turned and got a bullet to my left shoulder, he was holding the same pistol. I looked at my shoulder and watched the hole close before I looked back at John. We stared at each other in silence, the only noise coming from the blaring alarm, “Now come quietly.” John said, lowering the barrel slightly. Immediately I raised my gun, and he pulled the trigger. I dove to the side, getting shot by a few stray bullets, and fired. John stood there bleeding from the holes I had put in him. I stood up, feeling the same burn from my blood healing me, and tossed the gun aside.
I left the base only to be met with more guards. I had gotten away and hid in the forest for a few days before they stopped looking and I left to the nearest town. When I arrived I saw a broadcast with the general he was saying that I had killed everyone in the base including my own family and that I was to be killed on sight. Everyone I met tried to be nice but they all had a ‘plan’ to take my blood. I wasn’t able to trust anyone. After twenty years, I should’ve looked old but instead I just look 23. I think my blood is the cause, I had also met a man with no name, he was the only trustworthy man I had met since the ‘incident’ until now, I had met an ex doctor turned inventor, his name is Jordan Andres and he has been an aid to my running.
“Here try this out.” He said handing me a very large rectangular watch.
“What is it?” I asked holding the watch at arm’s length, “It’s not like your smoke grenades is it?” Jordan rolled his eyes.
“No it’s not, but come on my smoke bombs weren’t that bad.” I stared at him.
“It blew my arm off.” I said remembering the first time I used them, most of the smoke it made came from burning rubble.
“Well it grew back didn’t it?” he said spinning in his chair.
I sighed and reluctantly put the watch on. “So what does this do?” I asked and John grabbed my arm with the watch,
“Okay, this button should turn you invisible.” He said pointing to a large button, “This one can teleport you.” He pointed to the button next to it. “When you teleport you have to put in some coordinates then push the button again.” He explained, “And this last button tells you the current time.” I lift the watch close to my eyes.
“So no lasers?” He shook his head, “No weapons of any kind?” again he shook his head, “Good, nothing can blow me up now.” His face dropped as he added.
“Well then I guess you don’t want the antidote.” He said turning away in his spinning chair.
My eyes widen and I turn him around, “You found one!?” he smiles in response.
“Yes I did, it took a while but here it is.” He said passing me a syringe filled with an orange substance.
“So this can kill me? Are you sure it won’t make this worse?” I asked still looking at the syringe. He nods slowly.
“It destroys cells completely. But you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to.” He said, but I couldn’t hear him past my own thoughts, I can’t believe this ends.
I raise my sleeve and look at Jordan. “Thank you Jordan, now I hope this works.” I raise the syringe and stick it in my arm and press the plunger, injecting the serum. When all the serum was gone, I pulled the syringe out and tossed it to the floor. I began to feel the same warm sensation from my body healing, the heat and pain increased to that of re-growing a limb and kept getting worse.
I fell to the floor and blacked out from the unspeakable pain with a smile on my face from a single thought: It's finally over.
(Edited)
I felt myself slowly regain consciousness, with my body aching all over. Pain, the serum didn't work. I opened my eyes and raised an arm to block the sunlight, before noticing my arm was thicker, and covered in tan fur. What the fuck? I also couldn't feel my fingers. I looked down my arm and saw that my fingers were gone, replaced by a hoof. I lift up my other arm, tan fur with a hoof. Wait... Fur, hooves, and a muzzle? Either I've been drugged or I'm a horse. I turn my head and look at my body. Seeing the pair of wings on my back Correction I'm a Pegasus... This has to be a dream. I need to find a reflective surface. I lift myself up and push my arms-forelegs against the ground to stand on my hind legs, wobbling for a second before falling down. I guess I'm going to have to get used to walking on all fours. I rolled off my back and lifted myself up, moving one hoof after the others.
Several failed attempts and an embarrassing face plant later, I finally got the hang of walking. I took the time to search my surroundings, I was surrounded by leafy walls with several openings. Okay, I'm in a maze or this is the weirdest house in the world. I walk to the opening on my right. It led to more leafy walls and a passage to the left and right, Yeah I'm in a maze. What was the trick again? Stay to the left wall or the right one? I decided to stick to the right wall. I followed the right wall, entering every opening that appeared, After several minutes of walking my stomach began growling, I ignored it and kept walking. My stomach kept growling and by the time I reached the exit I smelled something. Sense of smell has gotten better, is that donuts? Where am I? I look around, searching for landmarks or anything that would help tell me my location. My stomach growled again, I need to eat something. Let's check out those donuts.
I followed the smell, passing a castle in the process, until I reached a gate that had two guards, one on either side, I walked between them. I felt their eyes following me, but I didn't mind them due to my ever growing hunger. I followed my nose until I came upon the source: A donut shop. "Well then- I can talk!? Same voice but horse body." My stomach growls once again and I enter the shop. The inside was nothing special there were several tables with cushions on the floors around each table. "So there are no chairs here?" I asked myself as another than horse, a shade darker than mine, with a brown mane, wearing a white hat, that was just behind his horn spoke from behind a counter.
"Hey buddy, you just gonna stand there?" I raised an eyebrow, Wait a horn? Is he a unicorn? This is weird. I walked up to the counter.
"Hello sir, I'm starving and I'd like a box of donuts." the tan unicorn smiled.
"Sure, the name's Pony Joe by the way." he said while his horn glowed and several donuts floated out of a cabinet and into a box, "Here you go, what's your name?" he asked as the box floated down in front of me, I would've been shocked but I had seen people kill each other just to get to me.
"My name is." I stopped myself as I heard the doors open behind me.
It may be a 'vampire'. "My name is..." I said again as I thought it over.
"What's wrong? Can't you remember your own name?" He asked as hoof steps approached.
"Yes I have a small bit of amnesia." I quickly came up with the lie.
"Really? What happened?" a voice belonging to the one who just arrived asked.
I turned to see another unicorn, this one white with a blue mane and tail, he was wearing purple armor. "I don't know. I just woke up a few minutes ago, I was hungry so I'm guessing I was out for a while." I said putting some truth to the lie. He gave me a questioning look.
"Well some guards said that a Pegasus had left the castle, when they didn't see him enter." I kept my calm and reached for the box with a hoof, only managing to push it off the counter Damn it! Curse these hooves.
I looked at Pony Joe, "I'm sorry can you hand me my donuts?" I asked, his horn glowed and the box flew over to me this time with a string tied to it. I was about to reach for it again but remembered I didn't have fingers. I sighed and bit the string then I turned and started walking off. "Hey! You gotta pay for that!" Pony Joe said but I kept walking.
"Put it on my tab." I responded, as I reached the door it was enveloped in a blue aura before it slammed shut.
"You have to pay for those, unless you want to go to jail." the white unicorn said. I looked at him and put the box down.
"I don't know who you are, nor do I care. But I can't pay this off." I said and picked the donuts back up.
"I am Shining Armor, captain of the royal guard. And if you didn't have money then why'd you come here then?" the white unicorn said. I rolled my eyes.
"Well you can't stop me." I tried pushing the door open to no avail.
"I locked the doors, you have to give those donuts back before I allow you to leave." Shining said while glaring at me. I sighed and took a few steps away from the door before turning around and ramming my body into the glass, shattering it. I hit the ground on the other side with a few shards of glass sticking out around my body from breaking through glass. I looked back and smirked, painfully, at the shocked unicorns before sprinting away as fast as I could. When I began running I heard Shining say, "Stop in the name of Celestia!" I didn't look back, I just kept running. I took as many turns as I could, somehow he stayed behind me until I broke down a door and jumped out the next window.
I jump into a bush panting. "That took longer than expected." my stomach growls and I open up the box of donuts. It turned out most of them had been crushed, I didn't mind as I began scarfing down the donuts. When I finished the box I listened for the clopping of hooves, there were none. I took the time to pull the shards of glass, that I could reach, out before I picked up the box and threw it in the nearest trash bin. The sun began to set, I need to find a place to sleep and I don't think I have a safe house here. I look at my wings, "How do I work these things?" I began trying to make them flap, open, or even twitch but got nothing. "Forget it, I'll figure it out later. Wait when'd I get that?" I said looking at my flank, there was a tattoo of a drop of blood. I slowly shook my head sighing when I heard not one but two sets of hoof steps trotting towards me. I looked in the direction they were coming from expecting Shining or maybe guards but instead there came a couple, two unicorns.
One of them was light blue with a darker shade of blue for the mane, and the other was grey coated, with a purple and white striped mane. I trotted up to them, "Excuse me, but could you show me where the nearest hotel or inn is?" I asked them and the grey one answered.
"It's right over there." She said pointing to a large building to my left with the sign 'Canterlot Inn'.
"Oh, thank you."
"Um, are you just visiting?" the blue one asked, A man, or stallion in this case. I nod.
"I'm only here for today." I smile and begin walking towards it, when they stop me.
"Well if it's only for today you could stay the night at our home. It's not that far away." The mare said.
"Do you think it's a good idea letting someone/pony you/we don't know stay with you/us?" the stallion and I said before exchanging glances.
"Your..." I stop, not sure whether they were together or not.
"Husband." they said the word in unison.
"Your husband is right, you shouldn't let someone you don't know enter your home. I'll be fine in the Inn." I said continuing to walk towards the inn.
I looked over my shoulder just in time to see them shrug and trot off. I sighed, The inn-keepers going to be mad in the morning. I thought as I entered the inn to see two Pegasi in golden armor talking to the inn-keeper. I was close enough to hear their conversation, "So you haven't seen a tan pegasus with a drop of blood for a cutie mark?" One guard asked. The inn-keeper shook his head.
"I'm sorry but I haven't. I'll tell you if I do though."
"Thank you for your time." the other guard said before they turn towards me, and upon seeing my tattoo-cutie mark-they get into defensive positions.
"Halt you! You are under arrest for destroying public property, stealing, and running." I look them over before speaking.
"I have done no such thing. I was with my friends the whole day." I lied.
"Our captain is not a liar. Come quietly or else." They didn't believe the lie. So Shining is after me?
"Or else what?" I asked not caring but curious.
"Or else we'll have to take you there by force." the second guard says taking a step towards me, I scoff They wouldn't hurt me, they can't I thought to myself before saying.
"I'd like to see you try." I tilted my head which popped my neck. That somehow startled the guards while the inn-keeper ducked behind his counter.
"I'm warning you." the first guard said not moving from his spot. I waved a hoof towards myself.
"Bring it then." on this the second guard flew at me with outstretched hooves. I waited until he was a few feet away before ducking and raising my hoof hitting him in the solar plexus. His wings went slack and he fell on the floor gasping for air. The other guard looked at his fallen comrade before flying at me the same way. I knew he'd be expecting me to do the same thing, but instead I stood up on my hind legs-the best I could- pulled my right hoof back and punched the guard, breaking his nose and sending him spinning away, before I lost my balance and fell.
I stood back up and saw the other guard starting to breathe easier. I left him alone and walked out the door. Damn I miss my hands. I began running away so the guards couldn't catch up, and stopped when I thought I had gone far enough. I looked around to see that I was surrounded by homes. "I guess I could stay in one of these homes." Against my better judgement I walked up to the nearest home and knocked. The door opened and I was met with the blue stallion from before.
"Hello again, can I help you?" he asked eyeing me warily.
"I hate to ask but can I stay here? It's just for the night, I'll leave as soon as I wake up." I said rubbing the back of my head.
He sighed, and moved aside, "Okay but don't try anything." he said as I entered.
"I won't, I promise. Now do I get the couch or a room?" I asked him. He thought about it shortly.
"Unless you want to sleep in Twilight's room, you can have the couch." I thanked him and laid down on the couch. The last thing I heard before I went to sleep was his wife.
"You let him in? I thought you said..." I couldn't hear the rest of the conversation as I drifted off to sleep.
I woke up from a kick to the stomach, I grabbed it on impulse and looked at my attacker. It was Shining, without his armor on. He was staring daggers at me, "First you steal, then you assault my guards, and now you enter my home!?" Home? Fuck, I knew this was a bad choice. he pulled me off the couch and I saw his horn glow before I felt my wings flatten against my back. I looked at them and saw the same pink aura that was radiating off his horn. So this is his doing? Maybe if I knock him out this'll go away. I thought as I neared him. He stood his ground until he saw me turn around to buck him. I had to hold the pose for a second to make sure I had a firm hold, I waited a bit too long. His horn glowed brighter and I was enveloped in the aura before being hurled out the door, I rolled across the ground before I stood up. He was walking out of the house, his horn still glowing.
I spat a little blood on the ground next to me, it burnt out before it hit the ground. I watched him approach and got ready to run before two more, unicorn, guards literally flashed in behind me. Can't go forward can't go back, only two routes to go. I said as two pegasi flew in and hovered to my right, then the same two I had fought came in on the left. I looked around, No escape routes now. Either fight or let them take me. as I thought this Shining armor stepped forward and said with a smirk, "Nowhere to run, why don't you make this easier for yourself?" I went over several instances in my head, none of them ending without getting a broken something and a few dead horses, but my gut was telling me not to kill these equines. I trusted it, and sighed.
"Fine. Go ahead and throw me in jail." Shining armor smiled smugly.
"Smart choice, but for all your offenses I have to take you to Princess Celestia." I raised an eyebrow, "All right then, lead the way." I said, his reaction was interesting, his eyes widened in surprise for an instant before changing to a professional look all the other guards had.
--------------------------------Canterlot castle-------------------------------
They had returned me to the castle I had passed the day before. I noticed as I walked down the streets that every horse was wearing fancy clothes and walked with their noses in the air, looking at me as if I was on death row. I had kept my poker face on the entire way there. The guards then ushered me into a large throne room, and on the throne was another horse, this one with a horn and wings and a flowing mane, even though there wasn't a breeze. I also noticed two other guards on either side of her throne, she towered over them both. So she's a horse and the rest are ponies? I thought to myself as a guard behind me shoved me forward, I barely kept my balance and glared at him, the one I had given a broken nose. I turned back to the one on the throne and approached. When I had gotten within 5 yards of the throne the guards at the sides stopped me, "That's far enough." they said together.
I looked up at the one on the throne, this Princess Celestia. My paranoia kicked in when I saw the friendly gaze he was giving me. As the 'captain' walked up ahead of me and said, "Damage to public property, stealing a dozen boxes from the owner, running from a royal guard, breaking and entering, destroying another pony's property, and assaulting two guards." as he said each offense I had caused, I noticed the princess's gaze looking me over. When he finished she finally spoke.
"I don't think I've seen you before. Who are you?" her voice was calming yet my own paranoia gave it an edge of irritation.
"I'm not absolutely sure about that, I have some amnesia." I could tell she didn't believe me as her gaze, seemed, to intensify.
"These charges have very strict consequences. Care to explain yourself?" I knew she could tell I was lying even though I had fooled plenty before.
"Yes, on the charge of breaking public property, this man-stallion here closed and locked the door leaving me stuck inside so I had to break through to get out, the stealing was because I had no money and I was starving."
"The running was after I broke down the door, breaking and entering was while he was chasing me. And assaulting the guards, was self defense, they attacked me first so I fought back to protect myself." I finished still keeping my face void of any emotion as I stared into her friendly gaze, mistaking it as a fierce one.
"Shining take this pony to the dungeon." I expected her to say, her gaze never left mine. Shining armor nodded his head, and approached me his horn beginning to glow. I had a plan, knock out the captain and hightail it out of there. I didn't move as he closed the distance. When he was close enough I head-butted him as hard as I could, feeling his horn cut the skin on my forehead. I wasted no time and turned to my right and ran straight for the window, I heard the princess yell for me to stop but I ignored her and jumped through the glass. I better learn to use these wings and quickly. I thought as I landed and ran, I put all my thoughts on trying to make my wings work. I soon heard clopping close behind followed by flapping.
I kept running trying to open my wings, but they wouldn't obey. I heard flapping intensifying and jumped to the side-barely avoiding a tackle from one of the pegasi. As we ran through the streets ponies everywhere were running off the streets and hiding indoors, I payed attention to my surroundings and saw a safety rail ahead. I smirked and increased my speed. I heard a loud crack and a yellow beam flew past me. They're shooting at me! I looked back, expecting them to be holding guns, but instead the unicorn's heads were down horns were glowing.
I dodged a few more pegasi tackles and blasts from the unicorns before I reached the rail. I hopped onto it and jumped off, and saw that the ground was several hundred miles below me. I tried once again using my wings by moving every muscle I had. I finally found the right muscle and my wings unfurled, I smiled at my success before I heard voices over the rushing wind, "Stop! You'll hurt yourself!" I looked back to see three more pegasi, these in blue tights wearing goggles and had what looked like storm clouds following them.
I ignored them and went into a nosedive thinking: This should work like the jet fighters. As the ground neared I kept ignoring their pleas to make me stop. When the floor was within 40 feet I opened my wings and slowly leaned my body to a horizontal position; that was when I saw the forest just ahead. I looked back and saw the same blue tights wearing pegasi catching up, when I turned back around there was a tree in my way. I barely avoided it and kept on barrel rolling to avoid hitting a tree at what I guessed was around 900 mph. I stole a quick glance behind me to see the others had stopped following me and my wing hit a tree, I felt the bone snap in several places and I spun around uncontrollably before hitting a second tree, breaking a rib or two, and hitting the ground with enough force to break my other wing.
I lay on the floor fighting the urge to yell in pain as my bones snap back into place and my blood fixes the cracks. Several pain filled minutes later I stand up and look around at the trees. "I'm in a forest. This brings back memories." I shudder slightly and look back. "Okay I came from there. Best to avoid that place." I turn away and begin walking deeper into the forest.
--------------------------------------Meanwhile---------------------------------------
I had just jumped out the window when the blood that I had left on Shining armor's horn began to bubble and burn his horn. This pain woke him up instantly and he yelled until the blood evaporated. The princess had flown over to her Captain. and watched the blood evaporate. "His blood. It's strange." she said in shock at watching the pain blood had caused Shining armor. He stood up and looked at his princess before averting his eyes as he lowered his head.
"I'm sorry he escaped your Highness. But I'll send my best guards after him." Celestia walked back to her throne and said.
"You leave that pony to the guards, you did say you were going to visit Twilight today didn't you?" she asked him. His jaw dropped.
"Oh no I nearly forgot about that. But are you sure they won't need my help?"
Celestia giggled, "I think the rest of the guard can handle one pony." Shining armor smiled and saluted.
"Yes your highness." before leaving the throne room.
When the door closed behind him he turned to one of the pegasi guards nearby, "Tell the Wonderbolts to help us capture the pegasus who just escaped."He said before the guard flew off with a "yes captain." Shining armor meanwhile walked towards Canterlot and his home to prepare for the train ride to Ponyville. Shining went over what had just happened: I brought in a pegasus for a few crimes, he was sentenced to pay the damages off, he head-butts me then escapes, then his blood burns my horn. Who is he?
----------------------------------------Everfree forest--------------------------------------------
I was running again, this time from a Manticore, I thought these guys were myths?! I though as he was gaining on me, even with all the twists and turns I had made to throw him. I looked around as I ran for a way to slow him down, that's when it came to me. I kept running until I reached a large tree, I turned around to face the Manticore and watched him slow down and lick his lips. "I'm not going to be your snack, not if I can help it." I said as I lowered myself to the ground waiting for him to pounce. He circled me a few times before finally pouncing, I dove underneath him and past him as he crashed into the tree. I didn't savor my victory, but instead bucked his head, hearing a loud whack before continuing running. After I thought I had run far enough I slowed down to catch my breath, and heard rustling nearby. I turned towards it ready to fight, until I saw a zebra walk through the bushes.
She had a very large striped mo-hawk that matched her tail, she also wore gold bands on her right foreleg, and neck. She also had large gold earrings. She hadn't noticed me yet, as a precaution, I cautiously walked away from her and towards the direction she had come from. My stomach began to growl again and I saw several blue flowers sticking out of the ground. I was so hungry I didn't care and lowered my head to take a bite of them when a strange voice said, "Beware, you pegasus those flowers are not for us." I raise my head and turn around to see the zebra from before.
"What do you mean?" I ask, she walks over and points to the flower.
"This is poison joke and it's not for pony folk." she replies, I looked at her.
"So this is poisonous?" I asked.
"It's leaves of blue will play foul tricks on you." she answers. What's with the rhyming? I thought as my stomach growled again, I sigh.
The zebra grins, "No need to be ashamed, now will you tell me your name?" she asked. I thought it over before sticking with my story.
"I'm not sure, I have a slight amnesia." I answer.
"I may have a remedy, you just have to follow me." she said and started walking away, I followed.
We soon reached a small hut covered in wooden masks. On the walk I learned her name was Zecora, but seeing her hut sent off alarms in my head. She walked inside and I stood there staring. She stuck her head out the door and said, "There is no need to fear, you can come near." I nervously look over the hut.
"I'm fine thank you, can you direct me to the nearest settlement?" I asked, she walks out of the hut and points along a path.
"If you don't want to be near my abode, Ponyville is just down this road." I thank her and walk down it, once I'm out of earshot I mutter.
"Ponyville? What's with the pun?" My stomach was growling louder by the time I reached the exit, and saw the town in the distance. "Fuck this is going to be a long walk-wait I have wings." I smirk and unfurl my wings before running and flapping my feathered appendages to gain altitude. This would've been helpful when I was being chased. I was remembering every time I was running from the 'vampires' when I was blindsided by a rainbow colored blur. We fell and I hit my head on the floor, blacking out.
I regain consciousness a few seconds before what hit me, I was lying on my back. I felt a weight on my chest and looked down to see a cyan blue pegasus with a rainbow mane on top of me. I was about to push her off when she woke up, "Huh? What happened? Why am I on a cushion?" she lifted herself up before looking down at me.
"Finally it was getting hard to breathe." I said before I rolled over, she blushed lightly before glaring at me.
"You ruined my stunt!" I brushed myself off, and returned her glare.
"Well you should watch where you're flying! You could've broken something. Not that it would last." I muttered the last part before flapping my wings to get the dust out.
"You should watch where you're flying! You could've broken my wings!" I roll my eyes.
"You crashed into me-" I started before she cut me off.
"It was your fault! You should know that I practice my stunts after my afternoon nap." I sighed again.
"Well if you haven't guessed I'm new here, now leave me alone." I said before walking towards Ponyville only to be stopped by the colored mare landing in front of me.
"How about we settle this with a race?" she said, I stared at her and my stomach growls.
"Fine but loser buys the winner lunch." she smirks and nods.
"Alright, get ready to pay for the most expensive lunch in Equestria! You're dealing with the fastest flyer in all of Equestria." she boasted, Where's Equestria? I've never heard of it. I thought as the magenta eyed mare positions herself for immediate take off, I mirror her and ask.
"So where's the finish line?" she thinks for half a second before answering.
"We're going to race to Sugarcube corner. Ready. Set. G-" I cut her off.
"I have no idea where that is remember? I'm new here." I said before she face... hoofed?
"It's the big gingerbread house." I uncertainly nodded and she resumed her position. "Go!" she shot off, a few seconds before I did.
---------------------------------Canterlot---------------------------------
Shining armor was given the report by Spitfire herself that the pegasus had lost them by entering the everfree forest. Shining armor then reported this to Celestia, before he had gone to his parent's home and said goodbye to his parents before returning to the castle to say farewell to his newly acquired wife Princess Mi amore Cadenza or Cadence as she preferred. Together Shining and Cadence walked to the train-station and shared a kiss goodbye before Shining boarded the train for Ponyville. Being with his sister he knew he would forget about the pegasus and his troubles while he was visiting.
--------------------------------Ponyville----------------------------------
I had seen the gingerbread house she had said, and it was very large. She was also ahead of me, and I was going at full speed slowly catching up. I had caught up when she increased her speed and broke the sound barrier right next to me, the initial boom sent me nearly crashing into a building. I watched as she was being followed by a rainbow, she reached the gingerbread house almost a minute before me, I landed while she finished a victory lap around the house. "Hah! I won!." she was saying while rubbing her chest, I was frowning when a thought came to mind.
"No, I won." She stopped rubbing her chest and glared at me.
"No you didn't. I got here first." she replied, I shook my head.
"No when I got here you were still flying around this house." I said tapping the wall hearing the sound of wood. A wooden gingerbread house, ugh I'm still hungry. I was getting a strange sense of deja-vu as I fought with this mare.
We kept fighting until she finally yelled, "Pinkie!" I was about to ask why she yelled that when the window behind me opened and a Pink pony hopped out of the bushes nearby. "Huh?" was all I could say when I saw this happen Was she hiding in there? If so then why? She was hopping as she spoke.
"What is it Dashie?" before 'Dashie' could say anything I asked.
"Your name's Dashie?" Dashie turned to me and opened her mouth to be interrupted yet again by the Pink pony.
"No, silly, her name is Rainbow dash, Dashie is just the nickname I gave her." she said then gasped and spoke again, "I've never seen you before! That means you're new here! Oh I have to show you around, and throw you a welcome to Ponyville party, and mmmf mmmf mmm!" her rambling was stopped by Rainbow dash putting a hoof in her mouth.
"Pinkie Pie. I need to know did you see our race?" she asked before taking her hoof away, Pinkie Pie? What the fuck is with all these puns?
Pinkie pie nodded her head, making a rattling noise, confusing me further. "Yessiree I watched you two fly here and you flying around Sugarcube corner." 'Pinkie' said making Rainbow dash smile confidently.
"Okay then tell us who won?" Rainbow asked. Pinkie pointed at me,
"He did." Both our jaws dropped but Rainbow was the one to ask.
"What!? How? I got here way before him!" Pinkie giggled with a snort and kept bouncing.
"Yeah but you flew around Sugarcube corner before landing, you said the first one to get here wins. It was still cool though!" she said as a tall orange stallion stuck his head out the window.
"Um Pinkie we need your help in here." Pinkie spun around in mid-jump, "Okay Mr. Cake." She said before bouncing inside through the front door.
`"Is she always so..." I trailed off when I saw Rainbow dash glaring at me.
"Random? Yes always. I guess I have to buy you lunch now." she said and I just realized she reminded me of Isaac.
She's exactly like Isaac! Why!? No she's copying him, just a copy cat. She snapped me out of my thoughts when she waved a hoof in my face, "Hey why do you look so shocked?" I shook my head to clear my thoughts and stared daggers at her.
"I don't need you to buy me a meal." I said coldly before starting to walk away being blocked by her again.
"Hold up, why are you so angry? I should be the one who's angry! I mean I lost!" she was reminding me more and more of those I failed, it was aggravating me.
"Shut up and just leave me alone." I said and tried walking around her but she stopped me with by holding a hoof out,
"What's your deal? I haven't done anything to-" I slapped her hoof away and kept walking. She flew in front of me again, "Hey! I'm talk-" I cut her off in mid-sentence.
"Leave me alone or I'll break your wings off." I said following up the threat with a look that could freeze the sun. She stared at me her large eyes wide, she opened her mouth but nothing came out. I pushed past her and kept walking, getting uneasy and angry looks from every pony that heard me threaten her.
Pinkie had seen and heard what happened and was already beginning to plan a party for me to lift up my spirits. I had walked into a market and saw an apple stand not too far away so I approached it, my stomach growling the entire time. It was being manned by an orange pony with a blonde mane, wearing a stetson hat, "Howdy." she greeted me when I came close, she had a southern drawl like they would have in wild west movies.
"Hello." I said before looking at all the apples she had my stomach growled, and she waved a hoof at her apples.
"It's just three bits per apple."
I sighed, "I don't have any money." I muttered under my breath and began walking off before she put a hoof on my shoulder. I turned back to her and she held out two apples.
"Ah reckon ah kin give yah two fer free." I smiled and took them.
"Thank you very much Miss." I said before eating one of the apples in a single bite.
"Mah name's Applejack by the way." she said, I nodded and finished off the second apple before walking away towards a large tree.
When I had left Rainbow arrived and told her friend Applejack what happened, and she told her where I went. She flew in the direction I was while Applejack had to wait for the market to end so she could help her rainbow maned friend. Meanwhile the train had just arrived and Shining armor was at the Ponyville train-station where she met up with his sister Twilight Sparkle. "BBBFF!" the lavender mare said as she hugged her older brother.
"Hi Twily, how have you been?" he said already beginning to forget the events from earlier.
"Let's go back to the library so we can talk." Twilight said and together they walked into town towards the large tree in the distance.
(Well here's another chapter. Enjoy)
I continue walking towards the large tree which, upon closer inspection, had a house built into it. As I neared it I heard wings flapping quickly in my direction, I look over my shoulder to see that blue pegasus following me. I quicken my pace slightly, if only to make an escape. "Hey! You! Stop!" she says before landing in front of me again. I sigh through my nose and walk around her, she stays by my side as we walk together, "What's wrong? Why are you being such an asscolt?" she asks me, a tinge of annoyance in her voice. I keep my face clear of emotion, Asscolt? Ugh this isn't going to be fun. I think as she repeats her question.
"That is none of your business. Now leave!" I yelled the last word, it only seemed to make her as angry as she was making me.
"I'm not going to leave until you tell me why you threatened me." she says.
I roll my eyes and take an immediate left turn, she copies me. I start running and she chases me. "Leave me alone!" I yelled back as I ran back into town.
"I'm not going to!" she yelled back, I could just crack her skull open and be called a murderer again. I shook the thought from my head Vampires are enough, I don't want the police after me as well. I was so lost in my own thoughts that I hadn't seen the stand selling pots until it was about 3 feet away. Reflexes took over and I dove to the side to avoid it before rolling back onto my feet-hooves, and continuing my sprint. I glanced over my shoulder seeing shocked ponies and a determined pegasus. Let's see if she can keep up. I thought as I immediately turned into an alley, she followed. I reached the end of the alley and turned right before quickly jumping through a window.
I had jumped into a kitchen, startling a unicorn filly that was next to the fridge. She screamed as I continued running through the house to the door which was opened by the rainbow mare. I growl and run up the stairs, passing a brown stallion on the way. He had said something but I didn't hear it as I flew through an open window and onto the roof. She flew out half a minute after me and looked around before grunting and flying off. I smirk and fly towards the 'tree-house' from before, "Now maybe I can get some time alone." I say before I hear her again.
"Found you!" she yelled before trying to tackle me, I jumped up and landed on her back before jumping off and turning in midair. She flies at me again instead of avoiding her, my anger took over my actions. I stand my ground prepared to let her hit me. When she does we slide a short distance before I grabbed her with both hooves and threw her to the floor. Before she had time to get up I was standing above her, my front hooves lightly touching her spread wings.
I lean into her face, "This is your last warning. Leave me alone, I will not hesitate to break your wings into unfixable stumps." I threatened her again putting all my anger into my eyes and voice. She was about to say something when I felt a familiar sensation; the same sensation I felt before being hurled into a wall by that Captain. But instead of hearing his voice I heard a female one.
"I will not let you hurt my friends!" she had yelled. I turned my burning gaze to the voice, it was a lavender colored pony with a darker purple mane that had a pink streak through it.
"This is your friend?" I asked, my anger still edged my own voice. She hesitated slightly from the hostility I was showing her but she continued anyway
"Who do you think you are? Threatening to harm my friends?" she asked.
"That is none of your business, now put me down." I ordered the unicorn. She didn't listen since I was still hovering above the floor. Rainbow dash stood up and trotted over to her 'friend'.
"Twi this guy, showed up out of nowhere and ruins my stunt then he threatens me, then he runs off and breaks into somepony's home before coming back here to try and break my wings." she said to 'Twi' before I notice another figure walking out of the tree.
"Hey Twily I-" he stops when he saw me floating. "You again!" we say in unison, our tones icy. The lavender mare looks at Shining armor with wide eyes.
"You know him BBBFF?" she says, BBBFF? What the hell does that mean? I thought as Shining armor nods.
"Yes, he was arrested for several offenses." he says before he approaches me.
"What did he do?" Rainbow dash asks. Shining armor looks at her.
"Hey aren't you the mare who did the Sonic rainboom at my and Cadence's wedding?" he says, forgetting I was here.
Rainbow smiles smugly, "Yeah that was me. Rainbow Dash the fastest flier in Equestria!" I roll my eyes, she had seen me and began glaring daggers at me.
"Well, he was apprehended for destruction of public property, stealing, running from a guard, breaking and entering, destroying private property, and assaulting a guard." he stated professionally.
"Wait he assaulted a guard!?" Dashie said flying up to me.
"It was two guards, they weren't so tough. I also remember knocking you out as well." I said, allowing a smirk to plaster itself on my face. That was when I felt the field I was in shift, I look at the lavender mare to see her horn stopped glowing, that's when I knew Shining was now holding me up.
"it's my duty to take you back to Canterlot." he says before turning to Twilight, "I'm sorry Twilight but I have to take him back."
'Twilight' nods sadly. "I understand."
He lifts her chin."Don't worry I'll be right back."
Out of my peripheral vision I see a pink pony walking out of the tree. Wait wasn't she working? How the fuck did she get there!? I thought as she bounced up to Twilight, "Hi Twilight! I need some help setting up a party." Pinkie says still bouncing in place. Twilight smiles and nods.
"Sure Pinkie, may I ask who this party's for?" Twilight asks. Pinkie's smile gets wider, and she points at me.
"It's for mister meany over there!" she says happily ignorant of the insult. Everyone's jaw drops, including my own.
"What? Why for me?" I asked while the others were still in shock.
"Well how do you fix a pony's attitude?" Pinkie asked with a giggle. I just stared at her, still wondering how she had gotten outside while I was being chased. "With a party of course!" she answered her own question. "It's going to be so much fun! We'll-" she stops talking as her tail begins twitching. She sits down and grabs her quivering appendage, "Ooh twitchy twitch-a-twitch!" she exclaims before running back into the tree.
Rainbow dash flies in after with Twilight following last. Shining armor and I stare after them, Twilight appears inside the tree wearing an umbrella hat, she waves inside, "Come inside! Pinkie's tail is twitching!" she says sounding worried. Shining armor walks into the tree bringing me unwillingly along.
"Why am I doing this exactly?" He asked, Twilight who was about to explain when I cut her off, "Can you put me down?" Shining ignores me as Twilight speaks.
"Well Pinkie gets all these strange spasms that mean something is going to happen, a twitchy tail means something is about to fall." I laugh when she finished her explanation.
"Nothing is going to happen, put me down and I'll prove nothing's going to happen." Shining armor and Twilight open their mouths to protest but Rainbow dash stops them.
"Just put that asscolt outside so he gets hurt." I feel myself lowering.
"I'm only putting you down to prove there's nothing to be afraid of." Twilight gapes at Shining.
"But BBBFF what if he runs away?" she asks him.
"What the hell does that mean?" I ask Twilight, both she and Shining armor answer.
"Big brother best friend forever." I tried to snort back a laugh but laughed anyway because I was unable to hold it in. "You'd never see me saying that." I keep laughing as I walk outside.
I look around and turn back to the hiding equines. "See? Nothing at all!" I laugh again looking down. That was when I saw a growing shadow. I look up and see a falling anvil "What the fuck!?" I yell before trying to jump out of the way but not moving fast enough. The anvil pinned my legs to the ground as a piano fell on my legs next then a large crate, and finally a cart filled with hay. The entire time I could feel my legs breaking, until the hay cart I couldn't feel my lower body after that. "This is going to hurt." I mutter as the equines inside run towards me, and a grey pegasus lands next to me
"Oh I'm so sorry, I just don't know what went wrong!" I look up into her strange eyes.
"Well you dropped this shit on me and now I can't feel my fucking legs!" I yell at her making her flinch from the profanity and from yelling. "Can someone get this off me!" I scream before Twilight and Shining armor use their telekinesis to lift the objects off me. I look back at my now mangled legs, Some blood was seeping onto the grass where it would change from a bright green to a dead brown. I try to move my legs, they wouldn't respond. I began to feel the warm sensation in my legs-now the only thing I felt in them. Twilight trots over to me and crouches down.
"I have to take you to the hospital." she says, concern on her voice. I shake my head.
"I don't need it. I'm fi~" I stop as the pain begins and the silence is filled with the sound of my bones cracking and snapping back into place along with my grunts of pain. The equines stare at my legs as they slowly readjust themselves, the blood melding the bones, muscles and nerves back together. After my legs and spine were repaired I unsteadily raised myself, my vision was blurring. The lavender mare approaches me and says something I couldn't understand. I turned away and began stumbling away as spots invaded my vision. I didn't get very far before the world tilted and I landed on the floor. I heard hoofsteps approach before I completely blacked out. My dreams were filled with my memories replaying themselves, Isaac being drained of blood, my family being shot, my friends disappearing and their bodies being found decapitated. The entire time They all said the same thing: Why didn't you stop this? All besides Isaac, he just sat there as silent as a rock.
I feel a pin stab itself into my arm. I look down at it and see the tubes that were hooked up into Isaac, I tried moving but I wasn't able to, that was when I saw Isaac look up, "Wake up." was all he said.
"Isaac!" I yell as I sit up in a cold sweat.
"It's okay, lie back down." A soft voice says from besides me. I couldn't recognize the voice so I examined my surroundings, Nothing to say this is a hospital, it's more like a bedroom. I think to myself before looking at my arms.
"I'm still a pony." I said looking at my hooves.
"Um... You shouldn't be moving. You could get hurt." the same soft spoken voice says. I finally turn to the source, a yellow pegasus with pink hair. I would be shocked if I didn't already think I was drugged. I thought before I shook my head.
"I'm fine." I said in a tone that scared the mare.
"But Twilight said that you broke your legs and I-" she begins but I cut her off by rolling out of the bed
"I'm fine see? There's nothing wrong with me... Much." I say and begin walking towards the door.
She follows me saying, "Are you sure you're okay? If you don't mind me asking." I groan and open the door.
"I told you I'm fine. You're not going to keep following me are you?" I ask, looking over my shoulder at her nervous body language.
"Oh I'm sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable, I'll stop if you want." she says tilting her head so her long hair covers her face. If only they could all be like that. I thought as I walked out the door thanking the mare. Outside of the room was a long wooden hallway that lead to a staircase leading up, in one direction, and one leading down, in the other. I decided to go downstairs and walked towards it not getting far before I heard hoofsteps following me. I look over my shoulder and see the same mare, she sees me staring at her and stops in her tracks, "Oh I'm sorry, but that's the only way down." she said hiding behind her mane again.
I nod, "It's fine." I say before continuing down the steps, my own hooves clopping on the wood loudly.
As I neared the bottom I heard a few voices, some I recognized: Shining armor, Twilight, Pinkie, that grey mare, Applejack, and Dashie. But there was one voice I didn't know she had a fancy sounding voice. Hopefully she's not as bad as she sounds. I was thinking as I was greeted by Pinkie, "Hi sleepy head!" she yelled across the room, practically alerting the whole world to my presence. From my point of view I saw a microscope behind Twilight and I also saw the sun reflecting off of a needle I know what that is, and what it's filled with. .
"Hello... sir." Twilight said from her position next to the microscope, I stared coldly at her. My own gaze was met by two others, Applejack and Shining armor.
"Now why exactly were ya threatenin' Rainbow? And why're you so angry with Twai? She didn't do anythin' ta ya'll." Shining armor glares at me.
"Yes my sister did nothing to you." he said backing up the cowpony.
"I know she took some of my blood." I said not taking my eyes off of the guilty mare.
"So? What does that matter?" Dashie said hovering up to my level.
"I'd rather not have more vampires chasing after me! And from what I can tell there aren't any here. I'd like to keep it that way." I notice everyone's jaws drop besides Rainbow who's eyes narrow as she stares at me not believing what I said.
"Vampires? They don't exist! Why are you really angry?" she said floating closer to me.
I give her a serious look, "I'm not lying. The whole world is after me, because of my own fucking blood!" I yelled, before taking a few deep breathes to calm down.
"Whatever do you mean?" a white unicorn with a curly purple mane said. I shake my head.
"I'm not going to explain myself to you." I said before jumping off the steps and walking towards the door. It was slammed shut by Pinkie Pie.
"Why are you being such a meany mean pants! We just want to be friends."
"I don't want friends." I said, shocking everyone in the room. Twilight was the first to break the stunned silence.
"What!? Why not? Friends are-" She begins but I cut her off.
"You wouldn't understand... None of you would, I only know one man who understood me." I shook my head.
"Man?" Twilight whispered to herself while Pinkie asked.
"Who was it? I know everypony I'm sure I could find him." she smiled widely, while I thought Wait everypony? What the fuck is with the pun? I ignore the pun and answer, "I don't know his name but he goes by The Doctor." Pinkie's smile got bigger somehow but the grey mare spoke up.
"You know the doctor!?" I look at her
"Weren't you the one who broke my legs?" I ask accusingly. She loses her enthusiasm and instantly looks at the floor.
"It was an accident. I'm sorry." I wave my hoof.
"It's alright. It could have been worse."
Twilight's jaw drops. "Worse? Your legs broke!" she yelled at me.
"I've had my limbs cut off. Now as you were saying." I said turning back to the grey mare leaving Twilight and Shining armor gaping at what I said.
"My name is Ditzy Doo and I was saying that I know The Doctor."
"Hello Ms. Doo, can you lead me to him?" I asked politely.
She nodded with a smile, "Follow me!" she said before walking to Pinkie who opened the door to let me and Ditzy out before following. We walked through the town again, all nine of us. I kept looking back at the others, Ditzy was in the front, Pinkie was to my left, and the yellow mare to my right while the others were behind us just out of earshot. I saw they were talking and it wasn't too hard to figure out what they were talking about. I couldn't help but feel Shining armor's piercing gaze burning the back of my head the entire walk to the Doctor's home. "Here we are! The Doctor is inside." the cross-eyed pegasus said opening the door and yelling, "Hey Doctor? Are you in here!?" she waved a hoof for us to enter, we did and sat down in the now crowded living room.
"What is it Ditzy? I was fixing up the- Oh hello." the brown stallion I had seen earlier walked into the room and greeted us. There was no mistaking it, that is the Doctor.
I walk up to him, "Hello again Doctor." I said and he just looked at me questioningly.
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" he asked.
"How's the TARDIS?" I asked this question which surprised him.
"How do you know about the TARDIS?" he asked me.
I grin, "Remember? Earth, the year was 3068."
He nods slowly, "Yes, yes, and?" he asked.
"I was the one who stole your key." I said
"Oh, I remember that. That still wasn't very nice you know." He said when he remembered me.
"Are those 'Vampires' still after you?" he asked, I shook my head.
"There are none here... Yet." I say the last word before looking at Twilight.
"Ah well this is a peaceful land. There won't be anyone to chase you here." the Doctor said smiling.
"Well Twinkle over there stole a sample of my blood." I said nodding in Twilight's direction.
"My name is Twilight Sparkle!" she yelled.
I rolled my eyes, "Whatever I need you to forget what you saw." I said to the ones present. The Doctor leans over my shoulder.
"Um what did they see exactly?" he asked.
"I broke my spinal cord and my legs earlier today. They saw my blood fix it." I answer. The Doctor nods with a silent, "Oh."
"Wait. Your blood fixed your broken legs? Your blood ?" the blue pegasus said, I groaned.
"Yes, my blood fixed me now leave me alone Isaac." I said, not noticing that I had said Isaac.
"Who's Isaac? I'm Rainbow dash!" She yelled at me.
I turned to her, "Of course you are. You couldn't be anything like Isaac in a million years!" I growled at her.
"Oh you want to fight?" She asked me getting in my personal space.
I laughed, "Bring it on!" We were about to start fighting when Twilight used her magic to keep us apart.
"There's no need to fight you two! I'm going to send a letter to the Princess and inform her of you and your skills." she said before putting us down leaving the whole room between us.
"And this is how it begins." I say as she leaves the house.
Author's Note
And there you go. Again Criticism recommended
We sat in Ditzy's living room in deafening silence; Shining had left with 'Twi' shortly after she had left. The others had been trying to break the silence but that failed as 'Dashie' and I returned the silence by yelling at each other. Several hour long minutes later the Doctor leans over to Ditzy, "Um, Ditzy could you make some muffins to... Lighten the mood?" She nods with a large grin and flies into the kitchen; returning shortly after with a tray filled with muffins. My stomach growls, reminding me how hungry I was. I thanked her and took a muffin, taking a bite I found that it was Banana nut, my favorite. How long was I out? I thought as I finished off another muffin. They were watching me as I was single han-hoofedly finishing the entire tray. "You're certainly hungry, how long has it been since you last ate?" The Doctor asked me. I swallowed the muffin in my mouth before answering.
"About a day." I realized something before looking at the yellow pony, "Hey you." I said, she eeped and hid behind the orange one, Applejacks, I think. She was staring daggers at me.
"Leave her alone." she said.
I rolled my eyes before speaking, "I just needed to know how long I was incapacitated." she answered from her hiding place.
"T-three hours..." I sighed and ate the last muffin. Another few minutes passed before the Doctor spoke again.
"So how is Rosemary?" he asked, the question brought on bad memories.
"Dead." I replied flatly. His ears drooped, whether from sadness or something else I wouldn't know.
"Oh well what about-" I cut him off before he could say more.
"They're all dead Doctor." he nervously shifted.
"I'm sorry James... I didn't know." I shook my head.
"It's fine, just don't bring it up." This revelation darkened the mood in the room to that of a graveyard. Out of the corner of my eyes I could see the equines giving me pitying looks, it was irritating.
"How did you arrive here?" the Doctor asked, changing the subject. I opened my mouth to answer when the door opened and Twi entered followed by Shining armor.
"The Princess wants to speak with him so we're going to Canterlot."
The walk to the train station was a long silent one filled with unanswered questions: What did you mean? How did they die? Who are they? Why don't you talk!? Shining armor had payed for all the tickets and gave them to the rest of us. We boarded the train. The Doctor, his assistant and I in one car and the others in the car directly behind us. I was sitting in front of the window to watch the land as we moved, "What year was it on Earth when you arrived here?" The Doctor inquired.
"The year was 5743 and how I arrived was Jordan had created a serum that should've killed me but instead I ended up like this." I sighed and he spoke again.
"Jordan? That sounds familiar... Do you mean Dr. Jordan Stoll?" I nod and he laughs, "You were friends with The Jordan Stoll! Brilliant! Did you know he was the man to master teleportation!"
"He was working on it. He also made me a cloaking device, hologram projector, and watch all in a small timepiece... I don't have it with me." I added, guessing that would be his next question.
"That's brilliant! Did they work?" he asked.
I shrugged and replied, "I don't know. Never used them." his face fell.
"Well that's no good." his answer made me chuckle.
"His last invention, a smoke bomb, blew my arm clean off!" I laugh almost hysterically as I remembered the look on his face. "The only smoke came from his burning apartment!" the grey mare, Ditzy, then worriedly asked me.
"Is he okay?" I stopped laughing and waved a hoof dismissively.
"He's fine the bomb went off while he was gone."
The silence returned as I watched the castle in the distance grow larger as we neared. I felt my ear twitch as I heard the door open and a single set of hoofsteps entered, "We are nearing Canterlot." it was Shining armor. I heard his heavy hooves increase in volume, telling me that he was approaching me. My body instinctively tensed so I could jump out the window if anything happened.
"What do you want?" I asked without turning.
"Why did you run?" He wondered.
"I'd rather not be sent to the fucking dungeon." I replied, glancing at him to see him cock and shake his head.
"Princess Celestia said you had to pay off the damages by working for the bits you needed." I sigh loudly but remain silent the rest of the way.
I had expected to have 'Celestia' standing at the train-station with some hired guns but instead there were just a few guards patrolling the area like the last time I was here. We exited the train: Shining first, followed by the unicorns and Dashie with the other three mares coming last. I could feel Dashie's gaze burning into my skull but ignored it as Shining and his sister lead us, mainly me, through the city. I noticed some of the ponies there recognized me especially one very angry homeowner whom I recognized from breaking down her door.
Another pony I recognized was Pony Joe. We were making a scene apparently from the stares we were getting, along with some gossip my sensitive ears picked up, 'Isn't he the one who the Wonderbolts lost? I heard he was a very dangerous fugitive who has been on the run for killing somepony!' What the hell is with these rumors? I thought to myself as I was herded through the streets for a second time. Dashie flew down besides me and angrily grumbled, "How did you get away from the Wonderbolts? You're way too slow!" she yelled at me, I kept my face clear of emotion but I felt like laughing just to spite her. "Well?" she asked impatiently, I stayed silent which only angered her more.
We neared the gate to two of the hundreds of guards that seemed to be clones of the exact same pony. They saluted to Shining armor as we passed, he returned the gesture before continuing. As we approached the main doorway I felt a second pair of eyes burrowing into me, I turned to see the same pegasus I had injured in that hotel. I felt like confronting him but instead watched the doors glow yellow and blue, along with two guards' horns. The doors opened to show the same white horse on the throne. Wait it has a horn, so it's a unicorn... wait... it has wings too!? What the hell is that!? I was snapped out of my own thoughts when The Doctor pushed my arm softly.
"What?" I asked turning to see him and Ditzy kneeling. A quick look around the room later and I saw that the Doctor and I were the only ones not kneeling.
"Bow you asscolt." Dashie whispered loudly at me. I ignored her after glaring at her shortly.
"You may rise." The white whatever it is said and the others rose.
"Hello again Doctor." she said smiling warmly at him.
"Your highness." He replied with a curt nod. I take a few steps towards the throne to ask.
"What the fuck are you? You have a horn and wings." I could tell she was surprised along with the others, even though her surprise was more subtle but not subtle enough for me to not notice it. Dashie then proceeded to buck me in the thigh.
"What the hell! Do that again I dare you." I threatened the rainbow mare who just raised her hind legs again while I relaxed my muscles so I could easily dodge.
Before either of us could act we were pulled apart by a single magical force, a yellow aura enveloped the both of us. I turned back to the... I'm just going with horse. I turned back to the horse as she spoke, "This is not a place to fight." she said calmly before answering my question.
"I am an Alicorn. Who are you?" she asked.
"That's none of your concern." I answered out of habit. She apparently had tons more patience than Dashie, but probably everyone had more patience than her.
"Doctor do you know this colt?" the alicorn, Celestia, asked before setting us both down.
"He is James Phoenix, an old friend of mine." I nod as he introduced me.
"I have another question, it's about your blood." the irritation of speaking of my blood was seen by the Princess.
"What's wrong?" she asked me, I looked away.
"It... Reminds me." I chuckled lightly as I spoke to myself, "My own blood holds bad memories." I looked back up to Celestia who had arched a brow.
"May I see your memories?" she asked me, I stiffened and shook my head.
"No." I bluntly answered. Shocking Twi as I saw her jaw drop out of my peripheral vision.
"Why not? Are you a Changeling?" Dashie accused, getting into my personal space again.
"First off I have no fucking clue what the hell a Changeling is, second I don't need to answer to you or anyone. Lastly get out of my face you bitch." I said spitting the last word. She then tackled me and raised her hoof, preparing to punch me but I hit her first. The hit knocked her off me and I rolled to my hooves in the opposite direction.
I kept my body loose to dodge easier as she got up and shot at me immediately. I was about to break her nose as well if I wasn't stopped by a loud CLOP. Both of us looked at the source, princess Celestia was irritated, I could tell, "That's enough out of both of you." She sounded like a mother scolding her children. Rainbow apologized while I scoffed and walked back to the Doctor. He looked at me.
"What happened in all those years?" he asked.
"Death." I answered coldly and unfortunately Celestia had also heard it.
"I apologize James but I must see your memories." she said before standing from the throne and walking towards us her horn glowing. I was backing away, an escape plan already in effect but was stopped by Shining armor and his magic which held me suspended in mid-air. I was struggling to get free of the kinetic beam I was in.
I knew I only had two options, attack the Princess and probably be tortured or have the Isaac wannabe attack me and probably get slightly injured. I chose the latter, "Hey wannabe!" I yelled at her, she was ignoring me, "Oh now you understand that I want to be alone." I saw the white unicorn walk over to her and say a few words that I couldn't hear. This is getting me nowhere. I thought as Celestia leaned her head down, Oh well. I thought as I reared my head back to headbutt her. Shining had seen this before and threw me to the floor, my body hit the floor with a soft thud and I kept struggling to get free. I saw Twi trot over to her brother and I heard her say something about paralysis and spells, her horn glowed and a spark shot out, It hit me dead on. Shining then put me down, I smirked and tried to run but I couldn't. My legs could move but they just felt so heavy, so did my entire body. I felt my eyelids begin to descend, I knew she had hit me with some kind of knockout dart even though I hadn't feel the dart.
I couldn't fight it anymore and fell asleep. I had found out later that Celestia hadn't seen my memories but had used a spell to show my dreams to all. They were shocked at what they saw; the same repetitive memories of my entire family and all my friends dying. They all kept repeating the same phrase, "Why couldn't you save us James?" the living didn't just say that, the dead bodies raised themselves and kept repeating that while I was apologizing and making excuses. It ended with my brother looking at me.
"Just accept it James." he said before I was brought back into the real world. I was in another bed, this one was larger than the one I had been in back in Ponyville.
"Oh you're awake!" I heard the Doctor say from the bedside.
"Doctor? Where am I?" his assistant was sitting next to him.
"I'm sorry James, are you alright?" she asked me. It confused me,
"I'm fine, why are you sorry? What did you do?" I said accusing her. The Doctor just shook his head.
"The princess used her magic to show everypony in the room your dreams." he said, I felt the connection click. It didn't help my mood.
"I have to leave then." I sighed and got out of bed.
"Why?" Ditzy asked me.
"Because they're now probably going after my blood." I walked towards the door.
"They won't James but Princess Celestia wants to speak with you privately." The Doctor said. I acknowledged him with a grunt and opened to door to see Dashie with the yellow one behind her.
"Oh, you're awake." Dashie said, she sounded disappointed.
"And you are still here." I replied. The shy mare nudges her friend, she looks back and sighs before returning her gaze to me.
"I'm sorry for attacking you." she said halfheartedly.
"It's not like you could have beaten me." my comment made her glare at me.
"You know what? I take it back. Have fun with your weird dreams, freak." she said before flying off the shy pony walked up to me.
"She doesn't mean that. She is sorry but she just doesn't like to apologize... Are you okay?" she asked I sighed.
"I'm fine, now please leave me alone." she stepped away with a silent, more like barely audible, okay. I walked past her and away from the room.
I stared at the architecture as I walked down the long corridors. This castle wouldn't last a second under a siege. No defenses at all. I passed a few guards who just stood there and stared into the distance. No USEFUL defenses anyway. No forcefields, no turrets. Unless they're hidden but from the ancient tools they still use it's highly unlikely. I stayed in my own thoughts before I bumped into another pony. "Watch where yer goin'!" it was Applejacks, I didn't answer but instead walked past her. I heard her turn and trot up besides me. "James, can ah ask ya'all a question?" I kept looking ahead.
"You'd probably ask anyway so go ahead."
"Why were all those things askin' why ya'all couldn't save them?"
"That's none of your business. Please leave me alone." She didn't
"It's alright sugarcube, I'm a friend."
"I have only two friends and they'll both die eventually. Everything does." after I said this she continued following me but didn't say more.
I kept exploring the castle, Applejack still following me. Eventually we reached a staircase and I climbed it. It led to another corridor but this one had a large door that said Starswirl archives which was blocked off by a steel gate. I pushed the gate and it opened easily. An unlocked steel gate. I thought as I entered, I regretted it instantly. Pinkie jumped out of one of the bookshelves, "Hello sleepyhead!" she said before gasping, "I haven't thrown you a party yet!" I arched an eyebrow and uttered a single word.
"Party?" She nodded, her head rattling again.
"It's going to be so fun! There'sgoingtobestreamersandballoonsandgamesandcakeand-" I shoved my hoof into her mouth to silence her.
"I hate parties." this widened her eyes and her mane literally deflated.
"Hate parties? How could you hate parties?" she asked with wide pleading eyes.
"That's easy, every party I've been to ended with several bullet filled corpses and the building burning down. The last DECENT party I've ever had was when I was 23." I said which seemed to drop the hyper mare's mood even more.
"How old are yah exactly?" Applejack asked. I thought it over.
"I don't know I stopped counting after I reached 2500."
She was shocked while Pinkie was still on the news that I hated parties. "What!?" a familiar voice yelled, I looked to the right to see Twi reading a very large book. "But you don't look any older than 30!" she exclaimed before her horn shone and she disappeared in a purple flash before the flash and her reappeared in front of me. She began walking around me examining my body for what? I don't know. She stopped and stared at my flank where the drop of blood was, "So your special talent has to do with blood?" she asked while still searching for something.
"My blood isn't a 'special talent' it's a curse." Twilight looked up at me.
"What!? Your bones can't break and you don't age! How is that a curse?" the question angered me so I retorted.
"Well how the fuck would you feel if you stayed the same while everything around you withered and died!?" she winced at my harsh tone.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know." she apologized.
I scoffed, "How could you know?" I turned toward the exit to see Pinkie bouncing away, her mane looking like cotton candy like before. "I have to speak with your esteemed princess now." I said sarcastically before leaving.
I asked a guard where I could find the Princess, he asked me which one. "The white one." I answered to which he pointed down the hall.
"Down that way, it's the large door with a sun imprinted on it." I thanked him and followed his instructions stopping in front of the mentioned door.
"Let's see what she wants." I said before pushing the door open and entering. She was laying on a rug with several throw pillows around her, she was reading from a scroll but turned to look at me as I entered.
"Hello James. Come in, make yourself comfortable." She said with an inviting smile. I walked in and closed the door with a back leg before sitting down five feet away from her keeping a poker face on. "James do you have any questions you would like to ask?" she asked me. I thought it over and shook my head.
"No, nothing." I said. She continued to read the scroll as she spoke.
"Well, can you tell me how you arrived here in Equestria?" She asked so I told her what I told The Doctor.
She was shocked, "You tried to kill yourself?" She asked incredulously.
"Yes, I did." I answered.
"Why would you try to do that?" She asked me.
"I've been alive for..." I thought about it for a second, "Nearly 4000 years. Everyone and everything I know are dead or destroyed." I replied sadly.
"I know how you feel." she said sympathetically.
"Do you? Have you been alive for long enough to see the entire world to die once over? Have you been the cause of death for each and everyone of the people you care about?!" I said, my voice started even but it rose in volume as I continued the little rant.
The princess's patience hadn't run out yet, instead of yelling at me to calm down she gave me a motherly smile and calmly stated, "I have been alive long enough to see my little ponies move on. I've seen their children grow and follow. I understand." I looked her in the eyes, searching for even a kernel of lies but found nothing besides a faint, lingering sadness.
I felt my ears droop and she took advantage of this small fact, "James, will you tell me who that human in the large machine in your dreams was?" she asked. The image of Isaac stuck in that machine flashed through my mind.
"That was my older brother Isaac." I answered.
"What was that thing he was in?" she asked me. I knew I wouldn't be able to explain it but a thought crossed my mind.
"You could use your horn to find out for yourself." I said reluctantly. I didn't want to show her, but something about her calmed me down but I didn't lower my guard. "Are you sure James?" she asked which surprised me I thought she was going to do the 'spell' first. "Yes." I answered nodding before standing up and walking close enough so she didn't need to move, also so I had room to run if it got bad. Her horn glowed and the tip descended towards my own head, I closed my eyes thinking it was going to be painful but instead it felt a little tingly, but that was as bad as it got.
I slowly opened my eyes to see Celestia's jaw hanging open, She's going through my memories, thousands of years of death, running, hiding, and how little anyone could be trusted in my eyes. I had a feeling in my gut that she wouldn't be pleased about what I had done to survive. The blood that had stained the road I walked, having even a connection with me brought misery and pain. I didn't want to live that life anymore. I saw her mouth close and the tingling in my head stopped as she raised her head. "I'm sorry for your losses James. I now understand your actions better, but if you want to stay in Equestria I have one thing to ask of you." she said. I tilted my head involuntarily as I asked.
"What is it?" she looked out a nearby window and I saw Rainbow Dash's tail move out of sight.
"Make peace with Rainbow Dash. I know you blame yourself for what happened to your brother but don't take it out on one of my subjects." I opened my mouth to protest but closed it and nodded.
"I'll try." She smiles and her horn glows, opening the doors behind me.
"Thank you, you may leave now but remember you don't need to run anymore." I thanked her and left. Well she just asked me to do the impossible. I don't think that egotistical mare will care. But if she is like my brother, she will accept my apology... Hopefully not.
Author's Note
Next chapter here. I know I'm not the best writer, in fact I'm horrible at first person stories. Example above. If you'd like to help look me up on Skype just search: ikatsu12
(I am still tired so not much editing just added a few things at the end. sorry)
I walk through the castle slowly, to look at the 1800's architecture and to delay my apology to her . A few of the guards I pass give me the evil eye, the rest just continue their 1000 yard stare. As I explore the castle I stumbled upon a large door with a sun symbol depicted on it. There were two guards stationed there, as I passed their eyes followed me even after I had left I could feel their stares. I kept walking ignoring every look and greeting that I was given. The less I speak, the less get hurt. I thought as I sped up to a brisk trot. My stomach growled, I heard a guard yell at me to slow down, I looked over my shoulder and saw him shake his head.
I kept up the same pace until I reached a door that was slightly opened. I peeked inside and saw a kitchen. I smiled and pushed the door open, there wasn't a single soul in this tiled room. I searched it for anything I could eat, I found a fridge. I walked to it and tried opening it with a hoof but stopped and scowled, "Stupid hooves." I muttered before biting the handle and pulling it open. Inside I saw everything, from milk to cake, but no meat. "Figures, ponies are vegetarians. At least they're not vegans." I said as I took a large slice of cake. I closed the door with a kick and ate the slice of cake. Halfway through a unicorn entered the kitchen. It was a mare, from what I had seen, and she had a silver platter as a 'cutiemark'.
She froze when she saw me, and ran over repeating, "No,no,no,no!" she stopped and gave me an angry look, "That was the Princess' cake." she said, a slight hint of fear in her voice. I returned her anger with an expressionless gaze.
"Too late to do anything now isn't it?" I said sarcastically after finishing the cake.
Her jaw dropped at what I said, and she watched as I put the plate in the sink. "Who do you think you are!?" she yelled at me.
I pushed open the door and evenly said, "That's none of your business." I left and continued my exploration; seeing another door, with a Moon pattern on it. The guards stationed outside of this one looked like vampires: Bat wings, fangs, dark blue armor, slits for pupils, and to top it all off one hissed at me. I rolled my eyes and continued on. My exploring ended with a pair of very large wooden doors, they were opened to reveal what looked like a ballroom. But there was something strange, it was covered in streamers, balloons, childish games, and a table covered in baked goods with a chocolate fountain as a center piece. Pinkie Pie jumped out of one of the plants to the side making me jump back. She giggled and bounced up and down, "Hi Mr. Grumpy mcgrumperson!" she said her cheery self was getting on my nerves.
"That's not my name." I grumbled, she giggled again before gasping and hopping into the air, her body floated there for a few seconds before she landed.
"You shouldn't be here! This was supposed to be a surprise party!" I rolled my eyes and she gave me a serious look which surprised me, I didn't think she could get serious. I thought as she continued to stare me down, "You're not going to be a meany mean pants are you?" she asked me, Well that didn't last long. I thought before answering.
"It depends. If you're an ass to me I'll kick yours." I answered plainly. She shook her head.
"I need you to promise, Pinkie Promise. That you won't fight with Dashie." she told me.
I scoffed. "She'd probably start it anyway." she narrowed her eyes.
"Promise." I shook my head but reluctantly answered.
"Fine I promise."
"Pinkie Promise." she added.
"What?" I asked
"You have to Pinkie Promise. Like this: cross my heart and hope to fly stick a cupcake in my eye." she said going through some motions, crossing her chest, fluttering her hooves, and putting a hoof on her eye.
I sighed and copied her saying it how I heard it on Earth, "Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye." I said, she cocked her head and turned it sideways.
"That's not what I said. That's just weird." she said to me. I rolled my eyes and said it correctly. Her smile returned and she bounced away with a, "Okie Dokie Lokie! Oh! Don't forget to act surprised when the party starts!"
"I'm not going." I said under my breath before leaving.
------------------------half an hour later-----------------------
I had stopped looking for Dashie when I made that promise. I was sitting in the garden watching the sun set, I saw the Princess in a balcony where I had found the door with the sun insignia on it. On a different balcony, not too far away, another large being stood, it was around where the 'moon door' was. I watched the moon rise as the sun set on the other side of the sky. Interesting, this place is different than Earth. I saw a few lanterns ignite, lighting up the streets. I stood up and got ready to leave when I heard three pairs of flapping wings. Turning around I saw three pegasi wearing tights they landed in front of me, "Hey aren't you the pegasus that jumped off Canterlot?" the one in front with orange hair appearing like a flame said. I nodded and the blue maned one said.
"See Spitfire? I told you this was him." 'Spitfire' laughed.
"I guess you were right Soarin." he smiled smugly.
"You owe me a pie." he told her. Even though she was wearing her goggles I knew she rolled her eyes. The last one just shook her head.
I turned and started walking away. "Wait up!" Soarin said trotting up next to me. I grunted and kept walking as the other two came up along side me. "We were wondering. What happened after you went into the Everfree?" Spitfire asked. I looked at her then to the others. They were nodding.
"Well I crashed into a tree and broke my wings." Their jaws dropped and I continued, "Then I escaped a Manticore, met up with a Zebra, and went to Ponyville, where I had my legs broken to where they would be considered paralyzed." I said nonchalantly making their jaws drop. I saw Spitfire staring at my working legs and wings.
"But you look fine." Soarin said, disbelief clear on his voice.
"That's my curse." I said. I could feel their stares, accompanied by a fourth pair of eyes.
"Well a pink pony from Ponyville is hosting a party here for you." Soarin said. I didn't stop walking as I answered.
"I'm not going." I said, they shrugged.
"Suit yourself. But I think you should at least make an appearance if you're just going to skip it." Spitfire said.
I sighed, "I'd rather not, I'm not the partying type." They exchanged looks. I stopped and lied down. They looked back, "I'm going to sit here for a while, you go on ahead." I said waving a dismissive hoof. They looked at me one more time before leaving. I watched them enter the castle and I rolled onto my back, wincing as I rolled over a wing, Wings are really sensitive. I thought as I heard a set of hooves hit the ground nearby. The Moon was at it's zenith, and stars littered the sky. I looked over to see Dashie looking angrier than ever. I ignored her and took a deep breath, the night air was cold and calming.
"You meet Spitfire, leader of the Wonderbolts, and the first thing you say is you broke your wings and legs!?" Even this night couldn't stop thinking Isaac would probably be saying the same thing if I met Chuck Norris and said that. She was still irritating me. She narrowed her eyes at me the longer I stayed silent. "Well?" she said. I snorted and stood up using my wings to push my body up to a sitting position.
"Well what?"
"Where's the apology you're supposed to give me?" she asked
"Really?"
"Come on." she smirked. I sighed.
"Fine, I'm sorry Dashie for being such an asshole." I apologized. She raised an eyebrow.
"That's the best you got?" she asked.
"That's the best you'll get."
"I'll accept your apology if you take me to the Wonderbolts." she said crossing her fore hooves. I waved at the door.
"They're going to Pinkie's party, you can go there yourself." she rolled her eyes.
"I'm making you go to Pinkie's party."
I stand up, "You can't make me go. Just because I promised her I wouldn't start a fight with you." I said, she smiled smugly, as if I had just said something that would've gotten me killed.
"Well you can't break a Pinkie promise, under any circumstances." I tilt my head.
"So?" She stepped closer to me, "So unless you want me to start a fight and get you in trouble with Pinkie, you're going."
"I'm not going and she can't do anything."
"She'll annoy you until your eardrums break." she said, I shrugged.
"I've been through worse."
"No. You haven't." her tone wasn't threatening but more of a cautious, warning tone.
It can't be that bad can it... Then again, she can do things no-one else can. I should listen to her this once. "Fine, let's go." I turned and started walking towards the door she followed. I opened the door and let it close behind me, I heard her grumbling under her breath, the only words I heard were 'jack flank, ass colt, and prank'. She herded me back to the over decorated ball room. We were greeted by Pinkie jumping into the room from behind us, shocking me slightly. Rainbow giggled and I pushed past her and entered the room. Twilight trotted up to me along with a few others.
"Ah James, how'd the talk with the princess go?" The Doctor asked as his assistant was chewing on a muffin.
"She really likes muffins doesn't she?" I asked him as she finished off the muffin in a bite before holding up a second.
She nodded when she heard my question, "Blueberry muffins are my favorite!" she said eating said muffin. I raised an eyebrow but shook away the question forming in my head. I saw Dashie fly to the table covered in food, the lavender unicorn meanwhile came up to me.
"Hello 'James'." she greeted me with a smile, I nodded and looked at the Doctor, seeing Twilight's eye twitch slightly in my peripherals.
"The talk was okay, I still have my blood, my cursed blood." I snarled at the last three words. He patted my back.
"Don't worry James, this is Equestria! There are no more vampires." he said convincingly. I walked over to the food table and took a sandwich. I bit into it and froze before looking at the contents between the bread, daisies. This is surprisingly not half bad. I thought as I took another bite.
"So James, how did your blood alone keep you alive for that long?" Twilight asked me. I finished off my daisy sandwich before answering her.
"Well Twilight, I have a very, very rare blood type known as ABZ in my world." I reached for a candied apple and got it stuck to my hoof, "Stupid hooves." I muttered as I started eating it off my hoof. I saw the white posh unicorn wince. Twilight used her magic to grab an apple fritter and took a bite.
"Is all their blood so volatile?" she asked. I shook my head and pulled the leftovers off my hoof and scraping the excess caramel on the tile, I heard Rarity gasp and saw her faint.
"Is she going to be okay?" I asked, Twilight looked at her twitching friend and rolled her eyes.
"She'll be fine James."
"Okay, well any other questions can be answered by the Doctor." I said before walking off. I heard him approach.
"Don't drop her on me. You have more experience with your own blood." he said before grabbing his assistant, Ditzy, "And I'm a little busy." he said before turning to his assistant, "Ditzy would you care to dance?" he bowed and held out a hoof, she smiled and took his hoof in hers, "Okay Doctor." Together they left as I saw Pinkie pull a unicorn from behind a turntable, she was white with a lightning streaked blue mane.
"Come on everypony! Let's get this party started!" the Pink pony yelled before the unicorn's horn glowed and music blasted out of the speakers, I had heard this kind of music before. I wasn't a big fan but this sounded relatively good compared to some of the composers back home seemed like amateurs compared to this unicorn's talent.
I found my head bobbing slowly as I grabbed an apple pie on the table, being careful so I didn't accidentally smash the pie in my own face, Twilight was still following me, "You didn't answer my question." she stated. I groaned and put the pie down before answering.
"I'm not going to talk about my condition so stop asking." I kept the pie on the floor and craned my neck to eat it. I heard a voice behind me.
"Where's the pie!? I saw an apple pie here!" it was Soarin. I lifted my muzzle from the pie and wiped the crumbs and filling off with a limb.
"I ate the pie." I said biting the pie tin and holding it up.
His face fell, "Aww! I was going to eat that!" he said, I shrugged.
"Well it's gone now... Sorry."
He sighed, and I felt teeth bite my tail and pull me back. I looked and saw Dashie had pulled me away, she looked very angry, "What are you doing! You can't just steal Soarin's pie and apologize! You..." she emphasized 'you' by prodding my chest, "Have to get him a new one." she said. I shook my head.
"How about I take you to Spitfire. I'm sure Soarin would know where she is." I said, somehow calming her down some.
"Fine." she huffed. We approached the table with Soarin eating a new pie that was placed there. Probably by Pinkie. I thought as we sat on each side of him. He was happily eating away at the pie.
I put my hoof on his shoulder and shook him slightly, "Hmm?" he looked up, apple filling dripping from his mouth. He swallowed and smiled, "Hi... you." he said to me before looking at Dashie. "Oh you're the pony who saved my pie at the gala." she returned his smile.
"Do you know where Spitfire is?" I asked Soarin. He pointed to the far side of the ball room, I thanked him and we left him to finish his pie. We flew over the several ponies I didn't know and landed close to Spitfire, who was talking to Shining armor. I heard her tell him what I said, and he replied by saying my legs were crushed and shouldn't be usable. "Yeah they broke but I'm still here." I said as we walked towards them. I heard Dashie start to breathe quicker, I didn't have to look at her to know she was excited. "I'm going to leave now." I said leaving Spitfire to speak with one of her fans.
"Why don't we join you?" Spitfire asked from behind me.
I didn't answer I just kept walking, hoping that they'd leave me alone. They didn't; instead they both followed me. I passed Twilight and she walked up close. I moved away before she came too close, "I still have some questions you never answered." I could hear the irritation in her voice. "Anything that happened to you before, you can tell me. I'm a friend." she gave me a genuine smile.
"I told you. I don't want friends." I said but she didn't leave me alone.
"Everypony needs friends. I'm sure you'd be happier with some. I have many friends..." She continued but I ignored the rest of her lecture. Until I heard her say 'It doesn't matter what Isaac has done.' when she said that I turned on her.
"Isaac never did anything! Don't talk like you know him!" I yelled making her cringe and back away. Dashie ran in front of her friend.
"Don't yell at her!" she yelled back as Spitfire came up next to her. I look away and fly out of the ball room as quickly as my wings would go. I flew around for a short time before landing on a cloud, like I had seen other pegasi doing. It was amazingly soft and comfortable.
I laid myself down it and muttered, "Why the hell is she so much like him?" I asked myself before shifting position to lay on my side. I looked at the sky, "I'm sorry Isaac. I shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't have done it." I muttered, fighting back the tears but unable to as a tear fell on the cloud. I curled up on the cloud, and slept, unknowing of the multicolored pegasus floating underneath my makeshift bed. She then left, with a look of pity mixed in with confusion. She went back to her lavender friend, who was wondering what made me get so angry. "Hi Rainbow dash, where'd you go?" she asked Rainbow dash.
"I followed that asscolt, he's on a cloud outside." Rainbow dash answered with a glance at a window.
"Hey Twilight" Rainbow dash called her friend from above.
"Yes Rainbow?" she answered.
"Can you use a spell on him that'll show us his memories of Isaac?"
"Yes, but why do you want to know Rainbow Dash?"
"I think that's the reason he's so angry."
Rainbow dash carried Twilight on a cloud up to the one I was still sleeping on "I'm stilil not sure about this Rainbow dash." said Twilight looking back at her cyan friend.
"It's the only way we can find a way to at least make him less of a jerk." Rainbow replied. They slowly approached, Twilight's horn glowing softly. When they came within a close distance Twilight hesitated before she placed her horn tip on my forehead and they backed away as a large mirror like portal appeared revealing a scene from my earlier years. (Can't think of anything to put here, sorry.) They watched many memories of Isaac ending with his bony body on the machine saying those words, "kill me." Twilight and Rainbow looked at each other
"Rainbow dash, he hates you because you remind him of his brother!" she said. Rainbow dash stayed floating in the air.
"So? Shouldn't that be a good thing?" she said getting irritated and uncomfortable with knowing I wasn't a pony my whole-long- life. Twilight shook her head.
"I think he blames himself for what happened to his brother. And he's taking it out on you." they look at me shortly before closing the portal to my memories and leaving. I adjust my position on the cloud and continue sleeping.
I wake up from my latest nightmare on a bed. This is not good. I thought as I examined the spot next to me, it was empty with no evidence of having been used at all. I sighed in relief and rolled off the bed, my hooves clopped on the floor, startling me slightly. I recovered when I remembered I was now a pegasus. I shook my head and stretched, my wings opening involuntarily. "I don't think I can get used to that anytime soon." I muttered as I examined the room. It was a large, probably expensive, room that had a single window, three doors, excluding the large double doors on the other side of the room. I looked at the walls, there were a few paintings of the princesses, and a stallion with a very long white beard. Wonder who that is. I thought as I opened one of the three doors, inside was a few empty shelves. On the second door, was the same thing, and in the last door was a bathroom.
I take the time to smell myself, coming to the conclusion that I needed a bath. I entered the tiled room and closed the door most of the way so I didn't have to bite the doorknob to open the door. I heard the double doors open, "James? Are you up yet?" I remembered the voice as the Doctor's new assistant, Ditzy. "James?" she asked again. I let her answer come from the bathtub's faucet, strangely similar to the ones on Earth four little handles sticking out the sides. "Oh you're taking a bath. Doctor wanted me to tell you to meet him in the kitchen. Oh and good morning!" she said before I heard her trot out. I sat in the bathtub and let the hot water cascade over me.
--------------------Meanwhile------------------
Shining armor was speaking with his sister Twilight on what she had done and seen in my memories of Isaac. "Twiley you shouldn't invade another's privacy, especially if they have as bad memories as him." the white stallion said to the lavender unicorn. She hung her head as he continued, "I mean from that one single dream he had, all that... that Death!" he spat out the last word. Twilight raised her head.
"But Shining I know why he's so angry and distant." She argued. He shook his head before answering.
"I don't care Twilight, as long as he doesn't hurt you or anypony else I don't care why he is like that. Please don't look into his memories again." Shining finished sternly. Twilight apologized and promised she wouldn't look at my memories. The captain of the royal guard thanked her and returned changed the subject.
The Doctor, at the moment, was in the throne room talking with Celestia about why I did what I did. Slaughtering hundreds of men just to keep myself out of their reach. He told her the reasons I gave him after killing a small squadron of fully armed soldiers outside of the TARDIS. "They are after him for his blood, they were going to put him in a machine, like you saw his brother in during his dream, and harvest the blood to sell to the wealthy. Those who actually needed it would die, scientists thought that his blood would regrow limbs. They have a large sum of money on his head so he's very distrusting of others. He even tried attacking me when we first met." he said laughing slightly at the memory. The doors opened and Ditzy flew in, "Ah Ditzy! How's James then?" the Doctor asked her.
She landed next to him before answering, "Well he's just taking a shower right now Doctor. He said he'd go when he was finished." she smiled at him, and he returned it.
"Brilliant. Well Ditzy let's go to the kitchen." he turned to the Princess and bowed, "And have a nice day Princess." he added, Ditzy bowed as well before following him out.
--------------------Guest room-------------------
I dried myself off the best I could, cursing my lack of fingers yet again. I looked at myself in the mirror, I was a tan pegasus, though I already knew that. The only thing about me that hadn't changed was my hair, it was still the same short cut I always had, that and my eye color, blue, but it looked a little lighter. I shook my head and left the bathroom only to be met with 'Dashie'. She was standing in the doorway, I gave her an icy look and she glared back. We might have had this stare down for hours if she hadn't looked away which surprised me. "Look I just came to apologize and leave." she said which, again, surprised me.
"How about you just skip the apology and leave." I said, never moving from my spot. She snarled, and I could tell that she was trying to calm herself down.
"Okay look. I'm sorry for what happened to your brother but you don't have to take the anger from your own mistake out on me." she said. I fought back every impulse I had to bash her skull i.
"You don't know anything." I said. I knew she could see the anger on my face. I regained my composure before I walked past her, again fighting my anger and stopping myself from breaking her wings and continued on towards the kitchen. I heard her hooves come closer before stopping and fading away. I calmed myself down as I continued to look for the kitchen.
Several minutes later I had found it and the Doctor was waiting there with his assistant. "Hello James." he greeted me as I entered.
"Hi Doctor. What did you want to talk about?" I asked.
"Ah yes, you see we're going to be returning to Ponyville today." he said.
"Isn't that a good thing?" I inquired, making the Doctor laugh nervously.
"Well I suppose, but unless you have money you're going to have to stay with one of the Elements of Harmony until you can get a paying job and your own home." he said.
"Wait the Elements of Harmony?" I asked
"Yes they are those six ponies you met, um Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and." he started.
"And it's Rainbow Dash isn't it?" I asked. He nodded and I sighed. "Can't I just stay in the TARDIS?" I asked, the brown stallion shook his head.
"No you can't stay in the TARDIS." I was about to say something but stopped as Ditzy spoke.
"And I don't want you to scare my little muffin with your dreams." I looked at the Doctor and he mouthed "Her daughter." I nodded and grabbed some food off of a plate as it went by, getting a glare from the one delivering the meal.
Well then thinking over what I've seen with each of them, i'm staying with Fluttershy. At least then I'd have some peace and quiet. I thought to myself as I walked into the throne room with the six ponies and the Princess. "James, I trust that the Doctor informed you of our predicament." the Princess said. I nodded in answer and she smiled.
"Well then have you decided?" she asked.
"Yes I have." I answered. The princess asked me to tell her who I wanted to stay with, I answered, "Fluttershy." the six mares stared at me, "What? She's quiet, so with her I'd be able to actually hear myself think." I said shooting a glance at Rainbow Dash. The mares huddled together, I guessed they were discussing my choice and I found I was correct. They pushed Fluttershy towards me, she looked at me and I gave her an emotionless look.
She turned away enough to have her mane shield her face. I cocked an eyebrow as she began speaking very softly, "Um I..." she trailed off as she spoke, I leaned closer to hear and she repeated what she said inaudibly.
"I can't hear you." I said. She turned to her friends and Rainbow Dash shook her head in frustration.
"She's saying she doesn't want you to stay with her." Oh well that makes things more difficult. I look at the other five,
"Well then I don't know who to stay with." I said before turning to Princess Celestia, "Can't you just give me the money to buy a house? Or just give me one?" I asked her and got cuffed by Twilight.
"You can't ask the Princess for money." the unicorn said sternly. I gave her the same emotionless look I gave Fluttershy.
"So? I can do anything and she can't stop me, neither can you. I. Can't. Die . Remember?" I said those three words slowly to emphasize them, shocking every pony in the room.
I looked back to Celestia, she was still as calm as she was when I spoke with her. "I'm sorry James, I would like to give you what you ask but it is out of my hooves. You still haven't payed for the damages you caused." she said. I snorted and turned to leave, being stopped by Shining's gold and purple armor.
"You will apologize to the Princess, my sister, and her friends." he commanded. I looked him dead in the eyes but said nothing.
"It's fine Captain Shining armor. Leave him be." Celestia said. The stallion begrudgingly moved and I left without another word with the Doctor and his assistant.
The three of us, The Doctor, Ditzy and I, were sitting at the train station while we waited for the others. "Um James. Is it true you can't die?" Ditzy asked me.
I nodded,"I've tried everything: hanging, electrocution, impalement, jumping off a high building. As you can see none of them worked." I spoke as if the topic was spoken about all over the world. My answer stunned her into silence, the Doctor leaned over to me and whispered.
"James, please don't speak like that to my assistant. The ponies here aren't use to death like we are." he smiled at his assistant and I decided to avoid the subject when it came up. We waited for a while longer before the others arrived and shortly after the train arrived. That was when I remembered I had wings I looked at them and made them unfurl and flap a few times before folding them away.
"I'm going to fly back. Less questions that way." I said glancing at the mares.
"I'll go with you to make sure you don't get lost." Rainbow dash said. I ignored her and began flying. She flew next to me. The ability to fly felt good, I have to admit. I felt like I could just stay up here forever and just forget everything that ever happened. Dashie had other plans though, "James I want to talk with you." she said, slowing down.
"Well I don't." I deadpanned, speeding up. She caught up easily.
"Come on, James. It's not like talking's going to kill you." she said but immediately regretted her wording as I sped up. "Look James, I'm sorry I remind you of your brother, and I know you regret not being able to help him." she continued, I tried to speed up to no avail since she always caught up. I was getting irritated.
"Well how the fuck would you feel if your family and friends were killed and it was all your fault!?" I yelled at her.
"I. I-I would feel horrible." she said slowing down slightly.
She sped up again and continued, "I'd still be able to get over it." my wings were getting tired of the constant flapping but I pushed them on.
"How would you get over it if every newspaper had your face on it with the headline: Murderer along with the pictures of your murdered family!?" I continued yelling, tears streaming down my cheeks. She slowed down more as what I said sunk in. I could feel that my wings were at their limit but I continued pumping the muscles.
"Hey I think we should stop you shouldn't overwork your wings like that." she said, concern lining her voice. I looked down and saw the forest I had been in, I didn't want to go back in there. I looked ahead and saw a town; we were close. But I had already surpassed my wings limit and knew I wouldn't make it.
I stopped flapping my wings and glided onto a cloud; she joined me. She was breathing heavily but not as heavily as I was. She was giving me a sympathetic look and I knew it was because I couldn't stop the tears from the memories she returned. "Look James I'm not trying to ruin your life, your brother and I may act the same but we are different beings. For one I'm a girl, and he isn't. I'm a pony and he isn't." she said. I wiped my eyes and took a few breaths to make sure my voice wasn't quavery.
"I know you aren't the same person. But I was the one who killed him." I said looking away.
"Well if I was in your position I would've done it too. I mean who would let him suffer, besides those jerks that put him there."
"Well how would you know what you would've done in my position? You weren't there and I never spoke about it." I said staring at her accusingly.
She laughed sheepishly, "Oh right, well um... I may have probably gotten Twilight to use a spell on you that showed us your memories."
I felt my eye twitch. "Why the hell would you invade someone else's privacy?" I asked, my voice surprisingly calm. The rainbow maned pegasus was stuttering, trying to find an excuse, but couldn't come up with one. Eventually she submitted.
"I invaded your privacy, but only because I thought I could find something that we could try to fix. I'm sorry okay?" I could see that she didn't like being wrong. Isaac would always tell me that being wrong was better than being right 'because you always learn something when you're wrong, but you never learn anything if you're right.' I didn't think they would see eye to eye on that.
"Look Dashie." I began she cut me off.
"My name's Rainbow Dash." my gaze never shifted.
"I'm trying to apologize for being an asshole but if you don't want me to call you that, I'm not going to say your full name." I said. She asked why and I answered simply, "Because it's too girly for me. How about I just call you Dash?" She sighed and reluctantly agreed.
We rested for a short while longer, the tension between us weakened. A whistle blew and I looked over the edge of the cloud, Strange I feel like jumping. I thought as the train passed by underneath us. "Well I think we've rested long enough don't you?" Dash said. I nodded and we flew off the cloud and towards the town in silence.
Dash and I had reached the town a few minutes before the train arrived. I would've flown off but she said we had to meet back up with her friends. I didn't have anything better to do, nothing after my blood, nothing to run from... Nothing, nothing at all. We stood on the platform as the colorful train pulled into the station, the ponies exited and surrounded us. The lavender unicorn Twilight Sparkle spoke first, "So James, have you decided where you want to stay?" she asked me. I kept my face free of any and all emotion as I answered.
"No I haven't." she looked over at Dash then back to me.
"So you're not going to stay with Rainbow?" she asked. Dash and I exchanged a look before we answered together,
"No." Doctor and Ditzy walked over to me the Doctor spoke.
"Well James it was nice seeing you again but we must get going." I nodded and said bye before they left.
"Well if'n ya'all want you can stay on the farm." Applejack said. I shook my head after thinking it over. Pinkie pie began bouncing in place.
"How about you come stay with me!? I'm sure Mr. and Mrs. Cake wouldn't mind!" she was smiling widely.
"You live in that bakery?" I asked. She nodded, the grin still plastered on her face.
I declined her offer in a less rude way than I was about to do it, mainly from four angry stares. The white unicorn spoke up next, "Well I would be pleased to spruce up your manners and etiquette." she said.
"No way." I answered before moving to the only one left Twilight Sparkle.
"Well I'd love to talk about where you came from and how you've been alive for thousands of years. We could have all night study sessions!" she said excitedly at the prospect of learning about me. I looked at her then to the others before turning around and walking away.
"I wonder how much it is to rent." I said
I was waiting in the City hall to speak with the mayor, who was coincidentally named Mayor Mare. The only sound in the room was from the attendant's quill scratching across a page. I sat there for what seemed like days before the door to the Mayors office opened and she stuck her head out, "James you may come in." she was a very light tan mare with a grey mane. I entered the office and she motioned for me to take a seat, I did. "Allow me to welcome you to Ponyville James." she began. "Our small town is a very wonderful place." she continued while I just sat there and listened. "I hear you want a home, right?" she asked and I nodded. "Well we have two homes for sale and three for rent." She said placing two folders on the table, one had two images, I guessed for the two homes, and the other one had three other pictures. I looked at the first two, A two floor home with plenty of room for more. I read in my mind. Price 2000 bits. Can't afford that. I moved on the the next one, Single floor home inside the town, near the farmers market. Price 2500. Nope. I closed the first folder and moved to the other one, Room for rent, 50 bits a week. there were two names of the other residents, Lyra Heartstrings and Bon Bon. I moved to the others to see if they had anything better.
House for rent, 500 bits per month. No other residents. it was a broken down house, a 'fixer upper'. I went to the last one, Room for rent, 75 bits per week, two other residents, a Vinyl Scratch, a.k.a Dj Pon-3, and Octavia. Dj? I'd rather not. I took the first one for 50 bits a week and thanked the Mayor before leaving after she directed me to the home. As I walked to the house several ponies greeted me with a friendly "Hi." that I didn't acknowledge. I had reached the house and most ponies stopped trying to talk to me, others didn't. I knocked on the door a few times and heard nothing. I waited for a while but still no one answered. I sighed and was about to look for anyone who was hiring when I saw two mares,a unicorn and an earthpony, walking over. The unicorn was a mint green with a white streak in her mane. The earth pony was a cream colored mare with a dual colored mane, deep purple on one half and pink on the other. I trotted up to them, "Excuse me. Are you the owners of this house?" I asked them. The earthpony smiled and nodded.
"Why yes we are. Are you here about the extra room?" she asked. I nodded.
"Yes I am. But do I have to pay up front for this week?" I asked her. Her smile faltered.
"Would that be a problem?" She asked.
"Well it might be, but not for long. I was about to go look for a job anyway." I answered
"Oh well I guess you can pay when you find a job. But in the meantime let's show you around. My name's Bon Bon by the way." she said, her smile returned.
The inside of their home was not very elaborate, a staircase that went to the second floor, a circular rug, a coffee table, a couch and a few paintings. The kitchen was not very different, a refrigerator, a table, a few chairs, drawers and cabinets, probably filled with dishes, and not much else. She showed me where the bathroom was downstairs before we went upstairs and she showed me to my room. It was just a large empty room with a window. I looked around the room, "So this is my room?" I asked over my shoulder, Bon Bon nodded. I looked at her friend, she was giving me a curious look.
"Is something wrong?" I asked her.
She shook her head, "No there's nothing wrong. I've just seen you ignoring everypony and acting like you're better than them." Lyra said with an accusing stare.
"Better? Worse is more like it." I muttered.
"Huh? What did you say?" she asked, I waved my hoof dismissively. My stomach growled.
"Oh you're hungry, well I guess you can eat with us." Bon Bon said. I thanked her before we went downstairs to the kitchen. Bon Bon made some salad while Lyra glared at me. It unnerved me slightly though I didn't show it. Bon bon served the three of us and gave us some apple juice. I ate the salad and tried picking up the glass with my hoof, it didn't work and I knocked the juice onto the table. I facehoofed.
"I'm sorry about that, I'll clean it up." I said, grabbing a towel and using it to dry the spill, muttering, "Why did I have to lose my hands? This is impossible, how do they drink?"
Bon Bon thanked me for cleaning up. I noticed Lyra's expression had changed from accusing to mystified, she walked up to me and asked, "Did you say hands?" she was getting incredibly close. I stepped back.
"Yeah I did." I answered. She began smiling almost psychotically. Bon Bon pulled her away by her tail saying through gritted teeth.
"I'm sorry if she's scaring you, are you still going to stay?" she asked nervously. I nodded.
"Well I don't have anywhere else to stay that's cheap so yeah I'm staying here." I answered. Bon Bon sighed in relief and gave Lyra a look that stopped her from doing whatever she was about to do. I looked out the window and saw the sun was close to setting. "I should go look for a job before it's too late. I'll be back." I said and walked out the door. I went back to the Mayors office to see if there was anything she could tell me, I saw Rainbow dash putting up a flyer, I flew up next to her and read the flier it said Weather pony wanted, "You need some'pony'-" I was cut off as she screamed. I couldn't stop a snort, she glared at me,
"Why are you sneaking up on ponies?" she asked me, obviously angry.
"Well I'm looking for a job." I point at the flier, "How much does it pay?" She looked at it and then back to me smirking.
"It pays well, 8 bits an hour." I cocked an eyebrow at her smirk.
"What's so funny?" I asked.
She laughed, "Oh nothing, but if you want the job you got it. You'll be taking my rain shift tomorrow." she said.
"Why should I?"
"Well if you want the job you'll have to." she said.
"I'll go to the coordinator then." I retorted. Her smile grew bigger.
"You're lookin' at her buddy." she laughed and I groaned.
"Fine just tell me how exactly am I supposed to do that?" she rolled her eyes.
"Look you just go to Cloudsdale." she pointed at a city made of clouds, "Take the rain clouds that are needed for Ponyville and cover the sky with them, you'll be working with Thunderlane, and Flitter." she said "See you at six A.M." she laughed and flew off.
"Well that was easy I guess. Now I don't have anything to do." I looked around and saw the treehouse.
"I guess I'll just get a few books. Better than nothing." I said as I decided to fly there. I still had a little trouble landing and received a few bruises but nothing serious, though nothing is ever serious with me. I knocked on the door, a small dragon answered it.
"Twilight's busy right now, if you want a book you'll have to come back later." he said before looking me over, "Unless that's not why you're here." he said. What he meant hit me immediately and i laughed sarcastically.
"No I'm just here to get a book and leave. Nothing more." he got an angry look on his face.
"I'll go get Twi." he said and walked inside, I followed and sat at a nearby table. I saw the small reptile walk into a room and down some stairs. I stood up and looked through the library's selection of books, I found a book titled: An abridged history of Equestria. I carefully took it off the shelf and skimmed the entirety.
"That's a good choice. Nice to see you again James." I looked over my shoulder at the unicorn.
"HI Twilight. How far back does this book date?" I asked her. She sat down next to me.
"It goes as far back as 8000 years. That's when we started recording our history." she said. I scooted away from her.
"So Celestia has been alive through all of this?" I asked Twilight and she nodded.
"Some say that she has been here since the world was made. But I'm not sure." she said.
"Well the human life span was only around 60-70 years. And I've been alive to outlast my entire world three times over." I commented, remembering yet another reason that made life miserable.
I saw her ears droop, "Sorry James." she apologized. I sighed.
"I don't care. Let's change the subject." The mood of the room had instantly darkened. I continued to skim through the book and read how pegasi controlled the weather.
"Did I hear you right?" Spike said from behind, "You've outlived an entire planet!?" I nodded. "I don't believe it." Spike said.
I sighed, "Then how about I give you a little demonstration?" I asked. Spike looked skeptical but agreed. "Okay let's get a knife." I said. Shocking Twilight.
"Why do you need a knife?" She asked nervously. I made a gesture with my hoof, moving from a few feet away from my head and hitting my neck. She froze realizing what I was going to do, Spike didn't. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed a short knife.
"Why do you need this?" he asked. I reached for it with my mouth, only to have it snatched away by a purple aura. I turned to the unicorn, her horn was glowing the same purple color.
"I'm not letting you stab yourself James." she said.
I rolled my eyes, "Alright." I looked out the window, the sun was setting, "I should get going." I said walking towards the door.
"He was going to kill himself!?" Spike asked Twilight.
"I'd be hurt but not dead." I answered before I left the library. I flew back to Lyra and Bon Bon's home.
I opened the door and was greeted by Lyra, "Hi! How'd the job hunt go?" she asked. She was getting awfully close again.
"It went good. I'm on the weather team. First job's tomorrow." I answered.
She backed away, "Well Bon Bon's asleep so I have a question to ask." she sat down on the couch differently from the rest. she sat with her legs dangling off the edge. I sat down in the same way, it was uncomfortable. I adjusted to get more comfortable and stopped when I was in the perfect spot, laying on my stomach.
"What's your question?" I asked her. She looked a little nervous.
"Okay. This may sound weird but... What do you know about humans?" she asked. I felt my ears droop.
"More than I'd like to." I answered. She looked excited.
"Really!? Is it true they eat meat?" I nodded, "I know their science is far more advanced than our own but how far?" she asked. I thought it over and told her about the year I came from, the way the cars ran on everyday materials, the cameras, the helicopters, Jordan's newest project bionic limbs. Her eyes widened as she heard these things.
"You know a lot." she said when I finished. "Humans seem to be very smart, maybe if there were a few here we'd be better." she thought aloud.
I shook my head, "Those are the good things they've done. If you knew what they'd done you wouldn't want any here. Ever." I said looking down at my hooves with a pained expression.
She reached out, "They can't be that bad can they?" she asked but before she touched me I left my seat on the couch.
"They're worse." I walked away from her and up the stairs into my empty room and found a place to sleep, having slept on a floor several times before. I fell asleep quickly, expecting the usual nightmares but no, not tonight. Tonight it was worse, memories flowed through my mind, stopping at one in particular. The day I met Rosemary, she was tanned to a near golden color, had naturally red hair, light green eyes, and a beaming smile. The first time I saw her it wasn't love at first sight, she approached me in a cafe. The year was 3056. She was smiling widely, "Excuse me sir." she said to me, I had a jacket on with the hood up. I grunted a greeting, she kept smiling, "I was wondering if you knew where Time square is." she said. I directed her to where it was, with absolutely no emotion to my voice. She didn't leave, instead she sat down next to me, "Is something wrong?" she asked.
I groaned, "No, there's absolutely nothing wrong."
She still didn't leave, "Are you sure? You seem sad." she continued. I drank the rest of my coffee and left the cup off to the side.
"Look lady, I'm perfectly fine. Now leave me alone." I said.
She stayed, "I know you're lying, tell me what's wrong. It might help." I glanced at her, she still had that wide toothy smile. I stood up and began walking away, she grabbed my hood and pulled it off my head.
I turned to her, "Look can't you just leave me alone!?" I yelled before spotting the cashier putting the phone down. Behind him was a wanted picture of me, I heard a helicopter getting nearer. I looked out a window, tearing my hood away from her and saw the helicopter with the Medical Genetic Research logo on the side, it turned towards the cafe. I jumped over the counter, scaring the cashier in the process, and ran into the back where I exited through the back door. I kept running until I thought I was safe, panting heavily in an alley. My jacket's hood was down once again. I saw the MGR helicopter fly overhead, I knew they were still searching for me. Once it had passed I stepped out of the alley and a car drove up and stopped. I was about to run again when the window went down. It was that woman again, "I don't know why they're after you but you can stay with me until they stop searching." she said. I climbed in and sat with my right hand near the knife i had hidden in my jacket just in case she tried anything.
We drove for a short while before stopping outside of an apartment complex. We got out of the car and I followed her up to the top floor where she let me inside. She was either very trusting or is just acting to get me to lower my guard. "You can sit down if you want." she said.
"I'd rather stand." I answered before walking to the window and opening the yellow curtains she had, just enough that I could see through. The helicopter passed by, there were six others out there.
"Why are you on the wanted posters?" she asked from her kitchen. "It says you're a mass murderer!" she continued. I scoffed.
"It was all self defense." I began, "Those fuckers attacked me first, I just retaliated." I said closing the curtain again. She walked up to me.
"Why did they attack you?" she asked. I chuckled coldly.
"You're new here aren't you?" I asked her. She gave me a bemused look.
"I let you into my house. May I please have a few honest answers?" she asked more than demanded.
That was a first, "Fine, since you're being so hospitable. They attacked me so they could tie me up to a machine and drain my blood." I answered.
"Stop lying. Why did they really?" she asked once again.
"I told you why, my blood is a cure all." I said. She raised in eyebrow suspiciously.
"So you have ABZ blood?" she asked me. I shook my head.
"No. I have Phoenix blood." I scowled at the name.
She scoffed, clearly skeptical, "That blood's a myth. Unless you can re-grow limbs." she said skeptically.
"It hurts like hell." I commented. She still looked skeptical, I looked out the window again.
"Well it looks like they stopped searching. Bye." I said walking to the door. She stopped me.
"I'm not letting you leave until you tell me the truth." she said. I saw the determination in her eyes, she meant it. I sighed and walked into the kitchen, opened a drawer and pulled out a knife. She watched with curiosity as I raised the knife. Her eyes widened in shock when I plunged the blade into my chest. I twisted it before pulling it out. The pain was excruciating, I fell to my knees, she ran to my side, "Oh no! Are you okay? I'll call the medics." she said looking around for the phone. I gripped her shoulder.
"No. It's almost over." I muttered as my blood stopped bubbling. I stood back up with a single hole in my jacket shirt. I opened the hole wide enough for her to see through, her eyes widened further upon not seeing a scar. I picked up the knife, it had corroded from my blood. I threw it in the trash and apologized for it before walking to the door.
She stopped me once again, "Wait! I can't let you go out there and get harvested. You can stay here if you'd like." she said with a sympathetic smile.
I looked at her, "How do I know you won't just call MGR?" I asked her accusingly. She smiled warmly.
"I promise I won't. I'd feel bad if I let you leave and disappear." she said. I could hear the sincerity in her voice. I stayed.
The dream moved ahead, flashing the memories quickly, our first date, first kiss, and our wedding. It may not have been official but I was still the happiest I had ever been. The memories flashed past again, stopping when they sent a broadcast directly to her home while I was there. It was MGR, they had her tied up and gave me the same message, "Surrender yourself or she dies." They thought that if they had her I would. They were right. I was ready to steal a few arms and go there just to keep her safe but she stopped me.
"James! If you do love me you'll stay away." She said, she was crying, "Please don't try to help me. Please." she said as the broadcast ended. I went against my instincts and stayed there, it broke my heart to just sit there and not do anything. The next day her death was on the front page of the news: Woman body found horribly mutilated, presumed bear attack. This woman was identified by the id in her wallet: Rosemary Janos. Upon reading the headline I skimmed through the entire article until I saw it A marriage certificate was also found it said Rosemary Phoenix. Later I had found out that she had been captured at her work. Her closest friend had called the authorities once she knew I was Rosemary's husband. I don't blame her, she did it to because she thought Rosemary was in danger. She unknowingly killed her best friend. Even then she had been looking out for me, I'd have done anything to have her back.
I woke up from something hard pushing against me. I opened my eyes to see two mares, Bon Bon and Lyra. They looked worried. I sat up and rubbed my eyes, finding that I had been crying. "Are you okay? We heard a loud noise, and came to see." Bon Bon said. I looked at her, "I'm fine Bon Bon. Just some bad memories." I said to them. I could tell they didn't believe me but they left anyway. I laid myself back down and stayed awake the rest of the night.
I stare out the window, having woken up from nightmares in the middle of the night and being unable to sleep for the rest of the night. But this was different, it was filled with not nightmares but memories, and I find that worse. Being reminded of those I had killed without wanting to, Rosemary, my family, everyone I had met essentially. I know I'm just going to be doing the same thing as always, live on while everything dies around me. "Why did this have to happen to me?" I said before leaving the room I was staying in and trotting downstairs to be met with Lyra, the mint green unicorn watched me approach, "Hey um... James. Are you sure you're okay? I know you were awake all night." she said. Of course I'm not alright, but I'll get over it... Eventually.
"I'm fine. It should be nearly time for me to get to work." I said, walking towards the door. She was about to say something but decided against it and watched me leave.
Outside it was a regular day, from what I could tell. The birds were singing, the sky was clear, the ponies that would be awake were walking around and doing whatever they were doing. I stretched my wings quickly before flying off to look for Dash, guessing she was either at her house, which I guessed was the only cloud home near Ponyville, or sleeping on some cloud. I continued to fly high to have a better vantage point, I couldn't see her so I flew to her home and knocked on the cloud door, surprisingly it actually made a sound when my hoof tapped it. There was no answer so I knocked harder, still no answer so I knocked as hard as I could to make as much noise as possible and got results, "For the love of. I'm coming!" I heard her voice from inside and was greeted with an angry pegasus when she opened the door, "Oh it's you. What do you want?" she asked, probably irritated that I woke her up from her sleep, even when she sleeps all day long.
"Well Dash, you said I needed to come at Six A.M so here I am." I said.
"Ugh, fine then. Follow me and we'll get Thunderlane." she said and I moved aside to let her pass. She closed the door to her home before she flew up and off towards the city in the sky. I followed close behind her. The fly there was silent, save for the fact that Pinkie had come up in some pedal powered helicopter just to ask if we wanted to stop by for a snack. We both denied and continued on. We came to the city, It wasn't much different from the one we were just at, besides being filled with Pegasi exclusively. We flew to a nearly black coated Pegasus sporting a light blue mane that patterned Light blue then dark blue then Light blue again and so on. He had a thundercloud on his flank with a yellow lightning bolt. "Yo Thunderlane!" Dash said to the stallion, he turned to her.
"What's up Rainbow Dash?" he inquired.
"Well today is your day to take the rain clouds to Ponyville and this jackflank here is going to help you." she said pointing at me with a hoof. "He's new to the weather team so you have to introduce him to the basics." she said. He glared at her,
"Why can't you do it?" he questioned. She stared at him then just rocketed off, leaving me with him.
"What a bitch." I said, he slowly shook his head and started trotting towards the large building that was producing clouds.
"This is the weather factory." he said as we entered, he sounded extremely bored. "This is were we make the weather for all of Equestria." he continued.
"I can tell. The name is self explanatory." I commented.
He sighed, "Look let's just get this over with so we can get to work." he said. I looked around.
"Well let's just get to work then. I don't care about the rest or if... Is that a rainbow?" I asked as soon as I saw the rainbow pool. He nodded with a smile.
"Yeah it is. Thanks..." he stopped.
"James." I finished for him.
"Thanks James. Now let's just get the rain clouds over Ponyville and have it done with." He said. I agreed and we went straight to get the storm clouds, we passed the snowflake room on the way, it's a room where they make each and every snowflake, the workers were too concentrated to pay us any attention. We spoke with one of the workers, a white pegasus mare with a white hard hat and lab coat, a clipboard adorned her flank. She told us what clouds we had to use and where to put them. I watched him fly to one of the clouds and push it, I copied him and we brought the assigned clouds to Ponyville. It took a few hours to actually put them into place with only two Pegasi working. I asked Thunderlane why were we the only ones working and he said, "Because I need the extra money and I'm guessing it's the same with you."
I nodded, "Yeah, I need money, I'm renting a room and the rent's due today."
"Damn, that's tough. Well at least we should get paid when we're done." he said
"She said I could pay when I had the money. At least she isn't greedy, demanding the money up front this morning." I said
"True. So what are you doing in Ponyville?" he asked
"Nothing much. I don't have anything better to do. And I have nowhere to be."
"Oh... Well I see your cutie mark is a red tear? Is it a drop of blood?" he sounded shocked.
"Yeah. Apparently fate is an asshole and made my blood a special talent." I said angrily.
He didn't say anything after that and we finished the job in silence. We then left back to the factory to get our pay so I could leave. "Okay, here's your bits." the same mare said, tossing two bags of bits at our hooves.
"Thanks." I said before picking up the bag and flying away. Thunderlane followed me.
"Hey! James!" he called out. I stopped and hovered in the air.
"What do you want?" I said. I thought he was going to ask if I wanted to hang out but I was wrong.
"Well what makes your blood your special talent?" he asked. I told him to never ask again and left without another word, I knew it seemed suspicious but I didn't care, the less who knew the better. When I reached my temporary home I remembered what Doctor and the Princess had said, 'You're safe here. This is a peaceful world.' though I didn't believe it for one simple fact that never failed, whenever I'd feel safe things went wrong and fast.
I saw movement in the window and prepared for the worst, placing my bag of bits under my wing as I had seen others do, I opened the door and walked in. Party horns went off, followed by confetti cannons, and ended with Pinkie Pie jumping in my face from out of nowhere, "Surprise!" she yelled. Somehow this didn't surprise me. "This is your official welcome to Ponyville party!" she continued before running to my side, putting a hoof around my neck and pulling me in. The ponies all smiled and greeted me, I half heartily replied. Pinkie brought me to the center of the home where her six friends stood along with Lyra and Bon Bon. I grabbed the bag of bits and tossed it at Bon Bon's hooves.
"Take the rent out of there, leave the rest in there, I'll pick it up later." I said and began walking to the staircase that led to my room. I heard the crowd begin whispering for a short while before music blared and the party began.
I sat in my empty room and looked back, my past was filled with running from those who seemed trustworthy, killing those who tried to kill me, having to become a ghost essentially. I'd gladly die to have my family and Rosemary back. I sighed, feeling my ears droop along with my mood. I heard the door open, "Is this a bad time?" Twilight said from behind.
"No this isn't a bad time." I answered.
"Oh well that's good isn't it?" The Doctor came in after her. They each sat to one side of me, Doctor on the left, Twilight on my right, somehow I felt a little more secure with them there though I didn't say anything. "Well what's happening James?" Doctor asked smiling. I told him it was nothing.
"I can tell there's something bothering you. A good friend always can." Twilight said.
I eyed her, "Well a good friend would also never look into the memories of another." she winced at that while her ears drooped.
"Oh, come off it James. She did it to try and help you. It was with the best intentions." Doctor told me.
"I... I'm sorry James, I didn't mean to hurt you." Twilight apologized, her large eyes beginning to tear up. That is the one thing that I hate to see; tears.
"It's fine, I don't care either, what's happened happened and there's no changing it." I told her in the most calming voice I could muster, it wasn't much different from my usual one, just a little softer. It worked surprisingly, she wiped her eyes clean, "See Twilight I told you he was forgiving." The Doctor said, before he muttered, "Thank goodness he didn't attack her." Twilight couldn't hear that but I punched his arm with my hoof hard, "OW! What was that for!?" he asked me. I turned away from Twilight and whispered.
"For thinking that I'd attack a woman." I turned back to Twilight. "You should go be with your friends, I'm fine." I said, giving her a fake smile. She stared, my smile didn't falter. She smiled.
"Okay, I'm glad you're fine. You should come down later." she said as she stood up and trotted out of the room. Once she left my smile fell.
The Doctor put a hoof on my shoulder, "It's Rosemary isn't it?" he asked. How does he know these things I'll never know, and I'll never know how Pinkie can do such strange things.
"Yeah it is." I don't see a reason to lie to the Doctor, he's experienced this before.
"James I know it hurts to remember her but you should move on." he said, trying to console me, it didn't work.
"I went through those memories again." I told him. He nodded, knowing what I meant, after I had passed out from lack of sleep in his TARDIS, the same thing happened.
"Making friends helps fill that void James. You should go to the party." He said. I was going to argue but couldn't think of anything to say.
"I'll go down later." i said. Doctor smiled and left. Friends... I hope they're right. I thought as I stood up.
After a few minutes of thinking-and slight grieving-I decided to join the party. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs I was greeted warmly by the party goers, and an ecstatic Pinkie Pie. She literally carried me to the center of the room, in one arm while standing on her hind hooves. My mind was hard at work to try and figure out how she did that, but I stopped myself after I remembered Twilight had said she did this often, very often. Pinkie kept an arm around my neck as she introduced me again, "Hello everypony! This here is my good friend James Phoenix!" She started, I tapped her shoulder with my hoof.
"Maybe I should introduce myself." I offered, she giggled and bounced away with an 'Okie Dokie Loki!' I stood up onto my hooves, and cleared my throat, "Ahem. As Pinkie said I'm James Phoenix, if there's any questions you have go ahead and ask." I said, not wanting to outright tell them I'm immortal. They smiled and continued the festivities, dancing, eating, chatting, the usual even back home. I trotted over to a table that was covered in snacks and beverages and took a wooden mug-my hoof was able to slide between the handle and the cup without difficulty- and served myself some golden colored liquid from a barrel and sat down at a vacant table.
I brought the mug up to my muzzle, and inhaled deeply. I smelled apples, I took a sip and my suspicions were confirmed; it was apple cider. Of course they don't have alcohol. I thought to myself as I drank the, still amazing, cider. I put the mug down and eyed the guests, an old habit kicking in, I look at a grey earth pony with a black mane wearing a pink bow tie who was chatting with a pink mare with a blonde mane and a daisy on her flank, Average sized pony, violet eyes, distance. about 4 yards, no weapons visible, no ways to conceal weapons... "Hello James." a mare said. I shook my head as it pulled me out of my own little world. I turned to the owner of the voice, a blue mare with a pink mane that was pulled back behind her head and stopped at her shoulders. She was smiling sweetly.
"Hi." I answered, my voice as monotone as usual, it stuck that way no matter what I try it'll stay the same. She seemed to get nervous at my tone, I offered her my mug, "Want some?" I asked, "I can get more." She waved a hoof with a giggle.
"No thank you, I can see you are tense, I am Aloe, I run the Spa here in Ponyville with my sister Lotus. You can stop by tomorrow and we'll give you a massage for free. Think of it as a... Welcoming gift." she was still smiling. I returned her smile with a small one of my own.
"I'll think about it. Thanks for the offer." she nodded and walked away.
I returned my attention to the crowd and the, extremely, loud music. I watched as the guests danced, my eyes rolled over each and every pony, after much practice I was able to tell from a distance several things, a light brown stallion with dark brown hair and two horseshoes on his flank was trying to hit on the pink mare with the daisy cutiemark, and failing. Rarity was speaking with Twilight, I knew they were talking about me because the white unicorn glanced at me every now and again. As my eyes traveled around the room I locked gazes with Dash. The rainbow maned pegasus was glaring at me for some reason, I didn't break my even gaze as I drank the rest of the cider, I held the mug as I stood up and walked back to the barrel of cider and refilled my cup, it filled nearly to the brim before it stopped flowing with a few drops falling into the cup. I trotted back to my table, hearing Dash trot to the empty barrel, I knew it was her because she was muttering, "He better not have drank it all." I sat down in time to see Dash twist the knob, it shook and dust spewed out, her jaw dropped.
I couldn't stop a chuckle. I lifted the frothy mug to take a drink of the sweet nectar when a hoof slammed onto the table. I lowered the mug and saw Dash angrily staring back. "You flankhole! You took the last of the cider!" she continued to glare at me. I laughed.
"You were just too slow I guess." I said, raising the mug again. I knew I hit a nerve from the way her right ear and eye twitched.
"That's it! Let's settle this here and now." she said, stopping me from drinking my cider.
"What do you have in mind?" I wondered, the mug staying right under my muzzle, its aroma floating up and into my nostrils.
She smirked, "A hoof wrestle. Loser buys the winner two barrels of cider." she seemed very confident I guessed that a 'hoof wrestle' was the pony version of an arm wrestle. I put the mug down on a nearby table.
"You're on." I said. We both put our elbows on the table, our hooves wrapped around each other and we stared the other down as we began. I had to admit she was stronger than I thought, our hooves stayed above the center of the table, not moving an inch in either direction. Our little strength match was attracting a lot of attention. Over the course of three minutes we both began to sweat as everypony was surrounding us and cheering for us both.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Pinkie holding up two foam fingers one said Go James!, the other said Rainbow Dash #1. A few minutes passed and her strength began wavering as our hooves slowly tilted towards my left. I smirked as she was struggling more and more as our interlocked hooves moved closer to the table. Right before I won she began straining harder and I began losing. It slowly returned back to it's starting place and down to my right side after seven more minutes. I felt my hoof come into contact with the wooden table and Dash let go and flew into the air triumphantly, "Yes! In your face James!" she poked my nose as she said those words. A large smile stretched across her face, "You owe me two barrels of cider. I hope you can pay for it." she laughed and took the mug of cider I placed aside and drank the whole thing in one go, slamming it down on the table when she had finished, foam covered her upper lip and she wiped it off before flying off giggling like a schoolgirl-or in this case schoolfilly. Applejack trotted up beside me.
"That was a close one. Don't worry James, I'll let ya have the cider for free." she said. I smirked and laughed loudly.
"I can't believe she beat me." I chuckle, "Thanks Jack."
Her smile left immediately, "Don't call me Jack." I regained my poker face.
"Sorry Applejack. And again thanks for letting me have those barrels. It'll save me a lot of money." I told her. She smiled and patted my back hard.
"Dontcha worry 'bout it sugarcube." she said before returning with the rest of the crowd. I walked back to the buffet table and grabbed a bottle at random since Dash had drank my cider. I brought it up to my mouth and upended it, as soon as the liquid touched my tongue it began to burn. I dropped the bottle as I began coughing from the little hot sauce that went down my windpipe. I became the center of attention as I stopped coughing.
"I'm fine, don't worry about me." I told them to stop their worried murmurs. It took a little to actually convince them that he was fine but once that was done I returned to my empty table and called over the brown stallion who had struck out. "So your name is Caramel Apple? Are you a relative of Applejack?" I asked him after he told me his name.
He nodded, "Yeah she's my cousin. Why'd you want to speak to me?" he asked, he didn't have as strong of an accent as his cousin but it was still distinguishable.
I put my forearms on the table, hooves together. "I know you were hitting on that blonde mare with the daisy cutiemark." I said, he blushed, "Look I know a few things that I've seen over the years." I began giving him a few little tips to help him. I continued to give him advice for a while and ended with the most important rule, "Don't rush it, whatever you do." He nodded and thanked me for the advice before walking away. I laid down and sighed before I realized something, I sat up with my eyes wide, I was holding that bottle with a single hoof and I didn't know how I did it.
I wake up feeling the same as everyday, hating sleep and not wanting to stay on the floor. With a sigh I rose from my prone state and stretched, remembering I was a Pegasus and not stretching my arms while on my hind legs. I could smell food coming from downstairs and my stomach grumbles. I look out the window and see the bright sunshine filled day, the pastel ponies minding their own business. I let a smile creep onto my face as I knew this was probably the calm before the storm. Things never worked out for me especially when things seemed great and safe; things would get worse. But I decided to just enjoy the peace while it lasted.
I yawned loudly before my door opened and Lyra entered, "Good morning James, sleep well?" she asked, I never have.
"More or less." I answered as I walked over to my saddlebags, I didn't have a job to do today since we had three days of clear weather before a light rain shower. Lyra smiled at the answer.
"Great! I made breakfast. Eggs over easy, hush puppies and Bon bon made chocolate chip pancakes." I told her I'd be right down and she left, I looked into my saddlebags and lifted the paper for a free trip to the spa with my mouth. I dropped it back in and left to enter the bathroom.
After a nice long hot shower I walked downstairs, it was still a bit of a mess down here, and entered the kitchen. Bon bon and Lyra were sitting at the table and they had set a place for me. I thanked them and ate my breakfast, the meal was not entirely quiet, "So James... What did you think of the party?" Bon bon asked me. I swallowed the bite I had taken before answering.
"It was good I guess. I haven't been to many parties so I can't give you more than that." I said, finishing off the eggs and starting on the pancakes.
Bon bon leaned in, "Well did you meet somepony special?" she asked, I looked at her as she nudged me. I finished the pancakes before answering.
"No, no I didn't." And I'm not looking I thought as I grabbed the empty plate and put it in the dishes.
"Oh that's too bad, I bet you would be a lot happier with a marefriend." Lyra said as she put another pancake on her plate.
I shook my head, "I'm fine being alone." I walked back up to my room and put on my saddlebags before trotting down the steps and out the door, "I'll be back later." I told them before closing the door, hating that I had to bite it closed. Now where is the Doctor's home again? I thought as I walked into town. More ponies greeted me than usual, some just to ask if I was 'seeing' Dash. I answered all those the exact same way, "There is no way I would ever do that." I said this flatly, it stopped the idiotic question. The only one I actually enjoyed seeing was Caramel, he came to thank me since he had actually hit it off with Daisy and they were going to go out for dinner tomorrow. I asked him directions for Ditzy's home, he gave them to me and trotted off. I followed his directions and nearly reached the building but got stopped by Applejack.
"Hey James can ya come over here fer a second?" she asked from her apple stand. I walked over, "What do you want?" I asked her.
"Can't ya say anythin' nice?"
"Habit. Can't help it."
She sighed, "Fine, well Rainbow asked me ta tell ya that she wants the cider delivered to her home an I got the cider ready back at the farm. Ya'all gonna have ta take 'em up to her home. Ah'm guessin you know where that is?"
"Yeah I know where Dash lives. The cloud mansion at the edge of the town. I'll take them there later. Bye."
"Bye sugarcube."
I made a mental note to get the cider after speaking with Ditzy and the Doctor. When I reached their home I knocked a few times. No answer, I knocked again, this time hearing hoofsteps approach the door. I stepped back as the door opened inwards, there was a filly standing there. She looked up at me, "Hello mister." I leaned down to see into the filly's eyes.
"Are the Doctor and Ditzy in?" She smiled then shook her head.
"Uh-uh, Doctor and mom aren't here, they left in the big box. I don't know when they'll be back. "
"Oh well can you give them a message when they do?" I asked, she nodded.
"Thank you, tell the Doctor that I'd like to talk to him please. My name is James, I'm a friend of the Doctor." I thanked her again and left, knowing the TARDIS was out there somewhere. I swear if her mother doesn't come back I'm going to kill him. I thought as I began walking to Applejack's farm, I stopped to get a few apples and to order a bed for the home, I still had about 50 bits left. The sun was lower in the sky, "I hope Dash doesn't mind her cider being late." I said as I began walking slower.
As I walked past another fruit vendor Pinkie Pie popped out of the fruit, making me jump a little. She was squinting and staring at me, "You aren't going to break your promise are you?" She came closer as she spoke, her muzzle pressing against mine. I regarded her evenly.
"I said I'd get her the cider but I didn't say when." I told her, she backed away and hopped out of the fruit.
"Just remember, not keeping a promise is the fastest way to lose a friend. FOREVER!" She said the last word dramatically.
"So? I was on my way to take them to her anyway." I said. She smiled and hugged me, I'd be lying if I didn't say it felt strange to get hugged randomly.
"Thank you James for not breaking your promise." she let go and started bouncing away towards Sugarcube Corner.
"I'll never understand how she does these things." I was going to continue walking but I remembered I had wings. I spread them and flew off towards Sweet apple acres. The flight there was relatively short and again I was wishing I had them back home. I landed outside the barn and looked around, I didn't see any barrels but I did see a large red stallion, "Hey, I'm here to pick up two barrels of cider. Where are they?" He turned to me with a bored expression on his face. He pointed to the home behind me. I thanked him and all he said was "Eeyup."
I walked to the house and knocked a few times. It was answered by an elderly green mare, "Why hello young'un. How can Ah help you?" she asked. I looked into the house and didn't see any barrels.
"Well I came to pick up two barrels of cider from Applejack."
the mare looked me over and smiled, "Ain't you one handsome stallion? Ah knew mah little Applejack woulda found a nice stallion." She patted me on the back.
"I'm not with Applejack. I just came to get the cider for a bet I lost." I told her. Her smile was still there.
"That's a shame. The cider's in the back sonny. Dontcha be a stranger now ya'hear?" she said, slowly waving me off. I looked back and saw her slowly walk back inside, her limbs looked like they had rusty joints in them. I walked around the house and found the two barrels that had Dash's name on them. I grabbed one and tried to fly with it in my hooves, I knew that wouldn't work as it began slipping. I was wondering how to carry it when I saw the red stallion carrying two barrels of apples on his back. I thought it over for a second before wasting seven minutes just to get the barrel onto my back. I estimated that it weighed about 50 lbs. though it wasn't too heavy I knew I could only take them to her one at a time. I flapped my wings a few times to get off the floor and slowly flew to the cloud home in the distance.
It took about two hours to get them both over there. I knocked on her door non-stop until she opened it, "Dear Celestia what do you want?! Oh it's you. Did Applejack tell you I want my cider now?" Dash asked. I moved aside and let her see the two barrels. Her jaw dropped and she began drooling, "Thanks James!" She flew over and grabbed a barrel and tried dragging it in before putting it on her back.
I chuckled, "Want some help there Dash?" I asked her. She shook her head as she slowly carried a single barrel inside, I hoisted the other onto my back and followed her inside with less effort. She dropped it and I put the other one with it. "There you go Dash. I kept my promise." I told her and looked out. "Well it's getting late. Bye Dash, enjoy your cider." I said before leaving.
"Thanks James." She called after me before smirking, "Now I can drink all this cider and you get to wait in line for Cider season."
I laugh, "I don't care. I've had worse happen." I told her before closing the door on her. I flew off back to my temporary home, the bed should've been delivered by now. I saw the bed sitting outside the home. I opened the door, Bon bon and Lyra weren't inside so I walked up the stairs and opened the door to my room and walked back out to drag my bed inside. It took a while to get the bed into the room.
---------------------------Canterlot---------------------------
Shining armor was looking towards Ponyville, he wanted to see what I had done, if I had done anything. He had been getting letters from Twilight explaining everything that had happened so far, deciding not to stay with any of them had relieved some stress he had, she even included the party and our discussion. He was writing a reply:
Dear Twilight, I'm glad you're doing great, and I'm happy for you but please don't drop your guard around him. He isn't a good pony, in fact we both know he wasn't a pony his whole life. I'm worried about you please be careful.
Sincerely, Your brother, Shining armor
P.S Cadence and I are going to visit you soon, she wants to meet him, and I'm going to make sure he doesn't hurt anypony.
He sent the letter and returned to his home with Cadence. He was greeted by his pink alicorn wife, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza or as she prefers to be called, Cadence. "Welcome home Shiny." she nuzzled him, he returned the gesture. She could tell something was off, "What's wrong Shiny?" she asked him, he broke their embrace, feigning ignorance.
"I don't know what your talking about Cadence." He gave a weak smile. She didn't believe him, and he knew it.
"What is it Shining? You can tell me."
"Uh... Well it's about that stallion, I don't trust him. I told you what happened the first day he was here."
"I still think you're overreacting Shining. He can't be that bad, and from what Twilight told me, he's just had a bad past."
"Did she tell you what happened in Ponyville?" he asked her.
"When they got there? Well she said that he-"
"He broke his legs." Shining cut his wife off.
"What!? That's terrible! is he okay?" she wondered.
"He's fine, he literally walked it off. His legs should've been broken beyond repair but he got up and walked off." He said. Cadence arched an eyebrow and Shining armor elaborated, "He said that he had his limbs cut off before and Twilight told me that he may be older than Celestia herself." Cadence giggled.
"That's impossible Shiny, she's been alive for thousands of years and he looks no more than thirty." she smiled at him, he smiled back before looking out the window, Cadence walked up beside him and they looked towards Ponyville, "We'll be fine Shining. If he does do anything, you'll be there to stop it. He's probably just trying to get Twilight's attention." Shining was going to comment but kept it to himself. I know he's hiding something. Shining rubbed his horn, How does blood get corrosive? They both went to sleep immediately after a short dinner.
I hadn't been able to sleep and was trying to lift things with my hoof as I had done at the party, I was failing miserably, due to the cracking glass cup I was now glaring daggers at. "Fuck it." I gave up trying and grabbed the nearest trash can to throw the cup away. Bon bon was working and Lyra had some recital so I had the whole house to myself, back home I'd be searching for places to hide weapons and ammo, but having a lack of both-along with my hands-I just decided to go flying for a bit. I left the house and locked it, taking the spare key with me, before taking off. I loved flying, it made me forget my worries and remember the good of my life. I would like to die flying-if I could die. That single thought didn't even ruin my mood, I think I might go get that massage later . I thought to myself before I landed, a bit hard, outside of Ditzy's home and knocked. This time Ditzy answered. The grey pegasus smiled at me, one eye looking at me the other looking at the floor, "Hi James. How are you?" she asked, just as happy as ever.
"I'm fine Ditzy. Where's the Doctor?" I asked her. She put a hoof on her chin in thought before answering.
"Oh right! He went out to get something to eat. He didn't say where though." She smiled and I thanked her before flying off in search of the stallion. Meanwhile a Pegasus driven Chariot landed within a clearing near Ponyville's library. In the carriage were two ponies, a pink alicorn and a white unicorn. Prince Shining Armor, captain of the Royal guard, and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, preferably known as Cadence. Twilight stood in the open door to her home and business with a large smile. "Shining armor, Cadence! Nice to see you two again." she greeted them as they approached.
"Nice to see you too Twily." Shining greeted back. Cadence greeted Twilight differently. They both bounced in place before crouching down with their hooves over their eyes and lifting the hooves, sitting up immediately after and clapping their hooves together before finishing with a shake of their flanks, all the while saying, "Sunshine, sunshine. Ladybugs awake, clap your hooves and do a little shake." They all laughed. Twilight stepped aside to let her family inside. Once the three of them were inside Cadence spoke, "So Twilight do you know where James is?"
"I don't know. He might be at his apartment with Bon bon and Lyra or out with the Doctor." Twilight
I see him. Shining armor thought as I flew nearby. "I think he might be on his way to meet the Doctor, he just flew by the window." Shining said, his voice a little less happy than earlier.
"How about we go meet them?" Cadence asked.
"I think that's a great idea." Twilight answered. Shining just smiled and nodded. The three of them rose and left, while Spike was still sleeping upstairs.
I flew around Ponyville a few times, I had found the Doctor earlier but just wanted to fly a bit more, before landing next to the chestnut stallion. "Hello Doctor."
"Hello James, Dinky told me you wanted to talk to me about something." he said as he lifted up a cup with both hooves. I nodded and sat down across from him, "This isn't the question but are you having trouble using hooves like hands?" I wondered. He sighed and glared at the cup, "Yes I am. I mean how do these ponies do that!? I mean it's physically impossible!" He began shouting, I joined in.
"I know! I mean do all ponies have suction cup hooves?! And what pisses me off more is that I actually picked something up at the party and I can't figure out how I fucking did it!" I noticed a mare cover her child's ears and glare at me, I ignored her.
"Really now? What was it that you picked up James?" he wondered. I told him it was a bottle of hot sauce, the one I had drank at the party. The Doctor smiled and his order, a Daffodil sandwich with a side of hay fries, came. The waiter asked if I wanted anything I shook my head, he left. I returned my gaze to the Doctor and saw two familiar unicorns and a third pony I had never seen before approach. The Doctor saw my expression change to its usual uninterested look and turned to see the approaching ponies. He waved to them, "Hello Twilight Sparkle, Shining armor and Princess Cadence." They waved back and sat down around the table, Twilight between me and the Doctor, Cadenza on his other side and Shining between me and her. He glared at me, I returned the look.
"What's got you two so angry?" Cadenza asked. Neither of us answered as we continued our stand off. She shook Shining's shoulder and he turned away to face his wife.
"I'm sorry Cadence, what did you say?" he smiled sheepishly. She smiled at him and turned to me, not bothering to ask again. "You're James right?"
"Yeah I am." I spoke as emotionless as ever.
"I am Princess Cadence. You know my husband Shining armor..." he smirked at me as she said this, "He and Twilight both tell me that you had your legs broken earlier this week."
"Yeah I did. What of it?"
She was taken aback by this news, "I thought they were joking! They said you shouldn't be able to move." She looked at me worriedly. "Tell me how old are you?" she asked as something else they said entered her mind.
"What happened is none of your business." The Doctor gave me a look of disapproval and Shining armor began staring daggers at me. "As for my age. I can't remember. Like I told Twilight I stopped counting after 2500." her jaw dropped. The waiter passed by again, asking for orders and bowing to Cadence. Twilight ordered a daisy sandwich and an apple juice, Shining didn't order, Cadence ordered an apple turnover. The waiter galloped off to get the orders as our conversation continued. "That's not possible, how can you still look so young?" she asked. I looked at the Doctor and answered.
"I'm not going to talk about that."
"Oh, did it happen before? Twilight said you had a bad past." I looked at the mare mentioned and shook my head. She lowered hers, Shining's gaze intensified.
"Yeah my life is a bad area to talk about." The waiter returned with Cadence's turnovers and left to take care of the other orders. She used her magic to levitate the food to her mouth. Silence overtook the table and I began watching clouds float lazily by, seeing the pegasi pushing them from behind. The silence was broken by Cadence, "I saw your Cutie mark is a drop of blood. Are you a scientist?" I shook my head, "Oh... Are you a doctor?" I shook my head again. "What is your special talent?" she asked. I scowled and stood up.
"Well this was fun but I'm going to go." I told them and began walking off. I heard whispering behind me and froze when she asked her next question.
"Do you have a special somepony?" I knew what that meant and it struck me.
"Not anymore." Those two words were spoken coldly and painfully.
Before anyone could say anything I flew away as fast as I could, leaving Cadence feeling guilty about asking that question. The Doctor and Shining put their hooves on her shoulders, "It's not your fault Cadence." Shining armor consoled her.
"Yes, it isn't your fault your highness. That is one subject that hurts James more than anything." The Doctor explained. He then went on to tell them about Rosemary and how happy we were together until she was killed, he didn't go into the details of what she looked like after but they had known enough. Even Shining armor was feeling sorry for me. Cadence was feeling worse and she wanted to make it up to me somehow. The waiter returned with the others orders, oblivious to what had just happened. The four of them spoke over what they were going to do to try and make me feel better about this.
I had flown home and was sulking on the couch in the living room of the house. I stayed there for a good few hours before leaving again to fly around, I didn't feel like doing anything else. I stopped to chat shortly with Applejack and three small fillies, the chat with the latter didn't last longer than telling them that I wasn't going to talk about my cutie mark. They ran off to go try something to earn their cutie marks.
I returned home to Lyra and Bon bon sitting on the couch and talking about their days. They saw me come in and asked how my day was, "I've had worse." Was my answer, they asked what happened. "Forget about it. Can't do anything about it now. Can't do anything anymore." I sighed and walked up to my room, they decided to let me have some privacy. I went straight to my bed and lay there as memories of Rosemary flew around my mind. I tried my best to ignore them and went to sleep it was difficult trying. This time no memories of the cruel murders of my family or Rosemary. Only a dark blue alicorn with a flowing mane that seemed to be made of the night sky. We sat in the throne room of the princess's castle. "Greetings James Phoenix." she spoke with authority. I did a double take on the room we were in one more time, the glass panes each showed something from my past instead of Equestria's past. She turned to them as well.
"These, James, as you can tell are pieces of your past that have shaped you into the being you are today." My gaze lingered on a glass pane that had my family kneeling and lined up with soldiers taking aim.
"Who are you and how did I get here?" I asked. The alicorn smiled at me and continued with a speech before answering.
"We know thou is not a pony and we have seen what thou hast done. Though we cannot condone the deaths thou caused we art forgiving. We are Princess Luna, protector of the night and of dreams."
"So I'm dreaming right now?" I asked her. She nodded. "Leave then." She stared at me in shock.
Knowing this was a dream I stood on my hind legs and forced my body to return to its human form. I was a head higher than Luna, my hair was the same length as it was before, still messy too. I was wearing my leather army jacket with all tags torn off, a plain long sleeve shirt underneath and my blue jeans, I flexed my fingers and smiled God knows I've missed you fingers. . "How darest thou speak to royalty in such a rude manner!" she shouted.
I looked at her, "Look, I appreciate not letting me relive their deaths like every night but I'd rather not have anything in my mind." I looked at the panes, they were now all holding the picture of Isaac strapped to the machine. When I turned back she was in my face, glaring angrily. I returned her stare with my own uncaring expression, seeming more menacing on my human body.
She stared not just into my eyes but into my soul itself, she knew how I viewed myself: a man who deserves to die for being unable to save those he cared about and getting them killed. She knew I would rather be dead than alive and had slaughtered hundreds of guards without remorse. Essentially my eyes seemed soulless and angry. "Why are you still here?" I asked her.
"Our sister wished for us to speak with thou."
"Of course she did." I sighed.
"We have watched thy dreams and are saddened by them. Although what thy brother spoke was true, thou art safe here. Forget your past and look to the future." she tried to cheer me up, it was failing.
"Look to the future?" I laughed coldly, "How should I do that when I know that's the only thing that'll happen. I'll live on and everything else will die." I looked into the glass panes, this time they showed a maimed body. A tear escaped my eye, "Immortality, is it salvation or damnation?" I asked myself as I walked to the pane and rested my fingers on it, it distorted along with the rest of the vision. Luna began flying away.
"Forget thy past, create better memories for thyself!" she shouted.
"I'd listen to her James." I heard Isaac speak right before I woke up.
I woke in my bed, shocked as I thought over whether I was going insane or I had heard Isaac's voice. I sat up and faced the window, the sun's rays streaming through the glass. Shaking my head as I tried to come up with a reason I heard Isaac's voice say 'I'd listen to her.' while I was dreaming. It couldn't have been my mind bringing up his voice or it would've said something different. I sighed as I popped the joints in my neck, my eyes drifted to the coupon. One free massage. "This might help." I said before I bit the ticket and left the room. Bon bon wasn't there though Lyra was. She smiled at me from the table in the kitchen.
"Good morning James." she said. I nodded in reply and walked out the door.
It was a regular day, from what I had seen so far, in Ponyville. The ponies were going on about their business, buying groceries, furniture, cookware, etc. I took a deep breath through my nose before stretching my wings and taking off for the spa. Having a small idea of where it was located I flew over the village, passing Pinkie Pie in more of a rush than usual. I flew past Rainbow laying on a cloud. She didn't follow me, I looked back and saw that she flew towards Twilight as she came out of an alley. My paranoia was kicking in. I shook the thoughts out of my head and focused on flying to my destination. Soon I came upon the spa, as the sign outside read. I looked over the building before entering, Aloe was at the service window and Fluttershy was sitting on a nearby sofa.
She hid behind her mane as I looked at her. I walked up to the service window and spit out the coupon onto the table. She smiled at me, "I thought you'd never come." she said as she took the paper and led me to the center of the building, a very large space with a massive, what I'm guessing is a Hot tub and surrounding that were several bed like tables and a few two or three inch pools. As Aloe led me to a table she said to lay down on it and relax and I did so. I heard the door open and Rarity's voice, "Hello Fluttershy, I'm sorry I'm late I was just finishing up a suit for..." she stopped there before continuing nervously and a bit louder, "For... one of my clients. The usual please." That last part I'm guessing was for the service window.
A few seconds later the white unicorn and the yellow pegasus walked in with an earth pony that was color swapped with Aloe, blue mane with a pink body and a white lotus on her flank with the same white headband. The three of them walked into a steamy wooden hut, a sauna. Aloe returned with a bottle and set it aside after putting some of the contents on her hooves and beginning the massage. Almost instantly my muscles relaxed, the one thing I'd never been able to do. "My you have many knots in your back. Tell me, where did they come from?"
"Life." I answered simply as the deep tissue massage continued. "Don't ask." I added before she could ask anything. As it went on Fluttershy and Rarity exited the sauna and walked over to some tables on the other side of the room, the third pony followed them. "Who is that?" I asked, pointing with my chin at the earth pony.
"Zat is Lotus, she is my sister. Why do you have your eye on her?" she said jokingly. I said nothing and the rest of the massage went on in silence. Once it was over I thanked her and left without another word, feeling great. I walked back home, thinking on what 'Isaac' meant, forget your past and move on was what he said essentially though I know that's going to be difficult. This time as I walked through the village I didn't speak to anyone as i was lost with my own thoughts on what was happening in my sleep. Then my mind drifted to the concoction Jordan had made, had it killed me? If it did, is this where the dead go? As my train of thought focused on that it zoned in on a single idea. Could... Could Rosemary be here?
I was staring at the ground and didn't notice the Doctor walking up besides me with Shining armor. "Are you alright James?" Shining asked snapping me out of my thoughts. I looked at the unicorn my expression the same as ever.
"I'm fine."
"James. I came to apologize. We didn't mean to open old wounds." I could hear the sincerity in his voice along with sympathy.
I sighed, "It's fine. That's all in the past, can't do anything about it now. Don't worry about it. Oh and Doctor I need to speak with you."
"What is it James?" the chestnut stallion asked. Shining stood close, I didn't tell him anything. If he wants to hear why not let him? This wasn't a secret.
"Would there be any chance that Rosemary could be here in Equestria?" His ears fell, that didn't bode well.
"I don't think there is. I'm sorry James." I felt my own ears sag, I knew I told him how I got here, through Jordan's concoction back at his home. I knew this couldn't be a hallucination or a dream, breaking my legs and not getting sent to a scientist proves it.
I sighed and mumbled, "Just a stupid, useless idea." I turned away and flew off, wishing Dash was there to give me something to be distracted with. I wished something would happen to get my mind off of the past. I returned to my temporary home, mood slightly elevated by the flight. When I opened the door the inside of the room was dark, instinct kicked in and I searched the darkness quickly for irregular shapes, there were many inside. I was about to slam the door and fly away as quickly as possible but stopped and shook my head when I remembered where I was, This is probably Pinkie's idea. I sighed and walked in after standing in the doorway for about a minute. When I was inside the house the door slammed shut behind me a second after that, the lights came on. The living room was filled with mares. I gave them each my usual analysis, No visible weapons, no places to conceal, a few unicorns and pegasi. They could be dangerous.
I scolded myself silently as I realized what I was doing, keeping my face as emotionless as possible. Some of the mares looked nervous, something I noted immediately was that there were no stallions whatsoever, though there were few in Ponyville anyway. The lights dimmed and a spotlight surrounded me, Pinkie's voice sounded "Welcome James! This is your Mare Meet and greet!" Something about that worried me. That's when I saw the banner Pinkie made in the gloom, 'Mare Meet and greet.' the words were red and in the center of a pink heart above two depictions of ponies. One made to look like me and the other a silhouette with a white question mark. I turned to my right and saw Twilight, Pinkie, Dash, and Applejack. I glared at them, knowing what they were trying to do. Applejack lowered her hat and looked away, Dash rubbed the back of her head, Twilight was sheepishly smiling and Pinkie had a big grin on her face.
I was angry, I can usually cover my emotions but this was crossing the line and I felt myself losing control. I knew they could see it as Pinkie's smile faded, the nervous smiles on the rest followed suit.
Things go bad... like usual
I walked towards the mares holding back the urge to break their noses, "What the fuck is all this?" I spoke calmly but sharply. My enraged glare never leaving them. I knew the other mares that came were watching me curiously. I ignored them and continued walking towards the ones responsible, stopping in front of them all; I asked them again, "What. Is. This." Pinkie spoke up hesitantly.
"It's a mare meet and greet..." she points to the banner she hung.
"Why?"
"I thought it would make you happy." she seemed like she was about to start crying.
"You didn't think at all. I don't want one. Do you understand me?" I leaned in close, her mane deflated.
"I-I'm sorry James I just wanted to make you smile." she said, the other mares held her, trying to comfort her.
"Her heart was in the right place." Twilight said.
"Yeah, lay off her James." Dash agreed. I turned away with a scoff to the mares that had assembled.
"Now I want all of you to get out of my fucking house." none of them budged, "NOW!" I shouted, making them jump. Bon bon walked to the front of the group. She had been watching from the stairs.
"This isn't your house James. It's mine and I want you out." I scowled and walked to the door bucking it off it's hinges, it fell onto the dirt road outside. I wasn't going to stay before everything went horribly wrong.
"Keep everything in my room. I don't need it." I said before flying away. Dash, Applejack and Twilight were trying to help cheer up Pinkie. The other mares were feeling bad for the party pony and they were trying to help cheer her up as well. Bon bon apologized to them all for my 'rude' behavior and walked back upstairs to have my things returned to me. The only belongings there were a saddlebag, the bed I bought, and my bag of bits. She brought my bag and my bits downstairs. Pinkie was happier than before but still sad that her surprise party didn't work. Bon bon walked over and gave my things to Rainbow Dash, "Rainbow please give these back to James. He can keep them." she takes them and nods.
"I'll take them to him and be back in ten seconds flat." She turns to her friends, "Let's throw a party when I get back, would that make you feel better Pinkie?" she nods. Dash smirks and flies out the open door, spinning the door outside.
Bon bon turned back to the mares, "Can you mares please tell me what you see in that stallion? You came here to meet him right?" they nodded.
"He seems like he would be a nice guy if you get to know him." A mare said from within the crowd, the others agreed. "And he's pretty cute." another mare said, again the crowd agreed with a few giggles.
Dash flew above Ponyville, in search of me. She surveyed the town, not seeing me anywhere. She gave the town six good fly by's and had not found me. She was growing tired and sat on Twilight's tree to get a rest, her eyes still scanned the town. "Where are you?" she wondered aloud before she saw a lone white cloud hovering low over the Everfree. "That's where you are." she took off instantly, scaring a small dragon as the tree shook. Spike was about to throw out a few eggshells when it shook, he fell back, bumping into a table and nearly knocked his gem encrusted cake batter off of it. "What's got her so rushed?" he asks nopony in particular.
I heard Dash's wings as she landed next to me, "Let me guess. You decided to find me so I could apologize to Pinkie and everything would be better." I said sarcastically, "Well that's the stupidest fucking idea. Next to throwing me a party." I lay on the cloud, staring at the blue sky. She threw my things next to me, "Thanks. Didn't need them though." I said. I could feel her getting irritated.
"We're going to throw a party for Pinkie Pie. When you decide to stop being a flank you can come to apologize."
"I have nothing to apologize for." I said.
"I'll be waiting for that apology James." she says through gritted teeth before flying away. I'm not going. It's her fault for throwing that fucking party in the first place. I thought to myself. I knew I had told her before I don't like surprises or parties yet she continues with both. Everypony here can go fuck themselves for all I care ... The soft cloud brought me no comfort. I would've tried to sleep if I didn't know that I'd probably be visited by that princess again, just to be bitched at for not being nice to her subjects.
I sit up and look over the edge of the cloud to look at the forest below, seeing small movement among the trees. I think back on what happened recently, the dreams, the party, my 'death'. I still don't know if that was Isaac speaking in my dreams or my own mind at work, trying to get me to accept what's going on and forget everything else. That I can't do and I won't ever do. I turn to ponyville, "A clean slate. No records of past 'misdeeds' aside from the ones I've accomplished here."
I turn to the castle on the mountain, "How the hell did I end up here anyway?" Again I'm brought to the decision that this is where we go when we die, if I had died. I shake my head as I began developing a migraine from trying to figure things out. I put my hooves on my temples to help stop it.
It failed miserably.
I ended up slamming my head from both sides as I brought them up. "Fuck!" I sat there for a second, disoriented, until my senses returned to me. Once they had I shook my head and continued looking at Ponyville, scowling I shook my head, "Why did Princess whats-her-name send me here of all places? I need to find a map of this place and leave." I said to myself before putting on my saddlebags, still having trouble with my hooves. I used them to pull it on and hold it down while I bit the belt and tightened it, the strap was already getting worn and had several bite marks.
I jumped off the cloud, using my wings to hover beside it, I bucked it into non-existence and flew towards the town. I passed the Doctor as I flew overhead, I wasn't going to tell him even though he probably already knew. I thought about where I could find a map and decided on the library. I've visited Twilight's home once, when I had my legs broken. I went to land, a grey blur flew up to block my path. I found myself staring into two golden eyes, one looking at me and the other above me. "Hello Ditzy." I greeted her flatly. She glared at me with her good eye.
"Well?" she asked me.
"Well what?"
She huffs, "Aren't you going to go apologize to Pinkie for saying those mean things?!"
"No now leave me alone." I said before trying to fly around her, she blocks me again.
"How could you be so cruel?! She was only trying to help and you yell at her!"
"I hate parties and I don't want a fucking girlfriend."
"You didn't need to be so rude! And don't you dare talk to me like that!"
I lean close to her, "Fuck. Off." I say coldly and simply.
"How could the Doctor be friends with somepony like you." she says before flying away.
I ignored that comment and landed in front of the library. I didn't bother knocking and just walked in, Spike was sitting there, reading a comic. He looks up at me and squints, "Oh, it's you. What do you want?" he said. Apparently news spreads faster than I thought. I told him I wanted a map of Equestria, he directed me to a geography book. I took it down and flipped through the pages until I reached the most recent map that was there. I mentally crossed out Canterlot and Ponyville, Cloudsdale looked promising, as did Mane...hattan. I facehoofed at the pun and kept looking, Fillydelphia... Again; facehoof.
I continued looking over the map, deciding to try Cloudsdale then Appleoosa and maybe Manehattan. The door opens as I continue thinking, "Spike, are you going to... hello James." Twilight spoke. I stayed silent and thought over how long it would take me to reach them. I heard her hoofsteps grow louder as she stepped beside me, "Looking at your new home?" she asked, I stayed silent and she persisted, "James. I know Pinkie may have gotten you mad but..." I cut her off there.
"Don't care. Now leave me alone." Out of the corner of my eye I saw her wince as if my words hit her. She continued talking about how I could buy my own house in Ponyville if I stayed vigilant and saved up my money. I answered with a disinterested grunt. An awkward silence grew, I slammed the book shut and walked out, continuing my silence, she followed me.
"Hopefully Rainbow dash told you but we're going to be throwing a party to help Pinkie feel better and it would help if you showed up." She smiles kindly. I continue giving her the cold shoulder before spreading my wings to fly away. I felt a tugging on my tail and looked back. A lavender aura surrounded it. I looked at it, debating whether to try pulling to tear it off or not. "James, please join us. I promise that we won't throw you another party after this." I looked into her lavender eyes, she knew that I was starting to warm up to them and the party ruined that. "It's only to cheer up Pinkie."
I continued my silence, as soon as I felt the pull on my tail leave I took off. Leaving Twilight there, hoping I would show up. I looked over the town while I flew overhead, I had no connections I needed to sever or loose ends to tie up. Nobody would care if I just left, aside from the Doctor and Twilight. Doctor, I know, would just leave me be since he has his own problems. Twilight on the other hand, seemed like she would be affected along with a few of her friends, Dash and Rarity excluded.
Leaving without a single word, one thing I did all the time before nearly killing Jordan on our first meeting. I thought he was after my blood like his superiors, instead he asked a few questions, deciding to help me try to end my endless life saying that living longer than your friends, family, and loved ones was not a good thing. That and I had taken several shotgun blasts and had several holes in my body from it, he was surprised and intrigued. Right now my gut is telling me this is a bad thing to do. It's never let me down before... first time for everything I suppose.
I'm halfway to Cloudsdale now, my gut is telling me to turn around and go back and I ignore it like I have been the entire way there. Paranoia began to slowly set in, making me think that I was leaving Ponyville and into the hands of the 'vampires'. I shook those thoughts away and flew faster. I approached the cloud city fast, slowing down to land on it. Few ponies greeted me, and I just gave a small nod in return. Not a single pony questioned me though some began talking to each other about my 'cutiemark', they were curious as to what it meant. I ignored them and avoided any questions about it. I was already being left to my own affairs; I preferred this over Ponyville. Nopony cared about me and I didn't care about them, it seemed perfect for me. I trotted around the city, the clouds sinking slightly with each step but managing to keep every single pony on it.
I wasn't very surprised since I had slept on one before, when Twilight read my mind. I scowled, a few ponies glanced at me, I didn't like my privacy being invaded; especially about my memories. I trotted up to a random blue pegasus, "Excuse me, I need to know where I go to get a house." He turned around and smiled.
"You're James right?" he asked.
"Yes I am, why?" I was wondering how he knew me.
"I'm Soarin, I'm one of the wonderbolts." Soarin said. I heard that name before and gave him a curious look. "You know, the wonderbolts? We chased you from Canterlot that one time." Ah I remembered now, the tights wearing pegasi. I nodded and he smiled, "What are you doing here and Cloudsdale?"
"I'm moving here." I answered.
"Didn't like Ponyville?"
"No I didn't."
"Really? I heard that place was great."
"It's not what I'm used to."
"I see, hey why don't I show you around?" I gave him an blank look. "It's no problem I was just visiting my parents. My mom makes the best pies." he smiles, remembering the pie she had made for him earlier that day, starting to drool.
"You really like pie don't you?" I asked, closing his mouth.
"Of course! It's amazing!" he said, I nodded and asked him if we can start the tour. He shook his head clear of the thoughts of pie and showed me around. It was like any city; a post office, several stores, plenty of apartments and a few homes, some restaurants, a cloud coliseum where they hold events like the best young fliers competition, and the weather factory on the edge of the city, a rainbow waterfall displayed for all to see. The tour ended at the center of the city, a building nearby said, 'Cloudsdale real estate.' I thanked Soarin and walked to it. He stopped me, "Hey James if you're not busy want to get a drink?"
"A drink?" I asked and he nodded, "Does Equestria have alcohol?" I hoped they did. To my surprise, and delight, he nodded and I smiled, "Lead the way Soarin." He returned the smile and led me to a bar, the Sky barrel. It was a cloud in the shape of a barrel... Ignore it, I told myself, there's a lot you can do with clouds. I changed my thought and entered the bar after Soarin. The bar was pretty empty, a griffon working behind the counter along with a few other griffons scattered around. I scanned the room, a few pegasi were sitting around, not many customers were here though. I'm guessing that the ponies weren't much of drinkers. Either that or we were just too early. Looking out a hole it seemed like it wasn't much later than 6 p.m. back home there wouldn't be much people in the bars and pubs either. I sat next to him at the counter, the bartender stared at us
"What can I get you two?" he asked with a voice that sounded better than I thought it would, less gruff and throaty.
"Plain whiskey for me." Soarin said.
"Vodka, leave the bottle." I answered. The griffon nodded, putting two glasses down in front of us and pouring our drinks simultaneously. We took our drinks and he left the vodka bottle in front of me. Soarin put a few bits on the counter and the griffon snatched them up and left to tend to his other customers. I downed the glass as quick as I could, relishing the taste and setting the glass down. Sighing, "I haven't had a drink in so long... hate the taste again." I chuckled Soarin looked at me as he drank his.
"Hey James could I have some of that? Especially since I'm paying for it?" Soarin asked.
"You still haven't finished yours." I poured myself more and drank it, getting used to the taste. Several minutes of heavy drinking later I had finished a bottle and a half, being immortal didn't stop me from being a lightweight when it came to alcohol. My face was more flushed here than it would be on earth... I think. The bright side and downside of being drunk, having a fuzzy mind. Can't think things through clearly but being able to have a fun time. I pushed the bottle towards Soarin, "You can have tha res'." I slurred, "Ah'm... done." I chuckled. He laughed, being able to handle his alchohol.
"At least you know how much you can handle." He smiled, "Tell me, is there any special pony in your life?"
That's another downside, it stopped me from realizing what seemed like a question that could be used against me. Being drunk as I was at the time, I told him everything about Rosemary; somehow forgetting to state that she was human. He smiled and listened intently before saying that he had to go, I followed him out, actually he helped carry me out, and I said bye to him and he flew away. After swaying on the edge of the cloud city, I felt like finding a few people, I mean ponies, to talk to. The first thing that popped into my head was the party they were hosting for Pinkie. I couldn't remember what it was about so I took off wobbly and did my best to fly back to Ponyville, occasionally forgetting to flap one of my wings or flapping one faster than the other and nearly going into a nosedive several times. Eventually I managed to get to the edge of the town, botching the landing and rolling across a field, breaking my wings, ribs, and my leg.
I felt a dull pain as they fixed themselves, somehow I was still drunk.I probably shouldn't have drank that much... My mind wandered for a second, trying to remember why I came here. I stumbled towards Sugarcube corner as I remembered I was going to a party. I pushed the door open, a little too hard since it hit the wall; all eyes turned to me, I smiled and waved, "Hello ponies." they waved and greeted me. Twilight looking at me nervously. I turned and walked towards Pinkie, apologizing anyone I bumped into, seeing that her mane had deflated and was perfectly straight. Her friends stood beside her in case I came to yell at her, especially while I was drunk. Instead I apologized to the best of my abilities, "Pinkie ah'm very sorry fer, fer yelling at you. I... uh..." I burped loudly, Rarity gave me a disgusted look and Pinkie hugged me tightly before I could finish my explanation.
"I'm so, so, so, so sorry for making you mad, I just wanted you to smile." I pulled her hooves off from around me, she looked up at me with eyes that were too big for her head, I stared at them and laughed, pulling her into a hug, Her mane poofed up again and she returned the hug. The guests cheered and the party continued, I can only remember pieces of it, chatting with a few of the mares, sharing muffins with Derpy and the Doctor, he and I got into a game of trying to pick up objects for a short time. Promising Twilight I'd have a chat with her about my blood, getting into a drinking contest with Rainbow... I don't know who won. Also I vaguely remember playing spin-the-bottle. I woke up with a massive hangover in my bed at Lyra and Bon bon's with a small pile of papers that had names and addresses on it. Now I remembered why I stopped drinking.
Author's Note
Well I'm going to be ending this in a few more chapters. Hope you all enjoyed
Groaning, I laid in bed a little longer as I held my head. Hangovers were one of the worst things to happen, waking up in a completely different location on a bed in the nude with three women. But thinking on it I am technically naked, the fur is a welcome addition although. There was a knock on the door, "James? Are you awake?" It was Bon bon. I groaned in response and she opened the door, thankfully I was facing away so the light didn't hurt as much. "Bad hangover? You did drink a lot yesterday and it looked like you were already drunk so I'm not surprised."
"I'm never drinking again..." I could practically hear her roll her eyes before she told me that breakfast was ready and somepony left a letter for me downstairs as well. "I'll be down in... a few minutes." I kept staring at the wall as she left and closed the door. Back in thankful darkness I sat up slowly and dragged myself into the bathroom to take a shower, staying under the water for a while before actually washing up. Once I was dry I walked downstairs and greeted Lyra and Bon bon. They smiled and greeted me back, Lyra with a mouthful of oatmeal. "So where's that letter?" I asked and the mint mare levitated it over and opened it for me. "Thank you," I told her, muttering to myself, "Stupid hooves can't hold anything."
"You're welcome James." she replied as I went to work on reading it. I could feel an eyebrow raising in suspicion. "Is something wrong?" she asked.
"No, just this letter is very strange..." I got to the bottom and my eyes widened as I read the name, "Rosemary..." Before they could say anything I threw the door open and flew away. This can't be real. This is just a coincidence, not the real Rosemary. It has to be some strange pony is all. I tried to keep my hopes down as I sped across the sky towards the location it had on the letter. Near the White tail woods in a small house surrounded by blue flowers. Twilight had told me about the Poison Joke so I'd rather not end up having my bones turn into glass or have my wings on my stomach.
I shot past Rainbow while she was working and I landed at the edge of the home and looked at the mailbox, no name on it. I trotted to the door and knocked, I could feel my wings shaking, I wasn't sure whether it was from fear or excitement. Either way my face stayed as emotionless as always. The door slowly opened up to show a dark yellow mare with emerald eyes and a scarlet mane. She smiled widely at me before hugging me. I tensed up, jaw dropping as she spoke in a voice that made my wings extend with a loud pompf, "I missed you James." I pushed her back to get a good look at her. She gave me a large smile, there was no doubt in my mind. I hugged her tightly with a smile, this was Rosemary. I barely registered feeling slightly weaker after the embrace. I heard flapping and let her go to see Rainbow Dash land.
"Hi James, who's this mare? Your girlfriend?" the cyan mare teased.
"No, this is my wife Rosemary." I smiled at her and she smiled back, nuzzling me. Her jaw dropped.
"This is Rosemary?" she asked and I nodded.
"Rosemary this is a friend of mine, Rainbow Dash."
"Hello Miss Dash." She held out a hoof, Dash shook it.
"Uh... Nice to meet you Rose." Rosemary gave her a bemused expression.
"I don't like being called Rose."
"Sorry Rosemary." she looked at her for a second, "I... got to go, see you later James." she shot off, leaving a rainbow trail in her wake. I ignored her and hugged Rosemary.
"I missed you so much Rosemary." She returned the hug, I felt myself weakening again. I would've ignored it if my gut wasn't telling me it was a bad sign. She petted my mane until I let go several minutes later, telling me that she needed to get some sleep. She said that she'd been looking for days and hadn't gotten much sleep, I nodded and gave her a kiss before flying away. Glancing back, I watched her go into the home and smiled, She's actually here! I need to tell the Doctor.
"Shining, why don't you like James? He's just a pony who's had a bad past." Cadence said. He looked at his wife.
"That doesn't excuse his actions." he stated, taking off his helmet. "I know you want me to be nice to him but nopony knows where he came from, he just appeared in the Canterlot gardens. There's something strange about him." He looked out the window and rubbed his horn, it was smooth where the blood landed on it. Cadence put a hoof on his shoulder.
"You can at least give him a chance, who knows maybe you two will end up being friends." He looked at her and sighed, at least Celestia wasn't sending him off to become friends with me. He began writing a letter to Twilight, asking her to tell him anything about my blood.
Just then a soldier came in and saluted, "Important letter from the Princesses." he gave held out the scroll and Shining took it, opened it, and read it and told the soldier he could leave. Cadence walked over and asked about it.
"Celestia wants me to go to ponyville to relax and get to know James. She clearly wants me to keep an eye on him just in case he does something strange." he nodded at his 'clever' realization of her letters hidden meaning. His wife rolled her eyes.
"Maybe she just wanted you to just relax, as a vacation not some mission. I asked her to, we can go visit Twily and her friends." she continued to talk to him, trying to convince him that he shouldn't stalk James. He told her that it wasn't stalking and he was ordered to essentially. She finally managed to convince him, after several minutes of arguing, with a promise of letting him train the Crystal empire guards.
I strolled into town with a big grin on my face, feeling happier than I have been. Ponies stared at me, not used to seeing me smile. Pinkie saw me smiling and shot over to me in a pink blur with a massive smile that stretched across her face, making it look like her jaw and skull were two rows of teeth and he could just lift the top of her head off. "Did you find your wife in a cabin on the edge of the town?" she asked, I felt an eyebrow raise and was about to ask how she knew but she stopped me with the answer, "Just a hunch." I just shook my head and watched her bounce away, Jordan would have a field day here.
I continued my little stroll, nothing could ruin my mood now. I saw the Doctor in the distance and flew towards him, "Doctor!" He turned, he was walking with Ditzy and DInky.
"James, you're actually smiling!" he said with clear awe. I stopped in front of them and told him about finding Rosemary, the letter, her home on the edge of town and everything. He blinked as he processed what I had told him before smiling, "Congratulations James. It seems I was wrong." I walked past him and towards the home I was currently in, I heard Ditzy say something strange though.
"But that house was empty Doctor. I haven't seen anypony new." I looked back to tell her she probably didn't notice but they were galloping away. I rolled my eyes and continued to Bon bon's home.