The Third Choice

The Third Choice

Chapter 9: After the Battle that Never Was

By UltimaReborn

I began to wake up. The fog of unconsciousness slowly receding from my brain. The fuck happened? Oh, right. Discord, dieing, being Reborn, killing said Draconequus, black out. Well at least I remember what happened. I began to open my eyes. It was bright, and everything was blurred. Blinding white light? I'm in a hospital. Great. I hate hospitals. Or it might just be a Well Lit Room* somewhere. After blinking a few times my sight started to return. Bright lights, white walls, small and uncomfortable bed? Yep it's a hospital. I heard a small half-sniff half-snore to my right. I turned and saw Twilight on another hospital bed. She looked okay, but I can tell you, dieing tends to make you tired. I should know since I've done it twice now. I looked over to the left, and saw a rack with my long trench coat-like jacket on it. Resting on the same peg was my hat. Guess I got my clothes back after I showed up to kill Discord. Wow that sounds weird, even in my head. And it's MY head. Usually something like that would be standard thinking. Oh, well. As I was thinking I heard the door open. I looked and there stood a pony that had appeared every time somepony was hospitalized: Nurse Redheart. The very same unicorn, with the white coat and pink tail and mane.

“Oh you're awake!” she said when she saw me, surprise obvious.

“Yes I am Nurse Redheart.” I said, smiling. Wonder if she'll notice how I know her name.

“Oh, how do you know my name?” she questioned. Ah, there it is!

“I know many things.” I replied cryptically. “So, onto a less creepy topic. How are the girls and the Princesses?” I asked her.

“Well they're all fine, exhausted but fine. Currently Applejack and Rainbow Dash are awake. The others, including Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are still asleep.” she answered. “There is something I don't understand though.” she said, now with a curious look on her face.

“What would that be?” I asked her.

“I remember seeing them all badly injured, along with so many others. But then you showed up and used that... beam, and now it's as though nothing ever happened.” she said.

“That would be because it never did happen.” I answered her.

“What? What do you mea-” she began.

“I would like to explain it all when the girls and the Princesses are awake and ready to talk.” I said.

“Okay, but I'll be here for that explanation.” she said.

“Of course. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to pass out again. The pain is excruciating.” I said. The last thing I saw before I went out was a confused-looking Nurse Redheart.

Five Hours Later.

“String.... lettuce... soul gem...” I muttered as I came to for the second time. This time only the brain fog was present and I quickly noticed the six pony-sized shapes of color around me as well as the the two alicorn-sized shapes. They weren't paying attention to me as they were quietly talking amongst themselves. I tried to move but a sudden burst of pain from my entire body stopped me.

“FFFFFF-” I almost completed the word but the attention of six ponies and two alicorns was suddenly focused on me. I managed to restrain myself.

“What's wrong?” asked a voice, as a ninth pony emerged. It was Nurse Redheart again.

“Fine. But I have something to ask.” I said.

“What is it?” this time the question came from Celestia.

“That was the most painful thing I have ever experienced. So next time I try and use that much power against something, hit me. With a heated waffle iron.” I said. They all began to laugh. My face remained straight.

“I'm completely serious.” I said. They all stopped for a moment to look at me before they began laughing again, even harder. Rainbow and Pinkie were both rolling on the floor they were laughing so hard. After a few minutes they all managed to stop, even Pinkie.

“So how will this go down in the history books? I can see it now, the Battle that Never Was.” I chuckled. They all looked at me in confusion. Rainbow, however seemed angry.

“What the hay!? Are you trying to say we imagined everything!?” she yelled.

“No. I'm saying the battle literally didn't happen. Didn't you all notice that after I destroyed Discord not only the damage was fixed, but the sun moved back in the sky?” I explained. All of their eyes widened, realizing that, indeed the sun had moved back by several hours time, returning the world to just after sunrise.

“How...?” Twilight looked to be just as curious as she was confused.

“Balefire.” I replied.

“What?” they all asked in unison.

“Balefire. That's what I used to kill Discord. It is literally the most dangerous weapon in all of the multiverse. It doesn't just destroy, it literally burns what it hits out of time itself.” I answered. Their eyes widened at this new information. The Princesses were clearly afraid. “No need to worry you two. I'm the only one in this universe that is capable of using it. And I don't intend to unless absolutely necessary. Due to it's nature, balefire has the potential to literally tear apart all of creation. It destabilizes reality. As long as it's not too powerful the worst thing that happens is a balescream. The ripple that occurred after I defeated Discord was a balescream. It's what happens when balefire of considerable power is used. It's reality straining under the changes.”

They only seemed a bit calmer after my explanation. Twilight however remembered something.

“Wait. You said you could only use magic in the form of Invocations.” she said, a hint of suspicion creeping into her tone.

“Yes. But I forfeited those powers for my new ones. With the Invocations I wouldn't have been able to beat Discord.” I told her. “The power I have now is actually just the ability to channel a force known as the One Power. I also got a satchel, and if it has what I think in it you'll be able to learn all there is to know about how the One Power works.” I said as I reached over and opened the satchel. I looked inside and smiled. There, laying among various other things, was the entire Wheel of Time series. All but the last book, which still hadn't been released, lay there. This was going to be fun.

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* Get the Alan Wake reference?