Yellow beams of sunlight streamed through the kitchen, shining into Applejack's eyes as she trotted into the room. She shielded her eyes with a forehoof, blinded but still drawn towards the smell of freshly toasted bread and fried eggs. Apple Bloom was standing at the kitchen counter holding a spatula in her hoof.

The red-maned teen turned around, holding a tray with two full plates. She smiled at her sister.

"Mornin', sis. I'm gonna take these upstairs, so go ahead and serve yerself."

Applejack didn't have a chance to reply before her sister took off down the hallway. She shrugged, and did as she'd been told.

As she sat down, Apple Bloom hurried back into the kitchen. She quickly gathered her food and took the seat next to her sister. The young mare was eating so fast she was hardly chewing.

"What's got you in such a hurry this mornin'?"

"Oh, um." Apple Bloom swallowed the food that was in her mouth. "I'm working on a project for my math class. I'm planning on being at the library all day so that I can work somewhere quiet."

Applejack cocked her head. "A project? You mean like a bottle rocket or a trebuchet?"

Her sister's red mane bounced as she laughed. "No, nothin' quite that interestin'. It's not really a project, it's more like a really long homework assignment."

"Do you want some help?"

A shadow of regret fell over her face. "Oh, um... no thanks, AJ. This stuff is pretty hard and, well, I know you've got a lot a' work to do on the farm."

Applejack could take a hint, but that didn't mean she it didn't hurt. "Alright, I get it. I'll leave ya' to it."

Somepony knocked at the front door.

"Aw crap, that'll be Strange." Applejack hopped out of her chair and set her dishes in the kitchen sink.

"I'll see ya' at lunchtime, Bloom."

She nodded her head. "See ya', AJ."

Applejack walked out of the kitchen and down the hallway. She took her stetson from the hook by the door and looked into the mirror on the wall. Her hair was a little messy, and she had a few crumbs on her chest. She carefully ran a hoof over her mane to straighten it up and brushed herself off. Finally, she carefully placed her stetson on her head, taking care not to mess up her hair.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Apple Bloom standing in the doorway to the kitchen, staring at her.

"What is it?"

Apple Bloom shook her head and smiled. "Nothin'," she replied as she turned back into the kitchen.

Applejack opened the front door, swinging it inwards. The tall green giant nodded his head at her, smiling.

"Good morning, AJ."

She nodded back. "Mornin', Strange."

Applejack closed the door behind her and stepped off the front porch. "Let's get ta' work."

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

The midday sun beat down from on high, casting down a humid heat throughout the orchard. Strange and Applejack slowly trudged down the road.

They'd spent the entire first half of the day tearing up dead tree stumps, and it had been hard work. Applejack had strapped herself to the stumps and applied tension while Strange hacked away at the base. He had destroyed his pickaxe halfway through and had started ripping the roots up with his bare hands.

Strange carried the badly bent pickaxe across his back and dirt caked his pants. With the back of his hand, he wiped away the sweat pouring down his face. He glanced over at Applejack.

She carried her leather harness over her back. Her chest heaved as she slowly caught her breath. Her chipped hooves were covered in dirt and grass.

As the two of them approached the white fence, Applejack let out a deep sigh.

"Something wrong, AJ?"

She glanced back at Strange and shook her head. "Nothin' you need to worry about."

He clicked his tongue. "Fine."

Applejack handed Strange her harness and pointed at the barn. "Leave our tools in there. We'll see if we can fix that pickaxe later."

She walked into the house, leaving Strange to take care of their things. He cursed under his breath and sped over to the barn.

Once inside, he set the harness on its hook and took a look at his broken pickaxe. The pointed tip was curled back and the flat edge on the other side was completely twisted. As though he was molding wet clay, Strange pressed the tempered steel back into place. He squeezed the tip of the pick between his fingers, creating a sharp edge from the hardened metal. He placed the tool on the workbench and walked back outside.

Strange hopped the fence into the yard and opened the door to the Apple family's house. He kicked off his dirty work boots and stepped inside.

The rich scent of soyburgers and hayfries wafted into his nose. Strange walked into the kitchen, looking for the source of the smell.

Applejack was already tearing into her food, seated across the table from her sister. She glanced up at Strange as she walked in.

"Hey, Strange." Apple Bloom called out to him from the kitchen table. Half of it was covered in notepads and textbooks. "I didn't have time ta' cook today so I just bought y'all takeout instead. I hope that's okay?"

"It's great, Apple Bloom. It's a hell of a lot better than what we usually eat." He laughed as Apple Bloom glared at him.

He took a seat next to Apple Bloom. Applejack silently passed him a burger wrapped in wax paper and a paper cup with fries. He tore the wax paper and ate half of the burger in a single bite. He sighed through his nose as he chewed, savoring the flavor of the imitation-meat. Soy patties normally grossed him out, but hunger really was the best seasoning.

Apple Bloom rubbed her nose as she continued to stare at the stack of papers in front of her. Her irritation was almost palpable.

"What'cha got there?", he asked, pointing with his finger.

"That's her school project," Applejack answered. "High-level mathematics, too complex for us common folk."

Strange didn't miss the irritation in her voice. He wiped the grease from his hands and snatched away the paper that had Apple Bloom's attention.

"Hey!" Apple Bloom whined at him.

Strange read the page over and snorted. He tossed the papers back on the table.

"That's what you're having trouble with? Pre-calculus?"

Apple Bloom looked at him like he was speaking another language. "What the heck is pree-cal-cool-us? This is trigonometry."

His eyebrows rose slightly. "You don't know what calculus is? Have you ever heard of integrals?

She slowly shook her head.

"Well, whatever. The answer to number three is sine of two pi 'f' minus theta all over four cosine of 'f'."

Apple Bloom blinked at him and looked down at the paper. She began scribbling furiously at the page and AJ raised her eyebrows. Finally, she put her pencil down and stared at what she'd written.

"That...that was it! How did you do that!? I've been working on this problem for two hours and you solved it in two seconds!"

Strange chuckled and grinned sheepishly. The exasperation in her voice was somehow nostalgic, but it also scared him a little.

He waved his hand at her. "Come on, you're exaggerating."

She shook her head. "I'm really not, Strange. You're amazin'! You think you can help me again after you're done workin'?"

Strange laughed while a sinking feeling formed in his gut. Yet another hidden talent that stood to cost him everything.

Loud coughing from the other side of the table interrupted his thoughts. Strange glanced over to see Applejack clearing her throat with extreme prejudice.

"I don't that's such a good idea, Apple Bloom. Both of us'll be exhausted by the end of the day. I'm sure Strange will want ta' rush home to supper." She turned to Strange and glared at him. "Ain't that right, sugarcube?"

"Oh!" Apple Bloom's face lit up. "He can just eat with us then! I don't mind cooking for another person and—" She turned back to Strange put her hooves on his arm. "—you can consider it payment for tutoring me!"

Strange nodded his head enthusiastically. "Sounds great." He turned back to face the older sister and smirked. "Right?"

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

Applejack sighed as she walked back into her home and shut the door behind her. Dinner had gone well. Very well. Strange had really hit it off with Big Mac, and Granny Smith didn't seem to mind him either. Still, she'd felt somewhat awkward throughout the night. Apple Bloom had been acting very familiar with Strange at the table. The very thought of it made her anxious, which was why she had gone out to the barn to perform maintenance on the tools. The simple, yet satisfying work cleared her mind of uncomfortable thoughts or feelings.

She walked into the kitchen and frowned. Big Mac sat alone, leaning back in his chair focusing on a small paperback flattened against the table. He pushed his small spectacles back up his nose. Apple Bloom's books and binders were gone, and the mare in question was nowhere to be found.

"Hey, Mac?"

"Hm? Oh." The red stallion looked up from his book. "Yes, AJ?"

"Did Strange and Apple Bloom already finish studying? That was over with a bit quicker than I'd expected."

He shook his head. "Nope. They went upstairs. I think they're studying in her room."

Applejack raised her eyebrows. "Just like that?"

"What does that mean?"

She snorted. "It means that you used ta' mean-mug the crabapples outta any colt who even so much as looked at Apple Bloom, but now yer' okay with her bringing strange men inta' her room?"

Big Mac set his book on the table. "Apple Bloom ain't a kid no more, and Strange ain't exactly a stranger ta' us. If yer' so worried about it, why don't you go check on 'em yerself?"

Applejack glanced back out of the kitchen, at the staircase leading to the second floor. She huffed and shook her head. Big Mac shook his head as he watched her slowly walk back into the hallway.

She started slowly up the steps, straining her ears for any noise coming from upstairs. AJ heard Strange's and Apple Bloom's voice grow louder and louder as she grew closer to her sister's room.

"Strange, I don't think that's where that goes."

"Oh it is, trust me. I know it's abnormal, but I think you'll enjoy it a lot more."

"Enjoy it... more?"

"Absolutely. Once you start doing it this way, you'll never want to do it normally again!"

Strange turned his head as Applejack threw the door open, causing it to rattle in its frame. She stared at the two of them, wide-eyed and confused.

"Hello there," greeted Strange, standing by Apple Bloom's desk.

Apple Bloom looked up from her homework and over at her sister. "What's wrong, AJ?"

Applejack felt her face catch fire. "W-well, I, uh..." She stopped her stammering when she saw Strange grinning at her.

"Y-you were doin' it on purpose!", she accused with her hoof.

He shrugged. "Maybe."

The teenage filly sighed. "Sorry sis, but I'm real busy right now. If you don't have anythin' ta' ask me, I need to get back ta' studyin'."

Strange watched a gloomy haze fall over Applejack's eyes. She shuffled on her hooves. "Sure thing, sis. I'll get outta' yer way." The orange mare turned to walk out of the room.

"W-wait!"

She turned back to Strange who had called out to her.

"Did you want to learn this stuff too? I mean, I'm not always going to be around when she needs help, you know. Is that okay, Bloom?"

His prodigy looked up at him, and then at her sister with a smile. "Sure, that'd be great."

Applejack felt the gloom in her mind fade away, and stepped back into the bedroom.

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

Strange yawned loudly and leaned back in his chair. The antique wood creaked under his weight. Applejack looked up at him.

"If you need ta' go, that's fine. I can handle the rest on mah' own."

The great green man shook his head. "Not a chance, AJ. I know if I leave you'll stay up all night trying it teach it to yourself. At least if I stay here, we'll be equally exhausted come morning."

Applejack looked up at him from across an ocean of paper and textbooks. Apple Bloom had gone to bed hours ago, and the two of them had moved into the kitchen. The only light in the room was from a ceiling lamp above the kitchen table.

She looked back down at the pages in front of her and let out a deep sigh. Her sister hadn't been kidding. This stuff was hard. She thanked the Gods that Strange was here to help her.

The mare snuck another glance at him. His sleepy black eyes met her emerald ones, and he gave her a warm smile. She quickly looked back down and ran a hoof through her mane, pretending not to notice. Grateful as she was, she still didn't know if she could trust him. He never told her why he had actually taken care of the hornhog. Strange had said he was just concerned about her family, and tonight shows that that was probably true. But there was something else there. He wasn't telling her the whole truth, or she wasn't the Element of Honesty.

The sound of heavy snoring knocked her out of her thoughts. Applejack looked to see Strange sleeping in his chair with his arms crossed and his chin pressed against his chest.

She smiled and shook her head. This stuff could wait until later. AJ hopped out of her chair and walked around to the other side of the table. She hooked her hooves under Strange's arms and pulled him onto her back. Good Gods, he was even heavier than he looked.

Applejack stepped into the hallway with the green giant still on her back and made her way into the living room. She heaved Strange onto the couch with a grunt. The mare shook her head as he continued to snore, blissfully unaware.

She watched his face as he slept, thinking to herself. Strange was a pygmy, a born pony hunter, and yet he was one of the most dependable people in her life.

Strange shifted in his sleep, causing his arm to hang down off of the side of the couch. Applejack lifted his arm back by his side, but noticed that his hand was clenched into a fist. She looked back at his face with worry in her large emerald eyes. Whatever dream he was having, it wasn't a nice one.

------------------------------------ X X X X X X X X X X X X ------------------------------------

Applejack stepped out of the house and crunched across the gravel path. She stared down at the ground as she walked and focused on her warm breath turning to vapor as it exited her nose. The sudden chill of the morning air knocked away some of her drowsiness. Normally this was the time of day when she and Strange would be heading into the orchard, but today was different.

He had been much more help than she'd expected, so much so that they were ahead of schedule. They had to wait until it was warmer to start planting some of the more sensitive crops so, with nothing to do until the weather changed, they were taking some time off.

"Hey AJ."

She left her trance and looked up to see who had spoken. Strange stood in front of her with messy hair and sleepy eyes. He was slouching with his hands in his pockets and he looked like he was about to fall asleep standing up.

"Howdy. Didn't expect ta' see you today."

"Oh?" Strange rubbed at his eyes. "And why not?"

Applejack snorted and walked past him. "Uh, because we're not workin' today."

"Shit, that's right. I totally forgot." He let out a long yawn.

She turned back to him with a raised eyebrow. "Why d'you look like yer about ta' fall asleep."

Strange groaned. "Twilight was lecturing me again last night. Says I should go see the Princesses about the strange dreams I've been having." He let out another yawn. "Damn, that mare can talk for hours about nothing at all."

Applejack bit her lip. "And you don't wanna go?"

Strange scoffed at the question.

"What?", she asked.

"Why would I? I've got no interest in wasting other people's time with useless nonsense. And besides, I've got a job to do. It's not like I can just leave for a month and expect everything to be fine."

Applejack nodded her head turned away, hiding her pleased smile.

Strange sighed. "So where are you headed then if you aren't working today?"

The mare stepped into the middle of the road and started to stretch her forehooves. "Figured I might go for a run. It's been a while since I've had the time."

Applejack leaned down onto her forehooves and stretched out the muscles in her legs and lower back. Strange stared at her fine, muscled posterior still high in the air, watching her blonde tail gently sway back and forth.

"What for? You've gotta be the strongest pony I know."

She chuckled and began pushing her hips from side to side, groaning as she pushed her joints to their limits. Strange turned his face away to hide his burning face. She had to be doing this on purpose.

"Don't let Big Mac hear you say that." She let out another groan. "He's always been the strongest I've ever known and it'd hurt his pride to know there was somepony stronger, especially now that he's been off his hooves for more than a month."

Finally, she stood up and turned back to face him. "You comin' along?"

"Ugh." Strange tilted his head back and looked straight up at the sky before returning to Applejack. "Maybe. How long's the run?"

"It's ten times around the perimeter of the orchard so... 'bout twelve miles, give or take."

Strange thought back to his run through the Everfree. He could probably run twelve miles in five minutes.

"How long do you normally take to run that, AJ?"

She smirked at him. "Fifteen minutes."

Strange's eyes went wide, though not for the reasons AJ might have thought. "That's... pretty fast, right?"

Applejack scoffed. "Damn right, it's fast. I've just about set the world record for Earth ponies. A' course, I can slow it down for ya'. Wouldn't want you ta' chip a hoof or whatever."

She turned away from him and started running in place. "We don't even have ta' go the full twelve, I can just stop when you do."

Strange grinned.

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

Thick humid air had rolled over the orchard by the time the sun had reached its apex. The chill from that morning had been replaced with an unbearable, damp heat. She cursed between inhales at the figure running about twenty feet in front of her.

Strange turned his head back as he ran. His bare chest gleamed in the yellow light of the sun. "Need me to slow it down for ya'?", he called.

AJ was too tired to respond to his taunt. Instead, she chose to focus on keeping her pace. If she stopped now she might just collapse on the ground.

Sweat poured down her face and into her damp coat. A droplet made its way into her eye and clouded her vision. She couldn't spare the effort to wipe sweat from her eyes so she focused on the bouncing green figure directly in front of her, falling into a trance.

They had passed twelve miles hours ago. Applejack had lost count of the number of times they'd circled around the orchard. Her legs had gone numb and she could hear own heartbeat pounding in her ears.

Suddenly, Strange slowed down to a walk. Applejack began to slow her pace as well and came up beside him.

She struggled to breathe the thick air. "Why...did you...stop?"

Strange wiped a trail of sweat from his face and gave her a tired smile. "I got tired."

Applejack would've laughed if she could. He wasn't even breathing hard. "You're... a damn... liar," she wheezed out.

He snorted and ruffled the top of her sweat-soaked mane. "I'm sorry, did you want to keep going?"

She swatted his hand away and swore under her breath. They continued walking for awhile. Eventually, the burning feeling in her lungs faded and some feeling returned to her legs. AJ continued to stagger up the road and turned her face towards the sky with her eyes closed as she continued to catch her breath.

"Hey."

Applejack opened her eyes and glanced over at Strange.

"Let me buy you lunch."

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

"I know what this is."

Strange cocked his head and smirked. "Yeah? What is it?"

Applejack took a long draw from the oversized plastic cup in her hooves. She gulped several times before pulling her mouth away from the straw.

"You did this because a' how damn pathetic I looked after we were finished runnin'. Don't you think fer a second that that'll happen next time!" She took an angry bite from her soyburger and chewed it thoroughly.

Strange laughed. "Good! I can't wait."

He leaned back and lay down on the red and white blanket. His bare feet stretched past the blanket's edge and rested on the cool grass. They had set up in the shade by a small pond on the edge of the orchard. Strange had gone to get the food while AJ picked up a blanket from the house. He'd gotten a few odd looks in town, but they were nothing compared to the one Apple Bloom had given AJ.

Several empty paper bags sat between them, their contents ravaged by savage beasts. Strange had eaten a normal amount, but he'd expected that Applejack might be a bit hungrier. He had been right.

Applejack let out a loud belch and quickly covered her mouth. Strange laughed from his position on the ground and she gave him a dirty look.

"Now that wasn't really ladylike, was it?"

She huffed. "Good thing I ain't a lady then."

A warm breeze blew from the lake and across the ground. The ripples through the grass seemed to match those running across the surface of the pond. Strange closed his eyes and started to drift off.

Before he could fall asleep though, a splashing noise caused him to open his eyes. He looked to his side and saw that Applejack was missing. Strange sat up on the blanket to see her skipping stones across the surface of the water.

*splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash*

"Hm." Applejack smirked and turned back to look at Strange. "You may have endurance, but how about finesse?"

She threw something at him, and Strange caught it in his hand. A smooth, flat rock that fit right into his palm. He looked back at her.

"You comin' or what?", she taunted.

Strange rolled off the blanket and stood with the rock still in his hand. He walked down to where Applejack stood, shaking his head.

As he approached the edge of the water, he glanced back at her. "How many times did you skip it? Four?"

"Five," she stated, sticking out her chest.

Strange looked back down at the rock in his hand. He ran his fingers over it, getting a feel for its shape and imperfections.

Applejack snorted. "Quit showin' off and throw already."

He clicked his tongue in annoyance. With a flick of his wrist, Strange spun the rock towards the surface of the water.

*splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash*

"Six." Strange turned back to her wearing the same tired smile he'd given her at the end of the run. "That was six, right?"

It was Applejack's turn to click her tongue. "Yeah, I guess it was." She picked up another rock. "Let's see you beat this one."

She tossed the rock high into the air. Applejack leaned hard onto her forehooves and kicked back hard, barely grazing the stone's curved edge and causing it to spin as it shot towards the surface of the water.

*splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash*

Applejack grinned and spun back towards Strange. "Ten! Beat that, ya' damn farmhand!"

Strange's eye twitched. He snatched a rock from the ground and whipped it towards the water without looking. AJ followed the rock with her eyes, shocked by its speed.

*splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash* *splash*

She looked back up at Strange, who was still giving her that awkward smile.

The green giant shrugged his massive shoulders. "Lucky throw, I guess."

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

"I just can't believe it, Strange."

Strange laughed. "What is it you don't believe?" The sun was starting to set on the orchard, casting a dark orange light across the deep green canopy. They had started walking back towards the farmhouse, with Strange leading the way.

"I mean, how can you be so...?" Applejack trailed off, shaking her head.

He looked back at her with a raised eyebrow and shrugged. They continued walking and the front of the house came into view between the trees. The main door opened and Apple Bloom leaned out, waving her hoof.

"Dinner's almost ready!", she called.

Strange laughed and turned back to AJ. "You still got room for it?"

She stayed silent, staring off into space. Strange's smile left his face as he thought to himself. Maybe he'd taken the showing off a bit too far.

They stayed quiet as they entered the house. Strange kicked off his shoes and followed AJ into the living room where Apple Bloom and Big Mac were chatting. Strange sat back in a large lazy chair and put his feet up on an ottoman.

"Saw you two runnin' today," the little filly commented with a smirk. "Strange just about left AJ in the dust."

Big Mac raised his eyebrows. "That's a surprise." He looked Strange up and down. "Didn't take you for a runner." The stallion turned towards AJ. "Even more surprised you let him do it."

The orange cowgirl shook her head, still looking distracted. "I didn't let him. He was just too fast."

"Strong too!", Apple Bloom interjected. "I saw him skip a stone clear across the north pond!"

The uncomfortable feeling in Strange's chest grew slightly. "You saw that, huh?" He rubbed the back of his head with his hand.

"Eeyup! Gosh, it was so cool. I don't even think Big Mac is that strong!"

Applejack snapped out of her stupor and stared at her little sister, then looked at her brother. Big Mac looked the same as ever, but she could tell. Apple Bloom's comment had hurt him.

"Strange." The red stallion called out in an even tone. Strange looked over at him.

"Hoof-wrestle."

Big Mac stood up and walked into the kitchen. Apple Bloom instantly got up to follow him, while AJ and Strange stayed behind. The two of them locked eyes for a moment before Strange stood up and followed behind the others. Applejack sighed.

Granny Smith stood at the kitchen counter with her back turned towards the center of the room. The great red stallion was already seated across the kitchen table with Apple Bloom sitting beside him.

Strange took the seat in front of Big Mac. "Are we seriously doing this?"

Big Mac lifted his forehoof and sat his elbow against the table with a loud *thunk*. "Eeyup."

The green giant shook his head and matched his arm to Big Mac's. He grasped the stallion's large red hoof, and his face took on that same awkward smile. Applejack's stomach dropped.

She quickly approached Strange and put a hoof on his shoulder. He snapped his head back to look at her, but his smile faded away when he saw her expression.

"Ready?"

Strange looked back at Big Mac, and nodded. Apple Bloom leaned over the table and placed her hooves over theirs.

"Ready... set... go!" Apple Bloom pulled back and the two of them began to struggle.

Strange put on a good show, grunting and groaning like he was putting his whole body into it. Just like he'd done with the running and the stone skipping, he'd have to win just by a hair. He needed to hide the depths of his strength, but he had too much pride to just lose on purpose.

Still, he couldn't get Applejack's expression out of his head. What she'd said this morning about Big Mac's pride echoed in his ears. Big Mac was his friend, and he was in a bad place. He'd be upset if he knew Strange was holding back, but...

Strange let out a load grunt and let his arm go limp. He felt his fist slam against the table, twisting his shoulder. Big Mac wiped a beat of sweat from his face and smiled at him.

"Eeyup."

The green man shook his head. He stood up out of his chair and walked to the kitchen exit. Applejack stood up and followed him out into the hallway.

"Where're you headed? Supper's almost ready."

Strange stopped and glanced back at her, hiding his face. "I think I'm gonna have dinner at the library tonight."

Applejack walked up beside him and took his hand in her hoof. She sighed. "Okay, Strange. Be safe on yer way back. And... thanks." She let go of his hand and he walked out of the house.

Strange looked up at the sky as he walked, and shook his head. What the fuck was he doing?

------------------------------------ X X X X X X X X X X X X ------------------------------------

The tall green man shambled up the dirt road in the dark. He didn't know what time it was, and he didn't care. All he knew was that he would do anything to keep from falling asleep.

Over and over for weeks now, he'd been having that same dream. The wheel. The voice. The feeling of his bones being crushed into sand. That feeling had started to leak into his waking hours, leaving him nearly immobilized with pain. There was no goddamn way he was going to see Twilight's teachers for help, so he would just stay awake for as long as he could. But after a week without sleep, the sandman was starting to call his name.

Strange looked up and saw the barn in the distance. If he could just keep moving, he wouldn't fall asleep. He wouldn't have to dream. His vision blurred and swayed as he walked, but he kept his focus on the barn doors. One foot in front of the other. Surely Applejack would have work for him, and that would keep him up for another few hours at least. Anything to stay awake.

He tripped against the rough wooden doors and pulled them open. Strange nearly fell into the barn and began to look around. He was alone in the dark, with the muted sounds of nature that leaked through the walls. The dirt felt cool beneath his feet.

Strange looked down. "Aw shit," he whispered. He'd forgotten to put on his boots. Still though, the earth was comfortable against the bottom of his feet, against his... face? Strange snapped his eyes open, apparently having fallen onto the barn floor without noticing. He pushed against the ground to lift himself up, but found himself unable to resist the siren's call.

The barn's interior faded to black and two yellow eyes smiled at him from the shadows.

"It seems fate has played a cruel joke on you, little man."

Strange jolted awake and started screaming at the top of his lungs. His bones felt like they were exploding through his skin, begging to be let out. Desperate to be free of the pain, Strange began to carve away at his arms with any tool he could find. Shovels, axes, saws, everything he pressed against his skin would break before it could cut him. The pain crescendoed higher and higher, and his screams grew higher pitched. His head felt like it was splitting open.

As a final act of desperation, Strange hooked his fingers into his eye sockets. He dug his fingers into the softer flesh underneath his eyes and began to pull as hard as he could. He started to feel his skin rip, and nearly cried from the relief it gave him. He pulled harder and harder. His arms shook with effort and the air around him seemed to vibrate.

A horrible tearing sound echoed through the barn as Strange stripped his skin away from his skull. A brilliant white light shot out of his wounds, burning holes through the ceiling of the barn. The pain had almost totally vanished. A loud crack rang out as Strange finally let go of his peeled flesh and it snapped back into place.

Strange fell to his knees, breathing hard. He was too weak to stand and sweat poured down his face and back. He could feel himself tipping backward, and fell into darkness.

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

"Until your task is done, your soul will never know peace. You have already ensured as much. With power comes strife, meaning that for you there will be no end to either.

You are a monster. An abomination even more terrible than myself. And until you have taken what you are owed, you will bring suffering wherever you walk. The mere knowledge of your true nature would drive mortals beyond the brink of sanity. Hide it, until you are ready."

Author's Note

Three weeks, huh? Sorry about that guys, I got super distracted playing Astral Chain. Wish I could say it won't happen again but BL3 just came out too, so... RIP.

I will say though that I am going to be making an effort to write more consistently. I see this story taking about another 30-40 chapters, so monthly updates aren't really going to cut it. I'm going to try and aim for at least one per week.