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I'm floating

I can't feel anything. It's nice. I don't feel bad. I don't feel happy. I feel nothing.

It's not fair.

It never is.

I didn't want this. I wanted to stay at home. It's my fault.

Don't say that.

But it's true.

There are voices...

It'll be all right.

You're going to die like this. A junkie. A loser. Your dad was right about you. You ruin everything.

Don't pay any attention to him.

But he's right. I did ruin everything. I really am sick.

No you aren't.

Are you going to listen to them? They don't care about you. Nopony does. Not your dad. Not Gregor. NOPONY DOES!

You're strong. YouKILLYOURSELFKILLYOURSELFKILLYOURSELFKILLYOURcan make it through this. I believe in you.

I just want to be happy. I want it to all go away.

You can be happy. You can smile again. You can laugh again

There is no end to your suffering.

Remember. I love you.

'Chase? Fuck, please, please...'

Dream Chaser's eyes flickered. It was bright.

'Come on, Chase, don't die on me. Fuck! Just... please, I know I fucked up. I'm sorry!'

You see? Gregor cares. He wants to save you.

He just doesn't want to have to move your corpse. He'll dump you in the garbThat's. Not. True.age and never think about you again

He does... care. Doesn't he?

Of course.

Fuck no. He killed Grubs and Gretel. They were asleep. They were sleeping! And he let that Griffon Knight murder them in cold blood!

He did...

He isn't perfect. But he can change.

Ponies don't change.

And you can help him.

I... can?

They're lying.

You can change him. He's in pain... so much pain. HeHEWILLMURDERYOUANDEVERYONEYOULOVEcan save you. You can save him.

I can?

You can.

SHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUP

Do you trust me?

...

I do.

Then go with my blessing, Friend.

Dream Chaser lurched forwards. Gregor fell onto his back, before quickly bounding back. 'Oh, thank fuck!' He lurched forwards, drawing him into a tight embrace.

'Thank you...' He wept. 'Thank... you...'

Dream Chaser didn't hug back. He couldn't. Did I make the right choice?

'Gregor?'

'You really freaked me out. I was worried... I didn't want to lose anyone else today.'

'Gregor...' The sight of the normally tough, resilient griffon sobbing into his coat was more bizarre than it was heartwarming. 'I... I can't do this anymore.'

Gregor released him. Dream Chaser had expected an argument, but Gregor just nodded. 'Yeah. I get that. Just... go. Oh, wait...' He pulled a bag off his belt, and pressed it into Dream Chaser's hooves. 'Here, it's... just take it. You... you'll spend it better than I will.' Gregor looked like he was on the verge of a complete breakdown.

Dream Chaser weighed the bit purse in his hoof. There was a lot of bits in it. 'Thank you. Seriously.'

Gregor waved his claw. 'Don't... don't worry about it.' He breathed out, as if relieved of a great burden. 'I need to get out of this city.'

Dream Chaser nodded. 'I get it. Where... where will you go?'

Gregor shrugged. 'Back to the Kingdom? Maybe. I don't know. I'll wander for a bit. I just...' He rubbed his face. 'I can't have any more blood on my claws.' He glanced at him. 'You?'

Dream Chaser nodded. 'I got an idea.'

There was only one light on in the house, in the kitchen. The entrance showed clear signs of having been kicked in. Dream Chaser took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.

'Coming!'

The stallion inside sounded grumpy. The door was wrenched open, spilling light into the street. 'Do you know what time it - Fuck!'

Dream Chaser held his father's gaze. 'Hey dad.'

His father's face twisted into a visage of rage. 'I told you never to come back.'

Dream Chaser shook his head. 'I know. I'm not here for that.'

He reached inside his saddlebags. Pulling out this purse Gregor had given him, he threw it to the floor, where it landed with a loud thud. 'Here.'

His father's eyes narrowed. 'What?'

'That's 6,983 bits. It's yours. I don't want it.' Dream Chaser gave the bag a push towards his father. 'I owe you that much.'

Silence. Eventually, his father spoke. 'I don't rent out to que-'

'It's not rent.''. Dream Chaser snarled. 'It's free. I wouldn't want to stay here if you paid me.'

'What?!'

'You heard me. You know what a dad does? He loves his son.' Dream Chaser had to keep his voice under tight control, to stop himself from shouting. 'A dad loves his son. No. Matter. What. So, as far as I'm concerned, you're not my dad. You're just some fucking bully. I never want to fucking see you again.'

He couldn't stop his voice from shaking at that last part. Turning around, he ran.

He ran until he couldn't run anymore. Eventually, he stopped. He didn't know where he was. He didn't care. He was injured, starving, dehydrated, lost. He was in pain, more than ever, and more than anything.

He had never been more alive.