Nightshade: Death of a Psychic

Nightshade held his breath as Computer began unravelling the bandages from Torri's head. He didn't want there to be severe damage, he felt sick. When he grabbed her, there was blood everywhere and he couldn't tell what she'd actually injured. He hoped she would be alright, it would be disheartening if it was all for nothing.

"Nightshade you must be joking," Computer put a hand on his hip and motioned to Torri, "She's fine."

The girl painfully squinted as her eyes began to get used to light again, her pupils dilating and contracting trying to find the right balance. If Nightshade wasn't in such disbelief he might have found it interesting.

"What," Nightshade darted over to the couch where Torri and Computer sat. Torri stared at the Unicorn with milky red eyes, he held up 3 fingers. "How many- "

"Three," The little girl said with a hint of confusion, "It's a bit whooshy."

"W-Whooshy?"

Computer crossed his legs, "I couldn't fully grant her back her sight. Her eyes didn't heal properly. She can still see but... Well- "

"That's good enough. Don't want to bore her with the details now."

Nightshade grabbed a hold of the girl's hand and led her away from the living room, he didn't want her to be subject to that. She didn't need to hear that, he didn't want to hear it.

"Torri, go get dressed. Speed or Endie must have left you some- "

Computer cleared his throat, "Yeah, I don't trust those two. Torri, go to the attic and inside the big red police box. Down the hall, two lefts, a right and the third door on your right. You can pick what you like."

"Okay."

Nightshade watched as the girl ran up the staircase and out of sight, he could only wonder how she was holding up.

She did watch her parents die after all...

"... That's why you always make sure nuclear waste is properly disposed of and not tossed out the airlock."

Torri nodded along as they walked through the doors of Sugarcube Corner, although Nights were sure she didn't even comprehend most of what he was talking about it was nice to have intelligent thoughts with someone who was willing to listen. Nightshade was impressed at how well she'd dressed for the weather, black jeans a white short-sleeve. It was simple but appropriate...

Better than how Ace used to dress...

Once inside the crowded place, Torri seemed to grip his hand tighter. When did she start doing that? He hadn't really even noticed, but he had noticed her discomfort and walked to the nearest booth just hoping for an empty spot-

"Oi!" Nightshade cringed.

He knew that voice, that annoyance, that goodie-two-shoes...

Nightshade turned to look at the source of the voice. There sat the Doctor, with his cross-eyed blonde assistant. Nights had met her before, Derpy, a very nice girl. He slowly marched over, allowing Torri to slide in next to the Doctor and him next to Derpy. He preferred it.

"So Nightshade, this your new travelling companion- She's awful- "

Nightshade glared at him, "I swear if you say- "

"Small. I was going to say- small. What's your name, little lady?"

Nightshade faked a gag at The Doctor's sweetness, he wished The Doc was more like him sometimes.

Torri glanced at the smiling muzzle and wild mane of the well-dressed earth pony, "Torri."

"Well, I'm the Doctor and this lovely lady is Derpy Hooves-"

"Hiya, Torri," Derpy said politely.

"Torri, the Doctor is, unfortunately, an old friend. He also ditched me during the Pegasi Blitz-"

"Hey! I told you I was going to head out to stop that Cyber-controller-"

"You left me. To babysit. A. DALEK!"

Torri smiled, and that cooled Nightshade's temper slightly.

"Hey, it was a defective Dalek. It thought you were pretty."

Nightshade let his head rest on the table, "I've never been more disgusted than being flirted with by a Dalek."

They all shared a chuckle.

The Doctor fixed his tie with a smile, "So. Nightshade, where you gonna head off to? Hopefully somewhere safe with little miss Torri?"

Nightshade rolled his eyes, "Oh please, I'm not some pansy like you. I'm a Valentine stallion, we don't do safe."

The Doctor's smile seemed to falter, "Say, you haven't seen any... Anyone... Just... Heard any whispers? I don't want to worry you but, someone's out there causing trouble. I thought I'd let you know."

"Did you really mean that," Torri asked as they walked into Pandora she didn't look scared if anything she looked intrigued? "That you don't do safe things?"

Nightshade flipped a few switches while a pressing thought ran through his head, Torri didn't even seem to notice how Pandora was bigger on the inside or that it was a spaceship- That's when it hit him, children are just more accepting of everything. That and they just had ice cream.

"No, that was the truth," Nightshade sighed resting a hand on a big lever, "The safest thing I ever did was visit Rarity and that ended in her hitting me."

"What did you do?"

"Accidentally tore one of the shirts she made me."

"She must have really liked that shirt."

Toro shrugged at that and Nightshade was fine with that, there was no way she could know who Rarity was after all. Nightshade looked up at the moving parts in the middle of the console, then back at the girl who now began to take an interest in her surroundings.

"Torri you ever been to space?" Nightshade asked with mischief in his eyes and smiling wide when she shook her head. "Would you like to?"

The girl frowned, "You can't go to space, it's all the way up in the sky."

"Is it?"

Nightshade threw the switch and Pandora rumbled lightly as the centre of the console began to rise and fall gently, the ship groaned lightly as it dematerialized from his attic. Nights sighed, that was arguably one of the most notable impacts The Doctor had on him. He'd grown to love that sound, oddly enough. Even if it wasn't supposed to happen.

"Alright, Torri. Now it isn't. Take a look outside."

Why was he trying to impress this filly? He couldn't find an answer himself.

The little filly squinted at him, "Why?"

"We're in space now, I put us in space."

Torri shot him an unimpressed look.

Nights feigned being hurt, "You don't believe me kiddo? Take a look, if I'm wrong we can go get ice cream again."

He heard rushed footsteps before the doors opened and turned to watch in amusement as she stared out into space. Torri was speechless as she watched the planet below her turning slowly and silently in the void of space, the moon on the far end. Stars burned brightly and danced in the distance as grand galaxies swirled brilliantly.

"I can't believe you doubted me. I am genuinely hurt kiddo." Nightshade sauntered over to the doors and put a hand on her shoulder, "So, what do you think?"

"It's- "

"Yeah?"

Nightshade was interested, this view would bring most ponies to tears. He could only imagine how-

"Really cold."

Nightshade mentally facepalmed as the filly shivered, how could he forget? The vacuum doesn't hold heat.

"Sorry, forgot space doesn't hold heat fairly well. Lack of proper gravity does that," The unicorn explained as he took off his jacket and placed it on Torri.

"Then how are we here? My teacher said there's no air in space."

Nights sat down next top Torri, "She's right, there's no air. However, Pandora has her own gravity and oxygen field. That's why you're not floating away and why you can still breathe. Nothing to worry about."

"Are we flying?"

"Yep. How else would we be here?"

"Does that- What if I fall out? While we fly..."

Nightshade chuckled, "I think Pandora likes you too much to let that happen."

The unicorn and earth pony stared out into space for a few minutes before Nightshade broke the silence, walking back to the console. He couldn't help it, he gets antsy fairly quick.

"How about an adventure?"

"To where?"

"Anywhere! Anytime! All of time and space is now in your hands, kiddo. Where do you want to go?"

Torri pouted, "How am I supposed to choose? That's not fair."

Nightshade patted her head, "Well, did you know that in the future... Ponies live in space?"

"Really?"

"Yep. You Equestrians really know how to get going. Wanna check out a settlement?"

"Didn't you say it was going to be dangerous?"

"Torri. Listen. Everything is relatively dangerous, but if we only did safe things life wouldn't be much fun would it? Now you can choose between the pegasi stations or unicorns station- "

"What about the earth ponies?"

Nightshade could understand that, she is an earth pony and she would be more interested in earth pony things.

"They love the land too much to be stuck in space. They terraformed- That means they made the planet able to be lived on by growing plants- a few colonies. Strong-willed as they come. I swear you lot could scold a dragon. So what'll it be?"

Torri scrunched up her face in thought and Nights almost chuckled, this was fun. He hadn't had genuine fun in a long time. Not since-

"Pegasi!" Her answer snapped him out of the stupor as she flapped her hands excitedly, "They fly and do cool tricks and, and, and- "

"Alright, alright! Don't tire yourself out before you get there!" Nightshade snapped his fingers and Pandora's doors shut themselves.

"Yay!"

"Next stop... Everywhere."