Chapters non est ad astra mollis e terris via
Chapter 1: To Err is Human
Jack’s mind began registering one stimulus at a time. Starting with the unmistakable warmth of direct sunshine, followed by the cooling caress of a summer breeze, but wait, it wasn’t summer. Jack’s eyes snapped open in panic. He hurriedly glanced at his surroundings. He was surrounded by tall grass dotted by wildflowers that came up to his flank, (Wait what? His brain was screaming in protest of his surroundings and what he had just thought ) and was waving in the subtle breeze. He got to his hooves (Again what?) and looked up to see a cloud white figure descend with several flaps of an impressive wing set. The alicorn, who he could now see was Princess Celestia began to approach him (What the hay? Wait what’d I just say? ), while looking at him expectantly. The princess inhaled as if to speak but Jack quickly cut her off with a bow and said,
“Your majesty, it is an honor. What circumstance has graced me with your company?”
But Jack realized with a start what exactly he just said, and where exactly he was, and more importantly what he exactly was. In growing horror he began to take in his new form. He possessed a white coat and a black tail with grey streaks through it. His cutie mark astonishingly was the Greek symbol “Φ”, phi, and he was wearing glasses. Great, he thought as he mentally rolled his eyes, even as pony I’m a dork. Princess Celestia cleared her throat to break the quiet, apparently being a goddess did not make you immune to awkward silences. Jack opened his mouth to apologize profusely and to ask a lot of questions, but this time the princess cut him off saying,
“Don’t worry Jack all will be answered soon enough, I must say this though, and you may want to choose a new name. I believe that your human name would not be received well in Ponyville or Equestria in general,” explained the princess. Her knowledge startled Jack.
“Why am I here? I thought I was dead?”
“A wish made by a man who has died a hero’s death is not something easily ignored. You called my name and I heard little one, welcome to Equestria Jack.”
“I-I don’t know what to say, being reborn in a new realm, someplace I’ve always wanted to live at that, is hard. It’ll take some getting used to. What do I do? Where do I go?”
“That is for you to decide little one, first though, I would proceed towards Ponyville. You are familiar with it already, and it is the closest settlement,” suggested Celestia.
“What do I do when I get there? I don’t know anypony! They’ll treat me like a freak!” exclaimed Jack, his voice rising to dangerous levels.
Princess Celestia only smirked, and as quickly as her smile appeared, did it disappear. The princess teleported in a wink of magic, that left Jack wishing he was a unicorn, or at least a Pegasus.
Jack stood up and looked around taking in the sight that was the meadow he was in. He basked in Celestia’s sunshine and began to trot in a direction he thought was Ponyville. He quickly came across a small cottage bursting to the seams with wildlife, which he assumed belonged to Fluttershy. Without thinking he casually trotted up to the cottage and saw Fluttershy helping her squirrel friends with a dance number. He came up behind her and tapped her on the withers, which sent her sailing a surprisingly far distance into the tree above them. Jack stood frozen, realizing what he just did and slowly began to look skyward. He could see Fluttershy cowering behind her mane, several stories up. He quickly became embarrassed for having startled the gentle Pegasus and tucked tail and began to back away, and she showed no indication of stopping him. He hung his head low and began to gallop down the dirt path away from the cottage to what he hoped was Ponyville.
Much to his chagrin he realized that the path led to the rolling orchards of Sweet Apple Acres. He started to trot in the gate when he heard the rhythmic whack of applebucking. He looked to his right as he trotted in looking for somepony to talk to. He heard the whinny of a stallion to his left and a mighty crack. He stood still as a statue as he watched the tree Big Macintosh had bucked snap at the base and began to fall right at him. He knew there was no dodging this tree, it was too tall and had to thick of a trunk. Jack decided that it would be best to duck in his head to avoid trauma. As the seconds stretched to millennia, he finally felt the trunk smack into his side and he felt ribs crack at the blow and his hyperventilation became labored and filled with fluid. He knew this feeling, the painfully familiar feeling of a punctured lung. He let out all the air in his lungs in a yelp of pain, knowing that may very well be the last air he tastes. He heard a deep baritone shout in horror, and felt the tree be scooped up off of him much to his discomfort, but this would be the last sensation before the darkness claimed him. His final thought before the blanket of unconsciousness suffocated the fire of his mind was, Please no, not again.
****
I woke from my night terror wailing like a banshee. Panic set in as I realized I was tied down, in a sterile white hospital room, I thrashed in panic, only to realize my hind legs weren't moving. My mind was lost, I was TRAPPED in a room, unable to move. I needed out, now. I saw somepony to direct my swirling hurricane of emotions at. I directed all the energy I had left, which I realized with a start was not a lot, into this one rant. And the pony could only look on in terror as I began to shout at her, my vision tinged red.
“Where in Celestia’s sweet Equestria am I?! Why am I tied up?! Who are you to keep a free pony tied down?! I have done nothing wrong! In fact I am the one who has been wronged! But how FITTING, proprium humani ingenii est odisse quem laeseris, it is human nature to hate a person whom you have injured! And why in Luna’s shapely flank can I not move my hind legs?!?!” I shouted with a fury that shocked even me.
I quickly shut up as a pang of guilt froze my burning rage, and I stole a glance at the pony, who I now knew was Applejack. I felt ashamed as I saw the bloodshot eyes of a pony who had been crying for a long time already. I was the first to speak up and apologize, its times like this I thought, I wish I would’ve just got wasted like a normal person.
“Look, Applejack...” I started, which elicited a curious glance from the mare, “that didn’t come out how I meant it, I’ve had terrible night terrors since I was a little colt and I’ve no idea where I am, some answers wouldn't be a-miss. Why am I tied down and why can’t I move my hind legs? What happened and where am I exactly?” I asked only now looking around the clean and bright hospital room I was trapped in, TRAPPED. But before I could suffer another crippling breakdown Applejack inhaled and began speaking in the gentle tone of her southern drawl.
“Now Ah’ll take your questions one at a time... uh?...” Applejack trailed off as she realized she didn’t know my name.
“Cato, Cato Laternsis is my name.” I lied remembering the princess’ advice.
“Cato,” Applejack smiled at the simple name, “now Ah know you’re curious, we’re curious ‘bout ya’ll as well, but the reason you’re tied down is uh… ‘cause my friend Twi’ looked into your dreams, to uh… try and get a name and maybe some family. She woke up from it just like ya’ll did, shriekin’. She wouldn’t say what she saw, but she insisted ya’ll be hogtied and she ain’t come out of her house since she took a peek at your head. And as to where ya’ll are, your in the capable hooves of Nurse Redheart at Ponyville clinic. I had Big Mac buck a dead tree to clear the soil and it snapped and fell on ya’ll. Nurse said she almost lost you a couple times but you’ll pull through, uh… mostly intact.”
I could barely hide the panic in my voice, “Mostly? What do you mean mostly? I thought you said she was capable!” I then realized the source of Applejack’s bloodshot eyes and tears, guilt. She told Big Mac to buck that tree; she felt it was her fault. That’s why she had Twilight look at my dreams, to try and help me, and she only ended up hurting another pony. She felt this whole thing was her fault; she needed somepony to tell her it’s not her fault.
“Applejack,” I managed to stammer out, “none of this is your fault, and I don’t blame you but you need to tell me, what happened to me?”
In between sobs Applejack began to tell me, “When that tree fell, it hit ya’ll in the spine, and unless ya’ll can afford a specialist unicorn from Canterlot, ya’ll gonna be paralyzed for the rest of your life, and this is all my fault.” Applejack mumbled that last bit, but I still heard it.
Not bothering to mention I had not a bit to my name, I reached out with my right fore hoof, placing it on AJ’s withers, I had only this to say, “Applejack, none of this is your fault. I don’t blame you and never will. I’d take being paralyzed over paralyzing another pony with guilt.”
Applejack then looked up at me with her red-ringed eyes, the beginnings of an idea starting to grow and take shape. She knew just what she had to do.
non est ad astra mollis e terris via
non est Vivere sed Valere Vita est
Chapter 2: Life is not Being Alive, but Being Well
After assuring Applejack that I was in capable hooves, I forced her to leave the soulless, white, and quickly depressing hospital room that was also swiftly becoming my Bastille. I looked down at my hind legs and felt a dagger of worry jab my normally infallible calm. (Didn't you just throw a hissy fit not two minutes ago? My brain commented. I really hated my brain.) I didn't have the bits, or any bits for that matter, to pay for my operation. My mind drifted to the elderly pale green mare Granny Smith, and how I could never allow myself to be as debilitated as her. I swore by Luna's freedom that I'd make it out of here on my own four hooves. I watched the orange mare with the three... apple red apples as her cutie mark, (Really? Is all my brain had to say to that.) as she trotted out the door. I saw a maroon, muscular form standing in the hall outside in long narrow hallway of Ponyville clinic. The form belonged to the stallion that put me here, not that I held a grudge. I winced as he tapped Applejack's withers making her jump sideways, startled. I poorly stifled a snicker as the large draft horse tucked in his tail and backpedaled in embarrassment. Applejack looked relieved to see him, then shot me a funny look that I could only identify as evasive, which worried me deeply. I craned my neck and raised myself up on my forehooves, having had my bindings recently undone by the ever-benevolent Applejack. For the first time I got the chance to thoroughly observe my surroundings. I was laying in a fairly regular bed, except that it had the ability to be leaned up or down depending on how you prefer to lay, I was currently sitting up. There was a window off to my left, with blinds drawn down allowing only slivers of light to pass through, and not too shockingly one sliver seemed to rest on my eyes no matter how I sat. (Trollestia..... ) A single stool rested by the right side of my bed, and a slowly fading wet spot was on the sheet next to that. (How long had she cried?... ) I gave a shiver, not just at the fact that I had never hadblanket, but as my gaze ended up resting on the undone bindings for my hind legs, which were pretty useless in hindsight. My gaze couldn't move off the bindings, they sat there looking like a coiled up snake ready to strike at my useless appendages. I realized that I was all alone, and with growing trepidation it dawned on me that I would stay this way. Applejack abandoned me, and was now trying to be evasive about telling me that I was on my own. My head plopped on the pillow behind, well I'd show her, I'll get better without spending a bit of bits. I strained my brain as hard as I could trying to get any response from my hind legs. And I thought the right one may have twitched.
I shouted in joy, "Suck it Applesmack! I'll be walkin' in no time!" I hoof-pumped triumphantly. Applejack poked her head in the doorway with a scrunched up, slightly annoyed, and quizzical look, "Excuuse me?" she accusingly drawled, "I'm tryin' to hav' a conversation with mah brother." She shot me another cross look before extricating herself and her stetson from my view. I now gave up on my depressing surroundings and started listening in on the conversation happening out in the hall.
".... don't care that it happened on our land," the unfamiliar drawl of Big Macintosh began, "that money is meant for Apple family members. Ma set that aside herself when Pa....." I couldn't make out that last part. "....wouldn't want us usin' it on some strange pony who came trottin' into our orchard uninvited. I ain't willin' to go spend the last thing Ma did on somepony Ah've never even talked t' mahself!" I turned my head, hoping to hear the gentler voice of Applejack.
"Big Mac, that poor pony needs us! The nurse said she couldn't find any record of him anywhere. He ain't got a bit to his name! Tain't fair that we break his back and leave him on the street with no place to go and in a wheelchair! What would you want us to do if you were in his situation?" Applejack's voice cracked with the burden of the heaviest of emotions, guilt. I could almost hear the fresh tears begin to well up and fall. My eyes drifted to the stool, then to spot where she had buried her face and cried for Gawd knows how long. I couldn't let her continue to be forced to bear this unneeded guilt, but the only way to help her was extremely selfish. I couldn't ask them to pay for a pony they didn't know. I locked my gaze on my paralyzed legs, knowing what I had to do. I was going to do all I could do as a paralyzed pony, I was going to sit it out. (Yay! Bring on the blood clots and muscle atrophy! )
"AJ, you know we can't be nursin' some paraplegic pony with applebuck season comin' up right quick. Iffen' we do fix that poor fellar up, who's gonna nurse him back? You? Applebloom? You know we need you on the farm AJ." Big Mac was making some disturbingly good points. Maybe they should just leave me here. What good was I to a group of farmer ponies. I had a philosophy cutie mark for Luna's sake. As Applejack retorted, I shut my brain up good
"Big Mac, ah didn't know ya'll to be so heartless, you put that poor sonuvabuck in that bed. Don't ya'll feel the least bit guilty of stealing his legs from 'im?"
"Now ah never said that AJ, iffen ya'll will listen to what I'm sayin' ya'll would kno' I'm doin' as Ah always have. Ah'm puttin' the Apple family first. Just like ya'll use to...." The sadness in Big Mac's voice startled me, and as I saw Applejack's flank come into view, it startled her as well. Startled her to silence, but it spurred me to action. I spoke up, my voice a very embarrassing, barely audible squeak.
"Um… I’m right here, and I can hear you guys." Applejack's flank unfortunately left my view, but her face filled the hole it had left in me. (Wait, WHAT?! )
Applejack's pained expression, and Big Macintosh's disapproving look were enough to make me regret ever opening my mouth. They gave each other a blank stare and they both entered the room through the narrow door. Big Macintosh nonchalantly shoved aside the stool, her stool, which had become the reminder of the burden that Applejack bore, for a pony she barely knew. I grimaced as Big Macintosh put his hoof over the spot on his bed, effectively erasing all that made this room unique to me. Applejack was the first to speak up, accepting the daggers that shot out of Big Macintosh's eyes.
"Look Cato, I feel plum terrible about what happened. And I'm gonna pay for that hoity-toity unicorn fellar to come down and patch you up. It's my responsibility to get you back on yer feet, iffen ya'll will let me." Applejack's voice trembled ever so cutely, err... slightly!
"So I heard, and Big Macintosh, before you object to Applejack's proposal know this. I plan to stick around. If I heard you right applebuck season's mighty close, and I'm gonna help buck. Free of charge, for I'd be extremely grateful." (And I need words with that Twilight Sparkle ) My voice was trembling similar to Applejack's, but only because she was giving me a look I hadn't been expecting, a thankful one.
"If he comes and applebucks his weight in bits will ya'll let us shell out the bits for the healer fellar?" Applejack asked pleadingly.
"Eeeyup."
****
I yawned, it had been about twelve hours since Applejack and Big Macintosh had left me. And I wasn't worried in the slightest anymore, I knew Applejack wasn't going to leave me here. They had talked to the nurse, and gave her the bits. The unicorn "fellar" was on his way here, but still wasn't due for another 4 hours. Applejack would be back then, at least I think that's what she said. In honesty, his life before and parts of his life here, seemed like he had looked down at them as a narrator or observer. His memories of then were disturbingly... third-person. I felt a tear somewhere in my head, a tear like in a tent, it let the stars and a full moon through. I conjured up thoughts of Luna's namesake. (Was it named after her? Or was she named after it? ) For some reason, thoughts of the moon warmed me more than Celestia's sunlight. I felt an odd bond to the moon, and to the stars around it. I continued to lay in the same bed, in the same room, in the same paralyzed body. Dreams of the moon began to fill my head until i slowly began to drift off...
Only to wake wailing the same as before, I continued screaming as the door of my room was bucked open with an ear-splitting crack. The rest of the scream died in my throat. There before me was Applejack, wearing one of the most worried (Or is it pained? ) looks I had seen her give me. In galloped a new creme stallion, he had a surgical cap and gown obscuring the rest of him. I couldn't even see his mane or tail.
My gaze came back to Applejack who was now trotting to my bed eyes squinted. I just had to ask.
"What, does my beauty shine to bright?"
Applejack facehoofed, "No, it's just... ya'll's eyes, they were doing this weird thing. It was pretty but uh...." Applejack's voice trailed off as she blushed.
I called her blush and raised her a nervous stammer, "Oh I-I... Tha-... I uh... thanks..."
The pony in the gown cleared his throat, "Ahem, well, I am Life Bloom and you are Cato?" He looked at me expectantly. I had barely heard him, my head in the clouds, or apple trees as the case may be.
"Cato? Life Bloom's talkin' to ya'll." Applejack nudged my still tender ribs, that I'd ALMOST forgotten about.
I grimaced, but managed to say, "Hnngh... uh.... Ya I'm Cato, it's a pleasure."
"Okay well now, would you like to get started? Applejack you may want to leave for this next part."
"Uh, why do Ah need to leave? Ya'll are just gonna be pointin' your horn and usin' your weirdo powers."
"Well uh... The spine being reconstructed can be, nerve-racking," he chuckled at his joke. "The process isn't completely painless and I'm afraid your friend may have an adverse reaction to these uh... sensations." I recalled Applejack bucking down my door when I started screaming.
"Well iffen ya think it's necessary Doc I guess I'll take my leave o' ya'll. See ya Cato, you better be standin' when Ah come back." She said just as much to me as to Life Bloom. The door creaked loudly, courtesy of the newly damaged hinges. It clicked shut and I exhaled breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
"Rather short that one, I assume that the trait runs in the family. Now let's get started Cato. I'll just redo your restraints and we can begin."
My eyes were as wide as dinner plates, my pupils as tiny as a gnat. "Nonononononono, not those, please no, I'm terrified of those things. And anyway why tie down a paraplegic?"
He chuckled of the illogicality of the situation. "Oh come now, it's only temporary, the price you pay for your legs. Well not the only price but you catch my drift. Now I'll just..." He flipped me over and began tying my restraints on my legs, with my face buried in the plush pillow.
"Why am I face down?"
His horn began to glow as he lowered his head, "Oh, it will help muffle the screaming."
His horn gained an over-glow, and my voice gained a few decibels and octaves.
non est ad astra mollis e terris via
Mens Sana in Corpore Sano
Chapter Three: A Sound Mind in a Sound Body
"Did the operation go okay?"
I rolled my eyes at the question Big Mac had just posed me. Of course I hated to seem uppity in front of the simple country folks, but somewhere along the line someone had told them that there was no such thing as a stupid question. Applejack elbowed me in the ribs on my right side, the ones she knew were still sensitive, and shot me an affronted look for my reaction to the question. I shot her a cross look right back, lifting my hindleg to cover my ribs.
Big Mac saw her elbow my ribs and spoke up in a banterous tone, "Ah know the feelin', AJ-," at the mention of her name Applejack shot Big Mac a poisonous look in an attempt to kill the words before they left his throat, "bless her heart, loves to help the ponyfolk. But sometimes she loves just as much to woop 'em and show 'em who's boss." Alas, to no avail, Big Mac's baritone continued on with the sentence AJ had hoped to slay.
There was a lull in the conversation as AJ stopped to think if that was an insult or not. I took this as an opportunity to indulge in my anti-social tendencies. I took a look around the farm that had almost been my grave, Sweet Apple Acres. I let my gaze sail over the rolling hills as a ship would sail the waves. Only briefly pulling into port at the things that drew my attention more than others, the creaky old barn, the creaky old farmhouse, Granny Smith's creaky old hip. My port of call being an overlooking ridge. I realized just how many trees there were, and how hard it will be for them, correction us, to buck all these things. I grew worried, I'd never even been to a farm, much less harvest what Applejack had called a bumper crop.
At the thought of the word of bumper, I plowed into Big Mac's barrel chest. I bounced back and landed perfectly... on the spot where the tree hit me. My eyes tried to jump from my skull in a vain attempt to escape the molten daggers that plunged into every fiber of my being, rending any endowment of higher thought asunder. I managed to suppress a squeal, but failed to stop the whimper. I was looking at Big Mac with an expression that I hoped said, Kill me , but he didn't seemed to be looking at me but off at something behind me. I rolled over to take the pressure off the spot , and sat with my eyes tight shut as I drank in a delicious glass Dr. Pain, with all 23 flavors of anguish. As the desire to end myself subsided I decided to take a look at what held Big Mac at such rapt attention. I regretted that decision immediately as I saw Applejack staring blankly off at something in the distance, with a single tear beginning the long, solitary trek down her cheek. I followed her gaze to something that elicited just as strong, albeit different, emotions. A tree, that's all it was, nothing to get worked up about right? I had done this before, lied to myself to try and strengthen the emotional bulwark I threw my feelings behind. There were multiple entrances to Sweet Apple Acres, he had trotted in on the one closer to Fluttershy's cottage and the Everfree Forest. Thankfully though, they had come in through the Ponyville entrance, which had let them miss the tree entirely. The tree in question was the very tree that had died early that year because a Cutie Mark Crusader stunt that AJ wouldn't elaborate on. The very tree that needed to be uprooted so that they could plant a new one where it had taken root. The very tree that Big Macintosh had skipped lunch to go and buck over. The very tree that had crippled me, and that now made everypony stand stock still in thought. A pain of a different kind started to fill my soul as I stared on at Applejack. I felt terrible. We had never discussed it but I knew she thought, in her words, "Ah fancied her." She cared for me as Fluttershy might care for an injured animal she stumbled upon. In my physical debilitation and skillfully suppressed mental anguish, I had mistook that for attraction. And I hated myself for it. By my simple desire to make contact with a pony, I had dumped a burden that nopony should carry on her. I felt myself rise to my magically repaired hooves and begin to slowly walk towards AJ.
Big Mac put a hoof on my back to try and stay me, only to recoil in shock as I screamed with paroxysm. I immediately collapsed as the cancer that was my pain went into relapse. I hit the ground with an unceremonious thud, that ignited a fire in my chest as my sensitive ribs took most of the fall. That, coupled with my scream, spurred Applejack to action.
"Cato!" she cried out with worry at my unmoving form. She ran over, making sure not to touch my back, and poked me on the head where a unicorn's horn would be.
I looked at Big Mac who had a look like the regret of everything he's done since meeting me just now had been dumped on him. With anguish filling my voice I mumbled, "Verpa... " (Dick)
Applejack and Big Macintosh looked at each other in confusion, then at the same time, "Huh?"
*Facehoof* "Oh, uh... nothing." I struggled to find something to dispel their curiosity.
"Is that some of that fancy-shmancy gibberish you used at the hospital?" asked Applejack with growing conviction.
My eyes widened to the size of a dragon's, did ponies even have an equivalent to Latin? They spoke English, so maybe they did. I decided to throw it out there and hope for the best. "Oh, that? That was just some old language that nopony speaks anymore. I learned it up in uh... Hoofswell."
"tu es slultus." Applejack and I looked at the seemingly dimwitted Big Mac. I looked at him as if he had spoken a language I didn't understand. I was shocked, relieved, and insulted all in one. Shocked that Big Mac spoke Latin, or the Equestrian equivalent. Relieved that they had an equivalent. Insulted that he just said I was stupid.
"what he say?..." whispered Applejack leaning uncomfortably close to the misinterpreting center of my brain.
"that I was stupid..." I replied, eliciting a snicker from Applejack.
"Ya'll think just cause yer some pony with a mysterious background an' big vocabulary that ya'll can just dismiss us farm folk as stupid. Yer mighty ignorant for thinkin' that. Ah learned Lutin when Ah was just a colt." Big Mac verbally beat me down but one word took my attention away from the rest.
"Did you say Lutin?" This word seemed to be their equivalent, but I wasn't understanding something about it.
"Uh? Ya, as in Luna's Tongue? How do you speak but not-"
I cut Big Mac off, "Oh, it's just not called that where I'm from. I-" *Facehoof*
"Where are you from?" Damnitdamnitdamnitdamnit, I really was stupid. I had been skillfully avoiding that question since I was released from the hospital after my procedure. Life Bloom had done some touch-up on my ribs and bid his farewell, with some sarcastic comments. I hadn't even told the hospital, but now I knew there was no avoiding it this time. But that didn't mean I had to tell the truth.
"I was born and raised in Hoofswell near the Prance border." I lied to the element of honesty, I felt like the residue scum leaves behind, not even worthy of being full scum.
"Oh, so yer family still lives up there?" Applejack was genuinely interested now.
"I don't have a family." I left it at that and so did they. In reality I didn't. (This is your reality now ) My parents had passed shortly before I left for college. But that was before, and this is now. I had enough on my plate already. There was a silence while the Apples chewed on that. Then Applejack spoke,
"Well do ya'll have anywhere to stay? Any things? We found you with just the coat on your back."
"I uh... don't. I've got nothing left. But don't worry about me, I've lived through worse. And I won't need a room in your home, just a tree in your orchard." They both shot me inquisitive looks but decided not to press the issue.
"Well uh... I'm kinda bushed, so I'll uh go find that tree."
"Why only a tree?" Applejack looked at me as if I was not only crazy, but self-destructive.
"I don't know. I guess... I'd like to be a tree."
****
I blinked the sleep from my eyes, for the first time I woke with no screaming. In an unusually good mood, I stood up and stretched taking a good look around at my first morning on the farm. It looked like I had slept in, late. The farm was in full swing, Applejack was over watering the corn with Winona weaving in and out of her legs, Applebloom and Granny Smith were inside preparing lunch, and Big Macintosh was moving the Tree . After our talk about my origins I withdrew into a shell. Only answering yes or no, and one signature "Eeeyup." I took in the farm as it was at work, and felt like an intruder. Everything was so nice and peaceful that I decided to duck out and go into town.
****
Ponyville was nice this time of year, it practically radiated with friendship and I hoped they would welcome me with open arms. But this wasn't the first I had been disappointed, the word xenophobic came to mind. I trotted down main street towards Twilight's library, a gigantic tree, maybe I'd sleep under it someday. I vaguely remembered Applejack mentioning Twilight before, but I forgot what she had said. I pondered on this for a moment, trying to find an appropriate metaphor when I saw a rainbow streak cross the sky, then maddeningly did several loops, and stopped abruptly behind a cloud. As my headache started to form I facehoofed and muttered what could have been the only cause,
"Rainbow Dash..."
"The one and only! Who's askin'?" The multichromatic pegasus was inches from face giving me a scrupulous look. I jumped at least as high as her cloud home, but praise be to Luna I landed on all fours.
"For the love of Lunus' fetlocks Rainbow don't sneak up on me like that! Why are you even here?" I had a tinge of anger in that, but why was she hovering again inches from my face?
"Who's askin'?"
"Cato, my name is Cato and I'm staying over at Sweet Apple Acres to help out with Applebuck Season. Now why are you even here?"
"How'd you know my name? I know I'm famous and all but I wanna know how famous, Where ya from?"
"Hoofswell, near the Prance border I-"
"Hoofswell?! I am that awesome? Uh, I mean of course I'm that awesome I meant uh... Hoofswell is a long way away. What brings you hear?"
She asked the question I never asked myself because I didn't want to know the answer. "I am uh... travelling! I'm a philosopher you see and I'm currently philosophicating some things."
"Ya don't care... Did you say Sweet Apple Acres? Why's Applejack lettin' you stay with her?"
"Well because she kind of dropped a tree on me. And because I told her I was gonna only sleep under trees."
Rainbow's expression spoke a thousand words, "Do you think I'm stupid? If you got hit with a tree you wouldn't be prancing around town. And if you're here helping Applejack then why aren't over helping her?"
"Yes, got a doctor, and because I never got the chance to come and visit your grandiose town."
"Hey! Who you calling stupid? Chump!"
"Rainbow, your hubris will be your down fall, si post fata venit gloria non propero." I started to leave at that final statement, but Rainbow Dash was not finished with me. She chomped down on my tail and put a hoof on my back for leverage. She pulled and touched the spot . Sweeping the pain aside,
"DO NOT TOUCH ME, culpae poenae par esto!" I lifted my hooves to buck Rainbow Dash in the jaw that would not stop opening and closing, allowing the mire that was her speech to escape. (Stop, you've caused enough pain. ) I kept my hooves raised, but simply allowed myself fall with a plop, on my rump. I turned to look at my back where the spot was. It looked fine, but felt like someone had forced a salty sun into the wound. I whimpered and collapsed into my own forehooves, the toll of the last few days finally catching up to me.
"I- I- are you okay? Do you want me to get Applejack or something?" I of course ignored Rainbow Dash's attempts at consolation and buried me further into my mind. I curled up and whimpered in pain, anguish, and dejection. I had no one, nothing, and no reason to continue.
"Uh, look... Cato?" I didn't even deserve her remembering my name, "I'm gonna get Applejack so don't move okay?"
"memento mori..." My whimper so low that it was impossible for her to hear it, although I wish she had.
****
I had dragged my pathetic form over under the nearest tree, which just happened to be the centerpiece of the park I was in. My sorrow was on display for everypony to see, and I couldn't care less. Dear Princess Celestia, please send me to the moon. Signed your most deceitful and despicable subject Cato. I hoped that prayer got to her, I actually was fond of living on the moon. My thoughts drifted to last night, as I lay under Luna's gift to everypony in Equestria, I began trying to piece together the puzzle that was my new life. I speak Lutin, the supposed tongue of Luna, I have a fondness for the moon and stars beyond, and I'm laying in the cold dirt under a tree. Yep, something's wrong with me. I had been filled with happiness, and even hope of a new beginning, looking at the moon. But Rainbow had well, dashed that all away. I knew she had in reality done absolutely nothing wrong, but if I put all of the blame on myself my mind would collapse in on itself. I could already feel a rift forming allowing untold evils to seep through like a festering wound, and I knew there was no way to stop it from spreading threw my mind like the infection I knew it was. My back hurt, my soul hurt, and I could feel a horde of darkness intrude upon my normally safe mind, they came from all sides, and stretched miles in every direction. The mental battlement I had constructed against my emotions had been laid siege, and torn asunder. Brick. By. Brick. The Barbars had destroyed my sanity and pillaged my aptitude for higher cognitive ability. I could only lay and whimper as the madness sacked the lush city that had once been my mind. I had made the conscious decision of surrender, when the Barbars had encroached upon the last great bastion of sanity left in my desolate ruin of a mind. They threw themselves upon it, and with wailing and grinding of teeth destroyed it inhabitants, my hopes, my dreams, my desire to live. In my mind, I was an abomination, a tumor that needed to be cut out. I had received my chance in another realm, why had I been given another chance? Was I so abhorrent that even Death could not be seen in my company? Was I so emotionally repugnant that Rainbow Dash had hoped she could dump the burden that I was on any other pony besides herself? Was I so mentally unstable that I desired nothing else than to see it end? I stewed in my own madness not even realizing that I had two mares giving me worried looks. Snippets of their conversation broke through the siege of the Barbars and gave a glimpse, that maybe somepony did care.
"How long has he been like this RD?"
"Since just before I got you AJ, I have no idea what made him do it."
"Well what happened just before this?"
"He reared up like he was going to buck me."
"I wish he had, what did ya'll do to make him wanna do that?"
"Well buck you too... He insulted me then tried to walk away, so I pulled him by the tail and used his back for leverage."
"Don't tell me ya'll touched him where the tree hit him. He whelps like a little filly if ya'll get near that spot."
"Whoa! So a tree did hit him? And he was walkin' the next day? That's one tough stallion, I'd like to start over with him."
"Ah wouldn't try to get close to him Rainbow, he scared the horse apples outta Twi' when she looked in his dreams. Somethin's wrong with that stallion, but he won't open up and say what. And to top it off Ah think he's fancy on me, and he thinks Ah'm fancy on him. Ah just met him and he's jumpin' to these things? I'd watch yourself around him, if he's doin' that and this he may not be all up there ya know? Least that's what Twi' thinks."
My heart fell at the renewed assault, the reinforcements I had hoped for was nothing more than a Trojan pony, brimming with Barbars. My mind fell, something cracked in me as the palace doors burst open madness flowing through like a raging river. Washing all in it's path away, never to be reclaimed. One last thought filled my mind, one. last... memento mori , remember you will die.
"Hey AJ, ya think maybe he just heard you?"
"Oh no, oh no oh no oh no, Cato can you hear me? I need ya'll to say somethin'. Applejack," she said to herself, just as I used to do, "why are ya so stupid! Cato, are ya'll okay? Should we take ya back to my home?" Her words stung like a touch to the spot . Her home, not our home, hers... our last sane thought filled our throat and forced it's way through our lips, carrying poison that would slay any pony's good intentions without delay.
"memento mori... remember you will die ."
"Cato, what's wrong with ya'll? What do ya mean?"
"Applejack, I'd step back if I was you." She inched closer to us, and that is when Orion asserted himself. We lashed out with a disparity in personality hoping that if we could not defeat the Barbars, we may at least side with them.
non est ad astra mollis e terris via
Chapter Four: The Corruption of the Best is the Worst
It was a cool summer night, Celestia's sun had fallen beneath the horizon and like a perverted phoenix the moon rose from the ashes of twilight. There was an undeniable calm permeating through Ponyville, one everypony had come to love almost religiously. But there were heretics among these ponies, and ones that intended to let all know their stand on this orthodox. Grunts rang through Ponyville as several ponies muscled for position in a seemingly one-sided altercation. A midsummer breeze thick with the scent of flowers washed over the writhing and sweat-slicked forms of the combatants, eliciting a slight shiver from all three. The form of one pony in particular had his back to a wall, figuratively of course. Current combat withstanding, he would never risk contact with that one touchy spot on his back that currently was having a hoof ground into it. This unfortunate stallion, was... well that was up for debate, but we collapsed under the paralytic pain that pervaded within our veins like venom. The anguish afforded I, the one from before, a certain lucidity as the madness retreated from the foreign sensation, having your pain cherry popped was a very trying time indeed. My eyes bulged as I rolled on to my back, and struck out making contact with the multichromatic mare's ribs who had moments ago held me crippled. I attempted to stand, but the torture emanating from my back prevented me from doing so. I glanced sideways at the mares I was currently trying to force away from me, the orange one gave a look of concern at her partner in subjugation, but began to approach me nonetheless. I began to backpedal to try and get away, but the cyan one shot into the sky and landed behind me, aggression wielded like a club. I froze, eyes darting around as I looked for a way out, but luck had abandoned me. I saw the tree where madness had gripped my mind, and it made me fear not just myself, but the safety of the two mares in my company. I had struck the kind one, Applejack, out of fear and madness. Now she brandished an ever-deepening bruise that had most recently developed into a deep shade of purple. Rainbow Dash held her ground, content with protecting Ponyville rather than bringing the beating to me. Applejack however, slowly approached and held out a hoof reassuringly as she got as close as she wanted to be. She paused to allow my teetering mind to adjust to this, then began to speak in a reassuring tone.
"Now Cato, I don't blame ya'll for this," Applejack cooed, gesturing towards her marred cheek, "but I need ya'll to calm down and tell us what in the hay is the matter with you."
"I say we dump him in The Everfree, he deserves it after punchin' you." Rainbow stayed where she was, but her words struck harder than any physical blow. I felt my sanity recede, but Applejack dragged it back out.
"Rainbow hush up, he obviously feels bad fer what he done. You're part of the reason he hit me in the first place."
"What?! Me? What in the hay did I do? It's what you said that made him hit you! He woulda' still been curled under that tree if you hadn't opened your mouth!"
"If ya'll hadn't acted like my Ma then maybe he wouldn't be so dern scared o' us!"
"Well maybe if you hadn't held me back we woulda' had him hog-tied and to Twilight already!"
As the two exhausted mares bickered in a pointless arguement, I took my leave and headed for the only place I knew to be safe. I must ostracize myself for others to be safe... just needed supplies for us.
****
The wind had picked up as our gaze fell on a creaky old barn, next to a creaky old farmhouse, all owned by a creaky-hipped mare. At least we have semblance of a norm , we agreed. Sarcasm was something Orion and I could both agree with. I liked Orion, he had the strength of someone who had seen the worst and dared the world to send more. Orion was what my mind had fragmented into, to be everything I couldn't be. He was charismatic and a born leader. So like now, I allowed him the helm so to speak. I let him take control as we trotted up to the doors of the barn and looked for any kind of latch or locking mechanism. Finding none, we nudged the door tentatively with our snout and it creaked open. Of course a place like Ponyville had never experienced crime, we doubt they had ever experienced death as we had. We entered, but struggled with our legs. The strain of the day on our newly healed legs was to much, we just needed to rest. After we covered our tracks and found a clever place to hide. It felt like weeks since we had gotten a good night's rest, but we knew it had been just last night. We looked up at the ceiling and were disheartened to find that we could not see the stars or the moon. I had told Orion of how soothing that great white ball in the sky was, so we came to a consensus that we would sleep in one of the trees. We did not wish the bruised Apple to find us, not after we bruised her. I personally did not agree with his use of force, but I had followed as all good citizens should. I had presented him with many interrogatives on the subject but he insisted that it was the right decision. First he said, we would gather up saddlebags of supplies, then we would ascend a tree and rest.
****
"Ah can't believe ya' let Cato get away!" Applejack's voice galvanized me, and I almost fell out of the tree in astonishment. Orion was a little slow to become fully alert, but when he was I apprised him of the situation. He took control and held us stock still, just as I had, but he lowered our head below the leaves giving us a better view of the area.
The sun had already risen and was somewhere out of sight, meaning it was near high noon. A light cloud cover had formed, The weather mare is preoccupied after all , and the sharp wind from the previous night had persisted into the present. The wind tousled fallen leaves and my mane alike as it rolled over the Apple's quiet orchard. We glanced right and saw the barn, we glanced left and saw the farmhouse. We could not find the source of the drawl, so the source came to us. With a thunderous crash and snapping of limbs the form of the orange farm mare crashed into ours and we fell to the ground with a thud. The pain from the fall shot through our body like a death of a thousand cuts, we cried out and flailed in response. We wormed out from under the unmoving, earthly representation of the farmer mare turned projectile. We struggled to gain our senses, we had fallen directly on our back. Orion, being the dominant one, had taken most of the sensation. Orion forced our gaze upon her, If we kill her our problems will be no more . I of course used my right as consul to veto this motion, but the mere of idea of it appalled me. I forced forward and brushed the weakened Orion aside. I lifted Applejack onto my back, which Orion started to object to, but I silenced him and trotted for the barn. Rainbow Dash called out for me to stop, but she hadn't seen me until I had headbutted open the doors. I bucked them close, laid the still Applejack on a pile of hay to the left of the doors, and threw my body against doors in a vain attempt to keep out Rainbow. She had obviously got a running- or flying?- start and barreled through the doors at high speed. I was sent reeling as the doors strained to remain on their hinges. My limp form fell in a heap next to Applejack, she still had not returned. I saw the gash on her forehead, just under the brim of her signature stetson. I knew she needed help, and I struggled to crawl towards her. Rainbow thought I moved with malicious intent and shot in between us. She took a wide, protective stance and her gaze burned my soul like vitriol.
"Back up chump! Your not gettin' near her!" She laid a protective hoof on Applejack's head, I winced when she put her hoof right on the sickening gash, she recoiled when her hoof returned covered in blood.
"You! You hurt her didn't you! Then you brought her in here to finish it didn't you?!" I didn't respond, I doubt I could. I simply reached in the saddlebags we had put together the night before, and pulled out a roll of bandages.
"Your not getting near her with those." And I didn't, I laid them at her feet in a mock offering. She fumbled with them and struggled to get them around Applejack's head. I lightly nudged her with a hoof, and she slowly turned her head towards me.
I reached for the bandages with my right hoof, and she dropped them from her mouth, exasperated. I retrieved those, my canteen, and a towel; and set about my work. I opened Applejack's mouth and poured water down her throat to keep her hydrated. I poured the rest of the contents onto the towel and began washing her coat of the sanguineous fluid that flowed from her head. Once the wound was clean I removed AJ's signature hat and clenched the bandages in my teeth and set about patching her up properly. After thoroughly mummifying her I stepped back and admired my work. But the pride of my achievement paled in comparison to my apprehension, Orion stirred in my head, and I knew he intended to end me as an entity. I felt his presence grow stronger, and I fell to my knees as Orion asserted his power. In a last ditch effort I spoke for the first time since my perversion of sanity. It was barely audible and desperate, but Rainbow still heard me.
"Rainbow... get Twilight... help..." I collapsed as Orion encompassed me and forced me into unconsciousness. We had things to discuss.
****
An air of apprehension hung in the tree turned literature archive. The three ponies looked down at the writhing form of the pitiable pony before them. They all knew he needed help, if not he would surely perish. Twilight had taken another peek in on the stallion's mind and knew that the sanity of Cato stood on a dagger's edge. So she did the only thing she thought she could do.
"Spike, take a letter," Spike quickly produced a quill and parchment, "Dear Princess Celestia, I have a matter of grave importance. One of your subjects has fallen ill. Not in a manner that has ever been seen before, or any manner that can be cured by the people of Ponyville. We have him here in the library, and we request your assistance. He is not contagious, he is not even physically ill. This pony is afflicted with a diseased mind and needs treatment before damage is permanent. Please send help. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle." In tongues of emerald dragon fire, the message was turned to smoke and sent to the Princess. All three conscious ponies, and one dragon, watched the smoke soar towards Equestria's capital.
"Do you think she'll send help?" Rainbow's question was innocent enough, but her voice was tinged with doubt and apprehension.
"If she don't, Ah don't think Cato'll make it through the night." Applejack's drawl caused the distorting movements of Cato, or whoever he was now, to stop briefly.
"Celestia has always taken my letters seriously, if I know her she's personally on her way to this very ro-" Twilight was cut off as a lightless, swirling void filled the middle of the room. It congealed into the form of an ageless mare, who's body had stood the tests of insanity and magical reconstruction alike. "Princess Luna..."
"CHARMED, *ahem* Oh, a thousand pardons Miss Sparkle." Princess Luna stood embarrassed but graceful, seeming to draw all the light in the room to her self. Then subsequently killing it.
"No time for pleasantries Princess, where's Princess Celestia?" Twilight's voice carried the utmost urgency.
"Oh, she thought it would be more appropriate for me to come. I have more experience in the matter, and this pony seems to have an affinity for all things 'Luna.' I intend to wake him and find out why." Luna stamped her hoof in emphasis, and her tone carried with it the determination of a pony who wanted answers, not more questions.
"Uh... Princess? He ain't exactly takin' a nap. He's been out cold since before we brought him here," Applejack did her best to sound civilized in front of the Lunar Princess, "And what did ya'll mean experience?"
"My dear Applejack, you have met my psychological other have you not?" All light died around the Princess, and her body reshaped into a taller, darker mare, "Nightmare Moon?" The light suddenly returned, and before them stood the Nocturnal Magister Populi , Night Master of the People. All three mares cowered in fear as the Darkness Incarnate grinned revealing teeth that ended in points, those of a carnivore. The teeth slid out and hit the ground with a slobbery plop. At this Luna winked back to herself and fell onto her back in the throes of laughter. The library rang with the triumphant laughs of a prankster.
Luna wiped a single tear from her eye as she sat up, "Hehe... You should see your faces. Nightmare Moon works every time!"
"Princess Luna! This is no time for pranks, or laughter!" Twilight could not believe Luna's behavior, there was a pony in trouble and she just sat back and laughed! "This is a time for action! We need your help saving this pony!"
Luna sobered up immediately, throwing on a steeled expression she began, "My most heart felt apologies Miss Sparkle, where is the pony in question? What is wrong with him exactly?"
"Well there's somethin' Ah can tell ya'll. See Cato here has somethin', Twi' calls it 'multiple personality disorder,' bunch o' whooey... But she says that the other 'mental entity' is tryin' to wrassle for the top spot." Applejack gave the Princess a forgiving look, for the prank.
"And Twilight can't figure out a way to patch up his head. So we were hoping that an alicorn might have something in her repertoire." The last word surprised the three other mares, Rainbow Dash blushed and muttered, "What? I can read books too ya know..."
"Never mind that, Luna do you have a spell for helping him? I'm afraid he's losing the battle in his head." Twilight took a pitying look down at the stallion twisting about on the floor.
"I might, but it requires one of you to do something rather... unpleasant." Luna cringed slightly at the gazes the other ponies were giving her."You see, outside of using the Elements of Harmony, there isn't much we can do for him. But thankfully I know a spell that can give him the smarts, the strength, or the bravery of one of you. I can transfer your mind into his, and then you can help him how you deem necessary. This only leaves the decision of who will do it."
"I'll do it."
"Ah'll do it."
non est ad astra mollis e terris via
Nemo Liber est Qui Corpori Servit
Chapter 5: No One is Free Who is a Slave to his Body
With a burst of light from her horn, Luna put Twilight to sleep. She then turned to her impromptu protectors, Rainbow Dash and Applejack, and addressed them in a formal tone,
"Now you both understand that neither of you can leave until I deem it appropriate correct? The three of us cannot be disturbed under any circumstances, do you understand?" Luna watched Rainbow flick of a quick salute, and Applejack tilt her stetson down to hide her grumbling and bandages. They'd all agreed, Applejack excluded, that Twilight should go in seeing as Applejack was hurt, and her head injury may provide complications. Luna was now mentally prepping herself for what was to come. Of course she really didn't need to, she could make all the buildings in Ponyville get up and walk away without breaking a sweat. It was not the strain that worried her, it was the rust. She hadn't cast a spell like this in over 1,000 years. Just before Nightmare Moon, and she was going to do it now on a whim.
Luna muttered to herself, "Well, now is a good a time as any I suppose..." With that she caused a line of moonlight to manifest itself, starting with Miss Sparkle's horn and ending with Cato's forehead. It was as sturdy as a stallion's back, (Which after speaking to Applejack, turned out to be a very poor metaphor.) and glittered like crystal. She felt the surge of Twilight's strong mind rush across the bridge, and poured itself into the already overcrowded consciousness of the poor stallion laying still next to her. Luna could do nothing but wait, wait for Miss Sparkle to finish her task.
****
Publius Aetius Aurelius (Golden Eagle of the Public) had always served the NRL faithfully. His father, and his father before him had served faithfully as city guards, but Publius had wanted to be a soldier. He had never once questioned an order. Even when his brother got to go dragon hunting and he was stuck with guard duty. But right now he wanted to do nothing but turn and run, disobeying every word that his commander barked. His training kicked in then, rooting him in place with all four hooves as his centuria formed around him. His cohort had been dispatched to face the threat that had screamed over Luna, the capital of the Proud Novus Respublicae Lunae . The New Republic of the Moon had spread its borders and mongered fear in the hearts of many lesser peoples, but never before had they felt such fear. Panic had spread in the streets like a virus and nine cohorts of his legion's ten had been spread through the city to restore order. The object had crashed just outside of the city limits, and just outside of the city limits was where he stood. The impact had generated a huge crater, smoke and steam seeped over the edge as blood from a wound would. It seemed that the very Earth bled with this wound. The first centuria, of the first cohort, of the first legion, the very best of the NRL, now stood at the brim of a boiling seething portal to the Sun, Hades, or Hell, take your pick. His centuria, the first, of course had to be the first in, and of course his contubernium was at the front of the front. Decanus Nemo (Sergeant), his Decanus, began to bark orders to his contubernium telling to approach the edge, it might as well have been the edge of the world. No one moved except for one soldier, one who had always taken orders. It was in his blood after all. Publius Aetius Aurelius stuck his head out, and squinted into the misty depths below. He couldn't spot anything out of the ordinary, at least out of the ordinary for a giant crater. He turned his head and bit down on his short sword, it slid from the scabbard with a metallic shing . Publius did the stupidest thing he could have done, he stepped into the gaping maw. He steeled himself, expecting to meet the foulest beast from beyond this world. He picked through the steaming debris in an effort to reach the center of the crater. The sight before Publius frightened him more than any beast. It was a mare, curled into a ball, with his back to him. She was lavender, with a deep purple mane, and a glimmering star for her cutie mark. He knew he should fear for his life, he knew this thing was no pony. Publius had heard tales of foul temptresses that ensnared you with just a word or look. He put these fears to the back of his mind and stepped forward, if he failed surely his cohort would not share his fate. He poked the mare in the ribs with his hoof, rousing her from her demonic slumber. The form of the sorceress shifted, and exposed her forehead. On her forehead resided something that Publius did not understand, and people fear what they do not understand. He cried out, instinct taking over. With a harsh kick he flipped that demon onto it's back, and brandished the cold, steel death clenched in his jaw. The demon cried in pain, but Publius gave no quarter. He would allow only one word to escape his lips. One, simple, command,
"Dic." (Speak )
"Well geez, I know I made a big hole but you don't have to insult me." Twilight rubbed the back of her neck still holding her eyes clenched shut. Publius hadn't understood a word, to him she had just bewitched him with an incantation. He whinnied and stomped his hooves, alarmingly close to Twilight's head and brought the sword closer to the magical mare. Only now did Twilight's eyes open, they opened to the size of dinner plates. Twilight watched the sword nervously, then moved her eyes to her attacker. She noticed the way the earth pony's mane formed a high crest, the color of Luna's coat, and he had a scar running from his left eye to his chin. He wore armored barding that covered his entire torso, obscured his cutie mark, and ended in a skirt. He was a pale white, the color of the moon, and he appeared to be scrutinizing her rather closely.
"Dic." The word struck a chord in Twilight's mind, she thought back to the lessons Celestia's Lutin lessons. What was the old rhyme?
Duc, Dic, Fac, & Fer,
should have an e,
but it isn't there.
"Of course! A pony who spoke Lutin would obviously have mental delusions in it" Twilight posed this to no one in particular. "If I can remember the spell I found on that maybe I could..." Her attacker's expression turned to anger. He obviously didn't understand her either, and it was enraging him. Publius had thought he would die in this hole, but instead he now stood face to face with nothing more than a mare with a horn. An abomination, that needed to be purified.
"NOLI DIC!"(Don't Speak! ) Twilight decided to listen, and bide. She gathered her thoughts, and tried to remember the translation spell. Her horn glowed slightly, and she suddenly understood what the stallion before her was saying. Twilight hoped it went both ways.
"I said stop that! A foul temptress shall receive no mercy from me!" The stallion that Twilight hadn't got a name for, was screaming at her brandishing his sword in a rather poor power play.
"Look, I uh... come in peace?" She was hesitant, hoping that the translation spell worked on his ears to.
"So you do speak Lutin, not just that foul witch speak."
"Uh yeah... that's uh just my native language. No witchcraft here mister?..."
"Publius, my name is Publius Aetius Aurelius, and you are encroaching on the sovereign territory of The New Republic of the Moon. You have disturbed the peace and damaged precious farmland outside of Luna. By order of the Praetor your to be under arrest, what say you in your defense?"
"I uh... have come to see Cato. I am an emissary of the moon." Twilight technically hadn't lied, Luna did send her, and she controlled the moon. He dropped to his knees and bowed his head in reverence.
"The old tales told of one sent by the moon, it is my duty to take you to the Consuls... or Consul." He looked away for a moment and Twilight knew that Cato was in trouble.
"Did something happen to the Consul?"
"Perhaps, I will explain on the way, but you uh... may want to stand behind me." He turned and began to pick through the debris of Twilight's impact. Twilight wasn't surprised that she came out unscathed, either she couldn't be harmed in the dream or Luna had somehow kept her protected when she hit. But why would she need to stay behind him? She opened her mouth to ask as they went over the top.
"Why would I need to stand behind you? I'll have you know. that. I..." The words died a quiet death, as she met the gaze of over eight hundred ponies, all armed to the teeth, literally.
She heard a coarse, authoritative voice shout orders. "COHORT! SHIELD WALL!" Every other pony sheathed their sword and pulled shields from their armor. They all stepped forward and enveloped themselves in shield. It was an effective defense with few gaps or breaks. Publius stepped forward and raised his right forehoof and explained who the purple pony was. They all dropped their shields and let them, through, which gave them an opportunity to observe just how many resources the army had committed. Twilght could see what looked like, well looked like nothing like anything she had ever seen before. She leaned her head over towards her soldier turned bodyguard. He followed her gaze and nipped the question before it blossomed into a question.
"Those are Ballistas , man portable artillery. They fire metal bolts to take down big beasts mostly, doesn't kill 'em most of the time. Just scares 'em off."
"Do you have a lot of problems with wildlife?" Twilight cocked her head in curiosity, she wanted to know what kind of world Cato's mind had conjured up.
"Not around Luna, sometimes something big will wander down from the north, sometimes Diamond Dogs or Griffins get a bit pushy. We've always managed to push them back, we've held the land better than the Equestruscans ever did."
"Equestruscans? Who were they?"
Publius gave her a slightly confused look. "Your a lunar messenger, but you don't know the Equestruscans?"
"Uh... no. I was uh... only given knowledge of my mission, nothing else. So uh... do a lunar messenger a favor?"
"Rather informal for one of such status, but I will answer your questions to the best of my ability." He cleared his throat, and disgustingly spat on the ground to his right, the opposite of where she was standing. He looked back and blushed, realizing what he just did. "Oh uh... sorry. Used to being a soldier and all right? Not really use to a pretty... I mean a mare being around. And I'm normally not so rude, it's just that we've been out and about Luna, and I'm kinda tired. I-"
"Equestruscans! Focus!"
"Right. The Equestruscans were the people who showed the early Lunans civilization. They showed us iron working, art, and the art of using that iron. Eventually we sacked their cities and brought the once mighty kingdom to it's knees. We assimilated them into the NRL and not much is left of them. They lived north of here, closer to the Oats (Alps), a very large mountain chain that runs along the northern border with The Evergaul forest."
"What about to the south? Is there anything there?"
"Aye, there's more to the south than the north. You've got the whole Marediterranean down there, along with Cowthage and Sifilly (Carthage and Sicily). To the west is a whole lot of nothing, but the east holds the land of Graze. (Greece) Consul Orion has got big plans, he plans to conquer it all, but Consul uh... never mind."
"What happened to Consul Cato? Why won't you tell me?"
"It's not my place to tell, anyway I have explicit orders to take you to Orion only."
Twilight Sparkle stopped, she looked at him with a glare that could stop a manticore. She started to walk towards him, and for every step she took forward he took one backwards. "I did not come to see Orion , I came to see Consul Cato. You will take me to him or so help me I will buck you with the moon." Twilight wouldn't drop her gaze from his eyes. She didn't know why she had gotten so furious with him, but she needed to get to Cato as soon as possible.
"I have orders ma'am, I've never disobeyed an order, and I don't plan to now."
Twilight closed her eyes and her horn glowed, she wrapped Publius in magic, and flipped him over in the air. She opened her eyes to an extremely terrified grown stallion on the verge of squealing. Of course they'd never seen a unicorn before, they were in an Earth Pony's mind after all. "Now, you're going to take me to Consul Cato, or so help me I'll put you on the sun myself." Twilight was slightly shocked by her words, that was so unlike her... Maybe this place was taking it's toll on her to.
"Yes ma'am! I will! But please put me down!" There was panic in Publius' voice.
"Oh right, sorry. Now, where is the Consul?"
"It's a bit of a scandal you see. Orion had Cato locked up, a bit of a scandal and he's seized control all for himself. I can get you in there easy, but leaving with the Consul won't be so easy. Why do you need him?"
"Because, the moon sent me to free him. He needs to dethrone Orion."
****
It took them roughly twenty minutes to get to the palace and get to the jail.Twilight had lifted the key off the guard with magic, and Publius had gotten them inside in the first place. They headed down and began searching for Cato, and shortly thereafter they found him. Cato was wretched, his ribs were showing, he had scars on his back from a whip, his coat and mane were caked with mud and blood and missing in some places, and he was curled silently in a ball in the corner. Twilight sent a prayer to Celestia in hope that he would be ok, she couldn't stand to see him. She almost retched at the sight of him. Publius had taken over and was now fumbling with keys trying to find the one that opened this door. The sudden commotion woke Cato, if he had been asleep, and he perked his head up to see why the guards now visited him. Much to his surprise he saw Twilight Sparkle, and a pony he recognized as a well decorated soldier. He struggled to get to his hooves, but could not, and fell down with a whimper. Publius finally found the key and aligned the tumblers with a satisfying *click*. Publius bent his neck downward in respect and pity, and Cato attempted to return the gesture but simply ground his chin into the dirt. Publius heart swelled with sadness as he saw the once proud stallion, his once proud leader, laying broken before him. (Publius had always preferred Cato to Orion, he saw Orion as a cookie-cutter politician. He was willing to send young men off to die in far away lands, but he would not raise a hoof in aid.) Twilight finally gained the courage and stomach to come and help Cato. None of them spoke, as they lifted the battered pony onto his hooves, or as they watched him fall again. Now Twilight knew some healing magic, and she used that now. She willed the magic to flow from her horn, tiny blue sparks jumped from her horn and were absorbed into Cato's wounds, mending them well... like magic. Twilight stepped back and watched most of the cuts disappear, but the scars persisted. Twilight realized they weren't literal wounds, but symbolic ones. The scars represented all the difficult times he had made it through, but not made it through unscathed. This is also when Twilight realized the reason Cato could not stand was not physical, or whatever passed for physical here. He bore a weight on his shoulders that she could feel. Publius kept trying to lift Cato onto his hooves, but kept failing. Twilight walked up to him and nuzzled his neck, giving the only remedy she knew for a broken spirit, friendship. Cato looked up at her with the most pained expression Twilight had ever seen, as if her friendship hurt him. But, shocking Publius, Cato stood by his own power and began to exit the cell. Twilight placed a hoof on his back to stop him, and he did not flinch in pain, he simply turned his head to look at her. His look spoke a thousand words, I cannot let you risk yourself for a lost cause. I must do this by myself . She gave him a simple look back, No . He bowed his head in defeat and glanced a look at her companion, which was really just a figment of his imagination. While Twilight checked to make sure the Jailer wasn't making his rounds, Cato acquainted himself with Publius.
"So, Publius is it? What kind of tours have you been on?" Cato asked this to fill the gap of silence, to buy him time to think, and he rather liked talking to himself. Of course Cato knew the answer already, he knew everypony's tale.
"Well three Marches ago the First Legion, under Orion's orders, marched into the Oats to do a little dragon hunting. Turns out he was only after their gems, but I still got awarded the Crescent Moon, and you know the other medal." Cato recalled the ceremony held for the returning First Legion, he had handed out the medals after all. If he recalled correctly he had given Publius a Crescent Moon for being wounded on the front line, Publius had sustained severe burns on his right side. Cato had also given him the highest honor in the NRL, The Blue Moon, awarded for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Publius had heard the tale told by the Praetor, Publius had single-hoofedly taken down a dragon making its home to close to the southern Oats. He wasn't causing any troubles but Orion claimed a dragon this close posed a threat. Cato had leaked his true motives, he simply had the legion attack so he could take the dragon's horde.
"What's the Crescent Moon?" Twilight had returned, and her curiosity had returned with her. While Cato explained this to her and while she explained the translation spell, they began to make their exit making sure not to wake the Jailer on their way out.
****
Publius shifted weight and bucked open the door to Orion's private study. He aimed right for the words Veni, Vidi, Vici , (I came, I saw, I conquered) and let the door loose of it's hinges. A rather bored-looking Orion awaited the motley crew, he didn't even take his eyes from the view off his balcony of the city. With Cato taking point they charged in and stood defiantly, Twilight to the Left and Publius to the right. Orion lazily looked their way, and gave a toothy grin, and for the first time Twilight viewed the tumor that grew in Cato's mind. He had shimmering gold coat and a deep, royal purple man that was cropped short similar to Cato's. His cutie mark was a crown of laurels and the letters "SPQL." He rose taller than anypony she had ever seen, and had more muscles than Publius and Big Macintosh combined. He was truly an outstanding example of ponydom. Orion had an aura of authority and unending malevolence, as if your mere existence insulted him. Twilight would have bolted then if it wasn't for Cato, who seemed to radiate the very opposite. The space between the two Consuls seemed to waver with power. Cato turned and whispered, "Remember, let me do the talking."
Orion spoke with a mellifluous tone, and Twilight's resolved wavered slightly. "Ah, Cato! It truly is a pleasure to see you back on your hooves. I weeded out the corrupted Praetorian Guards, and executed them and the ones who assaulted you so viciously. But enough of that, who do you have with you? I do believe I know the stallion, but who is the wonderful mare in your company? Have you finally-"
"Shut up, now is when you listen." Cato's voice carried through the chamber with an almost unnatural volume. He was acting out of character, and Twilight thought it contradicted what Applejack had told her about him.
"Well Cato, I suppose I can move past the formalities, if you'll move past the hostilities."
"You tried to have me killed, I believe hostilities are well within my rights. Then again you have no respect for those."
"Have you killed? Why I would never! I treasure your input in the Senate! The very fact you try to blame a few bad apples on me is appalling! I had the entire Praetorian Guard purged and I hoof-picked the new ones, I assure their utmost loyalty."
"Loyalty to whom? You picked the last three groups, and the last three have all attempted to assassinate me. I think we need to start blaming the orchard Orion."
"I have tried to warn you numerous times about the population's thirst for blood. Do not act as if I wish to go out and watch ponies murder themselves in the Circus Maximus. I cannot be what you are! They would have me murder every single pony outside of here! You know not the atrocities they attempt to force me to do! I have just managed to appease them with one of their less gory suggestions! But by the moon! It had to be Applejack! They forced my hoof Cato, 'twas not I who desired Applejack cider..." Cato was shocked into silence. He had no words to attack with, he only could watch on in horror as Twilight retched off to his right, Publius was helping support him. Cato's mind was blank, but slowly his mind rebooted.
No it can't be. He's just trying to manipulate us. Even Orion isn't insane enough to do that to Applejack. How could the ponies of Luna desire that. How could they know about Applejack? Orion and I had resolved to keep the truth hidden, unless...
"Did you tell them? Did you tell them the truth about this place? Does the Republic know that it's just a figment? Because I think you're lying about killing Applejack." Cato spoke with renewed determination, he gestured towards Twilight, and Publius trotted over to her side.
"You're still just as clever I see, I would've hoped I had beaten your wits out of you. Of course I would never compromise my power here, but you on the other hand. You wish to destroy everything I have built, and I everything I hope to build. This is no longer your mind Cato, it's mine."
"I have died before, and I won't let some low-brow, no-good, half-rate excuse for a pony steal my second chance. Now Luna damn it all, your going to step down or I'll make you step down!" This statement pulled Twilight's head from over the balcony railing where she had been simultaneously getting a view of the city of Luna, and her lunch. Did he just say he's died?
"Oh Cato, have you ever considered," Orion gestured out the window with a broad sweeping motion, "that all of this, is your fault?" Cato was absorbed in thought as thought on what Orion had said. Cato quickly grew disheartened and fell to his knees. Orion seized the small victory and advanced as he spoke. "Why were you allowed to come here? Why do you deserve this? I'll let you in on something Luna told me. You don't . You don't deserve any of this. You're someone living on borrowed time, you're someone who has had their chance. Nopony deserves two lives, which is why we both know that this one is mine. This is my birthright! I was made for this! You're just an afterbirth, that slithered past Celestia. You're an abomination that needs to be purged."
"Enough! " Twilight's eyes were glowing, and her magic amplified her voice to deity tier volume. She wrapped Orion in magic and threw him against the far wall, he bounced off and crashed into his desk with a deafening crack of wood. She magically raised Cato to his hooves. "Cato, you know he's a liar. Anypony deserves a second chance, you're no exception. Now come on, he's made it clear he won't surrender."
Cato gave her a confused look, and Twilight blushed. She felt like Fluttershy whenever she managed to be assertive. Twilight was filled with a childlike giddiness. All of that was shattered when Publius was thrown at their hooves in a heap. Orion brimmed with fury and the world seemed unstable around him. "How dare you assault me! I have made no aggressive actions towards you, yet you attack me?! This is-" CRACK , Orion slumped to the floor. Cato looked at Twilight with a single eyebrow raised in curiosity. Her horn was glowing, and a single, broken chair leg was floating over Orion's limp body. She gestured Orion and rolled her eyes. "That pony could talk forever couldn't he?"
"Yes he always was quite the orator. But uh... thank you Twilight, rather anti-climactic, but thank you." He walked over to where Publius limped over to Orion, and gave him a swift hoof to the ribs. Cato approached him, asking Twilight to look away, and with a swift flick of his hooves, humanely snapped Orion's neck. It was the first time Cato had killed anypony, even if he was imaginary. He swore he would never hurt someone again, no matter the cost to himself. He resolved to repay everypony in Ponyville for what they had done for him, even if they hadn't helped him directly. "Publius, toss him over the balcony..." Cato dipped his head low, he had full control of his own mind. And he knew what he had to do. This whole world in his head was created for Orion, Cato knew he must destroy it. It was the only way to become normal again. "Twilight? How did you get here exactly?"
Twilight's attention was torn from a map of the Marediterranean, "Huh? Oh, Luna had a special spell that could join two minds. Oh speaking of Luna, she wants to talk to you about some stuff when you feel up to it. And uh hey, did you make this whole place yourself?" She pointed a hoof at the map behind her.
Cato blushed a little, he had always been a little nervous about opening up to others. "Uh... Ya, you have a lot of spare time when somepony else is running your head you know? Well, I guess you wouldn't know but uh... He thought it was an appropriate metaphor that a greater civilization would rise from the ashes of the last. He called my old mind the Equestruscans, and his new people the New Lunar Republic. But I think Publius told you that already, and furthermore I... uh..." Cato shook his head a little, looking confused he looked around the room, then up at the ceiling. "You want me to tell her what? Look don't get snappy telepathy isn't normally the way I communicate! Fine I'll tell her."
Twilight had her head cocked to the side in confusion, Was Cato talking to himself? Well I guess he was talking to himself when he was speaking to Orion but...
"Hey Twilight, Luna said, Brace yourself. Coming out won't be nearly as pleasant as going in." Cato snickered, "That's what she said." He burst out in a fit of laughing as Twilight disappeared. What had he meant that's what she said? Of course that's what she said. Maybe he still wasn't all there.
****
The first thing my mind registered was the smell. The horrid, acrid smell of fresh vomit. It burned my nostrils and made bile rise in my throat. Then came the sticky, wet, warm feel of my coat against my skin. My first thoughts were of course, Oh Goddesses, Orion hadn't lied. I'm covered in Applejack cider. Well look on the bright side, she always said she made the best cider. By the moon I really am mad. Then I opened my eyes and noticed Twilight head first in a waste bin, with Rainbow Dash supporting her and holding her mane back. Then it hit me You puke in your dreams, you puke for real. I sighed in relief and tried to stand up. I had been tied down again . I struggled against my bonds to let my good-willed captors know I was awake. And that I really did not want to be sitting in Twilight's lunch. I looked around and noticed the remaining two mares looking over at me with curiosity. The taller and more regal one approached me, undid my bonds with a suspicious stare, and plainly stated her intentions. "Outside, we talk, now.
non est ad astra mollis e terris via
Adversus Lunam ne Loquitor
Chapter 6: Don't Speak Against the Moon
"What did you need me for? You interrupted my appointment. I do rather enjoy when that little colt visits me."
"I do apologize, but there is trouble in Ponyville, and I feel you should handle this."
"Ponyville? Why can't your student handle it? She has been self-sufficient thus far."
"This is something somewhat... new to them. They do not know handle this, short of using the Elements."
"Oh? And you believe I can handle this better?"
"Well you do have an experience in this sort of matters, ones of the mind I mean."
"Oh... that is what you are talking about. This is happening to another pony?"
"Not just anypony, I believe you will want to meet this pony yourself, he speaks something rather interesting. He may be the last of his kind."
"...Ponyville you said? I will return when the matter is resolved fully."
"That's my Luna..."
****
"What do you know about me?" Luna fixed me with a look of authority that would scare the bejeezus out of anypony. Except the one who had just been to Hell and back.
I was pissed off, not at anyone in particular. But pissed was pissed, and I was a smart ass when I was pissed. I rolled my eyes and started rambling, making sure not to look at her. "Well you're an alicorn. Your coat is so black if I saw something floating at night I'd say 'Drop it Luna.' You control the moon, which is rather ironic seeing as how you were trapped on it. You speak a language that, much like your friends from before your banishment, is dead. You try to relate to my mental struggles, because you have also experienced it. But as an immortal being I wouldn't expect you to understand death, nor the guilt of failing others. I do not know everything about you, but I do know that you are a backwards, antiquated, guilt-ridden wretch that prefers to wallow in her own pity than go out and meet her subjects. You didn't even bother to learn the modern speech patterns. I know all I need to know. You can't get over something no one blames you for, and now you're trying to use your mistakes as an example to be avoided. You're a relic of the past, and now you are struggling to find a purpose. While it is noble for you to become a warning, don't... that's... that's about it."
"Good, then you have already filled in the blanks yourself. Although some are wrong." Luna maintained a neutral look even after the verbal beating I thought I had given her.
"Wrong?" I was out of words at the moment, so I kept it simple.
"Very. Although, I cannot hold you at fault. No pony aside from my sister would be able to guess my motives for helping you. You may have guessed wrong because you either relish the recent attention afforded to you, or you assume I am some weak-minded, weak-willed aegrota ." (sick person) Luna breathed in the damp twilight air, the time between
"Minima Maxima sunt , (The smallest things are most important) What is it about your motives that you're not telling me?"
"Yes, well... that. The reason I have gone to such lengths, and believe me when I say I have, is because you are something unique, something of mine."
"Oh? I'm your property now? What would you have your arbiter do?"
"No you are a free pony, I have seen the wretchedness of slavery. It is not something to joked lightly upon Mr. Cato."
"Equestria had slaves?" This genuinely surprised me.
"No, but keep in mind Equestria hasn't always been here, and ponies had to come from somewhere. This brings me to my point very well though."
"And what is your point?" We were both being fairly short, but that was because I was mad and she was trying to conceal her emotions.
"You see, long before the founding of Equestria, Celestia and I created ponies. Celestia and I together made the unicorns and pegasi, but she alone made the Earth ponies. She gave them a strong connection to the sun, such as the ability to grow food. She made them from the earth," she tapped the road with her hoof for emphasis, " and they share a strong bond with it. Naturally I wanted to also make my own version of Earth ponies. She made them from the earth, so I made mine from the dust of the moon."
"What are you saying?" I had stopped walking and was now sitting under a very familiar tree. The puzzle was beginning to fall in place.
"These Lunar Ponies, they had much in common with Celestia's Earth Ponies, but they shared their bond with the moon. I made them a language so they could be differentiated from earth ponies. But they also some of my mental... eccentricities. You see I kept them from the other three tribes of ponies. I hid them by giving them land near Zecora's homeland. This land was perilous, so they forged a strong republic. But soon they fell to the dangers around them... soon there were none left. The guilt and sorrow weigh down on my heart even today. But the Lunar Ponies laughed and played in my night, and with them gone no pony was out at night. This made me jealous of Celestia and the utopia her Ponies lived in. So I... I believe you know that story." Luna hung her head in shame and plopped down her flank next to mine. We sat below the tree for several seconds, watching the sun beat back the haze, and rouse the ponies in their houses. Luna sighed, and looked at my with sad eyes. "Do you see? These ponies rise like machines to the day, and flee from my night. No pony has truly seen my night as beautiful since the last of my creation died. That is, until now. Out of some miracle, you appeared."
"You're saying that... I'm made of dirt?" I was to confused to put it together.
*Facehoof* "No, well yes, but special dirt. I'm saying that somehow you are born of the moon, and that you are the last of my ponies, and I have a way of proving it to you." Her horn glowed a mirror winked into existence, I glanced into it and realized how destitute I looked. It seemed each hair had an opinion of which direction was the best to jut out at. My eyes had bags, and my coat was stained with blood and muck in several places. The whole of me was sticky with sweat, and I knew I needed a bath, or a day at the spa. (Scratch that, no spa. ) "You see I added something special in each of my ponies that would set them apart from Earth Ponies." Her horn again glowed and a pale light flushed over me, it drove back the newborn sunlight and filled me with a sense of calm. "In the presence of moonlight, their eyes depict the first night sky their eyes beheld." My jaw dropped as I saw my eyes, my pupils had turned to a full moon, and the rest was twinkling with the first Equestrian stars I had ever seen. I was enraptured with a wanting. I yearned to see those stars again. But as the sunlight poured in and my eyes reverted to normal, I was broke of the trance. I was speechless.
"I... I... what does this mean?" I kept staring into the mirror, suddenly not recognizing the pony looking back.
"It means that you know where you're special and that uh..." Luna looked slightly lost herself. "But aren't you happy to know what you are and where you're from?"
"Credo quia absurdum est. (I believe it because it is absurd.) Thank you I guess. For making me, and for telling me what I am. This probably saved a lot of confusion, but uh... could we maybe keep this between us?" I wasn't entirely sure how I was going to process this, but I still had something to thank her for though. "Actually, what did Celestia tell you about me?"
"Not much actually, just that you spoke Lutin fluently and that you were in trouble. I learned about you from Applejack while you Twilight woke. You didn't wake immediately. Oh! I almost forgot," She winked a small pendant, in the shape of a crescent moon, into existence, "this should let you sleep without being under the moon. There used to be more of these but..." A haggard looking Berry Punch stumbled out of her home to look at the Princess and the new pony next to her. Luna saw this and chuckled, "I suppose that is my cue. I must return to Canterlot now. I hope that back gets better Cato." With a flash she was gone, and I was left dumbstruck. I put on the pendant, and walked over to Berry Punch as she swayed in the slight breeze. With a haggard sigh I asked,
"You got any hard cider? It's been a rough day." She nodded her head, gave a drunken smile, and waved her hoof for me to follow. She looked happy to get a new drinking buddy. Yep, first alcohol then Sweet Apple Acres.
****
Berry Punch did indeed have hard cider, and she was very generous in the serving sizes. I stumbled out of her house with a friendly wave goodbye, and a slurred farewell. I stumbled down the street, past Sugarcube Corner, past Twilight's library, past the city limits, until I reached the path to Sweet Apple Acres. This normally easy walk had an added challenge, my inebriated brain. I had managed to stumble all the way here, laughing like an idiot all the while. My vision of the world swayed, and things melded together. One object in particular seemed to move more than the others, it also got bigger. This blob came up to me, looked me up and down, shook its head, and lifted me onto its back. I realized that I was being carried by Big Macintosh, and that he was taking me to the farmhouse I'd never been in. I got scared that I was going to meet Apple Bloom and Granny Smith drunk. Thankfully Big Mac nudged open the front door, and snuck upstairs. He knocked on the first door in front of the stairs, and nudged it open. Applejack was sitting just to the left of the door, surprisingly, reading a book. She had her hat hung on a hook to her left, and Big Mac plopped me on the bed to the right of the door. They started talking but I couldn't understand much. I looked at the nightstand on the far side of the bed. It had a picture of the Apple Family, a lamp, and a small vial. In my drunken stupor, I reached out for it and snatched it up in my teeth. I pulled out the cork, and downed the whole thing. Applejack slapped my hoof and grabbed the vial. I could understand what she said, "He just drank all a' Zecora's sleepin' potion. The idiot will be out most of the day. So we might as well leave before he starts talkin' in his sleep." Sleep potion? Oh hey, I am sleepy.
****
OW, OW, OW, OW. My head throbbed in time with the undulations of my stomach. I opened my eyes and saw a trash can. My mouth did the polite thing, and gave my ass a break for a change. I shoved my head in and lost what little food I had eaten in the last couple days. After the contents of my stomach had emptied into a new container, I lifted my head up to take in Applejack's room. I was shocked, to say the least. There before me, apparently oblivious to my sickness, was Applejack reading a book. She had her hat off, and her hair undone. Seeing her like this made me curious as to why she wore a ponytail. I looked back at myself, and saw the opposite. I was filthy, and my mouth was ringed with vomit. I was disgusting. I looked back to Applejack and saw her big green eyes looking at me. She facehoofed, then motioned for me to get up. She was nice enough not to talk when I had such a terrible headache. I rolled off the bed and made for the door, Applejack in tow. I did my best not to break my back, again, on the stairs. I ducked out before Apple Bloom or Granny Smith saw me from the kitchen. I didn't need food right now, I needed to wash. As if reading my mind Applejack had a scrubber and a bar of soap in a basket with a towel. At this point I let her lead the way, and she led me to a nearby pond that looked clean enough. I trudged into the pond's sludge. Applejack set the basket down next to the pond and sat down next to it. After getting myself submerged and completely wet, I went to get the soap. Applejack hadn't moved since I got in and I was curious why she was watching me bathe.
"Are you gonna leave?" I gave her a suspicious look as I reached into the basket for the scrubber and soap.
"Why would Ah do that? It's not like ya'll are doin' anythin' embarrassin'. Hay, Ah might just join ya'll in a minute." Applejack shrugged the look off.
"But, I'm bathing." I still didn't understand her argument, my hangover prevented all rational thought.
"Uh, Cato? We don't normally wear clothes. Ah don't see the big deal." I gave a big 'Ooooooh,' and took the soap and scrubber in the pond with me.
"You look nice with your hair down, why don't you wear it like that more often?" I attempted to make small talk while I washed.
"Well ya'll will soon find out that long hair is a might impractical workin' on a farm. Gets in the way of things. Do ya'll really like it?" She looked genuinely surprised. Either she didn't get a lot of compliments, or she didn't wear her mane like this often.
"Ya!" I shot her a smile, "the gold really shimmers in the sunlight." We sat in silence for a couple minutes while I mentally berated myself for saying something so stupid. I finished washing, and turned to Applejack. "So what are we gonna do till the sun goes down?"
"Well, Ah reckon ya'll know your way 'round the farm well enough. How 'bout we take a dip? In a pond that ain't full of yer sweat that is." She jerked her head in the direction leading away from the pond, and lead me to a small pool that had carved itself into the side of the mountain. It was a small thing, but it bubbled and steamed with heat. Applejack reached for her hat, and realizing it wasn't there blushed slightly at the reflex. She kept her end of the deal, and dipped herself in the hot water. I plunked in opposite of her.
"Well this is nice, how'd you find this?" I stretched out as far as I could. My hoof pumped Applejack's under the water and we both drew our hooves back, awkwardly.
"Well, Spike showed me actually. After stealin' all my leaves he thought it only fair to show me this, and dig up some gems for me. Ah almost wish he would steal the leaves more. Ah made more bits on the gems than Ah would've made on the apples."
"Leaves? How do you steal leaves?" I could feel the tension in my body melt away as I closed my eyes and laughed at the story Applejack told me. She told me how Spike had started to mature, and that meant he started to steal everything.
"So Ah gave him a blanket, and he thanked me about fifteen times!" She erupted in laughter, "I'll admit I didn't believe Twi' when she said Spike was the one stealin' mah leaves. I mean come on, sweet little Spike runnin' wild." I stopped laughing for a second, and gave Applejack a thoughtful look. "Bit for yer thoughts, Cato?"
"Huh? Oh right. I just wanted to say I can never thank you enough for what you've done for me. I don't wanna sound like Spike and say it so much it loses it's meaning, but..." I move over to her in the spring, and lay a hoof on her shoulder. "I mean it when I say this, I owe you my life, and I can never ever repay you in full. I'm going to work pro bono until the day that I die." Applejack inhaled as if to object, but once she saw the look in my eyes she knew that this was just as much for me as it was for her. "Applejack, you don't know how it feels to die. To feel that spark die, and know that all you've done up to that point has meant nothing .But I have a feeling that you know death, and that you know how bad it can hurt. You had that sleep potion for a reason, and I want to hear the story eventually. For now though, relax. You've got Applebuck Season coming up, and Celestia knows what else. So stay here and relax while I go see if Big Mac can tell me how to do your chores.
"Cato, I..." Applejack was still stammering as I trotted down the mountain path to Sweet Apple Acres. She slumped down in the spring and started thinking about what I meant.
non est ad astra mollis e terris via
Chapter 7: Apple of My Eye
Knock on door detected... Begin Start-up Sequence
Initializing...
Checking Main Power... Check
Synchronizing Internal Clock... Check
Rolling to assess Inner Ear... Check
Groaning to assess Vocal Cords... Check
System Check complete... Waking
My legs are asleep, I've got sleep in my eye, my mane looks like a natural disaster had somehow landed atop my head, and somepony was beating against my door before the sun was up... Yup, I'm on a farm. I lifted my head to see who exactly was at the door. The pony on the other side knocked again, but this time they called out,
"Up and 'at 'em son! Ya'll already let yer breakfast get cold. Come on out 'fore we finish the day without you!" Oddly enough, it was a voice I hadn't heard yet. It sounded elderly so I thought maybe it might be Granny Smith, but as I disentangled myself from the sheets I was still guessing.
By the time I had finished extricating myself from the warm, plush prison I had spent the wee hours of the night in, Granny Smith was bursting in the room with Applejack in tow. Applejack was sputtering apologies like a car and emissions, but Granny Smith never said anything. Granny Smith was quick to hush Applejack as she whipped out a tape measure, and began measuring me all over. Applejack motioned for me to keep calm and let her measure on, but she was getting awfully... grabby. After about a minute of this Granny Smith mumbled something, and nodded at Applejack. Applejack sighed a deep sigh, and Granny Smith went about her day as if nothing had happened.
"She was just checkin' to see if yer good enough to plow the fields and all... Ya know." Applejack was blushing and stammering as if her words meant something embarrassing. If they did I didn't catch it, and I simply shook my mane straight and nodded her a farewell. I didn't have time for words, and Granny Smith had something about a breakfast.
****
"I've never had hay bacon this good before, Granny Smith! How did you get so good?" I had never hay bacon at all, but that doesn't stop it from being good.
Granny Smith chuckled, and flipped another piece of hay bacon over in the pan. "Awh hayseeds sonny, when you get to be as old as this mare you pick up a few know-hows. Anyhow, that pink sugar pony that Applejack spends so much time with used to always come down to have my special hay bacon. I got a lot of practice then." Granny Smith was quiet for a couple seconds, but then she inhaled a long breath, and started a long story. "Ya ever heard the story on how we got hay bacon? I doubt it, not many ponies have. Story goes, (Now remember that this ain't entirely true.) that a long time ago there was a fourth race of ponies. These ponies were strange, instead of growin' plants outta the soil like us Earth Ponies they ate critters!" I feigned shock and disgust as Granny Smith left the hay bacon in the pan to burn. Applejack rolled her eyes, and took over the bacon related duties. "Oh that's right! Ever wondered why it's called hay bacon? 'Cus it ain't honest bacon! Real bacon comes from... Pigs !" I jumped from my chair in fright. More because Granny Smith had nearly leapt across the table. She fell onto her back laughing, then said something about her hip. She got up, and trotted off, seeming to have forgot that I was even there. Applejack and I stood in silence as we recovered from Granny's fairly random story. Applejack didn't know, for now, that the story hit close to home. She went on tending the bacon, while I finished what I had.
"So uh... meat-eating ponies huh?" I chuckled, and gave Applejack an understanding smile.
"Ah'm really sorry 'bout that sugarcube. She don't mean nothin' by it." Applejack was suspiciously avoiding eye contact, but I dismissed it as embarrassment. I did my best to alleviate it.
"Well shoot, ain't no harm ever been done by nopony tellin' a story." I did my best mock accent, which was surprisingly good. Applejack chuckled, and turned to face me. She had a smile finally, and she shook her head as she went back to the bacon.
"Yer somethin' Ah'll tell you what, certainly somethin'." She took the remaining bacon out of the pan, put it on a plate, and covered it with a rag. She cocked her head towards the door, I chomped the surviving hay bacon, and then I followed her out the door.
We went out onto the front porch, and got a good look at the farm. I saw Apple Bloom and two other fillies running down the road on their way to town. I heard the rhythmic thwacks of apple bucking, and I could hear the plops as the apples hit the ground. Applejack, to my right, let the wind blow her ponytail every which way. I let the breeze rush over me, and sighed as it swept upon me likes waves on the beach. Applejack nudged me, and led me down the path to where Big Mac was working.
I trotted up to Applejack's side, and gave her the once-over. "You're awfully quiet this morning, Applejack. Somethin' up?"
"Yup, Ah think somethin' is... the sky!" She took off, dashing in between trees as she went. She shouted back to me, "Now come on, Ah'll race ya to Big Mac!"
By the time I caught up to her, She already had a cart loaded to the brim with apples. She told me to come on over, so I cantered over to where she was standing. She slipped out of the harness, walked over to me, and gestured back at the cart. "Alrighty, all ya gotta do is take that cart up the hill to the barn over yonder. Now be careful, this here cart is about as full as they come. We're just tryin' to see how much weight yer little frame can handle. Ah'll be walkin' with ya'll on this run, but don't expect me to hold yer hoof all the time Tall, Dark, and Lunar." With that, she flipped my necklace up into my snout, and calmly leaned over to the nearest apple tree with a smug grin.
"Oh... It. Is. On. Mac, suit me up."I jumped over next to the cart's harness. Big Mac just gave me a look that said 'You are an idiot.' I hung my head, and grumbled, "Fine, but Applejack, this doesn't mean I'm not going to show you who has a so-called small frame." I slipped into the harness, and pulled up next to her. "I've got half a mind to race you, and the other half agrees." Then I took off up the path.
****
"Sooo.... should I pay for that?"
"Eeeyup"
"Look, Applejack was the one who put the weights in the cart. Have you ever had a cart break from just apples?"
"Nnnope, but Ah've had some break from stupidity."
"Was Applejack the cause of that too? I mean, I'm not debating-"
"Ya ya'll are."
"I'm not debating that I should pay for it. I'm debating whether or not this is because of my conduct."
"Yah were charging uphill with a cart full of apples, racing mah sister, who had no cart. You'd never hauled apples before yesterday, and yer not the biggest fella this side of the orchard. Ah'd say you were actin' mighty foolish."
"Fine, I'll work nights then. I stay up late better than I get up in the morning."
"That's not real hard!" Applejack shouted from under the cart, that layed broken at the bottom of the hill. Apples lay strewn about like a disaster area, and parts of cart were laid out like pieces of a puzzle.
"Hey! This is your fault. Seeing as how you were the one who put Big Macintosh's weights under the apples." At first I couldn't believe how heavy the cart was. But once the weights flew out on the cart's way back down the hill. I knew who to blame.
"Hoohoo! Ya shoulda seen how big ya'll's eyes got when you were huffin' and puffin' up the hill. I thought you were gonna pass out then and there! But don't sweat it none, Ah'll work nights with you, it's the best way to make it up to ya."
"Oh no you don't," Big Macintosh was shaking his head in disagreement, "don't think Ah forgot what happened last Applebuck Season. Ah'll be sent to the moon if Ah let you get that bad again."
"Well then Ah hope ya'll like bananas, 'cus Ah'm gonna help him. If that harness hadn't o' busted when it did poor ol' Cato may o' ended up in the hospital again!." Applejack got out from under the cart, and got face to face with Big Mac. Suddenly I felt like this was about to get bad.
"Yer always puttin yer friends and the ponyfolk first. Ya ever stop and think if this was gonna help yer family, Applejack? Just once, do ya stop and think if yer actions are hurtin' yer family? Ev'ry night Ah sat up in that bed listenin' to you tear yerself apart thumpin' on these damn apple trees! And now ya wanna help some stranger pay fer the damages he done? I ain't a stallion of many words, and this a damn rare sight, but Ah will not let you tear yerself apart fer some pony you think you owe somethin' to." And then he left, he went back down to the trees he had been bucking before. Applejack stood in stunned silence, and I didn't know what to say. I was pretty sure that was directed just as much at me as it was at her. I decided the best thing to do right now was to join Big Mac, and try to learn the ropes before he went to bed for the night.
We worked in silence for the rest of the day. We went in once to eat some lunch that Granny Smith had prepared, but we let Granny Smith dominate that conversation. She rambled on about this, that, and the other, but I didn't pay attention. I was watching Applejack for the subtle signs of a heavy heart. Big Mac was keen to notice this, and was quick to tell me that Applejack was under no circumstances allowed to help me at night. During normal hours it was fine, but if he caught us both up at night then he would put me out on the street. I knew that he was probably just making empty threats, but I wasn't about to test him. I would, however, work my tail off to try and pay him back. Thankfully, I could run off only a couple of hours of sleep. That didn't stop Granny Smith's smart comments, however. It seemed she had a sleep deprivation joke for every day of the week. I'd come in from the orchard when she was getting ready to make breakfast, and she would always be standing over the stove with an amused grin on her face. She'd say things like "Ya could carry apples in those bags under yer eyes!" Big Mac almost always worked on the opposite side of the orchard from me, and Applejack was almost never at breakfast. Applejack asked if I would want to start going up to the spring more regularly. I of course said yes, and we often spent our lunch break relieving tension in that immaculate spring. She would tell me about the adventures her friends would have, but she wouldn't talk about last Applebuck Season. One particular lunch break, about the third day of working nights, she finally caved.
"Ah've never met anypony more stubborn than Ah am, until now. If ya really wanna know so bad then Ah'll tell ya." She shifted uncomfortably, and rolled her jaw. Applejack gave me the sternest look she could muster, and began the story. "So last Applebuck Season Big Mac had busted up himself somethin' bad. It was up to me to harvest every apple in this orchard..."
By the time she had finished the story, we were about 2 hours late. Big Mac never said anything, and neither did we. Applejack's story had revealed why Big Mac was so reluctant to her working nights, and it told me just how dedicated she was to this farm. That night I brought in the last apples I needed to pay back Big Mac for the cart. It had taken me four straight days of work to get the apples in the barn. Big Mac and I stood in the barn when he noticed something wrong.
"Shoot boy, ya'll brought in a couple extra. Ah'm inclined to fetch ya a couple bits for your hard work. Give me a minute, and Ah'll have em right out." Big Mac started to walk away when I had an idea.
"Hey Big Mac! Forget the money. I've got something else that I think want. Where's your cellar?"
****
I helped Applejack slide into the spring, and she did her best to give me an inquisitive look from behind the blindfold. I had called her up here while the sun was on its descent, and had tied the blindfold at the base of the path that led here. Now, the sun was almost to the horizon, and I wanted it to be perfect. I told her to wait in the spring while I got something. I ducked behind a nearby rock, and lifted the surprise onto my back. I bit down on the handles of the two accessories, and went back to the spring. I plopped it down across from Applejack, and then she started asking questions.
"Alright Cato, what are ya'll up to I reckon?" Applejack raised a hoof to adjust the blindfold. I abruptly slapped her hoof back.
I tried to speak with stuff clenched in my teeth, "Oeh Noe yu dun't mishy," I set the items down, "you are not gonna ruin this surprise."
"Ow! Fine, I'll sit and be quiet." Applejack nursed her hoof. I thought how this was about the second time I had hit her. Hopefully, it wouldn't become a habit, but she still had that shiner from before so...
"Sorry, I just want this to be worth it. You can open your eyes on three. One... Two..." At two Applejack threw off the blindfold, and saw the surprise laid out before her. It was a cask of the best cider they made, and a dozen cupcakes from Sugarcube Corner.
Applejack sat in delicious silence, while I filled the two pint containers that once been clenched in my teeth. I set a pint and a cupcake next to her, then I plunged into the warm waters with a pint of my own. I sat with a smug expression, sipping the cider clenched in my hoof. Applejack finally spoke, "Cato, how... How did you put all of this together?"
I was a little confused at what she said, but I told her nonetheless. "I don't know what you mean by all of this, but it was easy considering. Big Mac wanted to pay me for some of the apples I brought in over the last few nights, but I told him I'd take a cask of cider instead. Then the cupcakes, I told Granny Smith that I would make breakfast for the next few days if she would loan me a few bits. After that, I asked Apple Bloom if she would run to Sugarcube Corner and pick up the cupcakes. In return, I would help her with her schoolwork. I'm running on two hours of sleep, but it was worth it. I wanted to repay you for all you've done, and for treating me like part of the Apple family. I thought some booze and sweets was the least I could do." I went over to refill my pint when Applejack climbed out of the pool, and walked over to me. I was paying more attention to my booze than to her to be honest. So when she threw her forehooves around my neck in a tight embrace, to say I wasn't shocked would be a bold-faced lie.
I did my best to hug back, even going as far as spilling my cider. "Oh, hey Applejack. Are you okay?"
Applejack eyes had misted up, but she was still smiling. "Cato, ya'll can't realize how much this means to me. Out here on the farm, we never really get a chance to enjoy our product, so to speak. Sittin' here, watchin' the sunset with you, and knockin' back a cold pint is all I could ever want."
"Speaking of knocking back a cold pint," At that I chugged what I had in my cup, set it next to the spring, and pulled the cask closer to the water. Applejack and I sat side by side in the spring, instead of across from each other. We chatted for a while, sipping cider all the while. Finally she looked at me and asked,
"What kind of name is Cato anyway? Sounds like potato." Her cider sloshed about in her cup.
"It's an old name for 'pony of prudence.' What kind of name is Applejack?" I polished off my pint and reached for the tap, when an idea formed in my inebriated brian.
"Well iffen we don't like each other's name, why not make up new ones fer each other?"
"Alright, I'll name you... Malum Oculi Mei , or just... something else for short." (Apple of my eye)
"Well fine Mr. Fancy, be that way. Hey! I'll call you Mr. Fancy."
"I like it, it sounds so... fancy." I had implemented my plan flawlessly.
"Ya know 'Mr. Fancy', by the time we're done with this cider Ah doubt we'll be able to trot down the hill without breakin' our necks."
I looked up, I had abandoned the cup and had just started taking it from the cask itself. "Ya well... Looks like I'm spending the night in the spring then. Is that such a bad thing?"
Applejack took a nice long breath in, and finally sighed, "Nope... Ah don't think it is, and Ah can't just let ya stay here all by yerself. 'Sides, what fun is there in drinking alone?" She looked over to me, but I had already fallen asleep with the tap open on the cask, pouring into my overflowing mouth. Applejack chuckled as she turned off the tap, and then she took her hat off and laid it on my head. Applejack refilled her pint, and sipped from it thoughtfully. "Yeah... all alone..." She set her cup down, and leaned her head against my shoulder. The apple farmer finally called it a night, and hit the hay, as the saying goes.
non est ad astra mollis e terris via
Prologue
Jack emerged blinking from his grotto of a dorm room, and decided that the pills that guy at the party had given him were most definitely not Mentats, and most definitely not Pinkie Pie approved. Jack couldn’t believe what happened last night, his first college party (Last, his headache painfully added with a throb ) as a freshman had ended in him being unceremoniously dumped back in his room by his roommate. Jack remembered why he came to college in the first place. He always wanted to become a philosopher, like in the stories he used to hear in Latin class freshman year of high school. So when senior year rolled around he decided to shoot for a philosophy degree, with some Latin and Greek thrown in there as some icing on the résumé cake. As he walked down to the quad and saw an interesting scene unfold before him, he saw a student get thrown against a brick wall by a far larger man who was holding what appeared to be a gun. Jack stood stock still, not daring even to quiver or breath.
“Oh… What would a brave pony like rainbow Dash do?” Thought Jack. He knew he had to do something, and the man hadn't seen him yet, so he decided to act. Jack quickly dashed, like Dash, to the student’s aid. He quickly rethought this, and began to silently creep around. Jack spotted the behemoth of a man again, a plan unfolding before him. Jack sprinted around the corner plowing into the man catching him off balance as the man reached into his pocket. He tried to establish wrist control before the man could turn the gun on him. As they wrestled on the ground the student immediately fled taking him out of equation. Jack started to relax in his head before the man elbowed him in the temple and blurred his vision severely. As Jack struggled to even rise to his knees the man kicked him in the ribs and flipped him onto his back. The man grinned and mumbled something about a stupid bitch, Jack couldn’t hear him over the ringing in his ears.
The man stooped low and fished something out of Jack’s pocket, and something out of his own. He pointed the gun at Jack, as he stood tall over the disheveled student, he pulled the trigger once. Jack’s body screamed as a bullet tore through his right lung, his vision became red, ringed with black. His breathing became and labored as he slipped from the realm of consciousness. As if the situation wasn’t bad enough his brain added, "I told you it’d be your last party," as it began to be starved of blood and oxygen. As he felt the encroachment of death he could only weakly think, “Celestia, save me." He slipped into the warm embrace of unconsciousness and felt his mind be set adrift of his body, never to return.
