Memories are not the only thing to return

The black Stallion walked the streets of Ponyville looking for the house of Vinyl Scratch. “Man, I hope I’m on the right road this time. I hate having to explain how I’m not from here and that I’m lost… Fuck.” He was walking for the better part of three hours. Now, Ponyville is by no means a big town, its just he was poor with directions.

He stopped multiple times to ask the passing Ponies if he was headed in the right direction. Everytime the Pony would just say yes, and run off, like they were scared of him or something.

He couldn’t understand why for the longest time. ‘Man, I should of ate at Green Lucks when I was there…’ He thought to himself. His stomach growled loudly at him. He clutched it attempting to silence his crying hunger.

“That’s a nice blade you got there Sonnie.” a voice came from a house next to him. He jumped back, not expecting somepony to talk with him. “Um, thanks…it’s a Katana, forged in the Black Fires of Drangons Keep.” He walked up to the elderly Pony sitting in a rocking chair, on the porch of his home.

“I figured as much Sonnie. Haven't seen a Kataner in many a year I recken. Yessiry, I was quite the young Adventurer.” He let out a small chuckle. The Black Earth Pony raised a brow at the old Pony.

“Um, look, I don’t mean to be mean or anything. But I’m in a hurry, would you happen to know where a Mare named Vinyl Scratch lives?” The old Pony looked puzzled for a moment. “Oh yeah, little Vinyl lives next door with her friend there…um…Octavia! That’s her name…Shes a nice girl too…”

He was next door….he was about to keep walking down the road if this Pony didn’t call out to him. “Thanks Pops, I owe you one.” He turned and trotted to the next house over. He stopped at the door, looking through the window. ‘No lights on…’ He reached a hoof up and knocked solidly on the door. It didn’t take long for him to hear hoof steps coming from inside.

The door opened and there stood a Unicorn Mare, smiling as happy as can be. “Can I help you?” She asked politely. “Um yes, I’m Namikaze Fire, I’m looking for Black Foxx. Do you know him?” She inhaled sharply. He eyes widened, a look of fear, yet excitement came across her face. “He took off this morning. Haven’t seen him since. You know him?” Fire smiled, his friend was alive and well. “Yeah, can I come in? I’m soaked from that storm still.” She nodded and stepped aside for him to enter.

Its been hours. Hours since I got here. This grave marker of my once Special Somepony. Blood River. I’ve been laying here, never moving, just thinking, thinking of the past. Of her.

My ear twitched. A loud pop accompanied by a bright flash came from behind me. I didn’t move even though all my senses told me to. Something about whoever this Pony was, they felt familiar.

His hoof steps grew louder as they approached me. “Foxx? I knew you were alive man.” He said coming into my view. He was a yellow Unicorn, with Red stripes. His mane was a two tone Purple, long and shaggy. His eyes were a bright Green, covered by a pair of clear goggles.

“Hey OP. Still alive too huh?” I said still looking at the stone. He sat by me, looking at the grave marker. “You look like shit man, what happened to you? Last thing any of us heard, you took a job up North.” I flared out my left wing, only lifting the right one due to it still being bandaged up. “Everything was going fine, just some territory war between some Mafia groups. Then some Hydras come out of no where, fuckin everything up.”

He pointed his hoof at my chest. “That how you got that? You were always shit at fighting Hydras.” He laughed. I joined in laughing with him. “This hole in my chest, yeah. Wing was from a Griffon a bit before.”

I looked up at him, He eyed my snout. “Your snouts looking good. Scars healed up nicely. How’s the leg?” I look back at my right hind leg. I see the long scar that seems to almost go all the way around it. “Hasn’t been bothering me lately. Though I lost my memory for a week so, I completely forgot about it. Probably helped out.” He chuckled a bit. “Lucky I was able to save it. Celestia did a number on you that day. But, memory loss huh? When you get it back?”

I looked down at her name. “Blood River. I saw her, I chased her all the way here. I only just got my memories back. About three hours ago. All because of her.” He looked at her name as well. “Even in death she watches out for you. Her magic is strong. Stronger then even Celestias. Speakin of which, she was looking for you after you disappeared.” I looked up at him and smiled.

“Yeah, she came and saw me in the hospital. Ha, she was gonna arrest me, but, I guess she felt to bad about my amnesia and left me here.” His eyes widened upon hearing that. “Damn man. You gonna let her know you remember?” My smile grew even bigger. “I think I’m going to show her. Once my wing recovers of course.”

He paused, just looking at me. “You gonna steal the crown again?” He closed his eyes, shaking his head in disbelief. I smile at him, “Nothing so fanciful, I assure you. I’m just gonna scare her a bit. Maybe leave a message or something.”

I stood up stretching my legs from the prolonged stillness. I cracked my neck and fixed my hat, that was now completely soaked from the rain. He got up as well. “Fire’s in town. You might want to find him. He was pretty torn up about your death.” I nodded towards the direction of where I thought town was. At least, the way I came from. “Walk and talk?” I asked him turning to leave.

“Na, I got pressing issues to attend to in Canterlot. Slavers are getting bold now that news of your death has reached them.”
‘How far has the news spread’ I bit my lip, thinking of the Pegasus Mafia gang I just worked for. “Look, don’t say anything about me being alive just yet. Steel Wing and his goons are probably looking everywhere for me. Rather not deal with them this soon.” He visibly flinched. “YOU WORKED FOR STEEL WING!?!?” He grabbed my shoulders shaking me, pretty violently. “Are you fucking crazy!! That Ponies insane!” He yelled at me.

I pushed him off of me steadying myself. “It was…a last ditch job offer. I…was actually…gonna retire after it…” I said nervously. I rubbed the back of my neck giving an awkward smile. He just stood there, speechless.

“Look. I got more then enough money saved up to last me TWO life times. Its more of a break then actual retirement.” I tried to explain it to him. He was the only reason I was alive, he raised me since I was a little colt. Fighting was all we knew. We never thought of having a different life. Retirement meant, well, death. ‘Mercenary to the grave. Family forever.’ That was our motto.

A small smile came across his face. “What made you want a ‘break’?” He asked, putting emphasis on ’break’. I looked at the ground. I wasn’t embarrassed or anything, just, I didn’t want to look at him.

“I don’t know, Fighting is all I know. I enjoy killing, stealing, spying, playing guard. And yet, I don’t even have my Cutie Mark…I just want more in my life then trying to earn my next pay without dying. I was thinking…if I got to restless, to just be a part time Merc. Like what Silver Mane did. Taking jobs every so often, while holding a life at a place I can truly call home.”

I felt a hoof on my shoulder. I looked up, he was smiling at me. An approving smile, a Fathers approval. That’s what it felt like. Never knowing my real family, he was my father figure. “I think that’s just fine Foxx. But remember the consequences of being a Merc. You cant hide from your past, it’ll always find you. Now, I got to go. Tell your lady friend I said hi!”

I was taken back by that. “What do you-” He flashed away laughing loudly. “Mean…” I looked around, I sighed heavily as I turned around heading back to Ponyville.

“Hopefully I can get home before dark…”

“And that’s how I saved Foxx from the Royal Guard!” Him, Vinyl, and Octavia shared a laugh. Namikaze Fire has been at they’re house for a few hours now. They calmed they’re laughing and Fire tried to think of another funny story he shared with Foxx. “Hey Octavia, we haven’t tried Foxx’s house for a while now. Think he’s home yet?” Octavia whipped a tear from her eye. “Heh, I guess we could try again.”

She went to stand up but Vinyl stopped her. “Its cool, I’ll go check. I need the air.” She said standing, making her way to the door.

“Oh, ok. That gives me more time to hear some more of Fires stories!” She said clapping her hooves together. “Haha, and I got a good one! This one involves a balloon and a clown…It was a crazy night.” He laughed hard.

Vinyl shook her head smiling. “Alright, be back in a bit.” And like that, she left her house.

She walked down her pathway and onto the road.

‘Shit…’

She bit her bottom lip and turned to walk down the road. She listened to the sound of her hoof steps as they hit the ground. ’How…how can I have forgotten about Foxx?

‘Ever since I found him, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I want to know so much about him. Why he was in the forest, what happened to him, who he really is. But I…I cant like him, can I?’

She was interrupted by a passing pony who accidentally bumped into her. She looked up, “Oops, sorry sir.” He was a Pegasus Pony. Had a scar going down the right side of his face. But, it was the fact he was so big. Bigger then Big Mac.
Vinyl shook in fear. “Oh, I’m sorry Miss. I didn’t see you there, Steel Wing at your service. Are you alright?” He said with a slight bow. “Do you happen to know a Pony by the name of Black Foxx?” He added.

Vinyl stopped shacking, “No. I cant say I do. What does he look like? Maybe I’ve seen him.” She asked as straight as she could. “He’s a Dark Grey Pegasus, Black Mane with a Green stripe. Covered in scars, seen him?” She put on a fake puzzled look. “No, He sounds hot though. I’m sure I’d remember if I’d seen him. Sorry.” She gave a smile looking up at the huge pony.
He returned the smile. “ Its alright. Have a nice day.” He walked off, two other Pegasus ponies flew down to him. “Cant find him anywhere sir! But we did find his weapons at the Hospital. The docs say he left town days ago. He was headed South, to the Badlands.” Steel Wing smiled evilly. “I’ll mount those on my walls! Get the rest of the crew. We’re going South. He wont get away that easily.”

Vinyl heard everything, she wasn’t far from Steel Wing when they started talking. She quickened her pace away trying to get away. Luckily, it seemed the other ponies had no interest in her. The all flew away as fast as they came. Vinyl let out a heavy sigh. ‘I better find Foxx.’

She quickened her pace into a slow run. She reached his house a few seconds later. ‘I hope he’s home…’ Vinyl walked up to the door and knocked.

She waited for a minute. Nothing, she knocked again. And again, nothing. She looked around, nopony insight she looked back at the door. Her horn started to glow and the lock on the door made a loud click.

Opening the door, the sound of water was heard throughout the house. ‘Is he in the shower?’ She bit her lip and walked in the house. Closing the door with her magic she sat down on the couch. She debated calling out to him as she sat there, intruding in his house.

“Um….um Foxx?” She called out. The only answer was the running water of the shower. She gulped and raised her voice. “Foxx….Its, its Vinyl…Are you home?” Her voice was shaky. ’Why am I so nervous?’ She heard the water get louder. “Yeah Vinyl, I’m in the shower. I’ll be out in a minute.”

She sat quietly for a few minutes. Finally, the water stopped and the bathroom door opened. Foxx came out and looked over at her. “Can I help you?” I asked.

Vinyl looked up at me. A look of surprise came to her face, she started to blush. I tilted my head wondering if she was ok. But she just kept her stare, and her face grew a darker shade of red with each passing second. I looked over to the mirror that hung by the door.

My coat was damp, making it darker then normal, which made my scars more defined and visible. My mane was still wet, dripping the extra water onto my coat, it hugged the sides of my face and neck. ’Oh, fuck…’

‘Well, cant do anything about this now…’ I walked over and stood by the couch. “Ponies find the appearance of another pony wet, attractive? I guess would be the right word. If it bothers you, I could go dry off.” I say looking directly at her. ’She really does look a lot like River.’

“N..no, its f..fine, just…when someponies, wet, it..its usually for a more in..intamate t..time…” She continued to get more red as she tried to speak. I smiled sitting down next to her. “So, what brings you over here?” She looks straight ahead, not trying to make eye contact.

“Y..your friend, Namikaze Fire, came over looking for you.” I nodded my head. I knew he was here so I wasn’t surprised he found me. I noticed her squirming around a lot on the couch. “Well, what are we waiting for? Lets go back to your place so I can see him.” I said standing up and walking to the door. I turned around to watch Vinyl get up.

Her hind legs shook weakly as she stood from the couch. “Turn you on that much Vinyl?” I tried my best to suppress a laugh. “Sh..shut up! I wasn’t pre..prepared for you to look like this!” She yelled, still trying not to look at me. I chuckled lightly, trying not to make the situation anymore awkward than it already was for her. I waited for her to get outside and walked out behind her.

We started our walk back to her place and I tried to think of something to get her mind off of, well, me being wet. “Oh so uh hey, I remembered my past finally!” She turned around excitedly. “What!? That’s great news! I have so many questions!” I raise a hoof, “I’ll answer every question you have, but, for the sake of not repeating myself. Wait until we get to your place. I’m sure Fire will want to know too.” And with that her pace quickened. I tried to catch up, but quickly stopped dead. Vinyl most likely heard me because she turned around with a questioning gaze.

I sniffed the air. ‘Steel Wing? No…’ I sniffed again. “Iron Chaser! Vinyl look away now!” I barely had enough time to say it before a bright flash filled the area.

“Aaaahhhh!!!! What the hay is going on!? I cant see!!” Vinyl yelled out. I ran to her side, taking a defensive stance over her. “Whatever you do, stay down! You’ll be fine, just don’t move!” Vinyl reached out and grabbed my leg. “Foxx…what’s happening?”

Her voice was laced with fear. She trembled beneath me, holding on to me like her life depended on it. I looked down at her only to hear the beating of wings hastily approaching. I shoot my forelegs up to block the incoming blow. A blunt object smashed into my legs, knocking me back over Vinyl several feet.

I got up to find the object flying towards me again. I duck down and roll to the left, springing up and tackling my attacker. It was Iron Chaser alright, Steel Wings number one hitpony. He quickly bucked me off and charged me again.

He slammed his weapon down at me, with no other option I stuck out my hooves and caught it with a loud crack. I flung him over me, yanking his weapon from his hooves.

I shoved off the ground with a flap of my left wing. He landed on his hooves and was already charging me. I didn’t have much time or space so I threw a punch and hit him square in the jaw. I fallowed his path as he fell to the ground. Swinging the mace like object, I brought it down on his chest.

A gut wrenching crunch could be heard, followed by his screams of pain.

“AAAHHH”

“Foxx!!” Vinyl yelled.

Another loud crunch was heard along with a squishy noise. There was no more screams, no more movement. “Foxx?” Vinyl’s voice cracked. She was still blinded by the flash earlier.

Stumbling hoof steps were heard. “Lets get you home, I think…I think I fractured my forelegs. Fuck, this is gonna hurt for at least a week. Come on…”I said as I helped Vinyl to her hooves.

We again helped each other walk, my guiding her, and her supporting most of my weight so I didn’t hurt my legs anymore then they were.

By the time we got home, her sight returned. She opened the door and we walked in, still supporting me as we walked.
“Hey” We said in unison.

“What in Tartarus happened to you!!” Octavia yelled.