The warmth that came from the blankets left no options for my still hazy consciousness besides going back to sleep. A perfect, vile plan - that is if my throat wasn't drier than Saara.

While it's not of me to get out of bed, not after an hour minimum of fighting off the accursed soft, warm, safe blankets, I can do it, certainly. I stretched my arm under the blankets letting go of numbness and the warmth that the blankets provided, briefly focusing on the pain coming off from my joint to wake my other limbs, then pressed down- then pressed down! Pressed down..! Wait, my arm sank into the bed?!

The he- heck?! What type of bed is this?? It's a miracle I hadn't turned into a shrimp yet- wait, bed?! Didn't I sleep in the living room? Well, I don't remember anything from yesterday after eating that orange, there probably was something in it. Huh.

Alright, since Jet's room is as empty as any other - besides the kitchen - it's time for plan B: Roll out of bed! I'll have to make her bed later though... Urgh! Why do people even do that? They're going to mess it all up at night again!

Whatever, my tail is already getting the cramps so it's rolling time! Freeing my paw from this insidious cat trap I rolled to the left and as I did so, the world spins, not in the obvious way - it's like somecritter kept juggling my head while trying to keep balance on a monocycle. Just thinking about it makes me- eugh-

~Thump~

~Gulp~

T-the wood tiles have been saved! Blergh. Also, ow! Her bed isn't far apart from the ground but still... Oh no.

I became a Catnap Roll.

Now, how do I undo that?

...

I'm up! These blankets were no challenge for the mighty Catnap! Hold on, did I wake up before the sun?! Between me and those gaps on the wall, I would've known, unless the sun decided to get up at the other side of the bed..? Nah. That means I'm up before dawn, Dogday would've been proud!

Dogday... I reach my paw to rub the top of my head gently and there it was, my own horn in the making. Maybe there is some ice on the fridge or a very cold water bottle - that does remind me I need to talk to Jet about getting them in a nearby city.

Today is already planned then, only some water for my throat and everything will be just fine! If only I could move without the prospect of the world falling apart. Hmm, I could use the wall for support- yeah, that could work. I leaned on the wall and onward each step was a mess, I'd imagine this is the famous hangover grown-ups always complain about. If the house was a simple straight corridor, everything would be fine, however, it isn't. The difficulty took a step up when it came to the doorway as simply changing the wall became a hard sudoku, but inevitably I succeded at arriving at the kitchen, sweating like I had just run through a marathon but arrived nonetheless, safe and sound. Hop- somecritter would feel very disappointed in me.

..Let's get some water. I tightly held onto the wall and then onto the table until the dish mountain was at paw distance and from there I grabbed a mug, raised an eyebrow flipped the mug shook whatever was inside - ew, roaches - and turned on the tap, giving it a light washing then filling it half empty. I could use somewhere to sit but the stools are back at the top of the oven, and between getting them or going to the couch, the latter is more attractive.

Alright, from the wall back to the living room, now the problem is that there are no walls near the couch - an odd idea leaving the couch in the middle of the room, but that's fine! I should be good to take a few steps, everything will end just peachy!

I let go of the wall and take a steady step forward, then another, then another, and then my legs give out. Sudden, useless.

The mug shatters in my hand, its round ceramic turned into small shrapnel scratching superficial crevices in my paw.

It hurts. I-I just want to see them again, is it too much to ask? I want to spend the afternoon smiling and playing with them, e-eat in fun picnics, and sleep in a tree shade near them- and, and be happy!

Why can't I be happy? Is it because I wasn't a good friend- that I didn't try hard enough? I can't even stand on my own, then how can I stand near them?! I deserved to have my limb torn to that w-weird wood wolf demon, I-I could have permanently blinded Leo from one eye! Critters like that are evil and should be in jail like Shouting Lungs said- And what I did to Gus and- I- I can't keep doing this anymore!

Even after everything they have done for me, I can't repay them! I'm a useless piece of- of-

"Catnap."

W-whuh- wha- Where are you? Please, tell me-

"Look back."

Wh-

"Catnap! Are you okay?!" An aggressive shift permeates through my body and the next moment- I'm on the couch with Jet- a friend cleaning off my face with a towel, "Hold on, I'm going to clean the mug, and get some clean rags" And so she did, in remarkable speed- A blink and my paw was bandaged. "Are you okay?! I thought something bad happened when the door was open- but then I-" I want to go to bed, "heard you crying..." She sits on the couch next to me, "Do... You want to talk about it?" I look up and, there it is. The sun is shining through the small crevices of the wall.

"Do you want a hug?" I nod. Her warm hooves wrapped around me safely, we barely knew each other and yet, she already is a better friend than me. Maybe- "You know, not all mistakes are our fault." H-how..? "Ah, that look. I hit the spot, didn't I? I have been there too."

Jet cleared her throat, "My father has a nice cloud farm at Cloudsdale, and my mother worked at the weather division of the Climat-o-factory, now they rebranded it as Rainbow Factory and specialize in spectrums." Jet's voice seemed detached from herself, "The Point is, I had a perfect life and I had high dreams, when I got my cutie mark I thought they were shattered. I ran away." Why? "Young little me joined a pirate crew, to hide from what I thought was a humiliating destiny." Monotone and cold, Jet... "I used to think the world was all flowers and sweet until I saw the first bit of blood, plunder, and murder." Her hooves held tight, too tight. It's like she's lost. "I was too scared to back away, we were flying high above lands I never heard the name of and by the end of it, so I had to do it." Jet took a deep, sharp breath, "When the royal guards got us, I wasn't somepony I wanted to be- I was glad that I went to jail."

Lost with no way back to a safe place, "While it was my fault on the running away from home and complying with them, young me was completely oblivious to what pirates did." Just like... "And the look of disappointment of my father after he bailed me out, Jetstream never really came back home." She released me from a warm embrace and I saw it, her hooves shivered- No, they were trembling. "I lost myself." Jet, you barely know me "But you didn't do anything as bad, right?" And yet you trusted a critter that you barely knew to tell something you held for so long? What type of- No, it's not that.

You trust me.

I hugged Jet and she let out a chuckle, "Hey, why are you sappy all of the sudden?" You need this as much as I do.

"Do you want to be my friend?"

"..Yes, that would be nice."

It feels nice to have a friend close, even more having one to hug but that doesn't make my head hurt any less, "Jet?" I reluctantly relented my hug

"Yeah?"

I slowly let go then looked up at her eyes, "Can you help somecr- fellians out of Stableside?"

Jet chuckled once more, "Of course, you're not suddenly becoming friends with me without a motive!" She then- Wha- Hey! Don't mess with my ears! "Sure, how many?" ...Why did you stop?

Ahem, I mean, "Three."

The pegasi began to tap her chin before nodding, "If we manage to get our hooves on a cart, I can do it just fine." Jet then smiles down at me, "Light Shade has one." Now that I think of it, I kind of did see her... Butt mark? What was it- Cutie Mark being rope and flint, so she has a special talent for exploring, I guess? "And since you already know her..." Alright, I nod.

Now that's done, Jet wanders over to the kitchen and begins to throw some plates around searching for something before stopping, "We're out of cereal. Today is a sad day." Oh well, surely we can find something to eat elsewhere..?

"Also since we're done having a heart-to-heart moment, can you help me with the dishes? They are scaring me..." Oh, you see- I would love to buuuuuut...

"I can't walk straight."

"... Are ya pulling my coat?" She quickly flew next to me and not even giving me enough time to shake my head, she began poking my legs. "We might need to amputate them." This does remind me of that time Bubba, Dogday, Kickin, and I played inside an abandoned building, Dogday fell through the second floor broke both legs, and had to be in a wheelchair for eight months, it was horrible. The point is, DON'T SAY THAT, JET! It's scary.

"It's a bad headache." Jet moves from poking my legs to poking my head but immediately halted with a wince.

"That's bad." Have you seriously not noticed- Ooh, ice- Wait, when did she- Actually, forget it. her speed is truly unquestionable. Jet hands- hooves me? Paws me the ice which promptly goes to my head, "Alright, you should be better by the end of the day. Walking hopefully comes sooner, until then, hop on." Oh well, it can't be that bad of a ride. Jet folds her wings landing on the ground, "You can hop on, right?" I took a moment to get in a safer crawling position on the couch and took a step forward - the world spun but my other limbs prevented me from falling, from that, I crawled at a snail's pace to Jet's back then firmly gripped myself onto her, my first flight is still a charred memory smelling of rotten eggs.

Jet trotted to the door and- I- "S-slow-"

~Gulp~

A-almost. Jet halts and looks at me with wide eyes, then sighs, "Got it. Uh, in case you need to throw up warn me, okay?" I nod.

Once outside, the refreshing morning breeze and the smell of the ocean took some weight off my head, I took the time to gaze at the clouds to recall what happened until now. The stupidity of wandering in clear forbidden zones to having an arm shredded, almost getting jailed, and involving myself in brawls due to my lack of self-restraint. Failure after failure for my lack of ability to just... Not be myself. Worse yet, they are worried about me- I know they are because I am a failure of a friend... I-

"Oh yeah, don't forget to pass on Jam's later to get your pay from yesterday." ...I made a good choice amidst a mountain of bad ones, at least.

I looked back down and softened my grip, we were on the outskirts of the eternity bridge where the last trees were before the multitude of ponies and construction materials.

I can probably walk by now and my head feels a bit better. I tap Jet's neck stopping her and awarding a curious glance, I hopped off and- "Careful!" Fell face-first to the ground. That would've happened if it wasn't for Jet pulling my back, "Maybe it's better to sit this one out, kit. I'll see with Jam if I can stay with you, okay?" Guess I have no say in that as Jet simply sits me down and my body refuses to budge. Haa, so I will just watch the others work from afar today?

This is the consequence of being a bad critter. I need to do bett- "Will you be okay on the grass for a while?" ..I give Jet a thumbs up and let myself fall into the grass, its soft blades tickling onto my fur, and the skies, and while not clear the fluffy clouds made a perfect harmony with the blue atmosphere with its bright star promising to reach its zenith in a few hours.

Nothing's better than a good dose of vitamin D to cure nausea and the liking, right? Gah, they should have brought some doctors, for Celestia's sake! Venture the wilderness without a single professional on health care, an idea truly out of Starswirl's mind!

Where the heck is Jam!? She should be here by now but there are so many ponies on the bridge- There isn't a place for that many ponies in town! Why are there so many ponies on this frickin' bridge, I can barely hear my thoughts-

"M-miss!" I glared back and found light-gold pegasi with a mane and tail colored in multiple shades of grey, she looked barely on her eight and wore one of those archeologist hat clothes, actually, there are too many ponies here wearing that specific sets of clothes- wait, are those crossbows- Oh my Celestia, treasure hunters too! What in the Tartarus is going on here?

Oh right, the filly- "Hello!" An older stallion that- Oh my, those wings are really well defined, plus that confidence in his voice... Hmm, does remind me of the explorer- no, adventurous stereotype. His coat was definitely dirty, and his clothes weren't much different from his daughter's, if a bit weathered down, "We heard there was a treasure under this bridge-" What?! This many ponies and the information was secret, or at least supposed to be, so how was it leaked so fast?! "There doesn't seem to be any temples under the water."

Right, most other treasure-seekers/archeologists here are pegasi, which makes traveling slightly easier... Right, answer them. "I've been working here for a few months, never saw a water temple."

"Oh, you're a worker?" The stallion scratches his chin, "Yes, with this many other competitions, things might not end up friendly." Huh? "Have you seen my brother perhaps? Golden skull for a cutie mark, earth pony, and-" This... Should I tell him? There's little reason to, heck, he might even have spread the information of treasure - but why?

"Miss?"

But affirming his location wouldn't help the cartel? The Insurgence will only afternoon, won't the cartel move faster? However, even so, the Insurgency should be able to catch most of them afterward... Most, not all-

"Miss!"

"AH- I mean, what?" The stallion briefly looks at my wings - wait, it's not that! "I-"

He shook his head, "It's fine. Ah, to be young again..." They're just reactive! I- oh my Celestia- Focus, focus!

It's too paranoid to hide information because of an event that has a small chance of happening, be truthful like you promised you'd be Jet! I faux coughed, "Barely seen him, yesterday he did walk on the bridge." The stallion nodded then stole a brief glance at the 'guests' and sighed.

The stallion prepares to take off, "C'mon Yearling, dad has some safer ruins to explore, and thanks for the information." I nod and begin to move, the filly begins to voice her complaints, but I am too concerned about something else to listen. Alright, think, this is an unfinished bridge and Jam is a great pony... Alright, if she isn't there something serious must have happened. With a quick flap of my wings, I am two feet above everypony, and with a second... I fly at average pegasi speed, if everypony here were a pegasi going into a full burst wouldn't be a problem.

A normal, even slightly fast pace for most is a lazy flight for me, it's just- ugh. Many heads I pass until I reach the destroyed tip of the bridge, where the sage bricks have become a dull grey. "Hey- Hey! What are you doing?! Did you leave your brain at home?!" Ah, there is Jam and her unique swearing vocabulary, I pity the unicorn that stood a bit too close to the edge.

"You're not a friggin' Celestia spawn, if your peanut-sized arcane brain isn't doing it's job right, let me remind you: if you fall nopony will catch you." Jam's barking does critical damage, the random unicorn ran out crying!

Anyway, "Yo, Jam!" I wave a bit above in the crowd, the cacophony seemed to be quite the thing as she made a sign for me to come closer with her hooves, so I land at the spot the unicorn once was, "Jam,"

"Jet." We both nod, "Hah, today is going to be one of those days..."

"Don't tell me,"

She glances back at the crowd, "There's this chit-chatter bout' treasure here and that, I don't get it - didn't the Insurgence already check that out?"

I nod, "They did. That won't be a problem later in the day, they should arrive an hour after the lunch break."

Jam stares a bit odd at my face then puts a mask of a smile on her face, "This morning won't be as productive as I wish..."

"About that, Catnap has a terrible case of headache and-" Jam rolls her eyes then giggles, "What?"

"I thought you preferred the well-defined, martial artist stallions, not fellians," It slowly blew into laughter, "So that's why you look so beaten." Wha- No. Jam, just no. "Alright, go spend time with him then, he had a very bad, uh, 'bruise' yesterday." She looked around, "If it doesn't get any better, I do have some 'tranquilizers.'" Drugs..? Jam whispered, "One of the fellians brought, what was it, catnip? It apparently works more or less like a cigar." How'd you know it only works on fellians? She raises her tone, "Just for fellians though." Drugs. I guess in a small quantity could be medicine..? But I won't give drugs to any friend of mine, out of the question.

I shook my head, "No, thanks." Jam has her knick-knacks - I wouldn't expect anypony as workaholic as her to not have some, even if it would've been better for her to be clean.

Eh, nopony is perfect. I waved my goodbyes and sped back to a hopefully less sick Catnap. If he gets better by noon, I should be able to get his friends a ride to Hoofington- No, Fillydelphia. It should be easier for them to make a living there after the inclusion policies the new mayor brought there, it's only a bit farther... Heh, before sundown is still possible!

That cloud looks like Hoppy...

And that one looks like Jet- Wait no, that's Jet. Hi Jet! And there she is, a moment away, another popping my personal bubble, not right in front of me, but rather hovering at my side. And for the first time today, I could take a look at her face unimpeded by drowsiness or heavy head sickness, "Catnap, do you feel any better?" Her eyes were red and raspy, a few loose strands on her mane jumped out.

Now that I look at it, her feathers are roughed and misplaced, there are a few cuts that I can see through her fur and hooves, "Catnap?" She looks like Kickin' after our first camping trip. Did she go to the woods- No, did she fly fast inside the woods? Why did she need to go there in the first place- "I, um, is there something on my face..?" As she slowly drifts to lie at my side, I hold her hoof- "Catnap?!" And passed my paw along it, "O-ow-" Then I realize her and raise an eyebrow.

"Oh, uh, I just warned the Insurgence yesterday about the cartel," Weren't you collecting information? "W-well, you see, the cartel has planned a move today and is likely going away afterward. So I needed to get them here as fast as I could." Is that why there are so many noises coming from the bridge? "So, are you better?" Jet lies at my side and begins to... Do push-ups with her wings? Do wings even have muscles- I mean, of course, they do but- "So?" Ah, I nod. My head has been feeling less like an anvil for now.

"That's great!" She briefly stopped her exercise to smile, then continued, "I plan on getting your friends to Fillydelphia today too." Friends..? We fought and- "After this, I am planning on looking for that book of yours." B-but I didn't even pay you yet!

"Bu-"

"Catnap. You're my friend, I only asked for the bits earlier because I didn't know you." But we- "I'now we only met each other for two days-ish but I feel like I can trust you, and I want to." Jet I thin- "And there's that- uh, calming feeling that I have near you, it's like, I could tell you anything and you'd help me solve any problem." ... "It's a bit weird, I know, but I don't think I'll regret this. Plus, I only asked bits out of pettiness, losing fifteen hundred at once hurts, but besides, I'm packed."

Picky... "You're my first friend here too. Well, I mean of course there's Shadow Sport and the rest but they feel more like colleagues." I'll do my best to not disappoint you, and I'll do my best to be a great friend!

On a side note, I feel a bit tired. I guess I could take a snooze for a while. Hmm. I close and soon every woe disappears, bit by bit memories sweeter than any candy are recalled and- "Wake up, fellian." Whuhzat?

"He's sleeping, go mug somepony else!" Beating the drowsiness into a ring-out I open my eyes to witness two fancy-dressed stallions, one seemed steam boiling angry while the other kept checking his clock... Why do they seem familia- Oooh. Oh no.

"The Godfather has picked this fellian so this fellian has to come!" He stomped on the grass and began to swear bloody murder in... uh, Italian?

Jet got up into the air and rolled her fur up as if she had a shirt- "Over my dead body-" Too much heat!

Oh, 06, I need to do something... Uh, ah, um..! "It's fine, I'll go."

Jet's jaw dropped and her argument partner who was about to pull the Swiss knife, the same grinned triumphantly, "WHAT?!/Ha, take that hag!"

"You can't be serious!" She put one of her hooves over my shoulder, "Do you know what you're getting into- Like-" I shrugged it off.

"It'll be fine, plus won't they come anytime now?"

Jetstream drew circles on the ground, "I Still don't like this..."

"C'mon fellian, do not let the Godfather wait!" W-wait- he grabbed my paw with his hoof dragging me along the grass, my head thumped like drums and felt like a pulsating heart- But I could walk somewhat fast without falling, even if it was an awkward walk. Finally, when I stopped I had to take a few breaths to regain a semblance of composure, and there, in front of me were five other 'fellians,' each of them distressed, from the ginger cat-looking ones to Bombays. I take another deep breath and stand still, the pain gradually faded away.

At that point, two other fancy-dressed ponies arrived, one salmon-meat colored and the other yellow with a few wrinkles and a scar running over a blinded eye, if they had horns their hat hides them well. The yellow one cleared his throat and his voice boomed, much to our feline dismay and my head. Most importantly my head, ah- the pain worse than a surprise test- "CLEAR THE WAY!" Suddenly, the 'guards' began to push treasure hunters, archeologists, and explorers aside where another five mafiosos came in - is there a rabbit hole full of them hidden somewhere? - took off their hats that showed very sharp and intimidating horns, each ran to the tip of the bridge and began lightening, soon behind them came an extremely old stallion with a king of hearts card as a cutie mark followed by another stallion of younger age with a golden skull as a cutie mark.

The old old stallion seemed to age fifty more years at the sight of everything, "Why in Celestia name's have you brought them here!? We had a contract-"

Now, the younger one was smiling "YOU had a contract WITH me. And in said CONTRACT there was no saying against third parties, but there was one about backstabbing, wasn't there? Tsk, for a family in decadence, you sure got the balls."

"If you don't get them off, Balls will be things you will not have!" He stomped on the ground.

The stallion raised his eyebrows, "Really now? Remember who paid these guards. Do your part and I'll do mine." The old stallion harrumphed and yelled at one of the fellians next to me still rubbing his ears. Phew, dodged a bullet.

Smiling and seeming reinvigorated, the treasure hunter, or rather, the mastermind waltzed in, "Pull it!" and his orders were obeyed. The five unicorn mobsters each lighted their horn, a yellow pentagram symbol slowly formed around them with each unicorn at the point - Ooh, magic - and then, out of nowhere a giant golden chest ornamented with some shining gems and sculpted to an impossible degree of detail a face of some serpent-like creature with... I don't know how many heads, but each of those heads made me feel something, each of the heads had a red gem for an eye that glared at us, but behind it, a sun symbol with multiple rays seemed to encapsulate the creature in a form of prison, appeared at the middle of the star. This serpent... I don't like it, the others also have their fur standing on edge.

We don't want to touch it. "Fellians, get a hold of the chest." We stood still. "C'mon, you don't want to be 'disposed,' aye?" I looked around until one of them took the first step, then all of us followed behind. The unicorns were sweating buckets-

~Thump~

One of them passed out. "Quick, get the chest!" With some teamwork, we all managed to catch onto the chest before the other unicorns fell one by one... This isn't good. It's not too heavy at least. "Perfect. Now, follow me- Ahem, 'Godfather,' your assistance won't be needed from now on." The guards moved and surrounded the old wrinkled pony.

"You..!" Each guard with weapons pointed them towards the godfather, while those with horns charged them.

The mastermind chuckled, "Ah, the best way to not be betrayed is to betray first. Don't think I don't know what you had planned. Keep him tight." The guards nodded. "Now, follow me." This was both for the remaining guards and us.

Without much of a choice, we did so as we asked. The crowd opened its way and I raised my head and that's when from afar, I saw something small and-

~Thwack~

I fell to the ground, and my head sang an orchestra of pain, "Demon." That ice voice- My paws reach for something right at the side of my head, with pain and some difficulty, I grasp and drag it in front of me. A rock, with its tip crimson red. Rivulet trotted forward from the gasping crowd.

RUN!

I tried to get up but everything didn't connect, my legs refused to budge and my paws barely had any strength- I- "You foal! Do you know what you just did!?" The mastermind stepped in front of that thing, then everything began to darken... No, I'm conscious, if a bit drowsy- I pull myself to a sitting position, "You doomed us- no, you doomed yourself!" The mastermind pushed Rivulet out of the way breaking into a gallop.

My eyelids could barely stay open, "Catnap!" The wind sang at the arrival of the pegasi at my side, "S-stay awake! Do not sleep!" I could try... But it's been so long since I had a short nap- "Does anypony have a badge- anything?!" It feels so warm and safe.

My paws felt like weights pressing down my arms, trembling to do the smallest of effort but still succeding, I reached for my head and winced, I barely touched my forehead and it came back caked in crimson. "Why in Celestia name's are you helping that demon?" So aggressive red. A-am I...

I need to stay awake. "Demon?! Do you call ponies that look different that too, you whorse!? I will-" Then thunder, I heard a lot of it. Then a splash as if 06 had just thrown a mountain down a lake for a laugh. "Dear Celestia..."

Jet was staring at something behind me, I slowly turned around but even this much made me whimper- A giant. A giant was what I saw when I truly turned around, quadruplet by nature but if it stood up on its two green scaly legs it would reach the clouds. There, on its neck instead of just one head, I saw multiple. More than twenty- no, more than a thousand heads. The heads and the neck were completely disproportional to the size of the body, but each was twice as thick as me.

Demonic Lord: Five Thousand Facets Elemental Disparity Hydra, Lernean Magnus.

Author's Note

Rivulet accidentally triggered a secret boss battle >.>

Anyway,

I don't know how you guys feel by chapters cut into parts. I will say that I have written(At this moment I am editing this)only this part of the chapter so far, but if you, dear reader, don't mind GIGANTIC chapters, this will be the only cut chapter of this fic, otherwise I will cut chapters down to more manageable sizes and for the sake of faster publishing.

As always, do tell what you liked, what you didn't like, and what you think I should do to make this fic better, constructive criticism is always appreciated!

Don't be afraid to comment, I'm not a five thousand headed hydra, teehee. Also I will be tunning down the colors from this chapter onward on lesser things like the sounds of bushes moving or other minor effects of nature, unless caued by a character with QE that is.