Chapters “Run... Just keep running, you’re almost there.” I tell myself. I’d been running for the better part of 10 minutes when I look at my watch.
9:02 p.m.
“Shit!” I yell, forcing my legs to carry me faster. I had to get home quick before she worries. Tonight was the night that I was going to do it... Tonight was the night I was going to ask her to marry me.
Not paying attention to my surroundings, I catch my foot on a rock and fall hard on my knee, breaking my leg at a bad angle. The bone tore through muscle and showed through my pants, looking as though my leg were a snapped glow stick. I lay there for a moment, gaining my center of focus before realizing my ears are ringing and I look down and see the shape of my leg and panic, screaming bloody murder.
Down the road, in a small, rustic house that was torn and tattered but warm and lively, a woman pauses her tv and steps outside.
It was beautiful this time of night; the trees and foliage blowing in the wind, the wonderful starry sky and the sound of screaming... Wait, screaming? That’s not right. That could only mean someone’s in trouble.
“Jake! Come here quick! I think there’s somebody hurt!” the lady yells, looking into the house.
“What’s up?” A man of similar age comes out shortly after her, standing by her side, leaning against the banister.
“Listen closely... You’ll hear it.” she says, worried.
Sure enough, the screaming continues and he says, “Whoever is out there, stay calm! Help is on the way!”
He turns to the woman and says “Amanda, I’m getting the .357. You get the flashlight and meet me at the door. Let’s go!” he says urgently. “These woods are crawling with coyotes so we’ve got to act fast if we’re going to save them.”
“Right.” she replies, running inside, him in tow.
********
That .357 Magnum was a thing of beauty, as was it his most prized possession. He couldn’t count how many contests or competitions he’d won with it. Many sought after it for many different reasons, be it the historical value as it had been the very first of the production line, or the regality of it as it didn’t look like the normal steely silver. No, this piece of expert craftsmanship was of a black chrome with a blood-like crimson cherry oak handle finished with teal oil. Inscribed on the barrel in pure gold were the words:
“The First and The Last”
********
Jake comes out a little bit later with the gun in it’s holster, meeting Amanda by the door, which she hands him a hand-held spot light flashlight.
“Please be careful. Like you said, there’s loads of coyotes out there, so please try to come back safely.” She asks him.
“Always,” he smiles to her, “after all, someone’s gotta protect you.” he then runs off to the screaming stranger in the woods,
Back to me, I lay there in complete darkness, holding my leg, not trying to move it because with every movement, it shoots a hot flash of pain throughout my body.
“HELP!!!” I holler out, trying to keep myself composed but slowly losing myself to panic with each passing second.
I see a beam of light from the distance and hear someone call out: “Where are you? I can’t find you!” and start waving my arms as frantically as I can.
“I’m right here! Look for my arms, I’m waving them around like a ragdoll!” I yell back, seeing the beam of light pan around and focus hard on me once it spots me. I recognize the motion of running as the light starts bobbing up and down erratically, getting closer. I smile a bit as I see my rescuer arrive by my side.
He’s a young man, about early to mid 30’s and muscular build, short brown hair, what I can tell are blue eyes and bronze skin.
“What in the world are you doing out here in the middle of the woods?” he inquires incredulously, a look of amazement on his face.
“Don’t be surprised, buddy, but I was taking a shortcut back to my house.” I wince.
“A shortcut... In the middle of the woods... At night... Without a flashlight.... Yeah, okay.” he deadpans.
“Hey, I don’t have a car, otherwise I would have been home by now.” I retort.
“Fair enough, my name’s Jake, Jake Mitchell. What’s yours, stranger?” he asks, looking my body up and down, spotting my broken leg.
“That’s a good one. My name’s Daniel. I’m a security guard down at the local jewelry store. "
“Nice to meet you.” he says. “Now, what say we get you back to my place to get that leg patched up?”
“You’re a doctor?” I inquire, but he chuckles and says “No, but my wife is.”
“No wonder you’re bulked up... She must have a great diet for you that the other doctors don’t want you to know about.” I laugh, though it’s through gritted teeth as the pain from my leg was still shooting throughout my body.
“Like you wouldn’t believe. Come on, let’s get you on your feet.” He laughs as he takes my hand and lifts me as if I weighed as much as a feather. I land on my good leg and my bad leg flops by it’s side, causing me to wince.
“I’m no good for walking with the way my leg is. I mean, I can try but all it’s gonna bring is me yelping like a dog.” I explain. He looks at me and chuckles.
“Who said you were walking?” he asks, then lifts me over his shoulder like a soldier would carry his fallen brother. “I just needed you up on your feet so I could lift you better.”
“Fair point. Remind me to talk to my boss so we can hire you. We could use a second security guard on deck. I’m the only one they have.” I say in amazement.
“Duly noted. Here, you hold onto the flashlight while I run. I don’t need it.” he says, handing me a handgun looking flashlight. As tradition to holding a new flashlight, I turn it on with it pointed at my face, partially blinding me. I quickly turn it off and say “Ow, fuck! That was bright.”
He looks back at me and says “Did you just...” and starts laughing his ass off.
“It’s not funny!” I yell, laughing as I say it.
“I’m so telling Amanda about this. She’s gonna roll.” he says, starting to run.
“Whatever. Let’s get this haul over before I bleed out. I’m starting to feel light headed.”
“Roger that. Let’s go.” and he straight up books it, expertly dodging trees and jumping over fallen logs and rocks.
20 minutes later...
As we get closer to his house, I hear snarling behind us and look, seeing 2 sets of eyes about what had to be 200 feet out so I yell out.
“Coyotes, 6 o’clock! 200 feet and closing!” and I see the house through the wood line. The coyotes close the gap quick as we get through the brush and to the porch, but what happens next, I couldn’t expect in a hundred years.
Jake runs up the stairs, but back flips off the third, pushing us up and over the two coyotes. He then pulls his .357 from its holster and unloads one bullet into both of the skulls of the coyotes, dropping them right then and there. He sticks the landing and calmly walks past the corpses of the animals, leaving them for the buzzards and whatnot to get them.
“Did you just do a superhero landing flex on them?” I say astonished by his abilities.
“Maybe.” he chuckles. “You know the super hero landing is really bad on your knees, right?”
“Not for you, big guy. Thanks for the lift. Do you have have any crutches at all? I think I can handle it from here.” I say, getting off his shoulders. After I land on my good leg, I get a closer look at him and notice small surgical scars around his eyes.
“Yeah. Amanda! Grab this guy a pair of crutches from the closet. We have a guest.” he hollers into the house, to which a woman of equal age comes out. She has beach blonde hair, a small frame with curves in all the right places, and the same small surgical scars around her eyes. In her hands, she carried two medical grade crutches.
“You must be Amanda. It’s nice to finally put a face to the name. I’m Daniel, though what I didn’t tell you, Jake, is that everyone calls me DC.” I say, offering my hand to shake. She shakes my hand, then hands me the crutches.
“Nice to meet you, Daniel. Or would you prefer DC?” she asks, curiously. She leans into Jake, wrapping her arm around his waist while he returns it with his own arm.
“Eh, either one. It doesn’t really matter to me. So, more importantly, I hear that you’re a doctor, Amanda. Would you be able to take a look at my leg?” I ask sheepishly.
“I am of sorts. I’d love to. Let’s get it set back in place, shall we?” she asks with a warm smile. “Jake, go get this man a drink.. He’s going to need it.”
“Already on it, babe. Hey DC, what would you prefer, vintage 100% moonshine or 20 year old Red Roscato Wine? We have both.” he offers.
“Let’s go moonshine first. I’m getting the feeling I’m gonna need it. It does give you four wheel drive, after all.” I say and he chuckles.
“That is true. That is 100% true. I’ll be right back with it. Amanda, show him to the couch so you can set his leg back in place.” he says, motioning to the living room as he walks off to the kitchen.
“Follow me, Daniel. We’ll get you back in proper shape, don’t you worry. Just follow me.” she says, motioning with her hand to follow her. I take a look out to their property to see what looks like a big opening dug out by something.
“You guys deal with coyotes often because something dug up your yard.” I ask with a little concern.
“Yeah, actually Jake dug that hole for the last couple of coyotes he had to put down. They just will not leave us alone, so he puts them down.” Amanda explains. I hear sadness in her voice as I follow her to the couch.
Jake comes back out a second later and hands me a glass of clear liquid and says “Brace yourself. It’s strong. Knock you on your ass quicker than a flicker.” So I take a deep breath before taking a good sip of the most fiery tasting alcohol in my life.
“Holy moly, that’s got a kick!” i say, coughing and wheezing, laughing all the while.
“Hey, I told you so. How do you feel?” he chuckles as he asks.
I take another good gulp before setting the glass down and saying “Fan-freaking-tastic. Let’s do this.”
Amanda gets into position and after what feels like hours, resets the bone properly and splints my leg.
“Phew... That wasn’t too bad, was it?” she asks.
“Thanks to your moonshine, no it wasn’t. Liquid courage if I ever tasted it...” I say, looking at them both and noticing their surgical scars again. This time, I look a little bit longer and Jake notices this, but doesn’t say anything about it just yet.
“So what were you doing in the middle of the woods in the first place? Did you lose a bet or something?” Amanda asks.
Jake chuckles and says “Daniel says he was taking a shortcut to his place.”
“Okay, would you rather hear the why or the whole story?” I ask in defeat, a sad smile on my face.
Amanda looks inquisitively at me and says “if there’s more to the story, start at the beginning. I wanna know it all.” and I chuckle at this.
“Alright, but just be warned that it’s a long story.” I caution. My earliest memories flooding my mind as I speak.
“Jake, sweetie, can you grab some popcorn? I’ve got a feeling that this is gonna be good.” Amanda begs playfully.
Jake smiles and says “Extra butter like always?”
“YES!!!” she exclaims excitedly.
He laughs and goes to the kitchen to make her popcorn. After he comes back, he shares a knowing nod with Amanda before sitting down beside her and they both listen to me tell my tale.
After a few hours of talking, I take another swig of my shine, then set it on the table, having finished it. “... And that’s how I ended up in the woods. It’s a good thing I saw those coyotes when I did, otherwise me and Jake would’ve been dog food.”
Jake sits forward and says “Well, Daniel, that’s true, but how did you see them? We were in the middle of the pitch black forest and I know you didn’t use the flashlight otherwise I would have seen it on the trees around us.”
“It’s something called Scotopia or scotopic vision. You’ve heard of it as it’s more commonly known as Night vision.” I explain. “In layman’s terms, I can see in the dark.”
“That’s incredible. Well, in any case, I’m sure she would have said yes. You seem like a really great guy.” Amanda says, sharing a knowing look with Jake who nods.
“Being a great guy is nice and all, but I wish I could give her more. I wish I was famous... I’d give her all the love I could and not have to worry about debt.”
Jake stands up as Amanda says “Well, in a way, you could say that me and Jake are famous.”
“What? No kidding?” I ask, my curiosity peaked.
“Yeah! They wrote about us in the paper. Made a whole article about us and everything. Won’t you get it for him, dear?” Amanda asks of Jake while he goes to the bathroom.
“Yeah, just let me hit the head real quick. Though to be honest, I gotta admit that I don’t think he’ll be able to handle our awesomeness.” Jake replies, a smug look on his face.
“Oh please. If I can handle Amanda manhandling my literal bones, I can handle a news article about you two. What’d you guys do, stop the ‘eye see you’ serial killers? You’ve got to be careful around those two. They’re dangerous.”
“That’s what they say, but I’m sure we’ll be okay. After all, we still have our eyes, right?” Amanda replies, matter of factually.
The signs were staring me in the face but due to the fact I was in a hardcore drunken stupor due to the moonshine, I wasn’t connecting the dots.
Jake Mitchell... Where have I heard that name from?
“Amanda... You and Jake are married, correct?” I ask curiously.
“Happily since we were 18. We did our vows when we were in freshman year.” She smiles, showing me her ring.
Jake and Amanda Mitchell... I know those names, but where?!
Meanwhile, Jake had been unloading his .357 and loading a singular bullet. The bullet was red-tipped and golden... “The Eye Catcher” as he called it.
“Babe, I still don’t think he’s ready to see it.” he calls out. He silently cocks the pistol before coming out, the frame against his chest.
“Okay, now you’re just teasing me. Come on, man.” I say, almost begging him.
“Alright. Here you go.” he chuckles, handing me the frame face-down.
I turn the picture over and in big, bold letters, it says:
EYE SEE YOU KILLERS IDENTIFIED AS JAKE AND AMANDA MITCHELL
After a minute of looking at it, I look at them and they’re smiling at me.
“You didn’t stop them... You are them. The Eye See You Killers... Which makes me what number of your victims? I know I’m not getting out of this alive.” I say, sobering up quick.
“You’ll be our 100th victim.” Jake says.
“Well, I guess that’s a high note. Do I get a final request? I have 3.”
“Amanda, he is our 100th. I say why not?”
“Very well. What are your final wishes?” she asks.
“Let me call Jessica and say goodbye to her. That way she knows not to come looking for you and my second is that she be spared. My third request is one final drink. I ran out of moonshine.”
“Well then... I haven’t heard that before. You’re willing to die for her to live?” Jake asks, amazed.
“Every time. Of course I would. She means the world to me.” I say, a single tear falling down my cheek.
“Very well. She will be spared. We will not look for her, nor will we kill her.” Jake says, offering a hand to shake, which I take and firmly shake it.
“As for the call, you can make that whenever you’re ready.” Amanda says.
“Thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me.” I say.
I pull out my phone and pull up Jessica’s number, then hit call, showing her to them.
“Daniel! I’ve been worried sick about you! Where are you?” she fires off question after question.
“Jessica, please, relax. I’m... Well, I wish I could say I was fine but after this call and the glass of shine they’re giving me, I won’t be able to be anything anymore. They’re honoring my last requests now.”
“They who? What’s going on?” she asks, I can see a tear forming in her eyes.
“The Eye See You Killers, babe. They’re allowing me to say goodbye to you one last time. They’ve also agreed not to come after you as well. I told them that I’d sacrifice myself willingly so that you may live on.” I explain.
“NO!!! Please no!!!” she starts crying. “What am I supposed to tell our son when he’s born?”
“Tell him daddy saved mommy and him like the super hero he was.” I say, tears forming and falling down my own face. “Tell him daddy loved him so much that he gave his own life for the scary people to go away.”
“You would have made the best father... You really would have.” she says through tears.
“Yeah, I know. I would have made a great husband too.” I say, pulling the ring from my pocket and saying “I love you, Jessica. I was going to give this to you when I got home but I’ll never get the chance, so I’d like to ask these two one final, final request and that be that Jessica gets this ring no matter what.”
Amanda takes the phone and looks at Jessica, saying “He’s a good man, you know. We’ll get you the ring no problem, just not in person. We have a drone that we can use.”
“Thank you” she says and Amanda holds the phone back to me.
“Almost done?” She asks, and I nod.
“Well, Jess, I’ve gotta go now. It’s time.”
“Stay with me until the very end. Please. If this is the very end, then I deserve to be there with you. Don’t you dare hang up on me.” she yells, and I give in.
Jake comes back with the moonshine and shows me the gun, which I show Jessica.
“The bullet I’m going to use will have an immediate effect on you. I call it the “Eye Catcher” because...” He pulls the bullet out and shows me the gold casing and red tip.
“It’s a beautiful bullet” I say. A sad smile falls on my lips as I look at it and say “What angle will you shoot me from?”
“Your choice.” he says, loading the bullet back into the gun.
“From the front. I’d prefer it that way. I’m not a coward... I’ll accept death with a sweet embrace.” I say.
“That takes a lot of courage. Jessica definitely chose a keeper.” Amanda says.
I take the shine from Jake and take a gulp of the liquid fire and place it on the table before propping my phone and Jess against it.
“Don’t be angry at them when I’m gone, Jessica. Forgive them as I have. My life belongs to you now, as it belongs to our son. Don’t waste it on anger or spite. Flourish and be plenty. You are my world and always have been. I love you, My Angel of yellow and pink.”
“I love you too... My guardian of green and blue. I’ll see you again someday.
I smile wider and say “Of course you will. We were meant to be together.”
Jake holds the gun to my head and says “Peek a boo, Daniel...”
Amanda finishes the phrase by saying “Eye See You” before Jake pulls the trigger.
BANG
And in an instant... My life is snuffed out... Or so I thought.
Author's Note
I'm trying something new, so please be patient with me.
Darkness... pooling around me as the light of my life was snuffed out by Jake's bullet. that's all I could see...
Wait... See? How can I see if I'm dead?
"Because you're not dead... not quite yet." a booming voice erupts from all around me, it's tone sinister and dark.
"What do you mean, not yet?" I ask, confused. "I was just shot in the head point blank."
"That's true and your eyes are most definitely being harvested by Jake and Amanda as we speak." the voice says. I can feel malice in it's tonality.
"I don't get it. how am I alive but dead at the same time? It doesn't make any sense." I say, loudly to get my irritation and confusion across.
"Because, Daniel... nonsense is my game, my hobby, my very way of life. It wouldn't be right to let a promising sport such as yourself go to waste." The voice continues, saying "How would you like to be given a second chance at life, power granted to you by the very cells in your body and a chance to be saved of the death you were given... All for a small price."
"I'll pass. It's tempting but I'm not anyone special. Why should I get such a prize when there are others more worthy of a gift? I faced my death like a hero and I believe it should stay that way." I say, folding my arms.
"Oh, you thought you were going back to your world? Oh no, no, no, Daniel. You'll be coming with me back to my world. Allow me to introduce myself... My name is Discord, Lord of Chaos and Disharmony."
The voice then becomes quiet and all I hear next is a snap of fingers and a ball of light appears from nowhere. It spins around me a few times before darting away towards a MASSIVE figure of at least a 10 story building.
"W-w-what the..." is all I can say as I see this colossal giant looking down on me.
The fierce gaze of his glowing yellow eyes and red pupils sent a chill down my spine as I saw his features. His head was that of an equine, like a horse or I daresay, a pony with a mouth lined full of sharp, jagged teeth. Coming from his mouth as well, was a saber tooth tiger's fang. Both of his eyebrows were white and busy, matched by the goatee under his chin. From the top of his head, two regal horns sprouted, both impressive in their own right. One was a ram's horn, while the other looked like a deer's or an elk's. His mane looked like that of a Zebra's without the white stripes. From there, his body was a lion's, the fur meeting the head at his shoulders. Even his arms, legs and tail were mismatched, not to mention his wings!
From his back, two gigantic wings protruded, a large bat wing and a bird-type wing. His right arm was that of a bear's while his left was an eagle's talon, the claws as sharp as his teeth. He had what looked like a dragon's right leg as well as a goat's left. Both were muscular in their own right as well was his tail, a red snake's that had white spines down the top of it, ending in the same white tuft of hair that matched his goatee and eyebrows.
"What the hell are you?!" I say, backing up from him, half tempted to try and run away.
He chuckles before jumping at me, his very being shrinking down to where we're the same height so he can stand face to face with me.
"I am what's known as a Draconequus" he says. "A cross between a dragon and a pony."
"Are you sure that I'm not dead? My brain is hurting from all of this. And besides, how am I supposed to know you're telling the truth? You could just be some demon sent from Hell to torment me for whatever wrong doing I'd done in my life. What could you possibly want from me?" I ask incredulously.
"In my world, I'm sure you know that all things have a chronological order of happenings. You just being there will be enough to stir enough chaos for my liking. Mainly because you're what your people call an alien to my world. All you have to do is live a new life. meet new ponies, make new friends, the likes of which you've never seen. In return, you get to live. Done deal. I want chaos everlasting and you don't want to die, right? It's a win-win for both of us."
"What if I fail? Let's say I can't distort the chronological order of events? Will you snuff out my life for not doing as needed?" I ask, a feeling of defeat coming over me.
"No. I told you that I was going to give you a second chance at life. You earned it." he says.
"Thank you. I'll accept your offer." I offer my hand to shake to which he looks at me funny. "It's a handshake. It's a sign of trust."
"I see." he says, chuckling. He takes my hand and shakes it. "Now, we don't have much time. While we've been talking, my body has been turning to stone by the Elements of Harmony. I do apologize, but you'll be spit out during the explosion.
"That's fine but tell me something... " I say.
"What is it?" he says, curious.
"Do Jake and Amanda honor their word and deliver the ring to Jessica? I need to know." I say urgently and he looks at me and smiles.
"Yes. They honor your request and deliver the ring by drone as they said." he says.
"Good. On a scale of 1-10, how bad is this about to hurt?" I ask.
"I couldn't tell you. I've never exploded before." he responds before snapping his fingers.
Instantly, there's an intense explosion and I'm launched into the air, on fire and land a few feet from the mane 6, screaming bloody murder due to the fire. I pass out shortly after.
So this is what it's like to explode...
Who Art Thou, Kind Spirit?
I must apologize because I don’t know how long I was unconscious for. All I can really remember was that a mysterious angel of yellow and pink was by my side throughout the entire process. When I passed out, I could hear faint horse noises then a pair of arms around me, followed by the beeping of hospital equipment. Throughout the process I could sense the presence of an angel.
The angel of yellow and pink...
“Jessica?” I mumble and hear more horse noises. I go to open my eyes, but close them tight due to the light being too bright. “The light... Could you turn it out?”
Nothing.
"Can you please turn out the lights?" I groan, only to be met with more horse noises. I then point at the lights with my right arm and cover my eyes with my left.
I hear a sort of gasp, then trotting as the light suddenly shuts off, so I lower my arms and open my eyes slowly, seeing a plethora of flowers of all varieties around me.
"Gee, save some flowers for the ozone and the bees, Jess... ica..." I say, realizing that she wasn't here.
Instead, there were 6 ponies of multiple colors looking at me. The first one I noticed was the one coming by my bedside, a beautiful mare of yellow skin and pink hair... my angel...
The second was an orange pony with straw blonde hair with a red hair tie keeping it kept and straight. Next was a blue pegasus with a rainbow mane. this one was hunched forwards, snarling and ready to attack, standing in front of 3 other ponies. the first was pink... everything. Skin, hair. The second was a snow white unicorn of sensed regality with beautiful purple curls. third was a purple unicorn with midnight blue hair. Her hair also had 2 stripes in it. one magenta, the other pink.
The yellow one whinnies at the orange one who goes out of the room urgently, then looks at me. I then take a painful realization that they're all naked which I blush hard and avert my eyes.
"You all know that you're naked, right?" I ask.
They all just stare at me, blinking on occasion. So I do the universal sign of writing and the purple one produces a quill and a piece of parchment. I then hand it to the angel and sign for her to write something which she does. only it was complete gibberish.
"Xy, xem qhu oek?"
I get a puzzled look on my face and begin to say "how are you" when a thought occurs to me.
What if it's a simple cypher and I just need to find the key?
I look at the purple pony and ask for 2 more pieces of parchment to which she obliges, coming over to watch as I write every possible key from a single off put to 26 off puts. I then scan through and discover that the key is 10, so i use the cypher to write out: "Can you read this?"
The pony looks at it and goes slack jawed for a second before writing back "Yes. How'd you translate it so quickly? Asking for Twilight."
"I'd rather say it, not write. Is there anyway for us to speak so you can understand me?" I reply and she looks before nodding, pointing at the door.
I look and see a regal looking unicorn walk in the door and look at me warmly, nodding in a knowing expression. I then see the ponies all bow to her and that tells me that she’s royalty of some sort.
I look at Fluttershy and tap her on the shoulder, showing her the picture and then point to the new pony.
She nods and explains to the princess that she’s needed in understanding my language to which she nods in agreement. All the while, I'm hearing horse noises.
Her horn lights up and I feel my ears and throat begin to warm up as I hear her say “Hello. My name is Princess Celestia Solaris. What is your name?”
"My name is DC. Thank you for helping me be able to understand and speak your language." I say, bowing my head to her. She looks at me in surprise.
"Why do you bow to me? Have you known of myself before now?" she asks, questioning my actions.
"I'm merely observing and adjusting to my new life. If you are to be my new ruler, I must show you the proper respect." I say in a calm tone.
"Your new ruler... new life? I'm afraid I don't understand. Can you please explain this to me?" she furrows her brow, trying to understand.
"Is there anyway to show you? I don't know how this world works just yet, but Discord told me that because I died in such a noble way, unafraid and sparing the love of my life, I would be granted a new life here." I say, hoping to make sense.
"I know of a spell that will allow me to see one's memories. If you'll allow me to, we can see what truly happened. This way I can see if what you say is true or not. I do need to assess if you're a threat to my subjects or not as well. Doing such will allow me to do both." She explains. "If what you say is true, I will grant you citizenship among my ponies."
"If it is not, then what happens?" I say, getting a tear in my eye. " Will you send me away or have me killed? I was promised by Discord that I'd be free to live." I say through teared eyes.
"I shall see. I do not believe in killing ponies or any creature for your case for no apparent reason. Now, let us begin." she says, lighting her horn up once more. A decent sized orb of yellow light appears and the first image I see is Jessica's face. I reach out to touch it but my fingers slip through the image.
"That's Jessica Parkerson. She was my true love." I say, tears running down my face. Fluttershy sees my tears falling and holds me in her arms. "We were expecting a baby boy about 4 months after I passed. I'm so sorry for leaving you alone like this, Jess."
The image changes to Jake and Amanda, Jake holding his .357. "That's Jake and Amanda Mitchell. They were serial killers who harvested their victim's eyes after death. They were feared because no one knew they were there until it was too late. I was their most recent victim. I'm just gonna let the movie play now." I say, staying quiet, letting the events of my death unfold before them.
The ponies in my room all watch as I sacrifice my life to save Jessica and my son's.
"No!!! Please no!!!" Jessica starts crying. "What am I supposed to tell our son when he's born?"
"Tell him daddy saved mommy and him like the super hero he was." I say, tears forming and falling down my face. "Tell him daddy loved him so much that he gave his own life to make the scary people go away." I say with the recording. My heart is torn to shreds hearing Jessica tell me that I would have made the best father.
The last words we hear between me and Jess are "I love you, my angel of yellow and pink." "I love you too, my guardian of green and blue." before the gunshot. Then the events of my dialogue with discord play out just as it had happened.
"What if I fail? Let's say I can't distort the chronological order of events? Will you snuff out my life for not doing as needed?" I ask, a defeated look falling on me.
"No. I told you that i was going to give you a second chance at life. You earned it." Discord says and the deal is done.
I then explode and fall at the feet of the mane 6.
"So you see, Princess... I have nothing to hide from you."
"I see that, Daniel. I'm so sorry for your loss." Celestia says and her ears fall to the sides of her head.
"Thank you, Princess. But if I may... Call me DC. I believe it will be more fitting for me to use that name instead. also, can you all do me a favor?"
"What is it? How can I help?" she asks, concerned.
"It's just two small little things. The first is a new body. I'd like to transform into a pony and back at will. The second is that I hope it's not too big a deal, but could you all please put on some clothes? It's very hard to look at you right now." I say, my face turning even redder. I then bury my face in my pillow.
"Put clothes on? But I'm already dressed. can't you see... them..." she says before looking at the projection and seeing everyone standing there naked.
"Very funny, Discord." she says in a not-so-funny tone. I feel my eyes warm up before fading and I look at Celestia in a puzzling manner before realizing she's wearing a beautiful white dress with a sun emblem as her broach. "It would seem Discord was playing a trick on you."
"Wow... that's better. So what exactly are you all? Is there a name I can use?" I ask.
"Well, I presume you know of unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies?" Celestia asks. I nod. "I am what you call an Alicorn. The Alicorns are strong, fast and powerful in their own rights. Pegasi are fast and their magic to control the weather. Earth ponies are strong as their magic is used for the earth to grow crops so that we may eat. Unicorns are powerful as they are the scholars in all sciences and fashions. Not all one tribe is responsible for a sole field of responsibility, however. There are researchers in every tribe, as are there ground workers, scholars and the such."
"Very well said, Princess. Duly noted." I say, then ask "Now about my body. How will that work, exactly?"
"Just relax. this will feel funny to you." she says, and points her hand at me while her other rests on her heart. My body begins to levitate and transform into a stallion. I fell the warmth from my throat and ears disappear as I float back down to the bed.
"What color would you like your fur to be?" she asks.
"Hmm... can I see the bright greens?" I ask and the white unicorn walks forward and produces a roll of green scraps. "Thank you... um... what's your name?" I ask, not trying to be impolite.
"My name is Rarity Belle. This to my left is Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and last but not least, Twilight Sparkle." and as she spoke with an elegant voice, her friends waving in their turn.
"Call me DC. As long as I breathe, you'll never need to use the Elements of Harmony again." I say in a serious manner. I then look through the colors and find a shade of green that I like and show it to Celestia. "Chlorophyll Green, please."
"Of course. How do you know about the Elements of Harmony is I might ask?" she says, making my slate gray body a brilliant green.
"Before I exploded, he told me that he was being turned to stone by them. He wasn't wrong about that so I can only imagine what else he was right about." I respond, then look at the browns, finding 2 that I like. "For my hair, I'd like a dual color if possible. In direct sunlight, I'd like burnt orange and in the shade, mocha brown."
Celestia freezes as she hears me say my hair color options, but makes the change then says "Rarity, do you have a camera on you?" and Rarity produces a camera from her saddlebag. She takes 2 pictures of me then says "I need this one. Here's your own." she hands me a picture and I see a handsome green stallion with long brown hair, but with blue streaks in it. I look at my hair to see where the blue streaks are but there aren't any. "Hmm... odd. There are streaks of blue in my hair in this picture."
"I have to go. I'll be in touch. Twilight, do you know of the Slayer?" Celestia says, urgently. Twilight says no, then asks her teacher what the Slayer is. "All in good time, but if it's true what I think this means, we're all in big trouble... but at the same time we're not..." she says before teleporting out of the room.
"Well that's ominous. I wonder what this Slayer character and I have to do with each other." I say.
"It must mean something big if it has her worried." Twilight says. "Slayer... slayer, slayer, slayer... Wait, THAT SLAYER?!" she teleports out of the room and returns a few minutes later with a book labeled "Old Legends and Prophecies of Starswirl the Bearded. She turns to a picture of a warrior etched in stone with text written next to it.
********
Celestia arrives at the oldest wall in Canterlot, a gigantic slab of obsidian with a warrior etched into it. The text written next to it reads as follows:
"Risen from the Ashes of Chaos,
Ensnared by the Love of Kindness,
The truest soul and Honourbound Guardian
Protects those Unable
Until the day he Sacrifices
His life in battle with his Demon.
Only then will Light shine Pure.
He will be the Slayer"
-Starswirl the Bearded
********
Holding the book up to me then looking between me and the picture, Twilight says "You're a spitting image of him."
"I'm just a guy who defends those who... can't. Yeah that makes sense. Okay, so what, do I need to get stronger? I'll do what needs to be done so this so called demon doesn't win." I then look at Fluttershy. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect you. You, my angel of pink and yellow. You saved my life and I can only think of one thing and that's to protect you."
She blushes and starts twirling her fingers through her hair.
"It's funny you say that, DC, because Fluttershy is the Element of Kindness." Twilight says, smiling warmly.
"You don't say... " I say, my skin giving off a blue glow.
"What's going on?" Rainbow Dash says in shock.
"What? Is something wrong?" I say, worried. The blue fades as I look at her.
"Twilight, what does it say about glowing?" Applejack asks, coming over.
"Once the Slayer expresses his five most powerful emotions, sadness, happiness, hate, love and rage will he have truly awakened." she reads.
"So once I exhibit either love, hate, happiness, sadness, or rage... then the Slayer will be awakened?" I ask, obvious to the answer.
"In essence, yes." Twilight answers.
Oh boy, was I in for a long, wild ride.
Author's Note
For the Caesar cypher, I used Fluttershy's name as the key word.
I turn to the side of my bed and stand up, looking over my body, wrapping the gown laid next to my be around me.
“This body feels so... unusually natural to me. Like I’ve had it before.” I say, still looking over it. It looked as though it was sculpted from marble, not so much of an ounce of fat on it, with muscle packed to perfection. “Remember when Discord said that I’d have power granted by the very cells of my body? What do you think he meant by that?” I look at Fluttershy curiously. Her face was red with blush as she was trying not to stare at me.
“I-I’m not sure, but on a side note, why are you out of bed?! Get back in bed, mister, this instant!” she yells, placing her hand on the bed as a pat. I assume this is her way of slamming it down.
“Hey, easy, Fluttershy. I’m just stretching my new legs... which seem to be made of complete marble. Don’t worry, okay? I’m okay. Promise.” I try to reassure her, but it makes it worse.
“Wow, they really- I mean you get back into this bed this instant!” she yells, a little bit louder than before.
“How did that feel?” I say, smiling warmly at her. She hides her face in embarrassment but I stop her.
“How did what feel?” she asks in defeat.
“Yelling. Get that fire in you out. Feels good, right?” I say, assuringly. “You can yell at me as much as you want, but you have to promise me one thing.” I chuckle.
“What’s that?” she smiles shyly.
“Put your heart and soul into it. Okay? Let the world hear how mad I’ve made you so they know better. It’s not healthy to bottle up your emotions, so if you need me to rant and rave to, feel free. I’ll listen to your every word.” While I speak, my body begins to glow a warm hue of green.
“You mean it?” she says, uncertain of it. I can see self-doubt in her eyes.
“Stop that. no more doubting yourself. You are strong. I can see it in your eyes... your beautiful aqua blue eyes.” I say, blushing a little myself.
“She has a problem with that, DC. It’s her self confidence.” Rainbow chimes in.
“Well, looks like I’ll be fighting 2 demons, then. Mine and hers.” I say with a cocky look on my face, but it turns sincere as I take Fluttershy’s hand. “What’s the word for a new relationship? What would she be if I asked her to go out with me?”
“I believe you’re looking for the word mare-friend.” Rarity answers, getting a knowing smile on her face.
“Thank you, Rarity. Fluttershy, I am honor bound to you, as you saved my life by bringing me here. Would you allow me to repay you by making you the happiest mare in all of the land?”
“DC, are you asking to be my colt-friend or my husband?” she asks, blushing furiously.
“Yes. One first and then later on down the road, the other.” I chuckle and she smiles, putting her hand over her heart.
“Alright then. As I am a firm believer in Destiny, yes, but you better not let me down.” She grabs my hair and pulls it as if it were a neck tie.
“Not on my life. Now, if I may, I’d like to call the doctor to have me checked out of here. You still have to show me around town.” I chuckle, the green glow turning bright blue.
Twilight chimes up and says “DC, when you were glowing green, what is it you were feeling?” to which I respond with “Love.”
“What about now?” she continues to which I say “Happy.”
She jots it down in her notes and says “I know this is a lot to ask of you, but can you express sadness for me?”
“Very well. I’ll do hatred and anger for you as well.” I say, focusing on Jessica and my son being left alone. My body soon glows a bright purple as I start to cry.
“Great, Twilight, look at what you did. He’s crying now.” Fluttershy yells at Twilight.
“Weak...” I say, my glow turning a radiant orange... “I was too weak!!!” The tears sizzle off of my cheeks as I begin to glow a fiery red.
“What the...?!” They all cover their faces as my body is enveloped in light and my hair begins to turn sky blue, as do my eyes.
The Slayer looks at the girls as the light fades and shouts in a deep voice that demands respect with control and authority. “What have you done?!” He turns to Twilight and explains “You must never let him experience bloodlust for if he feels it at all, his demon will be released and the world will fall into chaos everlasting and destruction you can only imagine in your worst nightmares!” He turns to Fluttershy and continues “and then you will die...”
“What will he glow when he experiences bloodlust? How will we know?” Twilight asks him and he laughs.
“He will not glow. His skin will turn red as blood and his hair black as coal. The glowing was to awaken me. Now that you have awakened me, you will now address us as DC Slayer as it has been written by Starswirl the Bearded. Twilight, I entrust you to the training he must undergo if he will fully step up to the mantle of the Slayer.”
“Trust the plan and it will be accomplished without fault.” Twilight salutes him as he disappears, my body falling to the floor, unconscious.
Fluttershy yells out into the hallway “We need a doctor in here!!!”
“Mmmm... what... what happened?” I say several hours later.
I see Fluttershy laying down on my bed by my side and I nudge her awake.
“Hey, Flutters... woah... is that MY voice?” I say, hearing my voice has changed.
“He has awakened!” she says, louder in tone and hugs me tight, tearing up.
“The Slayer or me?” I ask, confused.
“Yes. I was told to call you DC Slayer, but I just want to call you DC. It feels better. Also, since you wanted to know, the doctor cleared you for discharge a few hours ago once you woke up.” she informs me.
“See, I told you I was okay.” I say, smugly. She sticks her tongue out at me and I say “Have you ever had a back massage?”
“N-no. My wings are too sensitive.” she explains and I look at her with concern, saying “That explains the tension. Here, sit in front of me. Girls, can you please excuse us? She’s about to get some much needed attention.” I say to the others who nod and clear out, closing the door behind them.
“Have you done this before? Given a back massage to someone before, I mean.” she asks and I nod, saying “Yes. My mom showed me the art of back massage and I adapted it into something special. Jess called it the Angelic Touch because it made her feel like an angel. Since you have wings, the feeling will be more intense.” I explain. I begin by rubbing her shoulders, getting deep into the tissue without causing any pain, working my way down her back, weaving her muscles into putty before putting them back where they belong.
Her wings fully extend with a *pomf* and a slight moan as she says “What are you doing to me... it feels heavenly...”
I smile and say “You’re getting the Angel’s Touch. Now sit there and enjoy it, Flutters. I’m going to start on your wing in a moment. just breathe deep and enjoy the sensation. You’ll feel so much better afterward.”
“O-okay, D-DC.” she says, breathing slightly heavily. I begin to massage her wing and her body stiffens before loosening up, her breathing becoming small little pants, and as I finish the second wing, she’s drenched in sweat, breathing heavily and fully loosen up, so I finish with rubbing her back up and down, pulling her into a hug from behind.
“I see w-why it’s called the Angel’s T-touch... oh my Celestia...” she says, coming down from the climactic waves of her orgasm. “That was incredible... *huff* just do me a favor before you do that again...”
“What’s that, my dear?” I say, a warm smile on my face.
“Don’t do it in public! Do you realize how many times I’ve climaxed?!” she hisses in a hushed tone and my face goes strait to red with blush.
“O-oh damn... that’s what you meant by sensitive... I’m so sorry, Fluttershy. It won’t happen again.”
“Oh yes it will. But it will be at my house when you finish what you’ve started. I swear, those hands of yours are deadly, DC.” she smiles and I chuckle.
“Well, you know my intention wasn’t impure, so I hope you forgive me.” I say, folding my hands in front of me in a begging motion.
“I do, just make sure we’re not in public next time. Oh, I’m so embarrassed.” she sighs and her face is covered with blush, but she turns around and says, “Since you’re so polite and I know your intentions were pure of heart, I’ll pay you back with a pure gesture of my own.”
“What gesture would that be?” I ask, my blush fading a bit, my curiosity increasing. Before I can gather my thoughts, her eyes are closed and her ears are down, her body inching closer to me, so I do the same, closing the gap as our lips touch softly in a heavenly kiss.
I hold her close as our kiss lasts what seems like forever before our lips break apart.
“Wow... that...that, that was intense...” I say, my breaths shallow and heavy. My blush was fiercer than ever and I smile at her warmly.
“To answer your question, I’d love to be your mare-friend.”
"Thank you." I say, my smile getting brighter as I place my hand on her cheek.
Ah, Fluttershy... I hope this happiness never ends... A few months would change that forever...
A Bloody Timberwolf Attack
A few months after I’d arrived, I’d begun helping out around town, getting preparations for the Canterlot wedding which was nice. Defeating so many changelings wore me out big time, so I started training hard, asking Rarity to make me a custom outfit was tricky as I’d never worked with a seamstress before. I’ll try to describe it as best I can, though.
It was a sort of martial arts gi that showed my chest and upper abs. The shirt was white with gold trimming while the pants were secured with a black belt and gold buckle. The shirt was tucked into the belt. To go with the gold buckle, I had gold earrings, a solid gold necklace that snuggly fit around my neck while not strangling me, almost like a choker. To match that as well, I had solid gold bracers that came halfway up my forearms. On the left side of my uniform, I had Rarity embroider the letters “DC” into it in gold. I felt it was appropriate. A fitting outfit for the warrior of Equestria.
As I was helping Applejack move some boulders for her next crop of apple trees, I hear a scream from across town. A scream coming from Fluttershy’s cottage.
“Get the girls and meet at Fluttershy’s. I’m going ahead of you!” I yell to Applejack and she nods, running immediately.
“I’M COMING FLUTTERSHY!!!” I roar, flying over to the cottage as fast as I can.
“DC!!!” I hear her yell as she flies as fast as she can away from the timber wolves. I get over head as i see one jump on top of her and she stops, laying still. My rage explodes as the light of the Slayer returns, enveloping me in a brilliant blue aura as I fly down to her. The timber wolf who jumped on her runs away and as it does, I see blood on it’s maw, dripping from it’s teeth.
“Y-you bastard...!” I yell, my eyes turning red slowly as the blue aura around me turns a bloody red.
“DC! Stop! Don’t give into it!” I hear Applejack yell as she arrives with the girls.
“Please, don’t let that thing win! You’re stronger than he is!” Twilight adds.
An evil hiss erupts from the air, saying ”No he’s not. He can’t even save his beloved from a timber wolf... He’s too weak... Too slow... And now I have to clean up this mess...”
My body changes to from a lively green to a cold crimson red and my hair to a dark charcoal black as I tear into the forest to hunt down every single timber wolf to kill them all.
After the demon charges, my body lays there on the ground, a shell of it’s former self as the good and evil halves split in two. I lay there and cry for being too weak... Too slow to save her. Wait... Save her!
“Applejack, help me to Fluttershy. I still might be able to save her.” I yell softly, no strength in my body. I crawl forward with whatever little willpower I have left.
“How do you plan to do that? That... Thing took all the power you had.” She retorts but I shrug it off.
“Not everything. I developed it a month ago. An absolute last ditch effort to preserve her life. The down side is that my life will possibly end if I’m not careful. When she’s alive, take me to Celestia. Tell her I said to take me to the beginning. She’ll understand what I mean. Now, are you going to help me?” I ask, still struggling to crawl.
She helps me over to Fluttershy’s body and I look it over, seeing a deep gash in her neck,
“FLuttershy, it’s time you woke up. Come back to your guardian angel.” I say before glowing the brightest shade of green and kissing her lips. As I kiss her, the green starts to flow into her body and hover the gash, slowly healing it to where no mark is left. I continue to kiss her until her eyes open and I finally break the kiss, smiling sadly that i had to miss our reunion. My body rolls onto it’s back, the light gone from my eyes. One final sentence falls from my lips before I’m gone...
“I love you, Fluttershy.”
In the darkness I lay, smiling that Fluttershy was alive again... but this time for a bought amount of time. I couldn't help her again.
*Jolt*
No... I'm NOT going to give up
*Jolt*
"I have to wake up" I yell, looking ANYWHERE for the light back to reality, running in any direction when I finally see it. A small pin prick of light.
*JOLT*
"THERE!!!" I yell at the top of my lungs. "I'M COMING!!!" As I shout, I run as fast as my legs will carry me.
"DC!!! No!!! Please come back to me! I'm begging you... Don't leave me all alone here..." I hear Fluttershy say as she begins to cry over my body.
*JOLT*
"I'M ALMOST THERE!!! DON"T YOU GIVE UP ON ME!!!" I yell as I run harder and faster to the light.
"Rainbow!!! Hit him again with the bolt!!! I can feel him! He's close!" Fluttershy yells and Rainbow kicks the amassed storm cloud one final time as I run to the light. As my fingers touch the light, one final jolt of electricity flows through my body and I explode with power unknown to pony kind...
"RRRAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!" I roar, my color returning to me in the regal green skin and blue hair I was meant to have.
The others shield their eyes as my light pours from my body, my hair flowing in the wind behind me. I close my eyes and the light fades, and I see my Fluttershy in front of me.
"Slayer... where is DC? Bring me DC back... Please..." she cries and I smile, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Fluttershy, I am the Slayer. It just took seeing your death to see it, but no more. I promised to protect you girls with my life and I intend to keep that promise."
"You dummy... I thought I'd lost you for good that time." she playfully beats on my chest but I know that they were meant to be much harder than that.
"Relax. I'm back for good. Now, There's something we must do."
"What's that?" she asks, curiously looking at me, her eyebrow furrowed.
"First, I must get control over the full power of the Slayer. That doesn't mean anything other than a lot of training. The second thing, my dear, is marriage."
She blinks and says "What? Marriage? Isn't it too early for that?"
"I quite literally brought you back from the dead using the Angel's Kiss, giving up my life to save yours, and you're telling me it's too early for marriage? Really Fluttershy?" I chuckle and pretend pout. She goes to say something but stops herself.
"You have a point. Alright, that's fair. Let's do it." she smiles, holding onto my arm and leaning on me.
"Ahem..." we hear Celestia clear her throat and look to see her and the girls standing there, looking at the wall of the cavern.
"Thank you, Celestia. You helped save my life. Same goes to you, Rainbow." I say.
The room begins to shake as my aura returns, then shoots into the mural of the Slayer, who turns to us and says:
You've only just got here and the training has started
You'll grow in strength and speed, but don't be outsmarted.
Your tools you have, keep that in mind
And forever leave your doubts behind.
For if you don't, you'll come to regret
And be the one to cause Fluttershy's death.
Rise to the occasion, only succeed
And soon will her killer be the one to bleed.
You are the Student and I, the Master.
Together as One will Evil lose Faster.
I look at the Slayer with determination and say "It is not speed, nor strength that I desire, but full control over the power that dwells inside my body. How might I go about that? Just normal training as usual?"
"No, DC. Utilize this gravity spell and cast it upon thy garments. Then you will be able to use a power greater than our own. Just be careful not to over do it. There's no telling what damage you could do to your body." he says cautiously. "You have all the power you need, you merely need to bring it out of you. training under this gravity spell will vastly improve your abilities, senses as well as your defenses."
He produces a spell that floats down to Twilight, as she was the closest and she looks over it.
"This spell looks like it will increase the gravity of whatever it is put on with a variable degree." she says.
Looking at her, I say "Cast it on me, my clothes, everything. Fluttershy, stand back." to which she does and Twilight casts the spell on me, creating a burst of magic around me.
"How do you feel?" she asks.
"No different. What's the multiplier at, or rather, how strong is the gravity I'm under?" I ask.
"It says 3x" she says.
"Put it to 10x." I say, a determined look on my face.
"Are you sure? The gravity could crush you." Fluttershy asks, a worried look on her face.
"I'm sure. this will be the new baseline of my day. I will eat, sleep and train with this until I'm used to it like it's nothing. and once I feel weightless, then we will continue to raise the level."
"Very good. Now, the next time we speak, I expect to hear that your battle has been won. Farewell." the Slayer says and the glow from my aura returns to me, fading as the spell is adjusted and I'm hit with the full brunt of 10x gravity, which slams me to the ground.
This is going to take me awhile...