The Apprentice

   While sitting on a pillow that Twilight had set down on the floor for me, and with my cup of tea at the halfway mark, I waited for the six ponies to make the first move. I watched as each of them cast a puzzled look at me, as their minds were no doubt still trying to process my being there.

   Rarity broke the silence. "So you said you had questions darling?" Her face then turned serious.

"I can speak for everypony here, when I say we too have questions to ask you. So I propose we go in turns asking our questions."

   "Yes, great idea Rarity!" Twilight agreed.

"You ask us one first Argyle, then one of us will ask you one, then you ask us again."  She gestured at me. "You go first."

  I nodded my head in agreement. "Alright." Then I turned my thoughts to my first question.

  "Where did all of you find me?  In the Everfree forest?"

   "No, I found you." Twilight answered.

"I heard a loud thump from downstairs, and when I came down to see what had happened, I saw you unconscious on the floor here in the library."

   She then took her turn to ask. "How did you get there anyway?"

   "Hmm." I thought out loud.

"Should I tell them about the girl? About the events that took place leading to my being transported here? Should I ask them if they invented Prozac yet?"

  "I am still trying to piece it together myself." It was not a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either.

  "I have a question!" Spike shouted while running down the stairs.

   "Yes?"  I watched as Spike ran up near to where Twilight was sitting. I remember thinking how the young dragon was actually cuter in person then in the show.

   I was also thinking about how much testosterone I was losing by the second.

   "Just what are you anyway?" He looked at my hands then at his.

"Some kind of land dragon that lost all his scales?"

"Well, I have never heard that one before." I smiled with humor.

   He gasped, then took two steps back with a worried look on his face. "It's not contagious is it?!"

   "Spike." Twilight addressed Spike with a soft tone.

"Don't be rude, and besides, he is not a dragon, he is... um-"

   "I'm a human, and I am not from Equestria." I corrected.

   I laughed internally at the young purple dragon, as he was everything the show made him out to be.

   Spike gave a sigh of relief, then sat down next to Twilight.

   "Alright then." Applejack now ready to ask her question. "Where's it you come from then Argyle?"

   "I come from a place called Earth." I answered, while sipping my luke warm tea.

   "It would take me all night to give you guys all the details, so to be short, it is where my family lives, and it can be very beautiful there sometimes."

   I meant it when I said short. I wanted to get all of their questions over with first, so I made a counter proposal.

   "Why dont you girls just ask me all your questions in turns bypassing me, since all of you have so many, and I have so few?"

   "Ooh, ooh, my turn then!" Pinkie Pie cried out while bouncing up and down.

   I turned my head to my left, facing the pink mare. "Uh, yes?"

   "Do you have monsters there, like manticores, OR like dragons?"

   The pink pony gestured to Spike, and looked at me in excitement, with the others sort of following her expression.

   "Well, Dragons were a common sight a long time ago, but seeing one now is extremely rare. As for Manticores? No we don't have anything like that on Earth. If there ever were Manticores, then my people exterminated them long ago."

   Fluttershy gasped, with her hooves covering her mouth in horror. "Oh my goodness, they killed them?"

"Well damn. Smooth as sliding on carpet Argyle." I thought while mentally kicking myself. I answered back trying to mend what I could.

    "Well you see Fluttershy, the majority of my species are fiilled with jerks. There are alot of nice people who keep the world from falling apart sure, but there are just enough bad people running around to keep the world from coming together as well."

   She just slumped down on her pillow. I did not think my words helped out much, I was wrong however, they made it much worse.

   "But don't you want to go back?" Rainbow Dash asked me, she was then really into the discussion.

   "Is there even a way for me to go back?" I was seizing the opportunity to finally ask.

   "If there is a way, then only the Princess would know." Twilight explained.

   "Don't worry, I plan on sending a letter to Celestia later tonight about what happened today; however, she will not get my message for at least a week, as she is away on royal business. So, I guess we will just have to wait for now."

"I get to meet princess Celestia? Well, I wonder how that will turn out?"

   While waiting for the next question, I saw a figure like shape out of the rear port window in the library. As soon as I could train my eyes on it however, the figure was gone. It was getting dark out, so anything that was not in the moon light, was nearly impossible to see clearly.

   "Its get'n late." Applejack said with a yawn. "Ah'd better get back home."

   "Yes, I think we are all quite tired from today's excitement." Rarity added while getting up and stretching a little.

   "Don't forget, glad you're not dead party tomorrow!" Pinkie cheered, and then poofed out the front door.

"Yaay, fun." I monotonely thought.

   "Don't worry Argyle." Fluttershy said while putting a hoof on my shoulder, trying to calm any fears I might have had. "I am sure there is a way to get you back home." She turned, then walked out the door.

"I don't know why I have the feeling that wont be the case Fluttershy, but I do hope your right." I thought to myself, as the gut feeling of belonging I felt there, had yet to subside.

   "Good night guys!" Twilight said while closing the door. She then looked back to me, then sighed lightly, as if to get her bearings back.

   "Alright, you will be staying here with me for now, so feel free to make yourself at home; but first, let me show you where you will be sleeping."

   She motioned for me to follow her. "The room is this way." I walked with her into a plain sized room in the library.

   There in the upper right corner of the room, was that large thick library table, it then was turned into a impromptu bed, and a smaller desk like table with an assortment of writing stuffs on it was near the bed.

   Twilight turned around, then quickly waved her hoof, gesturing to the whole room.

"I had Spike clear this book storeage room, and It's a little small I know, but it sure beats sleeping on the floor."

   "Thank you twilight, but you should not have gone to so much trouble to accommodate." I told her while gesturing to the pillow on the floor. "I would have been fine with the floor."

"It's not like any of the beds here can fit me. Otherwise, I would take you up on your offer without a hitch.

   She cracked a smile, then pointed a hoof at the pillow with a coy expression.

"Well I can't stop you from sleeping there if you want to, but you haven't slept on this floor, its harder then a brick, and just as cold too."

   She gestured back to the improvised bed nook. "No, you are my guest, and I wouldn't have it any other way." Twilight finished, pushing me to take her offer.

"Well, that table is pretty big. That actually might just work."

   I shrugged my sholders in defeat. "Well if you insist, thank you."

   "Don't mention it." I followed Twilight out of the room, as she went for the stairs.

   "Now if you need anything, just call me, I will be upstairs."

   "Sure thing. Well..." Twilight stopped, then turned back to me with a curious look.

   "Yes?"

   "Just answer me this, when did Spike set this room up for me?"

    I had a good reason to ask this, as Spike would have had little time to fix that room up by himself, especially in that small of a timeframe after I woke. So I was very curious.

   "Oh, I told him to set that room up just in case you woke up. That was a few hours after I found you laying here; furthermore, I knew the moment I saw you, that letting any anypony else see you, would be a bad idea. So I figured you would be safe here with me, at least, until Celestia could help us."

   "Huh, that is a big decision to make on such sort notice, well ... thanks Twilight!"

    I remember back at that moment, when that huge wave of respect for Twilight rushed through me right then. She had no obligation to help me, but yet she insisted on it. I never forgot that, and never will.

   "No worries Argyle, well good night." She began walking upstairs.

   "Alright then, good night Twilight."

   I turned, and walked towards my room door, entering upon opening it.

   Now that I was getting a good look around the room, I saw it was pretty closed off from the rest of the library, only a small door separated this room from the main hall. It was far from being empty as well, it had shelves full of books, mostly on magic as for as I could tell at the time.

                                                                                            ***

   "And this is my favorate part!" The voice broke into my thoughts. "Not only was this our first time meeting, but this is when the shit just started to hit the fan!" He laughed.

   "Yes it was." I answered back a little annoyed, "And don't interrupt me, I am trying to think here."

   "Awww, I'm sorry powder princess, did I brake your concentration? Huh, I thought you were a badass mage, that single handedly pissed off all of Equestria into wanting you dead!"  The voice cheered while procrastinating my thoughts further and sniffling like he was crying. "I taught you so well."

   "Oh right, like how you kept us alive too?" Anger was rising in my tone. "Twilight, Luna, and my friends that taught me magic! Not a shit stain like you!"

   "Ha ha, sure sure, whatever you say. Twilight and the rest of the flower suckers teach you, then I show you how it's really done, it is of no matter; however, you absolutely slaughtering everyone, how they ALL now want you dead, and still you think she will came back? Bwahaha!" The voice laughed manically.

   "You were there! You saw it!" I yelled back, my tone burning with rage, "If I had not killed them, then they would have killed my friends and me along with you too asshole!"

   The voice's tone darkened. "And why do you think I am laughing? I am just happy to be alive. I mean sure, I am devastated that my life was spared at the expense of a great atrocity, but, I'm just glad that I got stuck inside one of the few individuals that can murder with sound reasoning."

   "Shut up!" I screamed while swinging my left arm. "AAHH!"  I yelled in agony, as the exposed muscle in my left arm stretched, tearing the delicate healing tissues. "Damn it!"

"Well ... the muscle has almost completely covered the bone now, so at least the spell is starting to work finally."

   I closed my eyes, ignoring the manic laughter and constant insults towards my intelligence. Then, barely, I slipped back into thought once more.

                                                                                              ***

   I went to have a closer look at my desk table. "To bad I don't know how to use a quill."

   I opened the ink bottle and smelled its black contents. "And the ink smells like sour berries."

  "Cozy?"

   My sences jolted with surprise, and fear.

   "Like a worm inside a putrefying apple?" The girl laughed.

  "YOU again!" I yelled after turning around. "This is all your fault! You brought me to this hell, now take me back!"

    I saw her bloody figure just standing in the middle of my room, with a wide grin.

   "And why would I do that?" Her dirty face then frowned, as her blood red eyes pierced into my being. "You should thank me."

   "Thank you?!" I yelled back in defience. "You are ruining my life! Ugh! If I still had my Tokarev I'd-"

   "You would what?" Her face returned its dark grin. "Do not forget, you are assuming it would be effective against me." She sighed. "Well, we thought returning you back would spark in you joy, but we suppose not... Since you realize what all this entails, do you not, Argyle?"

   "No, I don't!" My head was spinning with rage. "I don't know what you're talking about. You have the wrong guy!"

   "Oh dear, so you really don't remember?" Her face then, for what it seemed, looked puzzled. "Nothing at all?"

   "How could I remember something I have never done before!" I answered while shaking my fist at her, "You have the wrong guy!"

   Her face grew a very large sickening smile, as she let her head bob back to face the ceiling.

"He ... hehe ... bwahahahaha!" She started laughing like a maniac.

  "Haha, marvelous! Truly that means we can cause much pain to our desire and bring this miserable land to ruin as it was in turn long ago." She then let her head down, and began staring at me with a violent, cold stare, like all life was dead in her eyes. "And, it shall remain unhampered this time."

"Well, fuck!" Was all I maneged to think, as she continued.

   "Unquestionably it also bares incentive, that we can attempt THIS!" A force lifted me off the ground, and pulled me hard toward her.

   "AH! let me go you freak!" I yelled, as she pulled me in at nose length from her face.

   Her horrorible voice whispered to me, "And remain uncontested."

  The monster grinned, exposing her malformed teeth. They looked like sharpened human canines. Those teeth filled her whole top and bottom jaw, and they were covered in a disgusting yellowish black film.

   She also, smelled of death and decay. If it were not for my naturally strong stomach, I would have vomited immediately.

   The girl looked right into my eyes, as she whispered. "If you ever so do remember your past Argyle, you will know where to find us. Do not tally for too long!"

   Her voice changed, then it sounded just like a child's voice. "Because, it may be very difficult to exist here soon!" She giggled while throwing me aside.

   I must have knocked something loose when I landed on that floor, as what I heard next, would not shut up, even then inside that blasted cave.

  I yelled, as I got up to take the fight to her, "You're going to pay for that!"

   "Yeah, kill the bitch!" I heard echoing inside my mind, "Use one of your flashy moves, you know, the one that hurts alot?"

"Oh God, please no, now I'm hearing voices in my head too?"

   "Oh great job wonder brain! YOUR "genius" let her get away!"

"Shit, she's no longer here."

   "That's what I just said, fat nose!"

  I went for the desk's stool, as I needed to sit down for that moment. "Okay, I don't think completely insane is the best choice right now, Argyle. Keep it together now."

   "I know you can hear me wonder boy, don't think you can ignore me! I am inside you after all."

"Ugh, something is wrong with me."

   "I'll say, you have totally turned into a sugar plum fairy!" The voice taunted, "And that back there, could not have gone any better by the way. I mean besides that you somehow managed to contract stupid, and let the greatest threat that has ever been known ever escape, but besides those minor setbacks, you did one hell of a job super sprinkle!"

   "How is any of this my fault? I dont even know what the fuck is going on!"

   "Well, you better fill that hole in your brain soon, or you are all going to die, very painfully might I add."

   "How? What is going to happen?" I wanted to get some answers, even if I was talking to myself.

   "It's the return of the darkness! You know, the kind that will swallow the Sun and the Moon? You really don't remember do you? My void! You really are a fat nose!"

   "Look, I wish I did, but I dont even know what I have forgotten."

"Well, maybe this will soon explain my gut feeling of being at home here."

   Then I heard my room door open. "Argyle? Is everything alright in here?"

    It was Twilight. She heard the commotion from upstairs, then came down to check on me.

   "Oh yes, everything is fine. I was just ... thinking outloud." I turned to face her.

   I remember thinking of how I could explain what just happened to me. "Oh yeah, and by the way Twilight, Satan's daughter is about to destroy all of Equestria, and bring about a new age of eternal death and decay; also, I am hearing a voice in my head! How are you doing?"

   I thought it best to just keep that one to myself.

   I rubbed the side I had landed on when the girl flung me, it was throbing slightly. "Yeah, this is just turning out to be a barrel of joy."

   "I did not mean to bother you, but there was a loud bump, then I heard some shouting..." Twilight entered the room while looking around, but saw nothing strange. "So I just came to see if everything was alright."

   "Oh yes, everything is fine. Well ... considering."

   She looked at me, then frowned a little. "Yeah... Don't worry, it will all be alright when we see the Princess."

   "Of that, I have little doubt." I scratched the back of my head, thinking of a way to change the subject.

"I was about to go to bed anyway. Do you need help with anything before I do?"

   Even though I was in the last place I wanted to be. It still was no excuse for not being considerate of others.

   "Me? No, I was about to go to bed myself." She looked around once more. "Well if you're alright, then good night again." She wished me twice.

   "Good night, Twilight." I wished back.

   She left the room, while closing the door behind her.

"The voice, it stopped as soon as Twilight came in... Curious."

   I had a very big day. I was so tired, I could barely think, so, I desided to go to sleep.

"I think I will call it a night."

   I walked to the nook, then rolled into the makeshift bed. "Not bad." I thought to myself. "I will worry about what happened today later, for now, I just need to sleep. Who knows? I might wake up in my bed back home, with all this being just a bad dream."

    I closed my eyes, then I drifted away with my hopes.