A Strange Encounter

Perspective: Subtle Shift

I walked past the border of Detrot as I made my way to the small village of Moosden. All I really know about the village is that it has been losing residents recently. They're abandoning their homes for unknown reasons in the middle of the night, probably due to the guards but it doesnt matter. I trotted for what felt like hours due to the tranquil nature surrounding me. For the first time in a great while I was at peace with myself... perhaps I should rephrase that.

You have something on your mind?

Do you really think Colgate is mad at me?

Most likely, yes… I never spoke to her for the better part of my life. I didn’t even tell her I was leaving. I’d be upset if somepony did that to me, so... yeah.

It’s fair enough I suppose. Only Celestia knows how she feels about me sending a letter from out of the blue, telling her to watch my ‘Daughter.

I think we need to sit down and have a talk to straighten out this daughter situation with Colgate.

That would probably be best. Do you think I should try to tell Star that I am not her father again?

Honestly, the problem is indeed psychological. It seems that I replaced her mother throughout her memories. If that indeed is the case abandoning her would mess her up, worse than what happened to us. I mean if what we went through caused our mind to split, I cannot begin to fathom what might happen to her.

I won’t let her become me. If I must become her father, then so be it. Neither of us asked for this life… I won’t let her forsake herself to a life of death. She deserves better then that… don’t you think?

Considering I’m you… I think you know my answer. Also, I have no control over our body remember? So even if I did object, what would I do scream? I’m just along for the ride.

Good point. I look to the horizon and saw the sky begin to illuminate from the sun’s approach.

We only have an hour left before the day comes. Let’s find someplace to sle- wait whats that I notice a shadow pass through some trees ahead of me.

Get ready. We are not alone. I give a mental nod to the more logical existence of myself.

I continued walking noting the rustling of bushes, and trees as I did. Eventually I was able to get a number to how many were following me.

I count four. You?

Six. The amount of disturbed vegetation was too large. Unless we are dealing with pegasi, then there are six of them. Maybe seven.

Ready?

What do you think? I chuckle a little at the question.

I draw power to my horn, which was concealed under my hood, so as to not arouse their suspicion that I was on to them. I waited for them to make the first move; I was rewarded with an orange pony jumping from the tree closest to my position. As he landed I withdrew my throwing knives, and lodged one into his forehead. He died before he hit the ground. The others descended from their floral cover and circled around me.

I withdrew a short sword; it was the only thing my father left me when I was young. It was a normal blade; there was nothing special about it. The only reason I kept the instrument was due to its reliability. That and the fact of the engraving on the length of the blade which stated: “I miei zoccoli sono veloci e gli scioperi sono vere. Non vi è nessun equino in questa esistenza come sfortunato di te.” The first verse of the rhyme started from the hilt following to just before the point. The second continued the first’s pattern. The engraving yet legible, did not seem to compromise the weapons durability.

I looked around for the next victim to feed my blade. They all decided to charge me at once. I rolled under the one to my right, slicing his haunches as I did. The others broke off their charge to attempt to surround me once more. I dug the blade into the wounded bandit’s neck, quickly ending his life. As the others began to form around me I charged to the nearest one, feinting to the left. His spine met steel as he suffered for his mistake.

I kicked my hooves behind me, meeting another bandit’s muzzle. This caused her to fly backwards a small distance before landing on the ground. I noted another one recklessly charging me; I jumped above him throwing three of my knives into his spine paralyzing him. As I landed I sunk my blade into another’s muzzle effectively silencing her. Soon I felt a small sting in my left hindleg as an arrow pierced it. I found the culprit still hiding in the trees. Just as he was about to fire another I cast the spell I had been holding. I forced the archer to withdraw a blade and slit his throat. I walked to the paralyzed bandit

bleeding heavily upon the ground to retrieve my knives. As I did I grasped his neck and twisted it a complete hundred and eighty degrees. I was met with a satisfying number of cracks. The last bandit stood watching in horror as the last of his accomplices met their fate. I walked towards him slowly charging my horn once more. As I approached he begged for forgiveness, making false promises and bargains to spare his life. I began to cast the spell I charged, invading his mind and destroying him from the inside out. I left him effectively brain dead before I retreated to reality.

I turned my attention to the arrow in my leg; it wasn’t as deep as I initially thought. I decided it was probably best to remove it and sanitize the wound to prevent it from getting infected. I broke the shaft in two, and withdrew a bottle of my conscience killer. I really despised the next act. I began to push the arrow through my leg trying to penetrate the other side. I winced at the intolerable pain that I was giving myself. Soon the head appeared through the other end. I removed it and poured the alcohol over my wound. I screamed slightly at the stinging sensation, before pulling bandages from my saddlebags.

Having finished bandaging the wound, I continued on my way before finding a clearing with a small tree. Deciding it was as good a place as any I collapsed underneath it. I set up a small barrier, not unlike a sound proof spell, to conceal my position. I soon let sleep take me into its embrace.

***

After spending the day sleeping under the tree I awoke just as the sun was setting. I tested my leg to see if I could stand; it wasn’t a problem as long as I kept most of my weight off of it. Planning to arrive early to survey the area around Moosden, I began on my way.

It didn't take long for my journey to fall victim to a certain cognitive function.

I hate archers, hiding during a battle to strike from the unknown, that’s shameful... a good tactic but shameful.

That’s exactly what I’ve been doing for a living. You got a problem with that?

No, we can hold our own in a straight fight. Archer’s have to hide to prevent from dying prematurely. That’s cowardice.

Many ponies believe our work to be the same as… Wait. Who is that? I look over to see somepony kind of near me.

Who?

That brown pony by the rock... just to our right... see him? Of course you do.

Yeah... let's get a better view.

I decide to get a better look and cast a small camouflaging spell so I wouldn't be noticed. When I was near enough I could see that he had light green hair and a cutie mark which depicted a head of cabbage with a square cut from the middle. Before getting any closer, I saw him holding a small head of cabbage which was bruised and looked close to expiring. Deciding he wasn't a threat, I released the spell.

"Excuse me sir? Is everything alright?" He looked to me with a twitch in his eye.

"Did you steal my cart?" His eye twitched more intensely now.

"What cart?" I began to wonder if I had been wrong to approach this pony.

"My Cabbage Cart. Did. You. Steal. It." I began to prepare myself for anything.

"...No, would you like help finding those who did?" I completely regret coming over here.

"Find them... No. Making them suffer beyond their beliefs... Yes." Yeah definitely regretting it. This is a delay I can't possibly afford.

"Well I'm willing to offer my services mister..." I at the least want to know this pony's name before he goes batshit crazy on me.

"Cabbage Patch."

I'm going to be honest with you... This guy is really creeping me out.

Yup.

***

After a few minutes of walking, Cabbage Patch and I arrived at the site where his cart was stolen. The area was pretty bare, except for blatantly obvious tracks where the cart was redirected to.

"Hey...uh… Cabbage Patch. There's some tracks over here." He immediately charged towards the tracks, knocking me on my flank.

"Let's go. The sooner we find my cart, the sooner we can get on with our lives." I looked to him as he trotted after the indentations in the ground.

"Indeed."

Not long on our crusade, we found ourselves outside a cave. It was the generic picture that springs to mind when one says 'cave'. He began to enter but I stopped him by placing a hoof on his shoulder.

"You ever killed somepony before?" He looked at me before shaking his head. "Ever been in a fight?" He nodded with slight hesitation. "When?" He then began to recount the events that led him to here. Apparently he had been conscripted by a pimp, a prostitute, and a mailmare to save a little filly. The most he had done during the encounter was knocking a low life unconscious before said lowlife was interrogated by the prostitute. He hesitated, sharing details of the interrogation. All he mentioned was 'Brick shaped bruises' were present on the thug afterwards.

"Wow..." Was all I could say. I could barely comprehend the tale conveyed to me. It seemed like something out of a poorly written story.

Note to self: Never cross a pimp by the name of Cheesus...

"I think I should handle this but if you want to come along I'm not stopping you."

With that we entered the cave. To our surprise we came to a door further in the tunnel. It was wooden and newly constructed. I craned my neck to look through a small window and as I did the door opened and I came face to face with another earth pony.

I look back to Cabbage Patch to confirm what I was seeing... an exact likeness between the two; accurate down to the cutie mark itself. I turned to the replicant who was shaking in fear.

"Who're... who're you?" I took a step back to wrap my head around the situation.

Then Cabbage Patch (who I'm going to refer to as CP1 from this moment on) threw a hoof at the other Cabbage Patch (who I shall refer to CP2).

"YOU STOLE MY CART YOU MOTHER BUCKER!" CP1 then began to mercilessly chase CP2 around the room. I peered inside to find a well furnished home despite the location it was in. Chairs, a fireplace, a refrigerator, and what looked like a jacuzzi were all occupying the makeshift home. I focused my attention back to the CPs to find I couldn't tell one from the other. As they struggled to incapacitate each other I shrugged and decided to raid the fridge for anything with alcohol in it. After finding a bottle of hooch that wasn't rancid to the taste buds I settled down, cleared my throat and stopped the conflict the way I learned to with Star. Though I decided to step it up a notch or two...

"SETTLE THE BUCK DOWN BEFORE I KILL YOU BOTH." Both CPs stopped immediately.

"Now I don't stand a snow elemental's chance on the sun of telling you two apart. So, I'm going to give a little test..."

AN: So thanks go out to tallestbrony for the first Brony point submission of the story, choosing who Shift met during his journey. I'd also like to make a formal apology to Cheesus for the act stated below me. As always thanks for reading. -HR

EN: And remember people never write when you're drunk or else you get an unhappy editor with a headache. - Grado