Captain's Travels

Captain lay on the cold floor, as his brain fell into a deep haze. The black void his mind now occupied was occasionally punctuated by two familiar voices.

He's waking up, quickly...,his mind fell back into the fog that was unconsciousness.

Again his brain rose to the surface barely recognizing the sensations around him. He could feel a familiar tingle, surround his body, but the feeling was numbed for some reason.

Careful Twili..., gone again.

His psyche now floated in the realm of dreams, as opposed to the tar like pit that had consumed his mind earlier. In the distance he could've sworn that he heard his name called and his breathing become easier. Its just a dream it'll go away soon enough his blood deprived brain though. His imaginary eyes fell on the landscape that his psyche provided. Before him spread a gentle meadow, long reeds billowing in the wind, as moonlight reflected off of a pond beside him,  and strange constellations peppered the indigo sky. Turning to the side he saw the pale moon's glow reflected softly in the rippling water's surface. He lost himself looking into the hypnotic reflection presented to him. Out of the corner of his vision he could see a dark figure, but when he turned to look it was gone. Again and again a shadowy figure appeared, but when he turned to face it, it was gone.

Be still child this remedy is not mild, echoed a voice from beyond the confines of his mind.

"What the hell was that?" He shouted at the heavens.

Quickly Twilight he's struggling, you have to hold him down, Came the voice of Fluttershy.

"God damn it who's out there? Quit fucking with me."

The shadowy figure blinked out from the corner of his eyes once again, and turned to face it. This time though he saw a lage equine shape gallop into the distance. Without a second thought he tore after it.

Oh no his heart rate's rising, you have to calm him down, again Fluttershy's voice pounded in his ears.

The shadow horse had now stopped, and appeared to be waiting for him, taunting him with an unreachable prize. His heart pounded, lungs burned, and legs screamed for a chance to stop. None received a rest as he chased the beast beneath the moonlight. The meadow that had stretched to the horizon now gave way to gradual hills, and rocky outcrops. The creature simply continued as if nothing had occured, Captain on the other hand was noticeably less lucky, as he stumble across every stray stone in his path.

The farther he went, the rougher the terrain became. Half of the loamy hills that had sprung up were now exposing the naked rock that lay beneath as though someone had been carving out the hillside. He glanced up at the indigo sky, and saw that it had become several shades lighter, as some of the stars began to blink out of existence. The hills had all but given way at this point leaving behind a maze of rocky,  jagged cliffs. He could make out the shadow pony now, the sky had grown a shade lighter, and the creature's outline was clearly visible ahead of him now.

Quickly you two, he must swallow this healing brew. Came an unfamiliar voice clawing its way into his head.

As he licked his lips he could taste bile on his tongue and hoped that whatever was happening on the other side wasn't going to kill him.

It's not working he still feels cold, and his heart's still racing the voice of Twilight cut him like a knife. Losing his focus he tripped and fell on his face.

Ignoring the stinging on his cheeks he could feel a strange satisfaction in knowing that his quarry was at hand. "I've got you now fucker." One final corner he rounded, and saw standing atop a cliff, a pitch black,  winged unicorn looking through him with a pair of pale pure white eyes. It was gone as quickly as he saw it. Slowly he made his way out of the stone labyrinth and took note of the horizon, it had gone from indigo to lavender,  and was quickly burning into red. The red, short lived as it was, bled into orange as the first rays of sun began to poke over the horizon. (At this point I really don't feel like describing the sunrise anymore so here enjoy)

As the sun rose his world bled out around him until finally he noticed he was awake. He could feel his limbs intact all felt heavy, and useless as he could do no more than twitch in the darkness. This was no darkness like what he had experienced in his dream instead this was simply his eyes closed. He tried to lift his eyelids but even those felt like lead on his brow. If he could not move then he could at least think, and take inventory. The first thing he noticed was that he was laying in a bed, with thick quilts brought up to his chin. The second thing he took note of was that he was naked save his underwear. Thirdly he had a faint noxious taste lingering in the corners of his mouth   Finally, there was no shortness of breath here, no thinned air it was as if he was back home. While he laid there, he could hear soft snoring coming from the foot of the bed.

With a strain he opened his mouth in an attempt to speak, but all that escaped his maw was a low moan. Immediately the snoring lump at the foot of the bed stirred. He moaned again, and again the lump moved. For several minutes the moan and move cycle repeated. Until finally the lump spoke.

"Spike shut up I'm trying to sleep."

"Twilight, " Captain responded, finally gaining the strength to speak.

"Five more minutes, please."

"Twilight you're late for school," the bedridden man jested.

"What! Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh," he heard her squirm a bit before crashing onto the floor. "Wait a minute Capitan was that you?"

"Good morning to you too beautiful. Ugh how long have I been out?"

"You're okay," she responded with a noticeable quiver in her voice, "you've been out few hours Captain.  I had to ask my friend Zecora to brew you a potion to replace some of the blood you lost."

"Oh so that's what that taste is I'll have to thank her once I see her. But I have to ask why didn't you just use all that crazy magic-y stuff you have."

"As it turns out my magic doesn't affect you as strongly as ponies. You seem to be resistant to it somehow. All that my healing magic seemed to do was make you weak. It's a good thing too because your heart rate was skyrocketing as Fluttershy tells me."

"That's why I feel like I was mauled by Donkey Kong. So the reason I can barely talk is because you zapped me with crazy, potentially dangerous magic."

"Yup."

"Awesome. Speaking of Fluttershy, where is she. I don't think we were properly introduced before I puked on her rabbit, passed out on her floor."

"Fluttershy's downstairs tending to her animals, and what's a 'Donkey Kong'?" Twilight asked skeptically.

"He's a video game character. What is a video game? Dont ask I'll tell you later. Now, where the hell did you put my pants?"

"Your clothes? We had to strip you out of them because they were covered in blood. Fluttershy suggested leaving your 'underwear' on. Dont worry we washed them and everything they're downstairs.  But I dont really understand why you want clothes, why not just go naked like ponies?"

"Well unlike you damn nudists I was raised on the concept of shame. Plus its kind of cold here for my taste."

The longer that Captain and Twilight chatted the more he felt like his strength was returning. Finally he felt like he could open his eyes. With muted excitement Captain slowly opened his eyes, and saw several indistinct colorful blobs in the distance.

"Donde chingaos tirastes mis lentes?" [Where the fuck did you throw my glases?] He muttered in the general direction of the purple blob.

"I'm sorry what?" Twilight asked

"Sorry I tend to speak spanish when I'm frustrated. What I meant to say was where the fuck did you put my glasses?"

"Oh your glasses I put them on the side table over there. And do you really have to speak like that all the time."

"It's in the blood. Now could you please help the poor blind man get his glasses? I'd do it myself, but it kind of hurts to breathe."

"Sure here you go," she said as the familiar sound of magic filled his ears, and his glasses came into view. He tilted his head forward a bit, and allowed the frames to drop onto his face. After a few blinks his world came into foces, and the first thing he noticed was a large purple bubble around the bed.

"Uh Twilight what's up with the purple force field thingy?"

"Well do you remember when Fluttershy asked you if you were from sea level?" He nodded. "Well she suggested that I put up a barrier, and raise the air pressure enough so that you could breathe comfortably. I don't get how you do it though the air feels so thick here."

"You get used to it I suppose. Now could you do me a favor and grab my clothes for me please, I feel like getting up."

"Sure I'll be right back," and with that the lavender mare was out of the door.

For a few moments Captain sat up, bored until he began to move his limbs. One by one each extremity lifted, and flexed with his commands. Bringing a hand to rest on his chin he quickly cracked his neck and received a series of satisfying pops in return. When his head was turned he saw that outside it had grown dark, and the moon was high in the sky. Soon enough he heard the hoofsteps up the stairs, and eagerly awaited for the unicorn to bring up his clothes. What he saw instead was a livid yellow pegasus in the doorway.

"What do you think you're doing sitting up sir," she said with much more firmness than he thought possible.

"I feel fine," he countered, "I'll just go be on my way if you don't mind."

"Oh no you don't mister Captain," the yellow mare said as she hopped up onto the bed," you've just suffered major bleeding there's no way I'm going to let you walk out of here right now," she snorted as she firmly placed a hoof on Captain's chest. "You need several more hours of bed rest, at least, and until you do I'm not letting you out of this room," the butter colored pony finished as she stared into Captain's eyes with a look that turned his remaining blood to ice.

"Okay," he gulped, "but could I at least put my clothes back on?"

"Fine, but dont overexert yourself or I'll come over here and dress you myself."

"Y-yes ma'am," he managed to stutter out while a mild shiver went down his spine.

"Oh I'm sorry are you cold... did I scare you, I'm sorry. Here let me give you another quilt, " she said as she hefted another cover on top of him. Soon after she trotted out, and called for Twilight to bring up his clothes. "Now you stay here while Twilight brings up your clothes. I'll be back to check up on you later."

A few minutes later Twilight came up the stairs levitating a bundle of rags he called clothes. She placed them at the foot of the bed, and sat there.

"Well?" She asked.

"Well, what?"

"Aren't you going to change?"

"Not with you looking. Please leave."

"Why not?"

"Again it goes back o the whole 'shame' thing. People don't usually change in front of each other."

"Why not?" She asked as she popped a quill, and a leaf of parchment into existence.

"Shame you know that thing that makes you guilty or embarrassed about your body."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"Tell that to 50,000 years of evolution," he mumbled.

"So your world's only 50,000 years old?" She asked as the quill scribbled furiously across the paper.

"What? No, I'm pretty sure it's a lot older than that. Look we're getting off track here," he exclaimed obviously flustered,  "please get out real quick, so that I can change. Then I will answer whatever inane question you have about my planet. Okay."

"Okay," she conceded as she stepped out of the door.

Standing up, Captain felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, so he sat back down. True to her word Twilight had washed his clothes, and had even managed to get the blood stains out. Putting on his shirt was no trouble, and his pants proved the same. One unsteady step later, and he was up again. A knock on the door, and his rear met the bed once more.

"Captain are you okay in there?"

"Peachy. Why?"

"No it's Twilight. Anyways I brought you something to eat in case you were hungry."

"Food you say. Come in come in."

In came Twilight a steaming bowl of soup floating beside her head.

"It's vegetable soup," she said with a grin, placing it on the side table along side a spoon.

Picking up the bowl and spoon Captain took a hesitant taste.

"Mmmm just like mom used to make."

"Really it's that good?" The unicorn asked hopefully.

"Actually she couldn't cook soup to save her life, but its still good soup. Now you wanted to ask me some things about Earth I belive?"

"Yes I've already made a list of questions."

For the next several hours Twilight covered every subject from agriculture to zoology punctuated by the occasional bathroom break or a bowl of soup. Fluttershy had checked in on the two once or twice bringing a vial of foul smelling liquid. Which Captain choked down under threat of violence. After what seemed like an eternity however warm orange sunlight filtered in through the cracks in the shutter.

"Damn what time is it," he said while stifling a yawn.

"It's about six in the morning. We've been up all night."

"I don't suppose I could ask a favor?"

"Sure, anything Capitan."

"Seeing as how I don't have a place to stay, I was wondering if I could stay with you for a while? I would ask Fluttershy, but to be honest she scares the piss out of me."

"Sure I'd be happy to help you out."

"Alright let's go then."

Before Captain could stand, the door flew open, and in flew I pink maned pegasus landing atop his chest.

"You're not going anywhere not in your condition at least. You can barely stand let alone walk, and if you think that I'll let you walk out of here you've got another thing coming."

"Look Fluttershy I kind of feel like not being cooped up all day, and I'm pretty sure you don't want me to keep stinking up your bed spreads. So how's about a deal, you wait down stairs and if I can leave this house you let me go, but if I can't then I'll gladly stay in bed until you deem me healthy again. Do we have an accord?" The human said extending his hand.

Reluctantly Fluttershy extended her own hoof, and shook. While hand and hoof were still clasped Fluttershy added, "without anypony to lean on either."

"Deal," they blurted simultaneously. "Sucker," they added beneath their breath. With the horribly unfair deal struck both mares departed.

The trip down stairs was just that, a trip and a fall. As Captain got up off the bed the vertigo he was do familiar with reared its ugly head once more. The floor neared itself ever so slightly before the man was able to correct himself. The next step was a bit easier, and with each step he neared the barrier Twilight had erected. Placing his hands gently upon the translucent surface of the barrier, Captain was amazed by the wall of solid magenta light. With a push he managed to get through, before the light headedness that came with the thinner air outside took hold. With heavy, uneven steps Captain made his way towards the stairs. If walking had prooved to be a challenge then the stairs were hell. Each step he took made his balance waver.

"Okay deep breaths, deep breaths," he told himself. After a few seconds however gravity won, and he tumbled down the stairs with a noisy thud. "Chinga su puta madre!" [Motherfucker!] Echoed throughout the cottage.

"Oh my are you sure you wouldn't prefer to be back in bed, resting?" Asked the yellow pegasus.

"Never!" He replied

The pair of mares simply watched as Captain dragged himself out of Fluttershy's home.

"I win," he said crossing the threshold. "Now lets go back to your place Twilight."

"I am not walking home with you dragging yourself across half of Ponyville," she said with a huff.

"Fine, have it your way," he said as he got up.

With that they continued their quest to the library.