A Canterlot Symphony
Act 4

(ost)

The sun sure is being a real bitch this morning. I raised my hand to bend the light away from my face. It was working for the most part, until Chocolate decided to use me as a trampoline. “Mr. James, git up, git up!”

I sighed and sat up in bed. Chocolate was sitting on my legs and smiling with that infernal youthful energy. “What is it Choc?”

“It’s time fer breakfast!” Breakfast... What a concept. Wonder where I’ll find some souls here in Canterlot? Maybe there’s a park I can find some squirrels at.

I got out of bed once Chocolate stopped jumping on me, and made my way to the hotel lobby. When I got there, the mare from yesterday was cleaning the counter. She gave me a friendly smile and waved.

“Good Morning! I trust that you slept well?”

I gave her a smile and a small chuckle. “Absolutely, It would be a crime to not enjoy staying in such a nice place.”

She blushed and giggled at the complement. “Oh, my business isn’t anything special.”

I was enjoying myself, this was way too easy. “That is where you are wrong. This place is marvelous and I got the best sleep I’ve ever had while traveling last night.” Chocolate made fake retching noises and I smiled. “Now if the beautiful mare in front of me could please give me her name...”

“It’s Feather Light. Thank you for asking.” I bid her adieu and left the establishment with Chocolate.

Choc looked up at me as we walked down the street. “Can we get breakfast now?”

I had gone to the local park after I’d gotten Choc some hayfries or whatever they’re called. I had managed to distract him by letting him play with some of the local kids and nabbed me some squirrel souls. “These ought to last me about a week or two.” I stuffed the extras into my pockets and walked over to a park bench near Choc and those other kids.

Chocolate was waving his arms around. “‘nd then the barn just went BOOM!”

The blue colt started to glare. “You’re bluffing! A sandwich can’t do that!”

Choc got in the blue ones face. “Ah am not! Ah saw it with my own two eyes!” The kept bickering while the yellow filly facehoofed. I chuckled as I got up and walked over.

The blue one went wide eyed as he saw me and started pointing at me. “It’s that thing from yesterday!”

My eye twitched for a moment. “I’m not a thing, I’m a human, but most importantly is that Choc here needs to stop telling that story, It’s embarrassing.” Chocolate grinned as he rubbed the back of his head.

About then a white pegasus in a postal uniform trotted up to me and tapped my leg. “Are you James Hindenburg?”

I looked at him a bit uneasily. “Yeah.”

He reached into his bag and pulled out a envelope. “I have a letter for you from a miss Appleslice.” He flew away with the ‘have a good day’ line as I grabbed the letter and gulped. It was definitely from Choc’s mom. Only she could write this in such a neat fashion when stressed.

James,

I haven’t been able to find Chocolate anywhere and the entire town was looking for him. If he’s with you in Canterlot please make sure he gets home safely or it’s your head on the line.

Sincerely

~Appleslice
P.S. I hope your trip is going smoothly~

I slowly folded the letter and placed it in my last free pocket. “Choc. When we get home, we are in so much trouble.”

Choc was confused until he saw who the letter was from. “Uh oh.” I picked him up after letting him say good bye to those kids. I was about to leave the park when I thought I saw someone in the trees. I looked back but nothing was there except branches waving in the breeze.I was headed to the Train station and was planning on sending Chocolate home when we passed ‘The Silver Wing’ hotel. There was some kind of commotion coming from inside.

Death appeared next to me right out of a nearby ally, scaring both me and Chocolate. “Sorry about that James, but I thought you’d like to know that the wraith I sent you to meet is inside this building. Her name’s Sarah, just ask for someone with white hair and the patrons should point you in the right direction.” Death saw Chocolate and gave an apologetic smile. “And I’m also sorry for scaring your companion, do take care James.”

Choc stared at Death as he vanished “Who the hell was that!”

I gave him a bop on the nose. “Language, and that was my boss. I’ll explain that bit when you’re older.” Chocolate pouted and mumbled something about always having to be older. I was about to walk into the building when I saw something I didn’t really expect.

I was rather intimidated by the first one. She had long white hair and scars while she just felt.... evil. There was no other way to describe it. She was just. Evil and scary as hell. My nuts seemed to start hurting at the sight of her. This was probably Sarah.

Chocolate didn’t seem intimidated by her appearance in the slightest and started waving from his perch. “Hi!”

A white haired man in a hoodless cloak walked out of the building and stood next to Sarah. “Hello there.”

Sarah just smiled with sharp, bloody teeth and waved with an equally sharp, blackened claw instead of a hand. My eye twitched as the prospects of what she could do with that ran through my brain.

Chocolate just went wide eyed and smiled “Cool...”

She quickly turned her claw into a skeletal arm, I guess that’s her weapon. “Sorry, forgot about that... Nice to meet you, I guess.” She offered me her normal hand and I tentatively gave her a quick handshake.

The next one was, thankfully, a pony. After her was a really tall and seemed to loom over everyone. He had a top hat and and was wearing a cloak like a cape. and oddly enough there was an elf to his right. It’s probably a good thing my sister isn’t here.

A growl came from behind the pony and a RIDICULOUSLY big wolf came out from behind her. It is a REALLY good thing my sister isn’t here, for she would have smothered it with hugs. I heard a *squee* from the trees behind me and turned to look. Again, there was only branches and leaves.

I turned back to the group in front of me, blinked, then turned to Choc. “Well that was odd.”

The white haired guy pointed to the trees “What did you see?”

I shrugged. “Just what you would expect in trees. Leaves, leaves, and more leaves.”

He glared at the trees, “Then explain why I saw something about my height move.”

I turned back and stared at the tree. Maybe those squirrels mutated and wanted revenge. “I have no idea.”

He was about to say something else when the elf in front of me started yelling “Gah, Dammit, WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE!?”

Chocolate climbed down from my shoulder and ran up to her. “My name’s Chocolate! What’s yer name?”

“Arlosia, nice to meet you. Now get the hell out of my face.” Choc started to to tear up and ran behind my legs and I glared Arlosia. “What? What the hell do you want?”

I started tapping my foot on the ground as I intensified my glare. “Well for starters, I would like an apology to my friend here.”

Arlosia leaned to the side to look at Chocolate, “I’m sorry you can’t handle someone being slightly upset with you.”

I let out a small growl and turned my attention to the white haired guy. “So what’s you’re name?”

He held out a hand, “The names Michael, a pleasure to meet you.”

I took his hand and gave him a firm shake. “James.” I turned to the gargantuan man pole, I mean seriously, he’s almost a solid foot taller than me! “And you?”

He stood there and responded. “James.”

We stood there staring at eachother. “...…Well this is awkward..... ”

Michael nodded in agreement. “Yep, we got a problem within a couple minutes of meeting. How wonderful.”

“Well” He looked down at me, which made me feel a little weird. “you could just call me Jav, that’s what everyone back home called me, most of the time anyway. There are a lot of James’ in the world, for whatever reason.” Well that became a lot less confusing.

Michael spoke up “Okay then,” He pointed at me “You’re James,” he switched over to Jav “and you’re Jav, Now what about that pony that’s with you?” Oh, I’d almost forgotten about her.

The pony looked at us tiredly. “I’m Ardiente Fragua, former member of the Polomino family mafia, friend of Sarah’s. I would say it’s a pleasure, but your friend threatened my friend, and I don’t like you so much because of that.” She then climbed up onto the wolf’s back and fell asleep.

Michael only blinked. “Okay...”

Sarah pointed to the other pony there and laughed.

I knelt down and let Choc get back on my shoulder, before turning to the other pony. “And your name would be?”

She blinked before she responded “My name’s Flare Dancer, I chased you across town yesterday before Princess Luna saved you.” Apparently wraith’s glow when we blush, cause I lit up like a gold light bulb.

Sarah started talking as she stared at me. “Jesus Christ that’s actually kinda funny, I think I’ll laugh now.”

I stood up and coughed as Sarah was rolling on the ground. “Ah, well....yes, about that.”

Michael’s eye started to twitch as he looked at me. “How in the name of all things logical are you doing...” He started gesturing to all of me. “THAT!?”

“Uhh, I guess wraiths glow when we blush...wait. Oh god that means I was like a beacon yesterday!” Chocolate started nodding to confirm my statement. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Chocolate grinned “Cause it was funny.”

Sarah was finally getting over her fit of laughter. “Ah God dammit, why was that funny? Whatever, Flare? You are no longer on the list of people I wish to kill, eat, then masturbate with the bones. Now it’s only kill.” Flare was making this.... face. I can't really describe it.

Chocolate looked up to me. “Mr. James, What’s Masturbating?” I was at a loss as for what to do...

So I opted to act like a goldfish. “I- uh, It’s... Uh... I’ll let your mom tell you.”

Sarah started smiling. “S’Where I stick a bone up my vagina.”

Before she could say it I covered Choc’s ears. “Please don’t ruin his childhood. It would be the end of me.”

Sarah just shrugged “You make it sound like I should care about you. Besides, what’s knowing a few bad words? Way worse can happen to a kid.” She had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. If he even mentioned that in front of his mother..... oh god the pain.

Michael smiled and looked at Chocolate. “Why don’t we go get some ice cream?”

Chocolate perked up at the mention of the frosty treat. “ICE CREAM!!!!” I started cleaning the inside of my ear. Good god that kid can be loud. “Mr. James can we? Can we can we can we can we can w-” I clapped my hand over his mouth.

“Yes Choc, we’ll get some Ice cream... just... calm down first.”

Michael started chuckling “You’ll have lead me there...” He turned to Flare. “Know any good ice cream spots?”

Chocolate was enjoying his strawberry ice cream as I had a simple vanilla waffle cone. Michael got himself a mint-chocolate chip, and Sarah had a chocolate ice cream. Flare had some cinnamon ice cream.

While we ate Sarah was staring at her cone. “This thing full of drugs or something?” I just stared at her. “Don’t want a repeat of last time. That was a bad time, many dead bodies and chloroform.” I turned back to the road and tried to ignore them. I didn’t want to know about whatever twisted things happened.

Michael spoke up “No... Why the fuck would you think that?” I stopped Choc before he could ask.

Sarah started to stare at him with a mad look in her eye. “A.N.G.E.L. Fucked up people, many drugs, many many drugs. Chemicals too. Lots of them. So many drugs...”

I turned back to her and stared again as Michael was choking on his ice cream. “Wha-huh?”

She turned her mad gaze towards me. “Oh yes, bad people, did a lot of things, bad things, very bad things, mostly to me, other people too. One girl, beaten and killed, right in front of me, they raped her body, not fun, made me clean up mess too. Still better than me, at least she died, I didn’t for a while, got a lot of stuff. Lots of stuff, so much stuff. Rape, torture, stuff like that, some stuff worse, some stuff better. Mostly worse stuff. Lots of worse stuff. Like skeleton, tore me open, put in metal, now it’s mostly metal, very strong, very painful, always hurts to walk around.” She had fallen to her knees at this point and was clutching her head. “Wasn’t fun, not fun at all, lots of bad things, bad people, bad memories, not fun. Not fun at all, not fun...” She passed out, collapsing on the ground right there.

Choc jumped from my shoulder and was looking over her. “Is she gonna be okay Mr. James?”

I started to try and lift Sarah but only got her to lift about half an inch before having to put her down. “I.... don’t know Choc... I don’t....know........ WOW she is heavy.”

Jav had run up to us at some point and was pointing his hand at Sarah. “Suspension.”

The next thing I knew Sarah was floating in the air and Michael was spasming on the ground. “What should we do about-”

Arlosia, Ardiente, and Jav started to walk away. “Leave him.”

Me and Choc watched as they left. I took one look at Michael’s twitching form before sighing and picking him up by the arm. “This better not bite me in the ass later.”

Chocolate gasped and hit me in the shin. “That’s a bad word Mr. James!” I let Choc walk next to Flare as we headed for the hotel.

From up ahead I could hear Arlosia call Choc ‘a bad word’. No really, she said Chocolate was a bad word. That doesn’t even make any sense.

Flare got up next to me and lifted Michael’s other arm. “Here, I’ll help.”

I gave her a smile and a quick nod. “Thanks.” as we walked away I couldn’t help but make a connection in my head. “Ya know, you kinda remind me of my sister.”

“Really how so?”

I let out a small chuckle “She normally was the one helping me get home.”

Chocolate started scaling my back using my scarf as a rope. I was slowly losing oxygen as he got to the top. Once he got there he turned towards Flare. “Ms. Flare, Why are you following Mr.Michael around?”

Flare chuckled. “Orders from Princess Celestia, I’m suppose to report to her about Michael.” Chocolate made the ever classic ‘Ooooh’ as we continued our trip in silence.

Author's Note

Sarah, Arlosia, Jav, Ardiente and Feral the wolf belong to FireBlanket.
Michael and Flare belong to Light Mask

This was fun to write.