Bad endings, awesome beginnings

Chapter 10: Visions

As we exited the forest I couldn't help but noticed we had walked pretty much into Fluttershy's backyard. I felt a pinch of panic make it's way into my expression. We started walking towards her house, nearer and nearer. I was trying to think of all the different things I could say, but they all ended with, "I killed a Manticore."

I gave a sigh and picked up the pace. 'Might as well get this over with' I thought as we rounded the house and came towards the front door.

Well me and Grey did, the rest said their goodbye's and headed into a different direction. For a moment I just looked at Grey in confusion.

"If she is as bad as you say she is, allow me to help." Said grey with a smile.

I looked next to me and smiled. "O-oh... ok.... but, how?" I asked him.

"I can be very persuasive." He said smiling.

He knocked on the door and waited. A few moments later it opened and Fluttershy walked out and looked at Grey.

"Oh, hello there." She said to him.

Before we had a chance to say anything else, the little Manticore cub took a step closer to Fluttershy. She looked down at it and gasped. She flew forward and began petting it as it purred out loudly.

'Suck up...' As I thought that I swear it turned to me with an annoyed look.

"Where did you find her?" She said landing on the ground next to is, continuing to pet it.

I shook my head and began speaking. "Better question is, how can you just walk up to it and pet it like it's a baby kitty, when it nearly cut Twilight open and tried to sting me? AND you know it's a she?" I asked Fluttershy.

She looked up to me. "Oh... I'm just good with animals, and for Manticore cubs, females have a much lighter coat than males." She said smiling.

Grey leaned over to me and whispered in my ear. "THIS is what you are scared of?" He asked with a smile.

"Looks can be VERY fucking deceiving dude..." I whisper back.

He lifted an eyebrow causing me to roll my eyes. "I see a scorpion lion thing purring like a cat, you shouldn't trust looks around here...." I finished.

He thought for a moment and nodded. He cleared his throat.

"Um... Miss Fluttershy is it?" He asked.

"Just Fluttershy is fine." She said smiling.

He nodded. "We have some news to tell you, we hear that you are very fond of animals, and do not like it when... one is harmed..." He said.

She nodded in agreement. "Oh yes... I try to do what I can to protect them."

"Yes well... my friend Deckard here...." He said motioning to me, "Had a little... moment of his. And he ended up killing one of the Manticores, that cubs mother to be exact." He said looking at Fluttershy for a reaction.

She blinked once then looked at me with a little bit of sadness. "You killed it?" She asked.

I nodded slowly.

"But..." Began Grey. "He would like to apologize. He was very angry for some reason, and it is Human nature, especially with our combat skills always at the ready, as we were hardwired to be ready for battle in an instant where we came from." He finished.

Fluttershy looked straight into my eyes, causing my to nearly flinch. But this was different. The kind of look a friend gives you when you know that it is your last chance. And if you break the promise, it's over.

I nodded to Fluttershy and she nodded back. We were at an agreement.

"Well... I think I should leave. I need to find where I will be sleeping for the night, as I don't have an injury this time heh..." I said laughing at my own joke.

Fluttershy thought for a moment. "Well, I could let you stay here for the night if you promised to go look for someway to make money in the morning. Then you could maybe rent out a hotel." She said smiling.

"Well, I actually already have a job. Celestia and Luna had offered me a job to be the towns Peacekeeper." I said smiling.

"Oh... that's a big job, and where will you be staying....." She paused.

"Grey, just call me Grey, and the Princesses are letting me stay in the Canterlot castle." He said smiling.

'Spoiled dad...?' I though with a smirk.

"Speaking of which they are probably waiting for me, I'll catch ya latter." He said waving as he walked away.

I waved back, along with Fluttershy. When he was a reasonable distance away I turned to Fluttershy, she motioned me inside.

I walked in and looked around. "Wow, you have a lot of animals in here." I said while I looked at every little birdcage and mouse-hole.

I looked forward and noticed her standing on the stairs in the house. "Yes, I like to care for every animal." She said as she looked at the Manticore cub beside me. "Follow me, I'll show you where you can stay." She said as she started walking up the stairs.

I walked up the stairs with the cub close behind me. I reached the top and noticed three doors, one was probably her room, and one must be the bathroom if I had to guess. I turned to my left and walked towards the third door which was open and looked inside. Fluttershy was pulling back the covers on an actually decently sized bed. I walked forward smiling.

"I really can't thank you enough Fluttershy, this is so kind of you." I said to her.

She nodded, "Oh it's alright, after all, you are going to be protecting Ponyville. Least I could do is give you a place to sleep for the night." She said smiling warmly.

She walked towards the door and began to close it, just before it shut she looked inside. "Goodnight." She said.

I waved back. "Goodnight." And the door closed.

I stripped down to my boxers and got under the covers of the bed. As I let my head rest on the pillow I felt the cub jump onto the bed. She sniffed around for a moment before laying down. On my chest. Needless to say she was quite heavy, but after a few minutes I felt myself getting drowsy. A few more minutes... and I let sleep take me.

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*BANG*

A loud explosion fills my ears as I awake in fright, knocking the Manticore cub off me. I look around and notice a window I don't remember being there. I run to it and finally reach it after what felt like endless running. I opened it and looked out. I stared on in horror at what I saw. Ponies running for their lives from..... humans? And not just humans, PONIES too?

"What is going on??" I say aloud.

I make my way out of the house and outside. I can hear the screams filling the air. I turn and notice a big group of them walking towards me, mixed up between ponies and humans. But they were not normal. Not one bit.

I stared on in horror as a single phrase filled my mind.

"And so the plague shall consume all, until none are left..."

As I finished that thought one of the infected leaped at me....

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"NOOOO!" I scream out as I shoot upright, throwing the Manticore cub off my chest and onto my legs.

I panic and look around me, noticing nothing out of the ordinary. I started to regulate my breathing.

"Come on Deckard, get a hold of yourself. Your safe now, that will never happen to this world. You came here in a PORTAL. They can't hunt you anymore." I said to myself.

But somewhere deep down, I didn't believe it.

"Are you alright?" I heard Fluttershy say through the door.

"Yeah, just a bad dream, I'll be up in a minute, just need to put on my...." I cut off my sentence as I look at where I had put my clothes.

Only scraps remain. I turn to the cub and looked at her claws, then into her eyes.

"Seriously...." I say poker faced.

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