Hopefyre

Chapters

Chapter 1: The Dark, Ruined World
Prologue: Fair Fight
Chapter 2: Light in the Darkness
Chapter 3: Divine Sunrise
Chapter 4: Fearful Treachery

Chapter 1: The Dark, Ruined World

Prologue: Fair Fight

The cell door opened up, flooding the dark prison with light, awakening a young man inside of it. His body was battered, bloody, and dirty. His skin was tan and he had short blonde hair. His clothes comprised of an oversized white t-shirt with grey sweatpants.

His chains bound him to his knees, looking up at his guest in a seeming state of defeat. At first, the light from the hallway put the figure in a silhouette, but upon walking into the cell, his features were more definable to the prisoner.

The man had a darker skin, much like a Hispanic’s. His medium-length black hair was pulled back and lightly puffed, giving it a sense of shagginess that one could get away with as “handsome.” His eyes were the same caramel-color as his skin, and he sported a large soul patch that spread to the middle of his chin.

His clothes were very lavish, wearing a near-spotless white dress shirt with a clean black vest over it, along with a pair of fancy black pants and polished black loafers. Both ears were adorned with silver earrings, a gold dragon necklace hung from his neck, and his right and left ring fingers were equipped with gold rings. However, another strange item on the man’s person were a pair of black braces on his forearms with emerald gems above the wrists.

The man had two items in each of his hands. In his right hand, he held a large dagger with an open space in the center of the blade. In the left hand he held a small key. The prisoner bowed his head down, knowing that facing this person would mean certain death. However, the man surprised the prisoner by taking the key and unlocking the shackles binding his feet and hands.

“What…” he muttered. “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like?” replied the man with a mild Spanish accent. “I’m taking you out of your chains.”

Once the last of the braces came off, the prisoner felt his now exposed wrists and ankles. The clanging of metal then sounded near the prisoners lap: the dagger had been dropped to him.

“What’s going on?” asked the prisoner. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because,” said the man, backing slowly away from the prisoner. “I don’t see the point in hunting prey that won’t even defend itself. Now, I’d like to see you pick up that knife and stab me with it. Obviously, if you kill me, you’re free to leave.”

With a seconds pause, the prisoner began to chuckle until it broke into a full on laugh. The man was not fazed by this, sporting a confident smile as he watched the prisoner bask in his hubris.

“And you seriously think you have a chance in fucking hell against me?” the prisoner continued to giggle. “You just handed me your weapon and you have nothing. Do you forget that I’m a mutant too?”

“I don’t. But I only figured that this would be a… fair fight.”

“Fair fight, huh? We’ll see how fair this fight is when I carve a hole in your fucking gut!”

Screaming his last words, the prisoner lunged at the man with heavy rage. Anticipating this, the man sidestepped, allowing the prisoner to run right past him.

“And this is the fight I get, even when I give you my own dagger?” taunted the man.

The prisoner, fueled by his hatred for the man in front of him, threw his free hand in the direction of his enemy, causing his fingers to elongate into green strands that snaked towards him. However, the man merely smirked, dissolving into an array of red circles and triangles that flew around the prisoner in all directions. With nothing to hold onto, the fingers receded back into the man’s hand, looking normal again.

“What the…” the prisoner gasped in confusion.

“You’re just boring,” spoke the man behind him, the shapes reforming into his original body. “I’m just going to end this now.”

The prisoner’s fingers grew out again, aiming straight at the man. However, the man blocked his face with his left arm, allowing the vine-like appendages to take hold of it. Despite the prisoner’s seemingly obvious edge, his opponent continued smiling.

“Foolish,” he spoke.

The man yanked his arm back, sending the prisoner flying towards him. The prisoner prepared the dagger in his hand and prepared to stab. However, the man was equally prepared, blocking the prisoner’s target with the brace on his free right arm. As expected, the dagger’s blade bounced off the metal shield, sending the prisoner’s arm soaring to the right past the man’s body.

Quickly sliding his brace down the man’s arm, he knocked the dagger out of the prisoner’s hand, causing it to cling to the floor. The man then jumped slightly and landed on his back, using his weight to bring the prisoner down with him. Grabbing the dagger just a foot above his head, the man held the blade underneath the bases of the extended fingers and with a forceful thrust, cut each vine-like appendage off of the hand.

As the prisoner screamed in agony, the amputated fingers writhed and spurted blood like untied water balloons before becoming pale, lifeless, human fingers again. The prisoner wailed and whimpered as he saw a bloody, torn stump where each of his fingers used to be, each one streaming crimson down his hand and forearm. The man, now standing above his defeated prisoner with dagger in hand, knelt down to his level. Without a word, he grabbed the prisoner by the hair and tilted his head backwards, revealing his neck.

With the pain in his hand and head, the prisoner shouted again. Without a second’s hesitation, the man put the base of his blade on the neck. Pushing into his neck first, the man then whipped his arm out, slicing the prisoner’s throat open through the center of his neck, spraying blood over the man’s clothes and the floor. The prisoner’s eyes rolled back and his body, once tense with fear, lied still and motionless.

With his deed done, the man stood back up, wiped the blade on the thigh of his pants and exited the cell. On the other side, two men in military attire with M4A1 rifles stood at both sides of the doorway. Once they saw him walk out, they both made an exclamatory noise that signaled their surprise and admiration for his act.

“Jesus, Dada,” said the left guard to the man, “the hell happened? Did he get you good or something?”

“Nah,” Dada replied, “he’s just a bleeder. Just like all the others who defy me.”

As Dada walked to the end of the hall where a lighted staircase greeted him, he swooned slightly, which his guards immediately noticed.

“Dada, sir!” cried the other guard. “Are you alright?”

“Of course I am,” he chuckled. “Just the usual side effect of my power. Call the help. Tell them to prepare a hot bath for me.”

“Got it.”

As the guard radioed the maid service, Dada walked back up the stairs, ready to clean the blood of his newest kill off of him.

Prologue: Fair Fight

Chapter 1: The Dark, Ruined World

Even for summer, the wind had an unpleasant chill that flowed through the cracks of the building. And as Walt Warland sat in his torn sofa, reading a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, he glanced occasionally at a large crate of potatoes, corn, and blueberries by a rotting, wooden door before the cold breeze refocused his attention back to his book.

Walt appeared to be in his early to mid-twenties, having a softer face that was being whittled away by the elements around him. His skin, minus the dirt that clung to it, was a healthy pale. His eyes were a green so dark that in the shadows, they looked black. His hair, shoddily washed and messy, was a very dark-brown that had no luster from the grime upon it. His body was slightly muscular, but very skinny; literally not an ounce of fat within him.

His clothes merely consisted of a long-sleeved black turtleneck, a pair of thick, tight, black pants and black socks. Slung over the backrest of the sofa was a worn, brown, leather jacket with shoulders of a darker brown. Along with it, a brown belt and a pair of brown, fingerless, fighting gloves accompanied the jacket, along with a pair of black, knee-high boots on the side of the sofa.

Walt continued reading, sighing each time he flipped a page, completely immersed by the nostalgia of the grandeur of the Roaring 20’s. His attention was completely paid to his book, ignoring the numerous noises of dripping water and creaking wood that filled the air of his ruined home. The sound of someone or something knocking from outside was shut out by him.

“Walt!” shouted the voice of a young woman. “You stupid asshole! Let me in!”

Upon hearing the woman’s voice, Walt shot up from his chair and set the book down on the seat. Walking up to a door at the far end of the building where the knocking persisted, Walt pulled a hunting knife from a sheath attached to the belt loop of his pants and slunk up slowly, expecting the worst.

“Seriously, Walt!” called the voice again. “I can’t be seen out here forever.”

Walt slowly and gently laid his hand upon the handle of the door, his other hand gripping the knife at the opportune time to strike. In one swift motion, Walt shifted his hand down on the handle and punched the door open, nearly knocking it off its hinges. Swinging his body sideways, he pointed the blade of his weapon at the person at his door, who also seemed to moving at a very sluggish pace, putting her hands up in a state of innocence.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” shouted the woman, her voice low-pitched as it rose to its normal tone. “Walt, it’s me, Tracy!”

Walt stepped outside and inspected the alley around the woman who called herself Tracy, the movements of her body speeding to a normal pace. Walt, seeing that the coast was clear and it was only her out, put his knife back in his pocket.

Tracy was around Walt’s age, but her skin was of a tanner hue, as well as her long, ponytailed hair being a full-black. Her eyes were dark blue and seemed to reflect little light. Her clothes consisted of a yellow-shirt that appeared to look like a cheongsam, a black jeans-jacket, a dark pair of blue jeans held by a grey utility belt, and a pair of beaten black running shoes. A red scarf was loosely wrapped around her neck.

Her hands were wrapped in white bandages up to the middle of her fingers. On both of Tracy’s hips were two pickle-jar-sized mechanical spools of wire with a pistol attached to their sides. The wires were fed into the bottom of the handle of each gun, where a grappling hook was affixed inside the barrel of the gun. Both spools of thread were attached to a black harness that wrapped around Tracy’s waist and thighs. In her right hand, she held two swords by the ice-blue metal sheathes they were kept in, both of them having thin slots at the bottom of the handles.

“Sorry about that, Tracy,” spoke Walt, stepping aside to let her inside his home. “Can never be too sure.”

“Uh-huh,” sarcastically retorted Tracy, walking past him and into the building. “You’re going to get me killed one of these days, Walt.”

“Again, I’m sorry. Dada’s men rule this city, and he’s recruiting more every day.”

“What about me?” she asked as they both reached the room where Walt was reading. “You know I would never join that creep, and I’d gladly die than be associated with him. So what, can you not even trust me?”

“Tracy, you’re the only one I can trust. Which is why you’d be great bait.”

“Pfft, bait? Are people looking out for you?”

“There have been rumors. Every time I walk the city and scavenge, I eavesdrop on conversations between Dada’s men. Rumors about a guy who runs an underground garden with enough food and future seeds to last for years. Who knows? If they caught you, would you tell all about me?”

“Walt,” Tracy cooed, placing her hand on his shoulder, “You know I’d never do that to you. I mean, who else would supply me food and some good old-fashioned chit-chat?”

Walt smiled. Truly, he felt more at ease in the presence of this woman, and her loyalty, her ingenuity, and sharp wit was something that couldn’t be replicated by anyone.

“Speaking of,” he replied, “your food is right by the door there.”

Turning her head around and down towards the door that Walt mentioned, she found the crate of fruits and vegetables, causing her eyes to grow wide. She walked over to the crate, knelt down, and began fondling each of the potatoes and ears of corn, checking for their quality

“Walt,” she spoke, “I don’t know how you do it, but you have one hell of a green thumb.”

“I thank my mother,” he said, his face slightly warping into a small frown. Shaking his head, he refocused his payment. “And I assume you have some things for me as well?”

“Well since you asked so nicely…” she said, standing back up and tossing her two swords to Walt.

He caught them by the handles with each hand, each one fitting in his palms like a glove. Walt himself could see that the swords in their entirety both measured out to a little less than a yard in length and was very pleased to feel how lightweight they were.

“Swords, huh?” asked Walt. “Was my katana too stylish for you?”

“Please,” Tracy scoffed, “compared to these babies, your katana will look like a souvenir from Medieval Times. Now, try them out before you talk anymore smack.”

“Upstairs?”

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Walking up a spiral staircase, Walt led Tracy to a spacious attic that had various human sized mannequins set up on stands all around the room. The mannequins had various cuts and gashes on them from previous uses and abuses. Dropping one of his new weapons, Walt unsheathed the sword from its holster and examined the blade.

He was impressed by how clean the blade was and how it shone in the faint sunlight that beamed through the window in the side of the room. Upon brushing the blade with his thumb, he was also enamoring the sharpness of both edges of the blade.

“Well?” goaded Tracy. “Try it out!”

Walt, taking her words to heart, set his sights upon a mannequin in the center of the room. Widening his stance, he stared intently at his target: the mannequin’s neck. Walt could just imagine it as an enemy survivor; one of Dada’s goons. He could imagine it taunting him, preparing itself to attack. Walt would not give it the chance.

Walt took two fast, long steps at the dummy before leaping into the air and winding his right arm back with his sword in hand. As soon as he got close enough, he swung the blade hard and true. With the sound of slicing plastic as well as the shing of the metal, Walt was happy to have made his target. However, upon seeing how well he did, he was most surprised.

The blade was three quarters in from fully decapitating the neck. Walt even found difficulty dislodging the weapon from out of the mannequin’s neck.

“Jesus Christ,” spoke Walt. “I didn’t even need my powers for that.”

“I’m glad you like it,” explained Tracy. “That’s a new alloy that I created. It’s extremely light, but very durable and practically invulnerable to weathering. Not to mention the other part.”

“What other part?”

“Slide the swtich just below the blade and find out.”

Lifting the swords up, he could see a small switch at the base of the blade on the narrower side of the handle that was similar to that of a boxcutter. Walt slid the switch downwards, and he could see that another blade begun to slide down the bottom of the handle, causing his excitement to increase.

Walt then heard the handle click, leading him to figure out what happened. Using the mannequin that he just ruined, he walked back to it and drove the new blade into the mannequin’s chest. The blade slid into it just as easily as he slashed into its neck.

“Wow,” he gasped. “Now this is something.”

“Thanks,” she said. “I was inspired by the taiahas of the Maori tribe. I thought they might come in handy in a pinch.”

“Certainly they will,” he replied, sliding the bottom blade out of the dummy and sliding it back into the handle before placing the sword back in its sheath. “Thank you.”

“But wait!” she shouted, mimicking an infomercial. “There’s more!”

She unhooked the harness of her grappling hook guns and wire spools and slid them off of her legs like a pair of underwear. Once she bent down and stepped out of them, she picked up the harness and machine from the ground and handed it to Walt.

“And what was that you were wearing?” he asked. “And I assume you’re giving this to me too?”

“No,” she retorted. “I’m taking it off and handing it to you to let you know that its still mine, now put it on. ”

“Hahaha,” Walt laughed sarcastically, taking the harness from her hands and applying it to himself.

“Do you need help with it?” she asked in a serious tone of voice.

“Please. I did rock climbing with my dad every weekend before the Contagion. I know how to apply a harness.”

“Suit yourself,” she said, putting her hands up defensively before crossing her arms as she watched him quickly and efficiently strap the belts on his legs and waist. “And to answer your question, it’s a grappling gun set. Just like the movies you loved so much.”

Within a minute, Walt was fully equipped with the grappling hook pistols and the harness, impressing Tracy further.

“Alright, hot shit,” she spoke, “I see you can put on a belt, but I’m going to feel a lot safer telling you how to use this thing before you go off with it. Now,” she said pointing at the pistols at Walt’s side, “these pistols are attached to these wire spools because of a magnet. Go ahead.”

Walt pulled a pistol off the spool, which he did with minimal resistance.

“It should be strong enough to hold the pistols while running and jumping, but easy to pull off when you need them. If all else fails, though, the wires will still hold them just fine. And then,” she said, pointing at a slider and switch on the backside of the pistol’s handle, “the switch will let you either retract or detract the wires, up being retracting, down being detract.

“The slider will adjust the speed of the wires when you retract or detract. With the highest speed, you can ascend a five story building in a matter of seconds. And the trigger,” she said, pointing, “will fire the hooks towards your target and turn on and turn off the retraction or detraction of the wires.”

“Sounding great,” said Walt, sounding too serious to be excited, making sure he heard every last word Tracy said.

“Also,” she explained, “the hammer of the gun will cause the hooks in the grappling gun to slide into the main grappling-hook body, otherwise, your hooks would get stuck on the roof of whichever building you would be descending. I worked too hard on these babies for you to just get them stuck right away.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” answered Walt.

“And pulling the trigger will set the hammer forwards again and bring the hooks out. Also, if you can only use one gun for whatever reason, the harness has a small hook in the center that will allow you to fasten the wire in and counterbalance your weight. And yet, there’s more.”

“More? This is already a spy-movie fan’s dream come true. What else could there possibly be?”

“Your sheath,” she responded. “Slide the latch into the bottom of the spool.”

Walt did as instructed, lining the sheath with the slot on the spool and sliding it in. Upon hearing the click, he eagerly pulled the sword out, amazed by how well the sheath stayed attached.

“Tracy,” said Walt with sincere gratitude, “you’ve really outdone yourself. I only wish I had prepared an extra crate of food for this; after what you’ve done, you deserve it.”

“Oh, pishaw,” she said, pawing at the air in front of Walt, “it was merely my pleasure, and if you’re going against Dada and his army, you better be better equipped.”

Walt smiled, happy for his friend’s generosity.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Walt, wearing his new equipment, walked Tracy with produce in hands to a truck parked outside of Walt’s building that had two red Ds overlapping each other.

“So,” said Walt. “This is how you get around now?”

“Of course,” she said, loading the crate of food into the back. “The only cars that won’t get pirated around here anymore are Dada’s cars. And besides, walking around the city with fresh veggies and fruits is just a death wish waiting to happen.”

Tracy hopped into the back and covered the crate with a blanket, covering the food from any prying eyes.

“Either way,” spoke Walt, “be careful. I can’t imagine what would happen to me or my sanity if I were to lose you.”

“You don’t need to worry about me,” she said. “It’s you I’m worried about. I mean, you’re the one with a near-endless supply of food in their basement. God knows what Dada would do to someone like you.”

“Join or die, I suppose. From what I hear, those are the only options with him.”

“And you’d rather die.”

Walt nodded stoically.

“Rather die trying to kill him than live trying to please him.”

“Great answer,” replied Tracy, walking to the door of the truck, opening it, and entering inside. From the open window she called, “You just give me a call when you need something, okay?”

“I might need some maintenance on the panels. Hate to lose power and my only known source of food, right?”

“Again, just gotta’ call. Well, see ya’!”

As Tracy started the truck, Walt waved her goodbye, watching her drive off from the alley into the street. Looking at his new weapons and equipment, he smiled, knowing he was much, much safer with them on.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Walt walked through the abandoned streets of Manhattan, now dressed in his zipped-up jacket, his boots, his gloves, and his grappling equipment plus swords. He looked at all of the cars that remained parked on the streets, having collected rust and would continue collecting rust until the end of time. The streets, with no one to keep them clean, were littered with trash, dirt, and debris. The sky was mottled with thick puffy clouds that periodically blotted the sun.

Despite having walked many blocks away from his home, he hadn’t come across a single survivor. This spelled both good and bad news, giving Walt some hope that there would be none to come in contact with that day, but also leaving him with the feeling that he’d come across one sooner than later.

Turning left, he found himself in the desolate Times Square. Walt looked upon the numerous advertisements for musicals that he would never see again, drinks he would never imbibe again, products he could never purchase again, and restaurants he would never eat at again.

In fact, the golden arches of McDonalds and the red sign of Coca-Cola served as only a grim reminder of how life used to be before the Contagion. How badly he wished to see a day where he could eat a Big Mac once again with fries and a Coke. However, those days were now as faded as the art on many of the signs that were weathered with the lack of maintenance.

Walt’s bitter nostalgia was broken by the sound of giggling and talking amongst a group of people. Walt gasped, knowing he had made himself a sitting duck. At this point, he was left with two expectations: fight or die.

Turning around, Walt saw three men walking out from one of the intersections. One was looked to be in his late twenties/early thirties, and he was pale with teal eyes and black messy hair, wearing a black tank top and camo pants with brown boots. His exposed arms were covered in various craggy sores.

The second was around Walt’s age. His skin was a dark brown and he was very muscular, almost to the point where the black shirt and pants he wore would tear due to the tightness and tension. The last one looked to be a Caucasian in his mid-thirties with a forest-green military jacket, beret and baggy camo pants. His eyes were shielded by a pair of sunglasses. A gun was holstered at his right side. All three men had backpacks on their backs.

Upon sighting Walt, the three men stopped in their tracks and looked upon him, surprised and delighted that they had found a new, unfamiliar face.

“Hey, buddy,” called the military-garbed man with a friendly disposition. “You lost?”

“No,” answered Walt. “After living in this city my entire life, almost half of it being in this ruined state, I know this place like the back of my hand.”

“You know,” said the tank-topped man, his voice having a heavy Brooklyn accent, “that’s a fancy little machine on your waist. Where can I get one?”

Hearing him take interest in the grappling harness, Walt widened his stance, ready to fight.

“Fuck off!” Walt shouted. “It’s not for sale.”

“Alright,” called the military-garbed man, “I think we may have gone off on the wrong foot here. You know who we work for, right?”

“I’m going to go ahead and guess Dada.”

“Then you know what we want with you, I assume?”

“Yes, I do, and like my belongings, I'm not for sale.”

The military man looked back at his two comrades, all sharing looks of admiration for Walt’s immediate resistance to him.

“Listen,” said the tank-topped man, pointing his stony fingers at Walt, “if you know who Dada is, then you should know how badly you fear him.”

“Well,” asked Walt, “are any one of you Dada?”

“No,” answered the military man. “He’s busy.”

“Then what is there for me to fear?”

Any friendliness that the three men were feeling towards Walt was eradicated immediately. Stepping backwards, the military garbed man addressed his other two comrades.

“Chris,” he said to the tank-topped one, “Marcus,” he said to the black one. “Have some fun. Just leave him alive. He won’t be any good to Dada dead.”

“Got it, Steve,” responded Chris.

Stepping forwards, Chris put his arms out to the side, the forearms elongating and his fingers fusing with each other. By the time he was done, Chris’s arms were now two large stone swords that he was equipped with. Realizing the type of fight, Walt drew both of his new swords from their sheathes and stood, awaiting the response of his enemy.

Within seconds, Chris sprinted at Walt. Walt was surprised by Chris’s speed, even for a power like his that would weigh him down so. Walt squinted his eyes and concentrated. Immediately, Chris’s pace appeared slower to him, and his battle cry sounded lower in pitch than normal. As Chris raised his arms to strike, Walt squeezed the handles hard, ready to attack.

With a downward thrust, Chris’s arms were aimed straight for Walt’s chest, but with unnatural speed and strength, Walt blocked the attack with both swords held close and pushed Chris off of him. Chris, disoriented by Walt’s seemingly effortless block, stood still for a spell to consider the strength and speed of his opponent.

Not long after, Chris began to come towards Walt again, swinging his arms and trying to disorient him. However, Walt could read every movement of Chris’s with ease. Steve and Marcus watched incredulously as Walt blocked each one of Chris’ strikes with the speed and diligence of an anime character.

Now seeing that fighting him in a contest of blades was futile, Chris morphed his left arm back into his hand, although rockier in appearance. As Walt went to swing his right blade again, Chris caught the blade in his stony hand.

Walt couldn’t bear to let Tracy’s gift go, and he continued to try and writhe and wrench the sword out, but Chris’s grip was too strong. Walt even tried slashing Chris’s arm with his free sword, only to find it as hard and impenetrable as before. Steve and Marcus laughed at Walt’s new position of helplessness.

Chris pulled his arm back for a thrust, but before he could do so, Walt slid the bottom blade out from the handle of his left sword. Reducing the appearance of Chris’ speed again, Walt could see as his arm was slowly coming towards his chest.

“NO, DAMMIT!” shouted Steve. “I said alive!”

It mattered little. Walt quickly crossed his left arm over his chest, and just before Chris’s blade could pierce his chest, Walt swung his arm out, blocking the thrust and whipping Chris’s arm to the side. With his window now opened, Walt swung his left arm to the right again, but homing his bottom blade on Chris’s throat.

Walt made his target, slicing open Chris’ neck and spraying Walt’s clothes with a coat of blood. With Chris now letting go of Walt’s sword, Walt pushed Chris off of him, forcing him to the ground as he bled out in front of the now horrified Steve and Marcus.

Walt, glared at Steve and Marcus, expecting them to come at him for more. Angered by the death of his comrade, Steven pulled his gun from his holster and prepared to fire. With equal speed, Walt slipped his swords back into his sides before grabbing his grappling guns, aiming at a street light and a parked bus about a hundred feet away.

Pulling the triggers, both hooks quickly and efficiently launched out of the guns, the wires being pulled from the spools at Walt’s side and through the bottom of the handle. The hooks made their targets, latching to the light and the bus. Walt flicked the guns’ switches.

Steve fired his gun, but missed Walt by about a foot. Walt then clicked the triggers on both guns again, sliding Walt along the street at high speed, evading Steve’s other shots. Walt then pulled the hammers back, unlatching the hooks from the light and bus as they continued to recede back into his gun. Walt, using his newfound momentum, ran towards the Toys R’Us.

“Don’t just stand there!” shouted Steven to Marcus. “After him!”

Both men followed him to the children’s store. Walt ran into the building and ran up the escalator to the third floor. The interior looked looted, with toys either barren from the shelves or strewn across the floor and broken. Walt waited to catch his breath, seeing Steve and Marcus run in. Marcus lead, charging towards the doors and confusing Walt.

Marcus burst through the entrance, leaving a large hole and a pile of shattered glass and metal in its wake. Steve ran in too to see Walt stunned over Marcus’s action. However as soon as Steve drew his gun, Walt ran towards the empty Candy Land section. Marcus ran up the escalator as Walt rounded the wall separating Candy Land from the edge of the floor and leapt behind the cashier’s counter.

Marcus, having made it there as well, slowly searched the area for signs of life. Upon seeing the counter, lunged at it, knowing it was the only place the Walt could hide. Hearing the loud footsteps, Walt bounded over the counter just as Marcus plowed through, leaving a cloud of dust and broken porcelain. Walt turned and aimed his gun at the hole Marcus had left. Upon seeing a shadow loom out of the hole, Walt fired.

The sound of the hooks hitting into flesh heartened Walt, but upon Marcus walking further out and revealing himself, Walt was horrified to see Marcus grabbing the hook with one hand, one of the hooks embedded deep into the webbing of his thumb and index finger.

Walt ran from Marcus, but with a hard yank, Walt was sent straight to the floor winding him. Marcus stood and laughed at Walt’s predicament, but Walt used his distraction to prepare. Hooking the wire below the pistol’s handle into the hook on his belt, Walt clicked the detract switch into retract before unsheathing one of his swords with his free left hand.

Walt pulled the trigger, pulling him towards Marcus, who was unprepared for the pull from the hook in his hand. However, Marcus recovered and yanked again, forcing Walt into the air and at Marcus. The muscular behemoth prepared to strike Walt with a devastating punch, but Walt deflected the inside of Marcus’s arm with his blade.

Using his forward momentum, Walt ran the blade along Marcus’s arm, shearing a large, long slice of skin and muscle off of it like deli meat. Then with a hard flick of his wrist, Walt cut into Marcus’ arm through the shoulder, amputating him. This didn’t stop Walt from colliding with Marcus, causing both men to tumble to the floor.

Walt quickly shot to his feet while Marcus writhed in pain as blood torrented from the stub in his arm. Walt wearily and tiredly walked to Marcus, standing above his head. As Marcus looked up to Walt’s eyes, Walt quickly sliced his sword through Marcus’s throat, ending his pain once and for all.

“Marcus?” called Steve from the bottom of the escalator.

“He’s dead,” answered Walt, slicing off Marcus’s thumb from his hand and freeing his grappling hook, “and you will be too, I promise you.”

“And what makes you think that?”

“I mean,” Walt explained, placing his gun on his hip and his sword back in its sheath, “I took out who I assume to be your best men, and all I’ve seen you do at this point is use a gun, and that’s not nearly as impressive as turning your hands into swords or super-strength, but I assume you have something too, right?”

“You bet I do, sonny, and you have about five seconds before I kill you with my power.”

“Sounds perfect.”

Walt ran from to the back end of Candy Land, hopped on the banister, and leapt towards Steve with his sword unsheathed again. Once again, the world slowed down for Walt as he fell towards his enemy. Steve, however, was prepared and drew his gun from his holster. With superhuman speed, his finger tapped the trigger with precision, firing round after round of ammo from his pistol as if it were an automatic machine gun.

Walt heard the first gunshot and felt time begin to slow even further. He suddenly felt a sharp pain in his stomach, but ignored it, seeing the bullets from Steve’s gun line up with his chest. Placing the broad edge of the sword in the path of each bullet, the projectiles bounced off of it as they ricocheted in different directions. As Steve ran out of rounds in his first gun, he quickly equipped a second pistol to himself from a second holster and fired with the same rapid speed.

Walt deflected the new line of bullets with the same ease, despite the crunching pain in his stomach. By the time Steve had run out of bullets, his face slowly turned to one of fear and defeat, knowing he would be killed. Sure enough, Walt wound his arm out upon being within feet of Steven’s position and swung, decapitating the head with such swift force that his head stayed upon his body only until Walt landed upon him.

Once the head tumbled off, the blood poured from the open wound, and Walt somersaulted to the floor to deflect the recoil of his landing. However, his stomach was now killing him, forcing Walt to convulse and heave on his back. He tried holding in his vomit, but found that he couldn’t. Walt turned his head to the side and spewed the contents of his stomach onto the floor, still in complete pain and misery.

Walt pounded his fist to the floor with tears streaming down his face, upset that his life had become this, fighting to save his own life and having to use his abilities to do so, only to feel ungodly sick after each battle. As much as he wanted to thank Tracy and her inventions for helping him defeat the trio of thugs, his pain was overriding any gratitude he would have otherwise felt.

As of now, all there was was the dark, ruined world that he lived in, and the pain he would have to feel until the day he died.

Chapter 2: Light in the Darkness

Walt sat on the roof of a building that provided a perfect view of the Manhattan skyline and Central Park, as lifeless and grey as both were. His grappling equipment and his swords were still on him, along with a skinny, lantern-like flashlight that hung from his belt.

As he ate a boiled potato, he watched as Tracy applied tweaks to a large solar panel with a wrench. One of Walt’s few pleasures in his world besides tending to his garden and reading old books was watching Tracy work.

Knowing how good she was at building and fixing things, there was a certain flair to her work that Walt couldn’t help but find engrossing. As she applied the final turns of the wrench, she signaled her completion with a long wipe of her brow. Walt stood back up, ready to assist Tracy down when needed.

“You know,” she said with an exhausted grin, “you should really just put your solar panels in just one place.”

“As convenient as that would be,” said Walt, “I can’t let anyone connect my solar panels to my garden. I can’t even begin to fathom what would happen to it if Dada and his men came across it. It’s best that I set them around the city and throw him off my trail.

“Best part is, Dada won’t dare touch any of them.”

“And how’s that, exactly?” asked Tracy.

“If Dada sees that there’s a place with solar panels, that means that there’s power, and if there’s power, that’s just another thing he needs, and if his men destroy the panels, they destroy the power and no one gets it, not even him.”

“Well, aren’t you just the smart cookie!” she replied in an overly-exaggerated motherly voice.

“I try.”

“Well, I think it’s time I’d be off.”

“Thank you again, Tracy. Your payment is at the foot of the stairs.”

Tracy went into the entrance to the stairwell and descended with Walt following close behind. Once they finally got down, Tracy saw a crate filled with bread and four large jars of a red, thin liquid.

“You mind telling me what that is?” asked Tracy.

“This is vegetable broth,” he answered. “Just finished fermenting today. Before the Contagion, my mother would sell this at our local farmers market. Needless to say, we sold a lot of it and often. Also, there’s some bread to go with it.”

“Wow,” she said, at a loss for words for the complexity of his gift, “this is… awesome.”

“I felt bad just giving you the usual potatoes and corn to you last time you came with the swords and grappling system. I knew I had to make it up to you.”

Tracy gave Walt a heartfelt smile as she bent over a put the crate in her hands. She then walked outside and to her truck loading it in the back. Before she left Walt again, she did something that surprised even Walt: she wrapped her arms over his shoulder for a hug.

“Thanks, Walt,” she said. “I really don’t know how I’d survive in this world without you.”

“Please,” said Walt, patting her back, “I’m sure you’d find someone better.”

Letting go, she walked backwards and gave him a smirk.

“Doubt it,” she replied.

Feeling the truck behind her, she opened the door and entered, putting the keys in the ignition and turning them, bringing the car to life. Walt watched as she sped out of the alley with his mother’s broth in tow. With the panel fixed, he could now retire back home.

Walking out onto the sidewalk along the street, he found the entrance to the subway, power walking to it and taking the stairs downwards. The subway tunnels were always dark, being one of the many places in the city where power was cut. However, for anyone with a working flashlight, the tunnels provided a perfect way to travel around the city without being caught by Dada’s men above.

Walt took the cylindrical flashlight that was strapped to his belt and shone it through the subway terminals. Walt hopped the gates and continued descending downwards. Finally, he found the tracks, hopping down onto them and walked into the tunnels. With his light as his only illumination, as bright as the light was, he was still heavily uneasy about the possibility that one of Dada’s men were lurking about here in the off chance that they did come across a survivor.

However, Walt knew that he only had a couple of stations to walk before he’d reach his home, and with the extensiveness of the subway system in Manhattan, the chances of coming across Dada and his men were slim to none.

Continuing on his path, he heard a small noise coming from the front. Shining his light out, he spotted something that made him gasp with shock: a white rabbit that scavenged the ground for crumbs of food. Walt had not seen an animal like this for years, and he knew that it would provide a hearty meal if caught and killed.

Pulling his grappling hook off, the clicking sound from the detachment of the magnet alerted the rabbit to Walt’s presence. Seeing the human before it, the rabbit made a terrified face and bounded to the wall. Walt followed the rabbit with his flashlight, where it ran to a sizable hole in the side of the tunnel. Walt quickly made chase, following the rabbit inside the new passage.

With the rabbit’s white coat, the light shone on it beautifully, providing a beacon for Walt to follow. Walt then saw as the rabbit made it to an elevation inside the cave, where it bounded out of the exit where a faint light in the darkness shone out of it. Walt climbed the elevation and crawled out of the exit, his gear just being able to fit through. Standing up to give chase again, his surroundings froze him in his tracks.

He was in a forest, and this was not like the forest in Central Park, in fact, quite the opposite. While the trees in Central Park were dead and lifeless, the forest he found himself in was humid and very much full of life. However, the thick flora made sunlight impassible through the leaves and vines, forcing Walt to put his flashlight back on and observe his surroundings.

“Just…” he muttered, still completely taken aback by the change in scenery. “Just what is this place?”

His musing was short lived, as he heard a roar and a scream ring through the trees.

“Help!” the childlike-female voice sounded. “Somepony help!”

“A survivor?” asked Walt to himself, unsheathing his sword. “I have to help her.”

Walt ran through the trees, hurdling over vines and roots that obstructed his path. The roaring and pleas for help got louder, giving Walt hope that he’d make it. Another scream from the child sounded, and from the volume of the scream, it was as if it were in front of him.

Suddenly, a small, yellow-colored pony with a brushed red mane and large pink bow appeared in Walt’s path. Surprised by the appearance of the creature, Walt skidded to a halt just inches from the pony’s hooves, his noises causing her to stop in her tracks. They both looked at each other with wonder and confusion, but the roar that chased whoever was in the woods came barreling towards the two.

Appearing from the bushes and ivy, was a creature that made the filly scream with terror and make Walt weak at the knees with fright. It appeared to be a lion with bat-wings and a scorpion’s tail. Walt’s appearance to the creature made it stop in its tracks, but it didn’t stop Walt’s fear of it.

“Is that a…” he whimpered. “Is that a manticore?”

Feeling a shaking at his ankles, he looked down to see the filly curled up in a ball, trembling behind his calves. Walt knew he couldn’t let the manticore hurt it, so he dropped his flashlight, widened his stance, and held his sword with both hands, ready to defend himself and the pony.

The manticore growled, only increasing the drive in Walt’s protection. The manticore lifted its large paw and prepared to swipe at Walt. However, Walt took the opportunity to exploit the manticore’s exposed spot. Time for Walt began to slow, watching as the paw of the manticore slowly tried to hit its target. Before it could have the chance, Walt lunged at the creature and drove the sword straight into the heart of the manticore.

The manticore toppled over with a painful roar as Walt twisted the blade, seeping blood all over the creature’s coat. With a few more twists, the manticore laid still and lifeless as Walt’s perception of the world around him returned to normal. Walt slid off the lifeless manticore’s body and sat on the ground, using the corpse for support.

Walt began feeling sick once again, but being only a small use of his power, he held in his urge to throw up. As he came to, the yellow filly slowly approached Walt. Walt got a better look at her now. Even while sitting, she stood at about half a foot below his current height.

“It’s okay,” he weakly cooed, “you can run along now. You’re safe.”

The filly’s expression turned to one of surprise, confusing Walt. Then, she cocked her head to the side and addressed him in English.

“What in the hay even are you?” she asked with a southern drawl.

Walt’s eyes widened in fear again, unsure by what the meaning of this was.

“Did…” he stammered. “Did you just talk?”

“Well, of course I did! I’m not an idiot, you know.”

Walt was speechless. He had not seen a live pony in years, yet alone one of her color and one that could talk. He tried to respond to her, but words failed to escape his lips.

“What’s the matter with you?” the filly persisted. “You act as if you’ve never seen a pony before!”

“Not one that could talk!” shouted Walt, still overcome with shock and confusion.

“Ponies don’t talk where you come from? Now ain’t that odd? Oh yeah! I almost forgot. I’m Apple Bloom. Thanks for saving me from that monster.”

At this point, the pony named Apple Bloom walked up to Walt and presented her hoof to him expecting a handshake. Still somewhat frazzled, Walt grabbed the pony’s hoof and shook it.

“I’m…” he said, winded. “I’m Walt. Walt Warland.”

“Walt Warland?” she asked, slipping her hoof out of his hand. “That’s a funny name, mister.”

“Likewise,” he said. “By the way, do you have any idea where I am?”

“You’re in the Everfree Forest.”

“What are you even doing out here?”

“I was stopping by my friend’s place.”

“What kind of friend lives out in the woods filled with manticores?”

“My friend Zecora, that’s who. Come on, let’s go!”

The filly walked away from Walt and the manticore and continued on her way. Walt wanted nothing more than to find a way out of the woods and back to his home, but if this Zecora could provide some more answers as to where he was, his hands were tied. Standing up, he slipped his sword back into his sheath and grabbed his flashlight from the ground, following Apple Bloom to Zecora’s.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

“Come on, slowpoke!” called Apple Bloom. “We’re almost there!”

“Forgive me if I’m new around these parts,” retorted Walt.

“Hehehe,” she giggled. “You’re funny, Walt Warland.”

“Uh, please, just call me Walt.”

The two continued trekking into the thick forest until they came across a light-brown tree. What impressed Walt was that there was a door in the center of it with two misshapen holes on both sides for windows. Also, there were several bottles hung from the branches along with a shaman mask planted in the ground by the door along with one above the door.

“We’re here!” exclaimed Apple Bloom.

“This is Zecora’s?” asked Walt, still marveling over the fact that this… Zecora’s home was inside of a tree.

“Mmhm! Now come on, I bet she’ll get a kick out of you.”

Apple Bloom galloped to the front door and knocked with her front hooves. Wanting to meet Zecora as quickly as possible, he jogged up to the door, awaiting whomever or whatever was on the other side. Sure enough, the door opened up, revealing a zebra.

Her mane was styled in a mohawk, she had gold bands wrapped around her neck and left arm, as well as a pair of large hooped gold earrings on each ear. She had a symbol on her flank that resembled a tribal drawing of a sun. On all fours, minus her hair, the zebra was as tall as the center of Walt’s chest.

“Apple Bloom,” she spoke, her voice thick and deep, “I bid you good-day, what brings you to…”

Zecora’s words were cut off by her shock and surprise over the bipedal alien creature alongside Apple Bloom. Despite the alarm he must have caused (and the alarm she caused in him), Walt coyly waved his fingers in an effort to ease the tension.

“…what the hay?” Zecora finished.

“Zecora!” shouted Apple Bloom in excitement. “This is my new friend, Walt. He’s a…” she began pondering. “What are you?”

“I’m a species known as a human,” he answered for her.

“He’s a human!” resumed Apple Bloom. “He saved me from a manticore just a while ago!”

“A manticore, dear? I hope you’re alright. That creature must have given you quite a fright.”

“A little, but then he just came out of the woods and he killed it!”

“Killed the manticore? By my ancestor’s mane! Those who face the manticore must be completely insane!”

“To be honest,” spoke Walt, “it was either it or us. I assume that Apple Bloom is a dear friend of yours and I just wanted to protect her.”

Zecora squinted at Walt on various spots of his, namely his swords and his grappling equipment.

“Well, then Walt,” chanted Zecora, “I suppose you are fine. Any friend of Apple Bloom’s is a friend of mine.”

“Do you… mind if we come in?” asked Walt.

“Oh, please do, I insist,” she said, stepping aside for them to enter. “There isn’t a moment to be missed. Sit where you please, it’s fine by me. In the meantime, I’ll make you dears some tea.”

Walt stopped dead in his tracks.

“Did you just say…” he gasped, “tea?”

“What’s wrong?” asked Apple Bloom. “Do you not like tea?”

“No! No. On the contrary, I’d love some. It’s just where I’m from, it’s extremely rare.”

“Tea, rare?” Zecora questioned. “That’s crazy, and then some. I think you’ll have to tell us both where you’re from.”

“Does she always rhyme like that?” whispered Walt into Apple Bloom’s ear.

“Yes,” spoke Apple Bloom in a normal voice. “Does it bother you?”

“I’m sorry, you two,” Zecora interrupted, “but what bothers you?”

“Nothing,” answered Walt, waving his hands innocently.

“Yeah,” spoke Apple Bloom. “So tell us, Walt, where are y’all from?”

“I’m…” Walt thought aloud, trying to put together a credible answer. “I’m from New York? Manhattan?”

“Manehattan? My cuz lives over there!”

“Manehattan? I said Manhattan. In fact, let me ask. Where exactly is this Everfree Forest? What land, country, world, whatever, just where am I.”

“Why, you’re in Equestria.”

“Eq… Equestria?”

Walt slumped down into an indian-sitting position, placing his fists upon his face for support.

“Walt?” asked Apple Bloom. “Are you alright?”

“Well,” explained Walt. “If that’s the case, I might as well just tell you what I’m thinking.”

“Tell us what, my dear friend Walt?” spoke Zecora. “Do you fear we’ll take your words with a grain of salt?”

Walt, smiled slightly, both from the draining of his sanity and the use of his name in a rhyme, but explained anyways.

“I believe you and I come from different worlds.”

Apple Bloom’s eyes went wide as her jaw went down, while Zecora calmly pondered the hypothesis.

“You see, I come from a city called New York City, in the state of New York, which is in the United States of America, which is on a planet called Earth. If this is ringing any bells, go ahead and tell me.”

Zecora nodded, feeling that Walt’s words were true and his hypothesis was founded in reality.

“I can safely say that you speak the truth. Your clothes and your body look rather uncouth.”

Walt looked down at the slight drips of blood on his jacket from the manticore attack as well as his haggard appearance.

“Yeah, it’s kind of a terrible story really.”

“Terrible, you say?” queried Zecora. “Apple Bloom?”

“I think I’ll be okay!” she answered.

Zecora smiled at Apple Bloom’s finishing of the rhyme, but her face suddenly changed to that of remembering something forgotten.

“Oh, dear!” she shouted, running to a pair of cups on her counter. “The tea! I completely forgot, can you forgive me?”

“Yeah,” answered Walt, “don’t worry about it. Really.”

“Thank you, Walt,” she said as she carried her and Walt’s tea to them on a tray balanced on her head, “you are far too kind. I hope more of your species share your mind.”

Walt, knowing the full well the capabilities and vices of humans Walt took his tea off the tray and took and inhale, smelling the sweet aroma of lavender, vanilla, and mint. Taking a sip, he nearly burst into tears. After years of drinking filthy, warm water, to have something as tasty as Zecora’s tea was heaven in his mouth.

“That’s delicious,” he said, sniffling a little.

“I thank you, Walt, it’s my special blend,” explained Zecora, “but why you don’t have tea I still can’t comprehend.”

“Perhaps I should start at the beginning,” spoke Walt. “When I was–”

Just then, there was a knock at the door, leading Zecora to answer it.

“Zecora,” questioned Walt. “What are you–”

“It’s my friend, Twilight,” she said. “Don’t worry yourself, she won’t bite. In fact, with somepony as smart as her, she’d love to meet you. Do you concur?”

“Sure,” spoke Walt, “I guess.”

“She was set to meet me this afternoon, so you’ll now meet her very soon.”

Without a second word, Zecora opened the door, revealing a lavender-colored alicorn. Walt, having just gotten used to talking ponies in general, was completely unprepared for the winged unicorn standing in front of him. Her mane and tail were styled in Hime cut, being dark purple with a streak of light-purple and magenta going down the center. She had a mark on her flank of a magenta six-pronged star with five white, smaller, identical stars shining around it in various places.

For Walt, he no longer found himself in a world where ponies were an intelligent species, but that creatures of myth and legend existed here as well.

“Hey Zecora,” spoke Twilight acknowledging her friend, “who were you talking tooooWWAAAAAHH!!!”

Upon seeing Walt, she could not contain her shock. Seeing her reaction, Walt, as he did with Zecora, gave her a shy wave.

“Zecora!” shouted Twilight. “What in the wide, wide world of Equus is that thing?”

“His name is Walt,” replied Apple Bloom. “He’s a hooman from a place called Earth.”

Twilight, surprised over Walt’s existence, stared at him, who only stared right back. In both of their eyes, there was a desire to learn about each other. It was the first time a mythological creature had seen a human and vice versa. With the silence becoming awkward enough, Walt spoke back to her.

“And you’re Twilight, I presume?” asked Walt.

Twilight, broken out of her trance, responded to him, being a bit shy over talking to the alien creature.

“Yeah…” she admitted. “I’m Twilight. I guess I’m an alicorn, which is a combination of–”

“A unicorn and a pegasus, right?”

Twilight, once again, was surprised because of Walt’s correct answer, asking, “How did you–”

“Unicorns and pegasi are creatures of legend and myth where I am from.”

“Really? That’s so strange, because I’ve never heard of a hooman before.”

“Actually, Twilight, it’s pronounced ‘human’ and, yes, I suppose that is very interesting. Perhaps we could learn even more about each other.”

“Oh, that would be fun. Where did you come from? Are you native here? What about your clothes? How–”

“One question at a time,” interrupted Zecora, putting her hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “I know your discovery is making you feel sublime. Just give Walt some space, Twilight, and let him speak. I don’t want him to think that you are a geek.”

Walt couldn’t help but snicker at Zecora’s light jab, causing Twilight to roll her eyes, his reaction akin to a pony that she knew.

“Alright then ,” she said walking up to Walt, causing him to sit down as well as her. In her seated position, her eye level was about six inches higher than Walt’s. “So, Walt, where are you from?”

“Well, as I hypothesized with Zecora and Apple Bloom here, I believe that I am from a completely different world.”

“A different world?” asked Twilight with confusion. “But how can that be?”

“All I know is that I was walking through a subway tunnel, and–”

“Subway?”

“Right. I figured as much that any technology we had would differ from yours. Anyways, a subway is like an underground train that takes people, a plural term for humans, from place to place.”

“I see. Please, continue.”

“In fact I need to start at the beginning, for context’s sake.”

Twilight nodded while Zecora and Apple Bloom came close, ready to hear the story that they had previously been broken from.

“You see,” started Walt. “About ten years ago, this, ball of energy or something, no one was entirely sure what it was, struck New York City, my home. The energy spread across my planet, killing most human and animal life on Earth.”

Upon hearing the word “killing,” the three ponies’ jaws slid open, unprepared for the grim and macabre of Walt’s story.

“This event was what we humans called the Contagion. From there, society deteriorated, along with everything else. Cities that were most affected by the Contagion, including and especially New York City and my islandic hometown of Manhattan, had their surviving populations quarantined inside their city and guarded off from the rest of the world for fears of spreading the Contagion even further. I can even remember when they did it to our city.

“The people made for the bridges; tried to evacuate. But the military wouldn’t let them. They blew every bridge to the mainland with innocent men, women, and children still on them. Any boats or people trying to swim across trying to were immediately shot down. They kept us inside of the island until we’d eventually run out of resources and die.”

Apple Bloom and Twilight were nearly to the verge of tears. They never would have expected humans to forsake their own kind as they had. And from the stern tone of voice from Walt, there was no way he was making this up. Zecora’s face was riddled with concern and empathy over what Walt had to go through.

“Anyways,” concluded Walt, “this afternoon, I decided to take the abandoned subway tunnels back to my home when I came across a hole in the wall. It lead me into a cave that took me to this forest. And that’s when I found Apple Bloom.”

Despite offering an explanation, it did little to ease the three ponies from what they had previously heard. Walt looked upon the former two’s wet eyes and sighed, regretting his exposition.

“Twilight,” he sighed, “Apple Bloom. I’m sorry if what I told you has traumatized you in any way. I have no idea of Equestria’s customs or its inhabitants, but I can only assume that you have never seen, yet alone, comprehended such horrors before.”

Walt bowed his head down again in regret. However, Apple Bloom crawled over to Walt and pawed at his knee getting his attention.

“Well,” she said. “I’m sorry that that happened to all y’all, but I mean, humans can’t be all bad. I mean, you even saved me from a manticore.”

“A what?!?” shouted Twilight at Apple Bloom. “You were attacked by a manticore?”

“I was,” spoke Apple Bloom, putting emphasis on the “was,” “but then Walt appeared out of the bushes and killed it.”

“You what?!?” shouted Twilight at Walt. “You killed a manticore singlehandedly? How is that even possible? Those creatures are extremely dangerous.”

“Perhaps I can continue my story,” said Walt, bringing all attention back to him. “Those of us that survived the Contagion were mutated by the energy that came from it, giving us strange but awesome powers.”

“And what are your powers?” asked Apple Bloom. “Was it super speed, like how you ambushed the manticore? Or maybe it was super-strength when you toppled him over!”

“In a way,” spoke Walt, “it’s like that. But it’s a bit more complicated. You see, since being affected by the Contagion, I gained an ability to perceive time slower, but I can move at what I feel to be normal speed inside that space. So, to others, I appear faster and am stronger than normal.”

Twilight and Apple Bloom’s eyes widened again, amazed at the extraordinary abilities he possessed.

“However,” resumed Walt, “with every power, there’s a drawback. For me, because my body moves much faster and stronger than what is normal, especially in the space I create, my body becomes disoriented and I become extremely nauseous, even more so when I overuse my abilities.”

“That’s awful!” exclaimed Twilight. “And what about those things on your hips?”

“These?” Walt queried, placing his hands on the wire canisters. “This is a grappling system that a friend of mine made for me. It allows me to scale and descend tall buildings or allow me to move faster on ground. Below those are special pair of swords that she created. There are extra blades inside the handle when needed.”

“What do you use them on in your world then?” asked Twilight. “I doubt you have manticores in your world.”

“And you’d be right. I use my weapons on… other humans.”

“What?!?” shouted Twilight, Zecora, and Apple Bloom in unison.

“How can you kill your own kind like that?” yelled Twilight.

“Yeah!” shouted Apple Bloom. “Don’t you think they have families?”

Walt slowly felt his blood begin to boil

“Have you no shame?” asked Twilight.

Walt stood up towering over the three ponies.

“And you think I want to do those things?” he shouted, causing Zecora and Apple Bloom to cower while Twilight took an offensive stance. “You think I want to kill those people? You think it gives me pleasure ending their lives?”

Seeing that his words had silenced them into fear and anger, Walt sighed and sat back down.

“I’m sorry for raising my voice,” he apologized, “but understand that in my world, it’s come to the point where I need these weapons for my own survival and the survival of others. On Manhattan, there’s a tyrannical leader of a large group of survivors named Dada who does allows only two options for survivors that he finds: join his group or be killed.

“He sends other men to look for other survivors and has them offer the survivors the same choices. I have a third option: fight. Dada rules over his goons with an iron fist, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to live the rest of my life under his shadow. I don’t know if I’d be able to leave the island ever again in my lifetime, but I won’t die until I leave my home a better place than I found it in, and if that means killing people who threaten that glimmer of hope, so be it.

A couple of tears began to well in Walt’s eyes.

“But I beg of you, please don’t look at me as a monster for the acts I have committed. I only want what’s best for the world that I have left.”

Walt bowed his head down fully this time, letting two tears drop to Zecora’s floor. Twilight, Zecora, and Apple Bloom, now knowing Walt fully, felt a much bigger empathy for his plight. Twilight, now completely aware of Walt and who he really was, gently walked up to him and placed her hoof upon his shoulder, causing him to look up.

“Walt,” she sniffled. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped on you like that. I only hope you can forgive me.”

Walt gave Twilight a small smile, pleased by Twilight’s concern, and using his thumb, he wiped the tears forming on Twilight’s face.

“Of course I can forgive you,” said Walt. “I’m just happy that you can understand why I do what I do.”

“I still think you’re a swell guy,” assured Apple Bloom. “After all, you still saved me from that manticore.”

“And for that, I am grateful,” stepped in Twilight. “You see, her sister is one of my closest friends, and I can’t imagine what would happen to her if Apple Bloom got hurt.”

“She would have been more than hurt,” said Walt matter-of-factly.

“Right, but I think I might know what to do with you.”

“What’s that?”

“Are you free tomorrow?”

“I’m always free.”

“Great. Stop by the outskirts of the Everfree Forest tomorrow morning at sunrise. We’ll rendezvous there.”

“Rendezvous for what?”

“I’m going to escort you to Canterlot tomorrow, and–”

“Canterlot? Manehattan? Wow, you ponies come up with the darndest things.”

“Anyways,” Twilight resumed, “I’ll have a chariot come pick us up so you can meet the princess. She’ll be more than eager to meet and possibly help someth– someone like you.”

“Princess, huh? Sounds exciting. Well, Twilight,” he said, placing his fists on his hips above his grappling hooks, “consider myself booked. Tomorrow morning at sunrise.”

Suddenly, a thought occurred to Walt.

“Actually,” he said to Twilight, “what time is it?”

“Huh? Oh! It should be just around four PM.”

Walt checked his watch. On it, it read 4:06.

“Great,” he sighed.

“What was that all about?” questioned Twilight.

“I was wondering if our times were equal or not. But they are, so we’ll be just fine.”

“Great. Zecora will help guide you through the forest tomorrow. She’ll meet you at that cave you found, alright?”

“That sounds perfect Twilight. I thank you so much for doing this for me.”

“It’s not a problem.”

Walt smiled, touched by the pony’s unconditional kindness and support.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Walt had led Zecora, Apple Bloom, and Twilight to the cave that he came out of, having used the manticore’s corpse as a point in the path.

“And you’ll be okay out there?” asked Twilight. “I’d hate for you to get yourself killed before tomorrow.”

“Hey,” said Walt with a smile, “I’ve made it this long.”

Twilight couldn’t help but giggle slightly at his assuring statement.

“Walt, before you go,” spoke Zecora, a brown, leather sack bound by a string in her teeth, “catch this sack I’m about to throw.”

Zecora whipped her neck and head and let go of the pouch, having it fly into Walt’s open hand.

“What is it?” he asked.

“It’s the tea from today. A gift from you to me. What can I say?.”

Walt nodded and smiled.

“Thanks Zecora. Your hospitality knows no bounds.”

“Bye, Walt!” called Apple Bloom. “I hope I can see you soon!”

“Me too,” sighed Walt, turning towards the cave. “Me too.”

Walt stepped in and began his journey back to his homeworld, with Zecora, Apple Bloom, and Twilight both standing there, reflecting on their events of the afternoon.

John continued through the cave, using his flashlight to illuminate the way until he found himself back inside the subway tunnel. Taking a look around, he found himself familiarizing with the molded concrete and the sheer desolation of the place. Walt had could hardly fight the desperation he felt at being back in his world after seeing the grace of the one behind him.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Walt arrived in his house, having almost finished with unbuckling and removing his harness with the swords still attached. Letting it drop to the floor upon his completion, he went to his sofa and sat down, taking a breather. The day had certainly been interesting, and he could only assume that it would be more interesting tomorrow.

That’s when it hit him. Walt was supposed to do another food trade with Tracy in exchange for fixing his stove. With his new engagement in his mind he went to his desk where he kept an iPhone 5 with a broken screen and searched through his contacts to find Tracy’s number. Upon finding it, he tapped around to be able to send her a message. On it, he typed.

Something came up for tomorrow. Afraid I have to cancel tomorrow’s meeting. I’ll tell you when we can rearrange.

Walt hit send, the phone signaling that the message was sent. Walt went to his sofa again, where he found his novel sitting where he had left it the previous day. Upon lifting it off the armrest, his phone vibrated from the desk. Disgruntled, Walt walked back over and looked at the reply Tracy had sent.

What? What came up? Maybe I can help?

Walt, knowing he couldn’t tell her the truth, tried to give her a simpler, yet still honest answer.

You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.

A few seconds later, another text.

Try me.

Walt smirked, imagining Tracy’s response to his next text.

A purple winged unicorn named Twilight is taking me to the city of Canterlot so I can meet the princess.

Walt hit send. As expected, there was a delay in the reply. Walt couldn’t help but snicker as he thought of Tracy’s mouth hanging open after she read the absurd text. Soon, a reply came.

Lol! But seriously, what’s happening?

Walt, knowing he’d get nowhere with her, sent a final message.

I told you you wouldn’t. Night, Tracy.

Before she could reply, Walt shut the phone off and placed it back on his desk. He then retired back into his sofa, reading where he had left off in his book until he finally nodded back to sleep.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Dada sat at the head of a long, wooden table, where other people sat at both sides. Five other tables were formed in the torch-lit, chamber-like dining hall of Dada’s abode. Each man and woman at each table was greedily digging into small garden salads placed in bowls, most of them broken.

Dada was now dressed in a clean set of clothes similar to the ones that he wore when he killed his prisoner. As Dada speared a clump of iceberg lettuce in a thin, oily dressing, he picked his napkin off his lap and gingerly wiped his lips and chin with the oil-stained cloth before placing it on the table.

As if on cue, a portly man ran into the room, yelling Dada’s name. His face displayed emotions of fear and sadness. Dada rose up from his chair and walked to meet the man halfway.

“What is it?” asked Dada. “You’re lucky that I just finished my salad.”

“It’s them, Dada,” he spoke in a flustered voice. “Steve. Chris. Marcus. We found their bodies.”

On hearing the last word, Dada’s attention was immediately taken away from his dinner.

“Bodies?” he asked.

Dada walked quickly to the exit of the room, the man following him. Dada exited the chambers and into a hallway, the man following close behind. They turned right into a room that resembled a hospital room, but all there was in the center was three tables where the dead bodies of Chris, Marcus, and Steve lied.

Upon seeing the extensive damage done to the bodies, Dada’s eyes were riddled with shock and amazement.

“Who the fuck did this to my men?” he spoke in a near-yell.

“We don’t know, sir!” whimpered the man. “Judging from the autopsy, they were killed yesterday.”

“I don’t care what time they died. I just care about who the fuck killed them!”

“I’ll do my best, sir!” he cried.

“Try harder,” he said before leaving the room.

“Of course, Dada sir.”

Dada left the room, heading back to the dining room to rejoin his comrades.

“Whoever you are,” whispered Dada to himself before giving a sly smile, “I’ll make you mine.”

Chapter 3: Divine Sunrise

By five in the morning, Walt was already out of his door, his clothes and equipment (including his flashlight) all on him. Knowing the sun wouldn’t rise for about another half-hour, meaning that practically the entire city was asleep except for him, he casually walked from the alley where his home was and to the streets, hoping to find the nearest subway station.

Unbeknownst to him, a shadowy figure hid behind a mailbox, peeking its head to observe Walt’s direction. Seeing him continue east, the figure quickly and quietly pranced behind, making sure not to be seen or heard.

Walt soon found himself at the subway station closest to the cave in the tunnel. With it already as dark as it was, Walt unhooked his flashlight from his belt and shone down the stairs, walking down them and continuing onwards. Following his pool of light, the figure crept into the darkness and stalked Walt.

Despite the gates that Walt had to climb and the stairs he had to descend, the person following him made not a peep as they overcame the same obstacles. Still seeing nothing amiss, Walt finally made it to the tracks, hopping down and walking inside. The figure leapt down too, their landing being as silent as silent could be.

The figure then pulled an object from the side of their belt, slowly aimed it at Walt, placed their hand upon the button, and pressed.

Walt hearing the click and seeing a light flash from behind him, quickly turned around, pulling his grappling gun from his hip and aiming it at the intruder. When his flashlight’s light hit the stalker, he was shocked to find Tracy there, her hand equipped with a flashlight of her own.

Along with that, she too had a set of grappling equipment harnessed to her waist and thighs. However, unlike Walt’s swords there were two shoebox-sized metal cases attached to the wire spools on their longer sides. On the front end of them near the inner corner, a clip to a handgun stuck halfway out.

Walt was more angry than surprised to see her, roughly putting his pistol back onto his hip with a grimace on his face.

“Dammit, Tracy!” shouted Walt. “I could have shot you!”

“Good thing you didn’t,” she said, walking close to him.

“What the hell are you even doing here?”

“Considering that you RUDELY ended our conversation yesterday, I figured I’d come by to see what this fuss was about.”

“Tracy, you’re not supposed to be here.”

“Why’s that? Is this ‘thing’ yours a ‘No Girls Allowed’ sort of deal?”

Walt tried thinking of more ways to get Tracy to leave, but he figured that there was nothing about Twilight’s words the previous day that said he couldn’t bring visitors. He was sure that if he explained to his friends who Tracy was and who she was to him, that they’d be just as accepting of her. Not to mention, he had to get back at her someway for sneaking up on him as she did.

“Okay Tracy,” spoke Walt, “you win. I’m just warning you, what you’re about to see borders on incomprehensible.”

“You know,” said Tracy, “you’re not all that good at propositioning women for–”

“NO!” Walt hissed, “I wasn’t talking about that! I… you j– Just follow me, okay?”

“Whatever you say, boss.”

Tracy, providing a second light for Walt, followed him throughout the tunnel, with Walt periodically scanning the wall on his left, knowing the cave was coming soon. Walt was beginning to feel nervous that the cave had disappeared or that he somehow imagined everything the previous day. However, his fears were unfounded, as he saw the sizable hole that would lead him back to Equestria.

“Alright,” he said. “Here we are.”

Tracy was impressed at the hole. With the buildup that Walt gave, she could only imagine what lied inside of it that could “border on incomprehensible.”

“What’s inside of it?”

“Just follow me, and you’ll see.”

Walt entered inside, immediately followed by Tracy. The unfamiliarity of the cave unnerved Tracy, and although she had no reason not to trust Walt, she couldn’t help but feel pangs of dread the further they went in. Walt, however, unbeknownst to Tracy, was smiling wide knowing exactly what Tracy would be unprepared for.

Taking a left and soon after a right, Walt spotted the exit of the cave at the top of the elevated slope of earth.

“Almost there,” whispered Walt. “Just past that exit.”

“Can hardly wait,” spoke Tracy, her voice filled with sarcasm and slight worry.

Walt and Tracy begun to scale the slope leading to the cave’s exit. Walt hurried and waited at the mouth of the cave inside the Everfree Forest. Tracy finally poked her head and arm out, waiting for Walt to pull her out. However, she was too stunned by the new location to help Walt, forcing him to pull her up while she stared at the lush flora, completely paralyzed by wonder and awe.

Tracy took a couple of slow, weak steps, unable to comprehend the forest that realistically shouldn’t have been there. However, Walt found himself scanning the area for his friend that would escort him through the forest.

“Zecora!” called Walt though the trees. “We’re here! Don’t worry. This other one is a close friend of mine! She’s alright!”

Tracy glanced at Walt as if he was crazy, stomping closer to him until her mouth was near his ear.

“What are you doing?” she hissed. “We don’t know what’s out here! Keep your voice down.”

“I know exactly what’s out here,” retorted Walt. “And it’s a friend that I made out here.”

A rustling could then be heard in a nearby bush. Walt couldn’t tell who or what it was, placing his hand upon the handle of his swords to be safe. Tracy, however, stood behind Walt and pulled a Jericho 941 pistol from an inside pocket of her jacket. Noticing Tracy’s weapon being held in his sight, Walt pushed her hand downwards, forcing her aim to go towards the ground.

“Calm down,” spoke Walt. “I’ll let you know when you can start getting scared.”

Hearing Walt suggest that Tracy was “scared” only resolved her to be more calm and collected, walking out behind Walt to better see what was inside the bushes.

Coming out of it, was a cloaked, four-legged figure. Walt could already tell from its hooves and its black-and-white striped pattern that it was Zecora, having him smile contently. Walt decided to meet her halfway for a hand/hoofshake. Tracy was stunned at Walt’s lack of apprehension about the creature he was walking towards. Soon, Zecora took off her hood and presented herself to Tracy.

“Is…” questioned Tracy with uncertainty, “is that a zebra?”

“Good morning, Zecora,” greeted Walt, putting his hand out for a shake.

“And a good morning to you, my dear,” replied Zecora, her moving mouth and audible voice causing Tracy’s eyes and mouth to open wide, “but it seems your friend sees me as something to fear.”

Walt turned around to see Tracy standing still, her wide eyes trained right on Zecora.

“Walt?” she squeaked. “Did the zebra just talk to you?”

“As a matter of fact,” said Walt, “she did. Tracy, I’d like to formally welcome you to the land of Equestria!”

“What?” she gasped in a barely audible whisper.

“Oh, right,” said Walt, stepping aside for Zecora to walk to Tracy, “Zecora, this is my friend Tracy. She decided to follow me here when she saw me leave my house.”

Zecora chuckled warmly as she approached the petrified woman, instilling some ease in her.

“A cheeky one you seem to be,” Zecora spoke, “I now hope you like what you see.”

“This is…” she whimpered sinking to her knees as she scanned around the forest, “this is amazing. Where even is this place? This can’t be Earth.”

“Did you not hear what your friend said? This is Equestria. Try not to lose your head.”

Tracy still doubting her sanity, slowly raised her hand towards Zecora’s face. The zebra was unsure of what she was attempting, but stood her ground, faithful that Tracy’s intentions weren’t harmful. Sure enough, Tracy placed her hand upon Zecora’s cheek and gently stroked it all the way down to the base of her neck where the hood of her cloak began.

Seeing that this was real, her frightened face gave way to a childlike smile and chuckle. Zecora, knowing that she was now fully at ease, smiled back.

“Stand back up, please, my friend,” spoke Zecora, Tracy following her instruction, “a formal greeting I recommend.”

“Right,” spoke Tracy, wiping her hands on her thighs, slightly embarrassed about her act, “I’m Tracy Rodriguez,” she greeted, placing her outstretched hand towards the Zebra. “A very good pleasure to meet you… Zecora was it?”

“Indeed it is,” she replied, placing her hoof on Tracy’s hand and letting her shake it, “your memory serves you well. You seem like you’re a good human, I can tell.”

“Like I said,” butted in Walt, “she is my only friend back at home. As of right now, we’re the only survivors that we know that haven’t been taken by Dada and his men, so we stick together.”

“And a good friend to each other you are,” spoke Zecora, “but we need to get to Twilight. She isn’t far.”

“Twilight?” asked Tracy.

“She’s another friend of mine,” answered Walt. “And if you thought a zebra talking was amazing, just wait until you see her.”

“What, is she a talking cow?”

Walt felt a little unhappy about that answer, but just decided to roll with it.

“I think its best that we followed Zecora.”

“Sure.”

“Right, this way, Tracy and Walt,” beckoned Zecora, already walking to the left of their location, “if we are late, it won’t be my fault.”

Tracy and Walt did as they were told, following close behind Zecora through the thick brush of the Everfree Forest.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Walt and Tracy both had their flashlights trained upon the area, scanning the various trees and plants that lined the dirt path that Zecora took them down, forward ahead to see if there was a clear exit in sight, or down at Zecora herself, making sure that they were still following her.

“Do you know how much further?” asked Tracy.

“Not much longer, I’m happy to say,” Zecora replied, “we’ll soon meet Twilight and you can begin your day.”

Tracy leaned her head close to Walt’s ear.

“Does she always rhyme like that?” she asked.

“Yes,” Walt answered simply.

Even in the dusky night, Tracy finally saw that the trees up ahead were finally starting to become less frequent, signaling that the forest was finally coming to an end. Upon entering out, they found themselves in a grassy, hilly field. Tracy and Walt looked upon the green, thriving grass in wonder. Beyond the hills and plains, there was a cozy little town nestled down below, although it was too dark to properly see it. However, Walt was much more concerned about finding Twilight, partially to get her meeting with Tracy out of the way while mostly wanting to get to Canterlot.

“Hey!” quietly called a voice. From the right side of the path.

Walt and Tracy placed their lights over the source of the voice. What they both saw made Tracy drop her flashlight in shock while Walt faltered with his. Standing there was Twilight next to a golden chariot being pulled by two white pegasus stallions with blue manes and tails with golden armor.

While Walt was familiar with Twilight, the regality of the chariot and the armored stallions was truly a sight to behold. However, Tracy hadn’t seen Twilight with her horn or wings before, yet alone the two pegasi with the chariot. Tracy couldn’t help but cup her hands over her mouth and nose as Twilight was busy thanking Zecora for bringing the humans to her. Even the two pegasi, whose demeanor was trained to be perpetually stoic, couldn’t help but stare at the creatures in amazement.

“Oh my god,” she silently exclaimed. “That’s a unicorn, and a pegasus. These creatures are real?”

“Well,” said Walt, placing his hand upon her shoulder, “you’re right about one thing. This certainly isn’t Earth.”

Upon sighting Tracy, Twilight stared at her nervously, unsure of whom she was. Walt, noticing her glare, took the initiative.

“I almost forgot,” spoke Walt, escorting himself and Tracy to Twilight and the chariot, “Twilight. I want you to meet my best friend, Tracy. She followed me here and so I thought I should show her to you.”

“Walt!” scolded Twilight. “You can’t just bring every human that you know down here. I could already be causing trouble today by bringing you to Canterlot. Nopony has ever seen creatures like you before and bringing just you could be enough to cause a panic. I won’t even know what Princess Celestia will think if I bring one more of you than I promised! I just –”

“Twilight,” interrupted Walt. “I promise you everything will be fine. And if Princess Celestia is going to get mad at anyone, she can be mad at me. In the meantime, I’d like you to meet my best friend, Tracy Rodriguez.”

Twilight looked at Tracy, who was continuing to stare her down. Upon realizing that she was supposed to make an introduction, she sheepishly giggled and put her hand out.

“I’m Tracy,” she spoke, “if you didn’t know already, hehehe…”

Twilight, seeing that she meant no harm, perked up a smile and allowed Tracy to shake her own outstretched hoof.

“A pleasure to meet you, Tracy. My name is Twilight Sparkle. I’m not sure if Walt told you what we’re doing today…”

“As a matter of fact,” spoke Tracy, shooting an icy glare at Walt, “he didn’t!”

“Hey!” Walt retorted, “You were the one who followed me down here, remember? It’s not like I invited you or anything!”

“You could have told me while we were walking in the forest!”

“Please!” interrupted Twilight. “Stop arguing. I’ll happily explain the plan both as a reminder for Walt and for you to know what’s happening.”

“Alright then,” spoke Tracy, her still agitated words prompting an answer.

“We’re now going to be headed to the capital city of Equestria, Canterlot. Once there, you will have an audience with Princess Celestia, who told me herself that she was very eager to meet you. From there, it’s up to her. I hope there’s nothing in your world that needs strenuous tending too; we might be gone for up to a few days before you can return.”

“I anticipated as such,” replied Walt, “so I put some extra water and feed in my gardening-sprinkler system.”

“Wonderful,” spoke Twilight. “Tracy?”

“Nah,” she exclaimed with a shrug. “I got nothing.”

“Great. Then in that case, we’ll be off!”

“Before we leave,” said Walt, before turning to Zecora, “farewell, Zecora! Thank you for your guidance!”

“Farewell, to you, my bipedal friends!” called Zecora. “I’m so glad we could meet again!”

With a wave from both Walt and Tracy, Zecora turned back and went into the thick forest and towards her home.

“Now,” spoke Twilight, “it’s about a three hour flight from Ponyville to Canterlot, so we have some time to learn about each other.”

“Wait, wait,” exclaimed Tracy, putting her finger up for clarification. “Canterlot? Ponyville?”

“And they have a city called Manehattan,” quipped Walt with a serious tone. “We’ll probably hear a lot of that during our stay.”

Tracy gave more of an exasperated shrug, signaling that while the town and city names were ridiculous, she would just have to go with it.

“Anyways,” Twilight butted back in, “let’s not waste any time! Next stop: Canterlot!”

Twilight escorted Walt and Tracy to the chariot. As Twilight opened the door using her magic, the two humans stared at the auras surrounding her horn and the handle of the chariot’s door, watching as the soft glow opened the door by itself. Twilight then looked at the two, who looked stunned.

“That’s right,” she spoke. “I forgot that you humans probably don’t know about magic here, do you?”

Walt and Tracy shook their heads, their answers being clear.

“Well, I suppose that’s just more that we can talk about on the way there.”

“Yes, it will,” spoke Walt beginning to climb into the chariots cabin. However, Walt spotted a small, purple-and-green lizard-like creature sleeping on the back seat, causing him to jump backwards and onto the ground, barking in fear as he fell.

“What is it?” asked Twilight, unsure of what frightened Walt.

“There’s something in the chariot!” he shouted, pointing.

“Something? You mean Spike?”

“What was that?” shouted the purple lizard, his head and torso appearing over the edge of the chariot and scanning the area for the source of the yelp.

Upon seeing both Tracy and Walt there, he screamed as well and slid to the opposite edge of the chariot.

“Please!” he begged, putting his arms up. “Don’t hurt me! I don’t taste all that good, I promise!”

Walt was surprised at how human the creature acted, much like that of a child. Tracy even looked upon it in wonder.

“Spike!” shouted Twilight at the lizard, putting her front hooves over the edge to see him better. “Calm down! These creatures aren’t going to hurt you, remember?”

“Wait,” spoke Spike, creeping out of his defensive stance, “so those are those human things you were talking about?”

“Yes, Spike, and now we’re going to be riding with them, so please make some room.”

“But I thought you said there was only one!”

“Change in plans, Spike. Now, please. Move over.”

Twilight held the door open again for the two humans, who still took a second to adjust to the fact that she used magic to do so. They both climbed in, Tracy and Walt taking the front seat, with Tracy facing Spike and Walt facing Twilight when she got in, sitting next to Spike.

“Alright, sirs,” she said to the pair of pegasi, “we’re ready to leave.”

With a short whinny and hard pull, the stallions galloped upon the grass. Once they got fast enough, they begun to flap their wings, lifting their bodies slightly off the ground.

“Uh, Twilight?” asked Walt, fearing that the chariot would tip backwards.

“It’s okay, Walt. Just enjoy the ride.”

As the pegasi increased with altitude, so did the chariot, rising higher and higher into the air. However, unlike what Walt had predicted, the chariot was parallel with the hooves of the pegasi as they flew higher into the air as they continued to gallop, as if it were on an invisible track.

Soon, the chariot was just below the clouds in the sky as the pegasi leveled off and flew straight towards their destination. Walt and Tracy leaned over the edge and looked down, seeing the ground high from above.

“Twilight!” exclaimed Walt. “This is incredible!”

“Just wait,” giggled Twilight, amused at Walt’s enthusiasm, “the sun should be rising in a few minutes. That way you can get a better look at the country.”

“I can’t wait.”

“So,” spoke Tracy, her arms crossed and her left leg crossed over her right, “I still can’t understand how a world like this can exist within the subway tunnels of New York, or how that cave brought us here.”

“I’m unsure of that either,” said Twilight, putting her hoof to her chin in deep thought. “However, I’m sure Princess Celestia can offer a reason as to why. She’s very wise.”

“I don’t doubt it, but I’m curious, Twilight. How do you have such connections to high power?”

“That’s easy! She’s my teacher.”

Walt was not only impressed, but slightly relieved. If he and Tracy had made friends with the student of a governing body in this country, he was certain that they would already form a strong rapport with her.

“So,” spoke Spike, his rubbing the back of his head with his hand indicating his shyness and slight apprehension, “I don’t think I introduced myself. My name’s Spike,” he revealed, putting his hand up for Walt or Tracy to shake, “what’s yours?”

Walt smiled at Spike’s uneasiness with his introduction, empathizing it to his own feelings and using them to feel more comfortable in the mutuality of them.

“I’m Walt,” he said, firmly shaking Spike’s hand, “nice to meet you, bud.”

Tracy was next, also shaking the creature’s hand.

“I’m Tracy. And I hate to sound so rude, but what are you?”

The question seemed to perk something inside of Spike, his smile growing wider.

“Me?” queried Spike, putting his fist over his heart. “I’m a dragon!”

Walt had heard and seen a lot in the past few days, but the thought of dragons existing in this fantasy world was increasing his excitement once more.

“Dragons are real here?” Walt asked.

“Of course!” answered Spike. “Why? Don’t they exist where you’re from?”

“Actually, no. Dragons, as well as unicorns and pegasi, are considered myths and legend in our world. In other words, they don’t… well, didn’t exist in our world.”

“Well, that’s… odd.”

“You’re telling me.”

“Guys!” shouted Twilight, her hoof pointed in front of her. “Look!”

Everyone was now looking out at the darkened horizon in front of the chariot. Just visible along the edges of the mountains was an outline of orange and yellow light that looked to be rising with each passing second. The full body of the rising sun was slowly making itself more visible through the gaps in between each of the mountains.

Once, the sun began to rise above the lowest of the peaks, the light began to drape itself down the slopes of the mountains, revealing the purplish-blue color of the titanic summits. Soon, the higher mountains began to reveal their color with the blankets of light that were now forming over the area.

As the sun rose higher and higher, the sky’s darkness was slowly eradicated with shades of red which began to fade into blue. Walt and Tracy had never seen such a beautiful sunrise, even from before the Contagion. Looking a back down, they saw the sheet of sunlight travel from the base of the mountains over the plains, hills, and valleys, showing the vibrant green color of the grass, speckled with the various colors of different flowers.

As the light began to travel underneath the chariot, Walt and Tracy hurriedly went to the back of the chariot to see the rest of the magnificent sunrise. The sun’s light eventually hit the chariot and everyone onboard, but the humans were too engrossed to care. The sun continued down through the land as it finally uncovered the small town where they had been picked up.

Tracy and Walt were amazed at the sight of it. For ten years of seeing nothing but abandoned apartments and desolate skyscrapers, the rustic little town of Ponyville was not only a breath of fresh air, but it was stunning and beautiful amongst the green grass that it was perched upon. The sunlight continued on until it was rendered invisible by the horizon. By now, the sun had pierced all darkness from the sky, leaving a vast sky of blue mottled with wispy clouds as far as the eye could see.

With the show now over, Walt and Tracy could finally noticed the feeling of the warm sun’s rays on the back of their jackets. Turning back around, they looked at where they were traveling now, fully immersing themselves in the sheer majesty of the land of Equestria. Walt’s hands were cupped over his face, a couple of tears streaming from his eyes. Tracy was leaning over the edge of the balcony, catching her breath after she had forgotten to breath.

“Holy mother of God,” gasped Walt. “That was… divine. There’s no other word to describe it.”

“Princess Celestia does a good job doesn’t she?” questioned Twilight.

“Princess Celestia?” asked Tracy, turning to face Twilight. “What do you mean ‘Princess Celestia does a good job?’ It’s not like she rose the sun.”

“Actually…” squeaked Twilight with a sheepish smile.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

“Unbelievable!” shouted Walt. “And all you ponies literally ‘clean-up’ winter for spring?”

“Why yes,” answered Twilight. “As a matter fact, I’m quite surprised how different our two worlds are. It seems as if your race just deals with whatever their planet dishes out while us ponies work with the earth and keep it clean and well-managed. It’s almost as if your planet was trying to kick you out of it, per say.”

“Yeah, well,” said Tracy with a more melancholy tone, “we haven’t been the nicest to our planet, so I guess we might have just got what was coming to us.”

“You did mention something about a garden, Walt. That sure sounds like someone who contributes to their home.”

“Well,” said Walt, slightly proud, “it was actually my mother’s garden. Before the Contagion, she ran a garden patch that sold fresh produce throughout the late spring, the summer, and the early fall. People traveled from all over the city for my mother’s fruits and vegetables.

“And she even survived the Contagion after it happened, and her power, surprisingly enough, was to give life to plants and vegetation, which she used to help grow the garden that I tend to today.”

Walt’s voice began to falter slightly, as if the mere mention of his mother was causing him stress. Spike, who stayed mostly silent, was curious and worried with Walt’s disposition at the moment

“Where… where is your mother now?” he gently pried.

Walt’s fists began to clench, knowing that speaking it would not be easy, if not, impossible. He tried to hold it back for as long as he or Twilight’s curiosity would allow. Tracy, who already knew the fate of her friend’s mom, had trouble watching him struggle with an answer. However, a voice broke the silence Walt was causing, breaking him out of his concentration.

“Princess Sparkle!” called one of the pegasi in a gruff voice. “We’ve arrived.”

“Princess?” asked Tracy. “Since when did you–”

“It’s a long story,” answered Twilight, “but I can tell you at another time. We’re here.”

Rounding another mountain, the next sight rendered Walt and Tracy absolutely speechless and amazed. Perched on the side of the next mountain was an ornate ivory-white and lavender-purple palace and city with golden rooftops. The city was halfway surrounded by a moat and pond that dropped off the edge of a cliff in a waterfall, another waterfall from above feeding the water in the pond. Walt and Tracy still couldn’t speak, leaving Twilight to speak up for them.

“My friends,” she declared, “welcome to Canterlot!”

The chariot continued to ride towards the palace, bringing Walt and Tracy ever closer to their fated meeting with the princess of Equestria.

Chapter 4: Fearful Treachery

Walt and Tracy couldn’t help but look down at Canterlot as they began to pass over the massive and beautiful city. Twilight however, looked at tad nervous at their curiosity.

“Guys,” she advised. “I’d like you to hide behind the inside of the chariot. If other ponies see you and cause a panic, Princess Celestia will certainly not have good opinions about you two.”

Walt looked at Twilight blankly while Tracy cocked her head to the side with a look on her face that seemed to read, “Are you serious?”

“It’s okay,” spoke Twilight. “It will only be a minute or two before we land. Please, do it now!”

Wanting to honor her and likely the princess’s wishes as well, Walt and Tracy ducked as low as they could, their hair being just visible over the edge. Spike used the opportunity to climb upon Walt’s head and sit, getting a slightly higher vantage point than normal.

“Spike!” scolded Twilight. “Get off of him.”

“It’s fine,” replied Walt. “He’s not hurting me.”

Spike gave Twilight a sly smirk, happy to know that Walt was on his side. Twilight merely pouted and looked ahead, awaiting their landing destination. The pegasi began to reduce their speed and descend towards the courtyard of what looked to be the palace, surrounded inside the interior by armored stallions similar in appearance to the ones pulling the chariot. However, some of them looked to be dark brown in appearance with ice blue manes and tails.

Walt and Tracy peeked out from the side to see as well, and upon seeing the guards there, they became a bit nervous, as told by Tracy’s gulp.

“Hey, Trace,” said Spike, turning his body towards Tracy’s. “Are you alright?”

“Oh, you know,” replied Tracy in a sarcastically chipper voice, “just a bunch of armored guards ready to kill us if we make any slight moves that make them on edge. No biggie. And don’t call me Trace. No one does.”

“Okay,” answered Spike, his hands up defensively, “Tracy it is.”

The chariot began getting lower and lower to the ground, Walt and Tracy preparing for a bumpy landing. However, the two stallions landed upon the ground as they continued to gallop, bringing the chariot with it. The wheels of the vehicle landed gingerly upon the grass so that neither Walt nor Tracy could feel it.

The two stallions then skidded to a halt, stopping the chariot with it. With a final whinny and kicking with their front legs, the journey was finally over, prompting Twilight and Spike to exit.

“Wait for my lead,” whispered Twilight to the two humans before she fully exited.

Each of the stallions guarding the courtyard gave a respectful bow towards Twilight as she stepped towards the palace entrance. Another stallion parted through a line of guards and towards Twilight. The stallion was a unicorn, and he was slightly bigger than the other guards. His coat was white as his fellow guards, but his mane and tail were a sandy blonde. His armor was purple with a golden outline and was much more ornate than the others’ armors.

Meeting Twilight between the chariot and the line of soldiers, the other guard gave Twilight a bow himself, took her hoof in his and gently kissed it. Twilight, still being a relatively new princess, was not used to such treatment, giggling and turning her head away in slight embarrassment, blushing all the while.

“I hope your flight was pleasant, Princess Twilight,” spoke the stallion.

“I did, Captain Silver Lance,” responded Twilight, her voice now authoritative, yet friendly. “Thank you very much.”

“Now, I see to it that you brought some quote-en-quote… special guests.”

“Yes I did.” Twilight turned to the chariot, raising her voice.

“Walt! Tracy! You can come out now!”

Walt and Tracy slowly revealed themselves before the guards, each one of them staring up in disbelief and awe. A couple of them even dropped their spears over the fear they felt in front of their presence. Silver Lance himself was shocked and slightly terrified by the look of them.

Walt and Tracy, trying not to look weak or aggressive, walked out of the chariot as if nothing was amiss, looking at the still mystified guards. As the two humans made their way towards Twilight’s right side. Upon seeing the alien creatures equipped with their strange technology get close, Silver Lance crouched down, ready to pounce on the humans if they got closer. Before he could advance, Twilight’s right wing separated him from them.

“Silver Lance!” shot Twilight. “Don’t be attacking them. Princess Celestia herself has requested to see them, and I will not have them brought to her bruised and beaten.”

Silver Lance, remembering that the two humans were as much Twilight’s guests as they were Princess Celestia’s, bowed down apologetically.

“My sincerest apologies, your Majesty,” he spoke. “I do not know these creatures or their intentions at all. Forgive me for my intuitive defense.”

“Well, I have gotten to know these ‘creatures’ well, Silver,” Twilight responded with more calmness in her voice, “and I can safely say that they mean us ponies no harm. My brother was the last captain of the Royal Guard, and yet, you still seem to be more protective of him than me.”

Twilight had made mention to Twilight’s brother, Shining Armor, during the flight to Canterlot. The quip directed at Silver Lance forced Walt and Tracy to chuckle slightly. Silver Lance, couldn’t help but look at the two humans laughing at his expense. His blood was beginning to boil, but he did an excellent job keeping his calm and respective façade in front of Twilight.

“Yes,” he answered. “How foolish of me. Where shall I escort them?”

“Princess Celestia has arranged a room for each of them inside the palace,” answered Twilight, the word “palace” being received very well by both Walt and Tracy, their mouths slightly hanging open at the thought of the luxury they were about to experience. “After they have cleaned themselves and we’ve spruced their clothes a bit, they will share lunch with both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna and I, along with some of my friends.”

Silver Lance’s rage was slowly creeping again. Not only did they not respect his princess’s boundaries, but they laugh at him and would be pampered by Princess Celestia herself. However, he bit his tongue and kept his cool, bowing his head in understanding.

“Very good, your majesty,” answered Silver Lance, some of his contempt bleeding through, unnoticed by the others.

“Excellent. Please show them up to their rooms now.”

“Of course.”

Waving his hoof, he signaled seven guards to come to his spot, prompting them to do so with gusto.

“I shall accompany the male… what do you call this thing?” Silver Lance asked.

“HE is called a human,” answered Twilight, “and his name is Walt. The other one is Tracy.”

“Right.” He began signaling the other guards that came over as he assigned them. “I shall accompany Walt to his room with the help of you three, and the rest of you take Tracy to her room.”

The seven guards gave their captain a salute before splitting off. Silver Lance stood in front of Walt while the other three guards stood at both sides of Walt and behind him. Tracy was surrounded on all quarters by the last four guards.

“Shall we begin?” asked Silver Lance.

“You shall,” answered Twilight, redirecting her attention towards her two human friends. “Bye, guys. I’ll see you both at lunch.”

“Bye, Twilight!” called Walt, already being escorted to the palace with Tracy by the guards.

Walt kept look at each one of the guards and noted their constantly stoic expressions, feeling that any sudden moves might get him killed by any one of their spears. He also looked at Silver Lance, who he was having a hard time trusting.

Upon getting off the chariot, he showed an immediate hostility towards him and Tracy. He would have accepted that out of the probable fear that Silver Lance must have felt seeing two strange creatures like him for the first time, but it didn’t stop there. After Walt laughed at Twilight’s quip and when she told Silver Lance that they’d be having lunch with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, he couldn’t help but get the impression that Silver Lance was getting livid upon each event.

However, Walt kept his composure and paranoia in check. He would soon be escorted to his room and he’d more than likely not have to see hide or tail of Silver Lance for as long as he stayed.

Silver Lance, on the other hand, was sweating bullets. His back was to the alien creature and he could attack him at any time without being any the wiser. He had begun to calculate his plan as soon as he been told about the arrival of two foreign creatures by Princess Celestia herself. He would not let such odd and potentially dangerous creatures harm her and possibly, the whole of Equestria.

Upon walking into the palace, the unicorn guards keeping watch at the large entrance doors closed it behind them. Walt was even more impressed by the inner architecture of the palace. White, ivory pillars, beautiful stained-glass windows, spotless red carpets; if there was one thing he was certain, it was that this place was certainly fit for royalty.

“The princesses certainly have a nice place to call their home,” spoke Walt, his voice echoing slightly inside the halls.

Certainly a lot better than where you’ll call home soon, Silver Lance thought.

Both Walt and Tracy came across a four-way intersection, with Walt’s escorts steering him left and Tracy’s escorts turning her right. With a final glance to each other, they both went their separate ways, knowing that they’d next see each other during lunch.

Walt and his guards continued down the labyrinthine hallways for what seemed even longer than the chariot ride to Canterlot. All Walt knew was that as soon as he made it to his room, he’d like a nice, pleasant bath that he would have considered a luxury back home.

Silver Lance looked around him in all directions, seeing that the coast was clear. He his horn began glowing an ice-blue, and like Twilight with the chariot handle, the handle of Walt’s left sword began to shimmer with the same colored aura. Silver Lance thought of pulling the weapon out of its sheath, but found that he couldn’t do so.

Why won’t it move? thought Silver Lance with frustration.

Walt then noticed the aura on Silver Lance’s horn, which he then saw on the handle of his weapon. Knowing that magic could be used for telekinetic-like abilities, Walt took immediate caution.

“Be careful with that thing,” Walt told Silver Lance, grabbing the sword’s handle as he did so. “You can–”

Now was the chance. The guard on Walt’s left looked to see Walt’s hand on his weapon.

“Silver Lance!” shouted the guard. “He’s going to attack!”

“What?” exclaimed Walt. “No, I–”

Before any more words could escape Walt’s lips, the four guards turned on him and pointed their lances towards Walt’s throat. With Walt’s “attempt” thwarted, Silver Lance’s plan could commence without a hitch.

“Silver Lance,” shouted Walt, “what the hell are you doing?”

“Keep your voice down,” hissed Silver Lance. “If you try and scream, I’ll end your life right here.”

Walt stifled his response as best as he could, but felt anger and contempt creeping into his heart at this sudden betrayal. Whether by Twilight or Silver Lance’s hoof, the trust that he harbored in these ponies began to weather and crumble away.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Tracy’s group continued through the halls which were becoming more and more empty with each turn they made. A unicorn guard on Tracy’s right was also scheming with Silver Lance, wanting nothing more than to protect their leaders. Using his magic, the guard slowly levitated his spear towards Tracy’s hand, which swung at her side with each step. Her hand was open, allowing the guard to move the handle of the spear towards her open palm. Once the handle made contact with her skin, as if by instinct, Tracy gripped the handle, unaware at first what she was really grabbing until–

“My spear!” shouted the guard. “She has it!”

As the other three guards turned their swords upon her, the unicorn guard quickly relinquished his spear from Tracy’s grasp, pointing its head back at her neck.

“You’re in big trouble now, missy,” he said.

Tracy wasn’t sure what had happened, but she knew that she was nowhere near the unicorn’s weapon. She had been set up. She felt that the captain was seedy enough, but to turn on them like this. It was unforgivable for her.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

“Now follow me,” spoke Silver Lance. “There’s an nice, cold, dungeon waiting for you and your mate.”

“Mate?” questioned Walt. “Tracy? What do you…”

At that moment, Walt understood. He and Tracy were being sold out to Princess Celestia over egregious crimes that they did not commit. With the realization that Tracy’s safety was in jeopardy now, Walt could hold it in anymore. With a deep breath and heavy exhale, the world around Walt began to slow once again.

Grabbing the grappling gun on his right hip and wrapping the bottom wire on the hook on his harness, he turned around and fired the hook at the corner of the hallway behind him. As the hook slowly soared in the air through the decrease in time, the guards were startled by the impossible speed that Walt exhibited. As the hook finally latched to the wall, the guards, regaining their senses, were ready to thrust their spears into Walt’s neck, but Walt was prepared for this.

Walt fell to his rump on the ground and, with the decreased time slowing his fall, he moved his head back to dodge the spearheads now colliding into the center of the air above him. Clicking the trigger once again, Walt felt the pull propel him towards the hallway where he came from, sliding on the floor. His body collided with the legs of the guards, tripping them and forcing them to the ground.

With the elevation of the wire, the grappling hook propelled him upwards and to his feet, allowing Walt to pull the hammer of his pistol back and relinquish the hook from the wall and letting it retract back into the barrel. Walt used his forward momentum to continue running down the halls, hellbent on finding Tracy and saving her from danger.

Silver Lance and the other guards were stunned by how easily Walt had escaped, but their captain was not easily deterred.

“GO!” he shouted. “FIND HIM!”

The four of them galloped down the hallways in pursuit of their prisoner.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

“I didn’t take your fucking spear!” shouted Tracy, her anger rising.

“Don’t talk, you dumb animal,” the unicorn guard responded.

Tracy took the moment to scan the area, looking for a means to escape. She saw as the pegasus guard that stood in front of her was trembling the spear held within its wing.

“I will now,” said Tracy, her voice slightly more smug.

“Wha–”

Before the unicorn could finish his exclamation, Tracy grabbed the spear just below the head and swung it at the trembling spear of the pegasus in front of her. As predicted, the spear was knocked right out of the guard’s grasp, leaving her an open window. As the unicorn got its spear back with his magic, Tracy crouched down and jumped, getting twenty feet in the air at the shock of the other four guards.

Pulling out both of her grappling hook pistols, she aimed and fired the left hook at the corner of the left turn in the hallway and fired the right hook at the wall in front of her. Once both targets latched on, Tracy retracted the wires of the grappling guns, pulling her towards the end of the hallway. As soon as she was about to face the next hallway, she relinquished the left hook from the corner and hung from the wall on her right hook.

She quickly aimed and shot the left hook again at the end of the next hallway, latching herself to it, letting the right hook detach itself, and pulled herself forwards at incredible speed.

“Don’t let her get away!” shouted the unicorn guard, forcing him and two of the guards to give chase.

The pegasus, still amazed at Tracy’s feats, shook himself out of his trance and quickly gathered his weapon before galloping to catch up with his fellow soldiers.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Walt continued to run as fast as his legs could carry him without the aid of his powers. However, he realized that the equine guards behind him were much faster than he was, and it wouldn’t be long before they would catch him. Silver Lance charged his horn upon sighting him after they rounded yet another corner.

“I have you now!” he grunted.

Silver Lance shot a spell at the human, perfectly hitting his target. However, to Silver Lance’s shock and horror, the spell didn’t faze Walt, his clothes, or his equipment in the slightest.

“How?” he exclaimed. “Why is he impervious to my magic?”

Walt didn’t hear him nor did he bother. He rounded the corner to find a group of soldiers standing inside the main hall near the entrance of the palace, having been relieved from Walt and Tracy’s arrival. Silver Lance saw his opportunity.

“Stop him!” he cried. “He’s armed and extremely dangerous!”

The other guards, upon seeing the human run ever so closer to them, reconvened and stood in a phalanx formation and awaited Walt’s inevitable stop. However, he did something that surprised the guards. He continued to run even faster, even to the point where it looked impossible for a creature of his stature and size to run. The guards retained their formation, ready to stop him or spear him if the chance came.

Walt, approaching the phalanx fast, leapt high into the air, towards the spear of another soldier. The guard was too stunned to act as the human came barreling towards him. Walt stepped on the broad edge of the guard’s spearhead and pushed off to ascend even higher, flying above the ponies with relative ease.

Walt knew his speeds were too fast for a safe landing, so he quickly pulled both grappling guns from his side and fired towards the ceiling. Once the hooks latched into the smooth, stony surface, Walt swung from the wires with his lower back just inches above the floor.

He then released the hooks from the ceiling, allowing him to land on the floor and slide down the marble for fifteen feet. Upon feeling his speed diminish to the point of stopping, Walt rolled on this stomach and pushed off the ground, finding him back on his feet and behind the stunned phalanx, standing wide with anticipation for their next move.

“Don’t just stand there!” shouted Silver Lance from the back. “After him!”

The guards followed his orders and all began to gallop towards Walt. Walt turned back around and ran down the hallway where he knew Tracy would be.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Tracy ran as fast as her legs could carry her through the hallways, being hounded by the guards who tried to recapture her. She was much faster than Walt and actually ran at the same pace as the guards, even gaining more ground when her agile human body could round corners in the hallway faster and with more dexterity than the ponies, who nearly crashed into the outer wall of whichever turn they came from.

Tracy took another corner down the hall only to be confronted by a dead end. However, the stained glass wall provided her only chance of escape. She might have been able to jump and swing over the guards before, be she knew they’d be damned if they were to let it happen again.

Still in full sprint, Tracy pulled her two Jerichos from the inside pockets of her jacket and aimed them at the outer edge of the icon, starting near where her head would be. Tracy began firing, producing an outline of bullet holes through the glass that began to form a hole. Upon hearing the empty click of her pistols, she ejected the clips and slammed the butt of her guns down on the clips sticking out from the top of the containers below her wire spools.

Upon pulling the clips from the container, two new clips emerged from them like a pez dispenser. With her weapons reloaded, she riddled the window with more bullets to produce another hole that her body and equipment could easily fit through.

Placing the guns back into her jacket as she neared the window, she made a jump at the hole. Minus a couple of light brushes with glass that still jutted from the hole, she fit jumped in without further incident. However, upon looking down, she saw as below her, there was nothing but forest hundreds of feet below her. She had reached the edge of the castle that hung over the edge of the mountain.

Quickly grabbing her grappling pistols, she launched both hooks at the edge of the spire-like roof of the building, which held left her swinging above the potential freefall. Clicking the switches of her guns, she squeezed the trigger on both guns once again, reeling her up towards the ceiling above the shattered window and out of sight from her would-be captors.

As the four guards peered over the hole that Tracy had made, unsure if she fell to her doom, the sound of galloping could be heard from the other end of the hallway. Just as they turned around, they saw as Walt ran through the hallway with the large mass of guards chasing him. Walt upon seeing the dead end and the four guards standing there, he forced himself to a stop. That’s when Walt saw the hole.

“Tracy!” he screamed.

Feeling as if Walt had given up, the rest of the guards stopped as well, ready for their captain to take action. The four guards chasing Tracy also came close, further trapping Walt inside.

“Out of the way!” shouted Silver Lance as he viciously passed through the other guards. “I said out of the way. He’s mine!”

Eventually, Silver Lance made it to the front of the large group of soldiers, facing Walt once again. Walt glared at him, not so much for the predicament he was in, but because of the lengths he was going to feed his fear and hatred.

“Hahaha,” laughed Silver Lance. “I have to admit, you’re an incredibly slippery creature. But the jig is up now. That is unless, of course, you can try and fight your way out of here. And don’t get me wrong, with your super speed or whatever it was that you were doing, which was quite impressive, I must hand it to you, you can put up a good fight and possibly escape with your head still attached.”

Walt seriously considered drawing his swords and killing him right then and there, but the thought soon crossed him. Most of these ponies had no idea what was happening, and were only following Silver Lance’s gross assumptions of the supposed monster he was. For that matter, that only seemed to make it clearer that Twilight and Celestia had no idea what was happening either.

He felt like it was a long shot, but there was only one thing he could think of to sway the thoughts of the other guards. Walt unclenched his balled fists and placed them gently behind his back, away from his weapons.

“But I’m not going to,” stated Walt.

Walt’s answer came as a surprise to the other ponies. If this creature was as dangerous as Silver Lance made him out to be, surely he would have drawn his weapons right now and at the very least be prepared to attack.

“And why not? You’ve got two options. You can either come with me peacefully and you’ll be imprisoned for attacking the captain of the royal guard, or you can try and escape with the blood of these ponies on your hands. Either way, it won’t end well for you.”

“I choose neither option,” Walt declared. “As soon as I get away from you and find Tracy, I’m going to tell Twilight and possibly Celestia herself about what you and your guards have tried to have done with us. You and your guards are free to continue chasing me, but I will not yield or stoop down to killing ponies just in an effort to fuel your own paranoia about me and my friend.”

“Ha! And who do you think they’re going to believe? Some alien monsters from Celestia knows where? Or the trusted ponies of her own defense unit? Your story will hold no water to mine and my guards.”

The guards couldn’t help but question the validity of their captain’s words. Despite him going on about how dangerous of a creature Walt was, there was really nothing to suggest that Walt was anything of the sort.

“Well, let’s see,” answered Walt with his index finger on his chin. “How will your own story hold up? You’re going to try charging me of attacking you and your guards in cold blood. But wouldn’t you agree that when I tried fleeing from them, that a few casualties, yet alone, injuries would have been made in the scuffle. I think it would make a rather interesting discrepancy to know that an ‘alien monster’ with supposed lethal intent neither killed nor harmed your guards, even when I had full opportunity to.”

Silver Lance was speechless. Now he was caught in a seemingly unwinnable situation. He knew Walt would not attack any single one of his ponies even if pressed to the wall, and if he surrendered and went to the dungeon, Silver Lance’s reasons for doing so as well as his story would not hold up in front of either of the princesses given the obvious facts, which would embarrass him greatly.

With his options slipping, and Walt’s smug smile already screaming a declaration of victory, Silver Lance grabbed the lances of each one of the ponies behind him. The guards were unsure of their captain’s actions, causing them to murmur loudly amongst themselves. With the spears that he had, Silver Lance formed a tight grid inside the space of the hallway, making an otherwise impenetrable barrier for Walt to overcome.

“Sir,” nervously shouted the pegasus guard behind Walt, his voice slightly less gruff than his captain, “what do you think you’re doing? Don’t tell me that.”

“Be quiet you!” shouted Silver Lance. “Can’t you see? This creature is violent. Just look at the blood on his clothes! Only a seasoned killer would keep the blood of his victims on his coat like that.”

Walt would have gladly explained his story, but not only would his story take too long to explain, Silver Lance’s madness would just deflect any reason that he would try to get across. Silver Lance began to slowly advance towards Walt, forcing him and the four guards behind him to retreat towards the stained glass.

“And If I can’t force you to attack us…” he continued.

The unicorn guard that led in Tracy’s arrest readied his lance behind Walt with his magic, ready to strike.

Walt glanced behind him, looking at the ponies that were in Silver Lance’s line of fire, and upon seeing the unicorn guard’s spear raised for an attack, Walt drew his sword as quick as he could without the aid of his powers. As the guard thrust the spear towards the human, Walt turned to the side and leaned back as he slashed his sword at the lance, shattering its wooden body into two, rendering it useless.

With a quick burst of his power, Walt took the broken lance with the spearhead still twirling in midair with his free left hand, held it like a javelin and aimed towards the broken window. Sure enough, with a massive thrust, the spear went soaring over the heads of the four guards and into the hole in the window, never to be seen from again.

The other guards were impressed by Walt’s ability to disarm the guard without even attacking, only solidifying his innocence in their eyes. Walt, his sword still equipped to him, stared daggers into the unicorn. Fearing for his life, he galloped around Walt, who continued to glare into the stallion’s eyes as he retreated towards Silver Lance’s wall of soldiers.

“And now you draw your weapon,” stated Silver Lance, “likely in an attempt to take down the unicorn who tried to apprehend you.”

“Fuck you!” shouted Walt. “He tried to kill me.”

“And now,” continued Silver Lance, advancing with his wall of spears with the unicorn, both smiling in triumph, “I shall be forced to kill you in self-defense of my guards and the nation of Equestria.”

“That’s enough, Silver Lance!” shouted a similar voice behind Walt.

The pegasus guard flew above Walt and landed in front of him, spreading his wings for further protection.

“Private Firegust!” shouted Silver Lance at the pegasus. “Just what do you think you’re doing?”

“This creature has done nothing wrong, Captain.”

“Of course he has! He tried drawing his blade upon us as we escorted him to his room! Now move, private.”

“I don’t believe you. If he’s as lethal as you say he is, he would have attacked or even killed one of us by now.”

“Silence! You were just admitted into the Royal Guard a month ago. Do not tell me that you wish to see that title stripped from you for disobeying my orders.”

“I joined the Royal Guard under the impression that once I begun to serve, I would protect the innocent of Equestria. And I’d like to see you try and fire me for upholding those beliefs.”

Walt was stunned by the honor the pony protecting him showed, as were the guards behind and in front of him. Silver Lance just stood fuming over the pony’s resilience. Firegust turned his head to look at Walt.

“Go,” he simply said. “He may want to kill you, but I know he won’t kill me.”

Walt stood still for a second, but said one last thing to him.

“Thank you.”

Upon turning around, the two remaining guards behind him parted to the walls to make room for Walt to escape. Walt drew both grappling hook guns and aimed them at the center of the top the stone frame of the window. Shooting the hooks, they connected to their targets, with Walt giving a few tugs to check for stability. Enhancing the speed and retract switches on his pistols, Walt took one last look at the livid Silver Lance.

“I must thank you for the tour of the castle, Silver Lance,” he said. “I can’t wait to tell Celestia all about it.”

Before Silver Lance could make a rebuttal, Walt clicked both triggers, the pull sending him soaring through the hall and towards the window. Once her reached the window the wires began pulling him off the ground and towards the still-lodged hooks. Once he was about twenty feet from them, he pulled the hammers back, dislodging the hooks, and soared through the window, shattering it even further.

Walt found himself above the chasm as well, but was prepared for such. Still airborne, he fired the hooks at the base of the flag pole atop of the spire, allowing them to latch to the very top of the roof. Pulling the triggers again, he was pulled towards the pole, the momentum from his previous launch almost whipping the guns from his hand.

Even with gravity in play, Walt’s feet landed upon the edge of the roof as the pull continued to slide him upwards towards where the hooks were nestled until he reached the flagpole. Once he was within arm’s length, he unlatched the hooks from the room and grabbed on. However, he spotted another pair of hands grabbing the pole just below him. Looking down, he saw Tracy, sitting on her knees, giving him a greeting smile.

“There you are,” panted Walt. “I suppose it was you who made the hole in the window?”

“Yep,” she merely responded. “And then I just waited here until you finally showed up. Took you long enough.”

“Right,” said Walt. “Let’s go find the Twilight and the Princess. I need to file a complaint.”

“Walt picked Tracy up by her hand and pulled her to her feet. Attaching the wires of their grappling hooks to their harness, they aimed their guns at the next roof to their right, it looking much less steep than the spire. Firing their hooks at it and making their target, Walt and Tracy swung to the next building.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Silver Lance and the other unicorn guard looked at the holes in the window made by both Walt and Tracy. Knowing that with their grappling harnesses, they wouldn’t have simply fallen to their deaths, the two of them galloped to the group of other guards.

“Swiftspell,” spoke Silver Lance to the unicorn guard. “I’ll go after the humans. Stay here and make sure no one leaves!”

“Understood, sir,” complied the unicorn.

With his many lances still in his magical grasp, Silver Lance and his weapons disappeared in a bright flash of light from his horn. Likewise, Swiftspell had teleported in a similar fashion, but reappeared behind the rest of the guards.

“Listen here!” he shouted. “No one gets by me or reports about what happened here unless you want your status of soldier of the royal guard immediately revoked. Do you understand me?”

Angered by Silver Lance and Swiftspell’s betrayal, the every single guard turned to face him with a stern look on their faces. One guard even cracked his hooves at the wrists, expecting a brawl. All Swiftspell could do was gulp in response.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Walt and Tracy had just climbed atop the roof and were ready to continue onwards. While not level, the roof allowed for ample running speeds without one losing their balance. Walt and Tracy ascended to the top-left side of the roof, where if one tripped, they had time to get back up before they fell off, and if they fell off, there was land for them about fifty feet that they could rappel down to, as opposed to another complete drop on the right.

Walt and Tracy began to run until Silver Lance and his spears appeared thirty feet in front of them. Walt and Tracy were shocked at the unicorn’s appearance, unaware of teleportation magic.

“Now, I’ve finally got you,” said Silver Lance, panting with anticipation, directing his attention to Walt. “I could see how fast you blocked Swiftspell’s spear, but let’s see how well you can manage two dozen!”

Silver Lance quickly hurled each spear at Walt and Tracy one by one. Walt gasped in horror. He knew that even with his powers, with the amount of spears being thrown at him, he could only block a small number of them before he’d exhaust himself and be at the mercy of the remaining weapons.

Tracy’s palm thrust forwards in front of Walt, confusing him. The first spear, stopped in midair with the point just an inch from her hand. The other spears also stopped before they could hit their target, forming a spikey hemisphere of wood and metal that protected the two of them further.

When the spears eventually stopped flying, Tracy whipped her hand to the right, sending all of the spears careening off into the trees below. Looking back at the stunned Silver Lance with a victorious smirk, she then looked towards Walt, her face looking exhausted, but peaceful.

“You’re welcome,” she whispered.

Tracy, overcome with exhaustion, fainted and fell to the left and began to tumble down the roof towards the edge.

“Tracy!” shouted Walt.

Knowing he couldn’t catch up to Tracy without tripping on the roof, Walt resorted to using his powers again, allowing him to descend the roof at a steady pace while still having some time to catch Tracy before she fell.

With the amount of his powers that he did use throughout the course of the day, he felt the sharp pain in his stomach again, and with the feelings of dread that he felt in potentially losing Tracy adding to the pain, he ceased his power, leaving Tracy to fall at a normal speed.

Walt didn’t care anymore. Walt leapt for Tracy’s hand and landed upon his stomach, his fingers just inches from Tracy’s. Tracy’s legs began to slide over the edge along with the rest of her body. With one last hopeful hop, Walt grabbed Tracy’s hand before it could go over the edge. Walt breathed a sigh of relief upon knowing that Tracy was safe for the time being. Just then, Silver Lance’s body appeared just to Walt’s right, his right hoof raised up to stamp on Walt.

Walt quickly rolled off the roof before Silver Lance’s hoof connected to his face and free fell with Tracy still in hand. Walt then pulled his grappling gun and fired it at the roof’s edge, allowing him and Tracy to gently rappel down the wall.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Twilight and a large, but slender snow-white alicorn were walking down the spacious hallway inside the palace, which was lined on both sides by various stained-glass art. The alicorn wore regal golden slippers upon her hooves, a golden choker around her neck, and a golden tiara with a purple gem in the center. Her mane and tail were a large, ever-flowing combination of cyan, lime-green, purple, and magenta. The mark on her flank was that of a yellow sun thickly outlined in orange with blazing-orange rays.

“I hope you’re excited about our guests, Princess Celestia,” spoke Twilight with a bright smile.

“Trust me,” Celestia spoke in a motherly tone, “I can safely say that I am just as eager to meet them as you are.”

“That’s great! Oh, Princess Celestia, you’re going to love them! One’s really smart, and the other one is pretty funny, and–”

“Patience Twilight,” hushed Celestia. “I will meet them in due time.”

A large shadow passed in front of a window on their left, causing both of them to see what it was. Twilight could clearly make out two bipedal creatures, one holding another by their arm. The one on the bottom looked limp as a ragdoll as they both gently landed towards the ground.

“Walt?” she whimpered. “Tracy?”

Twilight nervously galloped back from where she came to the nearest exit: the passage at the back-left corner of the hall. Celestia, worried for her student’s concern, followed her to the exit.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Walt’s grappling hook retracted back into the pistol, allowing him to place the gun at his side and tend to Tracy. Walt began to reach into the left inner pocket of Tracy’s jacket, rummaging desperately for what he knew was inside.

“Get your claws out of there,” spoke the enraged growl of Silver Lance.

Walt turned to his left to see Silver Lance standing five feet in front of him, panting loudly. Walt kept his hands inside the coat pocket of Tracy, but didn’t dare move a muscle. Walt stared at the livid stallion, ready to react the instant the second he tried something.

“I said get your–”

“Tracy!” shouted Twilight, running to her fallen friend.

“Get back, Princess Twilight!” he shouted at her. “This human is trying to attack us! Look! His hand is in her pockets! She must have a weapon.”

“What is going on here?” asked Celestia, walking towards the two humans and two ponies.

Walt, while still tense with the threat that Silver Lance posed, couldn’t help but be overcome by the grace and majesty that Princess Celestia presented.

“Princess Celestia!” exclaimed Silver Lance upon seeing the absolute authority in front of him at last. “Thank goodness you’re here. These humans just tried attacking me and my guards. Allow me to arrest them!”

Twilight was shocked. The two humans that she just befriended were being declared treacherous and violent by the captain of the Royal Guard. Twilight looked to Princess Celestia, hoping that she would hear her friends out as well.

“Is this true?” asked Princess Celestia, looking at Walt with scrutiny.

Walt knew that anything he would say would hold less weight than Princess Celestia’s trusted captain of her own fighting force. However, he would tell the truth no matter how far the unicorn would go to silence and discredit him.

“No!” cried a voice from the sky. “It’s not true!”

The three ponies and Walt looked up to see a pegasus member of the Royal Guard glide from behind and land between the humans and Celestia, looking directly at her.

“Firegust,” addressed Celestia. “What is the meaning of this?”

“Every word that Silver Lance speaks is a lie. These creatures are not violent, and the only one that attacked anyone was Silver Lance and Swiftspell at these…”

“Humans,” finished Walt.

“Silence!” Silver Lance shouted. “I know what I saw, and I believe Celestia will trust in a captain over a private.”

Firegust scowled at having his statement stifled by his rank.

“But I think he’ll trust in all of us instead of just two,” called another voice.

Turning back towards the exit, everyone saw as all the guards involved with the chase of Walt and Tracy spilled out of the exit and formed a semicircle around Celestia and Twilight. The middle two guards in the line held Swiftspell on their backs, who was hogtied gagged, and had a glowing jade ring around his horn.

“Swiftspell?” exclaimed Celestia. “What is the meaning of this?”

“Silver Lance and Swiftspell were conspiring to frame these two humans for assault on the Royal Guard,” explained Firegust. “I even saw Swiftspell’s acts with my own eyes.”

“Explain yourself.”

“He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!” yelled Silver Lance. “He’s delir–”

“I do believe the question was to my guard, captain,” Celestia said, turning to face Silver Lance.

“Yes, your majesty,” submissively responded Silver Lance.

Celestia turned back to face Gustfire and gave him a nod, allowing him to continue. Silver Lance was now quivering.

“Thank you, your majesty,” resumed Gustfire. “When we were escorting Tracy to her room, Swiftspell used his magic to lift his spear into her hand, making it look as if she took it to use it against us.”

“And none of the other guards noticed this?” pried Celestia. “And why didn’t you say something before?”

“No, ma’am,” called a voice in the back. “We were completely oblivious to the whole thing. The only time I realized something was amiss was when Swiftspell began declaring that she was trying to attack us.”

“Not only that,” included Swiftspell, “but I was newly admitted to the Guard last month. I was scared that if I spoke against a higher up like Swiftspell, he’d terminate me. I’m so sorry for my cowardice, and I will gladly take any punishment that comes my way.”

Celestia looked at the face of the guard who spoke first, staring deep in his eyes. The guard stood his ground and did not change his expression. Celestia nodded, content that he was telling the truth.

“But, your majesty!” exclaimed Silver Lance. “These humans are dangerous. Just look at the male! He’s reaching into her pocket for–”

Before he could say “weapon,” Walt pulled out a silver vial with a small cork stopper. Pulling the cork off, the ponies watched as Walt placed the vial under Tracy’s nose. Near instantly, she gasped for air, now fully awake and alert, allowing her to observe her surroundings.

“Smelling salts,” observed Twilight aloud. “What happened to her?”

“Where…” mumbled Tracy. “Where am I?”

“You’re alright for now,” spoke Walt, trying to comfort her and himself with a hug .

Twilight was touched by how these two must have cared for each other, especially when she figured it was Walt who saved Tracy from falling.

“You see this?” jumped in Twilight. “Does this look like a dangerous creature? There’s nothing that proves that Walt or Tracy are anything of the sort, just that Silver Lance is a xenophobe who let his fear cloud his reasoning.

“I mean, if he was truly dangerous, he would have easily used his powers to hurt them, but as far as I can tell, there’s not a scratch on these ponies.”

“I’m sorry,” interrupted Celestia, becoming very interested in this revelation, “but what powers?”

“It was incredible!” shouted the guard.

“He had the speed of the fastest pegasi!” shouted another, which fueled many others.

“The way he leapt over us!”

“And how he deflected Swiftspell’s spear!”

“So,” questioned Celestia to Twilight, “does he possess super speed?”

“Not exactly,” answered Twilight. “You see, Walt claims to have a power that allows him to slow time around him while being able to move normally when everything else becomes slow. He said he used his powers to kill a manticore.”

“A manticore?”

“You see!” shouted Silver Lance. “He is violent. He killed an innocent–”

“The manticore was about to attack and kill a filly in the Everfree Forest, and that filly is a sister of one of my dear friends! If it hadn’t been for Walt, my friend would have lost a sister yesterday. You can ask her about it; she’ll testify.”

“It’s okay, Twilight,” cooed Celestia. “I believe you.”

Walt smiled seeing as how Celestia was beginning to side with him.

“Young Walt, I just want to say, “Thank you,” for saving the lives of one of my little ponies. For those reasons, as well as the facts provided by Twilight, Firegust, and the rest of my guards, I see no reason as to declare you and your friend here ‘dangerous.’”

Walt and Tracy smiled upon their names being cleared.

“Thank you,” spoke Walt, bowing his head.

Celestia’s calm and motherly smile quickly turned to contempt and disgust upon facing Silver Lance, who froze in fear at her glare.

“As for you,” addressed Celestia, “stand by your stallions next to Swiftspell.”

The captain rushed to where he was told, hoping that by some miracle that if he just followed Celestia’s orders, that he’d be off the hook. The other guards untied and ungagged Swiftspell, allowing him to walk but still unable to use magic due to the ring on his horn.

“Captain Silver Lance and Lt. Swiftspell. For needlessly causing panic in my castle walls, endangering the lives of your guards, and spreading lies about my two guests, I am hereby suspending you both of duty for thirty days with no pay.”

“And don’t forget the part where he tried to kill us!” called Tracy with cupped hands.

“Kill you?” asked Celestia. “Who tried to kill you?”

“Both of them,” replied Walt. “When they cornered me in a hallway, Swiftspell tried hurling his lance at me, but I blocked it, broke it, and threw it through the window at the end of the hall. You can’t miss the window; it’s completely broken, but the spear is more than likely in the forest below.

“And then when we tried fleeing on the roof up there,” he said, pointing at the building just at his side, “Silver Lance tried to kill both Tracy and I with the lances that he stole from his soldiers.”

“But then,” concluded Tracy. “I used my own powers to block all the lances and toss them over the side of the roof. Again, if you don’t believe us, there’s probably a fuck-ton of spears down in that part of the forest now.”

“Hmm,” Celestia thought as she gathered the new information in her mind, “those are some gross accusations, but I will have a team go and investigate.

“In the meantime,” said Celestia in her commanding tone, directed back at Silver Lance and Swiftspell, “if my team comes back to find that their story is indeed true and that you tried to dispose of my guests without reason, then I shall see to it that both of you will be stripped of your titles and permanently relieved of duty from the Royal Guard. Equestria help you. Guards! Take them to the dungeons until the investigation is over.”

Silver Lance was devastated. He knew that the investigation would result unfavorably once it was over. His many years in service, one of them being the captain of the royal guard, would end in shame and dishonor. All he could do was bow his head in shame as his once loyal guards chained him and placed another green-glowing ring on his horn like the criminals he used to arrest.

Once Silver Lance and Swiftspell were chained, the guards began to escort them back to the palace towards the dungeons while Gustfire staying behind. Before Silver Lance could be sent inside, he took one last look at Walt and Tracy. Walt merely glared at him, as if to tell him, “You’re getting exactly what you deserve.”

Tracy, on the other hand, pulled her left lower eyelid down with her left index finger with her tongue sticking out, and stuck up her right middle finger at the stallion. Once the treacherous unicorns were out of sight, Walt and Tracy stood back up to more than likely talk with Celestia about the events. Sure enough, she immediately approached them.

“Walt. Tracy,” she addressed with slight nervousness. “I want to extend my deepest apologies for what happened to you both. You see, we’re not all like Silver Lance and Swiftspeed.”

“It’s okay,” spoke Walt with a smile. “If the other ponies here are anything like Twilight and Gustfire here, then I think we’ll be just fine.”

Twilight and Gustfire grinned at being revered like that.

“And if it’s any trouble,” spoke Walt. “Were you going to punish Gustfire in any way?”

The pegasus guard’s smile changed back into a nervous grimace.

“I don’t see how that would be any of your concern,” said Celestia, “but I do not intend to reprimand him in anyway. He stood up against the corruption of his captain with the risk of losing his job, and bravery like that gets rewarded in my kingdom, not punished.”

Walt was highly impressed at the just and kind judgments of this leader, finding them even more breathtaking than her appearance.

“Thank…” mumbled Gustfire, bowing. “Thank you, your majesty!”

“No,” answered Celestia. “I must thank you for sticking your neck out for these humans. I don’t know what would have happened if they were in harm’s way. Perhaps when all is said and done, you might get a promotion out of this.”

“A promo… a promot…”

Gustfire fainted, earning a giggle from Celestia.

“Now then,” said Celestia, turning to Walt and Tracy. “I think now is just as good a time as any to have a proper introduction. I am Princess Celestia. It’s an honor to make your acquaintance.”

Walt looked to Tracy and gave her a shrug before he knelt down and gently took Celestia’s hoof in his hand.

“The honor is all mine,” he responded, kissing her hoof.

Walt’s respectful act caused Celestia to blush and turn her head slightly, while Tracy groaned in response.

“My name is Walt Warland. An absolute pleasure to finally meet you.”

“I have to say,” replied Celestia, as Walt stood back up, “the pleasure is all mine.”

Looking to Tracy, she gave Celestia a subtle expression that seemed to ask, “Do I have to?” Celestia giggled.

“It’s okay,” Celestia responded. “You don’t have to do that with me.”

“Oh, great!” she said without a hint of sarcasm. Taking Celestia’s hoof and shaking it, she said, “I’m Tracy. Tracy Rodriguez.”

“A pleasure, Tracy.”

“Once they stopped shaking hands, Celestia turned to Twilight.

“Twilight,” she asked, “could you please show Walt and Tracy to their rooms. They must be tired and could use a bath.”

“And how!” exclaimed Tracy.

“Certainly, Princess Celestia,” responded Twilight. “Walt? Tracy?”

“Wait,” spoke Walt. “What about Gustfire?”

“He’ll be fine,” answered Celestia. “He just got a tad excited. Now go, please.”

Walt gave a nod at Celestia before Twilight walked back towards the palace, the two humans following close behind. Celestia glanced at them both out the corner of her eye, producing a slight and hopeful smile.

“Perhaps…” she muttered.