A Promise Not Forgotten

Dan:

I sat on the stone steps with my face buried in my hands. “Well, it’s over now…” I said, trying to avoid looking at Aidan’s body.

“You did all you could,” Celestia said, still sitting next to me.

“It wasn’t enough…” I said looking down.

“Dan, please,” Celestia started.

“I’m done with this,” I said as I got up and walked down the hallway. I stopped at one of the stained glass windows. The one showing Prophet’s division.

“Aidan was a lot like him,” I heard from behind me.

“Luna?” I asked as I turned. My face fell as the words sunk in, “Right to the end, I guess.”

“Dan, I’m sure Aidan didn’t mean any harm,” Luna said with a kind smile as she stepped closer to me.

“That’s just it, he never did. Aidan was the kind of guy who hated violence. He always did, but at the same time knew its necessity,” I said as I leaned against the wall.

“Aidan would be happy you ended this,” Luna said as she looked at me.

I sighed, “Aidan didn’t want this. He wanted to see love in everything. At times, he was even idealistic. But damn it, he didn’t deserve to die,” I said.

Luna stood silent, not knowing what to say.

“Back on Earth, Aidan was a nobody. He never did anything bold, always just faded into the background whenever something happened. He didn’t have to see the horrors back on Earth, he was given a second chance. His second chance at life, to have something more than he had before, to BE someone more,” I said as I looked down.

“He was somepony,” Luna said.

“Yeah, maybe,"

“When Aidan was here, he was everything you wanted him to be and more. No matter what, Aidan did what he could to make sure we were safe, that we were happy,” Luna said.

“But that jackass in red had to fuck everything up. That’s what I’m talking about. Aidan didn’t deserve this, but fate was set on fucking him over.”

“I’m sorry,” Luna said as her face fell.

“What for?” I asked, a bit confused.

Luna let out a deep sigh, “For not ending this before, the first time.”

“Luna, don’t do this. None of this was your fault. If anything it’s mine, I let Aidan get captured in the forest two weeks ago. I couldn’t stop him the first time. I couldn’t keep him from coming here and trying to kill you two. Luna, this wasn’t your fault,” I said with a pleading face.

She flashed a small smile before we walked back to the others.

“How you holdin’ up, Dan?” Colin asked leaning against the wall with his arms folded.

“I’ve been better, but I’ll live,” I said as I gave a halfhearted smile. “What are we gonna do now?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” Celestia said as she stood and looked at Aidan one last time. “We had better get him out of here.”

“Yeah…” I said as the reality hit me again. I still had something I wanted to say… “Can I get a few words with him?”

Celestia nodded before she and the others walked out of the room, leaving me and Aidan’s corpse at the foot of the throne.

“You crazy bastard…” I started. “Why couldn’t you just keep out of trouble?”

“Why did this have to happen to you?” I asked as I knelt down beside him.

“Why does this shit always happen to us?” I said as I grabbed his hand. “I’m sorry, buddy, and goodbye.” I finished as tears welled up in my eyes.

I got up and took a few steps before taking a look back, “Say hi to John for me…”

I looked back to the door and walked in silence with my head down.

“And where the fuck are you going?”

I spun around to see Aidan standing again, the gashes closing before my eyes.

“AIDAN!” I yelled as I ran up to him.

He held out a hand and I hit an invisible barrier just in front of him.

He let out a low laugh, “Did you really think it would be that easy?” Prophet asked as the faded glyphs on Aidan’s body flashed red.

“YOU STUPID BASTARD! I’LL KILL YOU! I’LL FOLLOW YOU TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD IF I HAVE TO!” I yelled.

“How, cute,” Prophet mocked. He leaned forward as his eyes glowed a deep red, “I look forward to it.” He said with a smile.

“YOU FUCKING COWARD! FIGHT ME!” I screamed as I slammed a fist on the barrier causing a shockwave across the invisible wall.

“So be it.” Prophet said as he slammed a fist into my gut. “You should have joined us when you could have, Aidan didn’t have to die.”

“DON’T YOU DARE SAY HIS NAME!” I screamed as I charged at him.

Prophet was unfazed at my yelling and just calmly blocked my attacks. “First John and now Aidan. Is there anyone you don’t get killed?” He asked.

The spark of rage inside me grew and consumed me. “YOU FUCKING BASTARD!” I screamed as I hit him with everything I had.

Prophet wasn’t able to block everything and let a few punches to the face through. “Enough.”

He held out a hand and my body froze.

“I’m done with these childish games… I have work to do,” Prophet said as he raised me into the air.

“Fuck. You,” I said through my clenched teeth.

Prophet laughed again before smiling, “You could have done so much… what a pity.”

“Fuck you asshole!” I heard from behind me.

Prophet looked down and his eyes widened. “Fuck,” He muttered under his breath.

A wave of light smashed into him as he dropped me. I turned to see Colin, the source of the light.

Prophet let out a stomach wrenching scream before the light dissipated. He was left standing, barely able to though. “I will be back… And I will kill you all.”

Aidan fell lifelessly to the ground as a red light flew through the window and away from the castle. I turned to look at Colin, “You did it!” I muttered.

I looked back to Aidan’s body, “It’s over…” I said as I took a step. A wave of exhaustion consumed me. I took another step and the ground rose to my face.

Colin:

I stood in confusion. I can understand Aidan dropping, but why Dan? “You ok, dude?” I asked as I ran over to him.

He was out cold, still alive though. Good. I looked up to Aidan.

Damn it, Aidan, I’m gonna miss you.

Heh…

Aidan:

I awoke in a light… room? I don’t know what to call it, just a bright white light everywhere.

“Hello?” I said as I walked through the emptiness.

“Hey, Aidan.” Vis said as he walked to my side from behind.

“Where am I?” I asked.

“Prophet got you. Colin ended it, Dan helped.”

“Are they ok? Oh, God, please tell me they are ok!” I said to Vis.

“They’re fine.” He responded.

“A- And Celestia?” I asked. What was it she said to me? God I can’t remember! It must have been important; it made me so happy.

Vis turned his head downward, the featureless light said, “She is fine.”

“So… I’m dead?” I asked.

Vis looked at me and let a smile cross his lips.

Dan:

I awoke in a hospital bed. What the fuck am I doing here? All I can remember was that light and Prophet leaving, then… nothing.

I looked around the room. No one was there, but a curtain separated me from the next patient over. I was in the middle bed out of three; the one closest to the door wasn’t in use. I heard the sounds of clopping enter the room and I looked to the door.

“Hey,” I said.

“Dan!” Luna replied as she trotted over with a smile. “Oh, I’m so happy you’re ok!” She said excitedly as she wrapped her hooves around me.

“Uhh, what?” I asked with a confused smile. Why the hell was she hugging me?

“Oh! You’ve been asleep for so long!” She said smiling like a mad mare.

“Just how long?” I asked slightly concerned. Luna’s face fell like it did in the throne room, “Luna…” I said as I glared at her.

Colin:

I sighed as my latest spell failed yet again. It’s been quite some time since Prophet; I figured I should do a bit of experimenting with magic. Apparently it’s a big deal or something when you make your own. I earned the title of Spell-caster Laureate. I made about six by now, one of them being a regeneration spell a bit weaker than Dan and Aidan’s. Dan, I wonder how he is doing, better go check on him.

I got up from the chair in my study and started to the hospital. I hope he wakes up soon; this coma shit is getting old.

I met Iron Hoof as I walked down the hallways, “Ahh, Iron Hoof, how have you been?” I asked. Turns out he didn’t have anything against humans, or at least didn’t show anything to me. After all, I did kind of save the empire.

“Been better, the new recruits are lazier than ever. Seems every batch gets worse and worse, there is the occasional gem though.”

“I’m sure you will make great guards out of them yet. You have your ways…” I said as we walked down the corridors.

“Going to see Dan again?” He asked.

“Yes. I hope that he is doing better. Doctors told me that he has moments of lucidity, few and far between, though,” I answered.

“I hope that guy gets better soon,” Iron Hoof said.

“As do I,” I said as I looked out of the window at the setting sun. The memory of Aidan passed through my head. I still miss him, too.

Iron Hoof and I were stopped in our tracks by a resounding yell, “WHAT?!” it screamed.

“Wonder who that could be,” I said with a smile.

Dan:

What the fuck? What the fuck? What the FUCK? WHAT THE FUCK?

“FIVE MONTHS?” I screamed. “No fucking way,” I said as I brought my hands to cover my face.

“You collapsed after Prophet left, we brought you two here right away…”

“Two?” I asked. Wait… Does that mean?

Luna used her magic to move the screen to my right out of the way. It revealed Aidan sleeping in the bed next to me.

“Aidan?” I asked as my voice trembled.

“He has been brain-dead since we brought him here,” Luna said.

I said nothing as I stared at my brother. He lay there so peacefully.

“He has no next of kin, and Colin didn’t feel right making the decision,” Luna said.

I turned my head to her in shock, “Wait you wanted to kill him?” I asked.

“Dan, he is brain-dead. He can’t even think anymore. Is this really living?” Luna asked.

“NO! I will not kill my little brother!” I shouted at her.

She was surprised and took a few steps back, “Dan, calm down.”

“I will not calm down! You won’t take him away from me!” I screamed back to her.

“Dan,” she said softly as she walked closer. “Do you really think he would want to live like this?” She asked.

My face fell as tears welled up in my eyes again. “God damn it!” I shouted. “Why the fuck did this have to happen!”

“Shut up, already!” I heard someone shout.

“Aidan?” Luna’s face was priceless, but that didn’t matter now.

“Aidan? What the fuck, man! Brain dead, really?” I asked as I stared at him.

“Shhh! Quiet quiet quiet…” Aidan whispered as he covered his eyes with his hand and leaned back. “God this is the worst headache ever…”

“That’s because you should be dead…” Colin said with a deadpan glare.

“Nice to see you too!” Aidan mocked. Colin smiled in response.

“I’m glad you’re back,” He said.

“Good to be back,” Aidan responded. “Anyone or pony wana tell me what the hell is going on?”

I laughed a bit at the ‘six months’ reaction, his was worse than mine…

Aidan:

We spent about a half hour in silence because I wanted everyone to go the fuck away. Dan, of course, had to stay.

“Hey,” I started.

“What’s up?” Dan answered.

“Thanks, for everything,” I said.

“No problem,” He responded.