A Promise Not Forgotten

Aidan:

I sat in the center of the prison cell after Dan left. While the jacket was cool, I never saw myself actually wearing it. Oh well, it’s the thought that counts. After Dan left I felt myself alone. While this was what I am usually used to, and in fact prefer, this was different from the times I secluded myself back on Earth. This time, the silence was deafening, and forcing me to focus on my current mental state. The idea of my mind devolving into chaos may be frightening, but also presents a new predicament: I have only that much time to stop this plague from spreading.

“You there Prophet?” I asked.

“Always,” He replied ominously. This time he didn’t appear before me, instead stayed in my head.

“What could be the cause of the plague?” I inquired.

“Believe me; I did what I did as a last resort. Yes, I may have been corrupt at the time, but I have had time to correct myself,” He said.

“That’s not what I asked. The past is the past, let it lie,” I responded.

“Before the plague could advance into the next I barely had enough time to get a live specimen, therefore no research was done,” Prophet said.

“Well, we have two weeks. That should at least give us time to start something,” I said.

“Agreed, but with you in here, there isn’t much we can do. If we can make it to my old study, then we can really start our work,” Prophet said as he wormed around in my head.

“I’d prefer if you stayed out of my memories,” I said flatly.

“Hmm, you are the first who can detect me, strange,” Prophet said with a studious tone in his voice.

“Apparently I have some ‘mental-deficiency’ which allows communication easily,” I said rubbing the bridge of my nose.

I could feel Prophet’s moving stop as he neared a particular part of my head, the same on Vis spent most of his time around. “And so you do…” He said.

“So is it something to be worried about?” I asked.

“Certainly not, this just makes everything more… clear,” He responded.

“Please elaborate.”

“I’m afraid I can’t, just know that it isn’t a bad thing,” Prophet said as if he was thinking about some life changing news.

“Whatever. Hey, got any ideas on getting me out?” I asked glossing over the past conversation.

“A few, but Dan has already put in an effort on the outside. It would be best if we just waited,” Prophet said.

“Awesome,” I said. “So, does everypony still hate me?” I asked.

“Heh, not as many as you might think, not even the gryphons. As it turns out we killed a lot of the trouble makers in the kingdom, from a purely logical perspective with morals aside, you may have done the kingdom more of a favor,” He replied.

“Still doesn’t feel right though.”

“And it never will. I truly am sorry for putting you through that, but I had to act.”

“So what are these voices in my head all about?” I asked, unable to remember if I had already asked the question.

“Well, when Colin drove the wedge between us, it not only separated us, but because you were resisting so much your personality splintered into the two basic forms. An idealistic side and a purely logical side much like me. If I weren’t holding the pieces together now, it would eventually shatter and which side would take over, I have no clue, but either way it would be bad,” Prophet explained.

In light of the new perspective I had on things, I’d say that I needed Prophet just as much as he needed me. “In that case, thanks.”

“Also, before I can’t talk anymore: Colin’s wedge kind of broke our powers,” Prophet said.

“Our powers?” I asked.

“Both yours and mine, separately,” Prophet clarified.

“How so?”

“Well, I can’t do much of anything anymore. He pretty much broke me. Basically, I can use basic magic, but nothing compared to Celestia,” Prophet said. “Your powers have been less of broken, but rather limited. It seems that they allow you to do spells on the average unicorn’s level, but let you conjure lightning like no other.”

“Hmm, can’t say I’m disappointed,” I said as I lit up my hand causing the room to glow a bright blue. “Hold on, I thought this room was anti-magic.”

“It is. Human magic is different than Pony magic. Some rules don’t apply.”

“That’s convenient,” I said as the glow faded.

“Your regeneration hasn’t been affected, by the way. Colin’s power had a sort of field of disruption, so don’t be surprised if anyone else is adversely affected,” he said.

“One more thing, you also seem to be able to resist pony magic more, now that you rely on your inherent human powers,” Prophet said.

“Nice,” I said, that might come in handy later. “Hey, when Dan comes, I know that you might not like it, but I can’t keep our little secret from him. Just let me tell Colin and Dan, they deserve to know just as much as I do,” I said.

I could hear a sigh, seemingly out of nowhere, “Do what you must, but nopony –or body- can know of our fail-safe.”

“Deal,” I said, moderately happy with negotiations.

Before I could ask any more questions the large iron door clicked and a few seconds passed before it creaked open. “How’s my little buddy doing?” Dan asked as he stepped into the prison.

“Not bad, found my powers are broken though,” I said with a straight face.

“Really?” Dan asked.

“Well, more of focused. I can cast basic magic, but nothing further. All that power was instead focused into electricity. Seems powerful, too,” I said, avoiding mention of my guest.

“How’s that work?” Dan asked.

I let my hand up as I had done before, the electricity arcing across my fingers. “Now I’m a human light socket.”

“Can I call you Cole McGrath now?” Dan asked with a smile.

“Er, no,” I said. “I’d much prefer Aidan.”

Colin was leaning on the wall with his arms crossed. He seemed disconnected and focusing on something else. “Hey you ok?” I asked.

“What?” He said looking to me. “Oh, yeah, sorry. I just have a lot to think about.”

“What’s more important than me?” I asked jokingly.

“Well, for starters, your new friend,” Colin said standing up from the wall.

I sighed, “You can tell?” I asked.

“It’s been six months, should you be surprised?” He asked.

“I suppose not,” I said looking down. “Whatever happened between us, man?”

Colin looked down again. Perhaps he too noticed something wrong.

“We used to be friends, man,” I said looking up at him from my chair. “What happened?”

“I’m just worried that’s all.”

“A little more than worried, I’d say. Come on, tell me what’s up,” I said. This was the first time I actually noticed how stubborn I was, but hell, this was Colin; I won’t let my buddy mope around like this.

Dan cut in, “Celestia said no to getting you out.”

“What?” I asked in shock as I turned my gaze to him. “Tia?”

“Yeah. Turns out, she wants you in here to keep the public happy.” Dan said.

“I guess I can understand it…” I said burying my face in my hands in frustration.

“That’s the thing though, a lot of ponies actually want you out, and I mean a LOT,” Dan said.

I looked back to Colin, he seemed a little happier at the news. “Look, dude, don’t worry. I’ll get out of here in no time. We’ll figure something out,” I said tapping my head.

His look turned sour again, “Why the fuck is Prophet in your head Aidan?” Colin asked flatly.

Dan looked to him confused, then to me in disbelief. “Oh, fuck no. I WON’T let this happen again!” Dan said as he took a step closer.

“Back off, he is different now,” I said raising a zapping hand and kicking the chair out behind me.

“You expect us to believe that?” Colin asked. I could see his light-made arms sprouting from his back.

The glow intensified as I felt cornered in the cell, I also saw the glowing eyes on the back of my hands for the first time since waking up. “You don’t know the truth…” I said glaring at Colin.

“Then why don’t you tell us?” Dan said glaring at me.

“There is a reason for it…” I said.

“And what might that be?” Colin asked narrowing his eyes as the arms grew.

“There was a plague, and he used me to slow it down,” I said bluntly.

“You really expect me to believe that?” Dan asked shaking his head.

“Wait, a plague?” Colin asked.

“Yeah, apparently if we didn’t do… what we did” I said with a shudder. “Then Equestria could have been destroyed.”

Dan narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms, “And killing them all is going to fix that?”

“Dan, they were all infected,” I said coldly. “There was nothing we could do. We – I killed all the ones that were on their second stage, just before shit hit the fan. I did them a favor.”

“Oh, that’s a bit hard to believe,” Dan said.

“Dan, wait, I think he’s telling the truth,” Colin said looking to Dan.

“You believe this BS?” Dan asked, looking at Colin incredulously.

“Yeah, well, all the gryphons Celestia spread around started getting sick. People blamed migration, but this could be the real deal. What if it infects the ponies?” Colin asked.

“See, he’s got it!” I said pointing to Colin. “Come on, Dan. I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“You did before…” Dan said with a stark glare.

A red fog stepped out of me, rather than spewing out as he did before, “No, I did,” Prophet said.

Dan snarled in anger, “You stupid fuck. How dare you come back here?”

“Dan, you must listen. There might be a way to save them all, you just have to believe me,” Prophet said.

“Dan, come on. This is something serious. It’s bigger than just the gryphons,” I said still standing behind Prophet.

Dan let out a sigh, “How would that help us get Aidan out of here?”

“I can still stay in Aidan’s head,” Prophet said.

“Like hell you can…” Dan said with a glare.

“You don’t understand, Dan. I need him, now,” I said.

“And why’s that?” Colin asked, now curious.

“When you broke our powers, mine and Prophet’s, you also split my personality. Thanks, by the way,” I said with a smirk.

“What? I didn’t mean to!” Colin stammered out.

“Listen, Prophet can help with the personality thing, and he can’t do much on his own. He needs our help to stop this,” I said stepping forward as Prophet stood next to me, his fog taking a humanoid shape. “So what do you say?” I asked.

Colin and Dan exchanged uneasy glances before looking back to me, “Fine,” Dan said. “But If I find out you’re doing anything stupid, so help me God!” Dan said looking at Prophet.

“Good. Make any headway with the gathering supporters thing?” I asked.

“Wait, how did you know about that?” Dan asked before looking back to Prophet. “Never mind, anyway yeah, Luna and Iron Hoof are with us, I’m going to go talk with Discord and the mane six. They might be able to call in some friends to help.”

“Good,” I said as Prophet stepped back into me. Weird how he did that, but it was less weird than puking up a ball of smoke. “You should go make some more friends, we don’t have much time to stop this. And by the way, it’s probably not a good idea to tell anypony about this,” I said giving Dan and Colin a weak smile. There was hope, but not much.

Dan and Colin left the cell quickly, now knowing the more pressing matter at hand.

“So, you think their little protest group will work?” I asked Prophet.

“Not at all,” Prophet said with a chuckle.