A Promise Not Forgotten

Aidan held his eyes shut tight, never wanting to open them. He stood and took a deep breath, fighting the urge to break down where he stood. Aidan tried to lower his arm, but found that he couldn’t, something was still holding it there. Reluctantly, he opened his eyes and looked ahead.

“Dan?” Aidan asked, speaking with a shaky voice. Dan gazed back, not saying a word.

Aidan looked down to see that his entire left side was frozen solid. The lightning forking from his hand was perfectly frozen in place, just short of Rainbow and her captor. The boy returned my gaze to Dan, who had already frozen the mercenary solid and was now attending to their wounded friend. Slowly thawing, the ice shattered around Aidan, letting the forked lightning fall to the ground. It shattered and dissipated until nothing but the ice was left. Now free of his bonds Aidan could do nothing but fall to his knees. He covered his face with his hands; never again could he look at Rainbow the same way again and never could he forgive himself. Be it out of stubbornness or fear that it might happen again, Aidan silently remembered the promise he had made, so long ago.

Aidan let his hands fall limply to his sides, with eyes shut tight.

Dan looked over his shoulder, watching Aidan in his regret. Dan silently remembered how much they had been through together, all to lead up to this. He watched the hopeless boy wallow in his sadness. Could this be the end for him? Would it? How it killed Dan to see his brother like this. Dan looked back at Rainbow, who was in no better condition than Aidan.

Rainbow stood, holding her wounded foreleg as her wing hung limply. The pain was still shooting through her body. She watched Aidan, saying nothing as she slowly walked closer to the human. Step after step, Aidan’s face grew smaller. The boy was trying his hardest to not cry, but Rainbow walked on. Her loud hoofsteps echoed throughout the empty room. Water could be heard dripping from pipes overhead. Every drop magnified the pain.

Aidan waited, helpless under his sorrow.

Rainbow stepped closer, and closer. The human lowered his head, “I’m sorry…” He said, barely above a whisper. Shimmering tears dripped from the boy’s face, onto the stone floor below. The quiet sobs echoed from Aidan as Rainbow still walked closer.

She reached him and leaned close to his ear, “I know…” She said, her voice filling the room with hope.

Aidan looked up to her face. Blood soaked her fur. Her violet eyes staring back at him. He opened his mouth to say something, but the words never came. Instead he looked away.

“Aidan…” Rainbow said. He didn’t look at her, and instead closed his eyes.

“No…” He said, “Please… don’t,” Aidan clenched his jaw tight to ease the pain. “Just go… leave me.”

Rainbow looked back at Aidan. “You know I would never do that…” She said.

Aidan looked back at her, “Leave, so I can’t ruin your life, too,” He said barely above a whisper.

“Aidan, we need you,” Rainbow said. “We all need you…” She said quietly.

Aidan kept his head low. “I wish I could believe that… I really do,” Aidan choked, “But I know that isn’t the truth.”

Rainbow’s eyes welled up with tears, “So what? Just because Prophet did something stupid, all of a sudden you can’t stay?” She asked, with a shaking voice and falling tears. “NO! I won’t let you do that!” She said; the screaming hurt her wing.

Aidan closed his eyes tightly before looking back to her. Not a word could be said as Rainbow stared back at him.

Dan stood, watching. Hoping that somehow this didn’t mean the end of this little brother. He barely noticed Pinkie edge her way closer to him. Wherever she came from, no one would ever know. Pinkie looked over the room, disgusted by the bodies of the mercenaries that were scattered over the room. Finally, she spotted Aidan, kneeling with eyes closed. She stood watching his shoulders rising and falling with each slow breath.

“Come on, Aidan,” Rainbow started. “Come back with us…” Rainbow said, her voice ever fading.

Aidan looked up to her, the soft sound of her voice reaching into his dead heart.

“Please…” Rainbow said as her eyes fluttered closed. Aidan adopted a terrified look as Rainbow slowly fell.

Time seemed to slow as he jumped, faster than ever, to catch her. He held her close, making sure not to touch her wing. Her eyes slowly closed, and her breathing slowed. “No… don’t do this to me!” Aidan said, tears falling freely onto Rainbow’s fur. “No! I won’t let this happen!” He screamed before picking Rainbow’s limp body off the floor and running to the door.

Dan watched as Aidan frantically ran to the door of the warehouse. A small smile grew on the man’s face; he knew Aidan could never leave them. Dan looked down to Pinkie, who wore a worried look. “Come on!” He said before the duo took off after Aidan.

The moon was making its way to the horizon, and the sun was slowly rising. Outside a number of ponies watched the odd scene, some in terror, and others in curiosity. Aidan ignored them all though, he kept running as fast as he could. Tears streamed down his face as he sprinted. Rainbow lay limp and unconscious in his arms all the while.

Before long Aidan had made it to the wall marking the border of the two countries. Alas, the guards were prepared this time. Many stood ready and waiting for Aidan’s arrival. A good number had already started charging their spells when they had spotted him.

Aidan came to a halt, looking at the wall of armor in front of him. Fresh tears still showed on his face. The human looked down at the bloody mare in his arms. Rainbow’s eyes opened for a moment. “Aidan…” She whispered before they closed again. A flame of hope was burning down in his heart as he looked back to the ponies ready for war.

“Please…” Aidan said dryly. “I don’t want to fight... She needs help, and you’re not going to stop me.” Slowly, step after step, Aidan walked forward towards the line of guards. Each one wore a look of anger, but as Aidan got closer, they changed into one of worry. With each step the guards inched backwards. None of them wanted to get In the way of such a ruthless killer. They had all heard stories back home of the fabled human, stronger than a dragon, more powerful than Starswirl the Bearded, and more savage than a pack of timberwolves.

One by one they stepped back and not a word was said, and the young boy was left with his own words echoing in his head.

Aidan walked on past the ponies, each watching him closely. Aidan, in turn, did the same. He saw that most of them were young ponies, no older than the mare he was carrying. To what has Celestia pushed her limits to, and over? They saw that this giant did have a heart, and faced a battalion of guards to see her safe. Celestia couldn’t even come close to this example. If this man was the savage they were sent to kill, were they really on the right side? In the midst of the chaos, they both saw the truth.

Aidan reached the other side of the wall, watched by every guard. He looked down to Rainbow one last time, and back to the guards. Each didn’t know what to think of Aidan anymore. The tall human flashed a halfhearted smile back to the guards and muttered, “Thank you.”

“Wait!” One pony said, stepping forward. “There’s a medical outpost near here. It was reserved for guards only but…” He stammered.

Aidan eyed the guard cautiously, “What are you implying?” He asked coldly.

“We can help her. I’m sure that wherever you’re hiding, she won’t get proper medical attention,” The pony said with determination in his eyes. It wasn’t until Aidan looked at the earth pony’s armor that a big red cross was proudly shown.

Aidan looked down to Rainbow; he knew that it was the cold truth that he wouldn’t be able to care for her properly at the camp. Cautiously, Aidan asked, “Can I trust you?” I asked.

Another guard stepped forward, this one bearing no red cross on his armor. “You aren’t all bad are you?” He asked.

The question took Aidan aback. He had long forgotten his trust for these ponies. Instead he looked away, “No.”

“Then maybe we can come to an agreement,” He said.

“As much as I’d love that… Celestia wouldn’t think too kindly of it,” Aidan replied.

The guard let out a sigh, “A lot has changed since you left, human,” The guard said. “Celestia has changed. No doubt you’ve heard rumors of her tyrannical reign?” He asked.

Aidan gave a nod.

“We need your help more than ever, human,” The guard said. “You are the only one who can help us now,” He said.

“Why is it that everypony keeps saying that?” asked Aidan. “Am I really the last best hope for you ponies?”

“Well… Without the Elements of Harmony or Princess Luna, we’re limited on options. If we gain you as an ally, and by extension the Elements and Princess, then harmony will no doubt be restored,” The guard said.

Aidan stood eyeing the guard. The boy didn’t know if he really should trust these guards, they were still part of Celestia’s force.

“First let’s get her fixed up,” The medic said, pointing a hoof to Rainbow. Aidan looked down to her, still reluctant to trust again, in his eyes he had been betrayed a few too many times. What other choice did he have though? It was either make her suffer back at the camp, or this.

“Fine…” Said Aidan. “But she never leaves my sight.”

“Very well, this way,” The medic said before turning and walking east of the town.

Aidan looked back to the guard, “There’s another human coming this way with a pony. Let them through. Tell him I’ll be back soon, and not to worry,” Aidan said before he turned to follow the medic, albeit cautious of every guard watching.

Dan jogged after Aidan for a while before reaching the wall. “Damn… Where does that kid get all his energy?” Dan asked, tired from the running.

“Maybe he has a secret cupcake stash like me!” Pinkie beamed.

Dan raised an eyebrow, “Secret cupcake stash?” He asked before looking at her, “Wait where did you even get that?” Dan asked.

“If I told you it wouldn’t be a secret, silly!” Pinkie said, munching on a cupcake.

Dan shook his head at the pink pony’s antics. Even in the face of danger she can laugh. The world needed more people like Pinkie Pie. “Heh, yeah. Come on… let’s go,” The human said before starting off again.

After a few more minutes of running, Dan and Pinkie had arrived at the wall. Once again, Dan walked closer slowly, ready to freeze them solid. Many of the guards made eye contact with Dan, though didn’t do anything to the human’s surprise.

“Something’s not right here,” Dan whispered to Pinkie.

“What?” She asked, confused.

“They haven’t even moved. Usually they’re attacking by now,” He said. “Stay close…” Pinkie heeded Dan’s warning and edged closer to him.

Dan tentatively continued walking, ready and willing to freeze every guard standing. As the human and his pink pony friend neared the wall, a guard finally stepped forward. “I assume you are Dan?” He asked.

“What do you want?” Dan asked.

“Aidan passed through. He took the Element of Loyalty to our medical outpost. She will be cared for. Aidan said he would be back soon, don’t worry,” The guard said.

“And how can I trust you?” Dan asked.

“Believe me, if Aidan wanted us dead we would be by now. I’m telling the truth,” He responded. Seeing the logic in the stallion’s words, Dan nodded. “You are now allowed to pass through without interference whenever you please,” The guard said before turning and keeping his post.

Dan said nothing as he and Pinkie passed through the gate. He kept an ever watchful eye on the ponies. To Dan’s utter surprise, not a pony moved. He stood on the other side of the gate, and looked back, before heading for the camp.

Aidan carried a tired Rainbow in his arms as he followed the medic into row of tent, one of many in this place. “So what is all this? Some kind of base?” Aidan asked, really hoping it wasn’t.

“No. It’s a medical ward,” The pony replied, his gaze kept forward. “There’s some kind of virus going around. It’s not pretty…” He said. Aidan grimaced in fear that the plague had spread this far. From the gryphon kingdom to here was quite the distance for a virus to travel.

“Should I be worried about catching it?” Aidan asked, more worried for Dash’s sake than his own.

“No, this area is safe. The stage three victims – cases in which the virus is airborne – have already been quarantined,” The medic replied.

Tent after tent passed Aidan. He stole a glance inside of one as they walked. Inside was a stallion lying on a bed. Aidan couldn’t see the whole picture, but he could tell there was a filly with her head buried in the stallion’s chest. “How long has it been like this?” Aidan asked, fighting to remove the image from his head.

“Somewhere around three weeks,” The pony replied.

“Got any clue on how to cure it?” Aidan asked.

“We have a few ideas, but I’m not sure if I can reveal that to the public just yet,” He replied.

“Oh?” Aidan asked. “Are we hiding something?” He asked with a chuckle.

“No…” He replied uncertainly. “I just don’t think the public is ready for something like this.”

“That bad huh?” Aidan asked, “I don’t think I’m technically part of the public…” Aidan said.

“While that may be true… I still can’t tell you,” He said.

Aidan grumbled to himself, slightly angered by the pony’s reluctance. “What can you tell me?” He asked.

“That it’s spreading faster than anything we’ve ever seen. The mortality rate isn’t high, but the infected seem to lose their minds. Turn rabid, if you will,” The medic replied. “Anyway, we’re here.”

The medic led Aidan, still carrying Rainbow Dash, into an empty tent among the many in the compound. Aidan walked to a bed in the room and gently set Rainbow on it. “So…” He started, “How long is this going to take?”

“We’ll get a doctor here as soon as possible. For now, you should make yourself comfortable.”

“Thanks,” Aidan muttered as the pony left.

Rainbow looked up to Aidan, barely holding onto consciousness. “Hey…” She said, barely above a whisper.

“How you holding up?” Aidan asked, kneeling next to the bed.

“It’s cold…” She muttered.

Aidan held her hoof tightly, stroking it with his thumb. “Don’t worry, you’ll be better soon.”

She closed her eyes and set her head on the pillow.

Rarity, Shining armor, and Applejack had already awoken, being used to waking early in the morning. The three sat around the fire sharing stories of the past month. Shining was told what they had been through, while Rarity and Applejack were told about the horrors going on back home.

“So this plague…” Applejack started, “It’s spread to Ponyville?”

“Not yet,” Shining reported, “But it isn’t very far off.”

The mares exchanged a worried look, each having family still in Ponyville, family that neither had any contact with. “And how is Ponyville faring?” Rarity asked, eager to know what may have become of her sister.

Shining sighed, knowing the impossibility of avoiding the questions. “Ponyville has been turned into a work camp,” He said. “Stallions work on strange projects for Celestia knows what… the mares and fillies handle the lighter loads.”

Applejack and Rarity grimaced, both terrified for their families. “Have you seen them?” Applejack asked.

“I haven’t been to Ponyville in about three weeks,” Shining responded, sad that he couldn’t help the mares any more. “Believe me, it’s better that you’re out here and not in there,” He said. The mares knew what he meant, but still longed for their families.

Here in the camp, everypony had something that helped ease the pain of this new life. They carried on in the name of family, friends, hope, faith, or even justice. Each had their own thing to yearn for, to fight for. These ponies had committed themselves to Aidan’s cause, even though they knew so little about the human.

It’s no secret that Aidan is no saint. He hardly made it easy to be friends after he woke up. The ponies knew that deep down inside the human wasn’t a savage. There would we moments where Aidan would be normal, back to the times when they didn’t have to worry, these where few and far between. The elements stayed friends, tried and true. After all they had been through their friendship could only be strengthened. Discord and Iron Hoof also proved to be quite alike, despite Discord’s blatant ignore of authority. Dan and Luna grew closer than anypony else. They were rarely seen separated. Each had something to distract them from the cold reality. Even Colin had his magic studies to numb his mind. Twilight often helped Colin with things he still struggled with. After seven months of tedious work, Colin needed little help; he even taught Twilight some magic of his own. Despite his resistance to pony magic, he had become proficient in it, though his human magic suffered because of this. Aidan and Dan empowered their human origins, even though they didn’t know it at the time, while Colin changed himself. Still, in this present time, when the world has been corrupted so, Aidan never found a means of escape. The boy spent long nights awake, never sleeping. To have even one’s own dreams taken away is to take one’s soul. Such a fate leads to agony.