Chapter 13

The crisp dark leaves rustled periodically, in the steady breeze lulling about the dusk sky. Large streaks of violet crossed the sky and bathed the clouds. The clouds where thick and large, stretching all the way to the horizon.

Walburn stopped at the forest edge to gawk in awe. He could have never imagined such beauty in foggy city he lived in.

"Walburn?" Walburn shook his head, bringing him back to the waking world. "Are you well?"

Walburn's eyes fell from the sky to the town that sat before him. It was considerably darker then when he had arrived that morning. The foals he had led out of the forest, where happily walking towards the town. Large smiles gracing their features as they laughed with one another.

"Yes," Walburn responded. "I'm fine."

"Mister!" One of the fillies called. "What's the hold up?!"

Walburn flashed them a smile. "I have forgotten something at Zecora's. Can you all make it home safely?"

"Course' we can!" Apple Bloom enthused. "Will we see ya' tomorrow?"

Wallburn's looked upon the small child before her with bemused expression. It was soon replaced with a warm smile and he bowed. "But of course. I shall see you all at the fountain at noon tomorrow."

The three cheered in unison. "Really mister!?" The orange on, Scootaloo jumped at him, she looked up at him with her beautiful lavender eyes. "Do you promise?"

Walburn gave her a small chuckle. He knelt down to meet her at eye level. "I promise." He held out his a gloved hand with his smallest finger extended.

Scootaloo blinked a few times, focusing on the appendage in front of her face. "What is this?" She asked pointing at it.

Walburn chuckled at her queer expression. "It's is how I was taught to promise. Would you like to learn?" The filly immediately presented her own pinkie. Walburn gingerly wrapped his finger around her's and she mimicked his action.

"I Promise I will see you all again. I swear I tell you no lie, to the stars in the night sky." He then shook his hand up and down.

The filly's eyes sparkled for just a moment. "Whoa, so cool!"

"Ya,' me next!"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle rushed, for the opportunity to partake in the new ritual. Walburn happily re-performed the deed with each of them, being sure to put the same feeling he did for Scootaloo. They beamed with joy as the right was finished. Once the fillies each had a turn, they parted ways. Smiles adorning Wallburn's face and theirs as well.

Walburn stood up waving them goodbye before turn to face the forest. "Yes, we will meet again." He murmured, setting off into the dark pathway.

*****

The sound of heavy electronic sounds flooded Alex's ear drums. The long, and to no degree painless, introductions were finally at an end. Alex was for once thankful that he could no longer hear the irrelevant gossip of the town folk. They were replaced with hard "Wubs" as Vinyl called them.

Alex had no intention of attending this party, partly do to the fact he thought it was a trap. Which it was. Just not the kind he was thinking of. Thankfully Vinyl had returned his phone as soon as he came barreling through the front door. He had only just learned that a pink pony known as "Pinkie Pie" plans a party for all new comers to the town. Which seemed odd at first but after introductions to almost every pony in town it made perfect sense. They were all crazy. Every single one of them. From surreal names to crazy occupations and, to put it lightly, questionable "talents", They all chipped away at Alex's understanding of things. But he dared not dwell on it, he did not want think that he cared.

And there was spike, who was apparently a dragon. Normally Alex would have scoffed, dismissing him as some prick with a dragon tattoo. However he was in a world of impossible beasts and magical ponies, so really anything goes by that point. Besides he even saw the little scaly biped burp up a gout of green flames. By his reasoning that was all the proof he needed, thus no need to get any closer to the thing that could burn him alive in a second.

Alex was content to find a secluded section of the room. Now secluded and party don't exactly fit in the same room, but Alex was doing everything he could to get it. Through some experimentation he found that if he kept large quantities of food in his mouth, it would deter some of the other guests. Many still tried to converse with him, six mares in particular.

The one who threw the party, Pinkie Pie, was unfortunately among them. The Pink menace, as he has come to call her, was everywhere he was not. Often appearing out of thin air and barraging him with questions. Most where harmless, ranging from "what's your favorite color?” to common likes and dislikes, while other were dangerous. Like asking to see his face dangerous.

Despite her unrelenting assault of questions he found that the five others were not so bad. There was that Twilight though. Alex felt very unsettled around her. Like she had an idea of what he might be. All the more reason, he thought, to give her a wide berth.

"So Alex what brings you ta' Ponyville?"

Alex regarded the the cow pony with a well hidden grimace. "Traveling mostly."

"Oh where from?" A marshmallow Unicorn asked.

Alex grunted. "Oh, you know... Around."

The smile Applejack held faded to a small frown. "Around, ya' say?" She asked skeptically, sharing a disappointed look with her unicorn friend.

"Please dear," The white Unicorn known as Rarity pleaded. "I am dying to know what you've seen."

"Ya, come on!" A cyan pegasus demanded. "You probably have some real cool adventures to share!"

"Adventures, huh?" Alex gave an amused grunt. "I guess I have one that counts."

The Rainbow maned pegasus squeed, dashing inches from his face. "Oh awesome! Come on tell, TELL, TELL!"

Alex nervously backed away. As he distanced himself he found that the other five had their own interest in the tale. With a weary sigh he found a near by stool and planted himself in it. If he was careful on what he said there should be no problem, is what he thought. It was only six individuals in a backwater town, it can't get blown out of proportion too badly.

"Hey Everypony!"

Alex's head shot to the voice, his eyes shrank to the size of pin pricks at what he saw. It was the Pink Menace addressing the whole party. And he had a pretty good idea what she was about to say.

"Alex is gonna tell us a story about one of his super duper adventures!"

"..." Alex only glared daggers into her back, hoping they would appear and strike her down.

It did not take long for the ponies to all be seated in front of him. The music that Vinyl had played came to an abrupt stop as she took a seat near the front. Alex Also spied Octavia appear from her what sanctuary she had found in the library. There were a few other familiar faces as well. The bartender from his first night. Sitting next to her was another mare with a light blue coat and a dark blue mane, with a white streak running through it.

"... Toothpaste?" Alex mused.

Alex scanned the crowd for any other faces he might know. He did not notice it before but there was another mare sitting in the third row beside Cloudchaser. She seemed awfully familiar. "Something to do with raspberries... Oh hey I remember him."

Alex's eyes locked on a simple brown stallion. He seemed to take notice of him staring and immediately shivered. "He was that bouncer who was scared shitless of me." Despite the amusement seeing that the nameless stallion's fear again, he decided to get the show on the road.

Alex cleared his throat, prompting a number of ponies to lean forward, and even on lavender unicorn touch and eager quill to parchment.

"So you all want to hear about my adventure?" There was a wave a silent and possible excited nods throughout the group. "Alright then, this tale begins in while I was on the road in..." Alex paused, not for dramatic effect, but because he was making it up as he went. "Zebreca." A collective murmur.

*****

Twilight applied one final point on the parchment. A black bold dot formed under the quill. With a long sigh she placed it down on a nearby table, signifying the end of her writing.

She looked away from the stack of papers she had filled to find Alex surrounded by some of Ponyvilles .She regarded Alex with mixed feelings, all fighting for dominance to decide her actions to follow. Some called for subtlety while others called for a frontal confrontation. Although Twilight favored the second, she did not want to stir up a ruckus. For the time being she was content to be a cautious observer, despite exciting prospect of possibly meeting Striders student.

"Dear,if I may?" Rarity asked, sounding as polite as ever. "I have a question."

Alex snickered. "You don't need my permission to ask a question. I'm the guest here, go ahead."

Rarity smiled. "What happened after you and this... Walburn defeated those ghastly beasts? You never said in your story."

Twilight's ears twitched at the question.

"I suppose I didn't. Do you want to know?" Alex asked, a queer tone in his voice.

Rarity opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted by a pink and cyan blur. "Oh please, oh please, oh please!" Rainbow dash and Pinkie chanted in unison.

Twilight had her eyes locked on him along with a little less than half the library. "Well he kinda... Disappeared." The small crowd stared at Alex.

"Um, how?" Couldchaser asked next. "Wasn't he standing next to you?"

"Well yes..." Alex confirmed. "But when I came to he was no where to be found. That creepy mist in the underground city was gone and so was he. I have been searching for him ever since."

Twilight turned away from the conversion. The party had calmed down considerably after Octavia, as well as herself, requested something much more calm. As a result the wild dancing came to a stop and ponies were once more conversing with one another. There was much to discus after Alex's exciting tale.

Twilight had to agree that it was indeed exciting but could not bring herself to believe such a fabricated story. There were too many things wrong with it. The way he paused before naming a place or interrupted word partway through a word. Like he was altering his story as he went, replacing some words with others. That was not to say it was all lies, there is often truth in myths, but he was hiding something. Twilight had a good idea of what. All she need to do was keep a close eye on him...

"Where did he go!?" Twilight all but shouted.

Quickly scanning the area finding no trace of her target. Frantically, she searched through the crowds of ponies. She was continuously apologizing to the ponies interrupted or bumped in her attempt to locate Alex.

"Anyway so I said- Hey!" Twilight lightly pushed passed another pony.

"I'm so sorry!" Twilight apologized, not bothering to stop and see who it was. Almost immediately she ran into another pony who shot her a confused glance. "Sorry!"

This pattern continued for several minutes. For each pony she would brush up against there was at least three more in her way. As she tried to get around another group, her hooves got locked with someone else's. They both came tumbling to the floor in a jumble of limbs.

"Twi!" Spoke a heavily accented drawl. She grunted with the effort to untangle herself from Twilight. "What tha' hay are ya' doin'?"

Twilight groaned. "I'm sorry AJ."

With eyes shut tight, Twilight clasped a furry hand on her head, covering a small bump that was already beginning to take form. Her hand shied away when it brought her a spike of pain to touch. When she opened her eyes again a orange furred hand levitated in front of her face.

“Need a hand ther’ partner?” Applejack smiled.

Twilight gladly accepted the hand with a smile of her own. “Thanks AJ.”

Twilight gripped the farm ponies hand and let her superior muscles bring her to her hooves. Twilight nearly lost her balance again when she was standing but with the help of her friend she remained upright. They smiled at one another and even indulged in a set of giggles.

“Sorry again AJ.” Twilight apologized between nervous giggles.

“Ain’t no problem Twi.” Applejack said Unperturbed.“What’s got ya’ off in such a hurry?”

“Twilight’s eyes snapped wide. “Oh that’s right!” She abruptly shout. “AJ have you seen him?!”

Applejack raised a suspicious brow. “You’re gonna’ hav’ ta’ be more specific Twi.”

Applejack jumped when she grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. “Alex!” She shout. “Where is Alex?!”

*****

"Where is Alex?!"

Alex nearly choked on on his cupcake. He fought hard to force the delicious treat down the right tube. If he could he would have cursed not being able to savor the delectable sweet. In a desperate attempt to speed up the process he beat his fist against his chest. Luckily for him his current company caught on very quickly.

A large red plastic cup appeared in front of him. He gladly accepted it and threw it's contents to the back of his throat. The sweet punch forced the even sweeter treat down, clearing his throat of the obstruction.

"Are you ok?" The mare who handed him the cup asked.

"Ya *cough* fine," Alex wheezed. "Thanks."

"No problem." She casually dismissed. "Can't have the new pony choking at his welcome party."

"Ya, well word is you're new yourself."

"True, but I'm already at your party so I'm probably safe from what ever this is."

Alex chuckled. "I wouldn't be so sure."

"Oh?" The mare cocked a brow. "And why's that?"

"Hey Pinkie!" Alex called, alarming the fiery manned mare. "This mare is new and wants to talk parties with you!"

At first the surrounding ponies only exchanged a few glances and murmurs, perhaps about Alex's outburst, but soon the rapid patter of hooves filled the air. The crowds of ponies quickly parted as a pink blur shot towards them.

"Really?!"

Alex blinked several times before replying in fox excitement. "Oh absolutely! And she would love to discuss the details right now!"

"Wait, no!"Alex almost placed the pink mare in front of Fury. who stared up at her with glistening teal eyes.

"Alex," Fury growled, pouring no short amount of malice into her voice. ""If you do this-"

Alex cut her off by clapping his hands together. "Well I'll leave you two to chat then." He turned away from them with a smirk under his bandages and a cupcake in his hand. "Oh and Pinkie," Alex turned to face the party pony. "These cupcakes are great!"

Alex parted with a peace sign, and the strange sensation of daggers in his back. They were dismissed with a forceful roll of his shoulders and awkward crane of his neck.

He quickly fell from Fury's sight by hiding among the other guests. It past by several guests gossiping about his story and other trivial matters. The loud music was gone but with the amount of conversations taking place it was no where near quiet. Often times ponies would raise their voices to be heard over the conversation being held several feet away.

It was maddening. To hear all those voices at once, all that information flooding the room as if a dam had ruptured. The sounds roaring in his ears and echoing inside his head. Alex's head swam as he fell to the floor. He could hear several muffled surprised cries as he starred, with blurred vision, into the wood floor. The cries he heard earlier did not stop the voices that bared down on him, only changed the subject.

"What happened?"

"Is he alright?"

"Quick somepony call for help!"

All voices meshed together creating in a slur of words and butchered speech. A wave of nausea washed over him as he felt a pair of hands fall upon his shoulders. Alex lifted his head to see a blurred face of black fur. The ponies mouth moved but, he was unable to make what it was saying. Instead Alex summon to utter two words.

"B-Bath-r-room... N-Now!"

Much to the unknown ponies credit he, or she, wasted no time in lifting him off the ground. From the shape of the pony helping him Alex could assume it was a 'he' and gladly accepted the support he offered.

Alex did not make it far before completely losing all motor control. His knees buckled and he fell against a counter they were passing. Among the clatter of objects, he heard his new friend speak to him, but it was just came as low pitched whine. Alex gave up trying to understand him and instead focused on staying conscious.

Up stairs his feet fumbled and were inevitable dragged. Alex watched helplessly as the wooden flight blurred in and out of his vision, threatening to disappear altogether. Alex wished he could have cursed, but with the way things were currently going, he doubted he could manage even that. He clenched his fists bring another warm and wet feeling to them. It dug into his flesh but he dared not release them.

Holding his foul language he stumbled into a small room with his walking aid, a bathroom if he had to guess. It was not long before he had his face in the toilet bowl. He staring at the still water brought about surges of pain. It would either start in his chest and roll up his neck, or just throb in his head. The persistent beating synced with his blurring vision, causing a sickening nausea to built. The burning sensation worked it's way up his stomach until it pooled in his mouth.

He prepared himself, for what he expected to be, the worst vomit he had ever felt. The acidic sensation of bile filled stung his taste buds. A torrent of hot acid spilled forth with each contraction of his bowls. He barely had any time to breath between them, as his stomach hurried to empty its contents. Much to his disappointment the sweet taste of chocolate, soiled by the bodily fluid, left him first.

"Dammit!" He cursed before letting loose another blast of acid. "I liked those..."

"You all right buddy?" A voice said from behind him.

Alex's ears were still ringing, but it had cleared up enough for him to hear the voice. Although thankful for the newcomer, he was far too focused on what had just happened to answer him right away. He could still taste some of the burning substance on his teeth. It clung to them like a thick mucus that bore the faintest taste of chocolate and the other sweet treats he had been eating. He spat violently only to have the majority stick to the bandages surrounding his lips. He groaned when he realized that some of the initial vomit had also found it's way there to join the mess that was currently his face.

"Been better." He replied with heavy breathing. "But also been worse."

"Do you need to go to the hospital?"

Alex stared into the murky brown waters. It was covered in a thick layer of slime that had already begun to delude in the water. "Nah, I'm feeling a lot better." He winched at the putrid smell of his bandages. "I could use some new bandages though."

"Ok... You sure you don't need any hel-"

"Yes." Alex interrupted. "I am fine."

"... All right I'll ask Twilight for some bandages."

Alex heard his hoof steps fate into the subtle ringing in his ears. It had only just accrued to him that he did not look up from the toilet to clearly see the face of his new friend. The only thing he was sure on was that he had dark fur.

"The fuck is wrong with me." He muttered.

Alex slowly pushed himself to his feet. He felt his head swim with dizziness and almost fell over. Luckily one of the four walls in the small room supported him. He gritted his slimy teeth, seething with anger, as he righted himself. Once he was steady, he wobbled over to the bathroom sink.

"Yup." He said upon seeing his bandaged face in the mirror. "That's disgusting."

His white mask plastered with a lovely brown splotched with warm vomit green. Upon seeing the abdominal state they were he hastily began removing the wraps.

Aww man, it's so much..." Alex gagged, tossing the bandages in a nearby trash can. "Worse when you actually see it."

Alex turned the handles on the sink letting out a cold stream of water. Plunging his hands under the tap, he aloud the cool liquid to pool and splash his face with it. He instantly felt it cleansing his face of the putrid filth that had accumulated from his day, most recent incident included. A second splash dug deep into his pores and dragged out the impurities that lied within. It felt wonderful. Alex repeated the process a third time to simply calm his nerves.

"It's the simple things." He mused.

Alex gazed at his own reflection. It stared back with tired bloodshot eyes. Dark bags hung heavy under his eyes, creased and crusted. His hair was messy and matted and a short stubble was already taking form around his chin. Lastly his skin was sickeningly pale. He looked terrible, he was exhausted.

It had never accrued to him how drained he really was. He had been operating in a constant state of alarm since he met Walburn had come into his life. The one sleep he had was by no means relaxing, if anything he felt worse after it. With all things taken into account, it was a miracle he was still standing.

"I am so sick of this shit." He mumbled cupping his head in his hands.

He would have started crying right there if he was not so tired, and if he did not hear a set of knocks on the door.

"Alex?"

*****

Twilight knocked on the bathroom door, her furry knuckles cracking against the solid wood.

"Alex?" She said, to the one inside.

There was no response from the other side. Twilight felt a pinch of worry from the silence and knocked again.

"Alex, are you ok?"Twilight heard a heavy sigh.

"Yes..." A voice barely croaked. "Who am I speaking to? Your voice sounds familiar."

"It's Twilight," She answered stepping a little closer to the door. "the Librarian."

"I remember now... Why are you here?"

Twilight's ears flayed back slightly. "Thunderlane told me that you need some new bandages."

There was another labored sigh. "That's right..."

A moment of silence past with the wooden barrier between them. All was quiet. A queer look grew across twilight's face as she stared at the bland wood.

"Um... Alex?"

"Wh-What?" A dazed voice spluttered.

"Are you going to open the door?"

"Oh, OH!.Right hold on."

There was a click as the lock disengaged and the door opened. Instead of Alex stepping out like she expected a single bandaged hand protruded from the narrow opening. She glared at the bandaged appendages as one of her ears twitched.

"Is... that it?" Her voice sounded agitated. "This is all I get?"

"E-Excusse me?"

A mad chuckle escaped her mouth. "I followed you all day, trying to get you to reveal yourse-"

"You did what?" His hand began to retreat behind the door.

"No!" Twilight grabbed his hand and gave it a good tug. "I'm not letting you slip away!"

Twilight yelp when ale'x arm twisted around and grabbed her forearm. She was dragged into the same room as the door slammed closed behind her. She was far to surprised to react and even more so when she was face to face with what she had been wanting to see.

Pressing her against the door was a species she had only read about in one place. It's face was flat and almost hairless and it's eyes were small. He looked tired but his anger burned in those dark brown irises.

He had her pinned to the closed door with a hand on her shoulder and a cool object pressed against her throat.

"The fuck do you want from me?" He spat.

Twilight's eyes irises grew and a small twinkle flashed behind their brilliant violet. "I knew you would come!"

"Shut up!" Alex hissed pushing the object firmly against her throat. "Just Shut up!"

Twilight paused a moment. The overwhelming excitement disappeared instantly when she realized the cool metal she felt was a knife. A knife that was currently placed against her throat and threatening her life.

"Know you listen to me." He all but hissed. "I'm going to ask you a series of questions that you will answer with complete honesty. If I don't like the answer or think you are lying I drag this knife across your throat. Do you understand?"

"W-Wha-?" Twilight Felt the knife press harder against her throat.

"Do you understand?"

"Yes!" She yelp.

"Good, question number one." Alex eased up a bit but kept the blade firmly in hand. "Why is everything so quiet down there? Did everyone leave?"

"Y-yes," Twilight answered. "I asked e-everypony to leave after y-you were rushed up here... What happened? A-Are you sick?! Listen we can help you we have a locale hospital-!"

Alex visibly flinched and applied pressure with his knife. "Shut up! I am the one asking the questions not you."

"..."

"Now then," Alex cleared his throat. "Question 2, You said you were following me. Did you make a door slam in my face?"

Twilight felt her voice catch in her throat. She was unsure if it was safer to answer him truthfully or not.

"Y-Yes..." She croaked.

Her fear of the situation was palpable. She was sweating and on the verge of crying. It did not help that the being called Alex was trying to kill her with his gaze. Never before had she felt so threatened by anyone in her life. Never before had she felt her life so close to the edge of death. It was jarring.

"Why?"

His voice cut through her as if it were his knife. It was not as furious or full of malice as it once was. It was calm, or more rather cold. His eyes match his new tone with their calculating emptiness.

"T-That's because y-y-you are h-his student."

"..." Alex only stared blankly into her eyes. "I have no idea who you think I am, but Whoever it is, I am not that guy."

"But you resemble the sketches at the museum!"

"Quiet down! I don't care what I may or may not 'resemble'. All I want is answers, not more questions." Alex let out a heavy sigh. "Last question."

All the muscles in Twilight's body tensed up. The implications of the "final question" in this context were terrifying. However with her thoughts as scrambled as they were, she was in no position to even think of escaping.

She stared into his eyes again and he stared back with his nearly bloodshot brown eyes. Her heart raced as his lips began to move. Time appeared to slow down with every syllable he formed. Every drop of sweat on her felt like it was composed of lead, as they slowly slid down her coat. The sound of one particular droplet hitting the floor rang in her ears.

"What happens now?"

"..." Twilight did not respond.

"E-Excuse me?" The flustered mare slurred.

"I never wanted this to happen," He admitted, glaring at the blade. "I don't want to hurt you. I just need to know I can be safe around you all. Need to know if I can trust you. I know that sounds bad coming from me right now but," He leveled his gaze with hers. "I needed to be sure. Can I trust you?"

"Of Course!" She blurted out without hesitation. "What did you think we would do to you? You are essentially an ambassador for your race!"

"Ambassador huh?" Alex indulged in a morbid laugh. "What so no dissection? Horrific experiments? Oh, How about burning?"

"What?!" Her face paled. "NOPONY would ever do any of those things! That's horrible!"

"Really?"

"YES!"

"Twilight I am about to place a lot of trust in you in a sec."Alex lowered the knife and stepped back. He retreated to the back of the room and took a seat on the toilet.

Twilight on the other hand slid down the door to the floor. Even though the danger had passed her knees still shook.

“Alex What happens now?” Twilight asked looking at her vibrating knees.

"I-I don't k-know..."

And with that Alex eyes closed, and only seconds later he was asleep.

*****

(A quick sketch to give you all an idea of what Walburn’s face looks like.)

Author's Note

Okay A few things, I don't like this chapter. I don't hate i but I don't like it. It was with great hesitation that I released this one. This chapter Alone isn't all that bothers me. When I take a step back and look at everything as a whole I feel like I'm not going anywhere fast. I think the pacing is far to slow but I am a little scared to speed it up in fears it will weaken the story.

Thankfully what I have planned in future chapters has me a bit excited, so I'm not giving up just yet.