Chapter 9

Alex felt a strong force slam against his back causing him to lose his breath. He panted heavily next to the couch he had fallen off. After the pain subsided he contemplated returning to the world of dreams but something unpleasant stopped him. A powerful odor of dried sweat, blood and century old decay.

"I smell awful." Alex moaned.

Groggily, Alex reached a hand under the couch that he called a bed. He randomly flailed his arm in an attempt to locate something. He grasped nothing but air for a few seconds until the item he sought graced him with its presence. The cold metal of the mp5 brought a small smile to his face. He gently stroked the rough surface, its texture was soothing and it's cool temperature welcome.

"Whoa..." Alex's eyes opened wide. "I think I might have a problem... Actually I have a lot of problems."

Alex released his grip on the deadly weapon. He starred at the ceiling a moment with a furrowed brow and with a heavy sigh he sat up. His muscles ached and protested but he continued to proceed with the labored process of standing up.

"My god! I feel like I'm dying!" Alex winced. "I have never done so much physical activity in my life."

Alex groaned again and hobbled out of the living room and into the hallway. The wooden boards under him silently squeaked as he searched for the rest room. He was in dire need of a shower and a change of clothes. However the later would be difficult seeing as he only had one pair. Never the less he needed a shower. He would just have to ask vinyl if she had some baggy clothes.

To take his mind off of screaming muscles, Alex decided to go over the events that led him here. His face turned beet red when he could only remember when Berry pushed him down. Alex, feeling both shaken and aroused, he shook his head.

"How drunk was she to ignore this smell?!" Alex gagged after getting a waft of his own stench. "Dammit, where is that techno colored DJ."

"W-wha *snort* five mure minutes..." A quite voice mumbled to Alex's right.

Alex peered into the room to find the pony he was looking for. She mare lay sprawled out on her mess of a bed, snoring loudly. Her room was in a similar state with clothing scattered on the floor, dressers and blinds. It was a bit like his actually, in all it's messy glory.

Alex smiled. "Guess I can find it on my own."

Alex left the mare to be in her realm of dreams and continued down the halls. He passed the kitchen and arrived at the front door. just across from it was the stairs that let to the second floor. Just thinking about the climb made his muscles sore.

"I do hope this day gets better." He sighed.

After a minute of bone torturing agony he made it to the second floor. Like the first floor it had dark hard wood and neutral colored walls. The entire home had been warm and welcoming to the eyes at...

"Nine AM." Alex confirmed from an analog clock.

Alex continued down the halls while analyzing a few picture frames that caught his eye. Most of them were of Vinyl or contained album art and awards. However there was a few that were interesting, to say the least. Photo's and awards dressed to a mare known as Octavia.

From the pictures Alex found her to be a pony of grey fur and dark brown mane. Her eyes were a deep violet and gave a strong impress of some one of higher class. In one picture she was accompanied by a cello. She wore a decorated black dress that showed off her... Cleavage.

Alex felt his face flush and he slapped himself immediately for the naughty thought.

'There is definitely something wrong with me'

Shortly after admiring the grey mare's body he arrived at a door with a wooden toilet hanging from the door.

"About time." He groaned.

Alex reached for the nob and opened the door. However like most things that have been happening to him recently, there was a complication.

"Vinyl what did I Tell you about... Knok... ing?" The voice inside trailed off.

Violet eyes locked with Alex's deep brown ones. For the two time stood still as they took in each-others' appearance.

Alex's face flushed for the second time that morning. Before him was the grey pony in the photos, barely covered by a bath towel. Her mane was still damp and clung to her wet fur. He observed her slender and well proportioned body as small droplets rolled down her thighs.

'Well fuck.' He made a nervous swallow.

"U-Umm this isn't what it looks like." He reassured with no confidence.

The mare's face quickly changed from confused to horrified, possibly even violated. Her eyes shrunk to the size of pin pricks. Small trails of sweat mixed with the water that still coated her body sending of a scent of pure terror.

"Look you gotta here me out." Alex took a step forward and the mare snapped. All reason was out the window, the gloves were off, shit had hit the....

'Holy shit she has knives!' Alex bolted out of the doorway narrowly avoiding a mettle blade. It embedded itself in the wall a few inches from his face.

Alex scrambled to his feet and took off for the stairs. However the knife wielding mare, still half naked chased after him. She was screaming in fear, waving her knives like a mad women.

"Help! Rapist!" She cried, throwing another knife. "Home invasion!"

'Wen did my life become a shitty anime?!'

"Stop chasing me you crazy b-!" Alex felt his foot sink far further then he was expecting it to and lost his balance.

'Oh... All of my fuck this.'

Alex's eyes fixed on one of his dreaded enemy, the stairs.

'I always knew it would be one of you to end me.'

Alex felt another foe execute his master plan of making him fall face first.

'Gravity why?! I thought we were friends!'

Alex protected his vulnerable head with his arms from the curl and sadistic nature of gravity. Never the less the collision brought agonizing pain to his already broken body. Bruises grew and were joined by new ones, small cuts reopened and during the entire fall he cursed.

"Fuck!" His knee hit the railing. "Shit!" Next his hand was crushed on a steps edge under his own weight. "God Dammit!"

Finally, about halfway down, his body selected a set course down the death trap. It was a nice slide down on his spine.

"Oh my Go-AAAAAHHHHHH!"

Alex's spine rattled down the stairs like the worlds worst xylophone. Sickening cracks rattled along his back as he slide down to the entrance.

He laid there a moment in the morning sunlight. It's warm light touched his sore muscles through the tinted windows. It's light was comforting and soothing but...

"Take this!"

A flash of silver passed through his field of vision. He heard the sharp wiz it made and thud as it collided with the wooden floor. The thin blade vibrated rapidly, producing a low hum right between his legs.

Alex snapped back to the real world and returned to his feet. He sprinted around the corner towards the living room.

'If I can get there maybe...'

"Hey *yawn* Alex." A white mare with an aurora mane walked into his path.

'Fuck.' Alex collided with the mare.

They both flew through the air. Alex launched them a few meters towards the living room before gravity carried out it's grudge against him. He hit the ground hard losing his breath yet again and nearly threw up when vinyl landed on top of him.

"Damn Alex." Vinyl groaned. "What was that for..."

Alex felt two warm points of pressure on his chest as well as one larger one on his... Groin.

Through a painful squint Alex looked up into the face of the white unicorn and she starred back. Her flank rested on him and she had pushed her upper body up with her hands. Her head was cocked to the side with a surprised look on her face or what little of it he could see. Her colorful mane was not as wild as it was last night. It was strait and obstructed a good portion of her face. Alex amused that this is how it naturally looked.

Like usual, Alex's eyes naughtily wandered all over her body. She wore a louse plain grey shirt that exposed one shoulder. Her body was slender like all the mares he had seen thus far and clean... within reason. She still smelled of sweat from the club and was in need of a good shower. Her chest was...

'I am a dirty boy!' Alex mentally slapped himself. 'Why do I keep looking at another species' chests?!'

"So you're into that kinda thing." Vinyl smirked.

Alex flushed yet again and felt his member harden. Vinyl noticed and smiled mischievously. Her eyes were large like normal but with a hungry look to them.

"V-Vinyl!" Alex forced her off and jumped to his feet.

Vinyl, because of Alex's ballistic motion, jumped to her hooves as well. "What the hay Alex?!" She scowled. "What is wrong with you?!"

"Vinyl!" Alex placed both hands on her shoulders. "Tell your crazy sister not to stab me!"

Vinyl was confused. "Um Alex I don't have..."

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!"

Vinyl's eyes went wide with realization. She turned to face her damp, and hardly decent, roommate. She was surprised to see she was breathing heavily and holding a knife in each hand. It was clear what had transpired and what she had to do.

"Octi Help!" She cried.

"..." Alex was at a loss of words.

*****

"What is wrong with you Vinyl!" The grey mare scolded.

"Aw come on Octi it's cool." Vinyl dismissed.

"It's cool?" Octavia frowned. "You let some strange stallion into our home!"

"Sitting right here." Alex moaned from his seat. "And completely fine thanks for asking."

"Be quiet you." Octavia silenced him with malice. "Don't think you are off the hook.

"Wouldn't dream of it." He murmured.

"Why would think that this was a good idea?" Octavia asked Vinyl.

Vinyl coughed and rubbed her neck nervously. "Well he's new in town and had no place to say so... I thought it would be cool if he stayed here."

"Vinyl look at him!" She waved a hand at Alex. "How can you trust anypony that looks like that."

Alex furrowed his brows. However they went unnoticed so he took it a step further.

"Once again sitting right here." He pointed out trying to sound as annoyed as possible.

"And you!" The enraged pony shouted. "You walk into our home like you own the place and... and..." She stuttered, unsure if she could say anymore.

"Octi?" Vinyl called her name rousing her to the world again.

Her face adopted at least seven different shades of red as she recalled the memory. Somepony had seen her in the shower room. Nopony had ever seen her naked or even that close to it, not even Vinyl. But now there was this pony wrapped up in bandages to the point he was completely concealed. Some pony had the gale to peep on her and think that he can get away? Not likely.

"THEN YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION TO PEEP ON ME IN THE SHOWER!" She blurted out.

"..."

Silence reigned in the room. Octavia clasped both hands over her mouth after she realized what she had just said. She was beet red with embarrassment.

"Well..." Vinyl turned to Alex.

"It was an accident I swear." Alex raised his hands in surrender. "You mentioned nothing about your room mate."

"So what d'ya think?" She asked with a sly grin.

"What?" Octavia and Alex returned in unison.

Both faces starred at Vinyl in disbelief as her sly grin turned into a sultry smile. She even went so far as to add a suggestive wink in their direction.

Octavia's lower lip trembled with the rough idea of what was going through her head.

"V-V-VIN-YL!?" She sputtered. "Howcouldyou?!"

Alex awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck and Vinyl burst out laughing. She nearly fell of her chair during the fit.

"Is she always like that?" Alex asked the distressed mare and to his surprise she responded.

She face palmed and shook her head with a heavy sigh. "Unfortunately... yes."

"Awwww come on you two!" The DJ smiled mischievously. "You can get all 'lovey dovey' I don't mind."

She giggled again as Octavia quivered. Octavia could not find any words to express her displeasure with the situation. All she felt was betrayed by her room made, not anything new really. She had been trying to get her together with another stallion on multiple occasions. However it was the first time she brought somepony like him.

"Well Alex what do you say?" Vinyl winked at him.

Alex smiled lightly under his bandages but shook his head. "Not interested thanks."

Octavia raised her head in surprise. She starred at him with wide eyes, not sure if she should be offended or relieved. Vinyl joined her and gave him a queer look of her own.

"First Berry, then Octavia and I." Vinyl rehearsed, gaining Octavia's attention. "And you refuse all of us. I'm starting to think you're into Stallions."

"He is?" Octavia asked, half relieved and embarrassed.

Alex laughed. "NO! But you are the second pony to think that."

"Then why would you let these things slip by?" Vinyl asked, utterly confused. "A normal stallion would have at least done it with one."

"Vinyl, that is hardly appropriate talk for any time." Octavia scolded, as if she was her mother. "And he clearly is not your normal stallion."

"Thanks... I think?"

"Aww look at that you two made up already." Vinyl cheered. "Let's have some breakfast to celebrate!"

"Yes lets." Octavia agreed. "But... Alex was it?"

"That's my name." He confirmed.

"Hmm, Strange name. Foreigner?"

He nodded unwilling to say more.

"Well Alex I apologize for acting so harshly but could you..." She covered her snout with one hand. "I mean you are..."

"In need of a shower." He offered.

"Yes."

"Alright be back in a bit." Alex made for the door. "Oh but do any of you have a hoodie i can borrow? This is my only set of clothes."

"Vinyl would have something like that and a par of baggy jeans if you'd like." Octavia offered.

"That would be great thanks and can I use your first aid kit as well? Need to change my bandages."

"It will be under the sink in the bath room." Vinyl instructed.

"Thanks again." He waved and walk down the hall.

Despite the drama that had taken place moments before the two room mates were quick to jump into the tasks at hand. Vinyl searched her closet for subtle clothing for her new friend while Octavia prepared breakfast for the three.

Octavia was left alone to think about what was going on. A stallion was now living with them for an undetermined amount of time and has seen her just come out of the shower. Both facts made her nervous and uncomfortable. Another thing about him that brought about conflicting emotions was his heavily concealed appearance. Draped in a large black cloak and face masked behind bandages. His true identity was left completely to the imagination.

A sigh of defeat left her lips, deeming that it would do no good to linger on it. But she could not help but wonder if the bandages were for an injury or if he truly was hiding some thing.

"I will have to ask about that." She sighed.

"Hey Octi I got the clothes for Alex I'll be back soon." Vinyl made her way down the hall only to be called back.

"Vinyl wait." Octavia called. "I'll do that you take over here."

Vinyl raised a brow of curiosity. "Why?"

"Just take over will you?" Octavia ordered growing tired of her room mate.

However Octavia winced with regret when she smirked. It was the smirk she made when she knew what was really going on or when she found something to poke fun at. And it just had to be the later.

"Oh going to see your new friend?" She winked with a hearty laugh. "It's OK i get it."

Octavia blushed and stormed past her. "It's not like that. Just want to apologize is all."

"Ya sure." Vinyl snorted, walking to the kitchen counter. "While he's in the shower and naked. I get it."

"It's not... You can be so... I mean... Ugh!" Octavia snatched the clothes ans stormed out.

" Another point for Vinyl." She chuckled and turned her attention to the three unfinished sandwiches in front of her. I wicked grin crossed her muzzle as an idea came to mind. "Hmm..."

*****

Alex turned the faucet. He soon felt the sting of cold water lash out against his skin. He jump in surprise as his muscle contracted in response.

"Damn that's cold!" He yelped.

He tightened every muscle in is body in response to the undesirable cold. It was one of his self defense systems that did absolutely nothing.

After a few seconds though he relaxed to the change in temperature. He rotated his body to allow the wonderful liquid to coat him. The warmth covered him in large trickling streams, weaving all around him and down his exposed legs. Small droplets fell from his overhanging hair and elbows to the draining puddles below.

"This feels great." He sighed, feeling yesterday's toil melt away.

After lounging in the luxury of a hot shower he continue to wash himself. With soap in hand he vigorously scrubbed his dirty hair or "mane", as he would have to get use to addressing himself as a pony.

'Alright the story so far.' He though beginning his inner monologue. 'I was first dragged into a world full of zombie things. I screamed like a little girl and was eventually saved by Walburn, a crazy Necromancer with a big robot.' He thought for a moment. 'Well saved is a rather strange choice of words. He change the problem is all because now I am in a world filled with ponies, and I in turn saved some blue one from a lion bat thing. I am currently in the house of two mares which one is making advances and the other kinda hates me.'

Alex turned the facet to off and leaned against the wall. 'And I haven't seen Walburn yet so things aren't looking good.'

He sighed. "Things can't possible get much worse."

*****

It was only moments before Octavia Found herself outside the bathroom. It was at that point she realized she had not a clue how to approach the situation.

"Wait why would I need an approach?" She mused."I am just giving him clothes, nothing else."

She knocked the on the door three times to get his attention but received no response. Not hearing the sound of water she reached for the handle. However she quickly retracted when she remembered the misunderstanding that had taken place earlier. After a moment of hesitation she knocked again.

"Just a moment please." Asked the masculine voice inside. "I'm almost finished changing my bandages."

"A-Alright!"

"Wait?" The voice asked again. "Is that you Octi?"

"It's Octavia *cough* actually." She corrected.

"A nick name then?" He asked.

The conversation through the door dragged on and on between the two. All the while the faint rustle of bandages were heard. The sound was both curious and unsettling for the musical mare but she continued to converse with the strange stallion. He asked many odd questions about the layout of the land and nearby cities. They even discussed some politics.

"All right I can put on some clothes now." He announced. "You can hand them to me when I open the door."

And so the door creaked open and a bandaged hand reached out. As if it belong to a ancient mummy creeping out of it's tomb, she tentatively stepped back.

"Octavia?"

The mare shook her head and handed him the clothes. He sealed the door shut again as he put them on. More rustling was heard as slipped into the articles of clothing. Octavia was rather uncomfortable with the silence so she spoke her mind.

"What happened to you?"

There was an awkward pause. The rustling was no more and silence reigned, at least for a few seconds.

"What do you mean?" He asked, continuing to dress himself.

"Why do you have to bandage yourself?" She clarified

The clothing process stopped again for a brief moment. "I hurt myself."

"How?"

"Fire."

"How bad was it?"

"Dammit Octavia!" He cursed, catching her by surprise. "Can't you see I don't want to talk about it?!"

Octavia took another step away from the door. "Well excuse me for not trusting the stallion that hides his appearance and past!" She shouted back. "How do I know you're not just making it up?! Getting close to us to go on with whatever evil planes you have for us?!"

"I would never do anything to you!" He retorted.

"I am going to need more then that!" She demanded with a stomp of her hoof.

"..."

"..."

"Fine..." He gave in. "But remember you asked for this."

Octavia gulped, wondering what that implied and blushed when she heard the clothing come off his body. The blush hit an all time high when the door began to swing open.

"H-Hold on!" She demanded slamming it shut. "Just what do you think you are doing?!"

"You want proof and I am going to show you." He answered calmly behind the door.

"By letting me see you naked? I think not!"

"That fire Octavia... It should have killed me."

Octavia fell silent. Her eyes were wide as dinner plates as she allowed the door to creak open. Octavia clasped both hands over her mouth to hide her gasp. Before her, in the bathroom, stood a broken pony. In any ponies eyes he would be considered mangled, beaten and thoroughly broken. She could only see his back, where he removed the bandages, and truly wished she had not.

"That fire ravaged me Octavia." He stated full of remorse.

The pony's back was barren of all fur. Not a single hair was seen on it's fleshy surface. The only trace that it had ever been there was the clear scaring coating him. Every inch of his back was covered in them. Long and short, wide and thin, deep an shallow. They were all there, clear as day.

It was a horrifying sight to see. Never in Octavia's life had she seen such scaring. Sure she had seen a few rough stallions with a scar on the face or two but nothing to this extent. It would be easier to calculate the surface area that was not damaged... As it would be zero.

Octavia wanted to look away but she continued to stare as Alex spoke

"There are exactly one hundred twenty-seven scares on my back and many more all around." He gasped slightly from the ordeal of speaking. Fresh memories surfaced of the days he received them. "The inferno took everything from me. My fur, tail, ears, home and..." He gasped again holding back tears. "F-Family."

Octavia could not take it anymore. She rushed over to Alex and pressed herself against him. Just then he fell to the floor and the mare followed. She dared not leave him, not the way he was.

Alex broke down. Tears soaked into the bandages shielding his identity. They quickly became damp and salty. He continued balling as the mare held him tightly.

"It's alright, It's alright." She reassured, tearing up herself. Alex wheezed and continued crying. "I'm sorry, so sorry!" She brought him in closer and began crying herself.

The two of them cried together on the bathroom tiles for what seemed like an eternity. They shared each other's sorrow and comfort in the warmth of their bodies. the moment was so tender and loving, yet so cold and unkind. However Octavia's methods were successful and he calmed down. His breathing steadied simultaneously with Octavia's as did the tears.

They rested as one on their knees. The rhythm of their breathing assure that awkward silence would not interfere.

"I'm sorry." Octavia repeated calmly but full of regret.

Alex swallowed a large quantity of mucous so he could speak. "It's OK." He said in a cracked voice.

"I should have not forced this on you." Her grip tightened.

"I-I feel better actually." He sniffled. "I really n-needed a good c-cry."

"Really?" Octavia asked, not at all convinced.

"Y-Yeah" Alex reassured.

"Are you sure? I could stick around I don't mind."

"I'd r-rather you didn't." He croaked. It was painful for him to speak. "V-Vinyl will be s-susp-pisious."

"And that's the last thing you need." Octavia nodded. She shifted and hugged him from behind. Her warm met him again as she spoke in a beautifully soothing voice. "Ill be there if you need me." And with that she was out the door, leaving Alex to his own devices. When the door closed so to did his eyes and his mind wandered.

*****

Octavia shut the door and walked a few steps down the hall before leaning against the wall for support. She felt weak. Just seeing Alex like that was demoralizing. She was unsure if she could keep her calm around him ever again after that. And especially after those words she said before leaving.

"I'll be there if you need me." She chuckled with disgust. "Words of reassurance for him? Or words for me?"

She put her head in her hands and slid to the floor. "I'm a bad pony and a bad friend." She whispered

Author's Note

A nice darker chapter for you all, and I am so sorry I broke my promise! I promised to post at least two chapters a month but I broke it after the first month.

I AM SO SORRY!

But like other people I unfortunately have deal with life.
Dammit right?

Small spoiler stop reading if you don't want to BE SPOILED.

Fires don't leave the kind of scares that are easy to identify one from another. Ponder that for a bit. :3