When Two Worlds Collide

Epic Ace's POV

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My breath is heavy as my heart is pounding deeply inside my chest. The failed attempts of me trying to fly made my wings hurt and my body ache but I pushed myself to chase after this stallion. No matter what kind of pain I have to endure to succeed. He turns into a dark alley way, pushing down trash cans and shoving many different objects to the ground to prevent me from catching up. I jump over them with ease as I begin to gallop as fast as I can. He turns sharply into another alley in an attempt to shake me from behind him, only to end up in a corner and I am so close I could possibly pounce on him. He was now stuck between a wall about fifteen feet high and myself, the gauze on my wing falling off from all the failed flight attempts. He turned around and looked at me with eyes set to kill, lowering the squirming Octavia to the ground with a protective shield of magic around her.  Mystic slowly pulled out a knife, enveloped in his yellow colored magic and pointed it at me, pure hatred filling his dark brown eyes, masking over the pure lust he felt for Octavia. “No one will separate me from my Tavi,” he said with a tone full of seriousness, “and I will make sure a runt like you will not interfere with my one true love and I.”

I had no weapon at the time. Silver told me to not bring the knife because it would cause some sort of havoc. Curse you silver. I thought angrily, biting my tongue. With determination in my heart, I was bound to stop this fool. “Now I will only say this once,” my tone of voice turning out to come across as calm yet threatening, “walk away now and leave Octavia alone.”

He seemed to laugh at it like it was some kind of sick joke. “And what can you do, you pathetic excuse for a pegasus?” he then picked me up in a field of magic and threw me into a nearby dark lavender wall, knocking the wind out of me. I had realized that he also slammed me against my bad wing and onto the ground in a puddle of what smelled like cider. The dye in my mane was washing out, and my wing was in unbelievable pain. I felt as if it was pounding against the stilts and the remains of the gauze. I slowly lift myself up, head hanging down towards the cider puddle as I sit on my plot and hold my wing, gasping for the air I desperately needed. I hear Mystic's hoof steps as he gets closer to me and, as I look up to see him, I see the sliver blade aimed at my head, the silver glinting against the moonlight.

He had a smile on his smug face. The smile of victory. “You should of left me alone, now you will die for trying to stop me," he growled, his smile widening as the knife came closer to my neck.

I turned my head back to the ground and took a long breath. “You were warned.” I knew just what to do. It would involve my ‘special talent’ but I didn't care anymore if anyone knew about it. This was the time it was exceptionable. In a blink of an eye, I disappear from the sight of the stallion. Then, like as if I came out of thin air, I reappear, slamming my back forelegs into the his side. My front right hoof had connected in between his eyes as I sent him flying to a wall. He dropped the knife, and struggled to regain his vision. I walk towards the delusional stallion, while anger fills my every step. He looks upon me with fearful eyes as I grab his neck and slide him up the wall. “I will make you pay,” I whispered into his ear before I slam him to the ground, causing him to have a coughing fit.

My hoof is still holding on to his neck and I pull back my other hoof, ready to send a yet another punch to his face. Now, in this very moment, is the time to use it. A black electrical spark comes out of my hoof and just as I am about to drop my hoof, I get a sharp pain in my right shoulder. Silence fills the air and I look up at the stallion’s horn that glowed with his yellow magic.

He stabbed me. With that thought in my head and the warm texture of blood traveling down poor Silver's tuxedo, I could not help but feel angry, full of rage and a new form of hatred. The electrical current flowed out of my body willingly into his, sending millions of white deadly volts into him. As my body did that, I kept punching his face, blood seeping from his mouth and muzzle everytime my hooves connected. The blood was now coating my hooves and he was having multiple body spasms, and yet, I showed no mercy as a smile crept upon my face as I watched this pony die in my hooves.

As soon as I heard his heart stop beating, I let go and jumped up away from his lifeless, and beaten up body. I looked down upon my hooves, which were bloody, and I could not help but feel resentful. Resentful that I lost it and killed this poor stallion. Deep down now, I hear the voice of my father telling me that what I did was wrong. On the other hoof, something tells me it was the right choice. I’m a monster. I think as guilt begins to seep into my heart. Killing him was not the plan. I always show mercy, but for some reason, my anger took control of my body and willed me to kill that stallion. I turn to Octavia, who’s purple, dilated eyes were wide open staring directly at me. I know those eyes by heart. Fear was in her mind, as if she were to think I was going to harm her next. I walk towards her, anger leaving my body now as if a great weight had been lifted from my shoulders. The protective field of magic had disappeared and the dark gray mare was now sitting on her plot with nothing but her front hooves tied together. I approach her cautiously and take the cloth out of her mouth, examining her mouth and hooves for any wounds.

I was expecting a question like, "Why did you kill him?" or "What was with the white electricity running out of my body?" or for her to just run away from me in fright but she remained silent as I untied her, and she dared not to move a muscle. I could not help but feel bad, “I’m sorry you had to watch that,” I apologized and there was still no response. She was in awe for one, because she witnessed my powers first hand. Also, I just basically almost died saving her life. I finished untying her now and as I begin to step away, she sends a hug my way.

She whispers softly, “Thank you, so much.” Now, I am the one silent. She’s not running away from me, or even calling me a monster, freak, or a psychopath. For once, I was thanked for who I was. I hugged her back, feeling a new sign of happiness now reside in my heart next to the guilt, as if this experience has opened up a new door for me. She releases me from the hug, dusts herself off like anypony else would do, and says, “I do believe we should head back to the others, don't you?”

I stood there speechless for a moment, unable to conjure up a sentence for me to say without sounding corny. Instead, I just nodded. “Yes, if they haven’t already gone around looking for us.” I suddenly feel the pain again of the stab wound and decide to leave it in there for Silver to take out. I didn't want to ruin the tuxedo anymore than I already have so it's best to keep blood from rushing out. I try to stand up but the knife sent pain to my legs and forced me to collapse, my muzzle hitting the ground as blood began to seep from my nose. I wipe it clean and a smear of blood is now present on the tuxedo. Silver is going to kill me. I thought.

Octavia lifted me up, allowing me to lean against her small frame. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you walk. Just think of it as a small repayment.”

I gave a faint smile of appreciation as she walked me out of the alleyway.

*   *   *

Soon we arrived back at the club entrance. Vinyl had ran up to Octavia, stumbling uncontrollably and almost tackle hugged the mare to the ground, causing me to stumble to the side. "Aww yeah! Tavi! You got me worried for a second there! Never talk to creepy ponies again!" she hugged tighter, the gray mare's face flushing.

Octavia replied quietly, "Well I'm glad somepony was worried. Um, excuse me Vinyl, but, you're squeezing the life out of me."

Silver walked up to me and noticed the knife buried in my shoulder. "Ace! you have a knife in your shoulder!" she yelled aloud, glaring at me at first but then a sign of sadness flashed in her dark blue eyes.

I looked at her, forcing a smile. "I'm aware. Now, if you don't mind, can you do me a huge favor and take it out for me? It's getting quiet bothersome."

"Oh, you mean right now?" she asked questioningly, looking at me with wide eyes.

"Yes. Just pull the contaminated object out of my shoulder and wrap it in something," I replied, looking at the handle sticking out.

She shrugged and little hesitance was there when she went to pull the knife out of my shoulder. Her magenta colored magic had enveloped the knife so quickly that, in fact,  she didn't give me anytime to get myself ready for the searing pain now coursing through my back. I slowly turn my head towards her with a tear in my eye. She just smiles softly and holds the knife in front of me and says, "It's out."

I smile back but with pain began to seep into my face as I do so. I think she's upset at me for some reason. I try hard no to scream as she covers the wound with a damp cloth. We all then begin our journey to her home, trotting slowly to ensure I was okay.

*   *   *

Silver had flew ahead, opening the gate as Vinyl and Octavia held me up, considering the fact my hooves had given out on me quite a few times. Silver was now waiting for us at the gate with her key card inserted into the card swiping mechanism. We approached her and she looked to my mane, the red beginning to show once more. I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was worried the two musician ponies would begin to question me and report me to the Royal Guard. I let out a sigh, walking through the gates on my own now as Silver trotted alongside me. "Silver?"

"Mhm?" she replied, looking at me as we neared her home.

"Why are you still putting up with me?" I asked curiously.

Silver was taken aback of this question, flapping her wings and hovering close to me, her face screwing up in disgust. "I'm not putting up with you. I'm your friend now, whether you like this idea or not. I'll be here for you, okay? Don't ever get the idea that I'm just 'putting up with you' or 'I feel bad', I'm stuck with you as you are stuck with me."

Where have I heard those words before? I thought quietly, forgetting about it and then spoke, "Okay."

Silver unlocked her door, holding it open as I trotted in, Octavia and Vinyl close behind me. Silver walked in behind them, closing the door and locking it with her magic. "Ace, come with me. Tavi, Vinyl, help yourself to anything in the fridge. We'll be down in a few moments," Silver said, trotting upstairs and waited for me at the top. "Are you coming?" she called down to me.

I nodded, trotting up the stairs carefully as I heard Vinyl put the TV on. "You needed me?"

"Yes, to wash your mane and tail out and to tend to your wounds," Silver spoke, rummaging through a few drawers in her room as I was escorted to the bathroom.

"Oh, how sweet you are. Such a wonderful hostess," I teased, sliding out of the tuxedo. I looked at the wound more closely in the mirror and the cloth was now on the counter, the wound looking swollen.

Silver walked into the bathroom and sat me down on the toilet, taking a gauze pad in her magic and opening the wrapper, setting it down on the counter. "Turn around so you're facing the bathroom counter," she ordered as she sat on the edge of the bathtub. I did as I was instructed to do and lay my head on my forelegs, biting down on a cloth nearby. "I'm going to clean it with some rubbing alcohol and then you'll have to let me dye your mane again, and then you can shower. Afterwards-"

"Dye my mane, again? Why?" I interrupted, spitting out the cloth at the wrong time as she dabbed my shoulder with another cloth, causing me to scream in pain.

"Oops," she said sarcastically and I grabbed the cloth again, biting down. "I need to redye it just in case the two ponies downstairs know who you are."

I whined softly in response, giving her my best puppy dog eyes.

"Do you want to go to jail?" she asked me, stopping what she was doing momentarily.

I shook my head immediately, my eyes widening as she continued cleaning the stab wound. "No," I muttered through the cloth.

"Then I have to dye it. I'm done cleaning it," Silver spoke, enveloping the gauze pad in her magic and placing it on my shoulder, smoothing it down and adding band aids around it.

"You're mothering me, Silver," I huffed, spitting out the cloth once more.

She looked at me, pulling out the black mane dye. "Do you want to do this yourself?" she asked me.

I shook my head. "I don't know how to dye a mane, I'm a stallion, not a mare," I replied, rolling my eyes.

She raised her hoof as if she were going to slap me but she dropped her hoof, looking at me. "Just shut up and let me do this. It’s either this or we cut it," as she said that, she pulled out a pair of scissors and sniped them in the air, smiling slightly at me.

I did not want either one, but I liked the style of my mane so I let Silver dye my mane and tail black again, but I sat there with my front hooves crossed over my chest in defiance. I hated not having my original mane and tail colors, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Just before she was finished, I spoke up, " Are you done now?"

She stepped back, sliding off the gloves and looking at me. "Yep, now shower. When you're done, just let me know and I'll clean the wound out again and place a proper band-aid over it, okay?" she said, starting the water with her magic and pulling the plug up. She then walked out, cracking the door and waltzing into her room.

I stepped into the shower and let the water wash out the excess dye, it traveling down my coat. I grabbed the soap rubbed it on me, washing off the dirt and grime from the fight. I then grabbed the shampoo and put it straight in my mane, scrubbing gently and did the same process with the conditioner. I heard quiet singing and looked through the crack of the door, listening more closely to hear Silver singing in her room. She had taken the tuxedo with her and she had apparently brought it to the laundry room at the end of the long hallway because I heard the sound of water running, aside from the shower. I listened, forgetting about the conditioner. In a rush, I washed it out as I saw Silver walking towards the door, rinsing myself off from the soap and shampoo, making sure I had gotten all the excess dye out along with the conditioner. I stopped the water on my own this time, stepping out and proceeding to grab a towel when magenta magic wrapped around it.

"Here," Silver's voice piped in, laying it over my head and drying my mane for me and my tail shortly after. She then dried my coat and dropped the towel in the hamper behind the door with another gauze pad in her mouth. "Come here," she said to me.

I trotted over to her, resting my head on her shoulder. "Thank you," I said.

"You're welcome, Ace," she replied, removing the old gauze pad and putting a larger band-aid on my wound and covering it with the new gauze pad. I stayed there, filling my nostrils with her sweet smell.

"Silver?"

"Mhm?" she spoke, making sure my mane was still black.

"I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me,"  I say tenderly

She stepped back, my head leaving her shoulder and steam rushing up my nose. "Nor can I," she replied, walking out of the door. "We better get downstairs. I have to set up the pull-out bed for Tavi and Vinyl."

I nodded and trotted downstairs behind her, approaching the already sleeping musicians. "Well, there goes that idea," I whispered as Tavi had her head in Vinyl's lap with Vinyl snoring loudly away. "C'mon Silver," I said, noticing her yawn, "let's go to bed."

I retreated up the steps with Silver by my side, walking her into her room. She climbed into her bed and rolled over until she was against the wall, pulling the covers over her with her magic. I smiled, turned around, and began to trot away, turning off the TV. "Where are you going?" she asked me.

"Back downstairs to rest, of course," I replied, turning to face her.

She looked at me and I could see her dark blue eyes falling. "You said we, as in you and I. Plus, there's no more room down stairs for you. Come here," she said, pulling the blanket off her as she patted the spot next to her. "It's big enough for the both of us."

I looked to her, my cheeks flushed and a small smile was tugging at my lips. I trotted back towards her bed and climbed in next to her. She dropped the blanket onto me and turned the other way, snuggling into the pillow. "Thanks again," I whispered into her ear, turning onto my side so we were back-to-back.

I heard her mumble, "Just don't try any funny business, Ace. You'll regret it."

I let out a small chuckle and lay there quietly, sliding my hoof under the pillow. How long has it been since I actually slept in a bed? I thought to myself, the warmth overwhelming my body as my eyelids began to fall. I lost track of time and how long it has been, I continued, allowing my eyes to close. Thank you so much Silver, I can’t remember the last time someone seemed to care for me. Now it seems you are leading me down a road that allows me to change and feel… happy again and also for everything you have done for me. You have opened up your doors for me and gave me the opportunity to feel important again. But can I trust you? I questioned myself, looking over at the gray mare next to me as she lay fast asleep, her chest rising and falling calmly. "Can I really trust somepony after all these years?" I whispered aloud, letting my mind wonder to everything she has done for me, "Only time will tell," I told myself, allowing sleep to take me.