Painful Memories

Chapters

Prologue: Wakeup Call
Chapter 1: Adjustment
Chapter 2: Retracing your steps
Chapter 3: Behind the eyes
Chapter 4: Changing Dreams
Chapter 5: Saving Lives

Prologue: Wakeup Call

"Run! They're coming!" He ran towards the gate. "Come on, you can make it!" His feet moved faster than ever before. "Take cover! You're almost here!" He stopped, falling to the ground. Outstretching his arms, he began to crawl to the closing gate. "You, go through the portal. I can get him through." The blur nodded to the other, as the second closed in on him. He felt tired, so very tired. So...Tired...Must sleep... He shut his eyes as he felt himself lifted into the air.

"Ahhh!" He sprung to an upright position in his bed. Where am I? Who am I? He noticed he only had one eye free to look around his surroundings. "Doctor, he's awake!" Suddenly, a nurse rushed onto the scene. "Don't move, you were hurt pretty bad." He just looked at her, shaking in fear. What...What happened to me? He looked down at his body, to see two holes in what he assumed was his chest. "Why...Why is my head bandaged? More importantly, who am I?" The nurse looked at him, and called for the doctor again. Another blur appeared through what looked like a door and closed in on him. The doctor smiled upon seeing the patient awake. "Answer the question." Both the nurse and doctor were surprised to see him talking. "You took some nasty hits to your body and head. You're lucky our town hero made it through to..." The nurse shushed him. "What? Through to where? What aren't you telling me?!?" He was screaming, which caused a pain in his head. The blurs around him darkened and sounded much more distant.

- - - Doctor - - - -

"He's out again...He has no idea who he is, or where he is from. Tell her he is recovering, but slowly. She might cause too many memories to be brought back, so keep her away." The nurse nodded to his orders. "You know her, she won't like it." The doctor walked to the window and closed it. "She has to understand he isn't ready...She was there too much, it could cause a problem with his recovery." The nurse nodded again. "What was his name? Surely she told you." The doctor looked back to the nurse, thinking. "She didn't tell me. She does know it though. We need to find out how she knew about him and where he was in that world. As far as I can see, he wasn't tested on like his friend. When he recovers, we shall question him." The nurse once more nodded, shifting her head over to the patient. "How often do amnesia victims recover?" The doctor trotted over to him, and looked towards the nurse. "Not often. Maybe he's an exception..."

"How did you get here?" A voice called out to him. "I woke up here. They told me to go in here, room transfer or something. Eric, something isn't right here." Eric shrugged and laid back in the bed. "Just relax. I got rammed by some car and nearly died. They took me here, and it's been peaceful. Something is wrong though. Those other kids aren't showing any...Well, emotions. Kinda like you." At first, the two laughed, but it was short lived. "No emotions? That's not right." A noise from a vent caused him to get down on his hands and knees. "Did you hear that?" Eric shook his head. Crawling closer, he thought he heard someone say "Whoa, that's new.". He shrugged and found a bed with his name on it. After laying down, something inside him yelled. It's a rouse. Don't believe them. He shrugged these thoughts off, and drifted to sleep.

He heard someone step inside and opened his eyes. He laid still, to ensure that he wasn't discovered as awake. "Hold him down. This will hurt." Two nurses held down Eric as the doctor shoved a needle into his arm. Eric's mouth was covered, but he was screaming. Slowly, Eric fell back down in his bed. The doctor refilled his needle and moved over to him. "This one is asleep already. No need to hold him." Big mistake, jerkoff. As the doctor prepared the needle, the patient reached for his arm. He twisted the doctors arm and grabbed the needle, and proceeded to slam it into his neck. "How do you like it!?" He shouted before running out into the halls. This isn't a hospital, it's a nightmare! He thought as he began running randomly. He heard the sound of footsteps behind him and turned around. "Come on kid, solitary for you." He looked around, not seeing many options now that he backed into a corner. The guard walked over to him, holding a fake smile. Before he could react, the guard had tazed him. God, save me from this place! Was all he could think before slamming onto the concrete floor.

When he awoke, he was in a room with nothing but a small vent hole. He heard some noises from inside, and crawled to it. "Hello?" No answer. "Just my luck...I get kidnapped and now I am alone...This is just too much for a teen to handle..." He was thinking aloud, and started crying. "You're not alone." He was startled as he looked back to the vent, still seeing nothing. "W-Who's there?" A small chuckle from the vent. So I am not insane...Good. "I can't talk now, but I will be back. Try to stay in these types of rooms. Shouldn't be too hard after your performance earlier." He looked at the vent closely, trying to see who was talking to him. It sounded like a female, but all the patients were too drugged to move. "Where are you going?" The voice didn't respond too quickly. "I have to tell my friends what I found here. I'll be back, just try to stay the way you are...Those others seem...Off." He nodded to the voice, and sat back. At least...At least I won't have to be alone through this...

Chapter 1: Adjustment

He opened his eye slowly, finally adjusting to his surroundings. Looking to his left, he saw the nurse from before. "N-Nurse..." She turned around and trotted to him. She gave him a smile. "How are you feeling?" He groaned as a response, feeling a sudden pain in his chest. "Well, there is good news and bad news." He looked at her questioningly. "The good news is you are recovering better than expected. Bad news, you have no memory of anything from before." He started moving towards a sitting position. "I...I do remember, some anyway..." The nurse looked a little shocked, and once more called for the doctor. Two voices were heard arguing when the door opened, a female and male voice. "What do you mean I can't see him?!" "I'm sorry, but you can cause some problems with the recovery. Please, just trust me on this." That voice....The one from the dream, or was it a dream? The doctor trotted in and closed the door behind him. "Now that she is dealt with, how are you feeling?" He looked at the doctor, then to the nurse, and kept looking between them. "Who am I?" The doctor let out a heavy sigh. "We don't know. For now, we will just have to call you X." X? What kind of name is that... "With that said, what do you remember?"

X proceeded to tell the doctor about what he had seen in his sleep. The entire time X told the story, the doctor had been taking notes. Every so often, the doctor would ask him to be more descriptive, which caused even more pain to be brought. "Doc, I don't think that I can say anymore than that. It's all I know..." The doctor let out another heavy sigh. "Alright, I don't think there is anything more I can do for now. Try to relax." X moved back down into a laying position. The doctor left him alone in solitude, but it wasn't long before he heard the door creak open. "Are you awake?" Whispered a voice. "Yes." After responding, a figure slipped inside the room. Wait...I know her... A cyan pegasus silently trotted inside, her rainbow mane flowing behind her head and off to her side. "I'm glad you're alright. You can take a hit, that's for sure." She gave him a smile, but he just stared at her. "Something wrong?" X shook his head, bringing himself back to reality. "I...I know you..." What X said made her smile become a worried frown. "You were there when..." "I was always there, remember?" X started trying to remember her, but it caused nothing but a pain in his head. She stared at him as his facial expression went from blank to painful. "What are you doing? Don't try to strain yourself. Hey!" Her voice was fading fast as his head began to spin once more.

"D-Dash?" X said as the room started spinning. He could make out a faint smile as the door swung open again. "What is she doing here? Get her out!" The doctor screamed, suddenly sounding closer. "He's my friend!" Dash yelled back to him. Two nurses galloped into the room and began forcing her out of the room. At this sight, X's head once more started hurting. "S-Shut up!" Everyone stopped and looked at him. Tears were streaming down from his one good eye. "Glad to see you're still normal. Look, I think I can get you and your friend out of here. It will take time, but I can do it." X gripped his head harder. "The voices..." He opened his eye and looked at the ponies staring in horror. Make the voices stop... The doctor took a step closer to X. His head was hurting, his breathing becoming heavy and slow, and his entire body shaking. He put his hooves to his face. Suddenly, his sight changed to a flashback.

He was in his solitary chamber, but this time there was a bed and sink. He heard a voice, it was faint though. "You will compromise with the doctors or you shall spend the rest of your days in solitary confinement." X started laughing insanely. "You can try to tame the beast within, or you can learn to keep him in his cage...Either way, the beast is still a beast...And you are still it's prey..." X stood up as the doctor closed in on him. "Yes, the beast can be tamed...You need your medicine." X put one of his hands in the air, still grinning insanely. "Remember what happened to Dr. Torez, and Dr. Selfe? I am a demon in human form." Is that me? Is this another dream? "You will take your medicine!" "You will keep losing doctors!" The doctor had let out a heavy sigh. "I see. This is your home now. No more sunlight, no more medicine, no more help." X just laughed at him. "And here I was getting used to opening positions on your medical team..." The doctor shook his head. "We're lucky we sound proofed the rooms..." Was all he said walking out and closing the one-way door. "He's gone." X said, turning to the vent. "Nice display. Nearly fell for it. Now, my friends are working hard to get as many of you as we can out. It's going to be another two weeks, tops. Can you make it?" X had a smile on his face. "You kidding me, Dash? I got this."

When X finally came back to reality, he found Dash shaking him with her hooves. "What happened?" Dash said, realizing that he had his grip on reality. "The dreams...Voices...I don't understand..." She gave him a friendly smile. "I don't think that they are dreams." X looked at her funny, not knowing what to think. "Then why am I like this here, and different there?" Dash shrugged. "That would be a question for Twilight. You haven't met her yet." This makes no sense... He tried to let out a smile, but it only looked like a smirk with half his face covered. "What happened to me?" Dash looked away at this question, looking very uncomfortable. "Maybe it's better I don't know..." X said, still smiling at her. The doctor trotted over to the two by the bed. "Well, you need your rest. You should be out of here soon, and flying in no time." Flying? What does he..? X flipped over painfully, and look at his back. He had a pair of black wings, one of which was bandaged. He rolled back onto his back, and rested his head on the pillow. The other ponies in the room slowly drifted out, leaving him to his thoughts. What did happen to me? Maybe I will remember later...Too tired to think... Those were his last thoughts before drifting to a dreamless sleep.

Chapter 2: Retracing your steps

He slowly opened his eye, sighing in relief at reality. He propped himself up and looked towards the window. Just another dream The sun was shining perfectly outside, making him wish he could leave to enjoy it. The door opening ripped him out of his trance. "Sleep well?" The doctor trotted over to his bedside. "Kinda...I don't know what to make of these dreams." The doctor gave him a questioning look. "Let me be honest with you, doc." The doctor came closer to him. "Half of me wants to know where I am from...But the other half tells me it's better not to...What should I do?" The doctor stood there, obviously deep in thought. "I don't know. Maybe you should spend some time outside, smell the fresh air." X gained a smile as he got out of bed. After setting all four of his hooves down, he had to teach himself how to walk on them. After a few minutes, he nearly got the hang of it. "Alright, thanks doc." He said as he left and wandered around to the exit.

Stepping outside, he squinted his eyes. The feeling of the sun on his black coat warmed him. The feeling of the wind and the calming essence of everything around him. Finally adjusting to the light, he started wandering off. After a few minutes, he managed to stumble into the center of town. Ponies everywhere were giving him odd looks. New pony that's beaten and bruised sure makes a commotion. Some ponies approached him, while others just kept on trotting. He heard a voice call out to him from somewhere. "You don't have your mark?" He turned to see a small filly staring him in the face. He gave her a half-smile. "I don't really know what you're talking about, sorry." The filly just looked at him funny. She proceeded to explain the process of a cutie mark. "I see...Well, thanks for explaining this to me." The filly just smiled to him, and showed him that she didn't have one either. "Are you hurt?" She asked him. He thought for a moment, no longer feeling his pain. "I was, but now I think I am better. Have you seen a pony named Dash?" The filly nodded and pointed in the direction of a tree-like home. X thanked her, and proceeded towards the house.

He took a deep breath and knocked on the door with his hoof. A purple unicorn answered the door, and looked shocked upon seeing him. "Are you alright?" He smiled at her, nodding. "Is Dash here?" Suddenly, Dash appeared from behind her. She hastily rushed him inside and shut the door, leaving the purple unicorn confused. "They let you out?" He nodded to her. "Twilight, this is him." Twilight looked even more confused before perking up. "Oh! Should have noticed that sooner." The three stood there, making small talk. After a few minutes, X felt like something needed to be said. "Dash...I need to know what happened." Dash looked a little disappointed, and Twilight just looked at her. "He doesn't know?" X turned to her, giving her a frown. "I don't know much. I don't even know my name..." Maybe now isn't the best time... Dash put a hoof on him. "Twilight can you help you there...She has a spell that can make you remember, but we shouldn't do too much." Twilight nodded, and motioned him to a door. Stepping into it, they descended into what looked like a lab. She sat him in a chair and told him to relax. "I don't know what this will do, but I can assure you that I will see what you see." X took a deep breath, and told her he was ready. Yet as she started, he had second thoughts.

X was outside of the kitchen, listening through the door. His parents were arguing again...But this time he couldn't make sense of it. "Darren, he has to know. I don't feel right about this anymore." His father let out a sigh. "You don't get it. He won't believe us even if we tried! The only proof we have is from the field where I found him." X pushed the door open, and looked extremely confused. "Field?" His parents jumped at the sound of his voice. "What do you mean?" His father told him to sit down at the kitchen table. "Now's as good a time as any....I used to work for the government under their science division. We had this type of medicine that we needed to test, but we couldn't get any subjects. Later, we developed a portal that allowed us to go to this...Other universe. I found you while I was scouting...You were hurt and alone, crying. The thing is...You weren't always human." X just stared at his dad. Not always human?

After twenty minutes, he finally understood what his dad just said. "You...Took me from my home world?" His father nodded, and his mother went to put her hand on his shoulder. He stood up and shrugged her off. "You...Took me! What if they started looking for me? I can't believe this..." His father took a step forward, but X began stepping backwards. "That's why I was faster and stronger than my friends?" His father nodded. "I...You..." Tears were forming around his eyes. "I'm sorry, but there isn't anything I can do. They won't let me back there." X looked at his father angrily, wiping his tears away. "They know who you really are." What his dad just said made X feel uneasy. "You lied to me...All of my life...Is this some kind of cruel joke to you two?!" His mom was about to speak when he bolted out of the house. He didn't care where he was going. After running for about thirty minutes, he stopped and sat on a bus-stop's bench.

"Subject spotted. Orders?" A man called into his car radio. "Ram and retrieve. It's time for him to return for further testing, after being stolen by that fool Darren." The radio blared back at him. "Affirmative." He responded as he started his van. X heard the sound of wheels coming straight at him and started running again. This is how I get there... His running was nothing but a futile attempt at survival. The van rammed him, sending him sliding onto the roof and off to the back. Rolling on the asphalt knocked out, the man got out and went to pick him up. After putting him in the back of the van, the memory started fading away. The lab was starting to return to his vision.

Twilight had fallen back, obviously using too much power for one spell. His head was spinning, but during the time it was he heard a name be called out. Travus... His hearing and sight fully returned to him, seeing Dash in his face. "Travus, are you alright?" He shook his head, and gave her a weak fake smile. "I'm fine...Really, I am...Was there a report of a missing colt a few years ago?" Dash looked like she was in deep thought, which made the now up Twilight let out a chuckle. "I think so. Why do you ask?" Travus motioned her to come close, which she did. "You found him." Dash just looked at him, confused. When she asked Twilight about what he said, she just nodded. The only thing left for Travus to uncover was how he ended up in Equestria...And what happened to his friend Eric.

Chapter 3: Behind the eyes

Twilight just stared at him. "I...I don't think that we should do that spell anytime soon..." He gave them a smile. I wonder if my eye is ok. I'm tired of half of my vision being blocked. He tried to unwrap the bandage around half of his head, being very unsuccessful. Twilight started using her magic to help him, but was shocked at what she saw. "Tell me my head is in one piece..." Travus said looking around for a mirror. After a few seconds, he found one. "Well...That's interesting." He said, noticing his eyes were two different colors. "The test was successful, Dr. Torez. His DNA is changing, but at a slow rate. His regeneration, strength, speed, and other basic attributes should be enhanced." Travus turned back to Twilight. "This is...Mildly disturbing." She just kept staring at him, as did Dash. "What?" He turned back to the mirror, seeing his flashback. He was lying on the table with two doctors around him. They had him hooked up to a computer, which showed his now-changing vitals. "Dr. Torez, do you think he could wake up?" Dr. Torez looked to his assistant. "There is a small chance, but it is unlikely." Suddenly, Travus's eyes jolted awake. One was red, while the other was sky blue. "He's awake!" Travus jumped off the table and reached for anything he could use as a weapon. "I wouldn't mess with me if I were you..." He said as he backed into a corner. The room in the mirror slowly caved in around him. The last thing he heard before going inside was Twilight trying to catch him.

Travus looked around for a way out, but only saw one door and it was blocked by the two doctors. "Doc, two options here. You let me leave, or I kill you both. I don't want to, but the beast in me says it will be fun...Should I listen to it?" Travus gained a smile as his eyes flashed between both doctors. Torez took a step closer. "Subject respond." Something inside him snapped, and he stood at attention. The doctor stepped even closer to Travus, who stood still like a rock. Torez gained an evil smile as he was right infront of Travus's face. "Just kidding, doc..." Travus let his fist connect to the doctor's jaw, sending him flying backwards with a loud crack. Travus stared at the lifeless body of the doctor and started shivering. "Y-You're a mosnter..." Travus turned to the other doctor. "No...I'm a demon..." Travus lunged himself at the other doctor, who tried to leap out of the way. Travus was too fast and connected another blow into the doctor's stomach. "Genetics, doc...Don't mess with mother nature." He said laughing. Behind him, he heard two guards come in. The first guard just looked shocked while the second one pulled something out from his holster. Before he could fully put it out, Travus was in his face. "Boo." Travus slammed his foot into the guard's chest, sending him flying backwards out the door. Before Travus could go out to finish, the other guard had shot something into Travus's neck. What were they doing to me...? He started running out of the room. As he was running, he was slowing down gradually to the point where he collapsed. Reality started coming back to him.

He opened his eyes and was back in the chair. "Ok, this has got to stop...It's just annoying now." Travus said laughing. Twilight gave him an odd look, as well as Dash. Travus sighed. "The flashback was about the eye thing...I know the story on what they were doing." He spent the next few minutes explaining to them what happened. "That would explain how you were still alive..." Travus just looked at Twilight after the remark. "Not now. You will find out soon enough if these flashbacks keep happening." Travus just lowered his head, tired from two doses of memories. He looked back up to Dash. "Where is Eric?" She just looked at him strangely. "The other escapee." She just shrugged. Why does everything have to be so complicated... "You should check the hospital." He nodded and began his journey.

Travus trotted inside the room he had stayed in to find a new patient there. The nurse was tending to him, so he decided to check the other side of the room. "Travus...?" A weak voice said, coming from the direction of where the nurse was. He turned around and trotted closer to him. "Yeah, who are you?" The patient let out a small chuckle. "You really don't remember, do you? It's me, Eric." The nurse was just standing there looking confused. "Your eyes changed too. Less than mine..." Travus looked over his friend closely. He was a unicorn with a light blue coat, gray and blue mane/tail, and his iris's were snow white. "Your eyes are white...What did they test you on?" Travus asked Eric, who shrugged in response. "I know what they tested on you. Actually, I know everything they did on us. Dr. Torez leaked info. Thanks for seeing him to hell." Travus nodded and moved towards a chair. "What did they do to me?" It was Eric's turn to let out a sigh and explain the situation. After a few minutes of this, Travus felt like he had been punched in his brain.

"So...They were trying to make a soldier serum, but our government denied testing on anyone from our world. They made a portal and took foals from here and tested on them...The eye color is what I don't get, can you tell me about that?" Eric nodded, and looked deep in thought. "There were three eye colors. Sky blue, red, and white. The blue was for stealth, red was for the strength, and white was for information gathering. Which, in my case, is my prime directive. You, on the other hand, are meant to be a stealth warrior." Travus just stared at him. "Ok, so now I know what happened to you and whats wrong with me, but there is something that is still getting at me..." Eric looked into his friends eyes, and gave him a questioning look. "How did we escape and what happened to me?" Eric just shrugged and smiled. "I wont tell you because you have been through enough today." Travus gave Eric a questioning look. "Information gathering? Weren't you paying attention?" Travus let out a groan and decided to go back to Twilight's. All he needs to do is rest after a long day, for tomorrow brings the hardest challenge yet. Sitting through another spell session with Twilight.

Chapter 4: Changing Dreams

Travus's eyes looked at each of the patients infront of him, each holding a gun. "You don't have to do this. You can escape with us!" He felt a hand on his shoulder. "Don't waste this gesture. We don't have a home in there anymore." Said the leader, smiling upon him. "Elena, I won't forget this." She took her hand off and motioned for the patients to take their positions. "We got your back, keep moving. We won't hold them for long, so run." She shoved him as he took off. The sound of an explosion forced him to turn back, but he kept running. They were getting slaughtered. The scene blacked out as he began seeing Ponyville.

"Oh god, my head..." Travus looked around him. He was laying in a wide open field of green grass. The sun was bearing down on him, making him not want to move. "Ya know...For once in my life, I am at peace." He thought aloud, smiling. "Celestia has a work of art, doesn't she?" The voice shocked him, forcing him to sit upright. He turned to his left to see Eric standing over him. "Yeah, guess she does..." He motioned for Eric to sit with him, which he did. "Who is Elena?" Travus asked him. Eric looked like this question had left him a bit saddened. "She helped us escape with Dash. She died trying to keep you from getting shot while Dash dragged you out." Travus turned his head to him and gave him a smile. "She was a tough girl...Her eyes were both red, right?" Eric nodded. They both laid back and just watched the sky, listening to the wonderful sounds of nature. Why is this world so much better than ours...No more hate or death, just love and compassion... "Eric, I want your honest opinion on something." Eric turned his head to Travus and nodded. "Did I enjoy...Killing?" Eric moved his face back up to the sky, deep in thought. "Hard to say. You made it an act that you did so that people would fear you. You were always good at deceiving people, thus your stealth eye. You were strong enough to rip the doors off their hinges, but you made yourself look weak. You did begin to enjoy it." Travus looked over to his friend, and something came into his mind he had to say. "What made me stop?" Eric closed his white eyes and let out a sigh. "Dash did. She saw that you were becoming something other than the real you." "And the real me is...?" Eric still had his eyes closed, but he gained a smile. "Who you are now. A confused pony who is understanding and sees the good in people...Except for Dr. Torez, he was a dick." The two laughed at Eric's last comment before clouds started moving in, blocking their view. "Strange...Weather was supposed to be clear." Travus gave Eric a confused look. "Seriously, did you pay attention to a single word that left my mouth in the hospital?" Travus let out a chuckle as he hopped to his hooves. "Come on, let's go to Twilight's. I have a memory session with her." Eric nodded after getting up.

They were about to start walking when Eric stopped him. "I want to try something." Travus rolled his eyes and stepped back from his friend. His horn began to glow a shade of blue, which grew ever brighter with every passing second. "What are you...Whoa." Light started blaring from Eric's back, nearly blinding Travus. When the light subsided, Eric had magical wings sprouting from his back. "Care to try that wing out?" Eric said jokingly as the two began their flight to the library. Right as they were about to land, Travus felt a sudden pain in his right wing. Smart move, fly on a broken wing. He began to fall at increasing speeds towards the library. He flipped belly-down and used his wings to glide through the library window. This caught Twilight off guard, and she fell out of her chair. "A magical thing called a door exists. You could have used it." Travus laughed with her as he opened the door for Eric, who glided through the door with his magic wings. After landing, he made them disappear with a flash similar to when they first showed up. "How did you...?" Eric put a hoof to protest her asking. "Details, details...Either way, we need you to restore Travus's memories. All of them." She looked horrified at the idea. "Both of us can't handle to bring them all back at once. I can do portion by portion." Eric shrugged at her remark. Travus looked between the two arguing ponies before deciding to speak up. "Guys..." They kept on talking. "Guys?" They were still talking. "GUYS!" They both turned to him suddenly. "Bit by bit, I will remember. Let's have both of you help me." They nodded in agreement and proceeded to the lab below.

After setting Travus in the chair, they both readied their magic. At first, the scene of him sitting in a cell wars fuzzy. After two seconds, it was so clear you could have been right there.

He was laying on his back on the bed, thinking about breaking out. "Dash, are you there?" Three thuds came from the vent. "Good. Is it time?" Two thuds this time. "Goin' silent or loud?" Two thuds. "Give me a sec...Now we can finally meet face to face." He sprang from the bed and landed infront of the door. He cracked his neck and put his fist to the door. Closing his eyes, he pulled his fist as far back as he could. Opening his eyes, he connected his hand to the door, sending it flying. No alarm. Strange... He heard a voice from down the hall and turned to it, expecting a guard. Instead, it was a girl with an assault rifle in her arms. "Perfect timing. A mix, too...Your kind is rare. Get a move on, recruit." Travus shrugged and ran to follow her. After moving around a few hallways, they came to a set of steel doors. "Hang on, she should be on the other side." Travus was about to ask who when the door opened, revealing a...Pony? How is she a... "Twilight and Zecora worked together to make a tonic to keep me in my original form. Travus, their waiting for you in the portal room. Get moving." All he could do was nod and follow orders. As he started running, he saw Dash zoom ahead of him. Suddenly, he began moving at her speed. "Try to keep up, we're almost there." She called to him.

After a few minutes they could see the door to the portal room...Closed. Dash was going too fast to stop in time, so Travus did the only thing he thought he could. He ran faster, jumped while extending his foot to kick the door, and made it break open. He fell to the ground, rolling his way until he hit a control panel. "That was a bit...Anti-climactic." Travus said as he got up, wiping off some dust. "What did you expect?" He turned to Dash and smiled. "An explosion, to be honest." Suddenly, one was heard behind him. "Told you." They turned behind them to see patients running towards them. "Incoming! Mercer, get the portal operational. Eric, go help him. Travus, over here now!" He ran over to her, catching an assault rifle. "Grazer and Ven can help you out." Travus nodded as he positioned himself behind some rubble. "Alright. It's 'bout to get real in here." Ven called to him.

"Subjects are attempting to escape!" A guard shouted. Travus loaded his rifle and pointed it down the hallway. Ven was sitting next to him, praying. Grazer was right next to the door, waiting to ambush them. "You think they ran off?" Travus said as he peered over his cover. Soon after, three bullets flew by his head. Ven yanked him down and began blind-firing. "Someone as special as you can die so easily doing that." Ven said. Travus looked at him closely. His eyes were...Normal? He was a patient, but he is normal? Ven jumped over the cover while shooting his rifle at the incoming soldiers. "Grazer, you napping or something?!" He called as Travus began taking pot-shots at the soldiers. "Screw this gun, I fight better with my own fists!" Travus thought aloud. Then it hit him. Dear god, tell me I am not going to... Travus slung his gun to his back and started rushing towards the guards. As he past Grazer and Ven, they stared at him like he was insane. "Halt, subject." Travus stopped in his tracks, finally noticing how many guards were around him. He counted at least ten, all armed with rifles. "State your name, and keep your hands in the air." Travus gained a smile as a plan formed in his head. "Travus, and my hands aren't the only thing that's going in the air." The guard looked at him questioningly until he noticed something very important. His eye color. "Grazer, Ven, pick em off!" Travus yelled as he leaped into the air. Before the guards could react, Travus slammed into the ground. The concrete floor cracked as a shockwave knocked the guards into the air.

Ven and Grazer took that as a cue to start shooting, and did. Travus was still fighting hand-to-hand with the guards when the memory started fading away.

Opening his eyes, he noticed that Twilight had fallen down and Eric was covering his own eyes. "Are you alright?" Travus said as he wobbled out of the chair. Eric opened his eyes, but was looking around like crazy. "This is...Strange. I don't remember that happening..." Travus looked at him weirdly. "You fought with your hands, yet when I was there you didn't...And those two died there. Travus, something strange is going on." Travus shrugged as he went to help Twilight up. After helping her up, a voice played inside his head. "Dreams are but a portion of reality. If a dream can be changed, then so can reality. Don't repeat the wrongs, right them." Travus just stared into the mirror, wondering what the words meant. "Travus? You alright?" He ignored his friend as his reflection changed to his human form. It stayed like that until it slowly reverted as Eric put a hoof on his shoulder. "What's wrong?" Travus just stared into the mirror for a few more seconds before speaking. "Do you remember our last day at school? When we talked about how awesome it would be to be here...?" Eric nodded and asked how he remembered. "I don't know...Wonder how our friends are doing back home without us." Eric gave him a smile. "Knowing them, arguing about where we are. We're kinda stuck here, you know?" Travus shrugged. "I know...*Yawn* What I also know is that I need sleep..." They all walked upstairs to the bedroom where all three slept soundly. Travus opened his eyes to a snowy field. This is Equestria alright, but wait... He went to put a hoof infront of his face, but it was a hand. He looked at his back to find long black wings. "Finally a dream?" He thought aloud. "I knew we would speak sometime, Travus." He turned around at the female voice. It was a girl with long white wings, red eyes, and brown hair. Elena.

Chapter 5: Saving Lives

Tears formed beneath his eyes. "Your...Your dead though..." She walked closer to him, light illuminating the night. "I know I am, but that's just it...We were never supposed to die." Travus put his wings around him, feeling the softness of his feathers. He wiped his tears with one of them and turned back to her. "You weren't supposed to die?" She nodded to him. "You see, you changed history inside your memory. By using your brain, you devised a plan that saved Ven and Grazer. They were originally going to come with me until they disappeared to the land of the living." Travus stroked his hand through his hair, which was unkempt. "Elena, are you telling me that I...Can change history?" She nodded once more. "I don't get it. Do you all have wings?" She looked towards the sky. He followed her gaze to see the glorious moon of princess Luna. "We have white wings, as all the dead have wings. Yet here you are, with yours. Not only that, but they are black." She said turning back to him. "Can I ask you something...?" She came even closer to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. He looked down to his feet, then back into her red eyes. "What is it like to die?" She looked shocked at this, but regained her smile. "It hurts at first, but the pain goes away quickly." He stood there, staring into her eyes for what seemed like hours. He wrapped his arms around her and started to cry openly. She embraced his hug and let tears stream from her eyes as well. "I'm so sorry...I should have done something to save you..." Travus said, trying to speak clearly since crying was taking a lot out of him. She hushed him. "You were wounded and couldn't even save yourself, it's not your fault...Hmm?" A crunch on the snow made them both turn. "Elena, you can speak to him later. Wings? Is he...?" She shook her head no. "Strange. Come on, he needs to return amongst the living. They already are worried since he hasn't responded." A light appeared behind the man, which Elena started walking towards. "Remember, Travus. Your friends are there to help you, and they always will be." She called to him before stepping into the light, having it close behind her. He was alone inside the snowy clearing, tears still streaming from his eyes. He let out a sigh. "Time to wake up..." He said to himself as reality collapsed over vision.

When he woke up, his eyes were closed and his body felt weak. He couldn't move any part of his body, but he could still hear. "I just felt his pulse, Twilight. He's gone." Eric choked on the last words. His body had regained some strength, at least enough for him to open his eyes and speak. "Should have asked her...If she wanted me to say...Hi..." Travus said weakly, scaring both of the unicorns. "What?! You're alive! Who is 'her'?" Eric said to him. Travus shook his head slowly, indicating that he was too weak to speak. "Alright. Let's give him time to rest..." Eric said as the two left the pegasus. He closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep. "You saved us...I don't know if this will reach you, Trav, but I wanted to thank you. From Graze and I." Travus gained a smile. They are alive...How do I stop everyone from dying? He thought as he slowly drifted back to the snowy field.

He was flying above when he saw Ven and Grazer talking to each other. When he landed next to them, they both nearly had heart attacks. "Trav? Where are we?" Ven asked him looking around. "I don't know. I heard what you said, and you're welcome." Ven looked at him awkwardly, and then realized what he meant. "How did you hear that? I said that outside of our home world." Travus shrugged. "I came here to tell you two something important. Are you ready to hear it?" Ven and Grazer nodded impatiently. "I'm going to save everyone. If I could save you two, I can save Elena and those others." Ven was about to say something when Travus brought up his hand. "Don't ask. You will see in your memories." Travus gave him a smile as he left the two in the strange dream world.

He forced himself to remember where Elena died. He was still fighting the guards in the main room while Ven and Grazer escaped. He had just killed all the guards when Elena ran up to him with three more patients. "Run! They're coming!" Travus grabbed her and shoved her towards the portal room. "Go, Elena! Now!" He shouted as she started running. He walked slowly to the hole in the wall and closed his eyes. "It's him!" A guard shouted. He put his arms in the air to block them from going. He gained a smile and opened his eyes as he turned to Elena, who was watching him from the portal. "If you want them, you gotta get through me first!" He shouted turning back to the last of the guards. Each one started pulling the trigger on their rifles, sending bullets flying through Travus. He was overtaken by pain as he fell to his knees. "I got...One last trick..." He said as he pulled out a small trigger. He pressed the button and an explosion crushed the room the guards were in. "Travus!" Dash called to him as he fell backwards. He turned his gaze towards the portal room to find her flying to grab him. Right as she reached him he blacked out.

He opened his eyes to the snowy field. "Travus...You would have given your life to save your friends?" A voice called to him as he was immobilized on the ground. "Yes, and I would do it again to know that they are safe..." Suddenly, he was whisked to his feet and turned to the direction of the voice. A hooded figure stood there with white wings much larger than his own. "Then you have finally figured out what I wanted for you, my son." The man took his hood off to reveal a man with brown hair, light blue eyes, and a smile. "D-Dad? You're dead too?" He shook his head. "I am, but you aren't. Do you remember this field?" He asked his son. Travus looked around and noticed small mark in the snow, big enough to fit a filly or colt. "This is where I was found. Why am I here?" His dad walked over to him and hugged him, tears forming at his eyes. "Because I was there with you the entire time. I have always been. Now it is time for you to go back." Travus was about to protest when light consumed him.

He felt pain overtake his body, causing him to jolt to an upright position. He was back in the hospital with even more wounds than before. A nurse rushed to his side and laid him back down, giving him something to dull the pain. Eric and another pony rushed inside the room. "The doctor says he might not know who we are, so don't get too excited Elena." Travus gave them a painful smile. "Well...You were right, Elena...It hurts at first, but it...Get's better..." He said, making her smile. "Get some rest. They still have to work on you since you were shot so many times." Eric looked from Elena to Travus. "Someone explain to me what's going on?" Travus laughed at him. "You'll figure it out..." He said as the nurse gave him sedatives. As he drifted to sleep, he thought about all of his friends. My friends are always there for me, and I finally repaid the favor...