//------------------------------//
// Chapter 9:Two sides 
// Story: Hearthfire The Sands Of Time 
// by Predman1227 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 9:Two sides


Summer Haze


Everyone was silent for a long time. Haze could actually hear her heart beat in her ear as the minutes ticked by. One minute, two minutes, three, Haze lost count as fear filled her mind. Finally what felt like hours the doctor asked. “This Chandelling filly…you would kill for?”

Theran kept his sword a little out so the blade could be seen. “If anypony or anything tries to hurt her, I would in a heart beat.”

The doctor kept his expression stern but Haze could tell he was scared. The doctor slightly pointed at Haze as he said. “But she isn’t even a pony.”

Theran kept his expression plain as his eyes and the doctor’s were locked on to each other. He slightly shrugged as he said. “It doesn’t matter to me if she is or not.” He inched his sword out just a little more. “And you haven’t answered my question yet. What are you going to do about it?”

Haze was more terrified of Theran killing this doctor than anything else at this moment but her voice felt stuck in her throat. The doctor narrowed one of his eyes at Theran as if he was studying him very closely. “Do I really have a chose?” He finally asked.

Theran tilted his head slightly and narrowed his eyes at the doctor. “There’s always a chose, just one of them won’t be good for your neck though.”

“Theran please stop.” Haze finally found her voice but Theran said.

“Shut it Haze.” He shot her a glare and she felt glued to the spot. He then turned his attention back to the doctor. “So what’s it going to be?”

The doctor was as still as a rock, keeping his eyes fixed on Theran. But he then slowly looked at haze. “How do I know you’re not just under this Changeling’s control and she is telling you what to do with her mind so I don’t go out there and tell everypony she’s in here?”

Suddenly with out warning Theran shot forward and completely pulled his blade out with lightning speed. “NOOOO!” Haze screamed, reaching out on reflex as she watched in horror.

The doctor’s eyes were wide with shock and surprise as he shakily looked at Theran. His blade was held right at the doctor’s throat, the razor white edge mere inches from cutting through his flesh. “If that were the case you’d be dead right now.” Theran looked at Haze then back at the doctor. “Take a good hard look at her and tell me what you see.” The doctor narrowed his eyes at Theran then slowly looked at Haze again.

Haze stared into his strong golden eyes and he into her young green ones. They stayed that way for a long time, not daring to move. After what felt like ten minutes he finally said. “I…I see a…I see… fear, pain, dread and… and loneliness.” He looked back at Theran and he looked at the doctor with an impressed expression.

“I see you’re good at reading ponies.” Theran shifted his stance then tilted his head at him. “That’s a rare skill.”

“Comes with being a doctor.” He said as he looked into Theran’s eyes. “And I see regret in your eyes.”

Theran pressed the blade’s edge harder to the doctor’s throat. “Don’t you dare.” Theran growled. He looked at Haze again when he heard her whimpering. Haze let tears fall from her eyes as she silently begged him not to do it. Theran looked away, casting his gaze to the stone floor. Then, slowly he took his blade away from the doctor’s neck and sheathed it with a small click. He looked back and gave her a half smile as he sat down and extended a hoof. “Come here.” He said softly. Haze shakily moved over to him and then hugged him as she quietly sobbed. All her emotions were overflowing and the more she cried, the more she hatted herself for being what she was. She felt Theran stroke her mane as he helped calm her nerves. “Shhh it’s alright.” He said softly, “I won’t let anypony hurt you if I can.”

“That…that’s not what I’m afraid of…right now.” She looked up at him, her vision blurry because of her tears. “I don’t like it when you hurt ponies, especially if it’s for me and he’s a nice pony.” She buried her face in Theran’s chest as she cried, “Why would you hurt nice ponies?”

Theran looked from Haze to the doctor who was just silently watching with a slight frown. Theran sounded angry when he asked. “This convincing enough for you?” The doctor was just staring at him and Haze. Haze looked at the doctor and even with her blurry vision she could see he was thinking real hard. After a moment of pause Theran changed his question. “Or do you still think this is all an act?”

After another moment he finally with a shaky voice said. “No…and if it’s a trick it’s a dam good one.” He looked down at Haze then at a stool near Violet’s bed. “I still haven’t seen her last wound. Mr Razorblade without cutting off my head could you help her up on that stool so I can…”

Haze suddenly built up enough will to cut the doctor off as she objected. “No help Violet, she is in bigger need of you not me.”

The doctor suddenly looked very tired but he shook his head and looked fine again. “Very well but I still want you on that stool.”

He went over and sat down beside the bed Violet was on and made an attempt to make her respond, while Theran helped Haze over to the stool behind the doctor. He lifted her up onto it and was careful not to bump her wounded hoof. He gave her a light pat on the cheek then turned to the doctor. “So before we had our…awkward moment, you acted like you know pony chain very well.”

The doctor looked over his shoulder when he spoke to Theran. “I know it well because your friend here isn’t the first runaway slave I’ve worked with.”

Theran sat down beside Haze and he started to look intrigued. “You helped a slave addicted to pony chain?”

The doctor nodded. “Some caravan of ponies walked in here a few years ago, some high end assholes with a lot of bits had this slave with them and when he got the chance he bolted it.” The doctor turned to a table next to him and was going through different bottles of liquid as he continued his story. “Poor sod ran right into me and fell over in the mud. I looked down at him as he stared up at me and begged me not to let them get him.” He picked two bottles then got a large beaker as he continued. “The boy looked no older than your little girl there.”

“She is not my little girl.” Theran objected and for some reason Haze felt a little hurt at hearing that.

The doctor looked at Theran for a moment then shook his head. “Anyway as I was saying the boy was young and I couldn’t let them find him, so I took off my coat and put it over him and led him hear.” The doctor popped the tops on the bottles with his teeth and poured them into the beaker. They made a sizzling sound as the mixed and turned into a yellow liquid. He then put a lid on the top of the beaker as yellow smoke started to rise. He looked back at Haze and Theran as he kept on talking. “For a while he seemed fine, fit, healthy and a little shy. But after a day of hiding in my home did his health change. It started with head pains then the shaking and not long after that did the fever set in. I had the lad on heavy pain killers and made him drink water. 24 hours later the lad was in a coma and didn’t wake for five days.”

Haze was shocked as she let her law drop. “Five days!?” Haze squeaked.

The doctor nodded. “Poor boy was starving when he finally woke, all skin and bones but he was still alive.” He looked at Violet and frowned. “But she is in a worse condition and a five day coma will kill her so…” He pointed at the beaker. “So I’m going to solve that.”

“What is it?” Theran asked.

The doctor smiled a cocky grin as he said. “It’s a compound I came up with that reverses the effects of a coma.”

Theran looked confused as he stared at the doctor. “Really…but how is that possible?”

The doctor kept his grin as he picked up the beaker and put his hoof on the lid. “With a bit of research anything is possible.”

Before he moved, Theran put his right hoof on his sword hilt again and glared at the doctor. “How do I know that’s not just something you’ll use to knock us out?”

The doctor rolled his eyes and looked a little offended. “Come on if I were to gas you I’d be gassing myself to.” Haze watched Theran as he considered this. After a moment he let his hoof drop away from his hilt but he didn’t relax. The doctor turned back to Violet and placed the beaker beside her pillow. He then got a rag and when he opened the beaker he wafted the yellow smoke onto Violet’s face. Haze watched with intrigued expression as minutes ticked by.

Suddenly Violet’s eyes shot open and she gasped loudly. The doctor slammed the lid back on the beaker and took it away quickly as Violet thrashed her limbs. She stopped and her face started to turn green. She sat up and waved her forelegs as her cheeks started to fill up with puck. The doctor quickly got a bucket and gave it to her. Violet wasted no time as she grabbed the bucket and literally shoved her face into it as she retched hard. Theran tried to go over to her but the doctor put up a hoof to stop him. Haze felt sick just hearing Violet’s pained puking. After a minute she finally stopped and lifted her head out of the bucket and stare at them. Her white lips were stained with puck and her eyes were so blood shot it made their purple colour stand out more. She sucked in a breath and asked shakily. “Wh…what did I miss?”

Theran gave the doctor a look and after a few seconds he let him go over to her. Violet was still gripping the bucket as she glanced up at him. She smiled as he sat   beside her and put his right hoof on her back and his left on her left shoulder. “Hay Vi, how you feeling?” He asked.

Violet looked at the bucket and remarked. “I feel like the ass end of a wrath eagle.”

Theran looked back at the doctor. “Was that supposed to happen?” Theran asked.

The doctor just shrugged. “Its just shock from being taken out of a comma, she should be fine in a few minutes.” He put the beaker down on the table and that’s when Violet realised what was happening.

“Wait where are we?” She asked, not really directed at anyone.

The doctor looked back at Violet with a smile. “Why you’re in Rest Pit lass, nice place to some and hell for others.”

Violet looked as if she was still processing this when she whispered. “C…comma?” She then looked at Theran. “How long was I out?”

Theran was rubbing her back as he answered her question. “Not long, a few hours maybe.” He gave her a half smile as he patted her on the shoulder. “But you did it Violet, you beat it. You’re now free.”

“Oh…Yay…”

Violet smiled with sleepy joy as she seemed to drift off and Theran had to take the bucket from her and set it down at the foot of the bed. He then let her lean on him as she rested her head on his shoulder and seemed to fall asleep. Theran looked worriedly at the doctor. “Is she going to be fine now that she’s out of her comma?”

“She’s got a fighting chance.” The doctor said flatly. “And she is lucky my compound didn’t give her brain damage.” Theran shot him a cold, threatening look but the doctor ignored him as he finally turned to Haze. “Now that I’ve helped your friend, will you let me see your last wound…please?”

Haze thought about it for a moment. “Come on Summer, buck up.” She told herself in her head. She looked to the side and stretched her neck back to let him have a look. “Please be careful, this one is the worst.” 

The doctor gave her a warm smile as he tilted his head. “Don’t you worry, I’m an expert at this.” Haze some how didn’t buy it but she let him proceed anyway. He took a close look at the bandages and examined the red line stained into the fabric. “Looks like a nasty one indeed.” He looked back up to her eyes and asked. “How did this happen?”

Haze gave the doctor a confused look as she recalled how she got it and as hard as she might try, she couldn’t remember. “I don’t remember, just pain and a bright light.”

The doctor looked over his shoulder at Theran who still had Violet leaning on him. She really was asleep at this point. “Do you remember how she got this?” The doctor asked Theran.

Theran glanced at Violet as she slept then looked back at the doctor. “A bandit named Long Bow did that to her and he paid with his life.”

At the mention of that name several images flashed in Haze’s mind. A blade with her blood on it, Theran shouting in anger and the ghostly feeling of unbelievable pain. Haze closed her eyes and pressed her hoof to her forehead as the images brought pain and gave her a headache. The memory of her own blood on that blade frightened her the most as it left a shaky feeling in her chest. “Hay are you feeling alright?” The doctor asked Haze.

Haze opened her eyes again and saw the doctor looking at her in concern. “Yeah…fine.” Haze said not too convincingly and the doctor gave her a look that was telling her he knew she was lying.

“Alright, if you say so.” The doctor grumbled. He leaned in again and put his hooves around the bandages. “Now lets take a good looooo HOLLY SHIT!” As he pulled away the bandage a strand of transparent goo came with it and made a slimy sound.

Haze looked down at her chest and felt a cold feeling in the pit of her stomach as she saw her wound. The entire wound was covered in a sticky see through goo that clung to her bandages like glue. “Aaaaaa what’s wrong with my wound!?” Haze shouted as she felt panic set in.

Theran suddenly came over and his eyes went wide when he saw what all the fuss was about. The doctor turned his head and looked at him for a moment in concern, then looked back at the slime. Theran finally managed to speak. “Now that’s, something I’ve never seen before.” 

Haze stared in horror at her wound. “What’s wrong with it, What’s wrong with it,  What’s wrong with it!!!???” Haze was really starting to panic now as she waved her forelegs above her head.

“Will you pipe down?” The doctor said through clenched teeth. “You want the whole naber hood pocking their noses in here?”

Haze closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She shakily let it out and looked at her wound again. The entire wound was coated in the stuff and the light from a candle reflected off its shiny surface. Theran leaned in for a closer look. He narrowed his eyes as he studied the slime. “Is it infected?” Theran asked.

The doctor touched the goo with his hoof and gave it a sniff. He did not scrunch his face up in disgust nor was he repelled. What he did do is raise his eyebrow and stared at the goo on his hoof for a bit, then he stuck his tong out and licked it. 

“Oh come on, that’s just minging!” Theran said in disgust.

The doctor smacked his lips together a few times then looked to be in deep thought. Second later and he looked Haze in the eye. “I am really sorry to tell you this.” Haze’s heart felt like a jackhammer in her chest as she waited for the worst. Theran’s eyes were wide as he stared on and waited for the doctor had to say. The doctor paused, sucked in a breath and said. “You’re half changeling.”

Haze’s fear turned into confusion as she narrowed her eyes and left her mouth open. “No really?” Haze finally managed to ask, not amused.

The doctor just shrugged as he wiped the slime off his hoof with a rag. “Well I do know its not an infection and I’ll give you my reasons. One, the wound itself is showing no sine of swelling, actually it looks to be closed. Two, the slime has no smell and tastes like a low form of sap.” He suddenly pocked Haze in her wound and she flinched but there was no pain.

“That didn’t hurt?” Haze said in disbelief.

The doctor smiled and put his hoof on her forehead, adding. “And three, you have no fever.”

“Then what is it?” Theran asked.

The doctor shrugged again and answered. “ From what I’ve gathered it seems to be coming from her naturally like some sort of healing method. It very fascinating how it…” The doctor suddenly coughed long and hard into the rag he was holding.

Haze scrunched her face up as the doctor sucked in a ragged breath and coughed one more time into the rag and she swore she saw blood. He hid his rag before Theran could see but he looked to be keeping his distance as he took a step back and looked from side to side. “I think you’re the one who needs to see a doctor, doctor.”

The doctor just glared at him. “Go fu…”

Suddenly the door opened and a young Pegasus stallion with a dark blue coat and black mane with red highlights walked in carrying bags of herbs. “Uncle Joe I got those herbs you…wanted.” He froze when he saw Haze, Violet and Theran. “What’s going on?” His dark red eyes went wide as he saw Theran put his hoof on his sword hilt. “Um, I think I should be going.” Before he could turn out the door, Theran suddenly vanished in a bright blue flash and reappeared behind the Pegasus with his sword all the way out.

Theran pocked the guy in the flank with the tip of his blade and the Pegasus yelped. “Where do you think you’re going?” Theran said in a normal tone as he shut the door behind him with his back leg.

The guy turned around and backed up to the far wall as Theran walked forward on two legs, pointing his sword right at him. The Pegasus had to go on his own hind legs as Theran’s stopped in front of him and pointed his sword right at his heart. “Wait Mr Razorblade wait, that’s the boy I was talking about.”


Theran Razorblade

Theran looked at the kid. He looked no older than 14. “This is the runaway slave?” Theran asked flatly.

The boy looked confused as he turned his head to the doctor. “Uncle Joe why would you tell…wait, oh no you’re not here to take me back are you?” Theran gave him a blank expression and the kid started to panic. “No please don’t take me back I’ll do anything, please I’m…”

Theran lightly pocked him again in the chest to make him shut up. The kid just stared at him with dread in his red eyes. Theran then put his sword away and went on all fours again. “Relax kid I’m no slaver.”

The boy looked at Theran in confusion as he slowly sat down and put a hoof on his chest. Theran knew he had scared the kid and that was the point. The kid slowly managed to speak as he looked at the doctor. “So…if you’re not here to take me back why did uncle Joe tell about me?”

The doctor managed to speak now as he pointed at Violet. “She was a slave like you and just like you she was addicted to pony chain.”

The kid’s eyes went wide as he looked over to Violet who was sleeping. “Really? I never thought I’d meet another runaway slave like me.” 

“Diny get used to it.” Theran stated as he turned around and went back down to where Haze and the doctor were. Theran then went up to Violet and sat on the floor in front of the bed. He floated the pillow from the other side and then gently put it under her head.

Violet made a light moan as she snuggled her head into the pillow and Theran cracked a smile. His smile vanished when the doctor said. “There’s not much left I can do for her except look after her as you go find a room at the inn down to the other side of town.”

“I’m not leaving her here.” Theran stated as he glanced over his shoulder at the doctor.

The doctor got up and walked over to Theran’s side. “She is in no shape to move and I don’t like to many ponies in my home.”

“Then we’ll stay here.” Theran argued.

“No you’re not, you’re going to get a room at the inn and that’s the end of it.” The doctor stated in a stern voice.

Theran got up and turned to face the old stallion. He frowned and looked him in the eye. “And what are you going to do if I refuse?” Theran growled. 

They eyed each other in anger and they both tensed up. “Hay!” Haze shouted and both he and the doctor looked at her. She still had her bandage hanging off her chest as she looked at them angrily. “We shouldn’t be rude, he’s done a lot for us so can you just be nice for once and listen to him?”

Theran was shocked, he couldn’t believe he was being talked down by a filly. Even the doctor looked shocked. They both stared at her for a moment before the teenaged Pegasus said. “Um I could lead you to the inn Sir, I know where it is.”

Theran seemed to come to his senses and shook his head. He looked at the boy and asked. “Alright then but I have one question. What’s ya name kid?”

The boy kinda looked nervure as he awkwardly said. “Uh…Tim, Sir.” 

Theran didn’t smile this time as he walked up to Tim and at the last second he looked at Haze and said. “Haze you stay here till I get back. You got that?”

Haze just nodded as she leaned on the table she was next to. The doctor went over to Tim and put a hoof on his shoulder. “You be careful now, the streets are not safe at this hour. Lead him there and come straight back here, understand?”

Tim nodded, saying “I will uncle Joe.”

“That’s my boy, now go.”

Theran and Tim went to the door and just as they were about to leave Haze called to Theran saying. “You be careful out there.”

Theran stopped form a moment as those words brought back the memories of the times Ashtrid had told him the exact same thing. He took one glance back at Haze, then went outside into the cold afternoon air.