Chapter 10:Creepers in the night
Violet
It was so cold in Violet’s tent the mud that she slept in had frozen over, leaving the ground under the rags she slept on all bumpy and jagged. She couldn’t sleep anyway. Every time she closed her eyes she saw an arrow in the back of Leasa’s skull as she fell over dead. Hammer Head had dragged Violet over to Leasa’s body and he made her look into her dead eyes. Those eyes were forever burned into her memory, stalking her dreams like an angry phantom. Two months had past since then and through that time Violet had been beaten, raped, tortured and made to do terrible things to other ponies. As for right now Violet didn’t know what they would do to her next, she was for all sense of the name, a bandit now but she was just still a slave made to do terrible things in the form of an outlaw. If it were up to her she would have ran for it the moment nopony was looking and got far, far away. But the drug Pony chain made that impossible. It was like an invisible hook that clung to her brain and it got tighter the longer she went with out taking it.
“I’m going to die here.” Violet thought as she was curled up into a ball in attempt to keep warm. “Oh Leasa, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” She quietly cried to her self as the memory came back again to chew on her mind. But it didn’t last as a bucket of freezing cold liquid was bumped on top of her and she sprang to her hooves in shock.
“Did that wake you up sweet heart ha ha?” The brown stallion with a blue mane laughed. “It would have been warmer but the cold takes that away but look on the bright side, the smell is to die for.”
That’s when Violet realized he had thrown what had been in the piss bucket all over her and now that he pointed it out she could smell it. “You horrid bastard!” Violet’s rage was at its breaking point and she really didn’t care if the others would beat her for strangling this son of a nag. “You know I can break your neck like a tooth pick.” Not only was Pony chain a hook on her mind but it was also like a steroid, increasing her strength and stamina.
The stallion just smiled and said confidently. “You could but you wouldny because you’re a coward.”
Violet was about to prove him wrong when Long Bow appeared and by the look on his ugly face he was here for her. “Oye meat, the boss wants to talk to you.” He scrunched his snout up when he smelled her then looked at his friend. “Jeez Daz why’d ya pour piss on her?”
He just kept on smiling as he said. “Had to get rid of it somehow.”
Still cringing, Long Bow stared to walk away as he said. “Yeah but why did you do it in the camp you moron, now we got to put up with than her face.”
Daz stopped smiling as he moaned. “You don’t, you get to sleep on that hill.”
Long Bow just shook his head as he did just that and went to his tent on the high hill over looking the camp. Violet smiled and said cheerily. “Guess not everypony finds your jokes funny.”
Daz growled at her and pointed to Hammer Head’s tent. “Just get moving before I make you.”
Violet just snorted as she walked past him still dripping with piss. “In your dreams ass-hole.” She retorted as she flicked her wet tail in his face and went to the boss’s tent as Daz made disgusted grunts behind her.
Inside the tent Violet immediately saw Axe on Hammer Head’s bed lying on her side with her clothes off. Her right hoof was on her hip while her left was used for her head to rest on as she flicked her blue tail and bat her pink eyes at Violet as she entered. Violet just narrowed her eyes at the bitch as she walked past her and up to Hammer Head’s desk, which he was sitting at. He had also removed his armour as she saw it in one corner of his desk and his Warhammer on the other. His messy black fur was as grimy as it has always been and his silver mane was tided into a pony tail to keep it out of his scar covered face. As always the moment his red eyes fixed on her, an urge to rip his face off was almost unbearable. “Ah Violet there you are lass.” He said in his cocky highlander actsent. “I see the boys have been having fun with you again from what’s dripping off ya.” Violet stayed silent as she glared at him with hate in her eyes. Hammer just smirked as he lifted a green bottle out from under his desk and placed it on top. “Its that time again lass where you need to take this.” He gestured to the bottle and Violet didn’t take it immediately. This was when he would make her do something to amuse him in order for her to have the drug. Her eyes shifted from the bottle back to Hammer and narrowed one eye in question. Hammer smiled again as he begun to talk. “Ah I see after all the torment I put you through you still managed to learn that everything comes with a cost. That’s what I like about you. You got the will to survive.” He got up and went over to Axe who shifted onto her belly and looked up lovingly at him as he stood beside the large bed. He put a hoof under her chin and she smiled subjectively at him as he kept speaking to Violet. “You’ll do what I say if it means you get to stay alive and that’s way slavery is so good.” He sat on the bed and Axe snuggled up to him. Violet hatted it when Axe acted all slutty when she was around Hammer and Axe knew she hatted it, its way she did it. “Like you, slaves do what ever we say just to stay alive, allowing us to do whatever we wish.” He got up on the bed and went behind Axe and her grin got wider. “Now go get some refreshments for me and Axe will you?” Violet nodded, her face expressionless as she turned away and walked out the tent.
The sounds of those two followed behind her and Violet shivered in disgust as she exited the tent and into the cold night out side. “That sodding monster.” Violet said under her breath as she walked to the supply tent. “I’m going to kill him one day and the rest of these bastards.” She entered through the tent flaps and got to looking in the boxes of food for anything that might make ass-hole Head happy. Violet picked up a loaf of bread and stopped. The sudden urge to scream out her anger had become unignorible and she closed eyes. She tried to fight back the tears as she clenched her teeth and leaned on one of the boxes. “Why me?” She sobbed. “Why dose this have to be?” She slammed the bread onto the box and it cracked under the force. She buried her face in her forelegs and cried. A sudden sound inside the tent made Violet jump to her hooves in fear it was one of the bandits wanting to play games with her but no one was there. She heard the sound again and realized it was coming from the back of the boxes. She put the bread down and slowly moved around the boxes till her eyes fixed on a small figure. Violet’s eyes went wider than they had ever gone before when she fixed her gaze on a small half starved filly. It was a girl with a tan coat and dark blue and turquois mane. The feature that stood out the most was her eyes. She had big, bright green eyes that seemed to glow in the low light and they stared in fear right at her. Violet didn’t move for a long time as she stared right back at the filly in shock. “How did she get in here?” She thought. “She has no idea what she has snuck into.” The filly shifted in her corner of the boxes and Violet came to her senses. “She needs to get out of here fast.” She thought and tried to talk to her. “Hay there sweetie, you shouldn’t be here you need to get out now.” The filly looked confused as she raised one eye rig and opened her mouth. Violet backed away and pointed at the tent flaps. “Go now.” The filly shook her head and pointed at a small hole in the tent wall. Violet had had enough and grabbed the bread and offered it to the filly. “I don’t care just take this and run.” The filly didn’t move for a moment then suddenly jumped up, grabbed the bread with her mouth and bolted out the small hole. Violet wasted no time getting what Hammer wanted and went out the tent like nothing happened. Out side she saw a small shadow darting away from the camp and had hope she was in the clear but the shout from Long Bow on the hill dashed those hopes. He pulled back an arrow and Violet screamed. “NOOOOO!”
Violet’s eyes shot open and she sat up screaming, her eyes darting around the room. She suddenly felt somepony touch her shoulder. On reflex she grabbed the hoof with her right, twisted the pony’s foreleg behind his back and slammed her left elbow right behind his shoulder joint, pining him to the bad. “GAh…GODS DAMIT!” The pony shouted out in pain. “Take it easy lass.”
“VIOLET!!” A small feminine voice call out in alarm. Violet suddenly came to her senses when she saw Haze sitting on a stool and staring at her in shock and surprise.
“Haze?” Violet asked in confusion, trying to remember where she was.
“GRRRRRRRR.” The pony growled.
“Violet that’s the doctor, you’re hurting him.” Haze shouted.
Violet looked down and realized what she was doing and let him go. “I’m so sorry I….I don’t know why I did that.” She admitted as she sat back down on the bed.
The doctor rubbed his shoulder and frowned at her angrily. “Bloody Terrato’s back side you got some reflexes lass. Almost fucked my shoulder up.”
Violet suddenly remembered about her wounded shoulder blade as pain flared at the mere thought of it. “Oooooowwwwww that really hurts,” Violet gripped her shoulder as the pain became unbearable. “Aaaaaahhhhhhh!” Her heart was beating so fast it made her feel sick and also made cold sweat trickle down her forehead. A shiver went down her spine and she leaned forward still gripping her shoulder.
“Wow there take it easy or you’re going to fall off the bed.” He caught her by putting his right hoof on her chest and his left on her back and slowly eased her back. “You still need to recover from the drug that was in your body. I suggest not moving till your heart rate goes down and you don’t feel the need to puke all over my floor.”
A pillow floated in a green aura and went under her head. A wave of relief hit Violet like a flood and she let out a pained sigh as her head sank in the pillow. Knowing the doctor was an Earth pony the only one who could use magic in this room was Haze and she came over to the side of the bed near her head. Haze smiled at her and she smiled back. “Hay sweetie, you’re looking pretty today.”
Haze looked confused. “Really?” She asked in her cute little voice, just hearing it made Violet feel much better and the knowing she had somepony she cared about near her.
“Yes sweetie you do. A lot better than me anyway.” Violet’s smile lessened when she thought about her still looking like a changeling. “Wait, you still look like a changeling.” She looked at the doctor but he didn’t look bothered. “You’re fine with that?”
The doctor’s expression didn’t change as he spoke. “It’s not up to me what she looks like.” He sat down right beside the bed where her head was and looked her in the eye. “I got a few questions for you and I want honest answers.” Violet felt a little uneasy. What was he going to ask her? “You got that, only the truth?”
Violet nodded weakly staring into his deep gold eyes. “What do you want to ask me?”
He pointed at her shoulder. “How did you get that wound?” Violet looked at her shoulder.
“Um…I don’t…” Violet was cut off.
“What did I say about being honest?” He looked at her sternly like an old granddad telling off his child’s kids.
Violet breathed in and sighed. “It was Theran but he didn’t mean it.” Violet wondered where Theran was. He wasn’t in the room and she knew he wouldn’t leave Haze here if he wasn’t coming back. Well in the short time that she had known him he seemed to be very protective of her so she was positive he was coming back.
The doctor looked to be jugging her from the way he was looking at her. “He told me he saved you from a gang of bandits.”
“He did, just not in the way you’re thinking.” Violet felt a little annoyed he was asking her these questions but she wasn’t in the position to say no.
The doctor looked a little surprised and a little interested. “Oh, and what do you think I thought happened?” There was no sarcasm in his tone and Violet didn’t know how to take that.
“I think you think I was some damsel in need of saving but I was one of those bandits.” She stared at him for a long time as he looked to be considering what to say next.
“I don’t get it. Were you a slave or a bandit and if you were just a bandit please explain why I should keep helping you?”
Violet felt her heart rate spike a bit when he asked that and the look on Haze’s face told her she felt the same. She had to consider her next words very carefully or risk getting thrown out. “I was both. A bandit leader named Hammer Head bout me and tried to make me be like the rest of his band of ass-holes but I didn’t give in, but…” Violet felt a tear run down her cheek as she recalled all the things she did to stay alive. “I had to do terrible things, oh those poor families…I never wanted to hurt anypony but they made me.” Violet closed her eyes and put her right hoof on her face as she fought back the tears and shame flooding in her mind. “Please stop making me remember…I can’t take it.”
The doctor put his hoof on her one and slowly pushed it away from her face. He looked more relaxed and his jugging look was gone but he still wanted to talk. “I’m sure what happened was painful and even more painful to remember.” He leaned in just a little closer but not too close. “But I have one more question I need to ask. Theran. Can I trust him?”
Violet knew her answer but would he believe her. “I wouldn’t be here right now with out him. I wouldn’t be free for the first time in sixteen years if it weren’t for him. Yes you can trust him because I trust him completely.”
The doctor looked to have mixed thoughts but he did drop the subject. “Ok. Would you like some pain killers?” Violet nodded and the doctor left the main room and went in another room in the back, giving Violet and Haze some privet time.
Violet patted the bed for Haze to jump up and sit next to her. Haze did come up but she hovered up with her wings. She sat beside her hip and just smiled at her. “How are you holding up?” Violet asked, as she pocked Haze’s nose.
“I’m sleepy and my hoof and horn hurts but apart from my booboos I’m fine.” She spoke in such a cute way Violet couldn’t help but smile.
“Oh why are you so cute?” Violet gestured for Haze to come and give her a hug and she did just that. Haze lay down beside her on the bed and snuggled into her side. Violet looked at Haze’s hoof on her belly and saw the little cut at the very tip. Even though her shoulder was busted she could still move her elbow and with her hoof she stroked her little cut gently. “How did you get this?” She asked not really worried.
Haze didn’t flinch when Violet touched her cut and just looked up at her. “I got it when I jumped out the cart.” She sounded a little down.
“Why did you do that?” Violet asked in confusion. “That’s a silly thing to do.”
Haze’s eyes looked half shut when she answered. “I was trying to stop Theran from starting a fight with the doctor. I wasn’t thinking when I jumped.” Haze yawned and rested her head on Violet’s chest.
Violet looked up at the cealing and wondered where he was. She looked down to ask Haze where he was but when she looked at her she had already fallen asleep. Violet sighed and smiled at the cute filly by her side. “You rest now sweetie, I’ll be here when you wake.”
Haze made a cute little moan and she rubbed her mussel on Violet’s chest. Violet thought her heart was going to explode from the cuteness when the doctor walked back in the room with a bottle of pills in his mouth. He also had a rag in his mouth around the bottle and Violet guessed it was for health reasons. He put the bottle on the table next to the bed and looked at her. “Last one I’m afraid and it half empty.” He unscrewed the top and shifted his eyes to Haze. He let out and hearty chuckle. “Guess you’re not the only one who’s knackered.”
He poured out two pills and gestured for her to open her mouth. Violet opened her mouth and he dropped them in. The pills were tasteless but she had some trouble swallowing them. When they finally went down she shuddered. “Guh I hate this stuff.” Violet moaned.
The doctor just huffed as he closed the bottle and put them back on the table. “You’re welcome.” He said in a moody tone. He got a pen and a little piece of paper and started writing on it. “Since this is my last bottle I’m prescribing it to you so when you run out you can get more from other doctors.”
Violet was surprised. “Really, so I can just go to any doctor and they will just give me what I need?”
“Their not going to do it for free if that’s what you’re thinking but if you show this to another doctor they will get you what you need. Though every doctor comes with a different price, but because you’re getting this from me this one is on the house so no fee.” The doctor gave her the paper and Violet took it. “Try not to lose it.” He said before actually giving it to her.
Violet took the paper and looked at it with a frown. She knew she was looking at words but she couldn’t read them. “Is it a bad time to say I can’t read?” Violet asked and the doctor raised an eyebrow at that.
“You can’t read ay? Oh well guess I’m not surprised the slavers didn’t teach you. Can you spell your name at least?”
Violet looked at the doctor blankly for a long moment before she blinked and shook off the stress building in her mind. “Sure I can.” She said with little confidants. Then she mumbled. “What kind of question is that?”
The doctor put his elbow on the table and supported his head with his hoof as he looked at her unconvinced. “Prove it.” The doctor said flatly.
Violet gulped as she had no idea how to spell it but she had to try. “Um…V…Vfot?” Violet felt embarrassed and she felt her ears heat up. “Oh my um…I can’t.”
The doctor smiled and with out asking he took the paper from Violet and writ something on the back. “Here this should help.” He gave it back to her and she looked at the back. “Its your name.”
Violet had never seen her own name before and the word seemed almost alien to her, like discovering an ancient tablet with text older than time itself. Violet frowned “But I can’t read it how can I read it?”
The doctor moved from the table to the side of the bed and helped her understand it. “V.I.O.L.E.T, Violet. Just practise and you’ll get the hang of it.”
Violet just stared at her name. It had never accrued to her that once she was free she would have to learn these things if she was going to get anywhere in her new life. Violet managed a grateful smile and said. “Th…thank you, you’re a very kind pony.”
The doctor frowned at that and she wondered if she had offended him. When he spoke he sounded bitter. “I wouldn’t say the word kind and besides your red headed friend in the black armour nearly cut my head off.” His voice raised slightly in anger. “He’s like switch, pleasant one second, psycho the next.”
Violet was shocked but she couldn’t sit up in case she woke Haze. She stared at the doctor in disbelief and confusion. “Theran threatened you. Why?” Violet couldn’t wrap her head around it, the doctor seemed so nice.
The doctor fixed his gaze on little Haze and looked to be in thought. “He went all defensive when I realised she wasn’t a normal filly and for a moment in our conversation I thought he was going to kill me.” He sighed wearily and rubbed his forehead. “Just as well he didn’t or this town would have ripped you all apart, including her.” He nodded his head slightly at Haze.
Violet suddenly felt a little worried about being here but it was too late now. She frowned in thought and asked. “Where is Theran now?”
The doctor turned slightly and pointed at the door. “I told him to go and rent a room at the inn in town, I also sent my nephew with him.” He got up form the side of the bad, walked over to a couch and flopped onto it looking really tired. “Hopefully they will be back soon so I can get some rest and forget all about this nonsense.”
Violet felt a little better knowing Theran was coming back, she would be lost in this free world without him. She laid her head back on the pillow and let its comfort slowly drift her off to sleep.
Theran Razorblade
Theran’s nose felt like it was burning from all the different smells his heightened senses could pick up. It had been a long time since he had to be anywhere populated and right now he wished he had a normal nose. “Aaaahhh how much longer till we get to the inn?” Theran asked Tim who was walking beside him.
Tim was much shorter than Theran and much skinnier to. His dark red eyes fixed on Theran and he looked at him a little awkwardly. “Um…its not far just down this street.”
He looked a little nervous and Theran didn’t blame him. Theran just looked around, as it was clear to him that Tim didn’t want to talk. The street was alive with activity as ponies went about their daily lives. Shop venders were shouting out their prices and the quality of their goods. Traders were coming in and out of the town. Groups of fillies were running around playing and screaming with hyperactive joy and other ponies mostly mares were returning to their homes with baskets of food. All this reminded Theran too much of his home back in the west. Even after five centuries, little things like these brought him back to the days he enjoyed life. A job, a family and the sense of purpose. Now all he had was pain and a never ending existence. They walked a few meters when Theran decided to ask Tim a question to start some sort of conversation. “So the doctor is your uncle huh?”
Tim looked startled when he turned to look at Theran. He still looked nervous and he sounded nervous when he replied. “Oh well um he’s not my real uncle but he is the closes thing I got to a family and well…”
He seemed to drift off from speaking as he tried to look the other way. The doctor said the boy was shy but dam he didn’t expect him to be this shy. Theran tried a different approach. “Do you find me…scary?” Tim glanced his way. “Cause I’m sensing a lot of tension between us.”
Tim started to look worried as he bit his lip. “Um…maybe?” He kept his head low and hunched his shoulders as he walked. “Just a little.”
Theran didn’t look convinced. He had his helmet off so Tim could see he wasn’t buying it. “Looks like more than a little.” Theran mumbled. He was about to give up when he thought of Violet. “So, you’ve never met another runaway slave before huh?”
That got his attention as he raised his head and looked more interested. “Yeah um I never thought I’d meet somepony who went through the same things as me.”
This was good he was talking and Theran wanted him to say more. “And what did you go through?”
Tim paused for a moment as he thought about it then spoke up. “My family was killed by slavers and I was sold into slavery.” He frowned as he recalled his past. “I was sold to some rich asshole who liked slaves to do every thing for him, even fillies younger than I was, were doing what he said.” His expression changed into a look of defiance when he said. “I don’t regret the day I made a run for it, I was the only one brave enough to even try it and it paid off when I ran right into uncle Joe.” He started speaking about how the doctor took care of him when he got sick and how weak he was afterwards but Theran already knew that part. After he was finished speaking he then asked. “So how did that slave you’re with get well away?”
Theran looked ahead and saw they were coming to the end of the street when he replied. “I killed her owners and then I saved her from herself.” He looked Tim in the eye. “You know what I mean right?”
Tim looked shocked as he looked at the cuts and dents in Theran’s armour and was adding it all up in his head. “Yeah I think I do.”
Theran just blinked and they rounded the corner. “That it?” Theran asked as his eyes fixed on a large building with two floors.
Tim was right beside him and he nodded. “Yeah that’s the one.”
The inn looked old and worn out. The white paint on its wooden walls were all cracked and out dated. Ponies were coming and going out the building mostly in pers and the sent coming from the place made Theran scrunch up his nose. “Are you sure?” Theran asked Tim.
“Um yeah.” Tim replied sounding confused. “Come on you need to get a room before the sun goes down and it gets really cold.”
Tim walked ahead to the inn and Theran just rolled his eyes and continued forward. The ponies near the inn’s doors looked at them with an odd look in their eyes then went back to chatting. Theran didn’t like it one bit and had the urge to look over his shoulder. Tim opened the doors and went inside, followed shortly by Theran. Inside the place just smelled wrong but looked fine. There was a bar with a house of tables, a large fire place and a reception. At the reception there was a mare sitting behind a desk with her hind legs crossed on its surface while she leaned back in her chair and was filing her hooves. She was a young Unicorn with a light blue coat, curly mint coloured mane and yellow eyes. She looked bored as her expression was plain and her eyes had a lack of energy. Unlike most ponies that walked in here she wasn’t clothed, apart from a necklace and some reading glasses. When Theran and Tim approached her, she glanced up at them and almost jumped out of her chair in shock. “OH shit!” She straightened up and put a smile on her face but a look of recognition crossed her eyes and she seemed to relax. “Oh Tim its just you, for a moment there I thought ya was the boss.”
Theran saw the smile on Tim’s face as they walked up to the young mare. “Hi Lilly its good to see you again.” Tim said cheerfully.
Lilly beamed a smile of delight as she leaned over her desk and booped him on the nose with her hoof. “Ha ha you to Tim. So how’d it go? Did ya get those things for your uncle?”
Tim blushed and rubbed the back of his neck, he also laughed nervously. “Ha um yeah I got the herbs but carrying them while flying is a killer for my back and…” Theran cleared his throat and got the attention of the two youths. “Oh yeah right um…Lilly I brought you a costumer named…um. What’s your first name again?”
“Theran.” He said in a low grumble
“Ah yes Theran, he needs to rent a room.”
Lilly sat back on her seat and started to look more business like. “You want a room huh?” She asked.
“Three rooms in fact.” Theran stated.
Lilly looked at Theran with a curios expression when she stated. “Three rooms ay, that’ll cost you 300 bits.”
Theran looked at her in disbelief and had to make an effort to keep his tone even. “300 bits?”
Lilly also added. “And each room has a quality cost to, so three of our best rooms would cost well a lot.” Theran gave her an angry glare and Lilly calmly put her hooves up. “Hay ah don’t make the rules or the costs, ah just tell um.”
Theran knew she had a point, she seemed nice enough so he stopped glaring at her. But he didn’t have that kind of money so he had to think of something else. “How much for a family room?” He regretted saying family.
Lilly looked at her paper on her desk and hovered her filer around it with her magic. “There are many family rooms.”
“Which is the cheapest?” Theran asked, getting a little annoyed.
Lilly scrolled down the paper till her hovering filer stopped at one. “There is one on the first floor. It has a twin bed, one couch, a dresser and a complete bath room.” She spun her filer in the air then placed it on her ear. “Total cost is 115 bits.”
“Done.” Theran stated and from his saddle-bag he hovered a pouch out of it and gave her the exact amount. When he was done he looked in the pouch and frowned. “Grate only 50 bits left.” He groaned in his mind.
Lilly sorted the bits and gave him a key. “Its room 12 just go up these stairs here, turn left and ya should find it.” Lilly also added. “Um how long are ya planning on staying here with your family cause you need to pay the rent weekly and that’s about 50.”
Theran’s eye twitched just a little but he composed himself. “Not long, just enough time for my compa…family, to recover.”
Lilly looked concerned. “Oh what happened?” She sounded worried.
Theran was surprised she even cared. “We were attacked by bandits and they got hunt.”
She looked at Tim and he nodded. “Its true I’ve seen them and their in bad shape.”
Lilly looked shocked and also looked to be in deep thought. “Ah hate to see families getting hunt so I’lla tell ya what.” She waved Theran to come closer so she could whisper in his ear. “My boss would kill me for doing this but for your family I’lla drop the rent down to 10 a week.”
Theran thought that was perfect. It meant they could stay for five weeks, giving them enough time to recover. “Thanks Lilly I own you one.”
She sat back in her chair and looked as if nothing had happened. “Will that be all Sir?” She asked in a cheery normal tone.
Theran nodded and looked at Tim. “Lets head back.”
Tim nodded in response. “Yeah lets.”
They both turned to the doors and before they could even take a step Lilly suddenly yelled. “Oh come on Tim. Ya not staying?”
Tim was blushing bright red as he glanced at Theran. He then looked back at Lilly and made a sheepish grin. “Oh uh…sorry Lilly but I promised uncle Joe I would come right back after…”
Lilly cut him off as she stood up and leaned on her table, looking angry. “And ya promised me after ya got back we would spend some time together.” She angrily hit the desk adding. “Ya know how boring it gets around here and you’re the only thing that keeps me from going insane.”
Tim’s blushing got even redder and he looked at Theran for help. “Hay diny look at me, she’s your girlfriend.”
Tim looked at Lilly who was still waiting for an answer and then he looked back at Theran. “But uncle Joe would…”
Theran pocked him on the shoulder. “ Diny you worry your little feathers, I’ll tell your uncle you have other things to…” He glanced at Lilly. “Take care of.” He flexed his eyebrows in the direction of Lilly as he said that.
Tim gulped and turned back to Lilly. “Um…I…uh…”
Theran went behind Tim and with his hind legs he bucked Tim over to her and Tim let out a yelp as he fell to the floor. “I’ll be back soon.” And with that he went out the doors.
Tim groaned as he got up, using the desk to pull himself to his hooves and when he stood up he was inches away from Lilly’s smiling face. “Um…so what do you what to do?” Tim asked as he felt his face go red hot.
Lilly hovered her filer off her ear and booped him on the forehead. “Oh ah can think of a few things.” She made a soft giggle and Tim could only guess what she meant.
Summer Haze
“Make a wish sweetie.” Haze sucked in all the air her little lungs could handle and blow out all six candles. Everyone cheered as little Summer Haze now six years old and was beaming ear to ear. Her mother was sitting next to looking happy as ever. Next to her mother was her auntie Stela, her mother’s older sister. Haze thought Stela looked like her mother but she was a darker tan and her mane was black. Next to them was her granny and granddad. Granny had a dark grey coat and black mane where Granddad had was the same tan as Mother but his once blue mane had gone a light grey, almost white. The one thing we all had in common was our eyes, they were all green. All of us looked similar except one.
On Haze’s left sat her Father. He was the odd one out. Unlike all of us who were Unicorns he was a Pegasus. His massive wings were folded to his sides and Haze wondered what it was like to fly. To go where ever you wanted just by flying. He had a darkish red coat with a black mane and a turquoise stripe that went up one side his fringe, past his right ear and down the length of his mane. Also he was the only one in the family who had blue eyes, those clam loving eyes seemed to make Haze feel more alive and happy. This was one of those times she actually got to see him. Most of the time he would just be working at the bakery and bringing home some treats he cooked up. Even though he wasn’t around much he still managed to be there and right now he was here for her birthday and he had a gift. “Happy birthday sweat heart.” He said in the way a loving Father would.
“What is it?” Haze asked, her eyes going wide with excitement.
Her Father chuckled. “Why don’t you open it and see.”
Haze did just as she dug her little baby teeth into the wrapper and tore it open. From the shape of the gift it was some sort of box and it was small. When she ripped away the wrapping her eyes went even wider. “Its…it’s a music box.” Haze said in awe. “I’ve always wanted one.”
“And now you have one.” Her Father said as he ruffled her mane. “Go on try it.”
Haze was about it when her Mother stopped her. “Later, right now you got other gifts to open.”
Haze sat back in her chair and made a pout “But Mum…”
Haze’s Mother tapped the table and gave her the look. “Summer.”
Haze lowered her ears in submission. “Yes Mumee.”
Haze yelped when her Mother lifted her up with her magic and took hold of her under her forelegs. Haze’s Mother nuzzled her and Haze started laughing. Her Mother said in a playful voice. “Oh don’t be a grump.” She put Haze back down and made a gesture to the others. “Come on everypony pass the presents.”
One at a time the gifts came down and one at a time Haze ripped them open. She got a doll from Stela, a packet of rainbow gums from her Granny and a art book from her Granddad. The last on was from her Mother and when she opened it Haze couldn’t believe her eyes. It was a complete book on the history of Equestria and its laws. “Wow I thought you couldn’t get this in Canterlot.”
Haze’s mother kissed Haze on her forehead. “Oh really, I don’t remember saying that.”
Haze could tell her Mother was joking but before she could say anything her Father got up and clapped his hooves together. “Well I think its time to cut the cake. Who wants a piece?” Everyone gave out a cheer except Haze’s Mother who looked every pale all of a sudden.
“Sera what’s the matter?” Haze’s Father asked her Mother in concern.
Her Mother had a hoof to her chest and was breathing deeply. “I.I..I..I don’t know I can’t seem…to…” She started wheezing and all the colour drained from her face. She tried to stand but only fell over and started coughing loudly once she hit the floor.
“Mumee?” Haze stared at her Mother as she lay on the floor. The cream coloured carpet around her mouth was turning red and her Father and the rest of her family were panicking. Her Granddad suddenly picked Haze up after her Father had shouted at him to get her to her room. Haze screamed as she was taken away. “MUMEE!”
Haze woke with a small gasp and found herself once more laying all snuggled up next to Violet. Her head was pounding and she slowly sat up. She fond some resists on her right hoof and when she looked at it she saw the cut on her hoof was coated in slime. It also clung to Violet’s chest like glue. Haze grimaced as she slowly peeled her hoof off of Violet’s chest, the slime making a slimy wet sound as it stretched with her efforts. She also made an effort not to wake Violet when she realised she was sleeping. A moment later she managed to get her hoof free but the slime was still stuck to Violet’s fur coat. Haze looked at her cut, the crack had already sealed and numbed it from the slime but for some reason she kept on staring at her hoof. The memory of her Mother coughing up blood was still fresh in her mind and she had to fight the tears welling up in her eyes. She hatted herself, hatted what she had become and she hatted that she couldn’t do anything for her Mother. “Why did this happen to me?” She thought as she kept looking at her hoof. “What did I do?”
“Remarkable.” The sound for the doctor’s voice broke Haze from her dark thoughts and she looked over her shoulder to see him sitting on a dusty old couch just looking at her. Had he been watching her or Violet? What ever the case the way he was looking at her was…unsettling.
“W…what is?” Haze’s voice was all croaky from fighting back her tears.
“You are.” The doctor said plainly.
Haze was confused to the point it hurt her brain. “What... I don’t understand?”
The doctor leaned forward and gestured to her with his hoof. “I mean just look at you. I thought it was impossible for changelings to have children but you’re living proof they can.” Haze wasn’t sure how to feel about that, as she stayed silent. “Speaking of which, where are your parents?”
Haze felt like a cold stone had dropped itself in her heart when he asked that question. She tried to play dumb and avoid the question. “What are you talking about my…”
The doctor butted in and stopped her from continuing her lie. “I’m no fool little one, that red head and her are not your parents. Besides Theran already said he wasn’t and she defiantly isn’t your Mother.” He narrowed one eye at her. “So I’ll ask again, where are they?”
“Gone!” Haze said sharply. She jumped off the bed and walked angrily up to him. She felt a rage boil inside her like never before as she glared at him. “My Mother is dead and my Dad disappeared!” She stopped in the middle of the room and stomped her hoof on the ground not caring if it hurt. “Then I turned into this thing and ran away, I don’t know why it happened. Happy now!?” She only just realised she was crying now but she had lost the will to care. Even though he hadn’t asked about her turning it made her feel better letting it out. She suddenly felt so tired she sat down and stared at the stone floor. Tears were still falling from her eyes but she wasn’t sobbing. She hadn’t the energy for it.
“Oh my…I’m sorry kid.” Haze heard the doctor get out of his seat and walk over to her. He sat down in front of her and she could feel his gaze on the back of her head as she kept looking at the floor. “It wasn’t my intension to upset you.”
“Upset isn’t even half of it.” Haze crocked. She looked up at him through her tear-glazed eyes and saw he looked really sorry.
“I know how you feel.” The doctor said sympathetically.
Haze felt her anger come back. “How could you know how I feel you don’t even know me?”
The doctor frowned. “I know you better than you think because you’re not the first pained soul to walk through my door and there was many more before I even had a door. Do you want me to tell you the story?” Haze didn’t want to think about her past a second longer and jumped at the chance to take her mind off it. She nodded.
The doctor got back up and went over to a lone chair. He took hold of it with his teeth and dragged it over to his couch. He set it in front of it then he sat down in the chair and gestured for her to sit on the couch. Haze raised her brow in surprise. She guessed he was letting her sit there because he felt bad or something. She went over to the couch and hovered onto it. It was surprisingly soft and she quickly made herself comfortable. “So…what’s the story?” Haze asked.
The doctor leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “It started when I was a 14 year old teenager, about say 52 years ago. I wanted to make a difference. My Father tout me about medicine and how to save lives.” He smiled slightly. “My old man didn’t want me to be a solider in the legion so he thought making me a medic would stop me. Even though it didn’t stop me I respected my Father’s wishes and joined as a volunteer medic to help out in the war…” Haze put her hoof up and the doctor stopped. “You have a question?” The doctor asked.
“Um…what’s…a war?” Haze asked.
The doctor looked shocked as his mouth hung open. “You don’t…but how can…” Haze looked confused at his confusion and he sighed. “War is when two sides fight each other over anything they think is worth fighting for, which most of the its worth almost nothing.”
Haze was even more confused and she hatted being confused so she asked. “If its worthless then why do they do it?”
“Because people are dumb.” The doctor replied immediately.
“People?” Haze asked still confused.
The doctor sighed again. “It’s a word to describe everyone. We fight the Wolven mostly and they don’t use words like everpony or can I give you a hoof. In fact they have their own language but we’re going off topic.” He leaned back in his chair again and recalled his days gone by. “Anyway as I was saying I wanted to help out in the war and I got a spot in a mobile medic team on the frontline. For about 22 years I worked on the front saving everyone I could. I never gave up when it came to the wellbeing of another in need till one horrifying day I’ll remember till the day I die.” He clasped his hooves together and frowned deeply. “The Wolven were ripping apart the troops in the front and were moving toward my post. I worked as hard as I could but they just kept on piling up and before I knew it the Wolven were closing in, I could hear their snarls and the sounds off others being eaten alive.” He shuddered. “The commander of our legion force was a cowered and ordered us to retreat but that’s not the worst part. The worst part was he ordered the medics to leave the wounded to be slaughtered so we could run.” The doctor looked angry as he clenched his teeth. “I however stuck to my oath and stayed to save the wounded but I was too important to lose. They had to get four legionnaires to pull me off the wounded and drag me to safety.” He closed his eyes and looked to be in pain. “I can still hear their screams as they were abandoned and eaten alive. The commander gained enough sense to burn the Wolven while they ate own men.” He opened his eyes again and looked at Haze. “I know exactly how you feel and more.”
Haze felt like her mind had just been overwhelmed by a wave of fog as she tried to process what she had just heard. “All those ponies just left to die. How could they do such a thing?”
The doctor leaned forward so he was at eye level with her. “Because soldiers never change and will always blindly follow orders even if that means leaving ponies behind, all so they can say they are such good boys and do what daddy tells them.”
“Is that why you hate Theran?” Haze asked out of the blue.
The doctor looked shocked once more and he leaned back in his chair. He looked to be having mixed thoughts over her question and she wondered if she had asked the wrong thing. After a moment he spoke and when he did his voice was even. “I don’t hate him even if he nearly cut my head off I just…after that day I hated the sight of ponies in armour and I still do. Is he apart of the legion?”
Haze shook her head. “No.”
“And how do you know that?” The doctor asked not really buying it.
“He told me he was once one but not anymore.” Haze didn’t understand where he was going with this.
The doctor looked disappointed as he shook his head. “So he’s a deserter huh. Wonderful.”
Haze was about to object when the door opened and Theran walked in alone. “I got a room at the inn so…” He stopped and looked at Haze and the doctor. “Have you two been chatting?” Theran asked.
“Nothing that concerns you.” The doctor stated and added. “And where the hell is Tim?”
Theran walked down the steps and stopped beside them. “He’s still at the inn attending with other things.” The doctor looked as if he was going to explode but Theran ignored him as he looked at Haze. “How you feeling pip?”
Haze wondered why he kept calling her that but she answered. “I’ve felt better but I’m fine.” She knew she wasn’t but he didn’t have to know that. She didn’t want him to.
“Right then, lets be off.” Theran walked over to Violet and tapped her on her shoulder.
Violet woke slowly as she fixed her eyes on Theran. “Wa…oh Theran its you.” She sat up and saw the dried goo on her chest. “Um what’s on my chest?”
Haze felt her face heat up as she rubbed the back of her neck. Theran looked at it and shrugged. “Probably from Haze. Come on get up.”
Haze hopped off the couch and watched as Violet slowly got out of the bed and hobbled on three legs. “Where is my sling?” Violet asked.
“Here.” The doctor asked as he got to his hooves and went over to the table. He picked up the sling and gave it to Theran.
“Thanks.” Theran said as he took it with his magic and tide it around Violet’s neck.
“You’re welcome.” The doctor replied with an even tone.
Theran helped Violet up into the cart that was still in the doctor’s home and he started to hook himself up to it. “I guess I owe you bits now huh?” Theran asked the doctor.
The doctor sighed. “You don’t owe me anything as long as you tell Tim to get his flank back here.”
Theran nodded. “Will do.” He then looked at Haze. “You coming or…” Before he ever got the chance to joke, Haze flew and landed on the cart and sat down. She then turned into her other self and rolled her eyes. Theran huffed. “Well then lets be off.
When they were out side the sun had almost set and ponies were leaving the streets. “You just stay safe now and come back if you need any medical help.”
Theran nodded. “Will do.” And with that he started pulling the cart and made their way to the inn.
Ponies in the shadows
“Are they leaving?” Pony number one asked pony number 2.
“Aye that’s them leaving.” Pony number two confirmed.
“Good.” Pony number one turned to his men all clad in dark leather barding. “You two follow them but stay out of sight.” They both nodded and went to follow the cart. He turned back to pony number two and she was looking at him with look on her face saying. “Got any plans?” He spoke up in a whisper. “We are never going to get the Razor and his friends at the inn so we need to find a way to separate them.”
Pony number two looked puzzled. “And how prey tell are we going to do that?”
“Simple.” He looked at the doctor’s home. “We pay the doctor a visit.”