Chapter 9: The Meeting
“Wha-what?” Johns eyes shot open. “What the hell are ya doin’ in here?!” Surrounding the bed he slept in were the six ponies that he had spent the past three days with.
“Oh, darling, you slept forever. We thought something was wrong.” She trotted over beside him and gave him a worried look. “There is nothing wrong with you, right?”
“No, ah was just tired, that’s all.” He was still tired, though it wasn’t the first time he had to stay up. Oh and how he regretted it. “What time is it?” His eyes were blurred, but he could still make out which pony was which by their colors.
“It’s almost noon. We came to get you because the carriage is bound to arrive at any minute.” Twilight answered. She too was worried.
“Ok, um, would ya’ll please go out so ah can get ready” They all gave him a confused look. “Ya know, humans like privacy. It’s become sort of a necessity. So, would ya please.” Reluctantly each of them left one by one. As soon as they did, John slipped out of bed and got dressed slowly. His muscles ached. Stretching his back showed him that he was stiff as well. Groggily he exited the room and descended the stairs leading to the main area of the library.
“Well it’s ‘bout time ya got down here.” AJ sounded annoyed as well as worried. “Take yer sweet time gettin’ dressed, which ah see no point to, and scufflin’ down the stairs like yer not keepin’ royalty waitin’.” John eyed the orange work pony, then the friends standing behind her.
“Well, next time ah need ta see a princess, ah won’t save ya and save mah strength so ah’m not late.” He pressed his fingers against his temples and groaned. He had a headache, much like the one in the diamond dogs lair, but not as extreme. Applejack shuffled her hooves and looked guiltily at each of her friends.
“Sorry John, so, ya really didn’t get any sleep?”
“Not since after ah put a hole in yer roof.” His gaze drifted to a table in the far corner, his bag of things was resting on its polished surface. “Ah see ya brought mah stuff, thank ya.” He walked over to the table and began going through the items. First off he began to equip his fire arms, the pistol with extra clips, then the sniper slung across his back. His sword was already hanging from his left hip, so that was no problem. Ah’m surprised their not stoppin’ me. Ah’m loadin’ all mah guns right before ah go and see their princess. When he was through, he zipped up his bag and stuck in on a high, empty shelf. “Well, let’s get to it.” Dark circles were still evident under his eyes.
“Are you sure your ok John...if you don’t mind me asking.” Fluttershy asked, hiding behind her mane. “It’s just, you don’t look well. You haven’t been yourself, well, as much of yourself that I know, since you got back from the Everfree.”
“Did that retched forest do something to you darling?” She was the one who caught his eye. She was wearing a stunning dress. It was blue with a golden trim and intricate designs embroidered along the edge. Upon her back sat a saddle girth and inlaid on it was a sun designs. Her hair was pulled back in many twists and fold, sitting high on her head. She noticed him looking at her dress. “Do you like it? I made it myself.”
“Rarity, don’t you think that’s a little much, even for the Princess?” Rainbow was hovering above her.
“Rainbow! Nothing is too much for royalty, and besides, this is new and I would like to see what Canterlotians think of it.” She stormed off and as she did so she said, “I will be waiting for the carriage.” And out she was, leaving the remaining five ponies and human in shocked silence.
“I still think it’s too much.” Rainbow muttered to herself as she folded her forelegs.
“Well, with that out of the way, I think we have enough time for a coffee.” Twilight said. “We don’t need you falling asleep while in the presence of Princess Celestia now do we?”
“Maybe that’s exactly what ah need.” John began. “She’s goin’ ta be pokin’ around in mah dreams, maybe it’s best that ah’m asleep fer that.”
“Ooh, ooh, ooh. We’re going to see John’s dreams. I’m going to throw the biggest party in that noggin of yours.” She noogied him, messing his hair up even more.
“It does make sense.” AJ put in, “Ah mean, wouldn’t he need ta be asleep for us ta get in there and all?”
“Yes, I suppose he would, but we still don’t know if Celestia can do it at all.” Twilight began pacing.
“Ok, ah give up. Ah’ll have a cup of coffee.” His voice sounded tired and worn out, which made Twilight frown. What is wrong with him? She thought. He’s getting worse and worse by the minute.
“Do you want to come with me, or stay here?” she asked. He took a little while to think, and soon answered.
“Ya, ah’ll come. Might as well see some of the town.” He began walking toward the door. His legs were stiff and he had the look of pain etched across his face. “Besides, it’s not like everypony is goin’ ta stare at me anymore. Got that out of the way yesterday.” Twilight was confused but decided not to pursue the matter.
“Alright then, follow me. You gals wanna come too?” Each one of them shook their head except for AJ, who followed behind John silently. “Here we go.” Twilight once again used her magic to open the purple wooden door that lead to the outside. She was the first one out, then AJ and soon after, still stiff legged, John. He winced as the noon sun bathed him in a yellow glow. Being inside sleeping for a day could do that to you. Rarity sat silently on a green wooden bench beside the small garden of tulips and roses. She searched the sky impatiently, waiting for the coach that she thought should have arrived by now. Noticing them leaving, she got up and trotted over.
“Where are you all going?” she asked, it seemed that the frustration from her small argument had worn off already. “The coach still isn’t here yet.” She again looked up to the sky, shading her eyes with a white foreleg.
“Ah need a cup of Joe. Ah really don’t know why AJ’s commin’.” Rarity smiled when she saw AJ blushing slightly, though John didn’t notice, and he just thought Rarity came up with a new design for clothes.
“I can’t imagine why. Well, I guess I’ll come and get you when the coach arrives.” She returned to the bench to continue searching for the coach.
“See ya later Rarity.” AJ called. She struggled to keep her face from turning a deep red, which made Rarity laugh. AJ stormed off past Twilight and John and made both of them raise their brow and look back at Rarity. She only shrugged and smiled at them.
“No, that wasn’t weird at all.” John said with much sarcasm. “Ah guess we better catch up with AJ.” And together, leaving Rarity to keep her secrets, followed AJ down the wide cobblestone streets.
“This is quite the town ya’ll got here.” John said. “It’s very...colorful.” And it was too. There was no color of the rainbow left out. There were pink, purple, and yellow shingled roofs. Many of the wall were those colors or more. You could hide the town in front of a rainbow and never see it.
“It’s nice isn’t it?” Twilight asked. “What are your towns like?”
John puffed his cheeks out. “Well, let’s see if ah can remember. Um, well, the town ah was from there was a lot of drunkards and people on drugs. There was violence and killing. The cops were there all the time makin’ arrests. Though, not all of them are like that. The last town ah remember livin’ in, the neighbors were awesome. They would do anythin’ ta help. Just a nice small town such as this one.”
“I see.” She said slowly. “I’ll leave it to the dreams to explain the rest. Oh, here we are. Joe’s Coffee Shop.” It was a small shop, there was the counter that you could get to while staying outside. There was a yellow and green awning that shaded the area in front of the shop, where a few tables and pony sized chairs. The stallion eyed John with a keen eye while still serving other ponies coffee.
“How may I help you?” he asked.
“Three cups of coffee please.” Twilight asked.
“Oh, Twilight Sparkle, sorry, didn’t see you there.” He said rather cheerful. “Whose your friend here?” he was resting his elbows on the counter while he examined John.
“His name’s John, and he’s new around here. Had a rough night’s sleep and needs to be awake for when he meets the Princess.” She giggle softly and placed two gold bits on the counter. “Please, three coffees.” Reluctantly Joe took the bits and placed three coffees out in front of them. The glasses were small, compared to what he was used to drinking out of, but, he didn’t need much.
“Enjoy, and you,” he pointed a hoof at John. “stay out of trouble.” He was threatening, and John didn’t take kindly to it. But, he had every right too. This was their town and John was a visitor.
“Thank ya.” John nodded his head. Taking the small glass of coffee, he left before the other two ponies could even grab theirs. They exchanged worried looks as he strode back to the library. Then, coffee in hoof, or magic, they followed briskly to keep up. Dang, they at least stopped the crowdin’. But it’s gonna take a while ta earn their trust. Ya, like that’s gonna happen. Ho, now that’s a carriage. Parked in front of the library, was a large, ornamental, purple and golden carriage. Thick golden lines were weaved along the body and tires of it. In front were four stallions pegusi, each wearing golden armor. They seemed like statues, motionless and expressionless. When John walked by they didn’t look twice, they never even looked once.
“Hey Rarity, the carriage is here.” There was no answer “Rarity?” he could hear murmurs coming from within’ the carriage. Opening the door revealed the four ponies.
“Oh, hello John.” Fluttershy said timidly. “We were waiting for you. How was your coffee?” she gestured toward the empty cup in his hand. He stared at it. He hadn’t remembered drinking it. Yet he could taste the creamy after taste. “John?”
“Ya.” he asked.
“Are you alright?” they all gave him the same look that they gave when he woke up.
“Ya Fluttershy, ah’m alright. I don’t know why ya keep askin’ me that.” He smiled slightly and got in with them. Twilight and Applejack arrived shortly after and got in with him.
“Ok gentle colts, we’re ready.” Rarity told the stallions pulling the carriage. With only a snort of their nostrils in acknowledgment, they took off. It wasn’t what John thought it would be. The stallions flapped their wings and they carried the carriage in the air.
“Well, ah suppose this will shorten the time it’ll take ta get there.” He stared out the window toward the shrinking town below. “Didn’t think we’d be flyin’ there.”
“Hehehe. Ya ever flown before John?” AJ asked, a grin spread wide across her face.
“Oh ya, plenty.” He answered.
“How do humans fly.” Twilight was curious and leaned in close so as not to miss a word.
“Ya, I bet they can’t do a Sonic Rainboom.” Rainbow bragged.
“Well, we don’t do a Sonic Rainboom, but, as of late, we do sonic booms on a daily basis.” Rainbows jaw dropped nearly to the floor, then realizing it was open she closed it with a snap. “Ya, ah mean, we build machines ta help us fly. Like airliners. Huge planes that can carry hundreds of people from one place to another. Fighter jets that we use to shoot and bomb other people. Helicopters if we need ta take off in a small area.”
Twilight was shocked herself, she had not heard of such a thing. “So humans are really advanced aren’t they?” she asked.
“Yup. We have cures too diseases, weapons of mass destruction, internet.”
“Internet?” her brow rose.
“Ya, ya type in what ya wanna know and it’ll give ya the information. Think of it as a library, only easier and with all the information in the world, all contained in a little box.” This time, Twilight’s jaw dropped, but she never noticed and left it hanging.
“What!” she squeaked. “You guys invented that.” Her voice was getting higher and higher in pitch.
“Yup.” He told her like it was nothing. “And more. But, other people build and invent that stuff, ah just use it.” Twilight was speechless, she had no comment to what he had just said. It was impossible, nopony had even dreamed of something as sophisticated as what John was describing. She just sat back trying to contemplate the information. For the rest of their Journey they sat in silence.
~*~*~*~*~
“John. Wake up.” The voices sounded distant and faded away. They tickled his mind, but he couldn’t hear where it was coming from, nor did he care. He was in a field of rolling grassy hills. Each one speckled with daisies and daffodils. A small breeze wafted the fragrant smell of evergreens in his face. He inhaled it; a smile was spread wide across his face. Oh how he missed this. It had been too long since he felt this. Though it also felt alien, like he didn’t belong here.
“John!” The voices were getting louder. It was no longer a pleasant feeling but was instead pain. It jolted at his mind, struggling to get in. “JOHN!” That did it. The piercing blow shattered the world around him like the world was made of glass. Each shard falling to reveal blackness behind until there was nothing left. He reached out to grab what little there was left, but his hopes were in vain. “John, John, John.” He tried to muffle the voice. His skin burned and he clawed at the air, but he touched nothing. Skin and clothes ripped by some invisible force. Blood dripped from his wounds; dripping into a black void of nothing. He pounded on the invisible wall now surrounding him, and getting smaller. Then he screamed.
“NOOOOOO...”
~*~*~*~*~
“...OOOOO!” he was awake, surrounded by ponies. He clutched his head in his hand, nearly pulling his shaggy hair out. Sweet dripped off his forehead. Where was he? The six ponies from before weren’t the only ones staring at him with both frightened and worried looks. There was also another. She was at least twice as tall as the other ponies, and she also had a horn and wings just like Luna. Her shiny white coat blinded him as the afternoon sun reflected off of it. Her wavy multi-colored hair waved as if there were breeze, which there wasn’t. Her feature bore no sign of any emotion accept curiosity and worry, but no fear like the others.
“Oh John your ok!” Twilight breathed as she hugged him. The rest followed, giving him a group hug. “What happened? You fell asleep on the way here and you wouldn’t wake up.”
“Ah was...ah was dreamin’.” He answered slowly, he didn’t know what happened either.
“Dreamin’?! What kinda dream doesn’t let ya wake up?” AJ demanded.
John stared at her and gave the smallest hint of smiling. “A really good one.” AJ cocked her head then shook it and walked away.
“Hello John.” The tall, elegant pony spoke. Her voice was soothing and kind. “I am Princess Celestia. You had us worried there for a moment.”
“More like twenty minutes.” AJ muttered, sitting on her haunches with her back turned to them.
“What were you dreaming about?” Rarity asked. AJ’s ears perked up; she too was curious.
“Just dreamin’ ‘bout life.” AJ’s ears flattened a her frown deepened. “Ya’ll understand after we get this fricken dream walkin’ crap over with.” He struggled to he feet. “So, when do we start?”
“Right now if you wish.” Celestia replied. “If you would come to one of the bedroom, we may proceed.” She began walking off, not bothering to look back and see if they were following.
“Do we follow her?” John asked.
“Yes, but...never mind. Let’s just go.” Twilight said. John was the first to follow Celestia across the court yard, then the six ponies. The castle was also, like Ponyville, very colorful. Though many of the colors matched that of the sun goddess in front of him. The halls they traversed were clean. There wasn’t a speck of dust to be seen along the floor and walls. John looked all around. Even though it was only an empty torch lit hall, it still was amazing. How could anypony keep it so clean? Fricken figures. They’ve got magic that they can use. Oh how their lives must be easy. Celestia looked back at him as if she had read his thoughts. Her features completely serene. Well, if she can walk in yer dreams. Who’s ta say she can’t read yer mind too?
“So John,” Celestia began. “how are you liking Equestria?” John snorted and laughed. Twilight glared at him, but he ignored her.
“Well, so far ah fell through AJ’s barn, got mah ass kicked by a manticore. Had ta save Twi and Rarity from diamond dogs. Almost got mah ass handed to me by yer sister, and was chased across the Everfree by a hydra. Oh ya, ah also helped put out the fire on AJ’s barn. It’s been absolutely wonderful.” Celestia winced at the part about her sister Luna.
“Well, I’m happy you think so.” She replied a little shocked.
“Smart-ass.” John muttered under his breath, which earned him another glare from Twilight.
“Can you show a little respect. It’s not like she did anything to you.” Twilight whispered to him.
“Ah’m kinda in a bad mood, as ya can see.” He strides got larger so he could get away from the group. What is up with him? Twilight thought. Ever since he woke up he’s been someone completely different almost. I hope his memories have the answers. The group came up to a pair of large wooden double doors. Two lit torches were place on both sides, giving off plenty of light to see. With a magical push from Celestia, the doors opened. Behind was a very well kept-up-on room. In the far wall, opposite of the door, was a queens size bed fitted with pink covers and plush purple pillows. The was a glass door leading to a balcony beside the bed.
“John, I would like you to lay down on the bed. The rest of us will sit in a circle around you.” John hesitated, but reluctantly he obeyed, and laid down on the mattress. Soon after the six ponies sat around him, with Celestia at the foot of the bed. “John, I want you to relax, you too girls.” Her horn began to glow pink, along with John, who slowly rose up in the air. His breaths were slow and even. He was asleep. Each of the equines closed their eyes and lowered their heads to the ground. “It is time to begin.” Celestia’s eyes burned a bright pink then each and every one of their minds, were sucked out of reality.