//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: One way ticket // Story: Champion of Equestria // by Buddy Hooves //------------------------------// I just stood there, shocked, as Luna's words hit me to the core. Stuck here? I'm stuck here? I just repeated those words over and over in my head, hoping that it wasn't true. As I was lost in thought, staring straight at nothing, the girls all looked at me with concerned looks. While the alicorn sisters looked at me with both sympathy and regret, the other six girls hopped off their thrones and started to slowly make their way to me. But I didn't care. The world around me was gone, only the cold dark abyss remained in it's place. I'll never see my home again. The realization threated to keep my mind locked a cage of depression. My friends, my parents. I'll never see them again. The thought started make tears well up in my eyes, and my heart burned with both saddness and rage. "No!" I screamed, shaking my head furiously with my eyes closed tight, trying to fight back tears. "I can't be stuck here. I can't!" "I'm sorry little one, but there is nothing we can do." Celestia said saddly. "You don't understand, I need to get back home! My family needs me!" I proclaimed, looking Celestia straight in the face. "My parents, they're all I got. My Mother, she's worked herself to the bone raising me, and now she's a tired old woman." It was true, my mother had burnt herself out working her whole life. A few years ago she took a fell and hit her head at work. And she's never been the same ever since. "And my father..." I began, tears were now rolling down my eyes. The girls all looked at me with sympathic looks on their faces. Applejack especially looked to be focused on what I was saying, her eyes almost looked like tears were forming in her eyes. "Father has been in poor shape for years. He was injured at work when a roof fell on top of him, crushing his legs. He's been in a wheelchair ever since. My parents have been getting by on well-fair, money given to injured or disabled people by the government." I explained, just incase the princesses didn't know what I was talking about. "But my dad's health has been worse lately. The doctors think he's got cancer, but he won't go to get checked out. If something was to happen while I was gone.... If he was to die and I wasn't there.... I...." At that point the dam inside me had broke. Now, not to sound like a macho asshole or anything, but I hardly ever cried. It took alot for me to break out crying. Sure, a strong wind could make my eyes water at the drop at a hat, but it seemed hard for me to cry during other times. Even if I wanted to! But now, here in Equestria surrounded by these mares and talking about my dad's health had me crying like a baby. Everything inside me went numb as tears poured down my face, I didn't have the energy to fight it anymore. I felt a hoof be placed on my shoulder--- Applejack was beside me, tears rolling down her cheeks as well. Her arms were around me and she was stroking my back, as she hugged me tightly. "It's okay, sugarcube. Everything will be alright." She cooed between sobs. I just wailed into her shoulder. The other girls quickly wrapped their arms around us, huddling us in one big group hug. We held each other like that for a long time. Not that I minded, the comforting feeling these girls were giving me helped easied some of the pain in my heart. I know it seems mushy to say that, but don't give a damn! 'Crying's good for the soul', they always say, and I've been holding back for years. Crying's good while it lasts, but you can only do it for so long. Towards the end, you always feel a little silly, like, 'Am I still making this noise?' Anyway, eventually you're done, and you have to figure out what to do next. We all pulled away from each other, though the girls kept a hoof placed on me for reassurance. I tried to wipe the tears from my hoof, while I looked up at Applejack with content. She was giving me a warm, comforting smile as the last of her tears rolled down her cheeks. "Now don't ya give up, sugarcube. Ya all might still be able ta see your family again." She said. "R.. really? You think so?" "It might be possible." Twilight said as she moved so we faced each other. "If we can figure out the distance and location of Earth from Equestria, we might be able to send you back home. But it won't be easy. It'll take alot of time and research." "Yeah, but don't worry. Will help you out until then." Dash said as she patted my back with her hoof. "Yes, it's the least we can do after you helped us stop that golem. Our sisters are safe because of you, after all." Rarity said. "And besides, your our friend! And friends help each other out!" Pinkie yelled as she wrapped her arms around me again for a quick hug. "We... we're friends?" I asked, surprised by the statement. "Oh course, Darling." Rarity answered, almost shocked by the question. " You're a brave and kind pony who risked his life to help us. We're very grateful to you for your help." "And, umm, you looked really great out there. Trying to save the girls." Fluttershy softly said, and for a moment, I thought she was blushing. "Yeah! That was awesome how you blasted that pile of rocks. You're a hero!" Dash proclaimed. "Darn right!" AJ said. " Our sisters have done nothing but ask about and worry about ya ever since you passed out. They really look up to ya." "And while you wait to go back home, we'll help you adjust to living here. It'll be fun!" Pinkie said giddily. "And as you wait, you can stay here in Ponyville in Twilight's castle." Celestia stated as her and her sister moved a little closer to me. Her statement caused both Twilight and me to give her a look of complete surprise. "It's clear whoever is after you will strike again, soon. Until then, we will do everything in our power prepare for that time. Being here with Twilight will help ensure your safety." "And perhaps during that time, maybe you can learn to control the strange magic you now possess." Luna said as she gave me a calm but studing look. "Spike." Celestia ordered, causing him to step away from his place next to Twilight's throne. "Could you take Mark back to his room while we discuss our next move? For the day draws late, and we still have much to do." "Yes your highness!" Spike said as he walked up to me. The girls gave me one more hug before saying their goodbyes to me. "You ready to go, Mark?" Spike asked. "Yeah." I said with a nod. "Let's go." "Sorry you won't be able to return home." Spike finally said as we made our way back up the flight of stairs. We had been quite almost the entire time after leaving the throne room. I was deep in thought, thinking about everything that had happened. While Spike was quite because he probably didn't want to say anything to upset me. "It's okay, Spike." I lied as I forced a smile. "It's not your fault I'm stuck here. I just wish I never found that stupid crystal!" He just gave me a small nod, before continuing to make his way up the stairs. "Anyway, Ponyville's not so bad after you get used to it. The ponies here are really nice, and the food's not too bad either. Just a shame they don't have a restaurant that sells fine craved gems." "Wait a second, you eat gems?" I asked in surprised. "Well, yeah. What did you think we eat?" "Ummm.... do you really want to know?" I asked, afraid I might say the wrong thing. Seeing how he reacted when he found out that I ate meat. "I guess not." He paused before answering. I didn't want to press the topic anymore. As we continued making our way back to the room I woke up in, I shuffled through some more of my thoughts. Those girls sure were nice. I couldn't help but think back at all the kind things they said. They barely even know me, yet they were willing to help me out. Hell, they even called me their friend! I still couldn't even believe how trusting they had been about the whole thing. But what was up with Applejack earlier? The way she acted, made it seem she almost related to my problems. I decided to file that thought in the folder for later. "So.... I guess we're house mates now, huh?" I asked Spike, hoping to keep the conversation light. "I guess so." He replied, turning to give me a quick look. "Hopefully now that you're here, the castle won't be so quite anymore. Just between you & me the place can get pretty boring most of the time." "It'll be our little secret." I chuckled. We passed one more hallway and a few rooms before we finally stopped at a door, which I tooked to be my now room. "We're here." Spike proclaimed as he pointed at the door with his claw. "Guess I'll let you relax now. See ya." And with that, he started to slowly make his way down the hall. "Thanks Spike. I guess i'll see you tomorrow." "Oh, that reminds me!" He said as he stopped to turn around to face me again. "Just a heads up, Twilight likes to wake real early in the mornings. Just figured I'd give you the heads up." "Thanks." I said with a small smile as I watched the small dragon disappear behind the hallway's corner. I then opened the door and step through the threshold. As I walked into the room, I took another look around. The place sure was nice, no denying that. Far better then any other place I've ever stayed at before. If I was forced to live in a magical world as a talking pony, then I was glad it was someplace nice like this. Better then sleeping in the wilderness or some cave. I flopped belly down on the bed, limp as a noodle and completely exhausted. I was spent, mentally, physically and emotionally. I was just going to lay here and recover from it all. I had no choice now but to move forword and await until Twilight and the other princesses came up with a way to send me home. I'll just have to get used to being a pony in Equestria with my new friends. My friends.... And with that little thought in my head, I fell asleep.