//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: The Truth Behind My Little Pony // by Opium4TmassS //------------------------------// Somehow the hard drive and letter had made it back with me intact. How Simon managed to do that I still have no idea. After some hitchhiking and a plane ride back I was more than prepared to explain anything that was required. However, upon reading the letter which apparently detailed Laura’s resignation, a final ad plan for the My Little Pony toy line along with several favorable contracts for the manufacture of said toys the executives didn’t have much to say to me. When the meeting concluded we walked out of the board room and one of them clapped me on the back. “Well no need to worry about the past,” he said holding the hard drive, “With this we can eventually build to a much better future.” The check they cut me was substantial. So much so, that after a few more meaningless articles for that paper I was able to quit it altogether. The shadows no longer tormented me and even though the food was terrible I was full. Eventually life became dull. Well, until I found the shotgun behind the dresser anyway. After months of planning I was ready. It was late in the evening of Thanksgiving when I pulled into the parking lot of the Walmart. The rain hadn’t slacked for a second that day. Yet, in spite of the storm large crowds gathered in front of the store, clamoring, shoving, swearing and generally carrying on. I watched them from my car and fingered the trigger the gun’s trigger. I could feel the slow smile of anticipation cross my face. It was time to spice things up. When the first shot rang out and two people fell I felt a rush that I hadn’t felt before. So I did it again and again. By the time the authorities arrived I’d made a nice little home among the fallen. Their blood warmed me and for the first time since I’d made it back from Ponyville I felt alive. They took me into custody. I told them my story and what I did. After some legal maneuvering I was remanded to the custody of Smith’s Grove. “Your story hasn’t changed since you got here, though your attitude has.” “How’s that?” “When you first got here you were hell bent on getting out. You’d claimed that it wasn’t you who’d done it.” I shrugged and looked off to the side, “Things have come together since then.” “I’d also like to understand something else,” said Dr. Evergloam. I cocked my head to the side and bade him to ask it. The evening shadows now separated the two of us. He cleared his throat and asked, “Why did you start your story in the third person and once you woke up transition to a first person?” “Well,” I said leaning back against the wall, “That Josh didn’t exactly make it out of Ponyville.” “Oh I imagine not,” said Dr. Evergloam as he finished writing his notes, “It just wouldn’t do right?” “Doctor,” I said quietly, “Before we started this session I’d asked how the world was doing and you gave a passable answer. You then said that you might be able to have me released or at the least moved to a minimum security area.” “I did.” “We both know you’re lying.” “Why do you say that?” “We both know as things stand you think I’ll never get out of here and that if I do it will only be so that I can eventually find my way to the gas chamber,” I said then chuckled, “The funny thing is I can leave anytime I want.” Dr. Evergloam grumbled and slowly stood, “Well I think I have enough information here for the courts to make a proper decision regarding you.” “You don’t believe a word I’ve said do you?” Dr. Evergloam sighed quietly, “It’s pretty farfetched.” I gazed up at the silhouette of the tall doctor as I watched the orderly slide in behind him. “Doctor perhaps I can show you something concrete to change your mind,” I looked behind the doctor, “Grab him.” Without a word the orderly grabbed Dr. Evergloam. He cussed and he struggled but fell silent as he watched me. His lips quivered as my horn pierced through the skin of Josh’s forehead. Slowly the disguise fell away and when it did he saw just what lay beneath the human shell. He screamed. “Let him go Mac. I don’t want him messing this place up now. We need to have this place pristine to hold those who know too much or who we intend to keep for,” I smiled as I added the word, “Dinner.” Mac nodded in agreement and released the doctor who ran down the hall screaming as loud as he could for help. “So,” asked Mac his orderly garb starting to tear, “Who gets him?” “The Dream Princess is in the parking lot right now. He’s the right size.” I sighed and stretched my wings, “How is Fluttershy doing? Has she made any progress with that actress yet?” “Some,” replied Mac as he pulled a small needle and thread and began sewing up the tear, “She’s been modified as much as we can but, honestly there’s only so much that can be done and studied on one human.” “What about the one that called herself Perdy? Did we ever find who it was that was in that body?” “We only found the body. Mrs. Cake thought she was asleep when she struck.” “Say no more,” I said dismissively. “What are you going to do now that you can’t fit into your Josh costume anymore,” asked Mac as he finished sewing up his Jacob suit. “Stuff the skin and write it up as a suicide. As for me well… I did see a decent sized prison librarian while I was in jail and I am feeling a tad bookish today. I think she’d be a good fit. Have her sent over for evaluation.” “Will do.”