//------------------------------// // Eyes In the Window // Story: The Guardian From Afar 3: Return to Earth // by LukeTheMercenary //------------------------------// Separation... Loneliness... Anguish... Homesickness... These are among the many words that echoed through my mind as I lied on the bed in my cell. The feelings were colder than the Midas touch. More lonely than the deepest regions of space. I glanced at the floor in my cell. Various drawings of those I cared about were scattered across the cracked white tiles. Drawings of Scootaloo, Applejack, and her family members I grew close to. Accompanying them were dozens of empty black markers. These drawings were mine. Making these drawings were the only way to comfort myself from the pain that plagued me. I used the tiny amounts of ink to mark my time in my cell. Days turned to weeks. Weeks turned to months. All the while, nothing would change. Black tally marks lined the wall next to my bed. No matter how much the guards would yell at me, I still marked my time. For some strange reason, they kept supplying me with paper and markers. I never complained, though. It was the only way to keep my sanity. I started growing a beard and mustache since they never let me shave. Wake up, eat, sleep, repeat. That was how it was. All alone in that dark cell. No friends, hardly any interaction with another living thing, and silence following me like a tax collector. It felt WORSE than when my father and brother died. How did I end up like this? I guess I should explain how before I get too further into this... I whistled as I waited for Scootaloo and Apple Bloom to exit their school. Applejack assigned me with picking them both up. She had to take care of some business back at her farm, and me being a loyal boyfriend...I agreed. Oh yeah, I should tell you about that. After the Spoiled Rich incident, Applejack and I started dating for a week, until we became an official couple. Some ponies in town were happy, and accepted it...and others got irritated. I chose to ignore those who disagreed, I really could've cared less what they thought. As for the Apple family, they were happy for us as well. It wasn't long before they started looking at me as if I was an official member of their family. It was great. Anyways, Scootaloo ran out of school excitedly and jumped into my arms with the help of her wings. "Daddy!" Scootaloo said excitedly as she hugged me with all her strength. "Scoots! Did you have a nice day at school?" I asked. "Yeah!" "Great." I looked around, "Uh...where's Apple Bloom?" "Oh...she's going to take a while to come out. Something's been bothering her." "What has?" Right when I finished asking her that, Apple Bloom stumbled out of the door. She really did look like a mess. Her pink bow was positioned a little off to the right, her mane was quite frazzled, and her eyelids hung low over her eyes. "Oh." I said. I approached Apple Bloom and kneeled to speak to her. "You okay, Apple Bloom? You look dead today." I said. "I'm...fine, Will. Just a little..." she yawns, "Tired, is all." I set Scootaloo down on the ground, "Want me to carry you home?" "Nah...I'm good..." She then fell into the dirt, fast asleep. I picked her up, and walked along the trail to take her home. When we finally arrived, I let myself in and set Apple Bloom on the couch. This was certainly unlike her. I was about to leave when I heard a familiar voice call for me from behind. "Will!" A deep voice said. "Mac! Good to see you, bro." I replied. "Apple Bloom tired?" "Yeah. Had to carry her here." "Hm...she's been actin' strange lately." "Really? How so?" "For the past few weeks, she's been sayin' that every night a monster with red eyes would walk around the farm...and stare into her window. She's up all night about this." "Have...you investigated this?" "Why should I? All foals were afraid of monsters in the dark. I was." "Did you ever see it?" "Of course not." "If Apple Bloom says she actually sees this thing, you maaaaaay want to be concerned." "As much as I'd love to help my little sister with her active imagination, I do have important work to do. Important work means a LOT of sleep at night." "Well...what if I decided to investigate this?" "Knock y'self out." I saw Granny Smith rocking quietly in her chair, and decided to bring up my interest in this alleged "monster." "I was wondering," I started, "If Scoots could sleep over tonight. I want to spend the night making sure there are no monsters or ghosts here, and I don't want to leave her home alone." "You'd do that? That's really nice of ya. Of course she can." She responded. "Great! Thanks." I went outside the house to find Scootaloo chatting with Applejack as she pulled a cart full of apples. I approached them and got their attention. "Hey Scoots! Howdy, AJ." I said, kneeling and kissing Applejack's cheek. "Howdy, Will." Applejack replied, blushing. "So Scoots, how would you like to spend the night with Apple Bloom tonight?" "Wow, really?" "Sure. I have to do some...work...and It will take all night." "Awesome! I'm gonna wake Apple Bloom up and tell her the news!" Scootaloo ran off and into the farmhouse, leaving Applejack and I alone. "You're so sweet," AJ said. "Hm?" I asked. "I know why you're doing this. You wanna help mah little sister with her monster trouble, doncha?" "How did you know?" "I expect that comin' from you." She gets up on her hind legs and kisses me, which I return. She then gets back on her four legs. "Well, I've got lots to do. I'll see ya tonight." AJ said, giving me a wink. "See ya, AJ." I replied. I reentered the house to see Scootaloo talking to a still-sleeping Apple Bloom. I told her to come home so she could pack. We got home, and we began packing our items. While I was packing some of the essentials, I knew that there was one thing I was going to HAVE to take: my rifle. The Spoiled Rich incident had made me become a very paranoid person, so I knew that spending the night at Sweet Apple Acres without it would be a stupid idea. I wasn't willing to take any risks, whatever Apple Bloom was seeing. I took legitimate ammunition and put it into my backpack. After we packed up, we stayed at home and ate dinner. After dinner, it was 8:00 PM. We took our items and went outside. Scootaloo practically bounced all the way to Sweet Apple Acres, while I was just concerned about the situation. We arrived at about 8:17 PM, and I knocked on the door. Applejack answered, and smiled upon seeing us. "Howdy! You both came a little earlier than expected," she said as she let us in, "We just finished eatin' supper, but there's still some left. Ya hungry?" "No thanks, we're good." I replied. "Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom yelled in excitement from the top of the stairs, "Come on up!" "Coming!" Scootaloo said before running up the stairs with her items in tow. "Heh, cute." I said. I turned to Applejack. "Where's everyone else?" I asked. "Asleep. I just stayed up so I can greet you two." she replied. "Ah, okay. Now, I'm going to ask you a weird question." Applejack's ears perked up and she looked lustfully at me. "Yeeeeees..?" she asked. I leaned in, and she turned her head. I gently, quietly whispered the following to her: "How do I get on the roof?" I asked. I positioned myself on the rooftop of the farmhouse. Peering through the scope of my rifle, I scanned the surrounding area for potential threats. Even the smallest movement in the corner of my eye would make me turn to look. I was prepared to shoot anything that looked menacing. I even had my suppressor removed...so if I fire at something, the whole family would be alerted of the incoming danger. Seconds turned to minutes, and minutes turned to hours. I must've been up there for two hours, just watching over the dark fields. I jumped when I felt something poke me. I yelped and turned around...to see Applejack behind me. "How...how did you climb the ladder up here?" I asked, scratching my head. "Hush now, everypony's asleep." she replied, looking into my eyes. "So..?" Applejack leans in and kissed me passionately. I couldn't help but kiss back. I finally released and backed up. "No...AJ, I can't. I got a job to do." I said. "Lighten up, Sugarcube," she said, "It's not like anypony'll stop us." We then continued kissing for a while. Suddenly, I heard a branch snap below me. Then I heard the sound of Scootaloo and Apple Bloom screaming. I pulled away from the kiss and peered over the roof. I saw a dark figure standing outside their window, using another ladder to see. "HEY!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. The figure looked up at me, and I got a good look at it. It was wearing a black skintight rubber suit, and a black gas mask to go with it. The scary part? The big, round eyes were glowing red. The other scary part? It looked like a human was in that suit. Upon seeing me, it jumped off the ladder and bolted off. I wasn't going to let it get away. I shot at it, the thundering noise of the bullet ripped through the sky. However, I missed. I strapped the rifle to my back and jumped off the roof. I landed without a scratch. "WHAT IN THE HAY ARE YOU DOING?!" Applejack asked. "I'm going after that thing!" I replied before bolting for the creature. I ran as fast as my legs could take me. The creature was meters away, but I couldn't lose it. Sweat poured down my face like Niagara Falls, my feet hurt, and my legs felt as weak as toothpicks. I was running off of adrenaline at this point. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I stopped to catch my breath. When my breathing returned to normal, I noticed something: it was quiet. Too quiet. Darkness surrounded me, and I could only hear my breathing. Suddenly, I heard a "pfft" noise and felt a pain in my neck. I touched it, and I felt metal and something fuzzy at the end. It was a tranquilizer dart. That was the last thing I remembered before I passed out.