I woke up the next day and instead of a sudden and poor wake up like usual I saw a sight that made my heart explode again. Scootaloo was curled up on my chest using my beard as a pillow. (Fun fact: a beard is really scratchy when it first comes in but eventually gets extremely soft with proper care) 'twas a tender moment in my life...or it would be if her hair wasn't in my face. I tried to remain still and slowly moved scootaloo onto the side of the bed. I managed to get some breakfast (Mac and cheese for the win) and clean myself up, our special guest in the closet was finally waking up...i think? It was more like she fell out of the closet somehow.
"Welcome to the world of the living"
She still looked like she did when she was with Luna. Just smaller, her fur is grey and she was just a bit less...pronounced. Now that I had gotten a good look at her I could tell she was starved and in need of food
"I really don't know anything about you other then you were a parasite...but it seems like you Can think and talk independently without a host...man that sounds weird"
"...?"
She stumbled, looks like she isn't used to being weak...or hungry
"Ok, hold on a second."
I went back over to the stove and scooped up a bowl of mac and cheese, she looked at me confused.
"Here, eat this."
she very hesitantly took the spoon and in one of the most intense moments of my life she took a bite. Her eyes lit up like a goddamm Christmas tree and she devoured the bowl of cheesy noodles. I'm sad to say that she broke my record and yet I felt very proud of her.
"Feel better?"
She nodded and I'm pretty sure it was here that it hit her. She was real, not some nightmare or some weird body snatcher thing, but a living and breathing being,
She closed in and gave me a hug.
Yep, even while cursed I'm still apparently the smoothest fucker around
"thank you"
"Any time"
"how? How is this even possible?"
"Well i still had to pay a price"
"what?"
I lifted up my pants leggings and stretched my legs while performing the ol'razzle dazzle as my legs showed the consequences of my actions
"Sometimes being selfless brings a reward, you. but mostly (inhales) DEM KNEES (MMMHHH)."
"..."
Her horn lit up and she looked at me curiously. she then smiled in a non evil way.
as her horn got even brighter and I felt tired again, but I wasn't out yet
"What? But why-"
"let me help you"
Damm huge blue caring eyes, always convincing me of things
"...I trust you."
She seemed bewhiskered and bamboozled at my response.
"really?"
And by God I felt warm and fuzzy, I fell asleep and I woke up a few hours later In bed.
"Huh. Wonder what she did"
"HE'S AWAKE!"
I was concerned
"Where's nightmare?"
"in the basement."
"... Aren't we in the basement?"
I looked around and I saw twilight headed down the stairs and I also saw nightmare in the corner
I got up ignoring twilight and went over to my new friend.
"So, what did you do?"
She gave a smile and pointed to the magic device from last time,
"..."
I went over to the device and with the help of a nearby wrench I screwed in the tubes that broke off when twilight used it,
I stepped inside and started the device,
*DING*
The results were in.
No magic detected, Invalid input.
Guess what that means?
"...you didn't..."
"I did"
"FREE HUGS FOR ALL"
I gave her a big hug that she returned, then Clyde, and finally a bewildered Twilight.
"well that's one gift ruined"
"What?"
"you know the prick from the gala? I sent him off to collect the ingredients for the curse remover"
He pulled out a bottle with a very familiar elderich green glow...
"Dude. I think that's the same as the stuff that was in the box"
He gave me a dumbfounded look as I took the large bottle and inspected it
It looked like a propane tank from afar
"Holy shit dude, I think we just came full circle"
*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*
I went upstairs the propane tank forgotten and I completely oblivious to the fact that nightmare had been blushing since the hug.
"pleasebeapizzaguypleasebeapizzaguypleasebeapizzaguy"
"hi! I wasn't aloud to throw you a party until now because somepony was lazy and unmotivated so I decided on a pizza party!"
"HUGS"
Clyde came up stairs and the rest of the mane six followed pinky and entered the treehouse
"...uh pinky? I think you broke him"
"OOOH why are you speaking in rainbows Noah?"
"Wait what"
"what"
"what"
"...ok then. let's eat!"
We went over to the table in the kitchen and she set the pizzas down when suddenly from the basement:
"GIRLS GET THE ELEMENTS!"
The six hurried and as they entered the basement they threw on the elements of harmony. I was scared of what was happening so I rushed after them and saw twilight holding down nightmare.
"Oh shit"
"wait! This is all a big misunderstanding-"
Twilight put her element on and her eyes started glowing.
"DONT LIE TO US"
I was faced with an ultimatum. Nightmare looked at me with fear in her eyes. And twilight was charging up the elements.
I ran as fast as I could and my Logic was somewhat that if it nearly killed her when she was at full power...then this time she would die for real. I shoved nightmare out of the way much to the supprise of the six and Clyde and the beam fired with me as the target.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
I took the hit and then just as quick as it started. It was over. The screams faded out and I drifted away surprisingly painlessly. All that was left was a dark smudge where I once was....