//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: Friendship Is Magic! ... Unless You Are a Human // by Huk //------------------------------// In the early afternoon of the same day, the Ponyville market was still bustling with activity, with ponies of all kind buying and selling stuff or just relaxing in the sun after another day of work. Among the crowd, Cheerilee and Apple Bloom were taking a walk, talking about something. “Are you sure it wasn’t just misplaced?” Apple Bloom said, seeing a worried expression on Cheerilee’s face. “I mean, always when vacations start, there is a bit of a mess inside the school.” “Yes, Apple Bloom I know – who do you think cleans all those books desks and stuff? And it’s possible that I just put it somewhere, but… I don’t recall moving it.” “You really think somepony… stole it?” Cheerilee sighed, slowly shaking her head. “I don’t know yet… But that crystal globe is worth a lot of bits. Our school only got it because of Princess Twilight, as I’m sure you remember…” Apple Bloom cocked her head. “Um, not really, should I?” “I see somepony was not paying attention in class… again,” Cheerilee arched her eyebrow making a sheepish grin fill Apple Bloom’s quickly blushing face. “The globe is made from the purest magical crystal from Crystal Empire—” “That’s why it’s glowing?” “Yes, it’s also how it can project a holographic map on the floor – that, I’m sure you do remember,” Apple Bloom nodded. “Well, the bottom line is that it’s very expensive, our school would never be able to afford it, but princess Cadance gave one to Princess Twilight as a birthday gift, and she was so generous to give it to us, after moving inside her new castle. It was a miracle it survived the destruction of the Golden Oak Library… If it really was stolen… that would be a great loss on many levels.” “Hmm, come to think of it… a few days ago Big Mac asked me if I took some cider out of the cellar. Apparently, more than a few bottles were missing.” “Interesting… Do you think someone stole them too?” “Well… when we had some cider missing in the past, it would usually turn out that either AJ or Granny took it, or that it went bad and they threw it away without telling anyone. But this time, Big Mac said that almost a whole case of the top quality stuff was gone…” Cheerilee smiled. “Rainbow Dash?” “I don’t think she would be that desperate… or daring,” Apple Bloom said with a chuckle. “I could ask Big Mac if he found it or not… unless you wanna do it, yourself?” Arching her eyebrow, Cheerilee turned to see the young filly smirking. “No, thank you – I would appreciate if you talk with him. Besides, I need to talk with foals using the playground near the school, maybe they saw something suspicious.” “Like what?” “I don’t know… some unknown pony snooping around, or acting weird, maybe? Or somepony with a big bag near the school… Things like that – at this point, anything could help.” “In that case, Scootaloo fits the description,” Apple Bloom said with a chuckle. “She even had the big school saddlebag the last time I saw her playing over there.” Cheerilee cocked her head. “You saw Scootaloo, acting weird near the school?” “No… I mean, lately Scootaloo is acting weird a lot, but that day she was probably using the playground. The only strange thing for me was the school saddlebag – those things are bulky and heavy, we usually don’t use them during vacations, unless going on a trip or—” “You need to move something big without anyone noticing?” “Yeah, I guess…” Apple Bloom turned to Cheerilee with a worried expression. “Wait… you don’t really think that Scootaloo—” “Right now, I’m just gathering information – I will have to ask her what she was doing.” “Probably using the playground, just like the others!” Cheerilee cocked her head. “Aren’t the three of you a bit… too old for that?” “Well… she might have been playing with other kids or… I don’t know… But she is not a thief!” “Apple Bloom, I’m not accusing anypony, I just want to talk with her, that’s all. If she was playing near the school, then perhaps she saw something suspicious.” Apple Bloom sighed. “I… understand. But, please don’t tell her I told you, OK? She has been acting a little crazy lately, and I wouldn’t want to add more hay to the flames.” Cheerilee let out a gentle chuckle, placing her hoof on Apple Bloom’s shoulder. “I thought Scootaloo was always acting a little crazy.” “No denying there,” the filly smiled, “but ever since the end of the school’s year, it’s more than a little… She is easily irritable, wants to do all the crazy stuff and yesterday when she hit… um, what was his name?” “John.” “Oh yeah, right. When she hit him with the scooter – we told her it was a bad idea to practice in the middle of Ponyville, but… there was no reasoning with her.” “Hmm, I will try to ask her about it too… Don’t worry, I’ll be discrete.” “Um, if you learn anything, could you please let me know? Sweetie Belle and I are starting to get worried.” “Of course,” Cheerilee smiled gently. She really is lucky to have such caring friends. “Thanks, Mrs. Cheerilee—” Apple Bloom paused and cocked her head a little. “Isn’t that… the human from yesterday?” She said, pointing her hoof at something in the distance. With a quick spin, Cheerilee turned around – her eyes scanning the direction filly was pointing at. “I don’t… Ah, there… Yes, I think that’s him.” Seems preoccupied… or depressed. John was sitting in one of the public benches – maybe one hundred meters away – with his head hanging low and swinging a large pen in his right hand. “Hey! Mister!” Cheerilee was snapped awake by a shout coming from Apple Bloom as she trotted towards him. “Apple Bloom! Applejack told you to… Hey, wait up!” *** A few minutes earlier, John and James were finally able to move outside Twilight’s castle. They were strolling towards the market when an alarm sound filled the air. “’Battery low’ … great. I don’t suppose you have a spare powered armor charger lying around, boss?” James chuckled. “Actually, I do, but we better get you some normal clothes instead. If only Rarity wasn’t on tour… How much juice you got left in that thing?” John glanced at the display on his right arm. “Should last until tomorrow.” “Tell you what, I will get you some clothes till then, but right now let’s just… relax,” James grinned. “How about we go waste ourselves for the old time’s sake?” “Somehow, I’m not in the mood…” James paused, as the grin on his face transformed into a worried expression. “John… Um, don’t take this the wrong way, but… I think that could actually help you right now.” “Did it help you? When you realized you are alone, I mean. How did you survive that?” “Hope at first – traveling around the world searching for potential survivors, then denial, drinking, crying, smashing stuff,” James let out a sigh. “Then… looking for a way out.” “Meaning…?” “Let’s just say, that you weren’t the only one who wanted to end it all.” John let out a dark chuckle. “Fucking hypocrite…” “Hey, I was alone on a dead rock – you’re not. I tried offing myself only after spending nearly a hundred years looking for survivors! This is actually how I ended up here. I found one of those experimental quantum-chamber mambo-jumbos, fired it up, went inside and… Bam! Next thing I know, I’m lying… in Celestia’s bed!” “Right…” John cocked his head, arching his eyebrow. “Were there seventy-two virgins near the bed, too?” Smiling sheepishly, James let out a chuckle. “Ugh, fine, Celestia’s bed part I made up, but the rest is true.” “The way the two of you were talking, something tells me you wouldn’t mind landing in her bedchamber…” James rolled his eyes. “Ugh, I already had this conversation with Luna and—” “Luna?” “Her sister and a friend. She told me I should give Celestia a… royal treatment!” “Her own sister is telling you to go for it? Damn!” “Yeah, Luna’s crazy… or she just wants to watch as Celestia disembowels me!” “Don’t try to BS me, man - you two are just too nasty to each other not to have been… nasty.” “Look! Celestia may be a cartoonish-looking beaut, with an IQ of 300+, big gorgeous eyes and a majestic ass…” James smiled involuntarily for a moment but quickly jerked his head a second later. “But, there is nothing between us, got it? Nada, zero, null!” “Fine, I believe there is nothing between the two of you,” John smirked. “Nothing yet, anyway.” James rolled his eyes in frustration and wanted to respond, but his enhanced ears started picking up disturbing whispers coming from the ponies around them. Glancing from left to right, he slowly scanned the horizon, listening to the various conversations. … that thing? Watch it, Applejack says it’s trouble … … wonder what he did? … a killer, like the other one … …I bet one of them stole my bits! “Earth to Gastovski, hello!” A shout from John interrupted his pondering. “You OK boss? You looked lost for a moment there…” James took a deep, slow breath. “I’m fine…” She told them, I know she did… God damn you AJ! “Say… Are you hungry, man?” “Starving! I could eat a horse!” Some nearby ponies cocked their heads in his direction. “Right… Better not use that phrasing here, huh?” “I told you they taste bad, but if you really want, we could hunt down Rainbow Dash, later – that bitch had it coming. But right now, here,” James passed him a small, bits filled pouch. “Go buy yourself some fruit or veggie, I… need to go talk to Applejack.” “The horse that hates me?” John cocked his head. “What for?” To rip her head off! “I just… need to ask her one thing – it’s better if I go alone, you understand.” “Got it, I’ll buy something and wait… over there,” John pointed at one of the empty benches, James nodded quietly and went away. Walking between the stands, John glanced at the delicious-looking food. His eyes darted from one booth to another as he tried to make up his mind between chocolate cake, fresh baked goods that were still letting off some steam, and some various fruits and veggies. The delightful smell in the air wasn’t making a choice any easier. After careful consideration, he decided to go for something healthy. “How much for five carrots?” “Those are not for sale,” Carrot Top said with a stoic face. “Huh? You just sold some a few seconds ago…” “Allow me to rephrase that, hon… I’m not selling them – to you.” John frowned. “Why?” “Applejack wouldn’t attack someone for no reason. If she says you are evil, it means you must have done something to deserve it!” “But, I—” “I don’t want to have anything to do with the likes of you! Go away, you are scaring the customers!” John wanted to protest, but instead shook his head and quietly walked away – after all, she was right… or at least wasn’t entirely wrong. He tried buying something from other ponies, but no matter where he went, everything was either sold out or reserved. After a few minutes of trying, it became painfully obvious that he wouldn’t be able to buy anything. He gave up and sat on the bench. “This will be a long thirty days…” He said with a bitter chuckle and a resigned expression on his face. As he sat there with his head hanging low waiting for James to return, each minute seemed like an hour. He pulled out his canteen to take a sip when something fell out from his pocket and hit the ground nearby. He cocked his head and picked up the object – It was a large retractable pen, with a ‘World’s Best Dad’ writing on it – the once shining metallic surface, now scratched and dull. Staring at the object, John let out a deep sigh and gently shook his head, but subconsciously started playing with it at the same time. He was swinging the pen between his fingers and around his hands when a poke snapped him awake. “You OK, mister?” John turned his head, but as soon as he saw who had touched him his eyes widened. “Gah!” He huffed, simultaneously raising his arms in a defensive posture. “Get away from me kid! I can still feel my ribs aching from the last encounter!” “Good day Mr. Wildman,” Cheerilee said gently, joining them. “That’s not the word I’d use, but… Good day to you too.” “Apple Bloom, shouldn’t you be… somewhere else?” Brilliant Cheerilee, no hinting at all… Cheerilee had hoped, that she would get lucky, that the filly in question would catch her drift and make some excuse to just walk away… Unfortunately, the confused expression coming from Apple Bloom’s face told her, luck was not on her side that day. “Um, not really? I did all my chores already…” “But… didn’t Applejack tell you to… you know.” “Told me what?” Apple Bloom shook her head. “I don’t recall anything—” John let out a chuckle. “Mrs. Cheerilee – if I remember correctly – is probably trying to give you a hint, that you should run before I have you for dinner or something,” John glanced at Cheerilee just as she bit her lip, and looked away – her cheeks more red than Sweet Apple Acres finest apples during the harvest. “Yeah, I notice already, that I’m a very popular person around these parts. So, how about you listen to the advice?” He let out a sigh, locking his eyes on the ground again. “Really, just… leave me be – both of you.” Apple Bloom glanced at the confused Cheerilee, then back at John again, his eyes locked in place and head gently shaking from left to right. Why is Applejack so angry with him? Seems pretty harmless… ”I’m sorry, it’s just… You look sad, I just wondered… Need any help or something?” “Not unless you know of any spells that could make a person disappear…” “Um... Earth ponies don’t do spells mister – you need a horn for that. Perhaps Princess Twilight could—” A loud gurgle coming from his stomach interrupted her. “You hungry?” “Hungry? No, I don’t think so… I mean – If I were hungry, I would grab some cash, and go to the market. And if I had done that, I would pick some fruit, veggie or one of those delicious looking cakes that makes you dribble. Then, of course, I would stand in the line, and like any good customer pay for it,” he put on a sarcastic smile. “But… since the ponies on the market said they won’t sell me anything, and I better move out of there in ’fast pace’ – if you catch my drift – we can only draw one conclusion: that I must not be hungry!” Another gurgle filled the air. “Oh, quiet you! Ponies know better… they know everything better…” Apple Bloom cocked her head, not entirely understanding what he said, Cheerilee interjected instead. “Why would they not sell to you?” He let out a dark chuckle. “I’m a monster – can’t you tell?” “You don’t look like one,” Apple Bloom said. Just wait till you learn what I almost did to your sister, little one – then we’ll talk. He let out a heavy breath. “All I know is that everyone in the market, really embraced what your sister said about me, so I’m out of luck… How the hell does that Princess of yours expects me to survive here for another thirty days is beyond me…” “Why thirty days?” John bit his lip, realizing he said a little too much. “Um, that’s how long I’m planning to… stay – then I’m leaving.” “Oh? You plan to travel far?” “Yeah, you can say that – I’ll just be out of your hair.” Or everybody’s hair for that matter… It was then, he noticed Cheerilee with a worried expression on her face looking at him, or rather at a particular mark on his neck. “What is that?” She said pointing at the huge scar left by Celestia’s magic. “… old battle wound.” “Really?” Cheerilee cocked her head. “I don’t recall you having that earlier—” “You are mistaken!” He said in an angry voice making Cheerilee took a step back. “I’m sorry, I’m just on edge at the moment…” Cheerilee nodded, realizing not to push the subject. “It’s all right, given the circumstances, I understand. But the situation about not selling you food is just ridiculous! Please tell me what you want, and I’ll buy it.” “That’s very kind of you, but I’d rather not drag anybody else into this,” he sighed, “Sorry for being so negative, especially on such a lovely, cloudless day, but helping me, may not be the best of ideas right now.” He locked his eyes back to the ground waiting for them to leave when a juicy apple appearing right before his eyes. Cocking his head, he glanced up to see it being held by Apple Bloom. “I know it’s not much, but you can have it if you want,” Apple Bloom said with a smile. “Um… How much?” He said, frantically reaching out for his pouch. “It’s free, silly,” she said with a giggle. “I always pack some extra… Oh, you dropped this.” For the first time since he arrived here, John put on a sincere smile on his face. “Thank you kindly,” he said, grabbing the apple and the pen. “This pen is a gift from… someone special… It is very important to me.” “Really? What does the writing say?” “’World’s Best Dad,’” John said with a bitter chuckle. “Hardly true, but—” “You have kids, huh?” Apple Bloom brightened up. “Can I meet them?!” “One – a daughter…” John smiled gently. “Frankly, you remind me so much of her.” “I do?” Looking Apple Bloom in the eyes, John gently placed his hand on her mane, and to his surprise, she didn’t flinch, although a little confused expression filled her face. “Yes, you do. Just like her, you’re brave – because you’re not afraid to talk to a monster like me, kind – because you want to help, even when everybody else is giving me the cold shoulder, and independent… because you completely ignored your older sister,” he said with a smirk, forcing a light chuckle from Cheerilee and a blush on Apple Bloom’s cheeks. “Perhaps, you’ll meet her someday, but hopefully…” he squeezed his watery eyes shut. “It will be a very, very long time from now.” The expression on Cheerilee’s face change in the blink of an eye, as the gravity of his words, struck her. With a sad smile, she stared in silence at the sniffling human and the confused filly in front of her – searching for words. She wanted to say something comforting, something uplifting, something that would ease the pain, but her mind was blank. She couldn’t come out with anything that would work… if such a thing even existed. I’m so sorry, John… A shade of a dark cloud that suddenly appeared nearby interrupted the scene. “Hrmph, so much for the cloudless day…” John said with a little smile, wiping some water from his eyes. “I bet that thing just saw me getting all emotional and mushy and decided to add to the mood.” “Odd… I could swear there was no rain scheduled for today – you know anything about it, Apple Bloom?” “Nope… Those new weather ponies must have messed up again!” Apple Bloom shook her head in frustration. “Something wrong mister?” “You guys schedule rain?!” John said with a bewildered expression on his face. “Yeah, you don’t?” “Not really…” John glanced at the cloud and smirked. “Scheduled rain, nice...” He cocked his head. “Is it just me, or is that thing going directly this way—” A chuckle coming from the cloud was the answer. “Time for some shocking encounter!” “Rainbow Dash, no!” *** Meanwhile, on the other side of the market, Applejack was standing behind her stance, serving another customer. “That will be ten bits,” Applejack said, with a tired voice. “Here you go,” the customer mare said, handing her the money, “My dear, don’t get me wrong, but are you feeling alright today?” Applejack sighed, no she wasn’t all right, not in the slightest. The incident with John was still fresh in her mind, and there was also a matter of contract that she had to somehow fulfill – the unpredictable weather wasn’t helping with that either. The problems just kept piling up, with no end in sight and she needed to figure them out, alone. As much as she tried, she couldn’t stop thinking about it, and it was slowly driving her mad. “I’ll be fine...” Applejack said. “Today was just crazy, that’s all—” “The day is still young,” James suddenly interjected, with a very serious look on his face. “We need to talk... ALONE,” he shot a glare at the other mare, his stare cold and intimidating. Seconds later she quickly trotted away without a word, leaving them alone. Applejack was not pleased. “What the hay do you think you are doing?!” Applejack shouted. “Who the heck do you think you are, harassing my—” James slammed his fist into her stand, making the whole thing jump in the process – stopping her rant immediately. “You couldn’t keep your mouth shut, could you? You had to tell everyone what happened?!” “I only told the Princess…” “Oh, so you didn’t call him a monster in front of everyone?” There was no answer, Applejack just glanced apathetically at the ground. “Why are you doing this? You are making him suffer to take some revenge on me? Is that it?!” “What? No!” “Then why? Why the hell are you doing this?” “Because he tried to kill me!” Applejack said through clenched teeth. Glancing at the shaking figure of Applejack, James let out a sigh. Being immortal made him forget how traumatic a near-death experience could be for a normal person, and only now, he was starting to consider things from Applejack’s point of view. After a moment of silence calmed him down, he said, “Look… I realize that for some reason you hate me, and John had a very crappy ‘entrance’ as well, but I’m asking you... I’m begging you – give him a chance, he’s one of the good guys. And if not for me, then do it for Celestia – he’s her personal project. Applejack stared wide-eyed at the being in front of her – knowing Gastovski’s attitude, she expected the yelling and accusations, perhaps even some sort of a fight, but not him standing there with a helpless expression on his face and practically pleading on behalf of his friend. “What does he has to do with the Princess?” She finally said, but, before James could respond, a sound of a thunder strike followed by a loud scream that faded a moment later, filled the air. *** A single, thick stormy cloud was hanging over the center of Ponyville, contrasting with the clear sky above, underneath it a rainbow-tail pegasus was rolling on the floor, laughing hysterically. “Ha, ha! Gotcha!” She shouted towards the creature lying face down on the ground. Looking at her handiwork, Rainbow Dash was as high as a kite, she finally managed to zap Gastovski! She wanted to do that ever since a few months ago, she saw first-hoof, how hilarious he acted after getting hit with a powerful enough bolt. “Rainbow! What did you do?!” Something interrupted her laughter, nudging her roughly. “He isn’t moving!” Dash opened her eyes, to notice Cheerilee, staring at her in shock. “Relax, Gastovski’s immortal, remember?” She said, waving her hoof dismissingly. “Just you wait till he wakes up, you’re gonna laugh your flank off when you hear him talk—” “That’s not Gastovski!” “Yeah, right…” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Like we have another weirdo with two legs, wearing that ridiculous outfit!” With her mouth agape, Cheerilee trotted to the unconscious human, trying to turn him over. “Argh! His clothes are hot!” She turned to a small crowd that gathered nearby. “Someone get some water and call the nurse ponies, quickly!” But instead of a helping hoof, the only thing she got were some comments coming from the crowd. “He is probably drunk… again – leave him be,” some stallion said, walking away. “Hey! Bring the cart so we can move him to the Everfree before he wakes up – like the last time!” Rainbow let out a chuckle. “I like the way you think, Bon Bon!” Cheerilee glanced at John, then back at the crowd again, shaking her head vigorously. “What’s going on here!” She stomped her hoof to the ground, sending some dust in the air. “Can’t you see he’s hurt?! Didn’t you hear the thunder strike?!” “Since when a bolt of lightning can hurt anypony?” Someone interjected. “We better get back to work.” And just like that crowd started to dissipate, ponies returning to their daily routine, leaving only smirking Rainbow Dash, bewildered Cheerilee and terrified Apple Bloom at the scene. The filly in question was silently staring at the motionless body this whole time with a blank expression on her face. “Apple Bloom, I need you to go get some help,” Cheerilee said, but there was no reaction. “Apple Bloom? Can you hear me?!” Rainbow arched her eyebrow. “Hey, don’t worry squirt! He should reboot in a jiffy and then, I guarantee you’ll laugh so hard that—” “JOHN?!” A scream interrupted her. “What the... What the hell?!” “W-what? But... You? How?” Rainbow stammered, trying to comprehend what was going on. “If you then...” Suddenly her eyes widened as realization struck her. “Who did I zap?” “You... WHAT?!” “I tried to turn him over, but… that clothing of his is hot!” Cheerilee said. “Stand back!” James shouted, flipping the body upside-down. Only then the gruesome view revealed the gravity of the situation to everyone – front of John’s armor was ripped open, showing his badly burned body; his chest and left arm took most of the damage and were still smoking, filling the air with the stench of burned flesh. “Jesus, what a mess! APE, analyze his condition!” For a moment, silence filled the air, as the scan took place. It was only a few seconds at most, but for James, and now horrified Rainbow Dash, it felt like an eternity. “Multiple injuries plus cardiac arrest – condition critical!” APE said. “Charge the AED!” James took out a high-tech med-kit from one of the pockets on his armor and injected something directly into John’s heart. In the meantime, Cheerilee tried to screen Apple Bloom from the view. “Come with me Apple Bloom, I’ll get you home,” she said, but the filly didn’t budge. Instead, her eyes suddenly widened even more as James started shocking his friend with the defib – making his body twitch and jerk. Cheerilee once again tried forcing the filly to leave, but Apple Bloom was like a statue not moving even an inch. “Heartbeat detected,” the sudden announcement coming from APE, snapped everyone awake. “Lung movement as well – Sgt. Wildman’s core vital functions have been restored, sir, but they are erratic – hospitalization required.” “Let’s get him to Twilight’s castle—” “Sir, currently the equipment at the castle is not human-optimized. Due to the nature of sergeant’s injuries, full hospitalization is required.” “Fine…” James stood up, wiping some of the blood off his hands. “Cheerilee, you better get Apple Bloom home. I need to get him to the hospital,” Cheerilee nodded in agreement. “Is he gonna be OK?” Apple Bloom said, her eyes not leaving John’s body. Looking at the terrified expression on the filly’s face, James shook his head and sighed. “I really don’t know – go home, there is nothing you can do.” With her head hanging low, Apple Bloom silently went towards Sweet Apple Acres, alongside Cheerilee, leaving the gruesome scene behind them. Clenching his fists, James turned to Rainbow Dash who was silently lurking nearby and nervously chewing on her lip. She saw first-hoof what he could do, but she was never afraid of him. But that day, looking into his big mad eyes and clenched teeth was sending a tingling sensation up her spine, making her heart pound as if it wanted to burst out of her chest. After a moment of piercing her with her gaze, he shut his eyes closed, and let out a few deep, slow sighs. “Go to Twilight’s castle, and tell her that I’m taking John to the hospital.” “You... Um, don’t need any help carrying him...?” Rainbow asked, swallowing hard – she already knew the answer, but needed to ask the question anyway. “I think, you ‘helped,’ quite enough,” he said with a bitter chuckle, “just let Twilight know.” Picking up his barely alive friend, James turned towards the Ponyville hospital, leaving Dash alone. As she stared off into the distance with her head bowed down in silence, some tears started to flow down her cheeks. “What the buck did you do Dash…”