//------------------------------// // Strange New World // Story: Second Chance // by ultspideyfan //------------------------------// "Ow. What the hell was that?" Michael goes to rub his eyes, but stops when he sees hooves instead of hands. "CASSIDY! YOU BETTER NOT BE FUCKING WITH ME!" He receives no answer from his baby brother. He awkwardly gets up on all fours. He begins examining his surroundings. Everywhere he looked there were colorful ponies going about their day. "My fur isn't purple, or peeling off, maybe I..." Michael takes a quick sniff of his foreleg. "YES! I don't smell like a corpse!" Michael didn't notice the figure that loomed over him. The figure tackles him and begins throwing punches. Michael uses his hind legs to kick his attacker off. Finally catching his breath, Michael and his attacker locked eyes with each other. "Where the fuck are we Mike!" His voice wasn't raspy as it usually was, in fact, it sounded like the voice Michael cherished as a child. "It's good to see you too father." The one across from him was William Afton who was still trapped in the Springbonnie suit. "Hey quick question, why do you look more like a bunny rather than an animatronic?" This causes William to look at his new form. Instead of seeing animatronic parts sticking to his flesh, he was instead looking at his dirty fur, which was rotting away. He noted that more of his bones were showing. "Well this is different." He looks back at Michael, who was now on his hooves. William just sat on the ground. He was just now noticing the fact that his son was a pony and that there were many others around. "You know what, how about we put our father vs. son thing aside and figure out where we are." "Here I thought you weren't reasonable." William scoffs as he gets up. He looks back at his frame again. Then to Michael. "Don't you think these ponies would be petrified if they saw me?" Michael looks his father up and down. "We need to get you something to wear." "You don't have pockets, so no cash." Michael sighs. "Then looks like we'll have to steal some clothing." "I don't think they'd have--" "Oh for the love of--we'll find some bandages instead!" William shakes his head and begins walking off. "Where do you think your going?" "I don't know maybe there's a town nearby." Michael gallops over, or at least he tries to, he trips and falls taking dirt in his mouth. He spits out the mouthful and gets back up to see William snickering. "Are you not used to your new form Mikey?" "Shut up." As William guessed it, the ponies were looking at him with those fear filled eyes. He's seen those eyes before. On the children he murdered. He closes his eyes, trying to block out the thoughts. "You alright father?" William opens his eyes again. "I normally never go back to that day, but the way these ponies are staring at me..." "I get it. You don't have to talk about it." "I regret everything I did that day." William said more to himself, but Michael heard him. Michael stops to talk to a pony that hadn't noticed them. William decides it best to make himself scarce for a bit. "Excuse me miss, I was wondering if you could lend a ha--I mean hoof, to me and my father?" The mare turns to face Michael. She looks at him and then around him. "Where's your father?" The mare pretty much whispered the question. "What'd you say?" "Where's your father?" She says louder. Michael looks behind him to notice his father's absence. He turns back to the mare, a sheepish smile formed on his face. "I'm sorry miss, I gotta go find my dear old dad. Please don't go anywhere." Michael begins searching for William. He finds him watching a family not to far away. "Father!" William jumps, his fur even rises. He turns to Michael who was looking at him with curiosity. "Don't sneak up on me okay. So, have you found a pony who's willing to help out?" "I sure hope so. Come on." Michael leads William back to the mare who had just finished her shopping. "Sorry to—" "Oh my goodness! W-wha-what is that?" "I'm a giant bunny who needs to patch himself up. Care to help or are you going to just stand there and cower in fear?" The mare gulps as William's eyes glow a bright green. She looks back at Michael. "He's harmless. Ain't that right dad?" "Yeah, totally." The mare stares at William again. She takes in a few deep breaths to compose herself. "Okay...I'll help. Follow me please." William cringes at her last words. The mare had led them to a cottage that was far from the town. The cottage was also littered with animals. The mare led them inside and instructed William to take a seat on the couch. She then went to another part of the house and within minutes came back with some medical supplies. "So are you a part time doctor or something?" William asks while chuckling. He looks inside the basket of supplies. "I have to take care of my animals in case they get hurt." "Where are my manners. My name is Michael Afton. That's my father, William. And thank you for doing this." "I'm Fluttershy. It's no big deal honestly." Fluttershy says this while looking at William nervously. She forces a smile to hide her nerves, but William seemed to see through her. "Ya gonna patch me up or no?" "Right, sorry sorry." Fluttershy went to work in stitching William's fur back together. During this process, William just stared at her. Fluttershy had once looked up to meet his gaze. His emerald eyes were headlights to her. She couldn't deny the fact that she loved the color of his eyes and how they seemed to glow. Fluttershy finished stitching him back up. She did the best she could with making him look "normal." "Thank you Fluttershy. We'll be heading out now." William stood up and began heading for the door. "Uh...where would we go father? We don't exactly have a place to stay." William groans. "And what are you suggesting?" He knew where this was heading, and he didn't like it. "You could stay here till we find a place for you." Fluttershy chimes in. William's frustration dies inside him. He unclenches his hand upon hearing her voice. "She reminds me so much of her." William thinks to himself. He sighs and steps away from the front door. "Fine we'll stay. But don't expect me to be your best buddy. I just needed a favor is all." William storms off to find something to entertain himself. "Ignore him. He's not all the way there." Michael says trying to calm Fluttershy down. Sure William didn't really yell, but it was the way his emerald eyes grew darker. It was as if another part of him was talking. "D-di-did you see how his eyes ch-changed?" "No. That's certainly a new thing though." Michael begins thinking about everything that had transpired today. "Father was acting different when we got here. At first he started to try and kill me, which is normal for me, but then he was being reasonable and stopped the fight. Back then, he would jump at the chance to kill me. And the way he stared at that family. He looked so....sad. Now he's gone back to being a douchebag. Whatever's going on, this world is sure having an affect on how he acts." William ended up in the kitchen. He took a seat next to the fridge. He sighs and stares at the animal decorations. "What the hell's gotten into me?! I'm a murderer for petes sake yet here I am making small talk with a pony. I'd rather go back to Hell." William's eyes scan the rest of the kitchen to keep himself occupied. Then he starts thinking about the family he saw earlier. They were happy. His family used to be happy. William notes the sun was now replaced with the moon. "Time sure flies in this world. Still can't believe I'm in another world full of talking ponies. God this is worse than what Cassidy came up with." William got up and headed back to the living room. There he found Fluttershy and Michael asleep on the couch. He decides to take Fluttershy to her bedroom. William pulls the sheets over Fluttershy after setting her down gently. Then he goes back downstairs. He sits on the couch next to Michael and pulls him closer. William messes with his son's mane, remembering the times he did that when Michael was only a kid. "Why the hell am I doing this? I hate him. He sent me to that hellish nightmare Cassidy made up." William scoffs. He holds onto Michael tighter. He rests his head against the back of the couch. "This is only a one time thing Mikey. Don't think I'm gonna do this EVER again. Goodnight boy and...umm...pleasent dreams." William closes his eyes, drifting off. Michael smiles. He pulls himself closer to his father, feeling his warm fur brush up against his face.