//------------------------------// // 10- Blood // Story: A Dusk's New Dawn // by ThatWritingDragon //------------------------------// 10 Blood Horror seemed to be the default expression after the doctor first came in and asked him to remove his cloak. Apparently, scars weren't terribly normal in this world. As he was asked to turn around and face the doctor once more, the pity and sadness in his eyes began to quickly piss him off a bit. So what? It was just a bunch of flesh wounds, everyone had them. He had no doubt that there were far more deserving creatures for the directed sympathy and sadness than him. His vitals had turned out a bit difficult to check, though they were successful after a bit of time and more than a few retries since Dusk kept unconsciously stilling himself, causing him to slow his heartbeat and breath. They checked his wings and the look of worry in the doctor's eyes deepened, but after checking it himself, it was clear that the expression was caused by the scars on the inside of his wing[. Dusk rolled his eyes. The amount of overreaction was almost to be expected at this point. They soon moved on, checking his horn. He got the all-green for that at least,, which was to be expected since it had recently started to grow in and didn't yet have the chance for cracks or wrong fillings. The ear and eye portions were also easy but the doctor kept on pestering him about whether or not he had Thestral blood in him, which was an easy 'no'. Last he knew, he didn't have any in his lineage. They had decided to take some of his blood just in case he needed a transfusion at some point and when the nurse looked away, he quickly made and placed a summoning seal on the bag filled with his blood. Who knew for certain what a pony would do with his blood. He is never going to allow himself to go through voodoo magic again! Not this time, especially after the blood taken away for ‘safekeeping’. Afterwards, he was pestered about his teeth.  "Your teeth seem to have grown small hooks but this is probably due to your hunting," The doc trailed off with a rather concerned look on his face as he continued to poke around Dusk's mouth and the much larger stallion had to stop himself from unconsciously chomping down on the metal intruding his maw.  "and are rather sharp to say the least. if you'd like i could assign an appointment with our local Orthodontist if you wanted to blunt them?" The doctor finally released him and started to write something down on the notepad next to him. Dusk clicked his tongue and rubbed his sore jaw. Keeping it open for an extended period of time was annoying. "No thank you, I'm fine with my teeth" he politely stated as he shut his mouth with a frown. The slightly irked stallion started to observe the doctor in front of him more closely. He was a tan unicorn with a brown swept back mane and tail. He was also lean and had some degree of muscle, probably from regular exercise. His ears flicked when he heard the notepad be set down and he snapped to attention, a bored look on his face. The doctor now wore a slightly anxious expression as magic began to build up in his horn and he spoke. "Now Dusk... This might be an odd request since we don't do this unless necessary but from my observation..." The doctor winced as his eyes turned to the first scars he saw, specifically the scars wrapped around Dusk's jugular. The purple stallion grunted in annoyance at it being pointed out. "It could be good to see, just in case." the doctor finished with a small and awkward laugh. Dusk rolled his neck and clicked his tongue. He wanted nothing more than to get this over with. Besides that, it was just a simple diagnostic. He was sure that there was nothing on him that needed any immediate attention. His healing factor and magic would've healed anything considered 'life-threatening' anyway.   "Fine, let's get this over with" The purple stallion answered, a bit of his annoyance bleeding through in his tone. The doctor gave a small smile and in a flash, his patient was surrounded by light brown magic. Dusk couldn't stop the glimmer of interest in his eyes. This was definitely a new kind of diagnostic spell, for him. He'd definitely have to ask about it later. The scarred pony sat perfectly still and waited in silence. The doctor was probably seeing if he needed any kind of healing, given how much he was scribbling on his notepad. That's… pretty fast for someone who's writing with his mouth. It was impressive in a way. Allowing himself to break his stillness, Dusk shifted his head to look around. The next thing he knew the door of the room he was in clicked open and a nurse -it was Redheart again, he realised- poked her head inside with a sheepish smile. "Doctor Horse?" She asked and with the doctor's nod she entered with her own notepad. She handed it to the brown stallion and within a minute Doctor Horse had taken it and quickly read through its contents. Dusk saw a multitude of emotions flash across his expression before he ripped the paper out of his own notepad and gave it to Redheart. "Dusk, please stay in the room for a bit. It seems that there are some problems with your medical history that we’ll need to update." he stated before, not even acknowledging the nod his patient gave him, he walked by the nurse and left a very bewildered Dusk by his lonesome in the room. The purple stallion simply sat and waited there. Soon, ten minutes had passed, or so the clock on top of the door told him. Then ten minutes turned into twenty-five, then forty minutes then a whole hour and then two hours! It was now six in the night and with every tick of the clock, Dusk's paranoia grew more and more. He would've gone and investigated but this could've been some kind of test or something along those lines, he didn't know and he didn't like it. He stared anxiously at the door as he sat on the room’s bed. He wasn't worried. Nope! Not even a little. It wasn't like they were going to plan something against him or anything, absolutely not. They just needed to update his medical history that was all. Speaking of history… His brow furrowed and he ran his own diagnostic spell on himself, with a specific intent in mind. Spots, slashes and marks of various injuries on his body started to glow differing shades of red. A confused look crossed his face. There wasn't any injury that needed any immediate attention, to be sure. They all seemed to be healing alright and as long as he didn't get attacked for a few more days then everything would be alright but... The confusion turned to a frown. Ever since his outburst, his magic had seemed to have a problem with recharging. Was that the problem? While he knew of a diagnostic spell that could see a ponies’ magical core, the last he knew was that there was a very specific type of process to use it and the doctor hadn't done any of that. When the door finally clicked open, Dusk immediately shot up and faced the door as the magic on him faded away.  "Doc! What's the situation?" He asked. Then again, this was a new world and while similar to his own, might have had a completely different magic system. Different magic, probably different results, one could say. But he didn't see the doctor, he instead saw...  Twilight? What was his counterpart doing here? He tilted his head and tensed immediately. Something about her felt off and he didn't like it. He had to approach this with caution and without warning her that he had noticed something. "Twilight?" He asked hesitantly, a frown on his face. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to wait outside?"  She didn't answer and his caution and paranoia grew as she walked closer, she circled him slowly and Dusk followed her with his eyes. She stopped along his right side and just stared. Dusk didn't know what to do. She was just… staring. All Dusk could was wonder just what she wanted. "It's similar..." He heard her whisper, though he still didn’t know what to think. This was the first time someone had just literally walked up to him and stared at his flanks. He had a peek of his own to try and see what had her so enthralled, but he still couldn't see anything special. His ears flicked when he heard her add more to her 'observation' and he had to stop himself from flinching when she pushed his wings away and over her so she could press her side against his. "Uhm.. Twilight, care to tell me what this is about?" Dusk asked in confusion, his face scrunching as he turned his head to the muttering purple princess. His voice seemed to snap her out of her trance and drew her attention but the oddness of her was still present and it was beginning to unnerve him. She was analysing him and he did not appreciate it.  His ears flicked when another round of whispers descended on the mare once more. He didn't want to intrude, but she was literally saying it in front of him. He couldn't help but not listen. "Rather similar to me.... potential sibling?" She added but she shook her head afterwards. "No... I just checked with mom and dad and they said they didn't know either." She tapped her chin with a hoof and started circling once more before she stopped again, this time in front of him. Dusk pressed his wings against his body. He could see her eyes narrowing at his action but she continued with her observation. "A clone gone wrong? No... different gender, no spells available for that kind of magic yet... then a dimensional counterpart? Probable..." Dusk had to stop himself from doing a spit take -he might have, but since he didn't have a glass of water he instead settled with inwardly panicking- when she nearly got his situation correct. This needed to stop. He didn't particularly want to burden them with his problems. He just wanted to get this check up over with and get out. "Twilight" he said, a pinch of annoyance seeping through. She hadn't responded, too busy staring at him and mumbling to herself. The fact that he was ignored started to fan something in him. "Twilight..." he repeated, his annoyance now clear as his ire grew even further when she still didn't answer.  "TWILIGHT!" He shouted, unable to stop the slight feeling of glee he felt when she jumped at his loud voice. When he noticed that he had her attention, he glowered down at her. "What. Do. You. Want?"  He growled out. He’d decided that he didn't like this room. Not one bit. If Twilight was the reason why he hadn't been allowed to leave, all because she wanted a diagnostic done by herself... Twilight seemed to have realised something with how her mouth gaped at him and she let out an embarrassed giggle before dropping onto her haunches in front of him.  "Sorry Dusk!" That odd expression came back and Dusk furrowed his brow and frowned, though his waved a hoof, he beckoned her to continue. "It's just... when you didn't sign anything about your birth parents, we used a lineage spell to see who they are..." a conflicted look crossed Twilight's face as she looked away while rubbing  her forehooves together. "What we found was shocking to say the least and I don't know if even you know..." she peeked at him and saw his frown was still attached but the annoyance was clearly dwindling away "But your parents matched with mine..." Dusk blinked at that, and asked confused "What do you mean your parents matched with mine? That’s impossible.” They just filled each other's specific role in their own universe. It wasn't like they were the exact same person genetically. Sure they looked the same,  but the chances of them being literal duplicates of one another… I’m sure that there is at least some difference... right? It wasn't like he would see his exact family again but with different genders... right? He furrowed his brow, unsure of what he should think of this new discovery. Twilight seemed to have expected that answer, given how her conflicted look turned even worse, "I knew that you'd say that. That was why we called them over to try again. To make sure that it wasn't a fluke. We sent a letter and it somehow just spiralled from there. Shining and Cadence are coming with Flurry Heart tomorrow-" And just like that, she’d lost him and he now had a headache throbbing in the back of his skull. This isn't how it's supposed to work! He wasn't supposed to meet his counterpart's family! He wasn't even supposed to have been in Ponyville! But here I am… He had to place a hoof on her wither to catch her attention once more "Shining? Cadence? Flurry Heart? Who are they? And explain slowly," he stated as Twilight finally seemed to get herself together and relax. She seemed to assume some kind of role, given how she puffed her chest out proudly and started her explanation with a small smile. "Shining Armor is my brother! He was the Captain of the royal guard but now rules the Crystal Empire with his wife and my sister in law, Cadence! Or better known as Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. They had a foal and just like you, she's an alicorn!" Twilight finished proudly as Dusk was busy trying to run those words over in his head. His mind immediately clicked however when he heard those familiar words. Crystal Empire? Rule!?  What do you mean rule!? That place was a barren wasteland to say the least and it had absoloutely sucked! He knew that himself first hoof! He’d been chained and dragged into that blasted crystal palace once upon a time. Who would want to rule a place like that!? But Dusk maintained his silence, instead forcing his jaw shut as something he still didn't accept came to the forefront of his mind. Similar world, different rules… and different world. This wasn't his world, so he needed to stop acting like everything was like it was in the past. In his past. He rubbed his face with a hoof and groaned. "Twilight...  just... am I free to go?" He groaned out the question. The whole situation was turning his headache into a migraine. He just wanted to go to sleep and completely ignore the possibility that he could deal with even more issues. Was getting citizenship always this hard? He honestly didn't know. He’d been busy slugging his way through a war, he didn't exactly have time to learn about such a specific thing, doubly so given he was too busy in the field to care about such.  Twilight noticed his state and nodded with a small sympathetic smile, "Yes... but we'll need to continue your appointment tomorrow." Her look brightened up before his could sour. "I know you don't like hospitals though so we moved it!" She looked so happy that Dusk couldn't help but want to correct her that not only did he not like hospitals, he wasn’t keen on doctors or medical services at all. Instead, he settled with clicking his tongue and leaving the wooden hospital. His usually tense form relaxed when he finally escaped the halls of that particular Tartarus. He was glad he’d escaped. He and his counterpart took the scenic route back to the castle. Dusk knew this because he usually took it back in his own world when he wanted some alone time. It seemed his counterpart did the same, showing another similarity which he mentally noted. However, even though the route looked the same didn’t mean it feel the same. Sure it had the same look, the same trees, the same plants but it didn’t exactly feel like his route. It felt… wrong. Odd and oh-so out of place. Dusk silently wondered if it was him or the place. Whatever the case, it didn’t feel like his- Dusk now realised that he needed to stop gritting his teeth whenever he was frustrated, because he was pretty sure that if he continued they would soon be ground to nothing more than powder. He sighed and looked around once more, but it still didn’t feel right. The silence was kind of suffocating but he noticed that Twilight looked kind of uncomfortable leaving it as such. He sighed and tried to mentally picture what she would enjoy. He thoroughly enjoyed books… she must like them too right? He rubbed his crest and frowned. He wasn't the most sociable type of pony, but he was trying. "Twilight?" he asked softly, the purple princess seeming to perk and immediately as she focused her gaze on him. The intensity was kind of off-putting but he shrugged it off. He’dl deal with it for now. "What happened to the other princesses?" The purple princess perked up immediately and answered with a sheepish smile "They had to leave earlier in the day. They apparently had some issues in Canterlot Castle and they were needed in pony." She turned back to him and beamed "Don't worry though! Princess Luna will be able to be present tomorrow to supervise everything." Her smile shifted a bit to an expression Dusk didn't know quite how to describe, much less feel about. "It's nice to see Princess Luna spending time with somepony other than us."  Dusk simply nodded and continued on until they finally reached Twilight's crystal palace. Dusk grimaced when he realised that he’d forgotten the directions to his assigned room. While he could've manually searched for his saddlebags -they were keyed to his magic, after all and that would allow him to locate it quite easily- he didn't want to show any more of his arsenal then he had to, so he instead swallowed his pride and asked. "Twi' can you show me my room? I didn't exactly remember how to get back, with everything that’s been going on." he asked in a low voice. He was tired and he just wanted this day to be over with. Twilight seemed to perk up and immediately beam at him with a happy smile. It was infectious and he could feel his frustration dwindle a little at just how gratifying it felt to be responsible for it. "Sure Dusk! Come on, let's go!" With that she grabbed his hoof and dragged him inside and through the halls. As they began to trot towards their destination, his eyes began to wander. They narrowed however as he drank in the sight of his counterpart. He hadn’t been able to fully observe her yet, since he hadn’t wanted to be mistaken as leering but seeing as no one else was here other than the two of them then it would be fine. She had a bit of pudge distributed around her body, but her horn was masterfully cleaned and filed correctly. In addition to that, no scars were obvious on her body. Either not a lot of things would attack her, she was very agile or she knew a lot of defensive spells. Dusk nodded as he filled that nugget of info away in his head. Her wings were still purple but were slowly starting to turn more akin to his own. o her magical core isn’t as large as my own yet. She was also slightly larger than the average pegasus mare, and was well-groomed, clearly taking some degree of pride in her appearance.   Overall, it was impressive. Doubly so given she was an alicorn in such a quaint town like Ponyville. It seemed like she could handle herself.  His eyes, however, were gradually drawn elsewhere and isoon landed on her flanks. A familiar cutie mark stared right at him and he blinked. It’d yet to really sink in, but it seemed that they were much more similar than he had initially thought. "-usk! Dusk!" He snapped to attention and removed his eyes from what he was staring at and focused to a flustered looking Twilight. He gulped lightly. No doubt she probably thought that he was leering. "Twilight it's not what it lo-" he was interrupted by a short and embarrassed laugh from Twilight. "We're here." she dipped her head lightly and moved away from the door that was apparently the entrance to his room. Dusk just stood there awkwardly before opening the door. As it opened, he didn't notice Twilight's nose flare as she was allowed a whiff of the inside. "Sorry Twilight..." he stood inside and tried to decide what to do next. He rubbed his crest and wondered for a moment before an idea suddenly winked into existence in his head. "We can talk more tomorrow?" He gave her a smile, hoping that he'd finally get some good information the following day. "I'll explain more when you pick me up from here. I... unfortunately still don't know the layout of this place." There we go. Now, ideally, he would have some alone time with her tomorrow and he could use that to explain and hopefully get rid of any misunderstanding. His face turned confused when he noticed that Twilight had a flushed face and a small smile, though she nodded quickly "O- okay! See you tomorrow Dusk!" She trotted away with a bit of a hop in her step, leaving a rather confused and tired of everything Dusk behind. As the other purple alicorn disappeared past a corridor, Dusk dropped his smile and groaned as he closed the door to his room. He didn’t have enough energy to try and puzzle out why she had started acting differently towards the end on their walk and he definitely knew that he wouldn’t have the energy for it tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow…[/i It seemed he would be meeting his counterpart’s parents, or atleast her family. Thought that was only for colts who wanted to court a mare? See their family and get their ‘blessing? Wait… do you even need a family’s blessing when you’re gonna live in their foal’s house? …should I ask? He sighed heavily. Questions upon questions. He couldn’t help but wonder just how well this meeting would go compared to the first time he met his friends' counterparts. It didn’t take long for a frown to make its way onto his muzzle. He still needed to apologise for how he’d acted. So many things to do and so little time to relax. He removed the cloak and dropped it to the floor as he crawled his way into his bed. Future him could deal with it, present-Dusk wasn't in the mood. He rolled around and tried to get comfortable, but the thought of what would happen tomorrow had him slightly worried until he realised something. It wasn’t his problem! He was far too busy with trying to sleep, not some meeting that would definitely haunt him for the rest of his time here. With that, he conked out with a single thought in mind. 'Good luck future me, you'll need it.' His stomach grumbled less than half an hour later -just as he was actually about to fall asleep too!- and he realised that it was still very early in the night and that he hadn’t eaten the whole day. He didn’t swallow his pride this time however and instead opted to sleep through the night with an annoyed stomach that had been deprived of it’s needed nourishment. He would wake up early the next day and go out to hunt for food. It wouldn’t be the worst thing he’d do on that fateful day… no doubt he’d regret ever waking up.