//------------------------------// // Chapter 44: Dreams, floats, and regrets // Story: Era of Harmony // by Gambling_Sam //------------------------------// *Nicholas POV* I awoke with a yawn as I sat up in bed. Mid-stretch, I looked over to see Angel bunny asleep curled up on the pillow next to mine. While Fluttershy has been away, the little guy has been oddly friendly with me. Either he was told to do so by her or he's just lonely while she is gone. I smiled and got off the bed carefully as to not wake the sleeping bunny and went into the bathroom. I found a toothbrush and started brushing my teeth. I went to look in the mirror while doing so and nearly had a heart attack. There was this woman standing next to me. She had this pale white hair and and even paler skin that had a blur tint to them. Her eye sockets were pure snow and she wore this smile thay showed icy teeth. She had ice surrounding her body that almost seemed to make a outline of a dress. To my horror, I found I couldn't will myself to move. I was frozen in place by fear. The lady placed a frosted hand on my shoulder and leaned to my ear. You can run...you can hide...but none shall escape winter's blight. She said as she took a elongated ice nail and sliced my throat open. "AAAAH!" I snapped awake, clutching my throat. I looked around the room but found nothing. No crazy ice lady. Heck, the bunny was still snoozing away on the same spot. Must've been a dream or something. I thought as I looked outside and saw the sunlight peering through the windows. I got up and looked over myself, noticing I changed into a pair of sweats for bed last night. Whatever, I'll just keep these on. I thought as my door opened and Fluttershy rushed in. "Are you ok? I heard you scream and-" She was cut off as I suddenly wrapped her in a big hug. I hadn't even noticed it, but the nightmare had me shaken to the core. "Thank goodness your here, Mom." I said as she hugged me back as I buried my face into her neck and cried. With the mess with the rich family, Vinyl dying, and whatever the heck that was earlier, it was too much. So I broke down as Fluttershy started to sing. Sweet little angel in the sky. Hiding from the dark and those who lie. No matter what scares you so. Hold on tight to the one you know. I will be there whenever you fall. To help with your problems, big or small. I will always be by your side. Even in the dead of night. She finished as I pulled away and wiped my face. "That...was beautiful." I said between a sob or two. She blushed a bit before answering. "Oh, it was nothing really. Just something that came to mind." She tilted her head, a look of concern on her face. "What happened that caused you to be so upset?" She asked as I scratched the back of my head, smiling weakly. "Well, it started yesterday afternoon when..." **************** Raiden POV **************** I was dreaming. How did I know this? Well, when your playing uno with Abraham Lincoln, your pony girlfriend who has never played before, and an electric mouse pokemon, you tend to know when its not reality. I placed a yellow reverse card. "Your up, honest abe." I had three useless number cards and a blue skip with me. Abe had at least twelve cards while Luna and Pikachu had four each. Pikachu growled his name as Abe had a smug face as he placed the divine swap hand card and looked to Luna, with his own huge deck leaned towards her. "Tis cheating to do such a thing!" She complained as the hands were swapped and Abe chuckled. "I have freed you of your hand as I have freed the many slaves of America." He said as Luna looked at her hand before placing a plus four. "Huzzah! your hand has doubled! And the color is blue." She said as Pikachu suddenly dropped another plus four and pointed to his red cheek to indicate the color. Crap...forgot I allowed stacking. Lunas smile grew even bigger while she pointed at me. "Huzzah, now your hand as triplied!" I face-palmed as I grabbed eight cards from the deck. Abe looked at all of us before placing four smae color numbers down. "I believe that means I have won." He said as he stood up and tipped his hat to us. "Have a good day." He said as he pulled out a pokeball and returned pikachu to it. After pulling out an ocarina and playing it, summoning his pet dragon named toothless, he climbed on it and flew off towards the second star on the right. As he vanished from sight, I turned to Luna and smiled. "Shall we wake up?" I asked her, to which she huffed slightly, still peeved she lost, but nodded as the area started to fade. My eyes blinked open as I stretched out on my bed. After finding Ronin and Celestia on good terms again, we decided to rest here in my room after finding a letter on my bed from Celestia stating that she would await her sister tonight after she finished hanging out with her coltfriend (Luna blushed deeply as I had read that part aloud.) "Welp, she knows." I said. "So, shall we do today?" I asked her as she thought about that before smiling at me. "Would thou like to learn to use those wings?" She said as I gulped slightly. *************** Nicholas POV *************** "...And then I woke up." I said as Fluttershy was currently sitting with me on the bed while she had a wing draped over me. "Oh my goodness, that's sounds so awful." She said as I took a deep breath and let it out. "It was. I swear I could feel her slicing my neck, her cold fingers digging into my flesh." I said as Fluttershy eeped before hiding a bit in her mane. I laughed lightly. "I thought I'm supposed to be the one needing comforting." She slowly peeked her eyes out to look at me. "I'm sorry, Nicholas. But that sounded so scary the way you described it. How are you feeling about everything?" She asked me as I sighed. "Honestly, worried." I said, looking away. "Ever since I have got here, It's been one thing after another. From my brothers nearly killing each other, to a crazy old wizard trying to kill me, and now some elsa knockoff appearing in my dreams." I looked to her, my body shaking slightly. "I'm scared, Mom. A kid my age shouldn't have to go through everything I've been through." I laughed a bit. "Funny thing is, I ASKED for this life, and here I am complaining about it." I said as Fluttershy tilted her head. "Asked for this life?" She said, confused. I nodded before my eyes went wide. The Necklace!!! I jumped up and looked around the room, but I couldn't find it anywhere. "What are you looking for?" Fluttershy asked me, slightly worried about my mood shift. "The necklace that brought me here. I asked for it to bring me to a world where I could belong, and it brought me and my brothers here. If I could only find it..." I trailed off, focusing on my search as I looked through pockets of jeans I had worn. I heard Fluttershy walk up to me slowly from behind. "W-Why would you want to find it?" She asked as I turned to her. "If I could find it, maybe it might help me figure out whats going on." I said as I heard a sigh of relief as I turned to her. "Oh, thank heavens. I thought you were going to try and head back to your homeworld." She said as I blinked before shaking my head with a smile. "This is my world now. I'm not gonna cut tail and quit just because of some dream lady." I said as my stomach growled. "Ooo! We should stop by Sweet apple acres! We could get food and see my friend at the same time!" Fluttershy smiled big and clapped her hooves together. "That sounds wonderful, Nicholas." She said as I looked at my clothes again. Maybe I might change my clothes. Wouldn't want to see Applebloom in dirty clothes, after all. ************* Ronin POV ************* "So your herding, huh?" Big Mac inquired as I leaned against a wall. We were waiting for Applejack to get back with the girls and some cousin of Appleblooms visiting from Manehatten. After she got back, I was going to help Big Mac set up a float for the some harvest festival they were having. "Yup, got three now." I said, holding up three fingers. "A queen, a partier, and a nurse." Mac snorted. "Sounds like your pretty busy." I rolled my eyes. "Meh, it ain't so bad." I looked to him. "What about you, stud? Got any girls in your eyes?" I asked as Mac turned redder somehow and looked away. "E-Eenope" He stammered as I noticed where he was looking at. I saw my brother approaching with Fluttershy. I smirked and laughed a bit. "Into the quiet types, huh?" I said as he groaned. "Hush you, she's coming." He whispered as they walked up to us. Nicholas ran up and hugged me hard. "Heya Ronin!" He pretty much yelled as I smiled and squeezed him back. "Howdy, squirt." I said as he let me go anf looked around. "Where's Applebloom?" He asked as I shrugged. "She's picking up a cousin of hers, but what brings y'all here?" I stated as Fluttershy said something but it was waaay to quiet for me to hear. "Uh....what?" I said as even Mac had a confused look on his face. Nicholas, however, immediately spoke up. "She said we are here to get some apples and relax on the hills." He cleared up as I raised an eyebrow before hearing a loud crash in the barn. Big Mac and I stormed into the barn to see a rabbit currently eating an apple. Big Mac immediately growled. "Git that critter!" He barked as he dive for it, the rabbit jumping over him and landing on a bushel nearby. The rabbit turned to him and stuck its tongue out... Before getting grabbed by the ears and being hung upside down by me. I looked it in the eyes while speaking to Big Mac, who waz recovering from his dive. "Hey Mac, you have a pot?" I asked as he nodded. "Eeyup, what for?" He asked as I grinned big at the rabbit, who now looked very afraid. "I just caught me some rabbit stew, that's why." I said, licking my lips as the rabbit starting squeaking loudly as it looked like it was in tears. "LEAVE ANGEL BUNNY ALONE!!!" I heard a loud voice yell. I turned around just to have my face connect with a sharp hoof to the chin. I was sent backwards into a bushel of hay as the rabbit landed on the ground. I sat up just to be pinned to the ground by...Fluttershy? "What the heck do ya think your doi-" I never finished that sentence. "HOW DARE YOU TRY AND HURT ANGEL BUNNY!" She literally roared at me, causing my jaw to drop. where did this come from? Melfesia stated in my mind, sounding slightly in awe. No idea, but right now I was seconds from passing out in fear as she continued. "DON'T YOU EVER THREATEN MY ANIMAL FRIENDS AGAIN, GOT THAT!" She yelled as I nodded quickly. She immediately retreated and walked out the barn as if nothing happened, while Nicholas was dying with laughter on the ground and that bunny was riding on Fluttershys back while sticking its tongue out at me. I looked to Big Mac, who was watching Fluttershy leave, as he sighed. "Ah think Ah'm in love." He stated as I face-plamed, turning to Nicholas as I noticed a pair of shades on him. "Whoa...where did you get those?" I asked, pointing to them. Nicholas got up and put them on, the red slits glowing. "I got these from a friend who is...was the town's DJ." He said with a tone of sadness in his voice. The friend must've left town or something. "Well, their pretty cool looking." I said as I heard a crash from outside. "What is it now?" Big Mac said, snapping out of his trance as we ran outside and found Raiden in an apple tree (thankfully an empty one) looking winded. "What the heck are you doing?" I said as he fell out of the tree and stretched bis wings. "I've been trying to learn how to fly, but Luna keeps just teleporting me in the air and claiming I'll 'catch on' sooner or later." He said as said princess teleported next to him with a flash of blue light. "That was a good attempt, but thou needs to balance your wings better when descending." She said as I rolled my eyes. "What he needs is a professional teacher." I mumbled as Nicholas came outside. "Hey guys, what's going on out here-oh, hey princess." He said casually as Luna smiled at him. "Greetings, young Nicholas. How fares your day so far?" She asked him as he shrugged. "It's been good, just waiting for the girls to come back with their cousin." He said before he clapped his hands together. "Oh! maybe they are at that tree house of theirs!" He said as he ran off. I turned to Big Mac, who was currently looking on the whole situation with a slightly confused look. "Hey Mac, wanna get these trees done? Or are we gonna watch you daydream about Fluttershy some more?" I said as his face went red and he gave me a look as we went to finish the apples trees left for today. Luna turned to Raiden and beamed. "Shall we continue our efforts?" She asked as Raiden headbutted a tree with a groan before disappearing in a blue flash. **************** Nicholas POV **************** I climbed up onto the treehouse to find Tak already there looking bored. As he saw me, his expression changed to a smile. "Greetings, Nicholas. How's your day so far?" He said as I sat on the floor and popped my neck to get a kink out. "It's been...alright." I said, thinking back to my dream. Tak frowned. "I can literally sense your anguish. What's wrong?" He asked me as I sighed. "Just a bad dream, that's all." I said, not really wanting to talk about it. "How long have you been here anyway?" Either not noticing the conversation change, or not caring eithwr way, he answered. "I've been here since the big farmpony directed me here. Where are the girls?" I shrugged. "Picking up a cousin of appleblooms or something." I said as I heard voices coming from outside. "Almost there cousin!" that one had to be Applebloom. "We can't wait to show you the suprise!" Sweetiebelles voice rings out loudly. "Make sure she doesn't fall down the stairway!" Scootaloo says as we hear them coming up. I look to Tak and smile. "Welp, time to see who the fuss is about." I said as Tak nodded. Scootaloo came up first, helping a brown coated girl with red hair with pink streaks going through it. Her eyes were blocked by Appleblooms hooves while Sweetiebelle helped from behind. Scootaloo noticed us first. "Oh, hey guys! We have somepony we want you to meet." She said as she stepped aside and Applebloom uncovered the girls eyes. She looked around, taking in the clubhouse with a slightly disinterested gaze before her eyes fell on Tak and I. "Sup." I said to her as her jaw dropped. "Whoa...what are you?" She said as I smiled. "Names Nicholas, your friendly neighborhood human." I said as she turned to Tak. "Hold up, Are you a changeling?" She asked as Tak blinked in suprise. "Indeed. How do you know about my kind?" He asked as the girl smirked. "I've heard about ya kind back home in manehatten. You guys crashed a royal wedding, right?" She said as Tak sheepishly grinned and scratched his head. "For the record, that was my mother's idea. But yeah, we did do that." He said as Applebloom stepped up next to the filly. "Guys, this is babs, mah cousin!" She said, wrapping a leg around babs. "Nice to meet ya, babs. But you said your from a placed called Manehatten? Is that like a big city?" I asked her as she nodded. "Yup, Manehatten is huge! Odd that ya never heard of it before." She said as Sweetiebelle walked over and sat on a chair. "That's because Nicholas isn't from Equestria!" She said as Babs eyes widened. "Really?!" She said, her eyes wide. "Yeah, yeah. Nicks an alien. now, let me give you the grand tour of the clubhouse." Applebloom said, looking pretty excited/impatient about the whole scene. I chuckled and sat next to Tak as Applebloom and the girls showed Babs around the small clubhouse. I leaned in and whispered to Tak. "So, how's things going with that dance you said you wished to do with Scootaloo." His face went red immediately as he coughed. "I haven't asked her yet, but I plan to do so after today's festival." He said as I raised an eyebrow. "What festival?" I asked as he smiled. "Its a harvest festival the town throws yearly. It's supposed to show off the great harvest the towns farms produce each year with a parade of food-related floats." He said. "Ooooh. Are we doing a float?" I said as Tak shrugged. "The girls might be doing one, but I don't wish to impede on their time with the new arrival." He said as I clapped my hands together. "What if we get one of my brothers to help. Raiden is busy with Luna, but Ronin should have time to help make one." I said as Tak grinned. "That could work! Mother has bound to have made more drones by now, so we will have the workforce necessary to make it." He said as Applebloom turned to us. "We're going tah go show Babs our float, wanna come?" She asked as Tak and I shook our heads. "Nah, you go ahead. We're going to make our own." I said as Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo walked out (not before Scootaloo winked at Tak, causing said changeling to blush.) Applebloom smiled. "Ok, then. See y'all later." She left with babs seed, the later waving goodbye to Tak and I as she walked out. I looked to Tak and stood up. "Let's go make a float." I said as Tak stood up and followed me out the door. ************** Ronin POV ************** Todays shift was only a small amount of apple trees, so we got done pretty quickly. I was just about to leave when Nicholas and Tak ran up to me, the latter looking way less tired than Nicholas. "Bro...*huff*...We need your help!" He said as I narrowed my eyes. "What's wrong?" I said, ready to fight whatever was troubling them. Tak tilted his head. "Nothing is wrong, we just need your help making a float for the harvest festival." He said as I relaxed. "Why didn't ya say so? I just finished my shift here, so we can go ahead and-WATCH OUT!!" I tackled the kids out of the way of a giant pumpkin that went pass us and crashed into a bunch of pieces. "What was that?!" Tak yelled as we stood up. I turned to the path the pumkin had came from and saw the barn... And six young fillies who looked mighty guilty of the events that just took place. "Give me just a second." I growled as I started my way towards them. Nicholad saw where I was heading and started running after me. "Ronin, wait! I'm sure the girls had nothing to do with that pumpkin float!" He said as I ignored him and continued my warpath. Applebloom was the first notice me, considering she backed up and pulled her two friends back a bit. Though I noticed Sweetiebelle looked like she might cry for some reason, while Scootaloo looked like she was glaring at the other three. I turned to the other three girls, none I recognized. I pointed to the grey one. "You, explain what just happened and why my brother nearly just died by runaway pumpkin." The pinkish one looked shocked and immediately went to Nicholas. "That float almost hit you?! Are you ok?!" She pretty much yelled in his face as she went up on two legs and wrapped him in a hug. That must be Diamond Tiara then, considering how close she is to him. I thought as Nicholas rubbed her left ear and kissed her cheek lightly. "It's ok, Ronin pushed me and Tak out of the way in time." Nicholas said as Tak caught up with us and Scootaloo went and hugged him. "Are you ok?" She asked him before realizing what she was doing and jumped back with a blush. Tak nodded and looked to the wreck downhill. "I am, but the float is not." He said as Diamond Tiara went up to a brown filly that was looking a tad worried now. "What were you thinking?! You nearly got my coltfriend killed!" She yelled as she went to hit the girl but was stopped by Nicholas. "Why are you trying to hit Babs? She couldn't have anything to do with this, right?" Nicholas asked as Babs gulped and took a step back. Sweetiebelle took a step forward. "Yes, she did!" She proclaimed, causing everyone to look at her as she shrunk a bit before continuing as she looked to her two friends. "Sorry, girls. But Nicholas and Tak almost got hurt, and if telling the truth about why makes me a snitch, then so be it." She turned to me, taking a deep breath. "Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon came over and started making fun of us and babs when she decided to buck our float, causing it to roll down the hill." She said before exhaling. I turned to the brown filly. "Are you babs?" I said, emotionless. Babs shrunk down in fear but nodded slowly. I turned and motioned for her to follow me out of the barn, to which she did so, Albeit slowly. *************** Nicholas POV *************** As Ronin left with Babs, I turned to my girlfriend, who looked like she didn't want to be there right now. I sighed and rubbed my eyes. "Diamond, why did you make fun of the girl's float?" I said as Diamond pointed to the rubble downhill. "Did you see how ugly that thing was?" She asked me as Silverspoon winced, knowing that was the wrong thing to say. I narrowed my eyes. "All I saw was a giant object that nearly KILLED me!" I loudly stated, causing Diamonds ears to dold against her head, tears starting to come to her eyes. I sighed again. "Look, I know you five have had bad blood since before I arrived, but please try to tone it down to less dangerous actions please." I said as Diamond sniffled and nodded along with the other three (Scootaloo and Tak had left when Ronin had left to do how knows what.) "I'm sorry, Nick. Can you forgive me?" Diamond asked me. I thought about that for a second before looking to the wreckage below. "I think I know exactly what you can do to earn that forgiveness." I said as I looked to the five girls with a sly grin. ************ Raiden POV ************ I groaned as I stretched out my now ridiculously sore wings. Luna had been absolutely brutal with her efforts to try and get me to fly. Every time I went to rest she would pull me into a massive make-out seesion before summoning a whip and slapping me on the bum with it, barking words "BREAKS OVER, RAIDEN!" In that royal voice of hers before proceeding to chase me with said whip in the air. Of course, with that type of motivation you learn to fly pretty fast. I was right now hiding on top of the library so I could get some extra rest in before Luna found me again. Just as I was getting comfortable I felt wings wrap around me. "Found you, my love." Luna said as she pulled us out of the tree and onto the ground. I got up and faced her, only to see Spike behind Luna looking at me in shock and awe. "Whooooaaaa!" Spike said as he ran up to me. "Who are you?" He said as I smiled and patted his head. "Kid, it's me. Raiden. Your blood did this to me." I said as his jaw dropped (literally) to the ground. "RAIDEN?!" He yelled loudly as he took a step back before smiling at me. "That's so awesome! Your a dragon like me now." "Another dragon?" I heard Twilight say as she walked out of the library and made eye contact with me. For a minute, she didn't move. "Raiden?! Why are you a dragon?!" She asked/yelled at me. I blinked in suprise. "How'd you know it was me?" I asked as Twilight blushed slightly while Spike answered. "Well, duh. She pretty much dreams about you considering how much she talks about you in her sleep." He said while Twilight took a step back while blushing full red. "W-what! I don't dream about Raiden. Besides, he's a dragon now. So I doubt I'd be attracted to his silverly coat...or his ripped body...or even his now deep voice." She said as she started swooning slightly before snapping out of it. "Right! I must know how you became a dragon!" I shrugged. "No idea." Her eyes went wide, as did her smile. "Really!" She seemed to get veeeeery enthusiastic about my predicament. I turned to Luna. "Is she gonna be ok?" I asked her. She looked to me and shrugged. "How should we know? She isn't our student. Though we are concerned with how she's eyeing you." She said as I now found Twilight looking up straight at me. "We should begin testing right away!" She said as she grabbed me by my arm and dragged me into the library. What have I gotten myself into? *************** Ronin POV *************** I sat on top of a hill near the orchards and laid down. I looked to Babs and nodded. "Lay here next to me." She did as I said and laid down with a grunt. For a while, neither of us said anything. We just sat there while the sun started to set, the wind blowing casually through the hillside. "Tell me one thing." I said, breaking the silence. She turned to me as I looked to her. "Why did you kick that float?" She frowned. "I did it because..." She trailed off before covering her face with her hooves. "Oh, what have I done? I trashed my cousin's float just to avoid gettin' bullied when all she did was support me." She said, tears starting to come freely. I sat up and looked out towards the fields. "You've been bullied before, haven't you?" She looked to me in shock. "H-How'd ya know?" I sighed and looked an her. "Because I used to be just like you. I was a nice kid. but I let outside influences, influences thay shouldn't have even mattered, change me into something I didn't want to be." I said as I deactivated my left leg armour and showed her a long scar going down my leg, starting at my upper leg all the way down to my ankle. She looked at it in shock. "What happened to you?" I sighed and looked her in the eyes. "It began 6 years ago..." ******************* Ronin POV/10 years ago/earth ******************* "Dad! why do I have to go to uncle todds? He's a jerk!" I said as Dad pulled into the driveway and turned to me, a finger pointed at me. "I'm taking you here because he is the only guy I know that can rid you of that violent mess your grandfather put in your head." He said as I groaned. "But he's a hippie!!!" I exclaimed. "And besides, he doesn't like Amelia." I said as I pointed to said girl who was in the backseat looking bored as she looked out the window. "Well, her parents agreed that she needed this as well after she smashed a chair over that kid at school." He said while I sighed. "She smashed the chair on the guy because he pulled a knife on me." I said as Dad groaned. "Just get inside, both of you." He said as Amelia and I got out of the car as he drove off. I felt her hug me from behind, so I turned to her and watched as she sign-languaged quickly with a sly smile. I snorted with laughter. "Yeah, my Dad is a Karen, huh." I said as she pulled into a quick kiss. You see, Amelia was deaf, so she sign languaged everything she said when people could understand it. I had always told her her voice was just fine, but people made fun of her for it. As we broke apart, I grabbed her hand and looked towards the garage. There was our so-called therapist, Uncle Todd. He smiled and beckoned us inside. "Come, friends. Let me help you become one with your destiny." He walked inside as Amelia signed "cuckoo" to me. I suppresed a snort as we followed him in. We found ourselves in the living room. There were three slices of cake on a table in the middle of a couch and a chair. "Come, have a bite to eat. You must be famished after listening to my crazy brother talk your ears off." He said as we sat down and I took a bite of the cake. Todd may be loony, but he absolutely knew how to cook. Amelia was a bit more reluctant to take a bite, but did after me. As we ate, Todd looked to us and his smile widened. "I'm trying a new recipe, do you like it?" He said as I nodded. "It's great, Todd. What did you use this time?" I asked as his face went blank as he leaned in. "Just 8 ounces of Xanex." He said as the room seemed to get a bit woozy. No...the cake is a lie! I looked shakily over to amelia, who had already slumped over. I looked back to Todd, who was grabbing what looked like...shackles? "Sorry kid, but yer grandad has filled yer head with too much crap." Was the last thing I heard before I passed out. ********* I woke up to find myself on the couch, like before. But neither Amelia or Todd were anywhere to be found. I stood up and almost fell over, still slightly affected by the sedatives. I looked around for a bit before I heard whistling from the bedroom. I walked in the room and gasped. Amelia was shackled to the bed, tears on her face and some marks on her arms that looked like belt marks. I turned to see Todd staring at me. "Morning kid. How's life?" My eye twitched. "Let her go, NOW!" I yelled. He didn't even flinch, instead he dropped the belt and pulled a revolver from behind him. Amelias eyes widened and she started to cry softly. "I'd be a bit nicer, boy. I haven't taken my meds in months and I have a nasty trigger finger." He said as he pointed it at Amelia. I raised my hands in surrender. "Ok ok! Stop! What do you want?" I said as he smiled. "Simple, just shoot your friend in the foot and I'll let you both go." He said as my jaw dropped. "HELL NO! I am not shooting my friend." I yelled as he pointed the gun to her head, causing her to look to me in fear. "Please...just stop this! why are you even doing this?" I asked as he smiled at me. "Kid, in this world, there's only two that live. Those who kill, and those who hide. I'm a bit of both. I hide from the law, and kill idiots who don't agree with me." I started shaking. "Y-Your crazy!" He laughed. "Not crazy, a psychopath. There is a difference." He sighed. "But, you are out of time." He turned to Amelia, who was now looking to me, mouthing the words "I love you". "Goodbye, you handicapped demon." BANG! "NOOOO!" I yelled as I watched her body drop to the ground. I turned and tackled Todd to the ground, the gun sliding across the floor to a corner. I tackled him off the bed and landed on top of him on the ground. He looked uo at me and smiled that same smile. "Do your worst..." He said, laughing as I started wailing on him, blow after blow only increasing his volume. I looked up and saw a lamp. I grabbed it and reared back. He looked up at me, face bloody and crooked. "Heh, geuss I was wrong. You are a killer." He said as I brought the lamp down. *************** present time *************** I looked to Babs, who was looking at me with a look of sadness/fear. I stood up and turned away from her. "I... ain't sure where I was going with that. But the main thing is this: Don't let others tell you what you are. I was told I would be nothing more than a walking pyscho. But here I am with a new lease on life. And you don't have to be a jerk to save your own skin. Just be true to yourself...while you still have a self to be true to." I finished this as I went to walk away, but was grabbed by a hug to my leg from the kid. "Mr, what ya have been through, that's absolutely terrible. But it's like you said, you have a new chance, right?" She said as I looked on, not even thinking about looking at her for fear of tears. "Y-Yeah." I said. "Then you should tell someone about this. Someone that knows you better than I do." She said as she let go and went to walk off. "Babs." I called out as she stopped and turned to me. "Thanks for listening to me." She waved me off with a smile. "Forget about it." With that, she walked off as the sun set into the night.