//------------------------------//
// Redemption in Humanized Eyes: Part Three: Discussion and Redemption 
// Story: The Legend of the 'Mon: The Three Forces 
// by NeotheTwilitUnicorn 
//------------------------------//


Chapter Nine: Redemption in Humanized Eyes: Part Three of Three: Discussion and Redemption


(Alex's POV)

I wait for what seems like days, but is only hours. Time seems to slow to a crawl around me, and she sleeps on. It makes me wonder if she is injured from the transformation. As angry as I was with her, I don't want to see her hurt. It's that compassionate part of me which has screwed me over before, but I must let it shine if I am to take the moral high ground. I check her vitals by pressing the Wand against her temple, and then her eyes snap open.
"Well, I see you've finally woken up dearest Twilight Sparkle."
"What the hay? How am I here, and why am I here?"
"Those are questions only you can answer."
"Shut it Alex. Now tell me why I'm stuck in this human body?"
"Let's just say it is a taste of your own medicine. Be glad I did not erase your memories."
"I...I see."
"Now you know how I felt once Elise gave me my memories."
"I do. Let me go home."
"Not until you've finished your goal. I am almost certain you came to try and talk me in to coming back."
"I did."
"Why?"
"Celestia's orders."
"I see. So she wants me back just to turn me back in to a pony."
"No. She wants you back because she wants to start over."
"I see once more." I blink as I hear a snap. "The heck?"
Twilight looks out the window. "NOOO!!!! THE PORTAL!!!"
"What?"
"The portal just collapsed...I need my magic back to re-open it."
"Uh...sorry, no can do. While you are in this realm, you have no magic. The shift glyph took it. You'll have your horn, but it will be useless other than for decoration."
"..."
"I'm sorry. If I knew that was going to happen, I would have done something to keep it open."
"..."
I sigh, and then relax.
"Just let me know when you want to talk again."
She just sits there, fuming for a few minutes before she realizes the futility of such a display. She attempts to facehoof only to remember she has hands, not hooves. She sighs again and then sits up for once, looking lonely.
"Okay, we can talk now. But I have one request."
"And that is?"
"Once we're done, open the portal back."
"One problem Twilight. I don't know if I can do that."
"Why not?"
"One, I don't know what I need to do, two, I don't know the glyph."
"I see...It will probably take at least a day for you to gather the supplies...so what to do in the meantime?"
"I don't know. I guess we can talk as you wanted to."
I get up to get myself some water.
"Oh, you want something while I'm up?"
"Water would be wonderful."
"Sure."
I pour a second glass of water and take it over to her, setting it on the table beside each of us, as the couch and chair I sit in meet against a shared side-table. She sits there, trying to use magic to levitate it to her before she realizes the futility of that effort. She then reaches out with a shaky hand to grab the glass, and she almost knocks it over.
"Twilight, do try not to break the glass."
"Sorry, not used to hands yet."
I nod. "Indeed you are not. Do you want some help?"
She nods, blushing a bit. "Yes please."
I laugh to myself, and then go and sit by her, grabbing the glass as I go.
"First thing's first then. You need to understand how to hold something."
I hold out the glass on the palm of my hand, and she grabs for it, almost dropping it.
"Let me help here."
I reach up with my other hand, and wrap it around her's and the glass, showing her what it feels like to have a secure grip on it.
"Now stay like that."
She nods, and I move my hand away, trying to hide a blush, and she keeps it held there.
"See, you're learning already."
She smiles, proud of herself.
"Keep this up, and you'll be good to go in no time."
I take the glass from her and set it aside.
"That's enough for now, however."
I relax on the couch next to her, and then look around. "Oh yeah, that's right...I don't do much here..."
She turns to me, and looks me over. "..."
I look back at her. "Yes?"
She then reaches out with her hands, setting them on my shoulders, and then she reaches up, grabs my head, and kisses me... My mind goes blank, but after a second, I push her away.
"TWILIGHT!!!! What the heck was that for?"
She blushes horribly, and then turns away from me, a tear or two already forming at the corners of her eyes.
"I...i was just trying to show you...show you that I..."
"That you what? Like me? Love me?"
She nods at the last bit, and I gasp some...
"Twi...Twilight Sparkle...how?"
"I don't know...I...I just do."
I laugh. "Okay then! By the way, that was about as subtle as a train crash, on a boat, in the middle of a city!"
She blinks, the joke going right over her head. I facepalm, and then she turns back to me, tears flowing.
"I don't know why I did that...I just did...It just felt right."
"I see. I...I understand. I was like that once...for that matter, you saw her die...you...saw...Zen..."
"Yeah, I did."
"You saw her die...and then you took that memory from me. Why?"
"That was the only reason I wanted to wipe your memories Alex. I wanted you to be over her. Her death made you so sad...it was unbearable. I wanted you to have somepony else to focus on, somepony besides her."
My voice changes a bit, becoming icier. "And who would you have me focus on, hmm?"
"...me."
"What did you say Twilight?"
"IsaidIwantedyoutofocusonmebecauseIamprettylonelyandIlikeyouawholelotandshewouldhavekeptusapart."
I blink, surprised, yet impressed, by the sheer volume of words that just tumbled out of her mouth in one sentence.
"I'm sorry, but try that again Twilight. Slow down, space your words out, and breathe."
She sighs, and then blushes as she repeats what she said.
"I said I wanted you to focus on me because I am pretty lonely and I like you a whole lot and she would have kept us apart."
I facepalm. "You're kidding, right?"
She remains silent. "..."
"You're not kidding, are you?"
She shakes her head, and I blink again, surprised by her motive.
"So you tried to make me get over her death, by taking all of my memories previous to me waking up that morning? All because you wanted to let me get over it, and to focus on you of all people, because you're lonely?"
She nods slowly. "Yeah..."
Then she turns away from me, ashamed.
"So it was a worthy, yet unworthy, motive you had for doing what you did...Interesting."
"I was just trying to help us both."
I reach out with one hand and turn her head some to where she is looking at me.
"I know that is what you were trying to do. I find it impossible to be angry at you...you just dissolve the anger...and only one other has been able to do that to me."
"And who is that?"
"The proper question is 'And who was that?'"
"And who was that?"
"You've seen her before, and you watched her die."
"You mean...Zen?"
I nod. "I do. My first love, and the first one to ever do that to me. I could be angry with anyone else for any length of time, but her...thirty seconds after I got angry at her...I found myself unable to stay angry."
"Interesting...why do you bring this up now?"
"Because I might have found the beginning of a connection."
"A connection? From who to whom?"
"A connection between you and Zen. Or at least the beginnings of one."
She blinks. "Is that a good thing?"
"I think so, yes."
She smiles. "Good."
"Yes, it is."
She turns back to face me, and she hugs me, laying her head on my shoulder, and I feel my shoulder get a little wet.
"Are you crying Twilight?"
She nods a little.
"Why? What have I done?"
"It-it's nothing you-you-you've done, but what I-i have done."
"You're crying because of the memory incident?"
"Mmmhmm."
I sigh, not knowing what to do when her head moves, rubbing it against my neck. I blink in surprise, and unconsciously reach down and rub her head.
"There there...you don't need to cry. I........I forgive you for what you have done. You are worth a second try."
Her head shoots straight up, and she smiles a huge smile. "YES!!!!!!" She leans in and kisses me again, and I blink in surprise, but I let her do it this time.
After a moment or two, she breaks it, blushing badly.
"Sorry..."
"Don't be Twilight."
She laughs. "You can just call me Twi."
I smile. "Okay then...Twi."
She laughs again, and then hugs me, laying her head back on my shoulder, and I reach down, petting her head again, and I lean down, whispering to her.
"You wanted redemption...you've got it."
She nods.
"Thank you Alex......for everything."


End of Chapter 9: Part Three
End of Chapter Nine