//------------------------------// // An End and a Beginning // Story: Family // by FleetlordAvatar //------------------------------// A few Days Later The ward at Ponyville General smelt heavily of disinfectant, driving home just how vulnerable Scott was right now. With the creature and its power removed, the powerful stallion had become emaciated to the point of being almost skeletal. He'd been brought in immediately after the Elements of Harmony had banished Anarchy, and stabilised quickly by the medical staff. Princess Luna was by the stallion's bedside, as was Nurse Redheart. The former was running her glowing horn over Scott’s body, while the latter was looking over a clipboard of test results. Waiting anxiously by the door was the Apple family. Applejack, had a bandage around her middle and was supporting Big Macintosh, who had bandages wrapped around his own body in addition to a cast on his foreleg. Granny Smith stood by them with an ice pack on her head, while Revier and Apple Bloom sat by their hooves, eyes fixated on Scott.  The room was deathly silent, only broken by the hum of hospital machinery and stellar magic. “The creature is truly gone,” Luna finally stated. “Although it took just about every drop of his innate magic, not to mention anything else it had its grubby claws into,” muttered Redheart. “Will he die?” asked Reiver, flatly. “No,” replied the nursemare. “But he will take a long time to recover.” “From what we have seen,” explained Luna. “Your father and the creature Anarchy had almost become one entity. Had they been joined any longer, the pair would have been truly indistinguishable. It seemed that he survived because there was just enough of him left as an individual.” “A scan shows brain activity, but he’s effectively in a coma,” continued Nurse Redheart, flipping through the papers on her clipboard. “We believe it was the mental trauma of the separation, coupled with his weakened state, and physical injuries from the fight, that caused his current state. External stimuli have failed to wake him, I’m afraid we don’t know if he will wake up at all.” The revelation meant little to Reiver. He had been visiting his father the last few days, although for the life of him he couldn't figure out why. Maybe he just wanted to make sure that it was all over. In the meantime, life was moving on, the farm was being rebuilt at a record pace thanks to Twilight and her friends helping out while Big Mac and Applejack recovered. Burned fields were ploughed and replanted, toppled trees cleared and the wood stored, they had even managed, somehow, to persuade Applejack to only take on light duties, as she stubbornly refused to rest. Reiver stepped forward to the bed, Apple Bloom sticking by his side as he took a moment to examine the emaciated body of one he had feared and fought most of his life. "Can he hear me?” “We don’t know,” replied Redheart. “But if there's anything you need to say to him, then go ahead.” The colt took a deep breath, glancing at Apple Bloom as she laid a reassuring hoof on his shoulder, before turning back to his father. "Scott, I hope you can hear this, because it’s been a long time coming. You’re not my father, you’ve been the worst example of a human being I’ve ever met. You ruined Mum’s life, you tried to ruin mine, and now you’ve almost killed the first real family I’ve ever had.”  He got closer to the bed and peered at his fathers sunken face, no response, not even a twitch. “As of last night. I'm now Reiver Apple, the paperwork was rushed on account of you having been declared unsuitable as my parent." The gaunt stallion remained unresponsive. "Huh, thought if anything might wake you up it would have been that." Still nothing. "I've been given another chance,” continued Reiver. “A chance to be myself for once and not have you over my shoulder. A chance to not be alone and actually make friends and be part of a family again. Maybe you’ll recover and get another chance, but it won't be with me." He stepped back from the bed. "You're going to trial once you're well enough, you’ll finally have to face some consequences for your actions. I hope it makes you realise the type of person you've been." With that Reiver, and his new sister, rejoined the waiting Apples, then along with Luna and Nurse Redheart left the motionless stallion all alone. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx “I will keep you apprised of any developments in his condition, should I believe he intends to come after you again,” explained Redheart.  “Thanks Nurse,” replied Granny Smith, adjusting her ice pack. “Whoo, I shouldn’t have gotten into that fight, I’m not a young mare anymore.” “I wouldn’t say that Granny,” countered Reiver “I don’t think I’ve properly thanked you for protecting me like that.” “Yer welcome sonny, or is grandsonny now?” chuckled the Apple matriarch. “Your reckless actions aside, I expect you all to keep an eye on those injuries,” admonished Redheart, “Plenty of rest for Big Mac and Applejack is to stay on light duties until the bruising has passed, and I mean it young mare.” That last statement was coupled with a hard stare at the farmer, who could only smile nervously. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she doesn't overdo it again,” said Apple Bloom. “And I will make doubly sure of that,” supported Reiver. “Been family for a day and you're already turning against me,” stated Applejack in mock surprise, which got a chuckle out of the assembled ponies. As they reached the exit, Redheart excused herself, muttering something about how this report was going to be such a headache. As they left Ponyville General, Reiver took a deep breath and sighed heavily, like a great burden was lifted from his shoulders. "You alright partner?" asked Applejack. "Yes," he replied. "Yes I think I am, finally." "That's good to hear, but if y'all have anything you want to talk about I'll always be willing to listen, and so is Big Mac." “Eeyup,” replied the stallion, smiling down at the colt. Reiver smiled back up at them. "Thanks Guys." "Anytime Sugarcube, come along now, let's get back home." “In that case, I shall depart as well,” spoke Princess Luna. “My sister will need a full account of these events and their implications, especially now Discord has a student of his own.” Bedlam had thankfully survived his encounter with Anarchy, but he’d been severely injured. His first letter had surprised everypony when a paper swan flew into the farmhouse and unfolded itself on Reivers breakfast. Since then, Bedlam had been keeping them apprised of his recovery, especially since it was apparently the first time a draconequus had ever been hurt to such a degree. With a final farewell the Lunar Princess, ignited her horn and disappeared in a flash of starlight. The Apples began making their way back to Sweet Apple Acres. Thankfully the day was pleasant, cool but not cold and the sun was shining down on the rebuilding work going on around Ponyville. Cleanup had been swift and most of the debris was already loaded up for disposal or reclamation. “So,” said Apple Bloom, turning to Reiver. “Looking forward to School?” Despite recent events, Cheeilee had concluded Reiver was at a level where he could begin school in the fall, giving them the news not long after Scotts defeat.  Reiver moaned at his sister's question. “Really thought I had escaped that particular hell years ago. It’s never easy being constantly alone at school, although Cheerilee has been a big help with my maths. I’ve always been terrible with numbers.” “That's because she’s a great teacher,” cheerfully replied the filly. “And you’ll have me, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo with you in class so you won’t be alone.”  "Huh, I guess not," he mused, a small smile splitting his features. “How do you feel sharing a class with your new big brother?” "I actually think we’re the same age," she rebuffed, gently cuffing him with her hoof. "Technically, I'm older than you," he countered. "Not in pony years," she teased back.  The pair laughed as they bantered back and forth Sweet Apple Acres soon coming into view.  Scaffolding was plainly visible around the house and barn, along with Twilight directing her friends and several construction ponies from a wide table. "Fluttershy, make sure those saplings are taken to the orchards and planted, Rainbow Dash, lift those timbers to the roof and Pinkie Pie, put down the jackhammer!" The pink pony in question was bouncing towards the approaching Apples on the out of control piece of equipment. Applejack quickly responded by whipping out her lasso and yanking the pink pony off before the runaway tool crashed into a tree. Twilight sighed. "Sorry about that." "Yeah, that thing got all shaky and I lost control," apologised Pinkie Pie. "It's alright sugarcube,” comforted Applejack, wincing as her bruises flared from the action. “Although I think y'all might be better with another job." Pinkie's mane deflated a bit, then sprang up as she was hit with inspiration. "That's right! Everypony will be hungry and thirsty, I need to make some snacks!" And she was off like a shot into the farmhouse, where the clattering of cookware followed suit. The ponies chuckled. "She is so random," commented Reiver. "Eeyup," supported Big Mac. "How were things at the hospital?" asked Twilight. "They were, ok," stated Reiver. "I don't know if he heard anything, but I'm done with him for good." "Best thing to do really," came a voice from above. "Should have done it sooner." They looked up to see its owner, a heavily bandaged Bedlam, floating uneasily next to Discord. "I tried to keep him in bed," explained the Spirit of Chaos. "But he insisted on seeing you in person at least once." Reiver smiled. "Glad you did," he replied. "How are you doing?" "Getting there," responded Bedlam, wobbling a little. "I can float a bit and almost snap my fingers again. It's going to be a while though." "Indeed," replied another Discord, dressed like a doctor. "Which is why you must return to bed post-haste. Lovely seeing you all." "Get well soon Bedlam," waved Reiver, as the spirits of chaos vanished with a pop. "Those two will be nothing but trouble," muttered Twilight. "Fluttershy will keep them from misbehaving Twi," observed Applejack. "She's practically got Discord wrapped around her hoof, Bedlam won’t be…too much of a problem." “Famous last words,” muttered Apple Bloom, elicting a giggle from Reiver. They headed towards the farmhouse, where Reiver and Apple Bloom split from the group when he caught sight of the remaining Cutie Mark Crusaders, with power tools. "Reiver!" they cheered, galloping over to greet him. "Hi girls," he greeted. "How was the hospital?" Their faces fell a little, as he explained he'd cut ties with his father. "Good riddance if you ask me," commented Scootaloo. "Yeah, that guy was the worst," supported Sweetie Belle. "I'll probably have to testify at his trial eventually," said Reiver. "But for now, we don't have to worry about him." "I know, look what he did to the farm!" pointed out Apple Bloom, indicating the scaffold around the house and barn. "Speaking of that, what were you three doing with those power tools?" queried Reiver. "Trying for our Construction Cutie Marks!" cheered Sweetie Belle, passing him a hard hat. "Yeah, Applejack says we can work on the barn doors," supported Scootaloo. Apple Bloom chuckled as Reiver looked at them warily, the crusaders with power tools was a worrying combination. "Don't worry, we're not going to be careless,” she soothed, placing a hard hat on Reivers head. “This is our home, and the girls know how important it is, besides, Big Mac will be supervising." Reiver looked at them again, before sighing in resignation. "Just don't destroy my room please." "But, you don’t live in the barn?" "In my experience, you'll find a way, somehow." "You heard him girls, careful as a mouse in a cornfield," supported Apple Bloom, plonking on her own hard hat. Reiver smiled as they chatted about what a construction cutie mark would look like, what their next crusade will be or what happened at school today. It made him feel at ease, seeing his new friends, his new family working together to rebuild what Scott had almost destroyed. Nothing would phase them, or him, as he made use of this second chance. And he would make the best use of it, as he straightened his hard hat to follow the girls he began whistling a tune as he walked towards his new life, happy.