//------------------------------// // Ch.5 A Thief Wth Blood Stained hands // Story: Honor Among Thieves // by BluePhoenyx //------------------------------// Author's Note: hey everyone, sorry i've been taking so long to post these, i'm trying to Thursdays and Mondays but so far it seems to be Fridays and Mondays. Hope you enjoy this installment and have a happy Thanksgiving Seb woke from a small nap to see a short, purple, and green scaly dragon staring at him. He nearly jumped out of his bed, but when he saw the little dragon meant no harm he settled back into the warm covers. “Sorry about that, I didn’t scare you too bad did I?” The little dragon asked. Of course he could talk too, everything could talk. Why not a multi colored lizard? “No, just surprised.” Seb said. He yawned and sat up slowly, for all instances feeling like utter crap. It seemed every bone in his body was aching and his head felt like heavy metal concert was well underway inside. His neck and back hurt too, not to mention his chest. The whole thing felt like a furnace. “My name is Spike.” The little dragon said in a low voice. “Ah, you’re that little assistant Twilight told me about.” Seb said, trying to hide his pain. “And you’re that human. What are humans like?” Spike asked with childlike curiosity. “I hope you never find out.” Seb’s answer wasn’t greeted with much enthusiasm. Spike looked on in confusion. Before he could ask what the human meant however, Twilight decided to come up the stairs to check on them. “I have to do some shopping today. Would you like to come along?” Twilight asked. “The fresh air could do you some good.” Spike walked over to her side, knowing he’d be tagging along if nothing but to carry groceries. “I think I should stay here.” Seb replied steadily. He was still fairly weak on his feet and the thought of being in the public view didn’t sit well with him. Twilight nodded and went back down the stairs with Spike close behind. The dragon and mare made their way to the market place and began shopping around immediately. Twilight picked up quills and parchment as well as a few ink bottles, taking her time on trying to decide which ones were the best quality for her writing. No time at all had passed before Spike’s boredom set it. They hurried along after their purchase to the food stands, Fluttershy was there buying a few heads of lettuce. “Hello Fluttershy.” Twilight said walking up to her. “Oh, hello Twilight.” Fluttershy responded in her ever quiet voice, putting her lettuce in her saddle bag as she did so. “How is Seb doing?” “He’s doing much better.” Twilight said with some small measure of excitement. She tried to sound cheerful about it, but her wavering voice betrayed her. “He’s still very sick though, isn’t he?” Fluttershy asked, getting right to the center of the subject. Twilight nodded sadly. “I’m hoping I can find something in the market today that would make him feel better. He hasn’t eaten much since he got here either. I’m starting to worry.” Twilight responded. “I was thinking, maybe Zecora would have something that would make him feel better.” Twilight’s ears perked up instantly. “You’re a genius Fluttershy!” Twilight exclaimed, hugging the shy yellow pony. Fluttershy beamed in a rather subdued manner, glad that her advice would help Seb. “I can go with you if you want, I don’t mind.” Fluttershy offered.  Twilight agreed heartily and the pair started off toward the zebra alchemist’s home. “Spike,” The young dragon snapping to attention at Twilight’s call of his name. “can you go back to the library and keep an eye on Seb? Don’t tell him I told you to, or where we’re going.” “Why not?” Spike asked. “Seb is too full of pride. He’ll never let us go if he knew what we were doing.” Twilight explained. Spike nodded and began racing back to the library while Twilight and Fluttershy rushed towards the Everfree forest. Twilight and Fluttershy made their way through the forest. It was dark inside, and the ground was damp with moisture. The pair knew their way though, and tried not to let the forest get the better of them. They arrived at a familiar tree, decorated with a multitude of masks, and knocked on the door. A moment later, it opened and a striped black and white pony appeared at the door. The zebra smiled when she recognized her guests. “Twilight Sparkle, and Fluttershy too. Welcome, welcome, and how can I help you?” The zebra asked as she stepped aside for the pair to come in. “Hello, Zecora. We were wondering if you could help us with a problem. You see, we have this... uh, friend, and he’s very sick. Do you have anything that can help?” Twilight explained vaguely, trying not to let very much information pass from her mouth. “Hm, I may be able to whip up a brew. For your friend, something new.” Zecora said walking to her cupboards and shelves of potions and ingredients. “What seems to be his trouble? I will work on a potion on the double.” “Well. He coughs up blood a lot, and he does it until he can’t breath. After that he passes out.” Twilight explained. Zecora seemed puzzled, she searched her shelves before she took down a painted clay bottle with a cork in the top and passed it over to Twilight. “Make him drink this before he goes to bed, then come back later for another potion to use instead.” Zecora said. Twilight nodded and put the bottle in her saddle bag. “Thank you Zecora. We’ll come back tomorrow.” Twilight said. The zebra nodded and the pair returned to the darkness of the forest. “Do you think we should have told Zecora what Seb was?” Fluttershy asked once she and Twilight were a great distance into the forest, and away from the quirky zebra. “Maybe, but let’s wait before telling her.” Twilight replied. “Seb might get angry.” Fluttershy nodded in agreement. The forest seemed to get darker and darker as they walked. Had they been gone so long it was becoming night? A twig snapped in the distance causing Fluttershy to squeal and hide behind Twilight. Twilight gave her a reassuring smile and kept walking Fluttershy staying close behind. Another twig snapped and footsteps sounded behind them. Fluttershy couldn’t take it any longer and began running and crying at the same time. “Fluttershy!” Twilight called after her in vain. She began running but something tripped her and she fell flat on her face. The clay bottle shattered in her saddle bag on impact. When she looked up, the man from Seb’s dream was standing above her, a gun pointed directly at the unicorn’s face. “You!” Twilight gasped as she recognized him . “Well well, we meet again my dear.” Nathan said coldly. Twilight shuddered as if the coldness in his voice had turned into an arctic wind and blew past her. “Wh...What do you want?” She asked. Nathan cocked his gun and aimed it at her face. “I want your world.” He said calmly.” And Sebastian.” “Sebastian?...Seb?” She asked, only now putting the name together. “Yes, Seb. I suppose it’s a neat little nickname for him.” Nathan replied as he chuckled menacingly. “Fluttershy!” Twilight called out. “Hel-!” She screamed in shock when a loud explosion cut her off and rang in her ears. Her head spun and she could hear a loud pitched whine but nothing else. Searing pain exploded from her shoulder and she screamed in agony, closing her eyes. Her shoulder became hot and the rest of her body numbed. Slowly her hearing came back to her and she heard the thunder of a bunch of hoofbeats. Was it her friends? She opened her eyes and at first could see only blurs of blue, yellow and orange, then the blurs took the shapes of Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Applejack. Nathan fired at them. He missed and when he tried to fire again the gun only clicked. He cursed and ran into the depths of the forest. Applejack rushed over to Twilight. “You alright Twi?” She asked, kneeling beside her friend. Twilight couldn’t respond, the pain was too much. “Rainbow, go get some help. Fluttershy, go find Seb. Tell him there’s another human here.” Applejack ordered. The pegasi nodded and flew off as quickly as each of them could. Seb had fallen asleep again when Fluttershy came in to wake him. He rolled over and opened his eyes to see her hovering above him. For a brief moment, he saw Trisha’s face. When he blinked it went back to Fluttershy’s. “Hey.” He groaned as he sat up. He then noticed she was crying. “What’s wrong?” “I-it’s Twilight. W-we were leaving the Everfree forest a-and another h-human came out and attacked us. I-i ran but he hurt T-Twilight somehow.” She said, hugging Seb and crying into his chest. Her hugged her instinctively as he tried to make sense of what she had said “What do you mean he hurt her somehow?” Seb asked, once he made sense of it all. “There was a loud noise and Applejack and Rainbow Dash came running and I led them back to Twilight and the top of her shoulder had a large cut on it, like yours.” She said, holding back tears. “Like mine..?” Seb had to think for a moment then it hit him, she’d been shot.. “Where is she right now?” “She was still in the forest when I left. They’re sending help for her right now.” Fluttershy answered. “Will they take her to a hospital?” Seb asked. He couldn’t remember seeing one in town but then again he hadn’t explored the whole thing. Fluttershy nodded. “Take me to it.” Fluttershy led him out leaving Spike, who had heard the whole thing, to begin furiously writing a letter. Seb followed Fluttershy to the hospital where they met Applejack and Rainbow Dash watching Twilight being hauled in. Rainbow Dash saw then and flew over to Seb, tackling him to the ground then standing on his chest. “What in the hay is going on!?” Rainbow Dash barked. Seb took in a hard gulp of air. “I...I don’t-”  Seb coughed as Rainbow Dash choked him.  “I don’t know!” He choked out. “Now hold up there sugar cube.” Applejack butted in. “He’s been cooped up since yesterday. I doubt he’d know what;s goin’ on.” Rainbow Dash lifted off of Seb. She was still angry and took her anger out on one of the columns of the hospital, bucking it hard enough to make a slight crack. Seb slowly stood back up with Fluttershy’s help and dusted himself off. “I don’t know exactly what’s happening, but I have my ideas. Humans don’t normally run around and shoot ponies. Humans are scared of what they don’t understand, and like to eradicate it.” Seb explained. Fluttershy let out a soft squeak. “What do ya mean? We ain’t done nothin’ to them.” Applejack protested. “Welcome to the world of Humans. All you have to do is look at them the wrong way and you’re dead.” Seb replied. “So let’s attack them before they attack us.” Rainbow Dash said. Seb shook his head. “They have guns, you’ll never be able to fend them off.” Seb replied. “Then what do we do?” Rainbow Dash asked. Seb could only shrug. They stood in silence for a few moments. Rainbow Dash fumed and dug at the ground, constantly looking as if she was going to charge at the wall. None of them wanted to go inside until someone came to tell them Twilight was alright. Rarity and Pinkie Pie had joined them not long after they had arrived and were just as worried. Even Pinkie Pie couldn’t find words to cheer everyone up. A doctor finally came out, searching for the injured unicorns friends, and found them waiting.He removed his mask and smiled softly. “Your friend will be fine.” He said. “She was only grazed and the worse damage was going to shock.” the group breathed a sigh of relief at the same time. They followed the doctor inside and to Twilight’s room where she was curled up in a bed and out like a light. Applejack was the first to leave, she had to get back to the farm and her family. Fluttershy left next to tend to her animals, Pinkie Pie had to go home and tend to Mr. and Mrs Cake’s twins, and Rarity had to put Sweetie Belle to bed. Rainbow Dash left sometime in the middle of the night, leaving Seb alone with Twilight. He had refused to leave Twilight alone until she woke up and had fallen asleep himself. He woke up to the sound of hoofbeats and looked up to see something standing over Twilight’s bed. Seb could just make out the horse-like figure and the long waving mane and horn. the curtains blew a little and he could make out Princess Celestia’s face. He let out a sigh of relief. He had been worried it was the other human. He leaned over and flipped the switch on the lamp and the soft glow illuminated the room. Twilight was still asleep with her front leg in a sling. Seb began to get up but Celestia pushed him back down with a hoof. “No, Don’t get up.” She said quietly.Seb sat back down. “Spike sent me a letter about what happened.” Seb nodded, Twilight had explained the mail system between her and Celestia but he still didn’t quite understand it. “Can you explain to me what is happening?” “I’m not entirely sure actually.” Seb replied weakly. he was still tired.”It’s hard to understand the human mind and why it does certain things.” “This begs the question, what are you doing here anyway?” Celestia asked, almost accusingly. Seb looked up at her with a glare. “I didn’t choose to come here. They forced me here.” Seb growled. “Why would they force you here then come as well?” Celestia asked. Seb could only shrug. Celestia turned to Twilight as she stirred a bit and mumbled something about getting quills and settled back down into her dream. Seb smiled a little, but it quickly faded when Celestia cleared her throat. “I must return to Canterlot. Farewell.” She said and left the room rather quickly. Seb shook his head slightly then turned back to Twilight. He pulled the covers over her shoulders and tucked her in gently, before sitting back down and closing his eyes. “Stupid pony.” he whispered as he began drifting off to sleep. His dream had been disturbing to say the least; He was running and jumping over fences like he had two years ago when he had met Trisha. He jumped over a fence and found Trisha there, in her backyard, pregnant and holding her arms open for him. He went to hug her but a gunshot sounded and he dropped to the floor of her living room where he had held her. He looked down and saw his wound, fresh and bleeding. He stared at it, then looked up to see a child standing where Trisha had been. The boy looked just like him as a young boy. “Why did you let us die daddy?” The boy asked. Seb’s heart jumped into his throat. “I..I didn’t.. I couldn’t-” “Daddy, why did you let mommy die?” “I couldn’t save her.” “You killed us daddy.” “No...I-” He looked down and saw a gun in his hand and the child was gone. He dropped the gun and began crying until he heard strange footsteps walking towards him. He looked up and saw Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rarity standing in front of him “You killed Twilight.” Rainbow Dash said coldly. “How could you?” Pinkie Pie asked. “I didn’t kill her.” Seb said. “She’s fine.” “If she’s fine then why are y’all holding a gun and she’s dead?” Applejack asked. Seb looked down, the gun was back in his hand and Twilight was laying in a puddle of blood. “No!” Seb yelled. Fluttershy walked up to him and glared. “Fluttershy, I didn’t..” “You lied to me. You’re just a murderer.” Fluttershy said and left. “No! Fluttershy!” Seb yelled out. he kept calling out as they left. HIs eyes snapped opened and he was in the hospital. He breathed hard and looked around. Everything was the same as he left it. He breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back. His eyes closed again but only for a moment before a hand clasped over his mouth. He struggled at first until he felt a gun press against his throat. “Shhhh” Nathan whispered. “Listen closely, Sebastian, I want you to steal something for me. These ponies have a weapon they call the “Elements of Harmony”, I want it and you’re going to get it for me.” “Or what.” Seb growled as Nathan removed his hand. “Or your little purple friend here is dead.” Nathan said, removing his gun and aiming at Twilight, who was still sleeping peacefully. “She isn’t my friend.” Seb snapped. Nathan grinned. “Oh? then I don’t suppose you mind if I just....” He walked over to Twilight and prepared his gun and began pulling the trigger. “No!” Seb yelled, jumping up. Nathan smirked. Twilight stirred weakly and began waking. ”Fine...I’ll do it.” Nathan pulled his gun away and slid out of the door slowly. “Until we meet again Sebastian.” Nathan said and closed the door. Twilight opened her eyes as the door shut and turned to see Seb standing over her, glaring at the door. “Seb?” she asked weakly. Seb looked down at her and for the first time, smiled at her. “Hey, kid.” He said and dragged his chair over to her bedside. “How you feeling?” He asked gently. “What’s wrong?” She asked. “Nothing.” Seb lied. “Just, thought I saw a mouse.” She took his answer, being too weak and tired to care. “What time is it?” She asked. “Midnight.” Seb replied, fixing her sheets. “Why are you still here?” She asked, wincing as her shoulder began to ache. “Well, I guess I fell asleep.” Seb said. At least he could tell one truth. “You should go back to the library. Spike can’t be home alone.” She said and winced again. Seb had almost completely forgotten about Spike. “Alright Twilight, I’ll go watch over Spike.” Seb said, fussed with her blankets again and then made his way to the door. Twilight fell asleep almost immediately and he walked back to the library.