'Bored bored bored bored' I thought to my self. I was waiting for a potion that I had botched up to stop releasing clouds of a painful gas in my house. The fumes had a pepper spray like effect on anything that came in contact with them so I was stuck outside my house with nothing to do.
'Is it sad that the most amazing potions I make are the screw ups... I'm gonna go with yes. I really should write them down sometime though. That makes me wonder what would happen if I messed up making a potion that was already a mess up... maybe I shouldn't try to repeat my mistakes, no matter how cool the results are.' my deep contemplation was interrupted by the sound of someone approaching.
“Martian why is your house filled with smoke? I hope a dragon you did not provoke.” Asked Zecora.
“No, I just messed up a night vision potion.” I responded and shortly after was followed by a crashing sound coming from my house and another towering column of smoke started to rise “Real bad apparently. Oh, that's never going to come out of the rug. Anyway can I help you with something?”
“Indeed, please listen to what I want to impart, and listen with an open heart.” said Zeocra
“Alright I'm all ears” I said.
“I must express my worry on how you lead your life. The goal you chase has led you into a lot of strife. I propose you rethink you goal before you dig yourself into a deep hole.” Zecora said.
“I can't say that I like where this is going, but continue.” I replied.
“Your potential to make medicine is grand. Come with me to my home land, and in my nation pursue a proper education.” Said Zecora.
I know she's right. None of my attempts to find a way home have yielded any results, but I have one last plan that I want to try. “Alright, how about this, I have one last plan to get back home. If that one fails than I give up and I'll go with you to get a proper education in making medicine.” I said. 'Still, I can't believe that my cutie mark is medicine related. I wounder if it has anything to do with that destiny that the Grand Reaper mentioned. Knowing my luck my destiny will probably be helping ponies live longer so they can slack off.' I thought.
It look like that wasn't the answer Zecora was hoping for, she had a disappointed look on her face, but she elected to accept it. She stayed and helped me clear my house after the smoke stopped coming.
Before Zecora left she remembered one last order of business. “I need to give you one last thing before I go.” Zecora pulled out a small bag of bits. “This is Pinkies payment for your earlier show.” She handed me the bag and left.
I inspected the bag of bits. The contents weren't anything to write home about, But you know what they say, “crime doesn't pay” well in this case it would probably be better described as doesn’t pay well, but whatever. It's money so I'll take it.
***************************
Some Time Later
Rainbow Dash was flying over the Everfree forest checking for any signs of strange activity. Twilight had sent her to see if she could find any signs of the human; however, Rainbow’s mind was on other things. 'There's no way that it was the human who nailed me with that pie. I saw him throw that first pie, no one can fake being that bad. There is no way that he was the one that shot me with that second pie. Now that I think about it, there is only one pony that I know that can throw a pie like that. None of this makes any sense.' Rainbow let out a grunt of frustration. 'Calm down Dash, just find the human, then you can ask him what's going on.'
Rainbow Dash spent the next several hours flying deeper into the forest. When she was flying over a particularly deep part of the forest she noticed A run down cabin that stood out from the rest of the forest. 'What nut job would live this deep in the forest? (here's a hint: It's the dumbest character in this story.) I should probably cheek this out.'
I had just finished working on the plan and was just about to enjoy a tuna sandwich. As I had just sat down I noticed something unusual outside my window. I went to get a better look and saw that Rainbow Dash was flying towards my house. Fortunately I had planed ahead for this. I headed directly to my favorite corner of the house, assumed a fetal position, and started crying silently. Perfect plan I know.
Rainbow Dash landed in front of my home, knocked on the door, and shouted “Hello, is anyone home?” There was a muffled sound coming from inside the cabin. “Hello, is everything alright?” Rainbow Dash checked to see if the door was locked, finding that it wasn't she proceed to enter the cabin. “I'm coming in.”
At the sound of Rainbow Dash I began contemplating what was about to happen. 'I guess this is it. I suppose this is a good day to die. Maybe she'll make it quick just like last time. Yeah that'd be nice. I even bet I'll still be able to go to heaven. I haven't done anything overly bad since my last visit to the after life. I suppose I did take Pinkie hostage, but I was forced to do that so I don't think that I'll get point's knocked off for that. Well then again, I sought out the path of revenge and spread a horrible lie about Twilight Sparkle. There's no justifying that. Bad Martian, evil. I don't want it to end like this. I don't want to go straight to...'
Rainbow Dash entered the house to find the human cowering in a corner of one of the rooms. This wasn’t the reaction she was expecting from the human. She was expecting an outlast of anger and hate. What she got was a pathetic cowering wimp.
“Um... are you alright?” Rainbow Dash asked. This only caused the human to give a small whimper and curl up into a smaller ball. “Um... I'll take that as a no.” Rainbow dash waited for me to get over myself for a little while before coming to the conclusion that I wasn't going anywhere for some time. “Alright look I promise than I'm not going to hurt you, so would you please calm down.”
I took me some time to finally build up the courage to turn around and face her. “L-look I-I'm sorry for whatever I did so p-please don't kill me.” I said still sitting in the corner while shielding myself with a small throw pillow.
“Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you. See, look I'm backing away.” Said Rainbow Dash as she moved away from me. “Can we talk now?”
Seeing that she had backed up did give me the confidence boost that I needed. “W-what do y-you want.” I fearfully asked.
“I just want to talk.” Said Rainbow Dash.
“Alright, a-about what?” I asked.
“Would you please put down that pillow first. Besides, it won’t do you any good if I was going to attack you.” Said Rainbow Dash.
I hesitantly put the pillow on the ground next to me.
“Okay, now down to business, why where you in Ponyville?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“I was l-looking for a book on banishing.” I said, fear still apparent in my voice.
“Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you.” Said Rainbow Dash “Look, last time I hurt you was an accident, and you seam to have gotten over that just fine.”
She must not have not have seen that I've been using a cane. That also brought my attention that my cane was a little out reach of my current position. Dang I'm screwed!
“Okay that's not calming down.” Rainbow Dash said to my trembling form. “Dude what's this gonna take? I thought that you where supposed to be some great and powerful evil.”
I chuckled a little at the notion. “T- that's p-pretty far from the t-truth actually”
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes “Obviously so what, did you like lose you powers or something?”
“No I actually never had any supernatural powers. Actually since coming to Equestria I've noticed a severe drop in my natural powers.” I said.
“What's that supposed to mean?” Asked Rainbow Dash.
“Well before I came to Equestria I think my strength would land somewhere between below average and average. After I came to Equestria well, let's just say that there was this one time I got in a tug-of -war with a butterfly and lost.” I said. Also that was the honest truth, I really have been involved in a tug-of-war with one of Fluttershy's butterflies and lost, and the thing was also capable of lifting me a couple inches of the ground. Seriously, that's not fair. I hate this universe.
Rainbow Dash was laughing her head off at this revelation. After what I consider an excessive amount of time laughing at my expense she asked “So you mean to tell me that this hole time we where freaking out because one of Twilight's books said a wimp like you was some big shot bad guy?”
“Um, that would about sum it up yea.” I said more calmly now that I convinced Rainbow Dash was convinced I wasn't a threat.
Rainbow Dash resumed laughing at me. I decided now was a good time to get out of the corner while she was too busy laughing at me to notice I was displaying trouble walking. I didn't want to deal with a emotionally devastated pegasus (I got enough of that from Fluttershy). I successfully got up grabbed my cane and left the room without her noticing my condition. I headed to the kitchen to pick up my sandwich. 'now where did I leave my sandwich... right I put it on the table as I was heading to cower the corner.' As I entered the dining room I saw that Rainbow Dash had made herself at home and was eating my sandwich.
“Hey this sandwich is really good, what's in it anyway?” asked Rainbow Dash.
I didn't know what to do. 'I-is that alright? Should she be eating my sandwich? Fish is meat, ponies don't eat meat. Should I tell her.' I simply responded “Um... tuna.”
“... Could you repeat that?” Asked Rainbow Dash.
“Tuna, um, you know... a fish.” I said.
“EWW!” shouted Rainbow Dash. “THAT COMPLEATLY DISGUSTING, WHY?”
I stood there for a moment trying to think of what the proper response would be. Before I could come up with anything Rainbow continued her previous statement.
“Why does it taste so good?” Rainbow Dash asked.
Not sure how to reply to that either. “Um... because it is. Honestly, I don’t think that a little fish is going to kill you so if you want to finish off that sandwich go ahead, and if it will make you feel better I wont tell anybody.” Not like I'm going to eat it now that she's bitten into it.
Rainbow Dash quickly ate the sandwich then said “Tell no one.”
“My lips are sealed.” I Responded.
Awkward silence fallowed for a wile we stood there staring at each other, neither of us really sure what to say. While I was trying to think of a way to politely ask Rainbow Dash to get out of my house so I could enjoy lunch without her eating it, her eyes drifted to the cane I was supporting myself with.
“What's up with the cane?” Asked Rainbow Dash.
“I just felt like being fancy.” I lied.
The look in her eye said she didn't buy it. “Come to think of it I haven't seen you on you two feet without it since I bucked you.”
“I revert to my previous statement.” I said.
“Put it down.” Demanded Rainbow Dash.
“I have a better idea that will end in less tears. The plan is I keep the cane and you stop asking questions you probably don't want the answers to.” I said.
“I said put the cane down.” Re-demanded Rainbow Dash.
“Alright fine.” I said as I put my cane off to the side.
“Alright now walk over here.” Said Rainbow Dash.
SIGH “Alright fine, you caught me. My leg has been all sorts of messed up lately.” I said.
“Tell me the truth. Is it because of some sort of brain damage you got because I bucked you?” Asked Rainbow Dash.
“Are you sure you want the answer to that question?” I asked.
“I think I already know.” She said her voice starting to quiver.
“Yes, somehow the kick you gave me to the head had damaged my brain connection to my leg. I will probably need to use a cane for the rest of my life.” I said.
Rainbow Dash looked like she was devastated by this news. “I-I didn't realize that I-” That was all Rainbow Dash got out before I interrupted her.
“Yeah I know you're sorry, and you want to know what! I forgive you. I say we put this whole incident behind us and move on with our lives.” I said, but what I was really trying to say was 'get out of my house, I want to eat lunch.'
“How bad was it?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“How bad was what?” I asked.
“How bad was the damage when I kicked you?” Elaborated Rainbow Dash.
“I'm not really sure of that myself. Ask Fluttershy, she would know more about the damage than I would.” I said without thinking.
“How do you know Fluttershy?” Asked Rainbow dash.
“I shouldn't have said that.” I mumbled to myself. “I've known Fluttershy for about eight years now. We meet a while back in the Everfree forest when I fell down a river. She and Zecora nursed me back to health.”
“Before I go, one last thing.” Rainbow Dash said as she flew over me.
“Eh, your getting a little to close for comfort Dash.” I said.
“I'm just going to test if what you said about the butterfly is true.” Rainbow Dash responded then wrapped her forelegs around me.
This sent me into a bit of a panic. “Rainbow Dash I am not okay with physical contact PUT ME DOWN!” I cried.
“Relax I'm not gonna hurt ya.” Rainbow Dash said as she lifted me up. “Wow you really don't weigh a thing.”
“Too high TOO HIGH!” I scram as we floated inches off the ground.
“Alright relax I'm putting you down.” Rainbow Dash said as she floated us down. The second she let go of me I realized I didn't have my cane and met the ground face first. “Um you okay?” Rainbow asked.
“I'll be fine, just go.” I said.
***********************************************************
At Twilight's library
Twilight was waiting for Spike to return home from his royal business. Fluttershy had just finished unpacking the last of her things that she had brought to Twilight's.
“Um, Twilight, if you don't mind me asking, how long will I be staying here?” Asked Fluttershy.
“Not to long. Once Spike gets home I'm going to send a letter straight the princess.” replied Twilight.
“Twilight, do you think that maybe the human isn't evil... just a thought.” Fluttershy said.
“No, he is definitely evil, all my books say so.” Responded Twilight.
“Is there any chance your books are wrong?” asked Fluttershy.
Twilight suddenly burst into a fit of laughter. After a few minutes she finally composed herself. “That's a good one Fluttershy 'books being wrong' yea right. I'm glad you're feeling good enough to lighten the mood during this crisis.”
“I wasn't joking” Mumbled Fluttershy to quietly for anyone to hear.
“Anyway, I need to cheek to see if there are any more books I can use downstairs. Would you mind staying up here and getting me if Spike comes home while I'm down there?” Asked Twilight.
“Alright, but Twilight please give Mar... I mean the human a chance to at least show he has good in him.” Pleaded Fluttershy.
“Fluttershy I know that you believe that everything has good in them, but a human is an incarnation of pure refined evil. I'm sorry but you can't save him because there was never anything to save.” Said Twilight as she walked down the stairs.
****************************
Thirty minutes to an hour later (That sounds about right)
Rainbow Dash had made it back to ponyville and was heading straight to the library hoping to inform Twilight that the Human was no danger. She burst through the door to find Fluttershy.
“Oh hi Rainbow Dash, are you looking for Twilight?” Greeted Fluttershy.
“Yeah, where is she?” Responded Rainbow Dash.
“She's downstairs, looking for books that will help us prepare for the human.” Fluttershy said, the last part with an obvious lack of enthusiasm.
“Hey Flutters, I found where the Human lives.” Admitted Rainbow Dash.
Fluttershy's eyes went wide as she heard this news, “You didn't hurt him, did you?”
“No, but you seem awfully concerned for this human.” Remarked Rainbow Dash.
“Oh well it's just that I well... I think that it's just ummm... Maybe he's...” Fluttershy stuttered, trying to figure out what to say.
“Fluttershy, I know you've known the human for a while.” Interrupted Rainbow Dash.
“Oh please, Rainbow, he's not brain washing me.” Pleaded Fluttershy.
“Wait, is that why you weren't telling us about him?” Asked Rainbow Dash.
“Yes, please don't be mad.” Fluttershy responded.
“Don't worry about it, I've talked to him, I know he isn't evil.” Rainbow Dash responded.
“You didn't hurt him, did you? He's very delicate.” Asked Fluttershy.
“Yea I kind of learned that the last time I attacked him. Speaking of which, when I asked him how bad the damage was from when I bucked him he said you would know more than he did.” Said Rainbow Dash.
Breaking eye contact, Fluttershy said “Well... I suppose.”
“... So you gonna tell me?” Rainbow Dash asked.
Fluttershy responded with a series of incompressible squeaks, she kept her eyes focused on the ground.
“Fluttershy you'll need to talk louder than that.” Demanded Rainbow Dash.
Fluttershy responded with slightly louder incompressible squeaks.
“Louder.” Demanded Rainbow Dash a second time.
Fluttershy responded with almost compressible squeaks.
“LOUDER!” Shouted Rainbow Dash.
Fluttershy took a really deep breath, gathered up every ounce of courage she could muster, made eye contact with Rainbow Dash and in a voice so quiet that if you weren't paying absolute attention you would have missed what was said, “Idon'tWantToTalkAboutIt!” She immediately broke eye contact huddled up into a ball and hid behind her hair.
Rainbow Dash let out a sigh before asking “Fluttershy please when I...” She faltered, regathering her complexion she continued. “When I bucked him that night, it sounded like I snapped his neck, and when I checked to see if he was breathing... well, he wasn't. Later when I asked Twilight about it she thought that he was beyond the point of recovery. Fluttershy please, I need to know how close I...” She found herself struggling to finish asking the question. “How close I came to... to ending somepony's life.” as she finished her eyes where betraying her fear of the answer.
Fluttershy looked up into the eyes of her friend. Seeing the fear in her eyes, she asked, “Rainbow, are you alright?”
Rainbow Dash looked at Fluttershy, “Fluttershy, I need to know, Please.” Rainbow Dash begged with hardly a whisper.
“Are you sure? You don't quite look like yourself.” Said Fluttershy.
“I haven't quite felt like myself since that night.” Rainbow Dash locked eyes with Fluttershy “Please Fluttershy tell me.” Begged Rainbow Dash.
When Fluttershy saw the tears starting to form in Rainbow Dash's eyes she gave way. “Are you sure?”
“... Yes” Responded Rainbow Dash.
“Alright, you said that Twilight was able to revive him with her magic?” Asked Fluttershy.
“Yeah” Responded Rainbow Dash.
“That was probably the only thing keeping him alive. When I looked his neck was completely broken. I was so scared. I've never seen anything that bad. I'm lucky he didn't die when I helped him move.” Fluttershy's pupils shrunk into pinpricks as the stared into space. “The next day he asked me how long until he would recover. I couldn't tell him that I didn't think he was going to make it I lied to him.” Tears where flowing freely form Fluttershy. She had forgotten that the rest of the world existed.
“Um Fluttershy?” Said Rainbow Dash trying to snap Fluttershy back to reality.
“Zecora helped me the next day. She couldn't believe that he was alive in his condition. She agreed that he couldn't have long. The only thing we could think of that would save his life was a surgery that would only nearly keep him alive, he'd be paralyzed from the neck down, but alive.” Fluttershy's voice began to rise “I told him to trust me! I didn't even tell him how close he was to death or that he wasn't ever going to move again!”
“FLUTTERSHY SNAP OUT OF IT!” Shouted Rainbow Dash.
Fluttershy came back to reality. It took her a minute to realize where she was and what was going on. “Sorry I...”
“No Fluttershy, I'm sorry.” Said Rainbow Dash. “You said that he was going to be paralyze from the neck down for the rest of his life. How come he's still able to move around?”
“Somehow by some miracle the surgery worked better than it should have. Me and Zecora where both amazed.” Said Fluttershy.
“So I'm not a murderer only because I got lucky,” remarked Rainbow Dash. “And I'm also lucky that I only crippled one of his legs, and to top it off I scarred my friend for life.” a tear fell from her eye.
“No! Rainbow Dash, please don't do this to your self.” Begged Fluttershy.
“Fluttershy I saw the look in your eyes. You weren’t alright.” Said Rainbow Dash.
“But Dash I'm fine. I'm just a little uneasy that all, and I'm getting therapy from my animal friends. You don't need to worry yourself over me. I'm going to be fine.” Pleaded Fluttershy.
************************
Back at fort Martian.
I was about to dig into my sandwich when the feeling of guilt came over me “Oh come on!” I shouted. “I can't eat on a guilty conscious.” I have a feeling this is all because Rainbow Dash isn't accepting my forgiveness, and now I feel bad because she feels bad. Does she even release how insensitive shes being by not accenting my forgiveness? No! I don't think she does.
I put the sandwich down and sat there with a scowl while I waited for the feeling to pass.
*************************
Rejoining Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash.
It took a while for Fluttershy to calm down Dash. Finally, after calming down, Rainbow Dash recomposed herself and headed down stairs to find Twilight.
It didn't take her long to locate Twilight. “Hey Twi, I need to tell you something.” Rainbow Dash Said.
“Twilight Looked up from her book. “What?” She Asked.
“I discovered that the human isn't evil.” Rainbow Dash said.
“That's... not possible. A human is an incarnation of pure evil, They can't be anything but evil. Rainbow Dash who told you the human wasn't evil?” Asked Twilight Sparkle.
“I found where he lives, and I talked to him and I found out that he was an alright guy.” Replied Rainbow Dash.
Twilight's face went into serious mode when she herd this. “And where exactly did her live?” she asked.
“He actually lives pretty deep in the Everfree Forest. If I remember correctly It was northeast of town.” Said Rainbow Dash.
After Rainbow Dash finished relaying the enemy position Twilight reached for an object to knock out Rainbow Dash with. Once she felt the object in hoof she used her magic to hold her in place.
When Rainbow Dash realized she was being held in place she began to panic. “ Hey what's going on? Twilight what are you doing.”
Twilight ignored her. She pulled out the object she had grabbed earlier reveling a college level calculus book. She opened it to one of the later pages and began reading the lesson to Rainbow Dash. “In this lesson you will learn to find the distance between two parallel planes in a three denominational space.”
Rainbow Dash was Starting to feel the effect of extreme boredom. Her eyes where getting heavy and it was getting harder to stay awake with every passing moment. It didn't take long for Rainbow Dash to succumb to the effects of Twilight's lecture and she hit the floor sound asleep.
Twilight looked over her unconscious friend. “I'm so sorry Rainbow Dash. Once we stop the human I'll find someway to undo the brainwashing spell the human must have put on you.” Twilight Sparkle said as she floated Rainbow Dash to her spare bed and tied her down to it. She went up stairs to find Fluttershy talking to Spike.
Fluttershy noticed Twilight. “Oh Twilight I was just about to send Spike down to see you.” She Said.
“Thanks,but before we do anything I have some bad news.” Twilight Said.
“What is it, and where's Dash?”Asked Fluttershy.
“That's what I was about to tell you. Flutershy the human has brainwashed Rainbow Dash.”
An empty silence filled the room. After a while Spike asked “what's a human.”
“It's a being of pure evil, and I need you take a letter for the princess so we can get her help to stop this human before he has a chance to do anything.” Said Twilight Sparkle. While Spike was processing the news, Twilight turned to Fluttershy. “Fluttershy, I need you to take care of Dash, but don't let her go. She's under the influence of the human, so It's too dangerous to let her loose.”
“Twilight, shes our friend, she wouldn't...” Fluttershy said before she was interrupted by Twilight sparkle.
“No Flutterhshy, that's not Rainbow Dash. Shes still in there somewhere but right now the human is using her like a puppet. After we stop the human I'll find a way to save Rainbow Dash. Trust me.” Twilight said.
When Fluttershy saw that Twilight was not going to be dissuaded, she decided that she would talk to Applejack when she got the chance. “I don't like this, but alright Twilight.”
“Thanks Fluttershy, I'll help her as soon as the human is dealt with.” said Twilight completely missing the look of sorrow on fluttershy's face. “Spike are you ready to take a letter?”
“Yeah, just give me a second.” Spike said while he was gathering the equipment for writing a letter. “Okay... Ready!”
*************************
Celestia's throne room
Celestia sat in her throne room as usual reading over proposed changes to the way the kingdom was ran. While she was in the middle of a particularly boring document one of her messengers interrupted her.
“Princess I bear terrible news from Ponyville.” Said the messenger.
“Yes, what is it?” Questioned the princess.
“It's about your student Twilight Sparkle. One of my sources from Ponyville has it in good authority that she has been replaced with a robot.” Reported the messenger.
The princess took only a moment to process the information she looked to one of her guards and commanded “Gather an elate squad of royal guards.” Commanded the princess. “I wont stand to have my student replaced by some metal imposter.”
“Right away your highness.” said the guard.
Shortly after the guard left the room a scroll appeared in front of the princess. She picked it up and read the contents. After reading the contents she looked to her other guard. “Gather the entire royal guard save a few of the night guard. I have reason to believe a human is going to attack the elements of harmony.”
The guard was shocked at the order, but quickly shook it off. “Right away your highness.”
*************************
Martians house.
I had finally finished my sandwich, and also written an formal apology to Twilight Sparkle. I plan to send it in the mail on my way to execute my next plan. I bet your wondering something like “What harebrained scheme have you come up with to get home this time Martian?” Well since I'm such a nice guy I'll tell you. The plan is simple, since the only one that would be able to banish me to where I came is Princess Celestia. I figured If I try to take over Canterlot and failed I would either be banished or sentenced to death... I'll settle either way.
With that I left my house for what was possibly the last time.