//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: A Past That Would Not Let Go // Story: Friendship is Magic; Damnation is Alchemy // by AnonymousCardCaptor //------------------------------// Friendship is Magic; Damnation is Alchemy By Anonymous Card Captor My Little Pony-Friendship is Magic is created by Lauren Faust and owned by Hasbro Studios. Fullmetal Alchemist is created by Hiromu Arakawa. All other characters are the creation of the author. All thoughts or anything read by a character is in italics. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chapter 8: A Past That Would Not Let Go In the Carousel Boutique, Rarity was sewing dresses as usual, but her mind was elsewhere. The normally astute Rarity was in a daze compelled by thoughts of the bizarre horror she witnessed a few days ago. Zecora was right. It was unsettling, and Twilight’s commentary didn’t help. A cold chill ran down her back at the thought that Wind Racer might have been there when the hydra was brutally slain. The ring of the boutique doorbell snapped Rarity out of her contemplation. This wasn’t the time to dwell on such morbid things. She had to tend to her customers. “Aw welcome to the Carousel Boutique may I...”, Rarity said before frozen in place at the sight of Fluttershy and Sinclair, “help...you...” Rarity inched away nervously. Both Fluttershy and Sinclair were wearing saddlebags around their waists. One of the pouches on Sinclair’s saddlebag contained the two library books Fluttershy checked out for him. Sinclair sighed. “Never mind, we can come back some other time.” Fluttershy whispered into Sinclair’s eye. “What are you doing? Didn't you want to apology to Rarity?” “I don’t think she’s in the mood to talk,” said Sinclair in a hushed voice. “Did you see the way she looked at me?” “Just wait one second,” Fluttershy said reassuringly. “Rarity, Wind Racer has something to say to you. Go ahead.” Fluttershy gave Sinclair a little nudge and inched him towards Rarity. Sinclair averted his eyes from Rarity’s. “Um...yeah. I’m sorry I got carried away. I shouldn’t have bugged you about the unicorn magic. You’re not still mad, are you?” Rarity took a deep breath and released the tension building up inside. How naïve of her to fall for Twilight’s paranoid suspicions! He acts as mousy as Fluttershy. There was no way he would be willing, let alone able, to disembowel a hydra. No longer apprehensive toward Sinclair, Rarity’s curiosity and mischievousness came to the surface. “Hmmm...I don’t think I could forgive your boorish behavior,” she said in a playful voice, “not without doing a little penance.” She grinned devilishly. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ There was a time when Sinclair longed to wear clothing. When he first changed bodies with the Impostor, he begged for something to conceal his nakedness. Even the years spent as a pony never completely squelched the desire for modesty. No, that would take Rarity’s sense of fashion. That gaudy outfit made Sinclair wished he was naked. Sinclair looked in the mirror trying his best to hide his disgust. The ensemble consisted of a purple vest with gold buttons, a white shirt with long, puffy sleeves that covered his forelegs, a dark purple cape, and an oversize dark blue hat with an oversize white feather sticking out of it. “What do you think?” Rarity asked Fluttershy. “Oh Rarity, he looks like a fairy tale prince,” Fluttershy said in awe. No, I look ridiculous. There’s nothing romantic about this clown outfit. It must be a girl thing. “So, now you forgive me, right?” Sinclair said in a pleading voice. “Not so fast, mister,” Rarity gloated, “That 's just for starters. I have a whole wardrobe for you to model.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “It’s only 11:30?” Sinclair frowned while gawking at the clocks on display in a store window. “Time flies when you’re having fun,” Fluttershy smiled. Actually, it seemed to drag on to me. “Wind Racer,” said Fluttershy, “I’m running late. Could you pick up a bag of carrots for Angel-the big bag?” “Sure,” said Sinclair, “I don’t mind at all.” Sinclair waited for Fluttershy to get out of earshot and said quietly, “Let me get some hydrogen cyanide to sweeten it for the little rat.” Sinclair wandered through the pony bizarre. It was just like the immigrant districts in Central. He knew some of his fellow officers endorsed them over the grocery store chains, but Sinclair was skeptical. Those fruit and vegetable stands were throwbacks to a past lacking in sanitation and uniform quality standards, but since grocery stores don’t appear to exist here, he would have to settle for the farmer’s market. Sinclair scanned the streets for a vegetable stand. Ponies were stilling gawking at him and the burn marks on each side of his back. He knew it couldn’t be helped, but it didn’t feel good to be the subject of all those prying eyes. Somewhere between the feed store where he and Fluttershy parted ways to the carrot stand, Sinclair came across a young yellow pony with a red mane selling apples. But what surprised him was the fact that she didn’t have a symbol on her hind quarter. “Quit starin’ at mah flank,” the young filly said. “Oh I’m sorry,” Sinclair apologized, “I didn’t mean anything by it.” “Mean what?” The young filly was genuinely confused. “Whadda ya mean by anythung.” Sinclair didn’t want to delve into a discussion about pedophilia with a little girl pony. “I’m sorry about staring, but I couldn’t help but to notice you didn’t have a hind quarter symbol.” “It’s called ah cutie mark.” “Right a c...c...cutie mark,” giggled Sinclair. The young filly looked cross with Sinclair. “Tat ain’t nice laughin’ at a filly without a cutie mark.” “I wasn’t laughing at you. I was laughing at the word ‘cutie mark’. It’s a silly name. It would sound better to call it a hind quarter symbol.” “Tat’s a silly thing ta laugh at. Oh, do y’all wannah buy sum apples?” “Oh no, I have to buy carrots.” “But apples are a lot more tastier than carrots.” The filly then noticed the burn marks where Sinclair’s wings should have been. “Hey! Ain’t ya the pony from the Everfree Forest-dat there pegasus that lost his wings?” “You got me. I’m the pony that came out of the Everfree Forest. I’m Wind Racer.” “I’m Applebloom. I’m from the Apple family.” “Please to meet you, Applebloom. Sorry, I can’t buy apples from you today. It’s not really for me anyway. It’s for a friend of a friend.” “Oh?” “It’s a rabbit,” Sinclair said playfully. “I’m sho’ tat rabbit would like sum apples.” Damn, this kid is persistent. “Maybe next time I go shopping I can...” Out of no where, something struck Sinclair and knocked him off his hooves. He was disoriented; the world seemed to spin around him. His head was buffeted by blow after blow of something hard striking him. The beating only lasted a few seconds but it left Sinclair dazed and a bit bloodied. It took a few seconds to get back his bearings. When he did, Sinclair was looking up at a rather large male red pony with an orange mane and a nasty scowl. “Whadda ya had to go and do tat for, Big Macintosh?” Applebloom cried. “I dunna care if ya don’t remember us,” Big Macintosh growled, “I still remember ya. I dunna want ya hangin’ around mah little sisters, got it.” Then Sinclair recognized that weird dialect. It’s the same as Applejack’s. “Are you related to that Applejack pony?” “I said leave or else I’ll give ya a hoofin’ you’ll never forgit.” Sinclair picked himself up and then backed away from the apple stand. Steam blew from the nostrils of the husky, broad-shouldered pony as he fixed his gaze on the retreating alchemist. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sinclair trotted along with a bag full of carrots tied to his back and scanning the addresses on the mailboxes. Sinclair frowned and raised an eyebrow when he came across the address that he was looking for. “This can’t be right.” Sinclair shook his head. He took out the piece of paper with the address on it and looked it over. “Where’s the library? Why would they put their mailbox next to a tree?” He looked around, but the nearby buildings were homes. Sinclair was about to leave when a giant lizard came around the corner. Standing on its hind legs, it was about two feet tall, purple scales with a light green underbelly, and bright green fins that ran from the top of its head to the tip of its tail. Sinclair leaped in the air screaming. “Oh, sorry for startling you,” the lizard said. “You can talk?” Sinclair asked. “Of course I can talk,” said the lizard, “Just because I’m a baby dragon it doesn’t mean that I’m too young to talk.” “A dragon? You mean those giant reptiles with the wings?” “Hey,” said the baby dragon, “you must be that pony with amnesia-Wind Racer. You must have had a tough time in the Everfree Forest.” “Yeah, I look like a wreck don’t I?” Sinclair played along and permitted Spike to believe his recent wounds came from his stay in the Everfree Forest. “Well, I’m Spike. Oh that’s right, I almost forgot. You know Twilight Sparkle, right?” Sinclair nodded again. “I met her in the hospital.” “Well, I’m her assistant, and she told me to find you. Do you know why?” Sinclair looked perplexed. “Not really sure? Are these books overdue?” “Uh, it’s probably nothing to worry about,” said Spike. “Here, let me take you to her. I was lucky to find you so close to the library.” “What library?” He asked. “Man, you got it bad,” said Spike. He tapped on the truck of the big tree. “Everypony that lives here knows the library is in this hollow tree.” He looked over it again, and, to his shock, the tree had windows and a balcony at the top. The first thing that came to mind was a tree house. The next was the absurdity of a library inside of a tree. “This can’t be a library.” “Of course it is,” Spike replied. He opened the door for Sinclair. “Well, what are you waiting for?” Sinclair shook his head. This place can strain a man’s sanity. “Thank you, Spike.” “You’re welcome.” It was, as Spike said, a library. Two-stories tall with shelves full of books on both floors. In the corner were the librarian’s desk and the familiar face of Twilight Sparkle, the unicorn who visited him in the hospital. “Wind Racer,” said Twilight, “it’s good to see you.” She then turned her attention to Spike. “Could you leave for a few minutes? I have to speak to Wind Racer alone.” “I was feeling sleepy anyway,” Spike said as he yawned. “I think I’ll get started on that afternoon nap.” The baby dragon went up the flight of stairs to the second room. When the door to the upper room closed, Sinclair felt like the library walls were closing in on him. “Long time no see, huh,” Sinclair said nervously. Quit being such a coward. She’s just a librarian. She can’t do anything to you. “Yes, too long,” Twilight said but without the geniality she had at the hospital. “What happened to you? You’re all scuffed up.” Indeed, the encounter with that Big Macintosh pony at the bizarre left scrapes all over him. “Oh, it was nothing. I tripped over some...um...toy that a colt left on the ground.” The smile Sinclair presented disintegrated as Twilight Sparkle glared at him. “I’m returning the books Fluttershy borrowed for me. I’m finished with both of them.” “Just place them on the desk.” Sinclair removed the books out of the saddlebag and stacked them on Twilight’s desk. “Also, I was hoping to set up an account and get a library card of my own.” “Normally, I would ask for two proofs of residency, but since Fluttershy can vouch for you, I’ll wave the requirement.” “Thank you, Miss Twilight.” “By the way, I was rather surprised you finished reading them by now. My friend Rainbow Dash said you weren’t exactly a bookworm and that you read just enough in flight camp to get by.” Sinclair didn’t like where the questioning was going. “Near death experiences has a way of changing a pony. I’ve learned to appreciate the written word.” Twilight then said looking away, “Do you know what a hydra is?” Sinclair shook his head. “Not really.” “It’s a four-headed beast.” Sinclair tensed up upon hearing Twilight’s description of the hydra. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Flashback Sinclair pressed forward with all his strength to flee from the mossy green beast. Each gasp for air was an arduous task in and of itself. Lungs refused to take in more than a mere whiff. Inhaling too fast would send Sinclair into coughing fits. Behind him was a horrifying monster with four heads, each on the end of a snakelike neck, and all four heads were connected to a body with only one pair of legs. Sinclair wasn’t really sure if the beast had that many heads or that he was suffering from double vision. Realizing that he would be unable to out run the monstrosity, Sinclair turned and faced off against the multi-headed monster. “You don’t want to do this, chimera,” he said gasping for breath. “I may not look it, but I’m a lot more dangerous than you.” The four-headed beast wasn’t deterred by the warning. All four mouths opened wide and reached out for the deathly ill pony. Sinclair strained as he revved up his hind legs, tapped his fore hooves together, and transmuted the ground into stalagmites. They shot up and impaled the four-headed monstrosity. It gave out multiple death roars from its four mouths and expired. End of Flashback ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ “You wouldn’t know anything about it would you?” Twilight was stoic in her mannerism. “I told you, I have amnesia. My earliest memories started in the hospital.” Twilight closed the book she was reading before Sinclair came in. “Could have fooled me by the way you reacted when I mentioned the hydra.” The room was getting rather stuffy for Sinclair. “You acted as though you saw one in real life before. By the way, that hydra was stabbed by stalagmites. It’s as though the ground up and decided it wanted to kill a hydra. I also found hoofprints that was left by a pony in the area-a stallion about your size, I believe.” “Look, I told you already. I don’t remember anything before I was in the hospital.” “Wind Racer,” Twilight sneered, “if you know of something is out there and you don’t tell me and it hurts my friends...” “Listen to me Twilight,” said Sinclair, “you know more about what’s in that Everfree Forest of yours than I do. Do you understand?” “‘That Everfree Forest of yours’, Wind Racer? That’s an odd way of putting it.” Twilight levitated a card in front of Sinclair. “You may borrow up to four books. I hope you pick ones that will help you remember.” That last sentence was dripping in derision. It was a thinly-veiled threat hinting that Twilight Sparkle wasn’t willing to wait much longer for answers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ “Wind Racer!” Fluttershy panicked. The pegasus pony sideswiped some ponies who just happened to be passing between Fluttershy and her beloved. “Watch it will’ya,” one pony yelled. “How about putting those wings to use and leave the ground to us,” a unicorn jeered. “Oh my goodness!” Fluttershy examined Sinclair. “What happened to you?” “I...um...tripped and fail,” Sinclair lied. “It could have happened to anypony.” “Oh I knew it was a mistake leaving you all alone.” Fluttershy nudged her forehead against Sinclair’s side. “You’re coming home with me. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if you got hurt.” “Don’t you think you’re getting carried away?” “You won’t be saying that if those cuts get infected.” Fluttershy retorted. Sinclair capitulated with Fluttershy’s command. He followed Fluttershy back to the cottage. It wasn’t too unreasonable of a request. Those scrapes had to be disinfected anyway. On the way back to the cottage, Sinclair saw the other ponies whispering amongst themselves. Damn small towns! You can’t keep much a secret here. Maybe it was a mistake to deceive Fluttershy, but it’s too late now. Just better hope not too many of those ponies are blabber mouths. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sinclair was surrounded by haze. The foggy hue was something Sinclair was familiar with. It was a dream. But it wasn’t about the past. Those were quite vivid and lacked the surreal atmosphere. He groped around in the dark for a bit. “Lodestone,” a masculine voice called out. “Sinclair, sir,” a feminine voice called out as well. “Hey Doug, don’t lollygag around. We’re waiting for you,” said a second masculine voice jovially. “Douglas! Come over, my comrade at arms,” said a deep baritone voice. Sinclair ran as fast as his four legs could carry him. First, they were vaguely human shapes and then coming into focus. It was Roy Mustang, Riza Hawkeye, Maes Hughes, and Alex Armstrong. Mustang stooped over Sinclair. “What the hell are you doing crawling around on the floor? Get on your feet, soldier.” “‘Get on my feet’?!? What do you...,” said Sinclair before he stopped in mid-sentence when he glanced down at saw, not a pair of hooves, but hands-his hands. Sinclair stood upright. He wiggled his fingers rediscovering the feel of having human appendages. The exhilaration of regaining his humanity caused Sinclair to cry out in joyous laughter even though he was well aware it was only a dream. The lie was too sweet, too tempting to dismiss it and not savor the moment-to pretend this terrible ordeal was finally over. “You made me human again.” Mustang and the others placed their hands on their hips and chuckled at the same time. “We didn’t make you human,” they said in unison. Out of nowhere, Edward Elric popped up. “It was I, boy genius Edward Elric,” he said while pulling a blackboard out of nowhere littered with complex mathematical equations. “Using this formula that only boy geniuses, like myself, can understand, I did this.” He then pulled, again, out of nowhere a full-length mirror. Sinclair was exactly the way he was before the body switch. He wore the same white button-up shirt, Derby cap, pants, and suspenders as the day he picked up the Imposter from Lab 2. “Admit it. I’m awesome.” Edward smiled from ear to ear. “I won’t take that away from you.” Sinclair massaged his forehead with his index and middle fingers and thumb while contemplating. “Oh that’s right,” he said. “Whatever happened to that bastard Wind Racer?” Being dragged out of the mist by two Amestrian soldiers by a chain was Wind Racer in his old body, still without wings. The pony struggled to pull away, but a third soldier came from behind and kicked him in the rear. “I demand you return body to me!” Wind Racer screamed. “What are you talking about,” Sinclair mocked, “you have your body back.” Wind Racer lunged at Sinclair but was yanked backwards by the guards. “I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.” “Well that won’t be for long,” Mustang remarked. “What’s that suppose to mean.” Mustang shrugged. “Well, there’s only one punishment for impersonating a state alchemist.” Mustang pointed to Wind Racer who was chained up to a wall pockmarked with bullet holes. Standing at a short distance was a firing squad with their rifles in the shoulder arms position. Beside them was Lt. Jean Havoc. He lit up a cigarette and took a drag. “Any last words from the accused.” Wind Racer was crying. “Please, let me live. I beg of y...” “Okay heard enough. Readyaimfire.” The soldiers complied with Jean’s hastily given command. Multiple gunshots rang out almost simultaneously with only a fraction of a second between them. Wind Racer collapsed. His life essence seeped from his fresh wounds forming a dark black puddle. “Couldn’t be any more deserving,” Sinclair said coldly. “Now that we took care of that loose end,” said Mustang, “I have a special mission that only you are capable of carrying out, Lieutenant Colonel.” Sinclair shook his head. “Sorry sir, I can’t help you there, not after what happened at Ishval.” Roy laid his hand on Sinclair’s shoulder. “I promise you, Lodestone, no innocent human beings will die by your hand.” Sinclair looked at Roy’s hand and then noticed he was in his old military attire. It felt so real-the wool pants and coat, his leather boots, the medals on his chest. It was a perfect fit even though the clothes hanged on him as loosely as they did back in Ishval when he was issued a uniform a size too large for his wiry physique. There was something in Sinclair’s coat pocket. He reached inside and found his state alchemist pocket watch, a silver time piece with the Amestrian crest etched on it. Sinclair knew that this is what he was meant to be-a state alchemist, a hero, a defender of his homeland. His eyes burned with determination. Any lingering doubt was exorcised from his mind. Sinclair looked over shoulder back at Mustang as he tightened his grip on the pocket watch. “Don’t worry, Colonel Mustang. No invading army will ever set foot on Amestrian soil and live to tell the tale.” Sinclair extended his hands outward. “Now to put this alchemy to good use,” he said as he clapped them together and struck the ground. A pair of metal protrusions sprouted up from the earth. They were stacks of rings held together on four metal rods. Each ring had wiring wrapped around it. The two objects were a good forty feet long, three feet across, and leaning at a forty-five degree angle from the ground. “Now for the ammunition,” said Sinclair. He clapped his hands again and transmuted metal spikes. The spikes were held fast by a sabot, a metal case hinged on the bottom used to give the smaller diameter projectile a snug fit into the barrel as well as complete the circuit that would accelerate the munitions. The device was an electromagnetic accelerator, the sabot acted as the armature for the linear motor, and the metallic spike the hypersonic kinetic energy projectile. Sinclair grabbed two projectiles in each hand and fed them into the breech of the railguns. The capacitor discharge was as loud as firing any gunpowder cannon. Sinclair, without breaking a sweat, without a pause to catch his breath, loaded the railguns and fired volley after volley. Off at a distance, pillars of smoke rose up. I’m actually doing it. I’m defending my homeland. I’m finally using my alchemy skills for good. Throughout the shelling, Sinclair’s face beamed with pride. “That’s enough, Lodestone,” said Mustang. “Leave some of the enemy for us will you?” “Mop up operations?” Sinclair asked. Mustang nodded. “Wanna join us?” Sinclair smirked. “Sure, why not? I want to look the bastards who thought they could invade our homeland in the eyes.” The dream was a bit disorienting for Sinclair. He could have sworn the bombardment had taken place on the other end of the horizon, but all it took was a few steps and they were in the middle of the kill zone. It was Ishval all over again. Craters carved out of the earth, buildings reduced to scraps of wood and pulverized stone. Sinclair’s artillery battery did its job. The enemy encampment was left in ruins. Sinclair looked around and saw something that made his complexion turn white. His hands trembled; his eyes bulging out in horror. Sinclair shook his head. “No...how is this happening!” Sinclair was on the verge of hyperventilating. His target wasn’t one he was expecting. He had envisioned the hordes of Drachma or Cretia. It wasn’t an invading army. Sinclair had shelled Ponyville. Hundreds of broken pony bodies littered the ground. Whole families laid dead. Mares and stallions huddled against their young foals attempting, in vain, to shield them from the hailstorm of shrapnel, which, not only tore through their bodies, but still had enough penetration power to puncture through the young foals’ flesh. The injured wander around in a daze. A pegasus pony held her severed wing in her mouth. An earth pony stumbled around in a daze tripping over dead bodies. Blood ran down from his sockets, most likely blinded by flying debris. The sight of his handiwork was too much to bear. Sinclair fell to his knees, in shock over the horrors he had unleashed. “Okay men,” Mustang shouted, “Sinclair’s done his part. Now it’s our turn to finish what he started.” Sinclair got on his feet and grabbed Mustang by the coat. “YOU TOLD ME I WOULDN’T KILL ANYMORE INNOCENT PEOPLE!” “And I kept my word,” Mustang sneered. He knocked Sinclair’s hands away from him. “Those chimeras aren’t people.” Rifles were being fired all around them, seemingly at random. “You said it yourself-people come first and that I shouldn’t care about what happens to lowly beasts.” Sinclair couldn’t believe it. The man he considered too soft-hearted for his own good, Alex Armstrong, had declared the lives of these ponies to be worthless. Armstrong picked off a stone the size of a man’s head and struck it with his fist. The transmutation circle etched on Armstrong’s brass knuckles transformed the stone into metal spikes. They careened through the air until they struck their target-a family of unicorn ponies fleeing from the ensuring massacre. Sinclair felt something warm and wet touching his leg. It was the young pony at the apple stand-Applebloom. She was soaked in her own blood. Her eyes stared listlessly into space. “Why Wind Racer? Why did ya hurt us?” Applebloom moaned. Suddenly, Applebloom’s life was abruptly ended. A metal blade pieced her spine and pinned her to the ground. Applebloom was then hoisted in the air. The blade was attached to an automail arm. “Man,” Edward Elric scoffed, “these things can talk?!? How creepy!” Edward slung Applebloom off as if she was trash. Her lifeless body skipped along the ground. It came to a stop when it bumped against a pair of forelegs covered in blood and soot. It was Applejack. She glared angrily at Sinclair. She, like her sister Applebloom, was bleeding profusely. Despite the severity of her wounds, Applejack managed to stand on her four hooves and staggered forward leaving a trail of blood in her wake. She fought to stay conscious with all her strength to voice of hatred for the one who destroyed everything she knew. “I knew ya were nothin but trouble.” Sinclair backed away from Applejack who kept coming towards him. “I knew we were bettah off without ya.” Without warning, Applejack burst into flames. She screamed in agony before succumbing to the intensity of the fire and was forever silenced. “Pay attention Lodestone,” Mustang yelled, “that one got too close to you.” All around Sinclair, soldiers were firing on the surviving ponies. “Please stop it!” Sinclair pleaded. “They can’t hurt us! Why are you killing them!” “Quit your sniveling!” It was an old familiar voice that made Sinclair's blood run cold. It was Fuehrer Bradley. He had the same hateful eyes that Sinclair caught of a glimpse of during the Ishvalan extermination. Most of the time, Bradley hid his murderous glare well-always behind a goofy smile and a carefree demeanor. But in Ishval, he saw Bradley for the cold-bloodied killer that he was, and it always sent a chill down Sinclair’s spine, like the one running down his back right now. “Why did we...?” Was all the words Sinclair could muster. “Did you think I ordered Fullmetal to restore you to human form out of the kindness of my heart? I expect a return for my investment.” “‘A return’,” Sinclair repeated. “Tend to your bleeding heart on your own time, Lodestone. I want this land free from this vermin.” “They’re not vermin. They’re sentient beings.” “They’re whatever I tell you they are, or have you forgot what uniform you’re wearing, soldier.” “Wind Racer?” The one person in the world that Sinclair would rather forfeit his life rather than for her to bare witness to his terrible deed called out to him. Fluttershy limped towards him. While she wasn’t unscathed, Fluttershy fared better than the other ponies. Other than some cuts and a twisted leg, she was unharmed. “Wind Racer, please tell me you didn’t do this. I know you didn’t. You would never do anything to hurt anypony.” Bradley pushed Sinclair aside. “If you’re not going to make yourself useful, Lodestone, get out of the way.” Bradley unsheaved his cavalry saber. Sinclair tackled Bradley to the ground. “DON’T YOU DARE HURT HER!” Sinclair tried wrestling the sword out of Bradley’s hands. “I’LL KILL YOU BEFORE YOU I LET YOU HURT FLUTTERSHY!” Bradley bear-hugged Sinclair and wrapped his arms around Sinclair’s. Sinclair twisted and shook around trying to break Bradley’s grip. Then all of a sudden, the scenery instantaneously transformed. The time shifted from day to night. Sinclair was no longer in the ruins he created struggling with King Bradley. The location changed from Ponyville to Fluttershy’s cottage. It wasn’t Fuehrer Bradley that held fast to Sinclair. Instead, it was Fluttershy. Her muzzle pressed against Sinclair’s chest. “Wind Racer, please wake up.” Fluttershy sobbed uncontrollably. “Please wake up, please. No one’s going to hurt me. It was only a bad dream.” Sinclair calmed down and ceased struggling. Fluttershy eased up her grip on Sinclair who then embraced the frightened young mare. “Are you alright, Fluttershy?” Sinclair asked. “I’m sorry I scared you.” He stroked Fluttershy’s mane. Fluttershy then looked up at Sinclair. "I'm alright? What about you?" Fluttershy stroked Sinclair's mane. "It breaks my heart seeing you suffer so much." She and Sinclair nuzzled cheek to cheek. "Oh Wind Racer, what was it that scared you so much? What did you dream about?" Fluttershy pulled away and looked Sinclair in the eyes. "Please, tell me." Sinclair averted his eyes away from Fluttershy's stare. "I'd rather not." "But why? Don't you trust me?" It was unbearable for Sinclair to refuse Fluttershy as she looked at him with her affectionate, baby blue eyes. "You were being attacked by a hairless ape." It was technically correct. Humans are part of the ape family, after all. "Are there hairless apes in the Everfree Forest?" Sinclair shook his head. "No," he said before realizing he made a slip of the tongue. By answering that question, Sinclair had admitted to recovering at least some of his 'lost' memory. "As far as I can remember," he said in a pathetic attempt to backpedal from his earlier statement, "which I'm not really sure if there was such a thing or if it's actually from my imagination." "There's no telling with all the weird creatures in the Everfree Forest. You might have seen one. Maybe that dream is your memory coming back." Fluttershy held Sinclair in her forelegs. For an hour, not a word passed between their lips; it was enough to be held close to each other. The thumping of her heart, the rhythmic rising and falling of his chest, the warmth radiating from their bodies soothed each other's inner turmoil. The next thing Sinclair remembered were the brilliant rays of the sun shining through the windows. The living room clock read 9:40. "Oh damn," said Sinclair as he sat up on the couch, "I overslept. Fluttershy's probably..." As Sinclair was getting up, his rear hooves touched something on the floor. He looked down and saw Fluttershy curled up with Angel and some of the other animals asleep beside the couch. A blue blanket was sprawled out on the floor beside her. "Oh you poor thing," Sinclair whispered. "I put you through too much." After climbing over the arm of the couch to keep from disturbing Fluttershy's sleep, Sinclair pulled the blanket over her. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ It was between eight and nine in the morning, and Doctor Stables was reading over some medical reports. The door bell rung as Fluttershy walked into his office. “So, what can I do for you miss?” D. Stables asked. “I came over to see if umm...” Fluttershy said nervous, “...had medicine for taking care of nightmares.” “I’m afraid the only remedy I have for that is not to eat just before going to bed,” Dr. Stables replied. “Just avoid the midnight snacks, and you should be fine.” “Oh no, it’s not for me” Fluttershy corrected the doctor. “It’s for Wind Racer. He’s the pegasus pony who lost his memory.” “Oh, you must be Fluttershy. Wind Racer’s parents said you were tending to him.” “I’m afraid I haven’t doing a very good job of it. Wind Racer got hurt the day before yesterday. Oh, could you get some healing salve? I’m almost out.” “That I do have a few bottles in stock.” Dr. Stables peered into the next room. “Nurse Redheart, get the topical ointment for Wind Racer.” “Right away Dr. Stables,” Nurse Redheart replied. Dr. Stable went back to checking his medical records. “Just make sure Wind Racer doesn’t get into any more fights in his condition.” “A fight?!?” Fluttershy asked. “You didn’t know?” “No, Wind Racer said he fell.” “He fell alright, but it wasn’t an accident. It happened in the farmer’s market. It was that earth pony from the Sweet Apple Acres Farm. Did he tell you why that big fella hoofed him?” The earth pony doctored didn’t hear a reply. “Miss Fluttershy?” Dr. Stables looked up and saw only the door to his office left wide open. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From behind, Applejack hovered over her younger sister Applebloom. The young filly was getting her first cooking lesson. The elder sister helped to steady the kitchen knife that Applebloom held in her mouth. Applejack held the knife at the top of the handle between her two front hooves. The knife only went in a fraction of an inch into the apple before it tilted over. Rather than cut it into two precise pieces, the knife shaved a chunk out the side instead. Applebloom spat out the knife. “Aw sis, I ain’t never goin’ ta git apple cuttin’ right.” “I don’t wanna hear tat kinda talk outta ya, Applebloom. Ya keep a practicin’ like a good lit’ filly should.” Applebloom looked away and sulked. “Yer big sis had herself a hard time cuttin’ apples too, but I learnt. So no more poutin’ outta ya. Understood?” “Yes Big Sis.” “Tat’s more like it.” Applejack ended her pep talk abruptly when she heard somepony pounding on the front door. “Applebloom, go o’ver ta Rarity’s and play with Sweetie Belle.” “But why?” “Ya heard yer big sis. Now git!” Applejack snapped. Applebloom retreated from the kitchen and through the front door. As Applebloom was leaving, Fluttershy barged in. Steam blew from her nostrils leaving a faint trail as her rage-filled eyes scanned the room. “WHERE IS HE!” Fluttershy screamed. She scoured the Apple home room by room. “Now hold on a minute, Fluttershy.” Applejack circled around Fluttershy and stopped her in her tracks. “You need ta calm down.” “NO!” Fluttershy yelled. “Tis all a big misunderstanin’.” The pegasus pony flew over Applejack’s head and looked into the next room. “HE’S OUTSIDE, ISN’T HE!” Fluttershy flew out the door. Applejack made haste and trailed just behind her friend. Fluttershy zigzagged around the apple farm. Applejack was dizzy following her random flight pattern and was forced to stop and regain her bearing for a moment before continuing the chase. Suddenly, Fluttershy ended her search and headed straight to the far end of the apple farm. “Oh hay,” Applejack cursed. “She saw’em.” Applejack ran as fast as her legs could carry her. For supposedly being a weak flyer, Fluttershy was wearing Applejack ragged. The farm pony could barely keep up. Fluttershy flew just over a hill landed in front of Big MacIntosh who was bucking apple trees. She took three deep breaths and then marched towards the earth pony stallion. “You must think you’re some big tough stallion pushing around a sick pony!” Big MacIntosh looked Fluttershy in the eyes. “Now you listin here, missy,” he bellowed as he stared down Fluttershy. “Your lit’ boyfriend...” “NO YOU LISTEN!” Fluttershy interrupted. Big MacIntosh’s fortitude abandoned him. He made the grievous error of challenging Fluttershy to a stare down contest and lost. He inched away from Fluttershy as she doggedly marched towards him. “IF YOU SO MUCH AS PUT ANOTHER HOOF ON WIND RACER AGAIN...” Suddenly, Applejack cut between Fluttershy and Big MacIntosh. “I said ‘calm yerself down’!” Applejack yelled. She panted from over exertion. “It’s that bully of a brother of yours that needs calming down! He’s the one beating up on poor, sick ponies!” “Tell her wut we talk about yesterday. Remember brother.” Applejack looked over her shoulder and glared sternly at her brother. “Well, um...,” Big MacIntosh stuttered, “Wind Racer sorta favors tat pony who stole from our apple stand.” “See Fluttershy, Big MacIntosh wernt bullyin’ Wind Racer. He just dun gone and jumped the startin’ bell before it rung and acted before thinkin’.” Applejack glanced over her shoulder again giving Big MacIntosh the same harsh glare as before. “MacIntosh, tell Fluttershy yer sorry for jumpin’ to conclusion and hoofin’ Wind Racer by mistake.” “Yeah, ma bad.” MacIntosh grumbled. “He doesn’t sound sorry to me,” Fluttershy scowled. “Big MacIntosh, don’t be so proud. Admit ya got the wrong pony.” Big MacIntosh closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for knockin’ Wind Racer around. I’ll behave ma’self for now on.” “Now accept Big Mac’s apology, Fluttershy,” Applejack beseeched. “I’ll accept it,” Fluttershy said grudgingly. “Just don’t let it happen again,” Fluttershy said as she was flying away. “I don’t believe tis,” Big MacIntosh scoffed. “Makin’ me lie to yer friend.” Applejack turned away from Big MacIntosh. “Why won’t you tell her the truth ‘bout Wind Racer?” Applejack looked down. “She ain’t ready ta hear it.” “Yer her friend, ain’t cha?” “I won’t be if I don’t mind mah mouth. Just give her time. When it’s da right moment, I’ll tell her da truth.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pinkie Pie was pulling a cart filled with flour, eggs, sugar, and chocolate. Her Auntie and Uncle Cake ran out of ingredients and sent her on a grocery run. Pinkie Pie skipped along the cobblestone road with nary a care in the world and whistled as she worked. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a pair of pegasi palace guards landed in front of her. "Halt!" One of the guards commanded. "What's the problem?" Pinkie Pie asked without changing her blissful expression. "We're not at liberty to discuss that, ma'am." One of the pegasi combed through the groceries. "Oooooh!" Pinkie Pie said while hopping up and down. "You're secret agents. Do you have any cool spy gadgets?" "No ma'am, we do not." "The cart is clear," said the palace guard who was looking through Pinkie Pie's groceries. "Princess Celestia has issued a royal decree declaring the Everfree Forest to be off limits and any pony that tries to enter will be severely punished under penalty of law,” said the first guard. “We apologize for any inconvenience we may have caused you, ma'am.” Pinkie Pie giggled a bit. "Isn't that like saying ponies aren’t allowed to bang their heads up against a rock? I mean, it’s the Everfree Forest. Helloooooo! How often do ponies go in...oh ho ho ho never mind," Pinkie Pie snickered when she recalled how often that actually happens and that she went in there herself on a few occasion. "It happens a lot here." "Well, not anymore. Spread the word to your friends and family, ma'am. Thank you for your patience." The two pegasi flew a block down the street before stopping another pony pulling a cart. "Weird," said Pinkie Pie before she blotted it from her mind and went on her merry way. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "It's been awhile since I've seen you sirs," said Twilight as she greeted the two palace guards at her door, the very ones that flew her from Canterlot to Ponyville on the night before the Summer Sun Celebration. "We're glad to see you too, ma'am," said the palace guard on Twilight's left. "Come on in." Twilight stepped aside for the pegasi to enter. "What can I do for you?" Twilight was fidgeting and tapping her hoof impatiently. "We're not at liberty to discuss, ma'am. We just need to have a look inside the library." One pegasi checked under Twilight's desk while another looked inside the supply closet. All the while, Twilight teleported back and forth between the two pegasi. Finally, one of them spoke up. "Is there something we can do for you, ma'am?" "Actually," said Twilight while scraping the floor in a circular motion, "I wrote the princess a letter eleven days, fourteen hours, and twelve minutes ago, and she hasn't sent me a reply yet." "Ma'am, Princess Celestia has been on sabbatical for the last three weeks. Princess Luna has been taking care of the sun and moon." "Princess Luna?" Twilight repeated the name spoke by the palace guards. "Has Princess Celestia returned?" "She just came in another an hour ago." "I need to know if she got my letter." "What letter is that, ma'am?" "The one about the hydra killed in the Everfree Forest and Wind Racer." "'Wind Racer'? You mean Sky Ripper's son. He's not in trouble again, is he?" "You know Wind Racer and his father?" The pegasi held their heads up high. "Sky Ripper was the captain of the palace guard before he retired and Captain Armor took over. Captain Ripper wanted Wind Racer to follow in his hoofsteps." Twilight sighed and shook her head. "It's a shame that won't happen after he lost his wings." "Becoming a palace guard wasn't going to happen anyway. Wind Racer dropped out of training. He and Sky Ripper weren't exactly on speaking terms after his decision to quit." The other pegasi shook his head. "Some ponies just aren't palace guard material. Wind Racer has the potential, but no desire. Sky Ripper should have accepted it. Instead he ran Wind Racer out of his home." "That's certainly interesting," said Twilight. "So, I should get a reply from the princess soon, right?" "We don't know, ma'am. Also, Princess Celestia has declared the Everfree Forest off limits by royal decree and any pony that tries to enter will be severely punished under penalty of law." "What about Zecora?" Twilight asked in a concerned voice. "She lives in the Everfree Forest. I don't want her getting in trouble." "Princess Celestia has given us instructions to make an exception for her since she resides in the forest. She's been acting as a guide for the palace guards searching the forest." The other guard kicked his leg. "I think we said enough," he said. "Thank you for your time, ma'am, and we hope you hear from Princess Celestia soon." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Oh hi Fluttershy," said Sinclair as he ran to the door. "Oh you didn't think I'd find out, did you?" Fluttershy said in an angry voice. Sinclair hung his head down in shame. "I'm sorry I kept that from you but..." "You didn't keep it away from me. You lied!" "I didn't want you to worry." "After lying to me, all I'll do now is worry. You want me to let you go off on your own, but then you lie and didn’t tell me you got in a fight. How will I know you're not off somewhere hurt? Well?" Fluttershy was trying her best not to break down in front of Sinclair, but her stolidness was about to give way to the wellspring of tears that was pushing its way to the surface. "Well, if you weren't on my flank 24/7 I wouldn't have to. I'm not exactly made of porcelain you know." "EVEN AFTER WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU IN THE EVERFREE FOREST YOU'D SAY SUCH A THING!" Fluttershy's outburst struck Sinclair like a baseball bat. He was, indeed, just like a porcelain bird that had its wings broken off. Not only did he pushed Fluttershy to the point where she was raising her voice in anger, but also the promise he made to himself to never break her tender heart as the Impostor did was broken. Fluttershy finally let go and started crying. "Fluttershy, wait I'm...," Sinclair called out as Fluttershy flew to her second story bedroom and locked the door behind her. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Wind Racer, wake up," said Fluttershy in a solemn, monotone voice instead of the cheerful demeanor that Sinclair was so used to hearing. "Time for breakfast." Sinclair let out a loud yawn and then looked at the clock. It was almost eight in the morning. In the kitchen waiting for him were two plates each with a slice of toast, an orange, and a serving of alfalfa. Fluttershy pushed herself up over the sink. She was scrubbing a pot with a soapy brush she held in her mouth. "Fluttershy," said Sinclair, "you forgot to wake me. It was my turn to cook." Fluttershy glanced at Sinclair with sorrowful eyes and went back to washing dishes. "Not that I'm complaining. Your food taste great." This time Fluttershy didn't even bother looking back. Sinclair sat at the table and folded his forelegs under his muzzle. "I promise the next time I get into a fight I'll tell you." Fluttershy gave Sinclair a nasty look and continued the silent treatment. You idiot! You didn't have to say it like that. "Please Fluttershy, forgive me for lying." Fluttershy had enough. She flew back up to her bedroom with her plate in her mouth and locked the door behind her. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Twilight was in the library shelving books when Spike came running down the stair with a scroll in his paw. He tapped the purple unicorn on the shoulder. "Hey Twilight..." "Not now Spike," said Twilight who was still busy putting books back in their place. "Twilight, you've been bugging me about getting a reply from the Princess for two weeks, and now that you finally got it, you're not going to r..." Twilight Sparkle dropped the books and snatched the letter from Spike. The letter was unwrapped and suspended in mid-air as Twilight read the message. My faithful student, I am deeply sorry that I could not respond to your letter sooner, but urgent business has taken up most of my time. I assure you, I am doing everything in my power to find who or what killed the hydra. "So, that's why those guards were looking all over Ponyville and keeping ponies out of the Everfree Forest." As for Wind Racer, keep a close eye on him. It is of the utmost importance that he's kept under scrutiny. Observe his behavior but avoid any confrontations with him and be subtle. Don’t let him know he’s being watched. I have complete faith in you, my most beloved student. Twilight pressed the bottom of her hoof under her chin. "I wonder..." "Wonder what, Twilight?" Spike asked. "How to keep an eye on somepony without them knowing it." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fluttershy had just finished cleaning the kitchen. It had taken her longer than expected. She had gotten used to the extra pair of hooves helping her out and could have used them to scrub out the oven, but Wind Racer lied to her. Once again, the feeling of alienation, the feeling that Wind Racer didn't want or need her, was taking hold of Fluttershy. She wiped the soap residue that dribbled down from the scrub brush handle to her lips. Her normally well-kept mane was in an upheaval. Fluttershy let out a loud yawn. The rest of the chores would have to wait for tomorrow. It was getting late and the long day had taken its toll. As she was making her way to bed, Fluttershy saw Sinclair passed out on the couch; the book he was reading lay on the floor beside him. Fluttershy gazed at the sleeping stallion. "Well, he *did* lie because he didn't want me to worry," Fluttershy whispered to herself. Wind Racer looked just like he did back when they were lovers. There were many nights she spent watching him sleep peacefully. She longed for those days when they were romantically involved. He made her feel like a real mare and not like some awkward, wallflower filly. "It would be bad if Wind Racer had another nightmare and I wasn't there for him," Fluttershy said trying to convince herself that her practical concerns coincided with her yearnings. She cautiously lowered herself on the couch beside Sinclair. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sinclair was lying on the couch half-awake, half-asleep with a feeling of contentment and something he always longed for-acceptance. A warm embrace enveloped Sinclair, which he responded in kind and wrapped his forelegs around this warmth. "So soft," he mumbled in a hazy voice. The source of his contentment nuzzled up against his face. He felt a breeze going back and forth across his neck. Sinclair inhaled and took in the sweet fragrance that was a cross between roses and morning dew. Then a strange sensation ran through his spine. A pair of moist lips pressed against his neck. Sinclair tilted his head back in response as a sign that he welcomed the waves of sensuality running through his body. Sinclair, wake the hell up! There's somepony lying on top of you! The realization jolted the alchemist from his trance-like stupor. He opened his eyes and stared at somepony beneath the sheets. Sticking out the blanket was a mass of pink hair, which rose up as the sheets slid off. "Umm...I'm sorry I woke you," Fluttershy apologized. Even though her mane was in an upheaval, she was absolutely stunning. Sinclair was enchanted by her beauty. "I was having trouble sleeping. It's been so lonely without you. We used to sleep together, and I missed lying beside you." Sinclair began to fidget. "Fluttershy, I really need to get up, right now." "But why are you in such a hurry to get away from me?" "It's not that. It's just not a good time for you to lay so close to..." "It's nothing to be embarrassed about, Wind Racer. It doesn't bothering me at all. In fact, I'm flattered that I still make you feel that way." His eyes were those that beheld forbidden fruit; eyes that betrayed the feelings of both yearning and trepidation. Her eyes gave witness to her undying affection. "Please remember what we used to be; please remember that we were lovers." Fluttershy pressed her muzzle against Sinclair's. He resisted for but only for a moment. Willpower gave way to the intoxicating taste of that passionate kiss. Outstretched wings rose from underneath the covers until they fell to the floor. Fluttershy's wings draped themselves around Sinclair as he wrapped his forelegs around her. They could feel the beating of each other's heart as they pressed their bodies together. Sinclair didn't know if it was the hormones or the difficulty in breathing while frenching that made him light-headed. Perhaps it was both. It didn't really matter. As if he would allow this feeling to be ruined by the usual multitude of thoughts that would otherwise paralyze him with indecision. Fluttershy then broke the lip lock. "I love you with every ounce of my being. That's why I was so afraid of losing again." Fluttershy rubbed her lips along Sinclair's neck and whispered into his ear, "Please make love to me like you used to." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hope you enjoy this latest chapter of Friendship is Magic; Damnation is Alchemy. Next time, we’ll revisit Amestris. How will Mustang act towards Riza after that faithful night? And what dire consequences will come as a result of Wind Racer’s ambition and how far is he willing to go in order to obtain power and glory? Find out next time. And yes, I’m leaving you hanging as far as what happens to Sinclair and Fluttershy.