//------------------------------// // (Original) Chapter 5 // Story: The Collapse of Equestria: The Two Humans // by BronyXXJewBoy //------------------------------// (This chapter is no longer part of this story. Due to respect of my old co-author i will not remove the work we made, some of this will make its way into the new version of the story but most wont. I am removing Firebolt from the fic and making it better :) but feel free to read the two year old chapters and see how i improved :D ) Chapter 5 "Arcus, where are you going." Firebolt asked. "I'm going to talk to the survivors that are on the train. But first I made a promise to a little filly.” "Who?" Firebolt asked "Applebloom." "What is it?" Applejack asked. "Ice cream."  Applejack smiles because she remembered how Arcus treated Applebloom earlier. "I'm going to get rest then" Firebolt said. "Hey can you give me some money?" "No!" "Then I will just steal the ice cream." "Ok ok here take it." Firebolt gives Arcus about fifty bits. They continue to walk on the streets.  Arcus looked over to his left. Arcus saw a pony who wore rags. There was a sign on his chest that said, will work for money, there was a hat on the ground next to him. There was only two coins in it.  Arcus walked up to the pony, the pony coward in fear as Arcus approached him. Arcus drops twenty five coins into his hat. The pony was in shock. "Thank you sir." Arcus nodes and continues to walk down the path. "Wow there goes half of my money." Applejack smacked Firebolt across his face. BANG! Arcus looks up and sees a pink beam launch into the sky. The beams top expands in every direction and after it spans a few hundred feet it began to curve down . It hits the ground with a boom and locks down in place. Arcus walks to the nearby train. Applejack and Firebolt, runs up to Arcus to keep up with him. "Ah remember that thing, when Twilight's brother has his wedding. They used that spell to protect Canterlot." Applejack said. "It won't help." "I'm going to take a nap." Firebolt said. "No your not. I need you to get everyone into the largest cart. I have to tell them all something." Firebolt nodes runs off into the train. Arcus step on board the train. He walked into the cabins area. as he was walking he saw Lyra, she waved to him. "Oh hey Lyra was it?"   "Yea hi Arcus." "How are you?"  "Im good." "Ok it was nice seeing you Lyra." "Ok bye Arcus." He walked into Applejacks room and he saw Applebloom was drawing in the corner of the room. "Hey Applebloom, Are you ready for that ice cream that I promised you?" As soon as Applebloom hears the word ice cream. She leaps in front of Arcus. "You really meant it." "Of course I did kid." "Its Applebloom." "I know." "So do you know where any ice cream places are?" "Follow me I know we're to go." "How have you been here before?" "Yea on Hearths Warming Eve." "Ok lead the way Applebloom." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arcus and Applejack were watching as Applebloom gorges herself with ice cream. "Slow down girl you want to taste the ice cream right." "Yea Applebloom, yall dont want a brainfreeze do ya."  Applejack added. "I be right back. Got to use the little fillies room." Applebloom said. Applebloom jump off her seat and walk away from the table. Arcus sighs as his smile turned into a frown, "My daughter." Applejack turns to Arcus with a confused look. "What?" "Remember this morning, I said Applebloom reminded me of someone. My daughter. She reminds me of my daughter."  Applejack starts to feels sorry for him. "And you, you remind me of someone too" "Who?" "My wife, she used to be a farmer. Not an apple farmer off course. But she was a farmer. She used to wear a hat just like that. Then we moved to the city. And then the attack happened." Arcus slams his head on the table. He feels a hoof lifting up his head. “You know, i'm really grateful for what you did for Applebloom.” Arcus looked into Applejack eyes, A smile was growing on her face. Arcus noticed that Applejack was leaning towards Arcus. She was so close that he could feel her breath. It gave Arcus chills down his back, Applejack kissed Acrus cheek, when Applejack pulls away. She noticed a confused Arcus staring at her. his face was frozen in what looked like shock. "I'm back every-" Applebloom stopped in mid sentence. She was confused why the two were so close to each other. Applejack steps away from Arcus, she turns to applebloom, nearly tripping on her own hooves. "What's going on here?" "Horse apples... I was... Umm."  "Is he your super special somepony?" "Am I?" Arcus asked with a grin. "Yes...I...um mean...no." Applejack said. Applejack didn't think about her actions. And she is really worried that she blew her chances. Arcus grabs Applejack and pulls her into a kiss. Applejacks eyes got wide from shock but then they closed and she returned the kiss back. "Awww!" Applebloom said. Arcus pulls away from Applejack and stands up. without saying anything, Arcus walks out the door leaving behind Applejack and Applebloom. Applejack is staring into space. But she hears laughter. She looks at Applebloom and she sees her on the floor laughing. "What is so funny?" "Your head." Applejack puts a hoof to her head and feels something missing, "Dang nabbit. He took my hat." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arcus was walking down the streets of Canterlot. he was in deep thought. “How can she have feeling for me already? I mean I just met her, is it because I saved her sister? and the stunt i pulled back there, that was a wrong move for me, i have to remember shes not Sophia. she just acts and sounds like her” Arcus said aloud. “She's a pony.... and i'm the last human” Arcus stops walking after he realized what he said. he felt a deep empty feeling in his chest, “Is it wrong that i want to be happy again.” Arcus continued to walk. he was still in deep thought, but an idea came to mind.  “Is this an alternate universe? There are two individuals who remind me of people i know from my plant. I will have to look more into that while i'm here.” Arcus looks up and shes the train, he steps inside the train and he sees Firebolt looking at a flag. Firebolt looks at Arcus and he notices a hat on his head. "Nice hat." "Thanks. I'm trying a new look." "You ready?" Arcus asked. "I've been ready." Firebolt said with a grin. Arcus and Firebolt walk into a cart that has a few tables with about fifty ponies sitting on the floor.  Arcus walks around the survivors of ponyville. He takes time to look at each pony. The week, strong and everypony in between. He felt the hat being removed off of his head. Arcus turns around as sees the familiar mare. "Your soo lucky you're cute." Applejack and her five friends stand beside Arcus. "Listen up everyone, I know this looks bad." "Bad... That doesn't even describe it! They destroyed ponyville within an hour, think about what they can do in a few days.” a pony yells out loud.       "Look... I'm going to train you all in combat. I'm going to teach you how to kill, and most importantly, how to defend yourself from them!" Arcus looks over the crowd again,"Who here can forge Steel?" There was a moment if silences before a gray stallion walks in front of the group. "I can." "Good I need you to make armor. Also I need you to make this device." Arcus takes out a piece of paper, he handed it to the stallion. "What is it?" "A musket. I believe it's the only weapon we can make at the moment.” "What does it do?" asked one pony. "It shoots a projectile at high speed, It will penetrate the body. The only problem is that it takes about a minute to reload, and that's with hands. The design will have to be altered to be used by hooves. There also is a blade on the end of it." "Got it" said the stallion. "Wait a second. It takes a minute to reload this weapon? Can you make one that shoots a bit faster?" Asked a pony from the crowd. "If we had the tech and the time, then yes, but we don't." "How strong is this weapon?" Arcus unzipped his jacket. There was a pistol on one side and two knives on the other. Arcus grabs his gun. Arcus looks over the crowd again. He noticed one with a hat. "Throw your hat into the air." The pony Nodded and launched his hat into the air. Arcus takes aim and fires. BANG! The shot echoed through the room. Ponies flinch from the loud noise. The hat fell to the floor with a giant size hole. "See this gun, it needs no bullets, doesn't need to reload. It's solar powered, but we don't have time to make more of theses." "Arcus when did you draw that blueprint for the musket?" Firebolt asked. "I did it while you were sleeping on the train." Twilight steps forward,"Princess Celestia has been kind to allow us to stay at the nicest hotel around here. So every pony please take all of your belonging with you. We are moving tonight." Twilight steps back and the crowd looks back at Arcus.   "Dismissed!" Arcus looks over to the group of seven ponies that is standing behind him, "We need to talk, in private." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Acrus what's this about shouldn't we be getting ready for this training?" Twilight said. "We are, i'm going to train you how to bend physics like I can." Arcus said in a strong tone. "That's impossible." twilight retorts back to him. "Oh really." replied Arcus. Arcus suddenly disappeared from where he was standing. This makes the six pony jump in fear. "Where did he go." Rainbow questioned. "Behind you." Arcus said with a cheesy grin. This makes everypony jump back, Twilight face froze. "Oh my gosh you're going to teach us how to do that. This is going to be soo awesome." Rainbow dash said. Twilight got an cocky look.her horn started glowing and a purple light covered her. And with a loud noise she disappeared and reappeared in from of Arcus. "Teleportation, I can do that too. so thats not really impressive." Twilight said. "You make noise while doing that and you light up the area. Every spell you do cast light. That will get you killed in battle."   Arcus look at the seven ponies, "There is one bad side to this training so if you don't want it after I show you this, feel free to walk away." Arcus removes his hoodie and shirt revealing his left arm. His arm had black glowing lines all over his veins. There were bigger and darker going down his arm. The ponies didn't pay much attention to his arm, more to his chest and back. There was deep cuts into Arcus back, flesh was noticeable. Rarity kept her eyes on his chest. She was zoning out on his muscular chest and his arm muscles. "Are all humans this muscular?" Rarity asked. "Sometimes." "See this." Arcus arm started glowing a bright blue "This can let me teleport and pick up stuff and more." "Show us more." Twilight asked. "Well I can also levitate any object." "Big deal so can I." "Well I can also instantaneously condense the object." "Can you explain better?" "How about I show you." Arcus hovers up a stool from the corner of the room. His hand began to glow the stool lifted off of the ground, then Arcus made a fist and the stool began to collapse inward. After he was done it was just crumpled ball of metal. the ball dropped to the floor, making a loud thud.  Rainbow dash walks up to the ball then looks back at Arcus, "Wow that was awesome Arc." "Well I hate to admit it but I guess you can do some things I can't." Twilight added. "Now guys I have before I show you anymore I have to warn you about some downside if i give you these abilities. You will have these marking too it should not be noticeable because your fur. It will also change your DNA, so if you have any kids they will be born with the powers and the markings. They will not have a normal life they will always be different. It's a price that I had to pay and you will too." All seven pony stood there in deep thought. But then a yellow pegasus steps forward. "I'm in." Fluttershy said. The other six ponies stood there in shock. Looking at a pony they would least expect to do this. "But one question, Who is Anna?" Fluttershy asked. The group of ponies looked at Fluttershy, confused by her question. "On your right arm. There is a scar that says Anna, who is that." Arcus froze, Arcus look over to that scar. Arcus felt a tear fall down his face, " she was my daughter." "Was?" Questioned Twilight. "She dead, Why does it matter." "It always matters." responded Fluttershy. “Why is her name engraved on your arm?” Pinkie Pie asked. “So I can remember her.” “Why would you forget her?” Rarity asked. “Because i'm old. i have lived a long life. and back then I was afraid I would forget her someday.” “But wouldn't you heal after making that scar? How has it stayed?” Applejack asked. “Because its a branded.” Twilight walked in front of Arcus she looked into his eyes, Arcus returned the look. “I don't believe you, you branded yourself for another reason.” Arcus looks at the name again, as he does, another tear falls down Arcus face, “I did it because i failed her, right before her death. I told her it was going to be alright.” Rainbow dash walked up to Arcus. It looked like she was holding back tears of her own. "I'm in to!" "I thought you didn't trust me?" "I'm sorry for judging you, I was wrong. I didn't know You had such a harsh life." Applejack steps forward as while,"Ah won't abandon you sugarcube, ahm in too." Applejack said. Twilight steps forward ,"We're all in." All seven ponies nod. "Who will go first?" Arcus asked. "I will." Firebolt said. Firebolt steps forward and looks at Arcus, "Let's do this." "I need everypony to leave the room, I need to concentrate." Arcus walked over to Twilight, "Hey is there a nurse from the group of survivors?" "Yes, nurse Redheart.” “Can you put her on standby just in case something goes wrong?” Twilight nods and Everypony walked out of the room. Leaving Arcus and Firebolt alone. Arcus looks at Firebolt. "Are you sure about this?" Arcus asked. "Yes." "Ok. I'm going to split my DNA and give it to you and this will give you my powers. your bones will become stronger. this will be painful. also i have to be careful. if i over do it. i might make it so you can't die. you would heal constantly, just like me." “But isn't not dieing a good thing?” “Its a curse. out living your friends and family, trust me. You don't want that.” Arcus looks at him, his hand glows with an almost golden shimmer bright as day, Arcus looks at Firebolt with a look almost asking if he is ready. Firebolt understood and nodded. Then Arcus slowly places his hand on Firebolts back. Almost immediately began feeling pain an agonizing stinging pain, he then began screaming in pain. Every bone of his feels like its being twisted slowly and painfully. This pain was undeniable the most pain Firebolt had experienced in his entire life. This pain made him envy the dead. Firebolt starts feeling his body slowly fading in and out, the pain is unbearable. On Arcus end, he felt his energy being zapped from his body. He felt light headed, his mind was thinking of one thing, his daughter, he felt angry. The glowing from his hand changes color from bright golden to and deep demonic red as he transitioned from focus to blinding rage. This makes Firebolt start glowing bright. When Arcus snapped back to focus. It took Arcus about a second to realize what he did. Firebolt's body starts hovering a few feet above the ground and his eyes are glowing white. His body had lines crossed in patterns all over his body even his tail had lines in it. Then the color changed from the bright white to red on his wings and legs and body and his mane had also developed some red. Arcus pulls back and this makes Firebolt drop to the floor hitting the ground with a loud thump. He starts coughing up blood first slowly and then it began to flow from his mouth. His eyes and ears also started  bleeding. "F-firebolt." Arcus puts his hand to his neck and feels nothing. Arcus feels one tear going down his cheek and another one, soon his started weeping. "I NEED SOME HELP IN HERE!" Arcus yelled. Arcus puts his hand in Firebolt's chest. He starts giving him CPR. Suddenly Twilight runs inside the room, "What happened?" "I NEED HELP!"   Twilight looked at the body of Firebolt. She can't even tell that used to be him. His body is covered with red markings. His face was drenched in blood. Twilight runs out to get help.  Applejack and Rainbow dash walks instead "DON'T YOU DIE ON ME YOU SON OF A BITCH!" yelled Arcus as he kept hitting Firebolt's chest. Arcus was sobbing greatly. He kept shaking Firebolt's body. Thinking this will wake him up. When the doctors arrived Applejack and Rainbow dash had to pry arcus from Firebolts body. They picked up Firebolt in a stretcher.   "I-is h-he alive?" Arcus asked. "Hes alive.” the Nurse said She turned to Rainbow and Applejack, "GET HIM OUT OF HERE!" Rainbow Dash and Applejack grab Arcus and pull him out of the room. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After a minor struggle Applejack and Rainbow Dash were able to bring Arcus into another room. Twilight was pacing in circles when she saw Arcus she quickly ran to him. "Is he ok Arcus what happened to Firebolt." "Well when I was giving him power I overloaded him and I don't know how he is right now, "I dragged out by Rainbow and Applejack!!" Arcus glared at the two ponies sitting in corner of the room. "Sorry sugarcube we had to." "I know." “What do you mean overloaded him?” Twilight Asked. “I gave him too much of my DNA. I don't know what i did to him until he wakes up.” "Well what did nurse Redheart say?" "I don't know all she said was he's alive then I was forced out." "Sorry Arc, AJ and I had to." "Well its not gonna help to freak out they'll tell us his condition once he is stable ,well in the meantime why don't we all get some rest." Twilight said. "Sound like a plan i'm plum tuckered." Applejack said. "Yea im gonna hit the hay too." Added Rainbow Dash. "But what about Firebolt what if he's not ok." Arcus said. "He will be fine Arcus lets get some sleep you need your rest." Twilight said. “where is the hotel we're staying at now.?” asked Arcus. “Applejack can you take him.?” “Sure, Follow me Arcus.” The two proceeded to walk out the train. Arcus looked down at his jacket. it was soaked in Firebolts blood. They step outside the train. Arcus just keeps his eyes forward, they both say nothing as they walk the street.