//------------------------------// // Chapter 18 // Story: A New World, A Fresh Start // by drnkntst //------------------------------// Chapter 47 Rick was starting to feel woozy. The rocks had pelted his head and body while he shielded Twilight and now that the adrenaline had ebbed, he was starting to feel the effects. He knew he couldn’t stop, Cadence was hurt, Shining was tired and Twilight was still unconscious and bleeding. He had to hurry, but he couldn’t. If he rushed in his condition, it could only end badly. He rounded a cliff on the mountain road and saw two red spires, one on each side of the road, there were three crystals floating between them. Behind that was the Crystal Empire. They had made it. Shining lowered his shield and drooped in exhaustion. He looked like he couldn’t bear to be awake any longer. “We’re not out of the woods yet, Shining. I need you to guide me to the hospital.” Shining redoubled his efforts, shook his head and sat up straight. “Right, I uh, I got it.” The residents of the empire where in a near panic when Rick drove through town. They were darting out of the way and screaming, but he had more important things to worry about. Soon, the hospital came into view and Rick let himself breathe again. He pulled up in front of the hospital and reached across the front seat to let Shining out. “We need help! We have a wounded unicorn here! The princess needs help too!” Shining was shouting commands at any pony that wandered by. “Get these mares inside and get the doctor! I don’t care how you do it, just get the doctor!” Ponies came running out the front doors with gurneys and wheel chairs and all sorts of medical equipment. After Rick opened the back door so the injured mares could be removed, he sunk to the ground and leaned against the truck, Paul jumped down and sat on the ground next to him. “Good boy,” Rick rubbed Paul’s head. “I think I might be cursed, just a little bit though, not too much, just enough to keep my collection of interesting scars ever expanding.” Rick stood back up, groaning with the strain and pain. He rolled the windows down on the truck and put Paul inside. “I need to get checked out, you should be alright here. I’ll send someone out to check on you.” Rick stumbled through the entrance to the hospital and sat on the floor against the wall. The dry blood in his hair and on his face was irritating but he didn’t have the strength to do anything about it. He needed help, but none of the ponies seemed to dare to approach him. “Why isn’t this creature getting help!?” A pony with a white coat entered Rick’s blurred vision. “This… creature has a serious head injury and nopony is doing anything about it! Nurse, get over here now! Bring a gurney and bandages over here right this second!” “That sounds promising.” Rick was rushed into an observation room where he was cleaned up and wrapped up. He had been given pain killers and ice packs and was starting to feel better already. “Thanks, Doc, I feel whole again. What about my friends?” “What friends would those be?” the doctor asked, not really paying attention. “Twilight Sparkle, Shining Armor and Princess Cadence.” The doctor’s eyes went wide, the pen he was holding in his mouth fell to the floor and he started to sweat. “Shi-Shi-Shining Armor and P-P-P-Princess C-C-Ca-Cadence are your friends?” “Yeah, I came here with them. Are they all okay?” The doctor‘s blank stare was unchanged for several seconds before he realized he could speak. “Uh, y-yes, yes they are. Prince Shining Armor was suffering from fatigue but is resting. Princess Cadence has a minor fracture in her wing but should be able to fly again within a few weeks. Twilight Sparkle was luckiest of all. She had been hit in the head quite hard, but there should be no permanent damage. You yourself managed to escape with only bruises, abrasions and a bad headache.” “That’s great news, Doc.” Rick sagged with relief. “Can you take me to them?” The doctor nodded and lead the way out of the room and down the hall toward the private rooms. They reached the room about the same time Shining stepped out of the room. “There you are, I was just coming to look for you.” “What a coincidence, we were doing the same thing. Doc, I have one more favor to ask, outside the hospital is a large, metal… carriage. In it is my dog, Paul. Could you have somebody look in on him for me” They all stepped back into the room. “Rick! I was so worried about you. Shining Armor told me what you did for me and I know you don’t have very good luck when it comes to rescues.” Twilight was smiling at her friend. “Not to mention how you rescued Princess Cadence. That was very brave of you.” “I didn’t do anything you all wouldn’t have done for me. Actually, you all probably would have done it better.” Rick said as he sat on the floor next to Twilight’s bed. “You’re wrong,” Cadence offered, “we would have done it with magic, that’s true, but that doesn’t mean we would have done it better. Magic takes concentration, what you did took quick thinking. I never would have thought to do anything like that without magic to rely on.” “I’m sure you would have figure out a way. Shining was able to shield all of us. I was only able to shield Twilight at the cost of my own skin.” “That act in itself showed incredible bravery. You have nothing to feel bad about.” Cadence reinforced. “He’s just being modest as always.” Twilight added. “Honorable. I am extremely grateful to you,” Shining said. “Not only did you save my wife, but my sister as well, and from what I understand, it wasn’t the first time either.” “I just don’t want to see my friends get hurt. Nothing more.” “I don’t think that’s it,” Twilight observed. “You put yourself in harm’s way again and again. That goes beyond just helping your friends or not wanting to see them get hurt. Why do you do it?” Rick considered this for a moment before answering. “I guess it’s just… instinct.” “The damage you’ve taken to protect everypony goes well beyond instinct. You were even almost killed the first day you were here to protect Applebloom. You said yourself you thought she was just a pet at the time, not even close to being a friend, yet you protected her from a timberwolf. What kind of instinct would drive you to do that?” “Paternal instinct,” Rick answered plainly. Twilight looked surprised at the answer then shrunk and suddenly looked pained. “Yo-you have a foal?” Cadence asked carefully after seeing Twilight’s reaction. “Had, I had a daughter. Twilight knows this already, but I had a wife and daughter who were killed in an accident a little over a year ago. Shining Armor, when you saw Twilight and Cadence go down, you almost gave up the shield to save them right,” Shining nodded. “If you had, we probably wouldn’t be sitting here right now. Imagine if you had lost them. You’d do anything it took to not have that happen again wouldn’t you?” “I most certainly would, I don’t think I could bear to lose either of them. I understand.” Shining dropped his chin. “That’s why I put myself at risk to protect every single one of my friends, not again.” Rick looked down at the floor seeking something to make the pain go away A warm blue glow enveloped the back of his head. Slowly, the pain faded and his vision cleared. He looked to Cadence, her horn was glowing the same color as her healing magic went to work. “You have certainly seen some horrible things in your life haven’t you? And yet, you are still kind to everypony. Equestria is lucky to have such a good, kind resident and I am certainly glad to know you are taking such good care of my sister-in-law and her friends. I know I have nothing to worry about for her future.” Rick was a little relieved that Cadence felt this way, even more so that they didn’t ask him to elaborate on his past. He was also relieved that she felt well enough to treat his head wounds. Now he could enjoy his little vacation… he hoped. Chapter 48 Cadence had been able to use her healing spell on herself and Twilight now that she was feeling better. Soon after, the doctor who had helped Rick walked into the room. For the first time, Rick was able to see him clearly. The doctor’s appearance took him a little off guard. After all, who would think that just because the buildings were all made of crystal that that might mean all the ponies were too. The pony was a translucent teal color and his mane and tail were smooth and dark green in color. “I see we are all feeling better. I want to do one final check-up and then you should all be good to go.” He informed while reading a clip board. “Thanks, Doc, for all your help.” Rick nodded to him. “Yes, you did splendid work and should be commended.” Cadence told him. “Thank you very much, Princess, but I am just doing my job.” “So was every other pony but you were the only one who even tried to help me. Again, thank you.” “You’re welcome; now let’s get to those check-ups.” Shortly thereafter, they were all released from the hospital. When they walked outside, Paul was still in the truck and was so happy to see them that he was jumping from one seat to another. “Hey, Paul, did you miss us? Yes you did. Yes you did.” Rick said in a voice one would use toward a baby making the ponies chuckle. “Are you sure you healed his head?” Twilight asked Cadence causing both mares to giggle even more. “If you ladies are done mocking me affection toward my dog, we can continue to the palace and get settled in.” Rick said as he opened the doors and looked to the heavens. They all climbed into the truck and started down the road. As they drove through town, different points of interest were pointed out. Twilight actually swooned when she brought attention to the library, Rick knew he would be dragged there later. Cadence pointed out the spa, she informed that Rarity had saved her hair when the inspector for the Equestria Games came to the empire, they got to host. Shining showed them the stadium and practice fields where they prepared and performed the games. Then came the grand finale, the palace. Chapter 49 When they arrived, Cadence had to stop several guards from attacking the truck. When they realized the royal couple were in the vehicle, they couldn’t offer to unload the luggage quick enough. Two of them actually tripped over each other in their rush. Rick was extremely glad they only looked like they were made of crystal. When Rick walked through the entryway, his jaw dropped and he seemed unable to lift it back into place. It looked like it was made of diamond from the outside, it looked even more so from the inside. An elaborate star pattern was on the floor and appeared to be part of the floor instead of just being tile or rug. There were even sofas that lined the wall and were made of crystal, as were the pillars, windows making the light that poured through them not so much shine on the room, but make everything inside glow. The rotunda was breathtaking, there were two levels above the room they were in with windows all the way around and a crystalline dome. “…Rick!” Twilight’s voice finally reached his ears. “Huh, wha… what is it?” Rick looked around startled. “You were drooling.” She smirked up at him. He wiped his chin. “Sorry, I just, well I mean look at this place!” “Well thank you, Rick. Let’s get you settled in.” Cadence said smiling as she headed to the stairs, teams of guards were following them, each laden with luggage. “This will be your room,” Shining magically opened the door. The room was huge, Rick’s entire home could fit inside. The drapes alone would have cost as much as his truck, he guessed, he still didn’t understand the exchange rate for bits. Even the bed that was meant for ponies looked like it would not only be able to fit Rick, but he would have room to spare. Once again his jaw dropped. “Rick, you’re drooling again.” Twilight warned to a chorus of laughter. He wiped his chin and grinned sheepishly.