The Vanishing Star
By NocturneD
Italics are now 1st POV when Van/Fade is talking.
"Screwdriver for the WD-43 screw."
"Screwdriver with WD-43 fitting."
"Thanks honey."
"As always baby."
*CLING* *TING* *REEK* *REEK* *REEK* *BONK*
"Never knew those forty three type screws were so long."
*REEK* *REEK* *BONK*
"Another one out honey."
"Ugh..."
"Oh come on honey, it's not that gross attaching prosthetics."
*REEK* *REEK* *REEK*
"Another one out."
"Hey... I don't mean to interrupt and appreciate you two for re-attaching my new leg. But do we need an audience?" The Kirin lift his head. "And could we do this on a bed or a couch? And not on your grandma's kitchen table?"
The blue rugged unicorn smirked at his friend's remark. He would answer but only let out a chuckle as he looked at the other ponies who watched him. Curious family members sat on various chairs or furniture, a few ponies sat on a desk to watch.
"Well, this is technically a presentation Ghendi." Van smiled. "You know... Since we never got the chance to show it to the other families." Soon other ponies chuckled as well. "Besides, we need a total flat surface and this is the best we could do."
"Their loss then." Ghendi frowned, "I'd rather you show it to ponies you trust than try to make it like it's another business deal."
Van frowned from that remark, "Honestly. I agree. I went thinking I could impress them." He then backed away to marvel at his work from another angle. The Kirin was still legless but the pieces were coming together. All that was left is to attach a couple of joints and attach the nerves, then finally slid the leg back into place. "But we all know how they act." He turned to the crowd, "Am I right?"
The family members present either nodded their heads in approval or mumbled in agreement. Van nodded his head along as well, "Yeah, I figured that."
*CLUNK*
"And we're ready to finally put the fore leg on mares and colts." Van announced. Next, he used his magic to levitate the artificial leg. "With the help of this new appendage, my friend will be able to continue walking on four legs like a normal pony." The blue stallion observed the open circular slot in the Kirin's shoulder. Some wires hung freely loose and sprawled out on the kitchen table. The party pony decided to take a closer look and started playing with the wires.
"Hey... You sure you're not a robot?" Pinkie Pie took one wire into her hoof.
Ghendi raised his other limb then waved it around slowly, "Last time I checked robots don't bleed Pinkie Pie."
"I don't know." Pinkie eyed the white Kirin-unicorn hybrid suspiciously while still playing with the wire not noticing its importance.
"Hey miss Pie can you please not mess with that?" Van slowly reached to pull the cable away from the pink pony.
"But why would a robot have liquorish coming out where his leg should?" Pinkie was about to bite one of the cables absent-minded thinking it was candy.
"PINKIE!" Her friends yelled.
"What?" Pinkie turned her head about to bite in.
The orange mare by the name of Applejack wrestled the pink pony away from the operating table, well the dining table to be precise. Applejack apologized and forcefully made Pinkie Pie sit in the place. Twilight gave Pinkie the stern look, to sit still like a good pony or else no treats. Yes that look.
*CLINK* *KLANK*
"Okay. Now that was the easy part." Van announced.
"Oh boy." Ghendi sighed.
"Yes every pony, connecting the nerve endings so they can function properly within the new leg causes some pain for the first minute." Van tinkered within the connection port some more while still levitating the new leg. The blue stallion eased back then turned to the audience. "If I can have a couple of strong stallions or mares for this part it would be greatly appreciated."
"What for?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"To hold my patient down once I slide the leg in place and reconnect the nerve endings." Van answered. "Now who's feeling strong?" He let his head go left then right to scan the room. "Come on don't be shy."
"Well I'm game." The rainbow haired pony gestured.
"Same here partner." The orange earth pony flexed her fore legs to show off how strong she was.
"Well two mares so far." Vanishing Star nodded. "Come on guys."
The pink alicorn elbowed the crystal prince in the shoulder, hinting at him to volunteer. Shining Armor knelt to let Synn slide off his strong back. The little white kirin-unicorn hybrid waddled underneath the pink Alicorn. Just to feel safe, like a scared cub to its den mother. The older white unicorn approached the dining table where the kirin lay. Shining Armor then stood next to Applejack.
"Let's see, one more would not hurt. Any pony?" Van gestured to the crowd. Finally a few stallions along with the guards that escorted the blue unicorn earlier stepped forward and held down the Kirin with caution. "Okay, all of you are going to have to hold him down very tight." He turned his head back, "Also cover your ears if you don't like screaming."
Van mumbled to himself, "Or roars..."
The ponies positioned themselves around the Kirin. On Van's mark, "Okay... One... Two..."
Ghendi gritted his teeth. He hated this part of the replacement with a passion. "Here goes nothing.." He thought.
"THREE!" Van said loudly.
*SNAP, CLACK, REEK*
The new leg slid in place successfully. But to the Kirin, the nerve endings were quickly re-stabilizing. His face scowled from the incoming unpleasant pain. Suddenly, he felt a huge stabbing jolt through his shoulder area while he tried to quickly rise up and met with such great pressure pushing him back down. He tried to move his other fore leg to bang across the table for mercy but it was useless. The bolt that connected the new foreleg to his shoulder continuously swirled, he hoped it would soon stop turning so it could finally lock in place. The crowd either watched in shock or took a step back in hope nothing would happen.
"Grr..." Ghendi growled.
"The long bolt that connects the leg to the shoulder is what helps hold it in place. Stabilizing the connection to the nerve endings as well to make it feel like its a real foreleg." Van continued. He stared back at his friend being held down still. "With a good five turns with the bolt it should be ready. If you can quiet down you can hear the heavy clicks as it turns."
*CLICK*
"Grr..." The kirin growled again.
*CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK*
"Hey wait that was six." Pinkie pointed out.
*CLICK* *CLICK*
"Well this is a prototype model after all." Van frowned. "It's a bit different from the other ones and is specially made."
*CLICK* *CLICK* *REEEEEEEK*
"Um... that did not sound good." Fluttershy said quietly.
*REEK* *CRUNK*
"Oh shi..." Van said to himself. Quickly he knew something was wrong. "Oh no. No wait every pony, I got this." He motioned the ponies to keep the pressure on the Kirin to make him sit still. He thought, "I could have sworn it was only five clicks for it to lock in place."
Ghendi quickly jolted upwards but Applejack and Dash pushed him back down. His growls grew more aggressive, sounding like a furious beast. Some of the guests quickly raced out of the room. The banging on the table grew more tremendous almost like it was going to break underneath him.
"Son what's wrong?" Big Tex walked up to the table.
"I dunno, I think I missed a step!" Van tried to stop the bolt from turning any further. With a burst of magic he froze the gear in place. With a forceful stop, he reset the gear then twisted the foreleg to hear a click. "Just calm down Ghendi. I'm going to take it off and redo this." With a few more clicks and quick turns, the blue stallion pulled the fake foreleg away.
Another grunt escaped the Kirin's mouth, "I'm trying..."
"Did you not do this before?" Twilight trotted quickly to her brother's side.
"I... Yeah sure." Van hesitated. "I designed it didn't I?"
"Of course you did." Twilight raised an eyebrow. "But I was asking if you installed it the first time?"
"N..." Van shook his head as he started to pull harder on the foreleg.
"Son just stop and take a deep breath." Tex added. "If you want, we can jus take Ghendi to the hospital to get it properly put on. They got the proper tools.."
"I know dad! I can do this." Van pulled harder as his voice showed a hint of annoyance.
"Wa..." Ghendi grunted in pain.
"Maybe you should stop Van." Twilight wanted to shriek as she saw the Kirin's expression. Knew he was in pain, like the piece her brother explained that connects the shoulder to the foreleg. More and more he tugged. She noticed a red trickle leaking, pattering onto the fine wooden table.
"VAN WA...!" The lavender unicorn shouted. But it was too late. Van forced the foreleg off, it was all smiles until he noticed... The nerve ending cords got caught on the turnable bolt. One of the cords busted and fresh blood squirted all over table. Fiercely it poured over the edge of the table, then droplets plopped onto the floor.
"OH SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!" Van dropped the foreleg and tried to fix the situation. The nerve ending cord tugged out forcefully, it literally ripped out the base of the cable. "GET TOWELS!"
"WE NEED A LOT OF THEM PLEASE!" Applejack hollered. Soon a few ponies dispersed from the crowd to go find something to keep the Kirin from bleeding out.
"I'LL CALL NINE-ONE ONE!" A mare called out.
A loud thump was heard. "And Rarity fainted." Dash turned her head to see the white fashion unicorn on the floor.
More gasped filled the air as the blood continued to squirt from the Kirin's shoulder. Quickly the towels were applied the best they could, little good that did because the blood kept on coming. The cord was severed and needed to be re attached. Synn watched in horror as his brother continued to bleed, he threw his tiny fore legs around the pink alicorns back legs for hope. She in return hoisted him onto her back and left the room.
"The ambulance is on its way!" Some pony shouted.
"He will bleed out if we don't move him!" Shining Armor called out.
"Man he's not looking too good." Dash noticed Ghendi looking paler than usual. Sense of terror and emptiness was filling his eyes.
Twilight then stepped up, "I'm going to teleport him and myself to the emergency room! It should only take a few seconds to cast!"
Lucrecia could only take so much of the stallion suffering on her table. She approached the table, commanded the other ponies to back away. She had a plan. She ordered Van to set the broken nerve cable back onto the table. She watched as Ghendi breathed slowly, his chest rose up and down slowly trying to be calm.
"Now just try to relax my friend." Lucrecia brushed some of his strained hair out of his face. Van watched as his mentor put her hooves onto the table. Her hoof, practically smearing the blood into the shape of a strange circle. The old unicorn clapped her hooves together once, then slammed them onto the table. Within seconds, a bright light emerged from the circle as the crowd watched in either awe or fright. The busted nerve cable started to slither on its own and found the end it needed to reconnect itself, then another end. With another flash of light, the nerve cable welded itself back together again. Blood started to flow gently through the nerve ending cables again but still Ghendi was flushed.
The old mare backed away from the table. Then looked at her granddaughter, "Twilight. Teleport yourself and Ghendi to the emergency room. He lost a lot of blood!"
"Yes grandma!" Twilight practically jumped onto the table and within a quick second, her and the Kirin vanished.
With a few sighs. All eyes fell on Vanishing Star. Some of them surprised. Some of them angry. Even some of them not sure what to make of the situation. The replacement foreleg lay there on the floor next to Van's hooves, stained with some blood. The red liquid reached the far corners of the table, now dripped onto the hardwood floor.
And that's when I realized... I really screwed up. I embarrassed myself in front of both of my families along with my mentor. The party went on for a bit longer but no pony was in the mood. Not after seeing a pony bleed nearly to death on my grandmother's dining room table because of my incompetence. Just what was I thinking?! Great, now every pony is going to see me as a hack that does not even know how his invention works after he designed the stupid thing.
*Sigh*
The party ended on a quiet note. I did not feel like talking. Matter of fact. I turned myself invisible for the rest of the party and hid. Managed to get some goodbyes out of my aunts and uncles, but they felt so empty. Only ponies that remained were my family of course. Tex and Betsy stared at me for a while after I decided to stop hiding. They were mad at me. Tex told me over and over that I should have listened and took Ghendi to the hospital to get the new foreleg put on as it would have only taken an hour, get in and get out. Betsy just scolded me, saying I was being pig-headed to look superior to a group of strangers with my fancy words. I still could hear Synn crying, wanting to be by his brother's side while Cadence just tended to him. Being the good foal sitter and I guess, future mom that she wanted to be. Still never got the connection of how those two had time to bond. Swan for some reason, was still calm through all of this. Like she was not bothered by this at all. Wonder how she could still try to... never mind... Was my fault anyway...
So, later that afternoon I changed back into my Fade Away disguise. I went to the hospital to check up on Ghendi, I was one of the last guests to check up on him to see how he was doing. Tex and Betsy went earlier with the parts needed to put the new forearm back on that I apparently botched. Once I got there, I was met with a pretty frustrated version of my little sister. She said some things, saying I was acting like a big shot and did not know what I was doing,. Part of me wanted to yell at her and tell her to shut up and she did not know what she was talking about. I just let her yell until her heart's content. From time to time she blushed when she pointed back to Ghendi but still she wanted to bite my head off. After she was done, I asked her if I could be alone with my friend. She just stomped out of the room. Gave one last look at us then walked away.
I was alone with Ghendi finally. Had no idea what to say to him. Saying ,"Sorry" should be enough right? Well, I worked up my pride and started a conversation with him. Well, whatever I could get out of him.
"I... Uh..." The brown stallion stumbled with his words, "So I... Heard they did a good job putting your leg back into place." Then thought, "And maybe some blood."
The Kirin only lay there in silence. Still dressed in a hospital gown. He flexed the new fore leg a little to show it was working properly then stared back at Fade Away. He crossed his fore legs together and slid further down on the hospital bed.
"Ghendi... I... Uh." Fade rubbed the back of his neck, his face wrinkled with worry. "I'm sorry."
The Kirin remained quiet. Then turned over onto his side facing the window displaying the night sky. Head turn its side to relax on the cold pillow.
The brown stallion grew frustrated, but only spoke in concern, "Is there a reason you're not talking?"
The Kirin only sighed for a response and hoped it was enough.
"I screwed up okay." Fade frowned.
...
Normally silence would not bother Fade Away, but from a friend who he nearly made bleed to death. It was unbearable. Like the world was frowning and shaking their heads at him. It was like back then when his parents would disapprove of any of his interests. How much he hated that. He hated being ignored by his peers to show off his talents.
"So... Twilight said you can leave by tomorrow." Fade tried to smile. "Which is good... Um... You are going to need your rest anyway."
Again silence graced the brown stallion. The Kirin remained looking out the window from his place. Over looking the beautiful town of Canterlot. The lights illuminating from the buildings really did put on a show. Fade also turned his head to look out what his friend saw. It had a nice glow that graced the night. Almost like it was magical itself.
"I still remember how nice this place looked at night." Fade smirked. "Back at my grandma's house in the room she let me stay in had a nice view. Used to take her telescope and look at all the buildings from afar as well look at the stars she pointed out."
Silence remained for the Kirin.
"Reminds you of home doesn't it?" Fade asked.
The Kirin sighed while his dark tail wavered, "A little maybe..."
"Well I got you talking finally." Fade thought then gave a slight grunt to clear his throat, "Really... I'm sorry for what happened earlier."
"Should have done it at the hospital like Tex said." Ghendi frowned.
"Ouch..." Fade winced. "I deserved that though." He then brought up, "Something tells me that earlier today must have..."
"Triggered something?" Ghendi lifted his head slightly.
"Want to talk about it?" Fade asked as he stepped closer to the hospital bed.
"Not really." The Kirin sighed.
The brown stallion shook his head in confusion, "Ghendi seriously. I want to help."
"Go back to the castle.." The Kirin growled.
Fade Away stood his ground, "Look. I'm not leaving so you might as well tell me."
"Something from my childhood okay?" Ghendi barred his teeth this time, a lot sharper than the normal ponies set of teeth.
Fade wanted to pretend to be surprised, but Ghendi could read him like a book. "About how you lost your limbs the first time around?"
The kirin fell silent. Puzzled but yet shocked.
"Yeah. Lucrecia filled me in on everything." Fade nodded, "Your parents, the creäture that attacked Canterlot years ago, the academy, your courtship with my sist."
"We're friends..." The Kirin defended, but the blush over his cheeks told another story.
"How Synn is not really your brother. How you helped my grandma get information." Fade brought up. "And worst of all you committed a felony so big that it could have put you in a government jail by jeopardizing my company." The brown stallion inched closer and closer to the bed until he's right up into his friend's face. "That's right mister... No use hiding it all now."
"Fine then!" Ghendi hollered, "I PANICKED BECAUSE... Because it was like losing my legs all over again! I was pretty young when it happened. I tried to act tough because the guards were too busy trying to fend the town off from the threat but it had Twilight! I tried to save her but... I ended up losing my legs in the process... after all that... it..." His eyes wandered, his head shook a little not wanting to complete his story. His head turned away, "It all went downhill after that."
"Ghendi... It's alright." Fade tried to interrupt. Little did they know the door was cracked ajar. A few ponies were listening in, one in particular was a lavender unicorn.
"No... it's not okay." Ghendi said as his eyes narrowed.
"Relax man, I know how you fee..." Fade tried to say but to his surprise only to be met with a hoof to gut. "OOF..." The brown stallion knelt over in pain. Gasps could be heard from outside. Within seconds the room had a few more pony members, mostly family.
*Sigh*
Ghendi and I had our little squabble. He wanted to be alone for a bit and to think to himself. Something long and hard. In a way, I think I knew what he wanted to think about. I should have listened to Tex and left it to the professional surgeons at the stupid hospital. Nope. I just had to put the stupid thing on myself. Should not be so hard right? I designed the stupid thing and knew the in and outs. Well... I slowly realized I made a mistake. A pretty costly one.
First, I admitted I acted kind of big shot. Jazz up my presentation , show off my genius contraption, hell let my fiancee Swan act as my assistant. My lovely assistant. Man I have not been paying attention to her at all during the past couple of days. Sure there was the few conversations and maybe a few love-making sessions but... It felt a little empty as of lately. Oh dear Luna, I hope the spark did not run out... She's been pretty clingy and who could blame her for these past few days? Wanted to meet every pony in my family, let alone the extended members.
I'm starting to think coming to Canterlot was not such a hot idea after all. Then again, what am I doing here period? After all that had happened so far in the past couple of days? So far, I never really saw myself acting like the big shot and wanted to be more for the ponies, some pony to look up to and want to give the best options to them. Now, after screwing up. I don't know anymore. They say it takes an idea to inspire another pony with another idea to come up with something greater. To improve on the first idea. Well... I did that. I created the Lucrecia program using my grandmother's spell books for all to see. I created adamantium limbs using my grandma's prosthetics designs as well as... securing the material from Malik. His bones were the key on how this worked, even with that. I don't know where he got it from. Hell, I don't know how other ponies from other countries felt about it. Then again... Malik, a pony who I hope to never see ever again.
I made a good amount of ponies upset today. I botched what seemed like a procedure for my friend who is now being silent towards me. My adoptive parents were disappointed in me that I did not heed their warning. Synn, poor little guy just keeps seeing the worst things at the wrong time. If he's upset with me, I won't blame him. Shining Armor decided he was done trying to make peace with me, while Cadence, I think she wants this to work but now, I think she sees me as a jerk that needs love. My aunts, uncles, cousins, the curious ones that wanted to see me, just left me be. Twilight scolded me, her friends were quiet and just watched her. My grandma, well... She told me it was nice seeing me again and we would talk later, somehow I knew she was disappointed in me, but glad I did not end up killing Ghendi.
So... I'm now at the bar that's back at the castle. After duty, some guards like to kick back and half a few before their nights off or when their shift is done. For some reason, I picked the one night where there are barely any guards or other staff in attendance tonight. Good. I wanted to be alone with my thoughts. I downed a few beers. My nice expensive outfit, now wrinkled from a hard day hung loosely around my form. Then there was the medal I was presented with. I took it off and lay it on the buff wooden bar table in front of myself.
A reward for excellence. These are usually given to the top achievers of Equestria and I was given one for my accomplishments. I was told that they give this particular medal out to only the finest. You might think, "The best of the best", but really... It's for the ponies that want to help make a difference in the world in many ways. I wanted to help make a difference. A difference that can help ponies in all shapes and sizes. And here I am... Drinking down my sorrows. Hoping the memories will quickly flush away.
"Funny how we always find each other in a place like this..." A gentle male voice bellowed into the hearing range of the brown stallion.
Fade Away lazily looked to left, still feeling the effects of the alcohol trying to drool over his judgment. His head slowly rose to let each others eyes lock. The other pair belonged to a white flying unicorn with a long blonde mane. "Oh... hey Lorenzo."
The white-winged unicorn gestured to the seat next to Fade Away. "Any pony sitting here?"
The brown unicorn frowned, "No pony marked it so go ahead."
"Alright then." The winged unicorn seated himself. "Tender? I will have a scotch on the rocks please."
"Excellent choice sir." The female bartender nodded then went to work making the concoction.
The winged unicorn turned his head to the brown stallion, "So how do you like Canterlot?"
Fade Away let his eyes dull after he set down his beer bottle, "Its alright. Some stuff is different, some stuff did not change from when I was a kid."
Illusive Lorenzo nodded slowly, "Ditto. Almost like she was calling us back."
"Feels like it." Fade Away levitated his drink to take another sip.
Lorenzo sighed as he raised and placed his hooves to the fine bar table, "Kids grow up and want to explore. I wanted to leave Canterlot ever since I was little."
"Why's that?" Fade Away's eyes wandered to the white unicorn.
"Judgment. As well as feeling like I'm not accomplishing anything. Parents never liked living here because of crap like last night." Lorenzo let his hoof curdle and crossed his chin.
"Yeah that was something else." Fade Away took a bigger gulp this time, "Bartender, another beer please?"
"Sure thing." The bartender served Lorenzo first, then brought another bottle out and ripped the cap off with her magic.
"Yeah. I think I finally impressed the stupid family." Lorenzo brought the glass to his lips and drank slowly from it. Then swirled it around, watching the ice cubes inside spin round and round. "Not sure if I did the right thing though."
"Well... You said you were going to work your entire life into trying to make it work." Fade Away pondered. "Now that you did. What next?"
"Don't know honestly." The winged unicorn replied as he swirled his glass some more. "I completed the research... Nothing left to do. My ancestor's legacy finally ended with a tiny bottle of vial. To play into the creator's domain."
"Was it worth it?" Fade Away then sipped his beer.
Lorenzo sat silently for a minute's time. Then with a sigh, "Depends. Kind of like, achieving the top status but finding out that the benefits are not as fun of when you were not top dog."
"How did the princesses take it?" Fade asked.
With a deep sigh, "Let's just say, they were surprised but yet wanted to test me to see if I was worthy of being an alicorn."
Fade raised an eyebrow, "And that was?
"A test of determination, skill and knowledge." Lorenzo brought the glass to his lips again and sipped its contents slowly. "I was placed in a room that held valuable information. If I answered ninety questions out of one hundred correctly, then I would have access to it. One hundred difficult questions."
"So what happened if you failed?" Fade asked.
"My wings would be magically removed. As well as termination from both of my positions for creating such a golden nectar." Lorenzo answered.
"Well... I'm sorry if you did not pass then." Fade hid his smirk. The white-winged unicorn levitated his scotch to his mouth again then downed it in one gulp. He wiped his mouth clean with his hoof.
Lorenzo smirked, "Oh... I passed alright."