Time to go
Chapter 25
The Black Sea
“A little to the left.” Celestia said, watching as a gray unicorn guard used his magic to situate her newest statue in her garden. As the guard finally set the stone version of Skull Trap in it's proper place, the princess took a moment to glance around the garden. Many other statues filled the hedge lined grassy field. Celestia's eyes rested for only a second on the newest form of Discord's statue, but she continued on, looking at the statue that resembled victory before returning her view to Skull Trap.
“This place is getting more crowded every day.” Said a monotonous voice inside her head, “You should really give me a chance to stretch my legs, this place could use a little chaos.”
“If you're worried about being crowded, I could put you inside the castle in a little room where you'll be all alone. No sun, no moon at night. Just four walls, a floor and a ceiling to keep you company.” Celestia thought, knowing that Discord would be able to hear her thoughts.
“Oh no princess.” Chuckled Discord, “I don't mind the crowd, they're a nice bunch, I would just rather talk to them in person, rather than through stone. It does get boring staring at the scenery all day.” Discord paused for a moment, “Maybe you could put the sun off a few degrees tomorrow? Nopony would notice, and it would be just enough chaos for me to enjoy for one day.”
“With you,” Celestia thought, spreading her wings to take off for her throne room, “It's never enough chaos.”
Celestia could hear Discord's scoffs and groans as she flew into the sky, but added one more thing before she was out of the draconequus' range. “but I'll see what I can do about letting you out for a day.”
Discord chuckled at the thought, but doubted it would ever happen. Celestia however, had someone specific in mind for him to visit.
><><
Michael rubbed his eyes slowly, attempting to keep his claws from scratching his face as he did so, sighing to himself as he sat on one of the soft couches that the hospitals set in the walls of each room. Hunter had been placed in the same first floor room as last time, seeing as how it was still open from the last time he had been there, and it would have been too life threatening to carry him up any stairs, or waste any time with elevators.
The gray alicorn's room was generally close to the exit of the Ponyville Hospital, and the doctor's were in a hurry to get him stable. To be honest, it hadn't taken them long to get the blond stallion stable, but his injuries were so numerous that it had taken them the most time to find them all and make sure he wasn't bleeding internally.
The doctor's had actually found that the alicorn was internally bleeding shortly after bringing him in, but Michael had been told that it was taken care of when the doctor's had told him of his condition. Now Michael sat next to his friend as the machines of the hospital beeped and whirred. Every once in a while a nurse would come in the room and make sure that Hunter's condition wasn't unusual, but for the most part Michael was left alone with his unconscious pal, and his thoughts.
“Hunter sure makes it into the hospital a lot more than I thought.” Michael had counted at least twice since their arrival to Ponyville. Twice in one week was two many times too often. Michael's tail waved back and forth as he frustratingly thought about what had recently transpired.
Life was just perfect here in Ponyville, it had actually been more than the pair could have hoped for. Their life was practically handed to them on a silver platter, their house, their friends, Hunter's job. They could live an easy laid back life, and they were going to, until Skull Trap came and showed his ugly heart, showed them that some of the harshness they hoped to leave back in reality was still here in their dreamland.
Michael had come to Equestria expecting perfection, and he had apparently expected too much. His dream was brought to him, but it was different, tainted with something. Like having your favorite dish presented to you on your birthday, but it had traces of your least favorite vegetable in it. Now, no matter how much Michael enjoyed this meal, there would always be traces of asparagus to remind him that it wasn't exactly what he wanted.
The dragon's scales grew a deeper red as his frustration over Skull Trap's appearance grew. The black-hearted alicorn had come in and burst their bubble, and no matter how they tried to rebuild it, it would never be the same. Jordan was gone.
Michael felt like screaming, like going to find Skull Trap's statue and yelling at it for who knew how long. The miniature black dragon was about to yell in the hospital room when his feelings were suppressed by a knock on the door.
Twilight walked slowly into the room, as if worried she would disturb someone, but seeing Michael looking up at her from the couch, and Hunter still strapped to the bed covered in bandages and machines made her realize it was safe to enter, and did so.
“How is he?” The purple librarian asked solemnly.
“Better.” Michael replied simply, but thought she would want a little more of an explanation, “The doctor's have taken care of any internal bleeding, a couple of his ribs are cracked, and one is shattered. One of his lungs was apparently almost punctured, but it was just barely missed. He has numerous cuts and bruises all over, and one of his forelegs is apparently broken.”
Twilight had taken a seat next to the dragon, and Spike, who had followed behind his purple companion, had taken one of the wooden chairs from the side of the room.
“A broken foreleg?” Twilight asked, “He didn't look like he had broken anything. He held up that bomb of his and was standing on it just fine after the fight.”
“I said the same thing,” The red scaled dragon explained, “The doctor's chalked it up to adrenaline.”
The small group sat in silence for a moment as Twilight and Spike took it all in. Then they looked over to see Rainbow Dash sleeping in the bed on the opposite side of the room. Dash had been almost as badly injured as the stallion in the same room. Dash's fight with Skull had left many an injury, and she had checked herself into the hospital as well, despite the fact that she hated the tedious waiting to get better. Rainbow had gotten off with cuts and bruises, but no injuries so severe as broken bones or internal bleeding. Her ribs had taken damage, but she had gotten off easy.
Twilight slumped as she sat on the couch and rested her head in her hooves. Funeral arrangements were not her forte, seeing as how she had never needed to make them before, and she still had no idea if Jordan had any relatives. Sooner than later, Twilight had hoped that somepony would come forward looking for the brown pegasus, but nopony had, and she was still lost as to who to invite. Everything was ready however; Applejack had taken it upon herself to bring food, Rarity was making funeral clothes for all of her friends free of charge, and Twilight herself had arranged for a grave site and tombstone.
“How are you feeling?” Michael asked suddenly.
Twilight perked up to look Michael in the eye. The dragon looked like he was attempting to get his mind off something. “A little down trodden actually.” Twilight told him honestly, “I've never been the one to prepare a funeral, the whole thing just seems so...” Twilight paused as she searched for the word.
“Depressing?” Spike suggested.
“I was going for more melancholy.” Twilight responded.
“I've been to a couple funerals in my day.” Michael told Twilight, “One was actually for Hunter's father.”
Twilight stayed silent, hoping to hear more about Hunter's past. The unicorn actually knew little about him, as he had only been here for a short time, and he didn't like to talk about himself.
“After he was finished crying he would always put on a calm face, making himself look strong. Yet, when his friend's would come to comfort him, it would all come back. He would show them that he cared, and then go back to being strong.” Michael explained.
“Was he acting for them?” Twilight asked.
“No, he did actually care, and those were real feelings that he would show. Hunter knew that his dad didn't want him to be sad, so every chance he got he wouldn't be.” Michael was getting frustrated again, and more than a little depressed at the memory, but he continued. “I got to talk to him a couple days afterwards. It was obvious that he didn't seem to have gotten over it yet. He told me, 'This life is full of meetings and partings. That is the way of it'. When I called him on his reference he just laughed it off, but those words seem to stick to him.”
Twilight was also a little struck by those words. Meetings and partings. “That's so sappy.” Dash spoke up from across the room.
Spike jumped up from his chair, partly from surprise, and partly to go to the pegasus' side. “Rainbow Dash! You're awake!”
“You bet I am. How could I sleep through all your yapping?” Rainbow said, using the mechanics on the bed to move it into an upright position.
“Sorry about that.” Michael said sheepishly.
“It's alright.” Dash said, “I don't mind hearing about Hunter anyways.”
“He was always spouting stuff like that.” Michael told them, “Just random phrases that would always seem so... poetic.”
“That sounds like him.” Rainbow said, “Everything he does is a little strange.”
The three sat in silence for a moment longer, all of them had their eyes on the gray alicorn in the hospital bed, hoping that their combined scrutiny would somehow cause him to wake up.
“So what brings you two here?” Rainbow asked Twilight.
“Just came to check on you guys.” Twilight said, “Hunter has been in the hospital twice this week. If you aren't careful Rainbow he might just break your record.”
The group all chuckled and Rainbow said, “maybe so.”
It was good to laugh, small reprieves from the sad times they were facing were always welcome.
“Well, I should really get back. I've been a little behind on my studies, and the library still needs to be cleaned a little.” Twilight said, facing Spike as she mentioned cleaning.
Spike left Rainbow's bedside and jumped onto Twilight's back, and the hospital door closed quietly as the purple aura that enveloped it disappeared.
“Was it sunny today?” Rainbow asked Michael.
“As a clear summer day.” Michael told her, eliciting a sigh. “Why?”
“Cause I have no more sick days left.” Dash said simply.
Michael didn't know why, but he found this hilarious, and Dash blushed with anger as Michael laughed his head off.
><><
Once again Hunter was in the air, holding aloft the all too familiar energy of a spirit bomb. He did not feel Fluttershy holding him in the air, nor did he see anyone around him. In fact, he couldn't see anything except for clouds and the blue sky. Below him the sky extended forever, and above him the spirit bomb blocked his sight.
The only other thing in the sky with him, was Skull Trap.
“YOU!” Hunter yelled, seeing the alicorn smugly smiling at him, “You will pay for what you did!”
“Oh yes?” Skull Trap responded, “What exactly did I do again?”
“You killed Jordan!” Hunter cried, “and you hurt my friends!”
Skull Trap chuckled, and then threw back his black head to laugh. “What are you laughing at?!” Hunter yelled, getting angry at how confident Skull seemed.
“As I recall,” Skull Trap said smoothly, “It was you that killed Jordan, not me.”
Hunter's face went from anger to shock, then to hatred. “No! That's not true, you were the reason he died in the first place!”
“Maybe so.” Skull Trap responded, flying a little closer, “but you were the cause weren't you? You and that Spirit Bomb of yours,” The black alicorn paused and pointed at the giant ball of energy that Hunter was holding. “That was what killed Jordan, not me.”
Hunter tried to hold back the tears that now fell off his face, but his forelegs were preoccupied with holding the bomb. “That's not true,” Hunter said quietly to himself, “It's not true. You killed him, not me.”
“Tell yourself what you like.” Skull Trap said laughing, “but you killed Jordan, and there's nothing that will change that fact.”
“Shut up!” Hunter yelled to Skull Trap, “You shut your face right now!”
“Or what?” Skull laughed, “You'll kill me?”
“I did it once I can do it again!” Hunter yelled, setting himself in a position to throw the bomb.
“Try then! Kill me!” Skull yelled, daring Hunter to throw the bomb. Hunter obliged, throwing the bomb with all his might at the insufferable black pony in front of him. After Hunter threw the bomb, he looked up to where Skull Trap had been flying.
The evil did not move, instead shifting to Jordan's form instead. Hunter watched as the bomb flew towards his friend once again, unable to save him, unable to stop the bomb.
Jordan looked at Hunter with sad eyes, eyes that spoke of the pain of betrayal. “Why did you kill me?” They asked, “Why would you kill me again?”
“No!” Hunter screamed, “Move out of the way Jordan! Save yourself!”
The brown stallion did not do as Hunter told him, getting hit head on by the bomb, and causing an explosion. Hunter shielded his eyes from the humongous blast, and waited for the wind that was caused by the force of the bomb to stop.
When Hunter looked up, Skull Trap stood once again in the place he had, instead of Jordan.
“Your friend's sacrifice was all for naught.” Skull Trap said evilly, “I still live, and he does not. You were not strong enough, and now he is dead.”
Hunter was choking now, and he couldn't breathe. Skull Trap was telling the truth, Jordan had died for nothing, Skull Trap was still alive, and he knew he wasn't strong enough.
Skull Trap flew over to where Hunter was hovering and grabbed him by the neck again, just as he had on the day he arrived. “You are not strong. You are nothing.” The evil alicorn said, “and ponies who are nothing deserve to die!”
With that Skull Trap threw Hunter towards the ground. When had the ground gotten there? Hunter tried moving his wings to stop his fall, but the ground was coming at him surprisingly fast. The gray alicorn's wings would not move from his sides, and Hunter started to panic. Closer and closer the ground became and he could do nothing to slow his descent. Soon the ground was too close for comfort and Hunter screamed.
“AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH” Hunter yelled as the ground disappeared and the wall of the hospital room stared at him instead. Hunter stopped to breath as he realized that he was not going to become a pancake and was suddenly pushed gently back against the bed he was now laying on.
“Whoa whoa,” Michael said, “Calm down dude, it's alright you're just in the hospital.”
Hunter panted for a minute and swallowed before speaking again, “Skull Trap's alive, we have to stop him!” Hunter once again tried to sit up out of the bed, but Michael was surprisingly strong and held him down, “Oh no you don't. We watched Celestia take Skull Trap away remember? He's nothing but stone now.”
Hunter calmed down after hearing this, but had to pant for a little while longer before he finally caught his breath.
“What was that all about?” Rainbow Dash asked from the bed on the other side of the room, “You scared me half to death with that random yelling of yours!”
Hunter glanced over at Dash who had a couple band aids and bandages on her body. “Are you okay?”
Rainbow rolled her eyes slightly at Hunter's change in the conversation, “I'm fine.” Rainbow scoffed, “What about you? You look like hell.”
Hunter moved his bed so that he could lay back on it and sit up at the same time, and then looked himself over. I.V.s once again pierced his foreleg, one was in a cast, and the parts of him that weren't covered with blankets that he could see, were mostly covered in bandages.
“I guess I do...” The blond stallion said quietly.
The three went silent and Hunter looked out the window to see the sun moving down under the mountains.
“The sunset is beautiful today.” Hunter thought aloud.
Michael and Rainbow Dash looked over at the window to see what Hunter was talking about, and nodded in agreement.
“What a time for me to wake up.” Hunter said, breaking from his sudden trance, “Right as the sun goes down.”
“Well I'm glad you're awake.” Michael said, “The doctor's said you weren't comatose, we just had to wait until you gained consciousness. It didn't matter to me when you did, just so long as it happened soon.”
“Well I'm awake.” Hunter said, “now what?”
“Well since you woke up so late, I can't really stay.” Michael said, “I have to be getting home.”
Michael jumped off the couch and headed for the door, stopping as he remembered something. “Twilight and the girls are preparing funeral arrangements for Jordan.” Michael told his friend solemnly. “Twilight needs to know if Jordan had any family.”
Michael stared out into the hallway as he waited for Hunter's answer. When it finally came, it was through a cracked voice. “He does.”
“Alright. Twilight will ask you more about it later.” With this Michael stepped out into the hallway, and out of the hospital heading for Sugar Cube corner to walk Trixie home.
Rainbow watched the door close, before looking over at Hunter. “Now that you're awake...” Rainbow started, but stopped suddenly when Hunter let out a sob.
“Are you alright?” She asked instead.
“How am I...” Hunter choked out, “How am I supposed to tell her...?”
Rainbow was confused as to who Hunter was talking about, but she had a good guess that they must related to Jordan. The pegasus mare decided that it was best to just lay back and leave Hunter be for now, she didn't know what to say anyways.
“What am I supposed to tell her...” Hunter would repeat to himself. Rainbow would glance over every once in a while to see her friend sitting on the bed, his head resting on knees, crying quietly to himself, but she didn't bear to watch. Rainbow felt tears threaten to show on her face as well, but she didn't let them come. There would be time for those later.
“How do I tell her I killed him...”
><><
Twilight made her way down the street. The unicorn had gone home after visiting Hunter in the hospital, but she found it hard to sit down and study. Truth be told, she was rather anxious, and she couldn't sit down long enough to concentrate.
The purple mare decided to go make sure that preparations were coming along as planned. There wasn't any deadline per say, seeing as how there was no body to keep fresh, but Twilight knew that it should be done sooner than later.
Twilight opened the door to the boutique, hoping to catch Rarity at a good time. As she entered the room to see black fabrics strewn around the store, and Sweetie Belle running past her, she realized that this may not be the best time.
“Sweetie Belle! Come back! I need you to come back and hold this fabric for me!” Rarity yelled, trying to persuade her sister to come back inside.
“No way! I'm going to mom and dad's house until you stop being crazy!” Sweetie Belle yelled back, before running off into the distance.
Twilight decided to brave it anyways. “Rarity? Are you alright?”
Rarity walked into the main room of the boutique black fabrics draped over her back, and small sewer's tools in her magical grip. Her mane didn't look very neat, and her eyes looked like she had not slept.
“Rarity?! Are you alright?” Twilight asked, how could Rarity look like she hadn't been sleeping, it had only been a day!
“Oh Twilight,” Rarity moaned, “I am not okay.”
“What's wrong?” Twilight asked, moving into the boutique and moving some things to their place so that she could walk without stepping on fabrics.
“I can't decide which color to make these outfits, and I need Hunter's measurements, and I don't know if it'll rain that day, and...” Rarity was quieted by Twilight, who interrupted.
“Rarity! Calm down!”
“Right. Sorry dear, what can I help you with?” Rarity asked.
“Well I can see that the outfits are coming along... slowly.” Twilight said, “But it looks like you need my help, not the other way around!”
“I suppose so...” Rarity said, looking around at the mess her shop was currently in.
“Don't worry Rarity,” Twilight said, walking back towards
the door, “I'll tell Rainbow to make it sunny on the day of the funeral, and I'll get you Hunter's measurements.”
Twilight was almost out the door when she remembered, “You should probably make all of the outfits black.”
“Well of course.” Rarity said back, “But Jet black or Taupe!?”
“Let's just go with Jet?” Twilight suggested.
“Oh yes of course!” Rarity yelled suddenly, “Why didn't I see that was the obvious choice!”
Twilight watched her friend start cleaning up her store and was about to leave her to it when she thought of something else.
“Rarity, I don't think you'll need Hunter's measurements.” Twilight said.
“And why not?” Rarity said. If she had not lost them from the first time she had made Hunter clothes, then this wouldn't have been a problem.
“He'll be lucky if they let him leave the hospital for the funeral anyhow. I doubt he'll be fit for putting on clothes at that point.” Twilight said seriously.
Rarity stopped cleaning for a short moment, a bolt of fabric suspended in the air by her magic as she thought it over. Rarity's head fell with a sigh, “Very well.”
With that out of the way, Twilight left the shop, and Rarity to her cleaning.
><><
Dash had listened to Hunter cry himself to sleep as the sun descended below the horizon. She was glad that he was able to get to sleep so soon after waking up, and glad that he didn't seem to be having any bad dreams so far. The rainbow mare guessed that his lack of stirring meant that he was sleeping normally.
Rainbow laid her cyan hoof on her stomach as she settled into the sheets, and her pillow as she decided that now was probably a good time to get to sleep. The next few days would be long and uneventful, and Dash wondered if Hunter would be much of a conversationalist.
Just as Rainbow's eyelids collided, the sound of the door opening entered her ears, and her magenta pupils once again took in the light of the room. It creaked open slowly at first as it usually did, meaning that somepony was checking to make sure that they weren't disturbing the patients inside, but opened wide to show Jason.
“Heya.” Dash said, causing Jason to jump slightly and turn his head to look at her.
“Oh good, somepony in here is awake.” Jason said, walking further into the room and closing the dark wooden door behind him. Jason moved the strings hanging from some balloons out of his face and moved a chair between the two beds.
“How's he doing?” Jason asked, looking at Hunter's unconscious form on the bed.
“Not too good.” Rainbow Dash told him, “Physically he should recover just fine, but emotionally he might be wrecked.”
“What do you mean?” Jason turned his head to look at Rainbow Dash as she spoke to him.
“You missed out didn't you?” Dash asked, forgetting whether or not Jason had been at the confrontation with Skull Trap.
“Yeah.” Jason responded, “I was preoccupied that day.”
Rainbow Dash didn't know if she was up to explaining it all to him, but started anyways. “Well, Hunter and Jordan helped us take out this evil alicorn guy named Skull Trap. It looked bad and Hunter got pretty beat up. We weren't able to use the elements because Skull Trap wouldn't give us enough time to charge them and even if we could he would just move out of the way.”
“So then what did you do?” Jason asked, apparently listening intently to the story.
“Well I was doing my best to hold off Skull Trap while the rest of my friends made a plan. Hunter apparently thought of something because, with some help, he flew up into the sky and started charging something. I kept fighting as long as I could, but I was getting a little tired. Skull Trap happened to grab me and Jordan came to get him off. As soon as Jordan got him off me I flew a little ways away, just to get some distance. Jordan seemed to be taking care of it as he had the alicorn in a lock...”
Dash felt her throat tighten slightly at the memory of what happened next, having to bring it back fresh in her head to continue the story.
“Hunter was apparently done charging whatever it was he was preparing, and Jordan knew it. I flew up to make sure that Hunter was able to hold up that giant ball of energy and he Jordan was yelling something about throwing it already. Hunter didn't want to at first but he gave it up in the end.”
Jason stayed quiet as Dash continued to explain the event. The beige unicorn wished he had been there, his powers would have helped a lot in that situation. Rainbow had been looking at Hunter on his bed but now she glanced down at her lap.
“Jordan was enveloped in the resulting explosion.”
Jason had been looking at various places and balloons in the room, but as Dash finished he quickly moved his gaze back to the rainbow mare and his eyes widened.
“Really? So Hunter...” Jason started.
“Hunter feels like it's his fault, yeah.” The pegasus said, completing Jason's thought.
Jason slumped in his chair. “That is pretty bad...”
Just then Jason's scarf opened up and Rythian popped his head out. The purple eyes blinked once before the crocodile crawled out completely, hopping off of Jason's legs and onto Hunter's bed.
“Wait, Rythian stop!” Jason said hushed, “Get back here little mister!”
The crocodile paid no heed, and made his way onto Hunter's stomach and started sucking on the alicorn's cast.
Rainbow Dash stared in horror at the crocodile slurping on Hunter's broken foreleg. As the two conscious ponies in the room had feared, Rythian's actions caused Hunter to squirm and soon after, his gray eyelids fluttered open.
The group said nothing as Hunter gained a grip on his surroundings and the crocodile assaulting him. As soon as Hunter could open his eyes without them complaining from the light he looked down and stared at Rythian.
“What.”
“Rythian! How could you wake him up like that! Ponies are not food, how many times do I have to tell you to stop putting your mouth on ponies!” Jason scolded.
Hunter grabbed the crocodile by the neck with his working hoof, and lifted the now slightly drooling crocodile up to eye level, looking into the purple orbs. Rythian blinked one eye, and after a second, the other. Hunter then moved his hoof up near his head.
Jason assumed Hunter was about to throw Rythian at him, and put his hooves up quickly in defense, ready to catch the crocodile. Hunter then sat the purple eyed reptile on his head, allowing him to get comfortable on his mane and look at the group.
“Kinda jumpy tonight are we?” Hunter asked gruffly.
Jason put his forelegs back onto his knees. “I guess so.” Jason sighed, and rubbed his eyes.
“So what brings you here so... late.” Hunter asked.
“I just came to check on you.” Jason said.
“Nice of you to care I guess.” Hunter scoffed. “Better late than never I suppose.”
“Right...” Jason drew out the word, somewhat confused by the way Hunter was talking. “Well I hope you get better soon, I assume that Jordan's funeral will take place sometime in the nearby future?”
“Don't remind me...” Hunter growled, looking down at the ground on the right side of his bed.
“Alright.” Jason said simply. “I suppose I shall have to see you both later.” Jason stepped up off of his chair and moved it back to it's place on the wall. Hunter grabbed the crocodile that was sitting on his head and placed him gingerly on the bed next to him. Rythian scampered down the blankets and leapt onto Jason's back, before working his way up into the scarf.
“Goodbye you two. Get better soon.” Jason opened the doorway and made his way out.
“Bye.” Rainbow Dash replied as the unicorn left the room.
Hunter didn't speak a word as the door shut. Instead, Dash heard the alicorn huff and relax back into his bed. The mare glanced over to see a frown forged into Hunter's expression and his eyebrows were furrowed as he closed his eyes.
Rainbow Dash thought that Hunter had the right idea, and although she worried about the change that had overtaken her colt-friend, she decided that it was time to get back to trying to sleep.
><A few days later><
Rainbow Dash relaxed against the back of her bed, perusing the latest Daring Do novel that the hospital had for the patients to read. Daring was having some trouble navigating a particularly treacherous jungle, and Rainbow was beginning to wonder if she would ever make it to the temple she was searching for in time.
Rainbow used the end of a chapter to take a break and set the book down, and glance around the hospital room. Pinkie had assaulted it again with her amazingly durable balloons, and Hunter was sitting on his bed, watching the outside with an emotionless face again.
It wasn't like Dash hadn't tried to start up conversations but Hunter would always respond with one word answers, or the shortest possible explanation. If she pushed too far when asking him questions the blond stallion would get frustrated, and huffy, refusing to answer further. So Rainbow had decided to leave him to his grief and let him stare out the window all day.
“The sun continues to shine.” Hunter said quietly.
“It always does.” Rainbow said, hoping to get a conversation going now that Hunter had spoken first.
“Never really been a fan of the sun.” Hunter said, still staring out the window.
“How can't you be a fan of the sun?” Rainbow chuckled, “It's awesome!”
“How awesome is something that won't even let you look at it? Something can look cool but what's the point if you can't see it?” Hunter argued.
“The sun doesn't look awesome, it just is awesome. I brings life to everything.” Dash explained.
“The sun doesn't bring life.” Hunter huffed, looking down at his hooves instead, “It offers life to all those who want it. Then everything in Equestria has to fight over it.”
“Survival of the fittest I guess.” Rainbow Dash was worried this conversation was going to take a turn.
“Exactly.” Hunter said gruffly, closing his eyes. If he had a fist he would clench it. “What a cruel existence having to fight for every inch of life.”
“We don't have to fight for anything.” Rainbow said, “We've moved past that.”
“That's not the natural world.” Hunter explained, “Life as we know it is improved. In the wild life is primal, simple, yet cruel.” Hunter once again moved his attention to outside the window, “Sometimes the wild shows up on our domestication and causes a little havoc I guess.”
Rainbow was having trouble following, but decided that Hunter was back to being Mr. Grump so she stopped the conversation where it was.
“Visitor.” Hunter said simply.
Rainbow couldn't even ask “What?” before the door swung open and Doctor Stables stepped in, Twilight Sparkle following behind.
“How are you two doing today?” Doctor Stables asked cheerfully.
“I'm ready to get out of here already.” Rainbow Dash replied.
Hunter said nothing as his green eyes continued to stay locked to the outside scenery.
“and you Hunter?” The brown doctor asked, checking a clipboard that had, until he picked it up, been attached to the foot of the bed.
Hunter still refused to respond.
Twilight stepped up to Rainbow Dash to whisper in her ear, “What's up with him?”
Rainbow Dash moved her head to whisper back, “He feels like he killed Jordan, what do you think is up with him?”
Twilight gave a smirk and a nod in response and walked over to the gray alicorn instead.
“You up for going to the funeral?” Twilight asked quietly.
“Yes.”
“That was surprisingly easy.” Twilight thought. Then she turned to Doctor Stables, “Think he can make it?”
“He should be fine.” Stables said, putting the clipboard back on the end of the bed. “In fact, he should be able to go home after this if he just stays home while he heals.”
Twilight turned to Hunter with a smile, “Hear that? You can go home and relax instead of having to be in this hospital all the time.”
“woo.”
“I'll get a wheelchair. In your condition, it would be best if you didn't exert yourself in any way, not even walking.” Doctor Stables walked out of the room and into the hallway, letting the door slam itself shut behind him.
“The funeral is going to be well attended,” Twilight said, making an attempt at small talk, “Jordan had no shortage of friends.”
“Oh joy.” Hunter spoke up, “I get to look into the face of every single pony I hurt.”
Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash with a worried look on her face, and Dash was shaking her head slowly with her eyes closed. The purple mare decided that it wasn't worth trying, she might just make things worse. After a few tense moments of silence, the doctor returned with a simple wooden wheelchair.
Twilight took charge of the transport and moved it over next to Hunter's bed. Hunter moved the blankets off of himself and moved his legs off the bed one at a time. As soon as he was ready, the alicorn pushed himself off the bed with his one free hoof and onto his hind legs.
Twilight stood by to catch him if he fell, but Hunter would steady himself as he shuffled, turning around to sit in the seat. Soon enough Hunter was facing away from the chair, and settled himself into the wooden seat.
“Thanks Doctor.” Twilight said, grabbing hold of the chair.
“No problem,” The doctor responded, turning to Rainbow Dash shortly after, “You'll be happy to know that you're free to go.”
Rainbow Dash made her blankets fly as she removed them from the bed and swung her legs over the side, not even stopping to stand on her hind legs before moving quickly to all fours.
“Feels good to get out of that bed.” Rainbow said, extending her wings and moving them around as she stretched.
Twilight giggled to herself and Hunter folded his forelegs in his lap, and looked down at them. His mane now hung down instead of sticking straight up, and it covered his eyes thoroughly. Hunter felt the hair tickle his nose and made a small gust with his mouth to remove it.
Doctor Stables held the door open as Twilight pushed the small chair out the doorway and as Rainbow left behind them. The brown stallion then went to work removing the balloons from his hospital room.
Rainbow ran ahead to open all the doors out of the hospital and then walked along side Hunter's chair.
Hunter shifted in the chair, trying to get comfortable, but the wooden seat was bugging him too much and he gave up, letting out a frustrated puff of air. Rainbow glanced over and, seeing that her friend was uncomfortable, flew off.
The gray alicorn glanced up and watched as Rainbow took a chunk off of a cloud, before flying back down to where Twilight was walking with Hunter in the chair.
“Here,” Rainbow held out the small cloud, “This should be more comfy.”
Hunter used his good foreleg to grab the cloud, and pushing off with his legs he managed to get it under his rump. As the alicorn sat down on the cloud, he relished in it's softness, having missed sitting on clouds.
“Thanks.” Hunter managed to get out before his sad self took over.
“You're welcome.” Rainbow replied, happy that Hunter had said anything at all for the favor.
The group was mostly silent for the rest of the trek into town, other than a few snippets of conversation between Rainbow and Twilight. As the three entered town Hunter noticed that there weren't many ponies walking around. Strange, considering it was almost midday.
“Where is everypony?” Hunter asked.
“The funeral.” Twilight replied simply, “Like I said, Jordan had no shortage of friends.”
Hunter shut his eyes and let his head fall, his chin touching his chest as he clenched his teeth.
“Hey!” Twilight heard from down the street, slightly off course from the path she was taking to the graveyard on the opposite side of town.
Both Sparkle and Dash turned to look at the source of the call, and Jason was down the road a small ways, waving his metal hoof in the air to beckon them over. The mares looked at each other and shrugged before Twilight turned the chair to lead it to the beige unicorn instead.
“So you got released from the hospital?” Jason asked, “That's a good sign.”
“So it would seem.” Hunter said, staring straight ahead through his blond hair.
“You too huh?” Jason looked towards Rainbow Dash with his eyebrows raised, “you aren't in a wheelchair though. Healed a lot faster did ya?”
“Oh yeah,” Rainbow said, “years of injuries must've taught me to regenerate at an amazing rate or something.”
Jason chuckled at this, before turning his attention back to the inhabitant of the wheelchair with a serious look.
Hunter stared back for a second before speaking up, “Leave us to talk please.”
“We have to be at the funeral.” Twilight insisted, “we don't have much time for-”
“Leave us to talk, Please.” Hunter said, emphasizing the word please.
Twilight sighed and dropped her hooves from the chair, leading Rainbow away from the two stallions back to the path they were walking originally.
“So?” Hunter asked, “You wanted to talk?”
“I did.” Jason said, “I just wanted to make sure everything was alright.”
“A little late for checking up don't you think?” Hunter said coldly.
“Better late than never?” Jason suggested.
“Not in this case,” Hunter put his hoof to the handles of the wheelchair, “no.”
“And what is that supposed to mean?” Jason asked, taking slight offense.
“You've got magic. An arsenal even. If you had been there when Jordan and I needed you, then maybe none of us would have had to die!” Hunter responded, the heat in the conversation rising.
“There was just...” Jason said coldly, pausing for a moment, “Just something that needed to be taken care of.”
“Well I'm sure Jordan understands that your errand was mighty important.” Hunter huffed.
“Listen! I'm sorry that I wasn't there, and I know that if I had been, things would have turned out differently, but I wasn't ok! The case of the matter is that I couldn't show up to this ordeal, I was busy!” Jason said, returning the heat.
“What ever happened to helping your friends out when they needed you?” Hunter asked.
“You never asked for my help! Did someone come looking for Jason? No! Did someone think, 'we should go find Jason so he can help out.' NO! I'm sorry I can't be there to watch over Ponyville 24/7 with you, when I have other important matters to take care of! Meanwhile you just sit around your house with your comfortable lifestyle waiting for the action to happen!” Jason was yelling now, almost loud enough for Twilight to make out, but she still couldn't hear the conversation.
“I thought you had it easy!” Hunter argued, “Living it up in my house with not a care in the world! Why wouldn't you be there to help out when we need you to? Or are you going out to tangle with shadows in the night again?”
“I'll have you know, they're more than simple shadows, they're the dead brought back to life by ponies who are trying their hardest to kill me. Now if self preservation isn't a good reason not to lounge about your house making cute faces at some mare, then I don't think it's worth sticking around you!” Jason shot back.
“So you're going to up and leave?! What about the things you owe me for my giving you safe harbor! Hell, you probably would have been fighting those things on the streets every night if I hadn't been there!” Hunter felt tears fill his eyes. Why was he crying? Hunter didn't care for Jason, not anymore, why did he seem sad to see him go?
“I thought you did things like that out of the kindness of your heart. If you're going to act like our relationship is some kind of slave trade, where I work for all the things you give me, then I think I should get out on my own.” Jason huffed, “Besides, I haven't exactly been staying at your house these past few days.”
“What's that mean?” Hunter asked.
“Zecora's been asking for my assistance, so she's been letting me stay in the Ever Free forest with her for a short while. Of course, I ask for nothing in return, but she offers to help me in my endeavors as well.” Jason explained. “So I feel that everything you've done for me has been paid off.”
“Do you now?” Hunter asked gruffly, almost unable to speak through his emotion.
“Yes I do and I think that if you weren't in such a bad attitude about what's happening, then you would see that too. I think it's a sign of your distress and you need help, you shouldn't be treating your friends this way, this isn't you. I've lost people throughout my life, I've seen fathers killed by their own nation, a nation that they put their trust in. I've seen families lost to a world's hatred, and even my own brother was lost to me. I'm haunted by the faces of hundreds of people that I've met and lost throughout my life, every night and every waking moment I see their faces, and I remember them, but do you see me throwing a tantrum because of every loss? No, because I've come to terms with it, I've learned to live with it. Heck I was even in your position sometimes, but I've found people that cared for me, that loved me, that helped me to get through the tough times. I had to search these people out of course, but you, you have it easy. You've got your friends already, you haven't lost many at all, but if you keep acting this way, you're bound to lose every single one of them. So I'm not about to stand here and be lectured by some kid who hasn't seen a bit of what death means. Out of respect for Jordan, I would think you'd have to decency to move on and live your life, but apparently that isn't the case.”
Hunter sat back in his chair. Tears fell down his face and he put his hoof up to point behind Jason.
“Go.”
“What?”
“Go I said!” Hunter yelled, his hair moving from his face and his eyes growing wide with anger, “I don't need your help! Not now, not anymore! It would have been good to have a while ago, but seeing as how you have your busy life to live I guess you should just get on with it!”
“You're blind Hunter! Can't you see that this petty grief is blinding you from what's really important!?” Jason asked.
“How many of those friends of yours did you kill?” Hunter asked, sitting back into his chair.
“How many did I kill?” Jason asked.
“How many of those people that you've seen die, how many did you kill with your own hooves? How many did you kill yourself, pulled the trigger, set them ablaze, how many...” Hunter paused to breath, “did you kill yourself.”
“Too many to count.” Jason responded immediately. “Always a causality of the battle or of the heat of the moment, nothing I could do would save them, and they were going to die anyways. There was never anything I could do.”
“Sure, collateral damage is one thing.” Hunter scoffed, “but did you kill them with your spell, was it your bomb?”
“Yes. Plenty of times was it my devices that ended the lives of the people around me. Not just my inability to save them from another's killing spree, but it was my killing spree.” Jason stood looking down at the ground, as Hunter continued to stare forward with angry eyes.
“Well then go ahead and leave.” Hunter replied, “Go ahead and just leave everyone behind. Abandon us once more to go live your sad life. I could care less about your struggles, just don't come crawling to me in need of help.”
Jason looked up sadly to see Hunter's furrowed brow and dark eyes staring at him.
“You won't find it from me.”
Jason sighed heavily, walking slowly toward Hunter before grabbing hold of the wheelchair's handles and turning the chair back around. After a couple moments of silence that couldn't be broken with the heaviest of hammers, Jason left the wheelchair in Twilight's care.
“Rainbow Dash.” Jason said simply, turning towards the cyan mare.
“Yeah?” The rainbow clad pegasus responded.
“Here I wanted to give you this.” Jason said, as Rythian popped his head out of the white and black scarf around his neck. The crocodile had a thin, square sheet of what looked like paper. Jason grabbed the object from his pet's mouth, and as Rythian retreated into the scarf, Jason held it up to reveal the photograph.
Rainbow looked at the familiar scene of Hunter leaning her over his knee and planting a big kiss right on her lips.
“Just a small reminder of who he really is.” Jason said, “hopefully he returns, because I doubt you'd want to date this prick.” Jason whispered, before walking off into the distance.
Hunter was turned away from Jason as he walked away, and was glad that he didn't have to see him go. Twilight watched with curious eyes as Jason walked out of town and Rainbow moved to stand beside her, putting something in her pocket.
“What was that about?” Twilight asked, slightly concerned, and curious now that she was the only one out of the loop.
“It was nothing Twilight, just a small memento.” Rainbow said quietly, moving ahead. “We should get going, I'm sure everypony's waiting for us by now.”
Twilight sighed that she wasn't going to get any answers about the heated conversation Hunter had just had with his friend and pushed the chair along the path towards the funeral.
As soon as the clearing of the graveyard had been reached, Hunter saw a sea of black. Where there would usually be a crowd of multiple colors and bright shades of each assaulting your eyes, there was only the one shade of black covering the field.
Hunter could still see the colors on the faces of the ponies, but black was dominant and he couldn't help but think sad thoughts.
The entire congregation watched as Hunter was wheeled to the center of the group, his hair over his eyes, and his cast still hanging near his chest. The ponies in front of him parted until he was at the front of the group, staring down at the tombstone that had been placed in Jordan's honor.
Twilight let go of the chair, leaving the gray alicorn to sit in front of the mocking gray slab, and walked up to a spot behind the slab.
“Thank you all for coming to honor Jordan, I know he was loved very much by the ponies of Ponyville, and I'm happy that so many of you have come to show your respect.” Twilight spoke, addressing the entire crowd. “I guess I'll leave the stand to allow Lapis Canvas to speak a few words.”
Twilight walked around the tombstone and sat by Hunter's chair, as the pink mare walked to the stone and her blue mane was done up in a ponytail, but Hunter could hardly see the blue as it was covered in the black of her veil.
The blond stallion took a daring glance up to see Lapis' face, and could hardly see the tears underneath the veil before he looked back down at his lap, eyes closed in sad frustration.
“For those who knew him, Jordan might not have always been the most reliable at times.” Lapis Canvas started, eliciting a few chuckles from the crowd. “But when it counted he always pulled through for his friends when they needed him. I know that when he died this was the case, that he was just doing what he felt was necessary for his friends.”
Lapis took a short pause to lift her veil slightly and wipe away the new tears under her eyes.
“Thanks for coming to say goodbye everypony, it means so much to me, and he would be honored to see so many show up to see him.”
The crowd murmured in quiet agreement, and Lapis left the back of the tombstone to take a seat next to Hunter's wheelchair as well. Twilight stood and addressed the crowd from next to Hunter and Canvas.
“We now invite you all to pay your respects at this time.”
At this the front of the crowd anxiously moved to form a line, and Twilight moved Hunter's chair so that he would be out of the way. The alicorn was placed to the side of the tombstone, facing the slab, but close enough that the ponies who were paying their respects to Jordan's grave could speak with him.
Hunter received many condolences from the line that had formed, but he didn't feel entitled to any of them. Soon enough the line had finished placing flowers or small trinkets of sentimental value on the grass in front of the stone, they gathered around the tables that had been set up to serve Applejack's catering, or branched off in groups of friends to talk.
A gray alicorn sat alone at the edge of the tombstone.
The doctor walked to the front of the gray slab, staring at the words inscribed on it as his sister sat to his side.
“Another sacrifice.” The doctor said solemnly, “He was so good on those drums too.”
Hunter lifted his head to look at the doctor. The green tie he usually wore was replaced by a black one, and his sister Derpy looked sad, her eyelids drooping as her crooked eyes looked on at the slab.
“I would ask you why you haven't just gone back in time to help,” Hunter said, “but I know that if you could have that we wouldn't be having this conversation right now.”
Doctor Whooves looked up at the alicorn sitting next to the grave, giving him a sad look, but a knowing grin.
“I'm sorry that I'm not able to change everything for the better, but I'm glad that's why you're here.” The brown stallion said.
“Me?” Hunter scoffed, “Why are you happy I'm here?”
“To make changes where I can't.” The Doctor explained, “If you hadn't been here, Ponyville might have been destroyed. Celestia might not have been able to save everypony here. If you think about it, Jordan's sacrifice was probably the best we could have hoped for.”
“I don't know about you.” Hunter shot, “but I don't hope for death.”
The doctor continued to look at the stone slab in front of him, before he read the words aloud. “Jordan Canvas, May his sacrifice live on in our hearts.”
Hunter thought it was interesting that there wasn't any sort of age indicator on the stone.
“Hey mister.” Derpy said, having walked up to Hunter and laid a hoof on his shoulder. Hunter looked up at her with sad eyes, wondering with earnest about what she was going to say to him.
“It's not your fault.”
How had she known that he blamed himself? How could she know that it wasn't his fault!? How could she be the one to judge whose fault it was!?
Hunter huffed and removed Derpy's hoof from his shoulder with his good hoof, looking back down at the ground.
“So everyone says.” Hunter said quietly, “but what do they know?”
Derpy backed off and sat back beside her brother, her eyes still filled with a knowing sadness.
“A great stallion once told me,” The Doctor said, turning to leave the graveyard, “To despise your friends, as you do your enemies is to have no friends at all.”
With that the Doctor swept past his sister, who with one more “goodbye Mister.” Stood up and followed her brother out of the graveyard into town.
The crowd eventually all left the graveyard as the food ran out, and all the goodbyes and such had been said. Soon, only Twilight and her friends were left on the site, clearing the small tents that had been placed as shade, and removing the tables that had just held all the food.
Hunter had managed to wheel himself in front of the grave, staring as the Doctor had at the words engraved on the stone.
Once the entire thing was cleaned up, Applejack sent Applebloom to help Big Mac move everything to their proper place, and Hunter was alone with the mane six. The six walked up alongside Hunter, and the alicorn glanced to either side to see them all looking at him and the tombstone.
“Well.” Rarity said, “That turned out well.”
“It sure did.” Applejack agreed.
“Hunter, you haven't said a word that I've heard since you got here.” Pinkie said concerned, “Are you alright?”
“I have told all of you where I'm from correct?” Hunter said.
Rarity spoke up, “I heard you weren't from here, but I assumed you were from somewhere like Manehattan or Baltimare.”
“I'm from farther away than that.” Hunter said, “I'm a human from earth.”
Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack all looked confused. Twilight told them all that she had gone to Canterlot the night of Pinkie's party to go to the human world to retrieve Hunter and that was why he had suddenly moved to Ponyville.
“So what is a human exactly?” Rarity asked.
“We can get to that later.” Twilight said, “Go on Hunter.”
Hunter repositioned himself in his chair to get comfortable again, and then continued, “I remember hearing stories back on Earth. Stories of great people always willing to build up another, always willing to sacrifice all they had so that another would rise above them. The happiness of others was all that mattered to them. Yet, their stories were almost always tragic in the end. Some would have their kindness taken advantage of, or some would end their own lives for seemingly no good reason. It was as if helping others was their downfall, as if, tossing their own problems aside, to run to the aid of others had finally caught up with them.”
Hunter paused and looked at the ponies sitting with him. Most of them had somber looks on their faces, and Applejack had removed her hat, and was now holding it to her chest.
“I heard of one boy in particular, who helped multiple people stay on their feet, he kept them from ending their lives, only to end his own. Maybe he felt he had fulfilled his role? Or maybe the burdens of others had finally been enough to make even the strongest of souls despair. Whatever the reason, this is not how things should be. Those who have taken us this far must not be forgotten, they will not be forgotten. The souls of the brave have passed on, but they must remain in the hearts of those that remain, so that they can continue to build us up. Despite their disappearance.”
The group stayed silent a moment longer before the alicorn spoke again.
“May his sacrifice live on in our hearts. What a true and relative statement that is, and one that I hope we can all hold true.”
“Amen.” Michael said from behind the group.
The group had all turned, and Hunter used his good hoof to turn the chair so that he could get a good look at the dragon behind him.
Michael and Trixie stood, dressed in black, by each other a few feet away from Hunter and the tombstone.
“Sorry I'm late Hunter.” Michael said, smiling up at him.
“I'm glad you came anyways.” Hunter said with a straight face. It was as close to not frowning as he could get.
Trixie walked up to the stone, passing by Hunter and dropped a blood red rose on the tomb, before walking back to give Hunter a hug.
“I'm sorry it had to be this way.”
“There's no need for you to apologize.”
Trixie backed up a little and smiled, moving behind the chair and moving it towards Michael. “We might as well get home now, no reason to stay much longer.”
Hunter did not protest as Trixie wheeled him along, the wheels of the chair making squeaks every time it bumped a rock in the path. Hunter motioned to Michael that he should sit in his lap, and after a small non-verbal protest the small dragon took a seat on Hunter's knees.
The alicorn grabbed his friend up in his good hoof and gave him a squeeze, pulling him close enough that he could cry over the dragon's shoulder.
Michael returned the awkward embrace and tried to comfort his friend.
“Well what are we to do now?” Rarity asked Twilight as the six watched Trixie take Hunter away.
“There's nothing more we can do for him then be a friend when he needs it.” Twilight sighed, “Other than that I guess we should just get back to doing what we do best.”
“And what's that?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Get on with our lives.”
><><
Hunter had stopped his crying halfway home, and now sat silent with Michael warming his lap. The morning that the funeral had taken place was a warm one, and Hunter relished in the cold breeze. Trixie had been walking them to the house at a good pace, and they were home within the hour.
Trixie managed to teleport all three of them, and the chair, up to the porch in one spell. Hunter would have been impressed if he weren't so depressed. Hunter didn't have a ramp on his house, but cloud's are easy to adjust, and Michael jumped off the chair to mold the steps into a slant.
Soon enough Hunter was back in his house, and Trixie moved the chair to Michael's room.
“Why are we going in here?” Hunter asked as the blue mare stopped the chair in the middle of the bedroom.
“Well, I can't exactly get you upstairs to your room yet, so you're going to stay in here until you can walk by yourself.” Trixie explained.
“Very well.” Hunter said.
The blond stallion worked his way out of the chair that Trixie had placed near the bed, and after a slight fall, he was laying on his back in the bed. The alicorn didn't say anything, but he was relieved to be back in a cloud bed.
“Is there anything we can get you?” Michael asked.
“Privacy.” Hunter said simply, “And a glass of water.”
“Alright.”
As soon as the door closed and Hunter was alone, the alicorn worked his way underneath Michael's blankets.
Michael returned with a mug and handed it to Hunter, who drank the contents in one swig, before handing it back to his dragon companion.
The black dragon had a look of deep concern on his face, and Hunter was suddenly frustrated.
“What is it?” Hunter asked gruffly.
“Nothing.” Michael sighed, before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.
Hunter kicked himself for sounding angry at Michael and laid back in the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
“May his sacrifice live on...” Hunter was unable to finish the sentence before he was back into tears, sobbing to himself and the ceiling.