[ So AnonyMouse my editor pointed out a song to me and I thought it was a great comparison- Figured I'd share it!

Chapter 8: Party of the Century

It was little trouble to go back to Ponyville and get the two dogs. Thought I heard something in a trash can stir when I moved the bodies but figured it to be a rat. Most important matter was getting rid of the bodies. They were beginning to stink. On the edge of town I made two shallow graves and unceremoniously tossed the two imbeciles in. Covered them in leaves and debris, looked like small landfills of compost.

The hour was nearly up when I finished but I didn't care to go to the party yet. There would still be time; I'd already made another commitment to adhere to. I went around Ponyville back into the Everfree Forest to see Zecora. It took time to get used to her strange use of rhymes and for her to understand my blunt way of speaking but I admit the encounter was pleasant. I told her where my cave lay as I helped her clean; she said she was happy to finally have a neighbor. Related to her my experiences with the animals in the forest, surprisingly she seemed passive over my tale of killing the wolves. It seemed she too had trouble with timber wolves when first settling down; she was not a helpless pony who knew nothing of danger. She said loud noises, especially pots and pans clanging together, did well to scare them off. Upon mentioning my hunt for the remaining Timber Wolves she regretfully told me she knew not how to help. The regret in her voice, being unable to help, was a pleasant change from playing niceties.

Was good to have another soul to talk to who knew the forest well; felt like I wasn’t alone in the struggle of survival instead of the peaceful utopia I was led to believe from the unicorn’s books. A fleeting thought of two princesses crossed my mind. I had a theory that I thought of asking the zebra but thought better of it. She wouldn’t understand.

Our talk put things into perspective. This zebra was willing to brave the dangers of the forest to not only scratch out an existence but prosper. She had little to no comforts; she was close to nature yet held on to her culture like any other self-respecting sentient creature. She wasn’t soft, not like other ponies. The ponies in town were ignorant to what dangers lay in the cursed forest, safe in well-lit comfortable homes where luxuries become their necessities. Soft little things that demand their everyday luxury of sweets and feathered beds. They didn’t know what it was like to survive, to be forced to the gutter and wallow in the filth to only barely survive, just barely finding the comforts of staying out of the cold rain or finding foods with enough grease and lard to stave hunger away for just a few hours more.

We traded knowledge of local flora, marked down spots where aloe vera grew and new ways for it to be used; she gave me information on foreign plants that would be of use to me. She expressed interest in the timber wolf bones for herbal medicine, promised to bring it for her as I had little better use for them. In exchange for the company she gave me several salves to help stave off infection in my injuries and checked my sprained wrist for any serious damage. I told her she didn’t need to, yet she insisted she wanted to. Assured now by the witch doctor that my wrist was fine I reluctantly left, now with a new sense of respect for my fellow survivor of this mystical forest.

Pinnacles of innocence, love and affection, and all it cost them was their self-sufficiency. Couldn’t even rely upon the day to turn to night, they had their monarchs to thank for that. Communists would find this perfect for them. Ultimate control of populace and dependence on singular leadership. I could accuse this Princess of the Sun of such a thing, for being a tyrant that wore the mask of benevolence. After all you can’t look into the Sun for long without being forced to turn away. I wouldn't insinuate that, not yet. Another theory was brewing, more worrying than that.

Shovel in hand I walk the forest path, contemplating even showing up for this party. The very word tastes foul in my mouth. I was not in the most pleasant of moods to be tolerating soft little creatures with the naivete of five-year-olds. My mind went to murky places, muttering dark things that I did not think innocence would deserve. No innocence though, only different kinds of guilt. These creatures, these ‘ponies’, may not look like humans, they may be painted in bright colors and pleasant demeanors, but they held emotions that were human. In essence they were human, and that was enough to regard them with distrust. Humans could not be trusted. Broken. Sinful. Perverted. Human emotions brought with them its depravities. Anger, greed, lust, jealousy, prejudice, and pride. If I looked through the cracks I will see that they are no different than the people I protected. The people I protected from themselves. Soft things lost in the belief of their own innocence. My thoughts grow darker the more I contemplate it.

I hadn’t noticed before but a growing pain in my temples had begun to grow into a buzzing. The same mind wrenching sound that had brought me to my knees before.

It screeched into my thoughts. I felt as though my frontal lobe was about to explode. I drop the shovel and my hands go to my temple, attempting to grip away the pain. My eyes are forced shut from the buzzing behind them; my ears were ready to break as it grew in volume. I hear behind the buzzing the whispers again. I hear them clearer now, like recalling memories that the mind tries to forget. My skull seemed ready to crack, my mind splitting in half. I fall forth and hit the ground with a loud thud.

The sound grows in volume and I feel blood drip from ears and my fast beating heart stung like poison.

The whispers grew stronger, angrier. And from beyond that whispering I hear a voice that was not my own. A voice too baritone and sickly sweet, yet the words were all too familiar as they spoke over the torturous crescendo of the sound.

With those final, punctuate words the sound died down to a dull hum and finally disappeared. I was left on the ground, still clutching my bleeding ears. I couldn’t process any thought, the ache in my head was too much to keep one line of thought for longer than a fleeting second. All I can hear is the sounds of the forest and my terrorized heart.

My eyes felt dilated. The light that split through the tries felt all too bright, their rays gave me no warmth. I steadied my breathing and my mind became my own again, free from the torturous influence. I begin to think this was no natural thing that plagued me.

The second half of a single complete phrase that encompassed my creed: Men go to prison, dogs get put down.

Flashes of Diamond Dogs, brutalized and broken, appear again in my mind as if they were right in front of me. The killings at the boutique, stuffed in a chest that was left bloody. Two dogs gnawing on a bone with child’s shoe limply attached to it. I should feel hate, I should feel my comforting rage and bloodlust. Instead I feel a small inkling of dread creep into my thoughts. It was as if someone had turned my own words against me.

I feel a silent anger build in me now at that thought. Nothing should be able to affect a man's mind like that. Nothing except madness. Not even that could ever shake my resolve, my convictions. The urge to maim something builds; the blissful memory of strangling the diamond dog comes to mind.

And it is all slapped away by the echo of a voice, leagues different from the one that tormented me moments ago.

My anger quells. I’m left with a hollow silence beyond the ringing in my ear. I pick myself up and brush away the leaves that clung to my coat. I grasp the wooden handle of the shovel again, shakily. I tried to be calm but I felt the unease still clinging to my mind like a parasite to vein. My instincts were screaming that something wasn’t right. But what leads did I have to follow? What unholy power could break into someone's mind? Not even Dr. Manhattan could do such a thing. The thought of magic came to mind then; this place had a science too foreign for me to understand yet. Telekinesis was par for the course here; who could tell but that some magic-wielding prick had busted into my psyche?

I think back to the purple unicorn, the librarian. Annoying little thing that refused to stop asking its insolent questions. She knew magic and how it worked. Her library was a source of endless information that could point in the direction I needed. And to top it off I knew where she would be. In a barn attending a party that I was expected to be at. I had previously thought to return the shovel and be on my way but it seemed I had another reason to attend.

I sighed again and hefted the dirty shovel over my shoulder. I absently touch at the scabbed over blood that caked the sides of my head, chipping it away into a fine red dust that smelled heavily of copper. At least being partially deaf would make the party quieter. Intuition told me the pink pony’s definition of a ‘few guests’ was vastly different from my own. I could only expect the worst.

Walking the sun tainted path up to Sweet Apple acres I felt a small comfort in baking in the scathing warm rays in the air. New York was cold; always it felt cold to me. A nice change to feel genuine warmth, even if it felt slightly uncomfortable. On either side of me beyond simple wooden fences were rows upon rows of Apple trees. Each one seemed almost heat shaped in their appearance and were the same height. The orange pony must have already harvested the apples for the trees were mostly barren of their fruit besides the bruised apple that lay on the ground around the trees.

Didn’t last long when I found my mind return to the subject of my mind being invaded, it agonized me that I had no possible leads to follow without consulting Twilight Sparkle (I inwardly cringe again at the awful name). Wouldn’t be able to use normal method of getting information out of her, honestly would rather not resort to that. Another thought crosses my mind. How old were these ponies? They acted naïve, young. Personality wise I saw little difference between them and the three fillies that I seem to keep running into. With the exception of Applejack, she at least had a maturity that was better than barely tolerable.

I finally reach the farm’s gated entrance and begin my walk up to the homely farmhouse in the distance and the barn next to it. It was like looking at a child’s picture book again. Even sounds were that of a classic red barn house. I could hear chickens and cows in the background. I wonder if this was what it was like on a farm in the countryside in America. I find it hard to believe anything so idealistic could exist in my world though. Also doubted cows were led to slaughter, ponies didn’t seem the type to enjoy steak.

Made a mental note to catch that hog another day. I might not be able to have steak but ham was just as good.

Stepping up the path I found myself at the gated fence that led into the farm’s yard. Even now I can hear the sounds of music and excited talking from the barn house. Perhaps if I’m lucky they hadn’t even noticed my absence. Never took much stock in luck but one had the right to hope and be disappointed.

I lift open the lock on the gate and step in. The gate drags against the ground on a well-travelled curve as I pass by it. I look up to push it back into place and I see something red out of the corner of my eye. Coming across the dirt yard of was another pony, much larger than the others I’ve seen, with a red coat and messy sand-colored mane. He wore a yoke about his neck and on its back rested loose reigns, likely for plowing the fields. The very image of a work horse. Had to admit it was much more imposing than any other pony I'd met. That still did not go very far to impress me but it was a step up.

He stops in front of me as I close and lock the gate. With the shovel over my shoulder I turn to look. It chewed on a stock of wheat and regarded me with about the same mild interest. It then spoke slowly, deliberately, and I realize it was male, “You Rorschach?”

He spoke the word with some difficulty, the word foreign to his usual vocabulary I assume. I nod.

“Big Macintosh, Big Mac fur short. Applejack’s elder brother.” He replied with even more bluntness.

I had the sudden realization I should have known who this was from my absent listening to Applejack’s stories about her family. One of her favorite subjects seemed to be competitions she had with her big brother, a supposedly strong and hard-working stallion. It seemed he knew who I was as well. That explained why he took my appearance like he was regarding a fascinating insect that had landed before his eyes.

“Nnope. Ain't mah thing.” He replied. Now was sure I enjoyed this stallion’s presence.

He nods and for a moment we regard each other through stares before he gestures with a flick of his head towards the barn, “Pinkie Pie’s been telling me point ya to the barn when you arrived. She seemed mighty upset you weren’t here yet.”

“Not surprised. Had garbage to get rid of before coming.” I tell him. He joins me as I walked slowly, hesitantly even, towards the barn.

I nod and hand him the shovel. He takes it in his hoof (somehow…) and slides it into the yoke so that it stayed in place; he didn’t seem to mind the mud (very glad shovel did not touch the bodies). We stop in front of the slightly open barn door and I can hear the laughter and talking inside. For a while we find ourselves just listening in like strangers outside the window of a party, neither wishing to join or walk away from. I can’t tell how many might be in there beyond the music and echoes of conversations. I grumble and look to Big Mac for support. He smirks at my misfortune and doesn’t say anything. He gives me another nod in farewell and turns away from me, walking around the barn side to its other side. I give him my own departing nod.

I give one final sigh and shove my hands into my pockets, with my foot I move the barn door open.

The music still plays but the conversations go quiet as I cast my shadow into the barn. I mentally groaned as my eyes quickly scanned and counted the number of occupants. Twenty. Recognize the six ponies, the three foals that I keep encountering, plus another mint colored pony who I had run into before (her grin seemed unnaturally large). Was expecting worse but twenty still felt unbearable. They stare at me with their unnaturally large and bright eyes, some in wonder, others in recognition, and finally those who still had apprehension in their eyes.

The stares were broken quickly by the Pink pony jumping up over the crowd and exclaiming, “Yay you’re finally here!” She somehow navigated the crowd in three leaps and stood in front of me. She kept jumping up to be at eye level with me as she spoke, “I almost thought you weren’t going to be coming to my party!”

“Well come on in and join the party! There’s a bunch of ponies I want you to meet!” Before I can react she’s got my arm and is dragging me along with a surprising strength. Letting go of my arm, she gestures to the crowd and calls out names. The ones I already knew: Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity. The three fillies, or as they called themselves, the ‘Cutie Mark Crusaders’ (I have no idea what to say to this besides nodding my head). Quickly she lists off the others, and I can’t keep up with them all. I don’t care much to know anyway.

She places a hoof to her chin and looks quizzically around, muttering something about someone missing. She walks around the crowds who have gone back to their conversations and I find myself following next to her. The only other pony to keep focused on me was the strange mint one that walked close behind me, too close for comfort. I try my best to ignore her as we walk by a tall stack of hay blocks when Pinkie speaks to herself, “Now where in the barn is Rainbow Dash?”

As if on cue a war cry from above is heard. The three of us look up to see a cyan body plunge down towards us, a trail of rainbow behind it. Most specifically it was charging at me in like a dive bomber. The mint unicorn and Pinkie Pie duck out of the way leaving me standing there to face the cyan bullet.

I quickly grab out one of the blocks of hay and hold it in front of me as a shield. “Woah!” The cyan bomber cries out and tries to stop her descent. She surprisingly slows down quickly in a short amount of time but not fast enough to stop herself from colliding with the hay block with still an impressive speed.

I find myself face to face with my attacker when her head burst through the hay with the rest of her body minus her back legs stuck in the hay. I tilt my head in surprise; never been attacked like that before. Like the rest of the ponies this one had a bright pastel coat but her mane and tail were an unruly explosion of colors.

She pouted at me and scowls, “Dang it, I was hoping to catch you by surprise, see how tough everypony thinks you are!”

“I'm not the one stuck in a hay bale,” I scowl back and place the block of hay back on the pile, albeit with her upside down now.

“Hey, get me out of this thing!” She cried out, trying to struggle to get free of her makeshift prison. Behind me I hear ponies laughing, Pinkie Pie especially was rolling on the ground in laughter. Already was getting tired of this party. Stepping upon a block of hay I sat down on the second row of the pyramid of hay blocks. It was comfortable and had a good view of the party, just in case any other ponies decided they wanted to attack me. Even if the attack had the seriousness of being attacked with feathers.

“Don’t just stand there! One of you help me get out!” Rainbow Dash cried, still frantically trying to work her way free of the stuff.

Applejack walked over, wiping a tear of laughter from her eye with the side of her hoof, “Well’n it serves you right for tryin’ to get the jump on our guest here. I’ll get you out just as long as you don’t go trying that stunt again, Rainbow.”

“Fine, just get me out, AJ. This stuff is really itchy,” Rainbow sighed in defeat with a roll of her eyes. Still laughing, Applejack went around the hay block and started pulling on the cyan pony’s back legs. The hay collapsed into itself as the pony was freed and I see now she is a Pegasus. That explained the speed she came at me with. The first thing she does is glare at me like a child in a fit before walking off.

Applejack shakes her head and approaches me, smiling, “Sorry about that, Rainbow Dash wasn’t looking to hurt you or anything. She’s just competitive is all.”

She should be glad I didn’t regard her as a threat. Being trapped in hay would be the least of her concerns. I grunt and look around. Applejack notices my unease and continues, “Trust me, this is a small party for Pinkie Pie. I am glad you’re here though, so ta’ thank ya Granny Smith made you some more apple pie… oh, wait one second.”

She rushes off to a concession stand of sweets and returns with a pie in a few seconds. She places it in my side and smiles. This pony was beginning to understand how to get on my good side. “Thank you,” I say and return to watching the party and ignoring the music.

“Aw, don’t mention it. I’m gonna go talk to Rainbow real quick. You’ll probably sit there and mope but knowin’ these ponies you’ll probably be getting most of them to see you. Just… try to be nice, okay?”

“Mhm.” I say. Thought about mentioning the need to speak to Twilight Sparkle, but knowing her, after just one encounter I think she is more likely to come to me before the party was over. For now I would just have to tolerate these other ponies.

The party went on and I thought my presence would be forgotten but I was left with constant reminders that it wasn’t so. Instead I found myself in a staring contest with the three fillies, the Cutie Mark Crusaders. At first they had bombarded me with a litany of prepared questions about everything about me. My stare was the only answer I gave them and despite this they didn’t deter away from. The three of them just sat in front of me on the hay at my feet, staring at the black blots on my face.

A short period of arguing would ensue until my face shifted again and formed a new shape and the process would start again with different ideas of what the blots formed.

To add upon their annoyance the mint pony has done nothing but stare at me this entire time. I thought the Pink pony was disturbing but this one brought a whole new level of eeriness to me. She seemed especially interested in looking at my hands and following them every time they moved. She didn’t ask me any questions; she simply sat there next to me smiling widely with a twinkle in her eye, watching my every move. It made me shift uneasily in my seat on the hay.

After a while Pinkie Pie and Rarity wandered over. Pinkie Pie joined in with the three fillies to discuss what they saw in my face, she came up with the weirdest, most obscure exclamations that made even me wonder how she saw what she did. Rarity was more inclined to ask about my face again.

“So tell me dear, how did you ever come up with that intricate design? I mean no offense but your sense of fashion is... well, not very good," she says. I’m inclined to agree.

Turning away from the four ponies in front of me (glad to no longer be looking at them) I look at her and shook my head. I take of my hat and set it at my side, the mint pony watching my fingers carefully. I then answer her, “Not my design. Merely made it. Original was dress idea but didn’t work out. Took it and made my own with modifications.”

“My word, you must be quite skilled to make something like this!” she said in awe.

Never thought that I was that good as clothes maker, was not the best but didn't do a bad job either. Manageable describes it best. I shrug. “Simple work when you know what you’re doing.”

“So where are you from anyway?” An accusing voice asks from above me. I and Rarity turn to look up on the next stack of hay where the voice came from. Rainbow Dash was looking at me with suspicion, hadn’t even known she was there until she spoke.

I figure to give her my vague answer but think differently. The foals asked me the same questions moments ago so perhaps it would good to give a better answer, “Far off city, in a far off country.”

Far enough that requires dying to get there. “Far enough where it wouldn’t be on any map,” I say. By now the party was beginning to die down with most of the confections gone. Applejack and Twilight had been saying good bye to the last guest, a stallion with an hourglass on his flank. I noticed because he had taken several tentative glances at me during the party. Now only the nine ponies remained and upon hearing my voice Twilight and Applejack walked over to listen in to what I was saying. Even the weak Fluttershy sat on the hay nearby listening.

“Oh dear,” Rarity said, “That must be very far away then. But why come here to Ponyville?”

At this Twilight speaks, “You mentioned that in the forest when I first saw you. You said you couldn’t go back either.”

The ponies look to her and then to me, I nod in confirmation and she asks the question I know that has been on her mind, “Why?”

“I refused to compromise,” I state, causing the ponies to look at me curiously, “Was asked to keep a malicious lie to ensure peace. I refused, so they sent me far enough away that I could never go back.”

Applejack spoke her mind next, “Wait. Keep the peace? There some kind of trouble where you come from?”

To their surprise and even my own I smirk hoarsely. Why not humor them, teach them the folly of man? “You are ruled by two princesses, pair of powerful magic users who can shape the environment, right?”

“Right, Princess Celestia raises the sun and Princess Luna brings out the night and the moon,” Twilight responds.

Again Twilight Sparkle nods, “just recently they began ruling together again, and things have been peaceful ever since.”

By now they were even more curious at what I was saying, I continue, “My world is split into halves by two great powers. One was just and right, allowed freedom and justice. The other was tyrannical and amoral, a blight that was obsessed with industry and power. One time they were allies to bring down a great evil. Once the evil was put down there was no one else left to fight; so they turned on one another.”

I had a rapt audience now, they sat before me attentively listening, “Humans aggressive, but scared things. When we feel threatened we turn to others to join us and when they do not we regard them as another threat to fight. This jealousy, this hatred these two powers had for each other grew so strong it engulfed the entire world. But they were too afraid of their own power to come to blows."

I wave a hand, "Fists don't do enough damage, so we started making weapons. It started simple with sticks and stones but as time went on our entire existence became an arms race against ourselves. Our weapons grew more deadly. Humans don’t have magic; relied on science and ingenuity to progress. Eventually we created a weapon that could destroy the entire world and everything on it. We grew fearful of our own power."

Twilight was taking this the worst, she shivered in fear and said quietly, “Why would anypony build a weapon that can destroy their own world?”

“There wasn't just one. When we figured out we could turn the world to a cinder we built more of them. Thousands of them, poised to obliterate everything at a moment’s notice.” I say flatly.

Every one of the ponies went quiet, even Pinkie Pie seemed to get serious at these implications.

“So who had these weapons?” The question to my surprise came from Applebloom.

“Both sides,” I say, “both scared the other would use their own. When I left, world was on the brink of annihilation.”

“But something happened to make peace between the two… right?” Rainbow Dash tentatively asked.

“Based on a lie. Based on fear,” I snarled. They go quiet again. At least they understood now. Perhaps they would now stop asking questions. Looking at their eyes though I might have said too much, though I do not understand why, it was not their world that was ending. They had no reason to be upset for a thing that happened so far away in a place they’ve never heard of. Peculiar things.

“So what did you do in all of this, I mean what is there left to do when you have… well that happening around you?” the orange Pegasus, Scootaloo asked.

“No way! You were a super hero? What’s your super power?” Pinkie asked excitedly.

“Don’t have one. Was just one of the few willing to stand up for justice.” I tell her.

Twilight seemed to catch on to changing the subject and pressed on, “So you must have some stories to tell then? I mean being a Vigilante? Saving people and fighting villains?”

Couldn’t help but smirk. This was a topic I was happier to give. A time that I was proud of and good times I had dispensing justice. And so into the night I told them stories. I left out my beginnings but told them the highlights of my career. I told them about first fighting criminals and about bringing down the Underboss. I told them then about Nite Owl and our partnership. The fight we brought to bring justice to the streets of our city and our adventures.

I left out our unhappy ending, I stopped when the moon began to rise into the sky.

The three foals had fallen asleep on the hay at my feet, Applejack took them to the farmhouse to tuck them in. The others left with their farewells and I tried to leave as quickly as I could. I found myself though walking with Fluttershy and Twilight. Twilight did not surprise me but the yellow Pegasus was a surprise. I had not seen her reactions during my recounting but knew she had been listening intently. The shy, weak thing was unreadable by being too timid. Reminded me too much of her confrontation days before and the link to my past.

Both I and Twilight turn towards the timid Pegasus. This was the first time she said anything to me and when I looked to her she shied away and tried to hide behind her mane. I look ahead. Her shyness irked me. “No, I don’t.”

“What made you lose hope? The way you put it you make it sound like humans are hopeless.” Twilight says, finally saying humans correctly.

“Never had any hope in people. Immoral. Selfish. Don't concern yourself on their behalf. They had their chance, and blew it.”

“You’re talking in the past tense, but humans aren’t gone are they?” She asks.

For a while I don’t answer. We reach the gate out of Sweet Apple Acres and I can see both of them are still waiting for me to say something. They stop at the gate and watch as I walk away into the night.

Twilight’s mind was abuzz with thoughts of the night. It was longest she ever heard the human speak and though she didn’t get a chance to answer any of her questions the stories he told were information enough. She felt disheartened that he came from such a world in pain but strangely wasn’t bothered by it. It was foreign for her and more importantly it was something that she didn’t understand.

She had only taken a mere glance at a foreign culture and she wasn’t sure what to think of it.

She did draw parallels though. Was his reality so different to what could have been? What could of happen if Princess Celestia and Princess Luna fought? It had happened before with Nightmare Moon, but without the elements of harmony at Celestia’s side what could have happened? She shook those thoughts from her mind. She was going into a dangerous realm of speculation where nothing had any clear answers.

She said her goodbyes to Fluttershy and with a tired mind walked back to her home. She opened the door expecting a sleeping Spike. Instead she found one that was desperately trying to stay awake. “Twilight, where have you been? I’ve been waiting probably all night for you!” He said, stifling a yawn.

Twilight had been walking by the dragon towards the stairs when she jumped at the mention of letter. She turned around. Wide awake she looked at the rolled parchment in the dragon’s hand, “The Princess? Why didn’t you tell me she had written to me!”

Before the dragon could answer the parchment was ripped from his hand by the unicorn’s magic. Breaking the seal the unicorn hurriedly read the letter:

Dear Twilight,
Do not speak to this human anymore. Stay away from him and don’t listen to anything he says. I will be there in the morning to explain everything. Keep yourself and your friends away from this dangerous creature. Please stay safe, I will be there soon.
Sincerely,
Princess Celestia

[I.....am an awful scatterbrain..... although I can think of a number of reasons why!

Rorschach in Equestria

by Ex-Nihilos

(8) Party of the Century