Home Again

by drnkntst


Chapter 20

Chapter 46

Twilight wasn’t sure what to do. She was torn between facing down this threat and doing as Rick said and collecting her friends in order to banish this foul leech of a pony once and for all. She knew she could hold Chrysalis at bay for a while, but she was uncertain about Rick. Could she really leave him like this?

“Twilight, go! We need the elements!” Rick was yelling to get her attention. He desperately needed her to go and he needed her to go now. Chrysalis was starting to regain her composure and that was all bad. Rick had no direct experience with the Changeling Queen, but he heard the story of the royal wedding and how even Celestia couldn’t withstand her.

Rick could simply beat her to death while she was still dazed, but he just couldn’t bring himself to strike someone who was completely defenseless. He knew he should pound her into the dirt while he the chance and he wanted to, oh Celestia how he wanted to, but he couldn’t fight old habits of fair fighting.

Twilight had finally hoofed it to find her friends and Paul had been scared off by Rarity’s earlier tirade so that meant he could focus on the upcoming battle and put everything he had into it. He could only hope that he could last long enough for them to get back and pull his fat from the proverbial fire. He was scared for his life but he would do whatever it took to protect his family and friends even if it took everything.

As he watched her come back to her senses, he charged his horn up to its maximum. “That took some nerve. Not many ponies would be so eager to rush into their own demise.” Chrysalis’ horn started to glow too. It got brighter and brighter until it was almost painful to look at.

Another fist came flying in from under her black chin. Unfortunately, it didn’t connect. A bolt of magic arched around Chrysalis’ snout and the fist evaporated.

“That little trick worked once, but it will not happen again.”

Rick jumped back and galloped in a wide circle trying to flank his opponent. Ponies ran for safety, screaming in terror at the revealed monstrous queen. Chrysalis showed no effort to defend or even attack. She simply stood there and watched. Rick hoped her hubris could be an advantage for him.

As Chrysalis watched with all the enthusiasm of a pony forced to watch paint dry, he formed a force field bubble behind her. As the bubble stretched, he kept her attention by throwing punches left and right. The punches were doing no good, but he hadn’t expected them to. They were keeping her distracted, and that was all he cared about. His force field was almost done.

“Is this the best you can do?” Chrysalis asked incredulously, she was almost laughing at him. He would have to shut her up.

“I certainly hope not!” He looked up at the force field that had been stretched to a long, sharp, single point. A point he sincerely hoped to make clear to Chrysalis. It launched at her, picking up speed as it went. She turned her head and saw the incoming projectile. It was moving too fast to dodge so her only hope was to deflect it.

Sadly, she did just that… mostly. The large lance grazed her along her side. The laceration was long and obvious against her black fur. It didn’t do anything to stop her, it only served to infuriate her. The attack didn’t have to desired effect but he would take anything he could at this point.

“YOU DARE! YOU DARE TO SCRATCH MY COAT!” Her horn flared again and her eyes glowed brightly as her magic built to bursting.

“Hey, you started it!” It was the only thing that came to mind to say.

“I WILL DESTROY YOU!”

Chrysalis lunged at him with murder in her eyes. Rick dove and rolled trying to avoid her but she had a huge maneuverability advantage thanks to her wings and gaunt frame. She wasn’t able to stop and redirect her forward momentum, but she was able to turn enough to lash out and strike at him. Her powerful hoof struck him in his hip.

The blow coupled with his roll caused him to tumble out of control. The changed direction led him directly into the door of his truck that had been placed in the park in his memory when they thought he was dead. The irony of him doing battle with the one responsible for his death and subsequent reason for the park being created in his memory was lost on him right now. He might have been able to grasp it if he wasn’t fairly certain he spine had been shattered.

“Are we finished? Are you prepared to accept your fate or shall we continue?”

“You couldn’t stop me last time *cough* what makes you think you could this time?”

Chrysalis was standing over him laughing, she didn’t notice that, though he was immobile, his horn was glowing. “You must be in more pain than I thought. You think you can still win?” She laughed manically in his face. Again, too busy gloating to pay attention, right now, the pick-up truck Rick was leaning against was already four inches off the ground.

“I’m not trying to win, I’m *cough* trying to delay you.” A large catapult was under the truck and ready to launch.

“Clearly. Though you have provided me with some entertainment, I think it is now time to end this.” Her horn started to glow again.

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Rick let the catapult do its job. The truck flew through the air almost as fast as the earlier lance. Chrysalis couldn’t dodge it nor could she deflect the two and a half ton projectile. The sound of the vehicle colliding with her brought a huge toothy smile to his face.

“Ha! Take that, bitch!” He was tired but satisfied. His magic was all but depleted and he couldn’t move without there being extreme pain. He was all set to wallow in his victory and pain, but Fate is a cruel mistress.

Rick’s Chevy lifted up off the ground in a sickly green glow. “You have got to be friggin’ kidding me.” Chrysalis stood shakily on her hooves. She was covered in bruises and scratches and an expression of pure rage. The truck ripped in half above her head with no sign of effort on her part. “Now that was just uncalled for.”

“I was content to simply toy with you for a while, but now I shall ANHILATE YOU!!”

Chrysalis gathered her power and unleashed it upon him. Rick managed to get a shield raised and deflected the attack, most of the attack any way. A searing pain came from the top of his head, and the shield disappeared instantly. He reached up, expecting to find he had been scalped. Instead, he found nothing, not even his horn.

“Still here? Not for long!”

Rick wanted to get out of there. He wanted to dodge. He desperately wanted to raise his shield. Hell, he would have settled for simply cussing the bitch out. Instead, he slowly slipped from consciousness.

As his vision faded, he thought he could hear something that brought hope. Six somethings in fact. His hearing was fading, but he could still hear them and it made him smile. He could just manage to see them activate the Elements of Harmony in order to be rid of the wicked queen. His blurring vision allowed him to only see the glowing spectrum emanating from the Elements. The sound of her screaming brought another smile to his face.

Before he faded out, he could hear the voices of his friends. Fluttershy’s voice and face filled his world. “Rick, are you alri- oh, no. Rick, please stay with me.” Slowly, he raised a hoof and made a small ‘X’ over his heart and then pressed it to his eye before he slipped into blackness.

Chapter 47

Rick opened his eyes and heard a rhythmic beeping. His eyes roamed around the room trying to figure out where he was. He tried to take a deep breath and started to gag. He tried to pull the obstruction free but was stopped by a hoof gently holding his down.

“Now, now, you need that to breath. Besides, you don’t want to wake them up.” The white earth pony with pink hair quietly walked out of the room.

Rick looked around the room and saw the six ponies he considered family, Twilight and Applejack were resting on the bed. He also saw that he was heavily bandaged in different areas of his body. They say pain lets you know you’re alive and he believed that, but seeing these six ponies in his room made him happy he was.

“I see I made the right choice in making you the protector of these girls.” The gentle, warm and motherly voice of Celestia entered his world. All he could do was blink at her in greeting. “Twilight told me of you courageous act and I must say, for a unicorn with you limited magic level, you managed to last longer than I did against Chrysalis. Well done.”

Rick chuckled at the princesses kind word then cringed at the pain it brought. For just a split second, he hated her, than immediately loved her again. She didn’t have to come here to check on him. He looked back into her eyes with a questioning glance that she seemed to read easily.

“You wish to know how long you were out?” Rick nodded once slowly, the tubes in his mouth rattling a little against themselves. “It has been two days. Believe it or not, you were quite lucky. Not many ponies would have been able to survive a direct hit from that much magic and wake up in just two days, that is, if they managed to wake up at all. You really must be careful in the future, one memorial park is enough, don’t you think?” Again, he chuckled, winced and this time glared for good measure.

Another thought came to him. Rick raised his eyebrows in a look of concern then looked into Celestia’s eyes then back to the other ponies in the room. “Was anypony else hurt?” Another nod. “Thankfully, no. Though I am not happy you are injured by any stretch of the word, I am very proud of you. You were willing to sacrifice your own well-being, possibly your life, to allow Twilight and her friends to collect and use the Elements of Harmony. It was an incredibly brave and honorable act that I hope you never try to repeat. I do not like seeing my subjects suffer. Besides, it makes these girls cry whenever you are stuck in here and nopony wants that.” She grinned at him as she walked up next to the bed; she lowered her head and nuzzled his cheek very gently. “Thank you so very much for protecting them.” Rick gently returned the nuzzle and felt the warmth from her envelope him as tears slowly streaked down his face.

Rick felt a stirring along his side. Twilight opened her eyes and lifted her head. She looked around the room and lighted on her teacher and her love. A smile slowly spread across her face. “You’re awake. I’m so happy.” Rick slowly lifted the hoof nearest her and rubbed her cheek. As he looked into her eyes, he could tell, she had been crying a lot, he could also feel the love between them. He could only hope it was still there for the rest of them.

Movement from his other side told him he was about to find out. Applejack opened her eyes and looked up into his. “Rick! Ah’m so glad yur awake! Ah’m so, so sorry!” She launched herself onto his body and wrapped him in a hug and sobbed into his fur. It started with groaning and ignored pleading for his release but quickly escalated into audible creaking of bone.

“I think that is enough, Applejack,” Celestia gently pried Applejack off him with a smile on her face, “I’m sure Rick is very pleased to see you, but if you don’t go easy on him, he may never get out of this room.”

“Oh mah goodness, Ah’m doin’ it again. Rick, could yah ever fergive me for what I did ta you?”

He tried to conjure one of his magic hands, but found he couldn’t. He tried again, but got nothing. A slight look of frustration graced his face. As he tried again, the frustration turned to panic. His magic wasn’t working no matter what he tried to create. He looked to Twilight and Celestia nearly begging for help.

“Rick, it pains me to tell you this, but… your horn was… broken during the fight. There’s a chance that it might not grow back.” Twilight told him as tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m so sorry.” Again Rick rubbed her cheek and looked into her eyes to show he didn’t blame her and appreciated her feelings.

Celestia patted Twilight on her head, “Twilight, I’m sure everything will be fine and, Applejack, I’m certain he doesn’t blame you and I can all but guarantee he doesn't hate you. Am I correct, Rick?” He nodded and looked to AJ who crawled up and kissed him on the cheek with a smile. “I have also contacted Princess Cadence, her healing magic should be able to get Rick out of this bed and back on his hooves in no time.”

“But, couldn’t you try something, Princess?” Fluttershy, who had woken up unnoticed by the others, asked.

“Why do you think he woke up after only two days?” Celestia smiled at her. “Wait, what.” “My healing magic is decent, but Cadence’s healing skills are far superior to my own. Also, having Shining Armor here would put my mind at ease. No offense, Rick, but with you here, you can’t exactly perform your duties like this.” Celestia stepped back from the bed and turned to the door, “I really wish I could remain here longer, but I have duties I must attend to, like repairing a certain park.” She bowed her head, “farewell, my little ponies.”

The three awake mares said their goodbyes and Rick gave as much of a wave as could. After she left, Twilight, Applejack and Fluttershy climbed up onto the bed next to Rick and snuggled up as close as they dared and nuzzled him until he drifted back into the comfort of dreamland.