A/N: I know the tag ins't there, but the end of this chapter goes a little into dark territory,
with what Gray finds and what he does about it.
“Let her go, Private.” The two humans stayed still, the four ponies mirroring them. With a wave of his hand, the three guards backed away and closed the door, leaving Alec and Gray in the hospital room. The pegasus stepped forward, but Hollis just moved the scalpel closer to the mare's throat, making the stallion stop in his tracks. “Okay... how about putting that down for a start? You won't be harmed, I promise.”
“Like that means anything coming from you.” To Gray's immense surprise, Alec let loose a small chuckle, which turned into a full blown laugh. “I'm not joking. You're going to escort us to somewhere I can make contact with my country, and you're going to help me get back.”
“You want me to get you somewhere so you can contact the US, and then send you home?”
“I don't know how you know where I'm from, or why he isn't helping me,” Gray noted the glare being thrown in his direction, and leant back against the wall with his arms crossed. “But yeah, that's what you are going to do.”
“Fuck this, I'm going to bed.”
“Good, that's what I... wait, what?”
“I said 'I am going to bed'. Right now, I've had a bit to drink, my mare is spending the night alone, and I am not happy about that. You want to stand there all night? Go right ahead, I don't give a shit. Gray, you coming?”
“'Uh... yeah, sure. My room is on the way.” With that the pair walked out and shut the door behind them, where they had a muffled conversation with the guards. Hollis couldn't move. Not because he was worried, but confused as to what the hay just happened, not noticing that his hand with the scalpel had dropped.
“Okay, I'll just take that.” At least, not until the nurse took it from him and set it on the side. Taking his other hand from around her chest, she guided him over to the window, opening it up so he could get some fresh air. “Unless you're going to grow wings or a horn soon, the only way out is through that door.” Looking over the city and then below them, he saw that they were a couple of hundred feet above a castle courtyard, and he pulled away form the gap. “Now, get back in bed, you need your rest.”
Grateful that the she didn't hold his recent actions against him, Hollis climbed back into the bunk with a satisfied sigh. He may have had a tough training process, but it had been a long time since he had received a beating like that. The scent of something cooking drifted through the window, causing his stomach to rumble quite loudly. “When was the last time you ate?”
“Uh... how long have I been here?”
“A little over two days, as I understand it.”
“Then a little over two days it is.” The nurse got up with a smile, taking hold of his hand and squeezing gently.
“You just rest, I'll go get you something.”
Gray was in that muzzy state between drunk and tired. The annoying thing was he didn't feel the effects of either, but his judgement was impaired, which was why he decided to leave his room. Nonchalantly waving to the Lunar Guardspony, who regarded him with confusion, Gray didn't even know where he was going but he kept walking anyway.
Pushing through a large set of double doors, he entered the large room and walked up the dais, taking a seat on one of the thrones. It was strange that there were no guards following him, but his brain over wrote that thought as he spotted one of the wall rugs was hanging limp, a candle lit hallway behind it.
With a shrug he stood up and began to walk down the corridor, slowing as a voice drifted through the open door. “...oh you naughty mare. You are most definitely getting a spanking next time we're alone... You're doing this on purpose, aren't you, trying to distract me from... her?”
Gray wandered through the door, seeing Alec sat on the bench and looking through a telescope, which was pointed at the tower he was shown earlier. The pegasus stood with a sigh, walking over to a table where there were three glasses filled with an amber liquid. “Guess it's that time of year again, huh Sonata? Sometimes I wonder what things would be like if you were still... here. Anyway, it's time.”
The sound of another glass being placed by the others caused him to look round, finding Gray standing there, a weak smile on his face. Alec wordlessly poured a measure of the amber spirit into it, then looked at a clock standing over the fireplace. Letting his gaze drift around the room, Gray's eyes settled on an old, faded calendar. After a closer look, he realised what was happening.
The clocking began to chime midnight, and he joined the pegasus on the balcony. Once the chiming finished, they both raised their glasses and looked out over the city, Gray taking the lead. “Happy Birthday, Sonata.”
“Happy Birthday, my love.” With that they took their drinks, and Gray was about to leave the stallion in peace, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. “Could you... do me a favour?”
“Sure.” Picking up the other glasses, Alec handed one to Gray and pushed his out over the waterfall. “What are you doing?”
“A drink for Sonata, and a drink for Dawn, that's why one is a smaller measure.” He understood then, and wordlessly extended his arm as well. They both tipped the glasses at the same time, the liquid flowing out and mixing with the cascading water. “Thanks Gray... it was... nice to share this with someone, even if you didn't know her.”
“Any time for someone I'd like to call a... friend.” That caused an awkward moment between the males, before Gray changed the subject and walked over to the telescope. “So, what were you looking at?”
“Huh? No, wait, don't...” it was too late, Gray had put his eye to the eyepiece, letting the picture come into focus. There was light, which unblurred to show a window, just as Luna walked over and stopped, looking in his direction... in her underwear. And then her arms began to move from their crossed chest position, one going behind her head whilst the other slowly travelled lower...
…Gray jumped back with heat in his cheeks, worried about what was going to happen, but relaxing when he heard a chuckle. “Don't worry, she thinks it's me. Now, I've got my serious stuff sorted out, how about some fun?”
“What did you have in mind?”
“A bowl of water and Celestia's hand.”
“Let's do it!” The two snickering males left the room, Alec resetting the wall rug once they reached the throne room. He guided Gray into the kitchen where he selected a bowl, and then slipped on some gloves and picked up a bunch of blue flowers. “What's with the plants?”
“Thought we might pay a visit to Blueblood as well. This is something called Poison Joke...”
The two guards in the corridor outside Celestia's chambers tensed as they heard footsteps come from around the corner, but relaxed when they saw who it was. There was a second pony behind them, a mare with the most luscious flowing mane, reaching right down to her supple... “Stop staring at me, I'm a bucking stallion!”
Upon looking at her face, they noted some similarities to Prince Blueblood, and saw the blue flowers sticking out of Alec's pocket. They all shuddered as the temporary mare strode past and towards his bedchambers. “Uh, what are you doing?”
Celestia's door had been opened, and Alec just smirked at the guards, closing the doors on them. Inside the room was a sound that the pair had a hard time not laughing at. Celestia was snoring. And not the dainty type of snoring you'd expect, but the kind when a stallion comes back after a heavy night of drinking. “Well, I'm in enough trouble as it is. You can do this one.”
“Wait, what?” Gray was passed the bowl of water before he could protest, Alec backing away to the door. Very carefully, he sat on the edge of the bed and placed the bowl next to Celestia. He was just about to grab her hand when she rolled over, knocking the bowl to the floor. The sound of the impact upon the stone floor caused her to crack open an eye, which stared at Gray. “Uh... hi?”
Her arms shot up, causing him to fear for his life, but he grew even more scared as she pulled him into a lying position, snuggling up against his side. The sound of snickering came from the door, where Alec had produced a camera. There were three or four flashes, and then the door was opened. “Dude... don't leave me here... please?”
“Er... no. Have a good sleep, Gray... you're going to need it when she wakes up...” The door clicked shut, bringing total darkness to the room. The long day finally caught up, and he stretched as he yawned. Slipping out of Celestia's grip, he stood next to the bed and removed his shoes, socks, jacket and shirt. He was about to remove his trousers, but remembered it wasn't his bed.
Upon returning to the bed, he found Celestia had lifted the covers, awaiting him. With a shrug of his shoulders, he climbed in and lay on his back, letting her get comfortable in the crook of his shoulder. She rolled over onto her front, straddling one of his legs. Meaning to bring an arm around her back, he instead placed it on her flank. He tried to work out how he had miscalculated so badly, but his brain was dominated by one single thought. There was no fabric, and he was in bed with Celestia... naked.
The slamming open of the door caused Celestia and Gray to jump awake, looking over to see Luna stride in, her face furious. “WHERE IS HE?” Turns out furious was an understatement, she was pissed. “TELL ME NOW, WHERE HAVE YOU SENT HIM?”
“Luna... be calm. Who is missing?”
“Don't act like you don't know!” A scroll was thrown onto the bed, Celestia quickly reading it, then setting it aside and floating a robe over to the bed, climbing out to the side.
“Excuse me, Gray, I have something to discuss. I will return shortly. Luna... let's go into the hall.” After the mares left, he picked up the parchment, eyes going wide at what he saw.
Luna,
Had to go away for a while.
Don't know when... or if I'll be back.
There are some things I need to take
care of, for some closure.
See you around... or not.
Well, that explained why she was so pissed. Getting out of bed, Gray quickly dressed and picked up the parchment, then walked to the door, where he caught the tail end of their conversation. “...so you didn't tell him to leave?”
“No Luna. In fact, he escorted Gray here last night. They were both giggling up a storm for some reason.” He pushed the door open all the way, causing the mares to cease their talk and look round. “Is there something we can do for you?”
“Uh... I think so. Where did he live with Sonata and Dawn?” The shock was clear on the princesses faces, the guards, and on Fair Heart when she walked around the corner as he said those names. “He... told me last night.” With a wave of nod of her head, Celestia silently bid Luna goodbye, and the Lunar diarch left the corridor. Gray was then ushered back into the bedroom, Celestia slamming the door shut and covering it with magic. “Did I say something wrong?”
“It is a soundproofing spell, nothing more. What did he tell you?”
“Pretty much everything.”
“So you know today is...”
“Yeah... we shared a drink for her before coming here last night. I think that's where he's gone.”
“They lived in Cloudsdale, a pegasus town in the Ponyville district.” Gray remembered his conversations with Celestia the day before and recalled the other mares he had met lived in Ponyville, with Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash coming from Cloudsdale. “I will send a friend of his down there, see if he is about.”
“Um... Sonata and Dawn, I know what happened to them... but did you find... their bodies?”
“I am afraid not, and Chrysalis will not divulge that information.” The door swung open and Luna came back in, a large case in her hand. Celestia recognised it, but she didn't want to believe it. “Luna, what is that?”
“It should be Alec's spellgun.”
“Should be?” She opened the case to find it empty, the spare magical cores being taken as well. The only thing in it was a note stating it would be returning soon. “I do not like this. Gray, you seemed to have befriended him. I have a favour to ask of you.”
“Uh... sure.”
“Excellent. I shall arrange an escort for you. It would usually be a cheerful visit, but I fear it will not be.”
“What would?”
“Going to Ponyville properly for the first time.”
PFC Hollis sat on one of the chairs in the centre of the room. He waited patiently whilst his shackles were removed, the guards lining the walls aiming their weapons at him. Once his escorts had backed far enough away, the others lowered their guns but kept their fingers on the triggers, the one's who had horns had them glowing. The door opened and the purple one from before entered, followed by the nurse.
They sat down on the chairs opposite him, the purple one opening a file up, then looked at him. “Hello again, Private. I don't know if you remember, but my name is Twilight Sparkle. Now, I think we got off on the wrong foot last time, and what Alec did... anyway, enough about that. What do you want?”
He had to blink at her a few times, as this was the first time they had actually asked. “I... would just like to go home. I don't know what kind of drugs I took for this, but I don't want it any more.”
“Oh, no drugs, you really are on another world.”
“Well... shit. Err... how are those... three?”
“Ah, that. It seems they found some of your gear in the barn at Sweet Apple Acres. That's the farm by the way. Do you recognise one of these?” She produced a small green spherical object, one that he easily recognised.
“Did anyone get hurt?”
“Only if you count the barn wall. I have been researching how to send you home, and think I have a way to do it. It'll take me a couple of days to finalise my calculations, and in the meantime you have been placed into the care of Nurse Openheart. You can move around the castle freely with her, but will have two guards as escorts at all times. This is not negotiable. Do you accept these terms?”
“Yes ma'am.” Twilight then smiled at him, passing the folder to the other mare and standing, heading towards the door. She stopped with her hand on the frame and turned back to the centre of the room.
“Oh, and one more thing. Welcome to Equestria, Private.” Some of the guards filed out behind her, and Hollis noticed that they had a purple star emblazoned on the shoulder parts of their armour, leaving him with two others, one with a sun and one with a crescent moon, and the mare.
“Well then Mr Hollis, shall we start the tour of Canterlot Castle?”
“That sounds... nice. And please just call me Dean.”
“Dean... that's a nice name. You may call me Joy.” The pair smiled at each other whilst the guards just rolled their eyes. What had they done to get dicked for babysitting duty they didn't know, but they certainly weren't going to do it again!
Ponyville was a nice, quiet town. Well, discounting the almost annual disasters that occurred there it was quiet. So when something they had never seen before, they reacted in the traditional Ponyville way. There were two of them. If somepony level headed saw a new comer first, they would approach and greet them. If, however, one of three certain over reactive mares saw them, it resulted in mass panic.
Gray face palmed as a crème coloured on with a maroon shaded mane saw him first. “A MONSTER!! EVERYPONY RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!” The two guards behind him snickered, having seen this reaction multiple times. Within thirty seconds the streets were emptied, and a blue blur shot down, her back to the trio.
“Where's this monster? I'll buck it good!” She looked around, and waved to the group. “Hey Gray, you seen a monster around her... oh, this is good! They think you are a monster!” She dropped the the ground, rolling around with rib busting laughter.
“Laugh it up, Skittles.” This caused the guards to burst out with laughter as the pegasus mare got up and glared at the human, who just shrugged her off. “Anyway, I need to find Alec. You seen him around?”
“Uh... yeah. I don't think you should go there right now...”
“Why?”
“Drunk stallion with a spell gun on what would have been his deceased wife's twenty fifth birthday. Sure you wanna go see him?”
“I've got to, it's a favour for Celestia.”
“Heh, wonder what favour she'll do for you in return. Anyways, you're looking for a small two storey cabin near Whitetail Woods, over that way. Just don't uh... use the front door. He's probably booby trapped it again.”
“Again?”
“To keep Pinkie Pie out. Every door, every window, even the chimney. So one day she just put down a chair and waited for them to come out. She overwhelmed Son... somepony that he cared for.”
“It's okay Ms Dash, he has told me.” Gray noted the way her cheeks turned slightly red when he called her Ms Dash, and she flew away grumbling something. A door to the group's side cracked open slightly, one of the younger ponies stepping out. She looked around and then slowly made her way over, tugging on Gray's sleeve, and he looked down with a smile. “Hello there, how can I help you?”
“Are you really a monster?”
“No, I'm what's known as a human, and as far as I am aware, there are only two of us on your world.”
“Oh, you must be very lonely. Would you like to come in for a muffin? My mommy makes them."
“Dinky!” A pegasus mare shot out and scooped the filly into her arms, baking away from Gray. “Please... forgive her, she didn't do anything wrong! Punish me if you are going to punish anypony!”
“Punish? I'm not going to do anything of the sort. I'm actually here on business for Celestia.” The mare's eyes seemed to drift apart, only one remaining focused on him. “I don't suppose you have seen Alec recently?”
“Oh... I made him some muffins! He loves blueberry ones! Can you deliver them to him for me?” Not giving him a chance to answer, the mare shot back into the house and returned with two large bags, which she passed over. “Is that okay? You're on your way over, and I promised my muffin that we'd go out for the day.”
“Yeah sure, I can take them. See you around...?”
“I'm Derpy, Derpy Hooves, and this is Dinky.”
“I'm Gray.” The trio smiled to each other and separated, the other ponies having come back out of hiding and watching with interest. Gray and the guards turned to the direction Dash had indicated, and after about twenty minutes came across their destination. “Okay... how do we get in?”
The repetitive sound of a stallion snoring drew them around the back, where they found their quarry sleeping in a chair on the rear decking, facing away from them and out onto the open fields beyond. The two guards backed away whilst Gray shook Alec, trying to get him to wake up. The empty bottle of spirits on the wooden floor panel proved it would take a while.
Giving up, he looked at the stack of papers on the table, and gave them a look over. There was a map of known changeling hives, three of which had crosses through them. Gray correctly surmised that they had been destroyed. There was a single sheet of paper on it's own, and he picked it up, eyes going wide and turning to hide it from the guards, all because of it's title.
Changeling hives: Still no sign of any bodies.
My hunt continues.
Gray realised what the note meant when it said 'take care of some things'. Looking back to the map, he noted that one was quite close, near a town called Appleloosa. They were set out in a grid like fashion, equal distance apart from the next one. If they hadn't found any bodies at any of the hives, it stood to reason that they placed them somewhere else. Eight hives, in three rows. The only place equidistant from all three was... right in the middle.
Another paper was in the pegasus' lap, and Gray leant over and saw Alec had come to the same conclusion. He glanced around and saw his escorts had left him alone. He took one look at the spell gun and spare cores, then made his mind up.
Alec stood munching on his muffins, the two Solar Guards almost wetting themselves as he stared at them. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were bouncing around him happily, as the stallion had informed them about the device they found, and explained the other similar objects they discovered. He also may not have given them suggestions to use them against Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, but the jury was still out on that. “So... you were supposed to be watching the human... and now he's gone?”
“Uh... yes sir.”
“With my gun.”
“That is correct, sir.”
“Dude, Celestia is not going to like this. So we just have to hope he comes back.” They had been waiting almost all afternoon after searching Ponyville in the morning, until Pinkie mentioned he left on the train somewhere without even visiting her. So when a whistle sounded from the tracks, all three jumped up and ran towards the station. They got there just as Gray stepped off, and Alec marched right up to him. “Where have you been?”
“Doing you a favour.” He motioned the trio to follow, leading them to the baggage compartment. Gray picked up the spell gun first, passing it to the guards, as well as two empty magic cores. It was then they noticed the splatters of green blood on the bottom of his grey slacks. He ignored their raised eyebrows and turned back inside, emerging with a small wrapped package. One of the station attendants appeared with a large package, both of them approaching the pegasus stallion, who went to open the smaller one first.
“Before you do that... there is something you should know. There is a mass grave exactly where you thought it was, must have been a good two hundred skeletons there. I couldn't identify any of them... except two. They were... preserved in some way... and strung up, as a warning of some sort.”
Alec unwrapped the highest part of the package, keeping his eyes locked with Gray's. He then looked down, lip starting to quiver as he stared at the face of his five year old daughter. He wrapped the package up, and then took the other one from the attendant, remaining silent. Gray and the guards followed as he walked away, and two hours later found themselves on a plateau in the mountains, overlooking Ponyville from high up.
It was here that anypony could see evidence of the two freshly dug graves, flowers placed upon them. Gray approached Alec as he stood looking out to the sky and towards a large cluster of clouds. He placed a hand on the pegasus stallion's shoulder, who responded with a sigh. “This place has many memories with Sonata. It was where we went for our first date. Heh heh, I was fumbling around so much, and all she did was giggle at me, flustering me even more.”
“It's a nice place.”
“Yeah... it's also where I proposed after that day... and night. Of course, she accepted. I guess it's appropriate that my relationship with her finally ends here. And Dawn can rest with her mother.”
“I'm sure they'll be happy, being here together. I'm also sure Celestia can arrange some sort of memorial to be placed here.”
“Got them already, on the off chance I found them. They're stashed in our... my house. But I gotta ask... did you attack the changelings?”
“Well, they didn't want me to take their... trophies. Nice gun by the way. And I think I've started an interplanetary war with them now.”
“Heh, I'm pretty sure that if more humans got here, or they made it to Earth, it would be a one sided fight. You'd just nuke them.” The four males chuckled at that, the guard with two spellguns passing the custom one back to the pegasus.
“Yeah, we probably would. They'd starve anyway, there seems to be more hate on our world than love when I last took a look at everything going on. Anyways, we'd best get you back to Canterlot, although we may have to do it covertly.”
“Why's that?”
“Luna was pissed about your note.”
“Well... buck.” The two guards burst out with laughing, but soon shut up as Alec glared at them. “Fine, let's go. Oh, and you'd best say hello to Pinkie Pie before we leave, it's creepy when you ignore her.”