Cole was in his house, staring at the blueish-gray wall thinking. He glanced around the room out of pure habit and found nothing of interest. A sigh left his mouth and he laid back on the couch. He had things to do today and boy, were they going to be problems. Firstly, Fluttershy required some medicinal and behavioral help with some fussy animals. Next, Rarity wants to make him clothes to prepare for fancy events. Then, Pinkie needs help with some simple things. Finally, Rainbow has lone thunder clouds to be taken care of. He thought of which one should he help first. He decided to get the boring first then get the fun later. He stood up and headed towards Rarity's. Once he arrived to the Carousel Boutique, he made his way inside. As he opened the door, a small bell rung alerting current the store owner, Rarity.
"Just a minute." A elegant voice spoke to him. He waited for a minute and the she came out. "Cole! There you are. Ready?" She hovered a few needles and cloth next to her.
"Yeah." He sighed and stood up. They headed into the workroom and Rarity did her work, making clothes. About a hour later, he was released from the store and he went to Pinkie's for baking. All she wanted was a assistant to help her fetch things, Cole was able to do that with ease. Pinkie urged him to try and make something but that he refused. After getting flour all over his clothes, Pinkie sent him off and he went to Fluttershy's. Of course, at first hesitant to say anything, she warmed up to him after he helped heavily. After that, he finally went to Rainbow. "Rainbow! I'm here." She came downstairs, shortly.
"There you are. Time to get to work, follow me." She led him to the stray lightning clouds after that and he absorbed them. He was back to full energy after that. After at least, ten clouds were drained, he was done with today. He sat on a cloud, staring at the soon to be setting sun. It looked as if it was at least five o' clock. "So, that is that. My slate is done today. Applejack only has me when they really need me and that wasn't today." He explained to the hovering pegasus.
"Alright then. That leaves the rest of the day to yourself." She smirked.
"Yep. So, Rainbow. If I'm here, got anything to do? Something... interesting?" He sighed.
"Nope, sadly. I wish that there was but honestly, Equestria isn't that exciting." She huffed and laid on the cloud he was on. He laid down and stared at the pitch blue sky staring back it him. As he stared, he felt peace and any form of negativity wash away and be forgotten.
"That's okay. Being here, does things for me. I protect it and it gives my what I always wanted-" He turned his head towards her. "-acceptance."
"Ugh, you're so corny." She smirked and he playfully punched her in the foreleg.
"Hey, I'm not that original so get off my shizzle." He replied.
"What?"
"Nothing." He chuckled and looked back at the sky, as he stared he saw something in the distance nearing. They were black and there was thousands of them. "Rainbow. We got company. Lots of company." He nodded his head towards the black storm and her jaw dropped at the sight. As they headed to Twilight's panic already spread.
"Changelings. C'mon! We gotta get Twilight and then the Princesses!" She jumped off the cloud and he followed with. She didn't use the door, she fucking used the window and slammed through it as Cole kicked the door open.
"Changelings are attacking!" Was all Cole said before Rainbow could say it. Twilight's horn glowed and began writing for help. "Us two will take care of the infantry. Rainbow, get your shit and let's go!" He ran off, heading towards the clouds. She followed suit. He hopped on the clouds and aimed his right hand and let his electricity surge to his arms, giving them a icy blue coloration. Rainbow prepared herself and her wings as they neared. She charged as Cole unleashed a healthy serving of kick-ass starting with the main course of Ionic Storm, clearing out the beginnings of the army. The soldiers came after heaving in thicker chitin. Cole gave them their side of Ionic Vortex, bringing them together and blowing them away far.
"Want more, you pests?!" Cole showed them their delicious deserts of Grenades, Rockets and Hefty Amounts of Bolts and that ended the soldiers and left their knights, wearing a thick combination of thick gelatin, steel and hide from something. He smiled darkly once he found the shiniest part of the armor, knowing that was the metal. He unleashed more attacks in the form of more bolts, specifically Pincers sending the knights down. Cole smiled at the defeat of the army, laughing at their defeat. He saw one get up and rear it's leg and throw it forward. He scoffed and turned around, staring at the sun. As he stared, he heard Rainbow say his name and he turned around to be impaled by something.
A spear rammed into the middle of his chest, the sternum, just narrowly avoiding his heart and instead, getting the lower part of his esophagus. He fell off the cloud, ramming straight into the ground. He felt his bones rattle at the fall and writhed in pain as he felt blood began to pile up in his mouth. Rainbow and Twilight arrived as his vision darkened and blurred unto he lost consciousness. He heard faint screaming and distant calls as he entered state of unconsciousness.
More screaming and calling echoed as he felt himself being pushed along something, most likely a gurney. He felt himself fade and shrivel away. As he felt death nearing, he saw memories of his childhood, his teenage years and his times with Zeke. It all brought him to the realization that this might be where he dies. Where this trilogy stops and Equestria remembers him for whatever he was known for.
He thought then and there, would he be hero to them? Yes, he would. And that drove him to pull himself from death and run away. He felt the warmth of light follow him and went straight into the darkness, feeling pain ache through his body. He knew this as gaining his life back. The light sped up as he slowed down because of the pain, he felt tempted to give up there but he said, No, and pushed himself towards the impending darkness. He then saw a door with a pure golden doorknob appear in his vision.
He ran up to it and pulled it open as he felt everything come back to him. His eyes slowly opened and Cole found himself in a hospital, with the Six in chairs, deeply asleep. The look on their saddened faces and Pinkie's flat mane told him that he'd been out for sometime. He wearily looked to the left and saw a clock on the wall, he squinted his eyes to see it. It was currently five in the morning and through the window across his right side, the sun began to peek over. The dark sky swapped into a violet, cerise and he heard birds already tweeting happily outside. He looked at the ceiling and let himself fade into sleep.
Hours later, he woke up to see nobody in. He felt less tired but he still felt the large scar across his stomach. His chest ached at the thought and he clutched it lightly as not to irritate the wound. He heard knocking appear from the door.
"Come in." He heard gasps outside the door and saw the Elements walk in, eyes tearing up. He smiled and sighed and opened his arms wide. "Bring it in." He was hugged by them and felt his lungs squish. "I... still... need... air.." They released their grip and felt O2 enter his lungs again.
"Cole, we thought we would lose you. You used up so much energy that we didn't think you'd get up for longer or even... live." Twilight stated.
"Humans and Conduits are hard to get rid of. I know from experience." He chuckled but stopped as his chest ached. "Damn, that hurt. That changeling got a lucky shot on me. It turned the damn thing invisible and he got me. I let my pride get in the way of the strength and it cost me, this." He sighed.
"Dude, you're alive. That's what matters." Rainbow stated. He smiled more.
"Yeah, Cole-y Wole-y! Just being alive makes me happy! It should for you, too!" Pinkie added, causing his smile to enlarge.
"You guys are right. I know now, that I should be happy to be even alive. After this, when I get out, I'm going to value every second of my life. Twilight, you know how you write letters?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I want to write one. Celestia should be happy to see this. And so should Luna."
In Canterlot, Celestia had received word of Cole severe injury and was awaiting the response to it. But first, a letter. The letter was sealed a icy blue brace. Celestia touched it and felt contained lightning inside a magical brace. She released the brace and lightning sparked about, giving off a small light show. After it finished, she began reading.
Dear Celestia...
I was once a Conduit of Evil, only caring for power and myself. I used people and bet on their lives to get farther in
life. Coming to Equestria has fully explained to me that was the wrong ways of doing things. I now fully realize my responsibilities as being a Conduit. My powers are to be used for the ways of good to provide justice and freedom from any likes of evil. I know that I must value my life and everypony's else as I have found out from experience that any day, it could end...
Sincerely, Cole MacGrath.
She smiled warmly upon reading the paper and the letter felt as if Cole finally knew the importance of being a hero. She noticed a extra part below.
P.S
This was really corny.
She chuckled at his words and placed the letter in her chest containing every letter that Twilight has sent to her. Each holds sentimental value and this one was no different. She stared off into the sun, knowing that finally he had found some peace in this world so unlike his.