As we were walking, applejack staid on my right side to help me when I needed it as before, rainbow dash didn’t stay as close, she decided that she wanted to fly around but she kept watch. Applebloom hung close to my left side and kept an eye on me from there.
I didn’t think about much as I was walking, I was more focused on taking my next step more than anything. Even though bloom and applejack and the rest of them were all helping me, it was still extremely hard to walk. I was so exhausted and my mussels were on fire, every step was a nightmare of pain. I had to resort back to my leaning technique, which was almost as slow as before.
I was trying to hide the fact on how much pain I was really in from bloom, but it became obvious to her when I tripped and fell a couple times and applejack had to cetch me, and some loud grunts of pain could be heard.
Every time I fell she would worry and panicked, but she’d also be the first by my side cheering me to my feet. Applebloom and applejack were the only things really keeping me going at that point. There wasn’t much talking, but I overhear fluttershy talking with pinkie saying how hard it is to watch me walk, I don’t blame them, in fact I envy them. and it was like that all the way to ponyville...
When we got to ponyville my tank was running extremely close to empty, she was a bit hesitant to but Bloom had already left with the other crusades, sweetie and scoots left sugarcube corner to meet her half way. When we ran into them they all left to do some crusading.
As we were walking through the town I noticed I was getting a lot concerning looks, but this time it was different. They didn’t seem concerned about me being different but it look like they were worried about my physical condition. Miss Cheerilee actually came up and asked if I was alright, Twilight spoke for me though and said that I just needed to get to the library and get some rest, she took her word for it.
We were about fifteen feet away from Twilight’s house, when my tank finally hit empty. My legs gave out underneath me and I collapsed, this time though applejack wasn’t able to catch me and I fell straight to the ground. It was like I blacked out but I was still aware of everything around me, it was weird.
They all panicked and formed a circle around me and started routing me on. I could hear their voices but my ears were ringing like bells. I felt disoriented.
Twilight: Jonathan are you ok? Can you get up...?
Pinkie pie: Come on jonathan you can’t give up now, were so close...
Rarity: Come on darling, lying in the dirt is simply revolting...
Rainbow dash: Don’t give out on us now Jon, get up...
Fluttershy: um... are you ok...?
Applejack: Jonathan, ah now yer in alot of pain, but ya need ta get up. Come on, Push...!
I heard and retained all their words and opened my eyes, I lifted my right arm and started pushing; they all started cheering me on even more. Applejack and Dash got on either side of me and pushed, Pinkie stayed behind me to catch me if I fell backwards, and with one final push they got me to my feet once again.
Twilight ran ahead and opened the door. “Come on, let’s get him inside. he needs his rest.” she said with caring eyes.
Breathing almost nonexistent, I slowly made my way to the front door. Applejack and Dash walked on either side of me to provide support, I wouldn’t have come this far without them.
When we got inside I stepped off to the right of the door and leaned up against the wall to catch my breath. Spike was just coming from the kitchen. “Hey guys good to see you found-..." he paused when he saw me struggling to even stand, he also eyed the bandage wrap. "Uhhh is he alright?” he asked
Twilight shook her head. “Not really spike, there was a run in with some timberwolves and one bit his shoulder, I guess he’ll be fine but he’s just exhausted and sore.” she explained
Although he didn’t seem to know what she was talking about, but then again it happened late so he probably wasn’t awake, she probably just said that something happened and left without saying any details. “What? What Happened?” he asked with a conceded eye.
“All tell you later... Also what time is it?” she asked him
“I think it’s about eleven fifteen...” he replied. I was a bit surprised; we actually made somewhat decent time, even with me.
She nodded. “Good, then there still some time before the princess gets here. We can all wait here, in the main time... Rainbow?” she waited Intel she had blue peguses's attention. “Can you guide jonathan upstairs to my spare bed? he needs to rest.” she asked her politely
She nodded, taking this matter seriously. “No problem Twi.” she said
She walked over to me and we started making our way over and up the staircase, I staid leaning up against the wall to support myself, dash stayed of my left to make sure I wouldn’t fall off, the door was already open when we got to the top.
She had her wing’s open to help steady me as she helped me over to the bed, the bed was just under were Twilights was. When I got up to it I didn’t really have the type of energy to let myself down slowly ,so when I got to the side I just fell in. I didn’t have any energy to lift my legs up, but thankfully somehow managed to swing on to the bed. Even though I was in so much pain I was so happy to be lying in a bed, my mussels could finally have a break.
When I lied down Rainbow dash started walking away. “Thanks dash...” I said softly to her in a appreciative tone
She turned and smiled proudly at me. “Hey no problem Jon, thank you for saving my best friend.” she said. I smiled back nodded lightly; “Taken it easy tiger, get some rest.” She said then left to go down stairs to be with the others.
I didn’t really sleep while I was laying there, I was expecting to fall asleep instantly but instead I just lied there and rested, let my body get back and regenerate some. I will never take for granted of how much a thirty minute-some rest can really do for you ever again. I could hear them all talking in the main room, it was mainly twilight just filling spike in on everything that happened, with some help from Applejack of course, and I lied there and listened.
After a while I heard Twilights tone change, if I heard her correctly she said that Princess Celestia had arrived, then I heard the front door open. I don’t know why but I felt like I had to make a good presentation for the princess, I felt determined to make an appearance. So I forced myself to sit up and stand, and started walking towards the door.
Despite my pain, I had a lot more energy than I did before; I wasn’t dragging my feet near as bad, but walking was still difficult, but also in a different way. My body had already felt what it was like to take a brake and wasn’t willing to give it up without a fight, but I forced myself to.
As I got closer, I could hear Princess Celestia’s firm yet gentle voice. I heard her ask where I was, Twilight replied and said I was up stairs resting and she had asked Rainbow dash to come get me.
The door was open and I stepped out to the staircase. “I don’t think that will be necessary Twilight...” I said as I started making my way down. “I may be tired and wounded but I’m not crippled...” I didn’t turn to them as I spoke, although I could see that they were all starring at my through the corner of my eye, I think I caught them off guard. I was more focused on walking down the stairs then anything.
But as I was just above half way down I missed stepped and fell. I was able to catch myself but since I was holding my wound I caught myself with my left arm. the pain in my shoulder skyrocketed, but I restrained from screaming in front of Celestia, I just grit my teeth and prayed for it to go away.
I noticed a drop of blood making its way down my arm from my shoulder, so that’s the kind of pressure that Zecora was talking about, I tore open my wound. I didn’t know how to get up, I couldn’t push up with my left arm, that was a bad idea in itself, and I didn’t want to let go with my right hand because I didn’t want it to bleed more.
“Scratch that, Dash I need help...” I said
Without word she flew up beside me. “Come on big guy.” she said. She started pushing me up from my right side, since I had a bit of energy it didn’t take as much before she got me back to my feet, she held her wing open to help support me and walked by my side Intel the bottom.
“Thank you dash...” I said to her once we got to the bottom, she smiled and nodded, and walked back to the others.
I continued walking forward, with my head hung and stopped when I saw pure white hooves. I lifted my head slowly and looked into the face of the Alicorn Princess with a rainbow mane flowing without a breeze, who was staring at me with a concerned and a judging eye. I smiled and got down to one knee and kneeled to her, keeping my right elbow on my knee and my left arm dangling.
It remained quiet for a couple seconds. Looking back on that it was a bit more dramatic then I would have ever wanted, but I can’t change that now. Then she spoke. “I appreciate your respected towards me, but please have a seat before you hurt yourself.” she said in a concerned and gentle tone.
I stood up slowly, still smiling and nodded lightly, I turned from her and walked back to the others and I sat on the ground just to the left of them and started to take off my shirt. I knew my wound was open so the bandage wrap would need to me changed and the shirt was just getting in the way.
When it was off I sat it on the ground next to me and looked over at twilight. “Twilight do you have any gauze? I need to change mine.” I asked
She nodded. “Yes it’s in the kitchen, all go get it.” she said and walked away.
I undid the clip and started unraveling it carefully, they others moved in closer to get a better look. When it was off I sat the bloody wrap on my knee, there was a sharp pain in my shoulder from the air hitting they open wound. Some sounds of disgust were heard from everyone in the room but I didn’t think much of it.
But it was doing very well, the two smaller ones were fine they were almost completely healed, but the bigger one was still raw and bone was slightly visible three flesh, but thankfully it wasn’t infected, that stuff zecora put on it really helped.
Twilight was quick to come back with the gauze, I lifted my arm slowly and reached for it but she pulled it back. “Jonathan, you barely have any energy. Let me do it...” she said
She sounded a bit irritated by me wanting to do it by myself, but that was just me. I was always by myself back at home; I never really had anyone else. I was still trying to get use to that, but it was nice to know that, that wasn’t needed anymore. I smiled warmly and nodded. “Thank you...” I said lowering my hand.
“Actually...” Twilight posed and turned to fluttershy. “Fluttershy, could you do it? You have a gentler touch when it comes to thing like this.” she asked
Fluttershy quivered, she didn't seem to like they idea. “umm... me?” she asked
“Yes, can you do it?” Twilight asked again
Fluttershy was a bit hesitant to answer; she looked over at me, I didn’t say anything I just starred at her. She took a deep breath and nodded lightly. “ok...” she said nervously
With my right arm, propped my left arm up so it would be easier to get around it, Twilight passed her the bandage wrap and she walked over behind me and got to work. Twilight took the old wrap and through it in the garbage.
As she was working, I was looking over at Princess Celestia’s mane and tail; that was something that I always wondered about, it flowed like their was a breeze but yet there’s nothing. But I tried not to stare too much and risk her noticing.
Princess Celestia stepped up to us. “What happened to your shoulder?” She asked curiously
“I-...” I was just about to tell her but applejack cut me off before I could. “What he did Princess Celestia, is he saved me and m’ah little sister applebloom from a pack of timberwolves. Neither of us would of been here if it weren’t fer him...” she stated
The Princess seemed rather shocked by this. “Is this true?” she asked looking to me
I closed my mouth and nodded, fluttershy was just finishing wrapping my shoulder. “ahhh... that’s not to tight I hope...?” she asked, putting the clip back on to hold it all together.
I don’t think I would of even known when she was done if she hadn’t said anything, Twilight was right she did have a soft touch. She also did a great job, it wasn’t too tight and it wasn’t to loss that it fall off, and it was comfortable to. I appreciated it a lot. “No its fine fluttershy... Thank you...” I said smiling warmly to her
She smiled lightly back. “um... you’re welcome.” she said walking back over to Dashes side
I grabbed my shirt and started putting it back on carefully, when it was back on Celestia asked another question. “Though I admire your courage, you could have been killed. why did you do it?” she asked,picking up the here she left off.
I didn’t really know how to answer her; I looked from her and to applejack and starred deeply into her bright green eyes, and it all became clear. “Because that’s just what family does Princess Celestia... we stick and look out for one another, and protected each other despite what harm might come to are self’s, because we love one another...
Sure I got bit on the shoulder; I would rather that, and knowing that they got away safely, then me running and something might have happened to them... or worse, because that’s just what we do...” I finished smiling lovingly to Applejack
It got quiet again, I didn’t really care that I called them family; they were just as much as family to me than anyone else, I felt like I belonged more with them then I do back home. I wish I could have heard it from Applejacks mouth but I’m not going to force it, weather they feel the same way or not, that’s not going to change how I feel about them. I'll always consider them my family...
Applejack didn’t say anything, she was stuck giving me the same expression back., her eyes were watery with liquid pride but no tears were shed. I guess she felt the same way.
I noticed the Princess looking to me and applejack out of the corner of my eye, but neither of us looked away from one another. Celestia chuckled lightly. “That’s a fine answer indeed; I can tell you two really care for each other, despite your obvious differences. Even though you two are from separate worlds, you love one another like family, that’s something special and speaks volumes.” When she said that me and applejack both looked at her and smiled, but I couldn’t help but from staring at her main and tail again, but this time she noticed.
“Is something wrong?” Celestia asked
I shook my head and looked to her; I guess I couldn’t hide that anymore so I might as well ask. “Sorry Princess it’s just... your mane and tail, they flow like there’s a breeze but there isn’t.” I said confused by the fact.
Celestia chuckled at my curiosity. “My mane and tail do flow, that is true, but not by wind, but with life. I’ve been alive for many many years, my mane and tail have been this way ever since I was a filly, and will keep doing that for the rest of my days.” she ended with a smile
I smiled and nodded, that answered that question. I was glad that the princess wasn’t offended by my asking. But she wanted to start get things moving. “But we can’t avoid the reason that I’m here any longer... Twilight?” she waited Intel she her attention before continuing. “What were you able to find on the lone element of harmony?” she asked her student
Twilight stepped forward and cleared her throat. “Well Princess, I ran some tests on Jonathan’s element of honesty and did a comparison with Applejacks. But besides visual appearance I couldn’t find any real differences, other than ones eligible to either one of them.” she said
I started trying to figure out what she meant, but I just wanted to make sure I was following correctly. “So, what you’re saying is that even though me and Applejack are both Elements of Honesty, she can’t use mine because that one is entitled to me, and I can’t use her’s because it’s entitled to her?” I asked
“Precisely...” Twilight confirmed. “And also whenever they get close to one another they start glowing and it’s almost like there drown to each other.” she said
“Like... magnetic?” I suggested
“Yeah very similar, I tried letting them touch but nothing happened. There just drown to each other, and they effect only happens when there close to each other so I don’t think it has anything to do with you being here. But where you came from or how you got here, I wasn’t able to find anything on, I have ideas but there’s nothing to confirm them in my books.” she said
Princess Celestia stepped forward. “I might be able to help with that... I had read a book in my personal library that talked about another world. But I suspected it to be nothing more the just some pony myth.” she said
I chuckle lightly. “In all fairness Princess Celestia, the same could have been said for me. Before I came here I thought this world was just a story, I was way off...” I said
She laughed gently. “That is very true, although I still do not understand how our worlds have knowledge of one another, unless they are connected by the elements, but that I am not certain of.” she said
I didn’t really have anything for that, Twilight and Celestia both started thinking, but by the looks of it they couldn’t find any answers either. “So how are we supposed to get him home then Princess?” Twilight asked her teacher
Celestia seemed to have something though. “In the book there was an untested spell that if anything were to cross into this world from the other, it could send it back. But I don’t think this is the case... since this was done with the Elements of Harmony I don’t think the spell will work on its own.” she explained. Then looked specifically to her student. “Twilight, I'll bring you the book early tomorrow morning so you can find another spell that will work in tandom with the elements.” the princess said
Twilight didn’t seem certain. “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to Princess, but I’ll give it a try.” she said
Celestia smiled proudly. “I know you will, my most loyal and faithful student. as for the rest of you.” she waited tell she had all of our attentions. “I want to see you all here tomorrow morning at ten o’clock, we'll leave then. Judging by Jonathan’s physical appearance, he could use the rest. Have I made myself clear?” she asked
“Yes Princess Celestia.” we all said in unison
She smiled, and started making her way back to the front door. “Good. now I must return to Canterlot, there is still some thing’s I need to tend to. I will see you all tomorrow, goodbye my subjects.” she said cheerfully as she stepped out the door and flew off.