Chapter 33: Homecoming
In less than a week since he had been committed in, Bryce Smales was checked out from Ponyville Hospital. Through some unseen force, Bryce had been able to recover enough from burns that would have taken a person at least two weeks to heal. Though it may have been the medications, usually meant for ponies, had had an advanced effect on him.
Regardless of how or why Bryce had made a speedy recovery, he was to go home that afternoon. Even though it was hospital policy for patients who were being checked out to be escorted to the front door in a wheel chair, his size made that impossible to manage. Instead he was allowed to walk out on his own accord.
Nurse Tenderheart had been put on charge to escort him out. "It's been fun having you, Bryce."
"Well, it's been fun with you as well. You've been my favorite of all the nurses."
"You're just being nice."
"No, I'm serious. You were the nicest one of them all. That Nurse Redheart, she's like a nun with a ruler. You're really the only one I liked."
By then the pair had reached the front doors of the hospital. "Well I thank you for the compliment. If you ever become seriously injured, or want to donate any excess organs, like one or two lobes of your lungs, or a kidney then please come right back. But not too soon."
Bryce gave a small laugh at this. "You see, this is the part I like. You're the only one I know here that'll make jokes like that."
Nurse Tenderheart grinned. "I've enjoyed you doing the same. I very much enjoyed you telling me about that bronze bull. It sounds so vicious, yet so exotic."
Bryce shook his head as he smirked. "You are one sick bitch." He reached down to tap her on the nose. "But I like you for it."
Nurse Tenderheart reached into her saddlebag and handed Bryce a paper bag which he quickly took from her. "Here, if your burns begin to cause you any discomfort there's everything you'll need to take care of yourself. If it gets too bad I suggest you come on back. Other then that, please try to take it easy for the next few days"
"I'll try, but I promise nothing. I'll see you whenever" After that Nurse Tenderheart turned back and reentered the hospital. From behind, somepony cleared their throat to get his attention. Turning back around Bryce was surprised to find Applejack standing next to Corn.
For a minute they both stood there, turned towards each other. Bryce, with the bag the nurse had given him and the clothes that had been brought to him yesterday evening. Applejack with nothing but her trademark Stetson. Corn would dart his eyes back and forth between them both, as if saying 'Is there something going on, or should we be doing something?' Now it was usual for Bryce to be the one to try and avoid looking into someone else's eyes, but the more time dragged it seemed the apple mare was trying harder to not look into his own eyes.
Eventually Applejack found the courage to speak. "Ah'm- Ah'm here ta make sure yuh get back."
"... Okay."
Applejack rubbed the back of her head. "Ah guess we should... get on then?"
"... Okay."
They both started walking out away from the hospital, with Corn keeping up pace with them both. Since the building was situated along the outskirts of Ponyville there would be fewer ponies along the way. For most of the journey neither human nor pony would utter a word as they went about at a slow pace. After they had reached the path that would take them to Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack spoke up a second time.
"Hey, uhm, can Ah... can Ah ask yuh something?"
"If you want."
"Ah... Ah need... n- need ta know... Has your dog always had that collar?"
"What collar?"
"The one on'm."
Looking over at his dog there was indeed something looped around Corn's neck, but the black, red, and yellow bands it held gave away what it really was. "That's not a collar."
"Then what is it?"
Bryce blankly answered, "It's a snake."
"A- A snake!?" The apple mare looked at the collar in time to see a pair of black beady eyes and a forked tongue flick at her. "Wha- Why is there a snake on your dog's neck?"
"I found it." Bryce brought his hand down to Jack's level to allow her to snake her way up his arm.
"I- is it harmless?"
"She's a constrictor." He held Jack out to show the apple mare her bands. "She's red band on black; that means she's a scarlet kingsnake. If she red on yellow then we'd have a problem."
"Get rid of that thing."
"I've tried, but she just keeps coming back."
"What do you mean, how do you know it's a girl?"
"Who did?"
"Jack."
"That snake?"
"Yeah."
Applejack wanted to argue about it, but she wasn't really in the mood to do so. She had been the last pony that would have wanted to make sure he got home safely, but Granny Smith insisted she, Applejack, do it so as to not draw any attention to them. Neither Apple Bloom nor Dinky would have kept quiet enough around him.
In truth things hadn't been going too well since Bryce had rescued her from the barn. Since he had been away Applejack felt sick. This sickness had affected nearly everything in her life; from eating meals, which she barely had the appetite for, to her daily work, which had been much harder and more sloppy than she wanted to admit. Things were improving gradually, but after meeting with Bryce the smooth stone that been in her stomach felt like a lumpy rock.
Applejack knew the real reason why she felt so now, just as she knew why Granny had insisted that she be the one to get him home. Granny Smith wanted her to try and talk things out with the human to ease her guilt; the real cause of her illness.
Applejack did want to say something to him about it, but she just couldn't think of anything to say. After everything that had occured between them, Applejack could see no way he would even consider forgiving her. Sure Bryce may have forgiven Rainbow, but she knew she'd done far worse to him. Not just to him, but to his dog as well.
But it had been the last thing she'd done to Bryce that made what Rainbow had done pale in comparison. It wasn't really that Applejack had done, but that she was close to doing it.
If it had not been for Ponzi Scheme's arrival on their doorstep the night after the fire Bryce may well have been out of her and her family's lives forever.
She had been two steps away from marching out the door and reporting Bryce to the Guard.
It wasn't like she hadn't had him dead to rights. He had every reason to end her life, after everything that had occured between them both, and the fire, well she'd seen the way he sometimes played with that lighter of his. How he would flick the flint and just stare into the small flame it gave off.
She could only hope Bryce never found out about it.
Applejack continued to walk on, not looking over to check on Bryce even once. In her mind she wanted to say it had been just a way to make up for everything he'd done to her. But a smaller voice deep down would tell her that wasn't right, and she needed to be honest. He had forgiven Rainbow, despite how much of a feather brain she could be at times. Surely he would do the same for her.
At that instant, Applejack came to a halt. "Bryce, can Ah... say something?"
There came no response.
"Hey, are yuh listening!?"
Bryce still gave no response.
Quickly Applejack looked to the side he had been walking on. "Bryce, Ah need... ta..."
She looked every which way, but the human was nowhere in sight. She began to knock herself on the head. Darn it, Applejack, you shoulda known better. How the hay do yuh lose something 'that' big? Celestia only knows where he's-
From down the path, the way Applejack had just came from, there came a dog's bark.
That must be him! The apple mare went off at a full gallop, wanting to get to Bryce before whatever his dog was barking at got to Bryce.
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Bryce and Applejack walked down the path towards the farm with Corn keeping pace between them. Each of them were quiet, their only sounds being their steps as they walked towards home. Along the way a jovial noise pierced the air as they passed by a flat green area with a few trees here and there and separated the park from the dirt path. The noise was coming from a pair of male pegasi. One was thin, slate gray, and had a white and pale blue mohawk and tail. The other was much younger with light gray fur and a black mane with a gray streak down the middle.
They were playing a game that involved a soccer ball. Each one would try to kick the ball back to the other, trying to keep it going as long as they possibly could. From his vantage point Bryce could see the older one had the advantage of flight. When the ball was passed to the smaller pegasus he tried to fly, but either he hadn't had the muscle or was too inexperienced to fly up high enough and whack the ball back. After a while it seeemed the older one was purposely tossing the ball out of the other's reach. He was only able to jump a few feet up before landing back down on the ground; his small wings beating the air as hard as they could.
Before he knew it, Bryce was watching them both from where he stood, Corn staying with him. After being made to lie in bed for the past few days it was good to be able to see someone having fun. Bryce didn't know how long he and Corn stood there. It didn't matter if they saw them or not. After all they didn't know what to look for. For now he would enjoy seeing them have fun, even if he wasn't included.
A minute later the light gray pegasus stopped and sat back to catch his breath. "Hey, Lane... do you think... we could... take a break?"
The one he called Lane held the soccer ball at his side and hovered in the air. "Come on, Rumble, you're doing better than when we first started."
"I'm... not as good... as you are... Give me... a minute."
The older pegasus threw the ball up and caught it between his hooves. "Come on, give me one more. Then we'll take a break. Here, catch!" He brought the ball to his chest and hurled it forward. The younger one must not have seen it coming because it struck the ground next to him and rolled off into the trees.
It came to a stop right at Bryce's feet.
"Come on, Rumble!"
Rumble was still sitting down while trying to catch his second wind. "It's not my fault... I wasn't... ready."
"Whatever. Missies have to getsies; and be quick about it."
Rumble did as his brother asked, along the way bad mouthing him as he made his way through the trees.
When Bryce saw this he immediately stepped back as far out of sight as he possibly could into a large bush. Corn followed suit. As exhausted as the pegasus looked he would just be looking for the ball, and nothing else. At least he hoped that would happen. If Bryce moved now he would draw attention to himself. Now if only Corn had the mind to do the same. It wasn't that he wasn't used to the idea of talking ponies, though he was still a little shaken by it. Bryce was not really in the mood to be meeting anyone new.
Rumble came running in through the trees, his attention drawn to the soccer ball the instant it was in his sight.
That's it. Look at the ball. No humans, or German Shepherds, to see here.
When Rumble reached the ball he stopped as his nose cringed. Bryce was afraid he had seen him. The tension that rose in the air was so thick it could have been cut with a knife. Before Bryce was ready to admit defeat and reveal himself when the colt let out a large sneeze.
Bryce was beyond relief to have that happen. He was so relieved that he released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding in. It had been a little louder than he had wanted, however.
Rumble flinched. His attention was drawn away from the ball he had came for to the sudden noise that had sounded out from nowhere. "I- Is somepony there?" He began to balance himself on the ball.
"Rumble, what's taking you so long?" Thunderlane shouted.
The inflated orb fell out from under his hooves. He flapped his wings in the neck of time to stop from hitting the ground. "I'm trying to get the ball. It got away futher than-"
"Whatever, just hurry up."
The soccer ball again rolled over to Bryce's feet. The H!!! This time Bryce knew there was no way he could get away without being seen. Deciding to go on and bite the bullet, he kicked forward and sent the ball rolling back.
It had the desired effect.
As the ball rolled back toward him, Rumble could only stand and stare. His only movement was to reach his fore hoof forward to end its advance. "Who- Who's there? Sh- show your..."
Bryce calmly stepped out from his hiding spot within the bush. The young pegasus's gaze crawled up his tall form with each step until they were both looking the other in the eye.
Rumble opened his mouth as if to scream, but whatever sound he thought of producing came out as a broken stutter. He slowly began to step back, leaving the ball in the dirt.
When Bryce had reached the soccer ball Rumble's back hoof caught on a pebble and he fell back on his rump. Bryce tried to reach forward, but it only made Rumble fall back on his back. He got the message and retreated back away from the small pegasus. Looking down at the ball that appeared to have a strange attraction to him, Bryce again kicked it back to Rumble.
For whatever reason the pegasus lowered his guard, the scream built up inside still jammed in his throat.
"Are you... okay?"
The scream dissipated at the human's words. "What?"
Bryce carefully got down on one knee and held out his hand. "Here, let me help you up."
Rumble stared at the strange appendage held out before him. "You're- you're not gonna hurt me, are you?"
"If I wanted to I would have done so," Bryce answered. Still harboring some doubts, Rumble gave the human his hoof. Bryce quickly lifted the startled pegasus up causing him to struggle in his grip. "Hey, calm down. No one's going to hurt you here," he said as he placed the colt on all fours.
With the colt standing upright, Bryce asked him again, "Are you okay?"
"I'm...Yeah. Who are you?"
"I'm Bryce S- Bryce." He omitted the last part because the locals seemed to have a hard time hearing the 'A'.
This gave him a new sense of interest. "Whoa, you're Bryce. You look even weirder than Rainbow said you were."
Bryce smirked. "Well, I guess I'm at least fourteen feet shorter than she described."
"Yeah, and you don't have any claws, or a tail, or a mane of flaming snakes."
"Don't forget the glowing red eyes." They both gave a chuckle at that. "Well, what were you doing. Before with...?" Bryce pointed behind Rumble.
"Oh, that? My brother, Thunderlane, was trying to help me build up my wing strength. Do you... have wings?"
"Well, no. My kind don't have wings. We realy just walk and jump and swim."
"Oh, that's a bummer."
"Well, maybe for some. I wouldn't really enjoy it myself. It's not the I'm afraid to fly. I don't like to fall."
"I know about that. The first time I flyed I fell and hurt my leg so bad I couldn't walk right for a week."
"Well, different species, different problems, I suppose."
"Yeah. Hey, want to come and play with us?"
"Rumble, what the hay's taking you... so...?" Thunderlane yelled as he passed through the trees. "Rumble, what's going on?"
"Lane, can Bryce come and-"
Thunderlane tensed up at mention of that name. "Bryce!? That thing Rainbow Dash was talking about!?"
"Yeah, he's-"
Thunderlane bumped his brother to the side and stared daggers at the human. "The buck he can!"
"Why not? He's not-"
"Rumble, get behind me."
"Lane, wait. Bryce isn't like that."
"Sure, and I'm in line to be the next Miss Equestria." Thunderlane stormed up to the human forcing him back. "You get outta here before I make you leave." The same ball that had started all this trouble found itself under Bryce's legs and he fell back on the ground. Thunderlane continued his advance and stared the human straight in his gray eyes. "And don't expect me to be as forgiving as Rainbow."
"Lane, his dog-"
"Rumble, I told you to-" From the sidelines, Corn snarled at the slate colored pegasus. The bravery Thunderlane had felt was replaced with fear at the canine's exposed fangs. "Uh, nice doggie?"
Corn wasn't buying it. The dog let out a warning bark.
Thunderlane jumped back with a girlish yelp.
When Applejack arrived on the scene, she wanted to say she was surprised to see that Bryce was involved, but that was something one could only dream of happening. She knew she had to take control of the situation before somepony got hurt. "Bryce, try and control your dog."
Bryce did as instructed. He made his way to Corn, bent down, and started whispering in the dog's ear. In a split second Corn calmed down.
"Wait, AJ, you actually know this thing?" Thunderlane questioned the applemare.
Applejack sighed. "Unfortunately. He's lived with me and my family for more than a month now."
"You actually let him live with you? Haven't you heard what Rainbow said about him; how he picks his blood-stained fangs with the bones of young foals, and then grinds them into meal for his bread."
Applejakc raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yes, really. Rainbow said so."
She facehoofed. "Sometimes Ah think you feather brains focus more on your flyin then yuh do on your thinking."
"What's that supposed to mean? And my name's Thunderlane."
"What exactly did he do?"
"He, um, he... It's not that he did anything... He was about... to... take Rumble away so he... could... You know..." Taking one look at the farm pony was all he needed to see she didn't understand his mindset. "He was going to... All I know is that if I hadn't shown up I'd have been short a little brother."
Applejack shut her eyes and shook her head. "Come on, sugarcube, let's get on home."
"You're just going to go off with that thing alone. He's dangerous!"
"Sure, whatever, featherbrain."
"It's Thunderlane. And you're a foal to go running off with him."
"Then why don't yuh come along with us."
"I- I- I would, but, uh, Rumble and I were... on our way home. It is getting pretty late." The sun was on its way down from its zenith.
"But I thought you were supposed to help me learn how to fly."
"Rumble, hush!"
"You both do whatever yuh want. We need ta get on home. Come on, Bryce."
Bryce listened to what Applejack told him to do without a word of protest. He didn't utter a word at all, actually.
After they had both gotten a few steps away he heard the two brothers arguing. "Lane, did you really have to act like a jerk to him?"
"Just stop it, Rumble. You don't understand what's going on here. Now come on, you've had enough of a break."
"I don't want to play anymore."
"You will if you ever want to learn how to fly. And you better not say a word about this to mom or dad."
By then they were both out of ear shot. "Hey, yuh alright there, sugarcube?"
Bryce didn't answer Applejack. After all the trouble he'd caused everyone he didn't feel like talking to anyone. All he could do was keep his hands in his pockets and stare down at the ground.
Applejack sighed. "Yuh weren't going ta hurt that colt, were yuh?"
Bryce shook his head.
For the rest of the trip to the farm the pair walked on withoiut saying a word to the other. When they reached the fence on the outskirts of the house, Applejack said, "Yuh... yuh didn't deserve that." Bryce almost tripped over himself after hearing her say that. "Ah can see how you'd expect me ta be the last pony ta say something like that, but Ah can tell you're telling the truth. That colt never really had much of a brain upstairs anyways. Not that he's dumb or nothing; he just doesn't have any common sense."
Well, I kind of know about that.
"Not all ponies are gonna treat yuh like that. There are ponies that are more tolerant than he ever was, and Ah guess Ah wasn't one of'em myself."
Well, I've known worse than you.
By then they had both reached the front door.
"The girls have been aching ta see yuh all day. Go on and have some fun with'em. Ah've got some work Ah need ta catch up on."
"Aren't you at least going to see me in?"
"N- no. Ah've got a lot of work ta do."
"Are you alright?"
"You don't have ta worry. Ah'm fine. Just go on and have fun." Applejack walked off. The lump in her gut was still giving her trouble. She knew she had to talk to Bryce, but now wasn't a good time to do it. There was work to be done, and she doubted he would go anywhere any time soon.
With Applejack gone, Bryce slowly opened the door. In the living room everything went quiet at his entrance. Granny Smith sat in her usual rocking chair. Amethyst, Dinky, and Apple Bloom were each sprawled out on the floor. Each of them stared back at eachother.
"H- hey everyone. I'm home."
Granny Smith said, "Well, everypony, don't y'all have anything ta say?"
Apple Bloom stood up and trotted over. "Are your burns still hurtin yuh?"
"No, not as much as they-"
Apple Bloom somehow jumped up and looped her hooves around his neck. "Ah'm glad your back. Things have been so boring without yuh, and Ms. Amethyst doesn't like to do the things you do. Right, Dinky?"
Dinky didn't give a response.
Amethyst poked her sister. "Dinky, don't be rude now. You'll still-"
Dinky scooted back.
"Dinky, don't act this way now. Be sweet."
Bryce became concerned with the filly's sudden displeasure. "Is everything alright, Dink?"
"I don't want to go to your dumb party tomorrow."
"Dinky, don't be so mean. You're still going. You already said you'd be there."
"I don't care. I don't want to go."
Bryce then asked. "What's the matter? Did I do something wrong?"
Dinky gave the human a glare.
"Don't you see me as your dad anymore?''
The gray-purple unicorn looked away from Bryce. For the rest of the day she was bitter and cold to him up until she went home for the day.