//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Recurrence // Story: What We've Done // by All of the Above //------------------------------// ...Currence. The word came without a warning. With each syllable, my world became clearer. My head was spinning and I felt sick. Consequences of dying, I guess. I found myself in a very bright room. I sat right in the middle of it. Florescent lights on thin lights dangled on strings swung back and forth. I glanced them for a second, and I had no need to look away. ‘Is this what the afterlife is like?’ I don’t know how long I was staring at those lights. I had no sense of time in here. The lights that kept me company were fading away into nothingness, leaving me in the darkness that I’ve learned to fear. ‘Is this my own mind? Am I afraid of myself?’ I found it a struggle to breath and the walls were closing in on me. I couldn’t cry out to anyone. There was no one around to cry out to. Although I couldn’t breathe, I felt a word slide out of my mouth. It came out like I wasn’t struggling to breathe. “Hopeless. I woke up again, though I wasn’t sure if I really woke up or if I was going into another dream. If what that was was a dream. Instead of a white room with many bright lights, it was dark with only a small lightbulb. And I wasn’t alone, thank Celestia for that! The other figure in the room was rather large and wore a hood to protect his identity. He didn’t seem to notice me as I looked around the room. I tried to get off the table that I woke up on, but there came a massive pain each of my hooves. I grimace, and let out a cry. That’s when he took notice me. “I wouldn’t move right now.” I recognized that voice. It was The Tall Stallion’s. What was he doing here? I didn’t notice until then. I recognized his voice. Not from when he saved me, but way back. It seemed like that was only days ago. But how long was it truly? “Gaze?” “Very good!” I took off his cloak. His brown mane was longer than it was when I last saw it. “It seems that your memories didn’t burn you alive! That’s a very good sign!” he started laughing, though I didn’t find the humor. He stowed away his laugh. “Pardon me. You’re probably hungry.” I nodded. “Them come with me. We’ve prepared a feast for you in the dining room. There you’ll meet the others.” “The others?” “Yeah. They can’t wait to see you.” Gaze took me on a grand tour of where we were. And believe it or not, Gaze and the “others” were occupying Canterlot Castle. “I bet you didn’t expect to be shown around Canterlot Castle by moi.” I wasn’t listening to him. I was busy marveling at the beautiful (although derelict) castle. Banners that were hanging on the wall were now torn up, and debris covered the ground. But there was a path leading us to our destination, as well as paths that branched off the one we were standing on. It’s either they’re lazy or the debris is too difficult to remove. The first one sounds more likely. I realized what he asked moments later. “I didn’t expect to be in Canterlot castle.” I truly never thought a privilege as great as this would ever be available to me. I felt holy just standing in the main hall. Even if it was in poor shape. “You gonna keep stopping?” I looked to see Gaze standing by two double doors. Probably the dining room. “We’re here!” He kicked open the double doors while his eyes were closed. He showed his hoof around. He didn’t even realize it wasn’t the dining room. “That’s the kitchen.” I pointed out. He turned to look in the room, and realized his mistake. I didn’t feel sorry for laughing at him. “I knew that,” he lied. “I was just saying... we’re here... at the kitchen. I never said we were going to the dining room.” “Yes you did.” “Buck you.” he said calmly, not changing anything about his face or the way he said it. He took the walk of shame to the kitchen, as I followed him, on a completely different path. The path of enjoyment. He reached another double door. This time there were voices from behind it. That was definitely the dining room. “Okay. Now we-” The door was shoved open, pushing Gaze against the wall. The pony that stood at the doorway was Lemon Drop. Or how she liked to be addressed: Elektricka. “Oi, Gaze, we need some more water in here!” I nearly gasped as I noticed the noticeable change. Her skin had grown over her eyes. Blood veins were clearly visible, and they were protruding from the blank space where her eyes should have been. And yet she acted like she could see everything like they weren't. “Oh, who are you?” Gaze stepped from behind the door, letting out quiet obscenities. “Did you hear me, Gaze?” Electricka asked. “Yeah yeah yeah.” “Oh, and who is this?” “This is our newcomer. I saved his life from the Scroungers.” “And by you, you mean...” she raised an eyebrow. “Me. I saved him.” She stared at him and started laughing. Laughing a... rather raspy laugh. “Okay, sure. And Thorn is a good spy.” “Thank you!” Wait. That voice. “Isn't that Thesis?” Electricka turned to me, looking completely bewildered. “Aegis? Aegis Strap, is that you?” It took me a second to nod. Her eyes burned deep into my own. Though I’m not sure she knew that. “How are you still alive!?” I was still trying to recover from it all, so Gaze took it upon himself to answer the question himself. “Hey, what does it matter? He’s here and breathing!” I thought it was very important to know why I was still alive. I was about to tell him this, but he walked inside and dragged me along with him. “Hey everypony, look at this sight for sore eyes.” I could hear the angry sigh of Electricka from behind me. The crowd stared at me for a brief moment. I think they were trying to register in their minds who I was, because I don’t really look like myself anymore. I was once a man, not a murderer. I had a great life, a wonderful girlfriend, and a nice roof over my head. I’ve heard of people losing everything, but I never thought I would be one of them. “Aegis!” they all cried out in unison. There seemed to be over twenty ponies in there. There was somepony with two horns instead of one, a few with their mouths drooping to the ground, a red and black alicorn with a horn and wings (who didn’t look all to happy to see me), and some... awfully grotesque figures. The ponies in the room stood up, practically running over to him in an avalanche of unfamiliar faces and familiar faces. Though, their appearances changed just as much as his. He got acquainted with some of the ponies he didn’t know, and rebuilt his friendship with his test subject companions. Turns out, they all had a little disability here and there. Amidst the faces, he noticed somepony was missing. I passed it off as nothing, but after a while I definitely noticed somepony missing. Everypony was making a ruckus, making it so I couldn’t even hear myself think. “Hey! Everypony... Hey!” I jumped onto the table, but I slipped and fell to the floor head first, cracking my skull into several pieces. I bled onto the floor while nopony said a single word. ‘Reset’ I grabbed a nail lying on the floor, and shoved it into my head. ‘Reset’ I stayed completely still. Everypony was still acting like they’re in a bar (despite the fact that there was nothing that strong in sight). I was utterly terrified, and it shown on my face. I was glad that nopony noticed it. The power shouldn’t be doing that, but it’s been doing weirder things. If I don’t find a way to get their attention, I’ll never find out who’s missing. I guess it’s no big deal, but it’ll kill me if I don’t find out soon. I look around the room. They seem to think I’m something special. I could easily get their attention. I could have Gaze quiet the room down, or I could make them be quiet if I attack one of them. That’ll make some heads turn. (Ask Gaze about the missing person) (Attack somepony)