//------------------------------// // Loose Ends // Story: A Second Too Late // by Thunder Seethe //------------------------------// Edging closer toward the door, I slowly put out my hoof to turn the knob. As my hoof fell upon it, I could feel pain simmer down my arm, then to my chest. It felt like heartburn with a mixture of an incoming heart attack. You know, with the arm sending signals of excruciating pain and stuff... it felt something like that. Of course I wouldn't know a thing or two about what a sign of a heart attack would feel like. Who knew that a world of such a utopia status could render such pain, agony, death, and the exact meaning of this mysterious door? I'm not talking about the pain this door knob gave me. I'm talking about what I've heard that were supposed to be 'true' stories. I was originally trying to escape the world of murder and unnatural death. How and why am I chasing it? Hell, I'm at the door that has the title "Relentless" on it. I don't know what’s inside, but I do know that if I don't go in, then I'll never come out. Well... Fuck me. I turned the knob to open it, as more pain simmered with each centimeter. When the door finally opened, there stood another corridor made of crimson brick. It was paved with an abundance of some liquid; not cement. There was a door that stood on the other side of the corridor, still visible, so it must be close. I walked towards the door... or maybe it’s safer to say that I 'waddled' towards the end of the corridor. Waddling from fright and the thought of the unknown could be standing and waiting for me just behind that door. It could range from a bunny to a dragon. Well. I haven't exactly seen a dragon in Equestria, but if there are pegasi and unicorns and ponies that could all talk, then the odds of there being any other mythological creatures only improve. Damn it, now I'm just reassuring my fears... maybe it’s best if I don't think about it at all. Yup, this is just a walk in my old house’s hallway that's made of crimson bricks, nothing weird about it at all. This isn't a land unknown to man, it’s simply a beautiful walk in the park, but it’s just indoors is all. Nothing weird about it. Nothing. It seems to be working, though if I were to be talking aloud, and had my friends next to me, yeah. I'd be the weirdest fucking thing they've ever seen. Though being weird or different may seem like a bad thing to most people, you need to know that there's no such thing as weird. Who wants to be normal? Who is normal? In everyone's or everypony's eyes, everyone is different. Different to them is weird because they are simply normal. Being normal means being like that person or pony, so if you want to be normal you'll need to act like that person or pony. However, the flaws to it are inevitable. No matter what, you could always act like someone or somepony, but to someone or somepony else, you'll be the weirdest fuck ever. Because normal to them is their own behavior and characteristics. Isn't it true that everyone or everypony also acts weird at their own times? This is simply because they act different from their usual. For example, take me. I act my supposed normal when I'm wide awake. When I'm tired, I'm the dumbest and weirdest fuck ever. I may as well be drunk. Irony is, when I'm tired, I can't sleep. I have to sleep when I'm wide awake. Good. Now I feel better about myself... now about this corridor that seems to never end, It’s been about five minutes of walking endlessly through this painful tunnel. Every now and then, I could hear faint screams of the young and old. They were more like screeches. It sounded like the cry for help, exactly like what I could hear from my dream of Ron. The whole damn reason I'm doing this. For some reason, I don't know what, I feel like he's in here. I just feel like I need to find him. He's near. I'm here. When will he show? Another five minutes of walking on this uneventful road to exhaustion. This is ridiculous already. From the starting of the path, it seemed so close. But whenever I walk closer to it, it seems to just get further away. I want to look back, but I don't. This corridor is trying to molest my mind. Its ridicule is altering my signals within my brain. I can't let this simple tunnel confuse me. If something inanimate can do this, I don't want to see the next door. If I turn to leave... I'll have to walk back how far I've went. Maybe I should look around. Maybe I missed something within the walls. I searched each brick, poking it to check that it wasn't a puzzle. I examined each brick to see if one looked out of place. Nothing. They all look the same. It was like it was copy and pasted. With all the failure in my mind, I put my ass down on the floor looking hopeless. Just like how I was back on earth. Everything went white. I awoke at my house. When my parents were still alive. I was still in elementary when they were alive. I was in my old room, with my white walls. The ceilings were white as well, and you could still see the paint was peeling off. The wooden floor was half carpeted. We didn't have much money. We could barely afford this house, but we needed it at the same time. No apartments would accept us in. We don't know why... that's what my parents would tell me. Maybe they knew, but I was just too young to know at the time. sigh I probably fell asleep back in the corridor. I'm viewing this from a spectator mode again. Just like how I was watching over Ron and Sean back in the college incident. The pain of remembering... I looked at the computer we had. The only computer we had. It was one of those really old ones, so we would need to wait a few years for the internet or any executable jar file we had. Exaggerating of course, it would take about five minutes for it to fully load its way up. I remember this. I was given the ability to walk around; in pony form, in my dream. I knew where my parents were at the time of their death. They were in the living room. They were... on their anniversary. I walked through the hallway, and passed all of the other rooms, meaning the bathroom and the kitchen doors. I could hear footsteps in the living room. Maybe they were still alive! I started rushing through everything carefully dodging vases and books that were stacked on the floor. Only dodging in case I was still able to interact with items as well as interacting with the ground. With me being the usual klutz, I managed to hit and crash a vase. Thinking that whoever was carrying out the footsteps, I managed to rush out of the hallway and turn my head to catch a glimpse of the killer. And it was no one other than the infamous Ron. The born killer. He was the reason for my descent into the world. I may have made it to college, but he doesn't know what pain he has caused. More than just the sorrow for my family, but more that he killed them just to feed his hunger for other’s pain. They would befriend me for an hour, then abandon me. Ron was the reason for my abandonment. I knew of Sean my whole life, but being me, I didn't dare mention what happened to my family. He only found out later in high school. When he offered me a home, I said no. When he threatened to call the police to get me to a shelter, I said no. I have been living off in the streets for some time back then. I know my way around. Putting anger to the side, I edged closer towards my family. They were tied down on a chair. My father was beaten half to death. Only half so he could suffer the rest of it. My mother had been sliced by a butcher’s knife. The knife lay on the ground covered in blood near her chair. Their chairs were set to be facing each other. I could hear my father constantly saying he's sorry to my bleeding out mother. She was telling him it was fine. It was a back and forth situation. It would be soon when they died. I walked closer to my mom. Aside from the blood, she was still beautiful. Nothing could or would take that away from her. She had brown hair that was a bit past her shoulders. Her eyes were light brown, and her face still elegant to the touch. I wanted to hug her, but I fear... something. Maybe it’s my fear of the unknown. I did it anyway. Even though they probably can't see me, I could still see them. :I whispered in her ear, "I love you mom. Always have... always will. Nothing would take it away from me. You will never leave me, even though you may physically. I can't do anything about thing about this. Sorry." She may have not heard me, but I have... and that's all I needed. She looked to the left where I was standing. My heart pumped speeding past its limit as she responded, "I love you too... Shayne." Tears were flooding from my eyes, and they formed a puddle around my hooves. "Can you see me?" "Yes. I don't even care if you're a mythological creature or not. You're still my son. I don't care how it happened either... I don't have much time Shayne..." "I know mom. I'm sorry you need to see me like this." I slowly walked up to her and rolled my eyes down and off to oblivion. I rested my head on her bloody chest to see the letter carved in. "R" He'll pay some day. Not today though. Not now. "It's fine Shayne cough, I'm going to assume you're from the future... like the future Shayne that we've wanted to see?" "Yes mom. I am. I came from a dream I guess. I'm not so sure either, but know this. I made it to college... but the college burst into multiple explosions and blazes. I'll let everything out now. I was saved by my friend Sean and I'm sure you know him well enough. He's been my only friend for the time being. He saved me from the burning college since I couldn't move. I passed out when a pipe flew into my arm. He also managed to save sixteen more people from the lost cause... then a Princess from another world sent me to their. And she changed my body into what most of them look like; Ponies. I became a pegasus and learned how to fly well. I won't get much into it. Sorry I wasn't home when this happened to you. I was practicing... for a recital." "It's fi-..." Her eyes rolled back. Then her head slumped lazily on my neck. She's gone. I sat there sobbing, but at least... she knows that I came out fine. I looked towards my dad. He sat on his chair tied up and unconscious... maybe I could still save him. He's still less beat up than my mom. He probably must have internal injuries. Maybe I could still get him to the hospital in time... "I'm sorry mom. I wish there was more I could do for you. I was just too late wasn't I..." I bit the ropes that restrained my father and slumped him on my back, then used the rest of the rope to keep him still and not mess up my flying pattern. I took off for the nearest hospital we had. It was five miles away, but I could still spot it out. "Dad... You're going to make it. Even though mom... fuck. You're going to make it. I can't give you up. We may have not talked much because I was more into instruments than sports. Sorry for letting you down like that. I just..." I could feel his heartbeat diminishing. More tears were forming in my eyes as my father was passing. I recalled back to when I was three. He was talking to me about his death, and where he would want to be. He said he wanted it to be peaceful... "Shayne, when I die, I want to be sitting on top of a hill, looking towards the sunset. Near the ocean maybe, and under a pine tree. Then maybe a breeze could top it off. Then… I could die smiling." I had forgotten how we had gotten in that conversation. There was a beach off to my right with pine trees. Maybe if he is going to die... and possibly... not even make it. Maybe he'd rather not die in a hospital undergoing surgery and stuff. If he's destined to die, I want to grant him that wish. "Sorry pa' but... if you're not going to make it, you wanted to be under a pine tree on a hill right? And near a ocean? Well, the sun will be setting soon. I'll grant you that wish. Sorry I couldn't fly over to the hospital in time to save you." His heartbeat was now close to a stop. I spotted out the perfect location, where the tree line opened up just for the perfect view of the sunset and ocean. You could hear the waves crashing onto the sandy shore, and the rocks rejecting the powerful waves causing them to shoot up into multiple beads of water. He would want this. I untied the rope from my side and set him under the tree with his back on it. I looked at him... I stared at him. I want him to open his eyes just long enough to feel the warmth of the setting sun. Just then, his eyes peeped open just wide enough for me to see. He let out a deep sigh before he turned his head ever so slowly towards me. "Thank you Shayne. Sorry for being an asshole of a parent." I shook my head. I walked up to him, and rested my head on his chest he put his arm on my neck to let it rest. Badump... Badump... Ba-dump... Ba...dump ... ... He's gone. ===================================================================== ===================================================================== I got my head back up. I spread my wings, and took one last glimpse of the sun. Then one more look at my father and took off. Wherever this dream is taking me... it certainly isn't going to let me get up until I find it. If there is something here I'm supposed to see... could it be Ron? I started remembering the last words... the last conversation I had with my mom. The last words of my father. Is Ron just a killer? Does he do this for fun? Why... how does he get away with such things? That Ron was only a few years older than us if I recalled correctly. He was only in middle school. If my mind isn't fooling me, he should be in sixth grade... His first two murder victims… Were my parents. I flew back to my house and saw myself. Then I remembered that this was just a dream, and only most of this could be true. I was mourning my dead mom and my missing father. I just walked past myself, I knew I would turn out fine anyway. So I went back to my room. Something is different though. I looked back at the computer monitor and saw a word document out. It also had writings. Dear your beloved family, As of now, you probably know that your parents are dead. I don't know why I did it. I just did. Look now, don't be sad. I want you to know that I did this for you. Your parents were worthless pieces of trash that will only stop you from getting where you need to be. The deaths of your parents were very necessary for your own good. Think of me as your shadow, your friend, or you may think of me as the devil, prophecy, or even yourself. I know you. You would have done the same thing yourself given the time. I, being older than you know that you would have come to this point sooner or later. So I decided to take my time out of my life to kill them for you. Remember, don't be sad, and don’t even seek revenge because the chances of you winning are hopeless. I know you better than you know yourself. Sincerely your friend, Unknown The dream flashed to white, and I reappeared back into the crimson bricked corridor. The only thing that laid in my mind was Ron and how much I wanted to kill and beat him. You'd better watch yourself Ron. When I see you, I'll kill you. You can't fool me. I know you're here, maybe not near. Though as long as you stay within the same universe as me, YOU'LL FUCKING PAY. I darted towards the other door, and this time it didn't seem to mile away when I wanted to reach it. This time the door was stationary. I reached out and grabbed the knob. It wouldn't turn, but it sent a mass of pain through my hoof and into my spine. I was paralyzed for a moment and fell on the gray smooth stoned ground. With nothing but sheer willpower, I forced myself back up and I bucked the door open violently. The door swung open, and inside... was a silhouette of Ron. "I knew you were near." I charged for it, but it disappeared. I turned around and a fist swung at my face. I examined the walls after regaining slight composure to notice the walls were spread out a bit more. I am allowed to take flight here. With a quick beat of my wings, I aimed straight forward Ron and bucked him in the face. There was a fierce cracking sound and a thud. Once again, while he was still on the ground unable to get up, I offered a few more blows in his bloody face. A few more would kill him. I was about to take a few more blows to him until I remembered what he did to my mom. He carved a fucking 'R' on her chest and kept her alive long enough to experience the fucking pain. This asshole will get it too. Just way worse. I remembered my father and how he was beaten internally. I glanced back at the silhouette of Ron. He was laying there clutching his ribs. Once again, I bucked his fingers into his rib. His fingers pierced through his skin and he screamed in what should be excruciating pain. It didn't even phase me. I gave his ribs a few more bucks until I heard another crack of bones. Once he was still, I began my search for a rope and any sharp object. This wasn't a really large room, and just in the middle of it, was a nice sword that seemed to fit perfectly around my hoof. I didn't even need to hover to use it. It just seemed natural like turning a door knob. "Screw the rope." I walked back to the crimson bricked wall that contained Ron's broken body. I raised the sword to his chest and before I carved the "R" I lowered the sword then stared at it. The sword I wielded was golden, and encrusted with three gems. A ruby closest to the hilt, a sapphire above the ruby, and obsidian above the sapphire. They were in shapes of diamonds. The hilt of the sword was golden as well, with almandine garnet which surrounded the edges of the hilt. It was quite the masterpiece. "Ron. I'm nothing like you. I wouldn't dare harm someone and let them suffer. No matter how cruel and stupid they can be. I'm different. I will NEVER be like you. However, this sword will be your doom. May you forever suffer in oblivion." I raised my sword back up to his neck. It also began to emit a bright white light that presented the room I was in. It gave light, and I was able to see where I was and what the silhouette actually looked like. It was Ron no doubt. It just didn't have a face. It just had a mouth. The sword still glowed and it forced itself in Ron's neck completely decapitating his head, which fell on the floor. I heard a door swing open from the entrance. I looked back and saw the entrance door open. Whatever just happened, I didn't kill the real Ron. Though for some reason, I felt a large amount of relief. ==================================================================== Two hours till the Gala. ==================================================================== A/N: Sorry been going through a writer’s block and just now I got a breakthrough. Then I got into a somewhat other block. So far so good, hopefully this was a good enough chapter to make up for the failure of a week :P anyway I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Sorry this will be the only one for a while. Also, AppleMLP is equivalent to Jesus, Chuck Norris, Bruce Lee, and Fabio Flinstone. <-- The author saw this, but is going to keep it.