//------------------------------// // Ponies, Painkillers and religion // Story: And Then There Were 10...Er...67 // by Grey Ghost //------------------------------// Twilight frowned as she stared at the spot where Jason had been, a dried patch of his blood the only indication of his last position. In the chaos of their fight with The Arishok, the human had just... vanished. She lit her horn, frowning as she detected the presence of... something. It wasn’t dark magic, more like the darkness had swallowed Jason up. “Find anything?” a voice asked from behind her, catching her attention. She turned her head to see Applejack approaching. The farmer hadn’t gotten through the battle unscathed, the bandage on her cheek and the limping left hind leg were evidence of that. “I picked up traces of something but I’m not sure what,” Twilight said with a tired sigh. “You need to rest, Applejack. I know you're worried about Jason but you really should rest.” “Ah ain’t stoppin’ until we find him. Apples don’t abandon family,” she insisted with a stomp of her hoof and a determined expression. “Well, there’s no use staying here, we’ve already gone through the entire building and there’s no sign of him,” Twilight admitted with a sigh, her ears drooping a bit. “The Arishok is already in custody, we’ll just have to get him to talk.” “He don’t seem like the cooperatin’ type Twi.” Twilight was about to answer when a white portal suddenly opened next to them. Both mares took offensive stances, but Jason fell out of it and landed hard on his injured shoulder. “AH DAMNIT!” he shouted, curling up, clutching his shoulder in agony. “Jason!” Applejack exclaimed, rushing over to him and pulling him into a bone crushing hug. “Get off me!” he screamed, shoving her away. “What the hell are you two starting at!? Get me a damn doctor!” Applejack blinked and recoiled a bit, shocked by his outburst. The sight of his blood however quickly snapped her out of her stupor. “Jus’ hang on, we’ll get ya help!” she commanded, pushing her head under Jason to slide him onto her back, then taking off towards the guards. “We need a medic!” Twilight shouted, teleporting in with a burst of light, her eyes wide in panic. “Over here,” a tall unicorn stallion called, waving them over. Applejack rushed to him, gently placing Jason on the ground. “Can ya help him?” Applejack asked with a worried look. “I’ll see what I can do. His body structure seems similar enough to a minotaur,” the medic replied, looking over the wounded man. “Just hurry... up...” Jason tried to shout, only for his voice to die down, unable to stop himself from passing out. “No need to worry, I simply put him under a sedation spell, now please, let me work,” the unicorn said, motioning for them to leave. The mares exchanged worried glances before leaving the stallion to his work. *** Celestia sighed as she walked into the interrogation room. She was not looking forward to this conversation at all, but it had to be done. Luna had volunteered to do the interrogation, which Celestia... politely declined. Luna was more likely to kill (or at least grievously wound) The Arishok than get any information out of him. “Greetings Celestia,” The Arishok stated, looking up from the table. What little armor he had had been removed, his weapons confiscated. His hands and feet were bound, chained to the floor. “We are not here to exchange pleasantries. You are here because of your many crimes against Equestria,” she retorted as she sat across from him, her eyes narrowed. This creature had caused more death than any other threat to Equestria and he was not much stronger than an average earth pony. “What you see as crimes I see as duty,” he responded, looking into her eyes. “Spreading your religion is not a crime here. Forcibly converting ponies and killing those that won’t are not acceptable.” Celestia glared at him and the temperature in the room started to rise. “Now, tell me where Ansem and Xemnas are.” “I would not know. I do not associate with such creatures, even if Xemnas is pitiable,” he responded in a low voice, never breaking eye contact. “You must know something, tell me!” she demanded. She slammed her hooves onto the table, and her mane burst into flames. Normally, Celestia could remain calm in these situations, but this creature had slaughtered countless ponies and not shown even an ounce of remorse. “Xemnas may still be saved. He is empty now, but he may be complete once more,” The Arishok stated, ignoring the heat despite the sweat pouring down his body. “Go on,” Celestia prompted, starting to regain her composure. “A nobody lacks a heart so they yearn to be complete. What most of them don’t know is that, given enough emotional stimulation, they can regrow it.” “Does Xemnas know this?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “I do not believe so,” he said, pausing for a moment. “What is it you intend to do with me? I suspect you have lost the Elements, otherwise you would have already used them on me again.” Celestia stiffened ever so slightly before answering the question. “That is correct, we no longer have the Elements of Harmony, but that does not mean you will go unpunished. You will be imprisoned in Tartarus, with the rest of the demons.” The Arishok just nodded, going silent. Celestia tried for several more minutes to get something out of him before giving up and leaving him to his thoughts. *** “I can’t believe this,” Rainbow said, crossing her arms. She was currently laying in a hospital bed, her broken left wing in a cast. Like any other pegasus, she hated being cooped up, and unlike her last stay in the hospital she didn't have any Daring Do books to distract her. “Oh please darling, you're being overly dramatic,” Rarity said with a roll of her eyes, sitting in a chair next to the injured pegasus. “Oh you're one to talk about being dramatic,” Rainbow rebutted, glaring. “Weren't you the one screaming about your horn being broken?” Rarity huffed, adjusting her mane. “My horn may not be broken as such, but it is cracked. I shan’t be able to use my magic for some time. Oh... I won’t be able to do any work like this,” she said with a defeated sigh. “Oh, I’d be glad to help you Rarity.” Fluttershy spoke up, having been quiet until now. At the moment, only the three of them were in the room, as Pinkie had rushed off to get some things to brighten the mood. “That’s quite alright Fluttershy, I wouldn’t want to impose,” Rarity said, waving a dismissive hoof. As Fluttershy opened her mouth to respond, the door opened. Twilight and Applejack stepped in with Jason floating alongside in the alicorn’s magic. “Oh my, are you three alright?” Fluttershy asked, flitting over to Jason, worry etched into her face. “We’re fine Fluttershy, Jason just needs rest is all,” Twilight said, floating the human into a bed and pulling the covers over him. “Where did you find him dear?” Rarity asked, moving over to the sleeping human. “He sorta just fell out a portal,” Applejack explained while she made sure Jason was comfortable. The motions must have disturbed him, as he groaned and started coming around. “Hey Jay, how do you feel?” Rainbow asked from the other bed, watching as he sat up. “I feel...” he said looking off toward the wall. “When did we get to Disneyland?” he asked, looking down at the ponies. “Jason, why don’t you just lie back down ok?” Twilight asked, using a hoof to gently push the human back down. “Hey... Rarity... anyone ever tell you that you look like a marshmallow?” “Well! I never!” Rarity huffed, looking rather upset at the comparison. “Well, you should - it’s fun,” Jason snarked back at her. “Don’t get too worked up at anything he says right now, girls,” Twilight started. “The pain medication is most likely impairing his thought processes.” “Speak normally, egghead!” “What I mean is, right now he’s out of his mind. He should go back to back to normal as the medicine wears off-f-f-f-” Twilight trailed off, freezing up as Jason started to scratch her ears. “Who's a good pony princess?” he cooed, a dopey grin on his face. “Oh sweet Celestia...” Twilight muttered, pressing against his hand, melting under his touch. “Oh my,” Fluttershy eeped, hiding behind her mane while the other girls just watched in shock. Their best friend and a princess of Equestria was getting her ear scratched like a dog and was actually enjoying it. “Y-you... when I die I’m gonna hang out with a bearded guy for all eternity. He’s got a...” Jason stumbled, patting his eyes with his free hand. “Eye patch! Yeah, eye patch, and these two bitchin ravens... I always wanted a raven. My favorite poem is ‘The Raven.’’’ “Wait wait wait, hold up. You don’t believe in Faust!?” Rainbow Dash asked, her eyes wide. The others were also aghast to hear this news. “Who the hell would pray to Faust?” he asked frowning. “That guy sold his soul to the Devil. The Devil! Kids love the devil! They’re throwing up the horns!” “Oh my.” Rarity said, putting a hoof to her mouth. “Did he just badmouth Faust?” Applejack asked, narrowing her eyes a bit. “Now Applejack, I don’t think Jason meant to insult Faust, did you Jason?” Fluttershy asked, turning to the human, who had passed out again. She giggled a bit, tucking him in. *** “Oh god my head...” Jason said, sitting up and rubbing his head. The pain in his shoulder had thankfully diminished into a dull ache. He looked around, noting that he was in a hospital. “Oh good you're awake.” Twilight said, looking up from her book. “Yes, quite,” Rarity pitched in, taking a sip of water from a cup, shakily held in her hooves. “I get the feeling I’m in trouble...” he mumbled, looking around at the group of ponies. “Well dear it’s just that well... do you believe in Faust?” Rarity asked, biting her lip nervously. “Faust?” Jason asked, utterly confused. “Faust as in that old Christian legend about the guy who sells his soul to the devil? No I don’t believe that, I’m not Christian.” “What’s a Christian?” Pinkie Pie asked, tilting her head a bit. Jason just groaned, running his hand down his face. “A Christian is a person that believes in Jesus Christ. I don’t,” Jason said, really wishing his conversation wasn’t happening. “So, what do you believe in then, if you don’t mind telling us...” Fluttershy spoke up, pawing at the floor. “I believe in the old Norse gods, specifically Odin.” He paused, shifting about in the bed, trying to find a more comfortable position. “It’s not a common belief anymore,” he sighed, looking up at the ceiling. “Though... I’m kind of a failure.” “What in the hay are you talking about?” Dash asked, sounding confused. “Look, I believe in a place called Valhalla. Only the honorable make it in and that normally means dying in combat. Well guess what, when that guy stabbed me, the only thing I felt was fear, pure unadulterated terror. I’m supposed to go into a fight fearlessly not cower like a damn child!” he shouted, tears running down his face. “Y-you believe you have to die...?” Pinkie asked, her mane drooping a bit. Jason sighed, wiping his tears away. “Look can we not talk about this? I don’t like discussing religion,” he said, looking away and hugging the blankets tightly around himself. “Of course Jason,” Twilight said with a nod. “Come on girls, it’s getting late, we should let them get some rest,” she said, ushering the uninjured ponies out of the room. The remaining two ponies and human didn’t speak to each other for the rest of the night. *** Ansem grinned to himself, watching his prey walk down the darkened streets of Baltimare. The sound of a portal opening caught his attention and he turned around in time to see Xemnas step out of it. “It is as you predicted brother. The Crystal Empire has returned and the Crystal Heart is active once more. I doubt either of us could retrieve it,” Xemnas informed, pulling back his hood. “And Sombra?” Ansem asked, returning his gaze to his target, who was blissfully unaware of them. “Dead.” Xemnas replied, his voice a cold monotone. “Pity, though in the end he was nothing more than a puppet,” Ansem said. Sombra had been so easy to tempt, the promise of power too great. “Do you have a plan?” Xemnas asked, stepping up next to his brother. Looking down at the street below, he spied a blue pony pulling a wagon. “Of course I do, was there ever any doubt?” Xemnas paused, glancing at Ansem. “Drake...” he started, his voice low. “Do you think we’ll ever get home?” Ansem seemed to go rigid for a moment at the use of his real name before he relaxed. “Of course we will, we just have to stay together. Now,” he began vanishing and reappearing in front of the mare. “Hello, Trixie.” The startled mare jumped, her eyes wide. “W-who are you!?” she asked, staring at him in terror. “I am Ansem, The Seeker Of Darkness, and I am here to offer you a chance to gain the power to take your revenge,” he smiled, holding out his hand to her. She stared at the appendage before shaking her head. “No, Trixie would never accept anything from the likes of you!” Ansem just smiled, darting forward and wrapping his fingers around her horn. His body started to dissipate, flowing into her horn. The poor mare screamed in agony but was soon silenced as Ansem took over. Her eyes turned from their normal purple to a toxic yellow and her horn acquired a light purple tint. “There, that should do,” Trixie-Ansem spoke, their voice an unnerving mix of her own and Ansem’s. “Let us take our leave Xemnas, the sooner we get the Heart, the sooner we can restore yours,” they said before opening a portal and stepping through it. Xemnas gazed at the wagon a bit longer, the smallest of frowns etched upon his face. It was almost like... No, it was just his imagination. He moved through the portal and closed it behind himself.