As we all watched Luka and her new girlfriend? Marefriend? ...Nah let’s stick with girlfriend, walk off, I couldn’t help, but feel a little happy for them. Luka has really seemed down lately, suppressing the harmonic and chaotic magicks around her. I smiled at her as they disappeared around the bend and then my eyes wander on to Rin. Though she was putting on a strong face, I knew she was still shaken by everything that had just happened.
“Rin?” I asked as I pulled her over. I noticed that everyone else, while carrying on with their own conversations, had taken a notice of my actions, but I didn’t care. Not when she needed my help. “Are you… alright? After everything that happened?”
Rin looked at the floor, rubbing her arms slightly. “Honestly? No, I was terrified. I was just so scared of what he was going to do to me. And then you rushed in to save me.” She lifted her head to look at me, her eyes radiating beauty to me...wait what?
Did I really just think that? Could… could I actually have feelings for Rin? Well, she’s cute, funny as all get out, just as if not more random as me, and… I enjoy having her around. ...Well...what do you know? I like Rin. ...Oh shit! She’s talking! Pay attention, pay attention!!
“DJ, thank you, for saving me. You worried me for a moment when you said you wouldn’t move to stop him, yet you still found a way to save me. Is there anything I can do to repay you? Maybe I could help you with your meditation? Or-”
I stopped her by putting a hand on her shoulder. She looked at me questioningly. “You really want to make it up to me?” She nodded, and I rubbed the back of my head with a little blush. “Well, you could agree to go to dinner with me…”
Her eyes widened at me. “Are, are you asking me out?”
“Well, um, uh… ah to hell with it!” I leaned in suddenly and kissed Rin right on the lips. She squeaked adorably, freezing up. The kiss lasted less than two seconds, but for me it was an eternity of bliss. Rin’s face was frozen, yet burning red. “Rin?” Ah, man, did I go to far? That thought was killed an instant later when she lunged forward and up and kissed me right back.
From the others, I could here some catcalls, no doubt Kamui being a dick. When we finally parted, gasping for breath, we looked back to them, seeing them all smiling at us. Pinkie looked ready to explode from glee and Fluttershy and Rarity were both smiling at us. Twilight was just silently observing, though I could see the tiny smile she had when she glanced at us.
Only one was not happy at our little show of affection and, of course, it was her brother. Len looked like he was planning every intricate detail of how he was gonna kill me. Now, back on Earth, I would have been scared. Here? Ha, I don’t fear nothin’ but my boss. ...Oh. Shit, this could muck things up. Me falling for someone was not in the plan, but… I glanced at the girl I had leaning on my chest with a blissful smile on her face. I smiled brightly too. Eh, we’ll get to it when it comes.
Len walked right up to me as the girls headed out, Kamui dragged along to be tested on. I would feel sorry for him if it wasn’t for the killer inside him and the fact that he willing submitted himself to the Twilight testing session.
“Alright,” Len started with, glaring harshly at me, “let’s get one thing straight: you break her heart, I break you. Got it?”
I smirked at him, an evil glint in my eyes. I didn’t waver once from him. “One, I have no intention of breaking Lea’s heart.” He blinked. “Yeah, I know her real name. Leandra, Rin, Pixel Berry, it doesn’t matter what she calls herself, I will protect her. You can count on that.” I began to walk away, leaving Len standing frozen. I stopped right next to him and whispered, “But next time, don’t threaten someone who has no problem with ending your life in a flash.” His head whipped around to meet my eyes, a look of fear plastered in them. I smirked victoriously and walked off without another word.
Len watched me leave, now more worried than ever about me. “Who is that guy? What is he?” He shook his head and headed off into another part of the castle.
~
The next few days were a blissful blur. Twilight had spent the majority of her time researching Luka’s thaumite circuit thing. Honestly, I would have cared more about it if Twilight had actually let me help with the thing, but noooo! I’m not allowed near the dangerous chemicals for some reason. Sheesh, I’ve never dropped a chemical in my life… I’ve thrown a few, but that was a completely different situation altogether.
Anyway, relationship wise, everything was going great for me and Rin. Twilight had let us have the dining hall to ourselves that night and we had a classic, candle-lit dinner. It went amazingly well with plenty of kissing. Sigh, I can never get enough of that. I think I got drunk more off her lips than the red wine we had. ...Well, she didn’t have any, but I downed a couple of glasses before the night was over. I got a little tipsy, but Rin said all that made me do was compliment her like a Frenchy. I may not like the French, but damn if the language and culture of love ain’t effective.
Luka and Applejack were even better off. It had taken a little convincing, but Twilight eventually allowed Luka to move in with the Apples. Granny and Big Mac took to her like a babe to its mother’s milk. That was kind of fun, getting Luka situated in the Apple house. Granny wouldn’t let her stay in AJ’s room, so they had to build her a new room as an addition to the first floor. Thankfully, I grew up as a carpenter and all around handyman’s son, so I was able to help them out a lot. I’d never actually built something like that before, but it was nice to be able to help. Rin tagged along too, but I think it was just an excuse to see me working with my shirt off. ...She wasn’t disappointed.
Heh, back to Luka and AJ. Those two were almost inseparable as her room was being built. Applejack had tried to keep her from helping, but Luka wouldn’t take “no” for an answer. She knew AJ was just worried because of what happened with Jeff, but she could take care of herself. I’d been paying a particular amount of attention to Luka lately, as well. Not the kind of attention I gave Rin, no, this was more of a scientific curiosity. I would try to follow Luka (stalkerish, I know) when she went off to practice her new Void abilities. Imagine my surprise when I saw Nyx was going her! However, I would always lose sight of them after a moment. It was frustrating, not being able to find out what they were up to. After a while, I just stopped, leaving them to their own. Luka had become a special kind of variable now, one that I would be glad to play with.
Now, Kamui, on the other hand… that was a completely different situation. He took what happened particularly hard and who could blame him? He had literally tried to kill us all! You had to be hard pressed to be able to get Kamui to talk to you after what happened. Sure, he still went about the day with a happy smile on his face, but I knew that behind that smile was fear. Fear of what lurked just underneath. He had probably had the same thought I did, too: that if it happened now, not only could it happen again, but it also more than likely happened in the past. Kamui was no doubt feeling guilty for all the deaths Jeff had caused using his body. He just needed time… I hoped.
This is all that I thought about as I laid my head down for the night. Tomorrow would be my last day in Ponyville, having to go back to my new home in the Crystal Empire with Cadance and Shining the day after. I wanted to stay for Rin, but they sent a letter saying that they had already gotten me a house a few blocks from the palace! They had done so much for me that it would have been rude to simply say “Thanks, but no thanks”. When Rin found out, she was a little more than depressed, but I promised, Pinkie Promised mind you, to come back and visit soon.
Tomorrow would be more of a relaxing day, Rin and I even made plans to go spend the day with Luka and Applejack. Kind of like a double date, come to think of it. I was looking forward to it, actually. A whole day out in the famous Sweet Apple Acres orchard. I think AJ even said something about a picnic. I hoped so, picnic food is delicious.
Eventually, I drifted off into sleep… if only it had been a comforting one. All around me was darkness, but it was soon illuminated by flickers of flames. But the source of those flames made me pale. I was in Ponyville, only everything around me was destroyed and the town was ablaze. I couldn’t move, everything was just too much to take in. Then I saw them--
“Kaito!”
I awoke with a start, panting slightly. I looked around and saw Kamui and Len by my bed, both looking worried. “Wha… what’s wrong?”
“Are you ok, dude? You were mumbling in your sleep and turning about like crazy,” Kamui informed me.
“Yeah, yeah,” I waved them off, putting a hand to my head to steady myself. “Just a little nightmare. Nothing to worry about.”
Neither of them looked very convinced, but I managed to coax them back to their own beds.I didn’t relax until I heard the subtle sounds of sleep coming from them both. I visibly deflated and looked out the window next to my bed. Outside was a beautiful starry sky with a thin crescent moon, an amazing sight to behold for someone from the cities of Earth. Oh, how I wished that had been nothing, but a nightmare, but it was so much more than that. It was a vision, a vision from the not-too-distant future, no doubt. It was a sign, a sign that the game had to begin. It was time.
~
“Ah, nothin’ like a nice, relaxin’ day, eh guys?” asked Applejack as she drank down her juice. The loving couples had found one of the larger trees to use as shade as they had a nice picnic and were now relaxing as the clouds drifted over.
“Looks like Rainbow missed a few,” Rin pointed out as we laid in the grass. Luka and her mare were leaning against the tree, side by side.
“It really is a beautiful day,” I remarked, letting a cool breeze wash over me. “It’s nice to be out of that castle for a while. Even if we did have to teleport here.”
“What’s wrong with teleporting?”
“If I’m not the one doin’ it, I don’t want none of it,” I said with a fierce nod of determination. “One day, I will learn to teleport!” I cried, pointing a thumbs up to the heavens. “Believe it!”
Luka and Rin rolled their eyes. “Simmer down, ninja boy,” Luka said as she took a bite of fritter. I snickered a bit before sighing.
“So, what do you guys think about that letter Twilight got yesterday?”
“You mean the one that said another Vocaloid may have been found?”
“Wait, what? When did this happen?”
“Well, Luka, during lunch yesterday, Twilight got a letter from the princesses. Apparently, they have found another Vocaloid in Canterlot.”
“Woah, what are the princesses gonna do ‘bout it?”
“They’re going to be bring her to meet us within the next few days or so. Or we’re going there, I forget which.”
“Well, as long she’s not another crazy bastard like you, Kaito, I think it’ll work out fine.”
“Luka! Don’t go an--” Rin started, but was interrupted my laughter.
“Ha! I don’t think it’s possible for someone like that to exist, Luka! I’m one of a kind, baby!” The others broke into chuckle fits of there own and we settled down into a comfortable silence. My eyes, for a moment, drifted over to the wild forest not too far from us.
“Kaito?”
“Hmm?” I turned my head back to my girlfriend who was looking at me with worry. “What’s up, Rin?”
“That’s the fifth time you’ve stared at the Everfree forest. Is something wrong?”
“Nah, just thinking.”
“That’s a scary thought.”
I turned my head to deadpan at Applejack. “Hush you.” She snickered and I just shook my head.
“Thinking about what?”
“Well, in most stories I’ve read, humans always seem to have some kind of adventure in that forest. It’s full of creatures that are only seen in ancient mythology. As a lover of myth and history, not to mention adventuring, I’m tempted to take a look.”
“Are ya nuts?! That forest ain’t natural! You’ll get eaten faster than kibble at a dog show.”
Rin, on the other hand, was just looking at me. “...you’re dead set on this, aren’t you?”
I nodded. “Can’t complete a trip to Ponyville without it.” I got up, adjusting my guitar on my back. “I should be back by dark. I’ll be fine, I got Moonlight with me so it’s not like I won’t be prepared.”
Rin stood up as well and kissed me. “Just be safe. Don’t do anything reckless.”
I smirked. “No promises on that!” I started walking in the direction of the forest, chuckling a little.
“Kaito!” I hear Rin call me. I turn around and see that she had a hand reached out toward me and she looked as if she was trying to tell me something. “I… I… Oh, never mind. Come back soon!”
Well, that was strange. I smiled and waved back. “See ya later!” And with that I walked into the forest. I stopped for a second just as I was covered by the shadows of the Everfree. “It’s time for the game to begin.” Into the Everfree I ventured.
~
I ended up staying at Applejack’s that night, still waiting for Kaito to return. He said he would return before dark, but it’s already the next day and I was really worried. I sat there on that same hill, watching the forest for any sign of my boyfriend coming back.
“Oh, where are you, Kaito?” I asked the open air, hoping for some sign of him to appear. I wasn’t expecting to be answered.
“He’s probably fine.” I jumped and turned to see Luka sitting down next to me. “While he’s a little annoying, Kaito’s a Mary Sue. He’ll be just fine.”
“Oh come on,” I replied, “he’s not that bad.”
“Close to it,” Luka said with a smile. I smiled back and soon enough we were both laughing at Kaito’s expense. When we settled down, we were silent for a few moments before Luka spoke again. “So, you really care about him, don’t you?”
“I, well, I think I do. We met online a little over a year ago and we just kinda hit it off. It all started when I asked to be included in one of his stories, imagine my surprise when he said he was more than happy to do it. We shared ideas, got to know each other a little bit, and became friends. He’s a nice guy, a little weird yeah, but so am I. I never imagined it would go this far, though.”
Luka was silent for a moment. “Yesterday, when you called out to him, ...you were going to tell him something, but you stopped. Why?”
“It… it didn’t feel like the right time.”
“What didn’t feel like the right time?”
It was my turn to be quiet. “...I was going to tell him that I loved him.”
There was a flash of surprise in her eyes, but it turned to a compassionate smile. “Well, I would say that that’s moving a little fast, but then I suppose I’d be a hypocrite.”
I looked at her with a little shock. “You mean… you love Applejack.”
She blushed, just a teeny bit. “I think I do. I’m not completely sure of my feelings yet, but,” she sighed happily, “it’s getting to that point.”
I nodded and we settled into a comfortable silence. Then, I saw some movements from the forest. I got to my feet, watching in anticipation. A smile made it’s way to my face, but then Luka said something that killed my joy.
“Something’s coming.” It was a simple declaration, but the way she said it, it didn’t sound like what was coming would be coming happy. From the bushes, I saw a group of glowing, golden eyes peering out us. They slowly moved out of the shadows, revealing a group of lupine-like creatures composed entirely of mossy wood. “Oh shit,” Luka cursed.
“Timberwolves!!” I screeched and they pounced, rushing us at full speed. The two of us stumbled as we ran for our lives. They were right on our heels as he took off into the orchard.
“Applejack!” Luka screamed. Up ahead on a far away hill, the farm mare, looked out to where Luka’s scream originated and paled at the sight she saw.
“Timberwolves,” she whispered before a fierce snarl escaped her lips. “They ain’t touchin’ mah Luka.” She turned towards her homestead and gave a hearty yell, “Big Mac! Get mah rope!”
“Eeyup!” Less than a second later, a coil of rope was sent sent sailing, only to be caught by Applejack as she took off into danger.
We, however, had no knowledge of this, and we’re still running for our lives. Then I had the bad luck to go an trip! I landed flat, skidding to a stop, but trying to get up as soon as I could. I was aching all over, but I knew I had to get away. I flipped on to my back as the timberwolf closed in, it’s snarling, goop dripping maw only a few inches away. I felt like screaming, doing something, but I was too frozen in fear. The wooden wolf opened wide, preparing to bite, only for it to be snapped shut by a rope wrapping around its muzzle.
“Yee Haw!!” AJ bellowed as she flipped and threw the wolf into a nearby tree, causing it to whine in pain as it fell to the ground. “Ya alright, sugarcube?” she asked me. I nodded, unable to say anything. I felt Luka put her hands on my shoulders, trying to get me to move. I was slow and hesitant, but I did eventually get to my feet. Applejack was busy holding off the other wolves, trying to give us enough time to get away.
Then something caught my eye. It was the wolf, the one AJ had smashed into the tree. The canine was wearing something; a large piece of fabric was draped over its back. It wasn’t moving, so I slowly grabbed the fabric and it immediately felt familiar. That should have been my first sign something was off, but I was too curious for my own good. I pulled the cloth off the wolf and immediately dropped it once I had a good look at it. What was in front of me sent shakes, shivers, and fear all over my body. I felt like dropping to my knees and sobbing at what it was.
What I had pulled off the wolf… it was Kaito’s jacket… stained a deep red with blood in several spots. There was so much blood on the coat, he couldn’t have… I couldn’t even bring myself to finish that thought. Rivers of tears escaped my eyes and I could feel the cries building up in the back of my throat.
“Rin?” I heard Luka ask, even though it sounded like she was miles away. I heard her gasp, meaning she too must have seen the coat. “Rin…”
I could hear her sadness, but I heard something else, too. It was snarling; it was growling. My eyes drifted to the source, landing right on the pack of wolves that were slowly pushing Applejack back towards us. When I saw them… I fuckin’ snapped! Those little beasts killed the man I loved! They needed to pay.
“You,” I whispered to myself, but I could no longer hold back my anger, my pain. Yes, they would feel my pain. “You!” I screamed, making AJ flinch. I marched right past her, fury raging in my eyes. “I’ll destroy you!” My hands glowed yellow and I screamed as I let out that same power I had done before at the Castle of the Two Sisters. A blast of pulsing gold energy escaped my palms and soared right at the timberwolves, incinerating them on contact. It was instantaneous, though I didn’t get all of them. Some managed to escape the brunt of the blast, but none were unscathed. The survivors were missing limbs or pieces of their bodies, but that didn’t stop them from running for the hills, knowing they were facing food that was gonna fight back with avengence.
I was panting slightly, sweat dripping from my brow from using all that power. It felt...good, making them suffer. But then, then my eyes wandered back to the coat. Almost like a zombie, I hobbled back to Kaito’s coat and collapsed to my knees right next to it. I picked it up as if it would fall to pieces at the wrong touch and brought it close to my heart, finally letting out my agonizing sobs. I felt Luka and Applejack both hug me tight as I cried, letting me know they were there for me. All I could do, though, was cry.
After a few minutes, I faintly heard Applejack say, “We should tell Twilight and the others… they’re gonna wanna know.” I didn’t say a word, but I was brought to my feet shakily and led off, away from that horrible forest.
~
Manehattan, a sprawling metropolis filled with life for every colt and filly who lived there. The streets were always filled with ponies going about their days. From the every busy family stallion, to the young little filly hoping to make it big in the theatre. So filled with light and hope, it was truly a grand city... during the day.
The Manehattan nights were nothing like its days, as there was no hope during this time. This was the time of the day where a smart pony would get off the streets, lock their doors, and pretend they don’t hear what truly happens out in the city. The night belongs to the darker parts of pony society. Sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll ruled these times, making the wise pony think twice about staying out after dark.
Now, if only Mayweather had remembered that. But no, she just couldn’t turn down a night on the town with her friends. And where did that land her? All alone, as her friends got swept up in the bar crowds and she got separated from them. She’s paying the price for her idiotic choice, cornered by that large stallion in a back alley where nopony could hear her scream.
“Alright, sweetheart,” his deep, dark voice dripped with lust that sent shivers of the greatest magnitude down her spine. “You know what I want, so why don’t you just make this easier on both of us? Just turn that sexy little plot around, bend over, and lift that tail for me. I’ll get what I want and you can be on your way that much faster.”
The poor young filly was frightened beyond belief. All she had wanted from this city was chance to show her stuff on stage. She’d always prided herself on her great singing voice. How ironic that that very voice couldn’t save her now. She didn’t want to give in, but what choice did she have? She tried, oh she tried to do as he told her to, but Mayweather just couldn’t help but curl up on the ground, crying her eyes out and calling for help.
“The hard way it is,” he snarled, brushing his knife across her flank as he started to walk around back of her. “Ya shoulda just did as you was told.”
Suddenly, the stallion was wrenched away from Mayweather. She didn’t dare look, for fear it was something much worse, but her curiosity got the better of her. She slowly moved her hoof to look, but that one peak was enough to frighten her more than anything else had on Equis. A large creature, cloaked in darkness was holding the stallion by the neck against the far wall. It stood much taller than anypony she had ever seen, especially being on only its hind legs. She could hear the stallion’s strangles cries, trying to struggle free of the creature's grasp.
“Lemme go, ya damn monster! That filly’s mine; git yer own!”
The creature growled in response to the stallion’s words and threw the pony to the side in anger. A glint in the moonlight drove Mayweather’s eyes down to the creatures forehooves, which were strangely similar to a minotaur’s, and let her eyes turn to pinpricks as she recognized a long, curved sword rested there.
The stallion, most certainly not the brightest in the bunch, growled back at the monster as he stood back up. “Buck! That hurt! What’s yer problem?! That’s motherbucker,” he said, pulling out his knife again, “Now yer gunna get yours.”
The creature, for some reason, smirked, it’s carnivorous teeth reflecting the moonlight. Mayweather blinked, and the creature was gone. Her eyes scanned the area and soon found it standing a few hooves behind her attempted rapist, who had strangely gone quiet. She then noticed that the monster’s sword was now pointed down by it’s side. Then her blood ran cold as she saw a viscous liquid begin to drip off the tip of the blade. She looked back to the stallion and screamed as his body fell in two, symmetrical pieces. As the split body hit the ground, it shattered like glass, dispersing into an infinite amount of pieces.
Her eyes drifted back to the creature, which began to walk away from the murder scene, a smirk still ever present. Mayweather wanted to say something, anything, but her beautiful voice was absent due to the sight she had just bore witnessed to. The creature stopped just before the exit of the alley and slowly turned its head in her direction. At first, she was seized by fear, believing that now it would come for her. Instead, the monster spoke to her.
“C’est la vie.” And, in a swirl of bone chilling wind, it was gone.
The next morning, Mayweather told the police everything, but was unable to provide a proper description. All she could tell them was that the creature was tall, wielded a single-edged sword, walked on its hind legs, and had wild blue eyes with blood red irises. That night, another attack happened, another mare reporting the same description. Again, it happened the night after that. As the nights went on, more and more sightings poured in, forcing the Manehattan Guard to take this threat seriously. And so the hunt for Jack Frost, as the ponies dubbed him after the old myth of winter due to the ice crystal that his victims were reduced to and the cold win he summoned upon vanishing, began.