//------------------------------// // Episode 55: The Guilt Of A Changeling // Story: The Life of a Wanted Changeling Season 2: Debt to a Doctor (Comment Driven Story) // by Down with Chrysalis //------------------------------// You continue to just sit there alone in the field, tears of guilt streaming down your face as the memory of what you did replays repeatedly in your mind and torments you to no end; Flag's smug smile, the looks of those around you, the explosions and screams... The feeling of compete failure and guilt consumes you as you just can't stop saying over and over again, "It's all my fault... They're all dead... I did it... Not some faker or a uncontrollable nightmare, ME! I killed them all! What have I done!" Millions of ponies you don't know flash in your mind, looks of pure fear etched on their faces. You cry out in anguish and start slamming your hoof into the ground as it becomes too much. You just want it to end. You just want something to take it all away... "Someling... help me. I... I just wanted to stop him. But now... oh Luna SOMELING PLEASE JUST HELP ME!" You visibly start shaking and continue smashing your hoof into the ground as you hear accusing voices in your head, It's all your fault. You could have stopped him, but now you have his and their blood on your hooves Why didn't you just do everypony a favor back at the Gala and die? None of this would have happened if you did... You grab your ears, trying to drown out these voices as you scream, "Shut up! Shut up! Please just shut the buck up! SOMELING MAKE THEM SHUT UP!" Suddenly you feel a hoof on your shoulder. You look up in surprise to see... You sit there and cry aloud, even as the TARDIS materializes behind you. The Doctor just opens the door and looks at you sadly. “Bugze I’m sorry…I’m so sorry” he says to you in genuine sorrow. “Sorry? You’re SORRY?!” you yell in anger “You’re the one to blame for all of this!” The Doctor just looks at you with sad eyes and says nothing so you attack him. “I was happy, I was at peace in Appleloosa! YOU DRAGGED ME OUT! And for what? To be a glorified errand boy?! NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF YOU’D LEFT ME ALONE! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!” “I’m sorry... I’m so sorry...” The Doctor says to you in genuine sorrow, *snap* “Sorry? You’re SORRY?!” you yell in anger as your eyes glow orange, “You’re the one to blame for all of this!” The Doctor just looks at you with sad eyes and says nothing as you yell, “I was happy, I was at peace in Appleloosa! YOU DRAGGED ME OUT! And for what? To be a glorified errand boy?! NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF YOU’D LEFT ME ALONE! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!” As you shout, the Nightmare Cloak explodes from you at five tails. The Doctor looks at you in surprise as... Upon realizing its the doctor, you let the Nightmare cloak explode from you agaiin, with six tails. your form compleatly blackens with the amount of energy surronding you, and your voice echos with rage. this was all the doctors fault! He woulddent tell you what the messages ment! its because of him that everything has gone to hell and byond! take your anger out on the tardis, launch a Bijudama at it. use your tails to pin him to a wall the sheer intensity of the engery in the Nightmare Cloak enough to cause him to scream in pain upon contact with it, and scream/roar in his face. killing him would be to easy... no, your going to make him wish youd killed him. Your Nightmare Tails shoot out and slam/pin the Time Lord against the TARDIS. As the Doctor tries to breath, you hear him say, "I was... only trying... to help." You growl before you roar in an enraged Royal Canterlot Voice, Doctor. Back. The Buck. Off. You wanna know why you end up failing, why people consistently refuse to listen to your advice? YOU DON'T GIVE THEM ENOUGH OF A BUCKING REASON TO TRUST YOU! YOU JUST KEEP TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO WITHOUT GIVING A GOOD ENOUGH REASON FOR THEM TO DO IT! You just expect them to listen because you're the 'Time Lord'. Well guess what, you don't know people, and at the rate you're going, you never will, so try fixing that before you think you can give orders. "HELP?! HELP! YOU DIDN'T BUCKING TRY TO HELP!" You tighten your grasp on the Doctor as you continue, "You wanna know why you end up failing, why people consistently refuse to listen to your advice? IT'S BECAUSE YOU DON'T GIVE THEM ENOUGH OF A BUCKING REASON TO TRUST YOU! YOU JUST KEEP TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO WITHOUT GIVING A GOOD ENOUGH REASON FOR THEM TO DO IT!" The Doctor struggles as you continue, "YOU JUST EXPECT THEM TO OBEY CAUSE YOU'RE A TIME LORD? WELL GUESS WHAT, YOU DON'T KNOW PONIES AND AT THE RATE YOU'RE BUCKING GOING, YOU NEVER WILL, SO TRY FIXING THAT BEFORE YOU THINK YOU CAN GIVE YOUR BUCKING ORDERS!!!" Just as your about to send the Doctor to space (without his TARDIS), he says something that makes you stop dead in your tracks... The Doctor groans against the pressure of your grip, but manages to reach out to you. "Going to kill again so soon, Bugze?" he asks. Your nightmare cloak suddenly vanishes as you drop to your knees, weeping. The Doctor leans into you and hugs, and you share an emotional moment "Doc... what do I do?" you finally ask, wiping tears from your eyes. "That is for you to decide," the Doctor replies. "I can show you this, though." He displays tomorrow's copy of the Manehatten Bugle, the front cover bearing a photo of you disappearing in a cloud of crows, so expertly shot and framed that you know it's been edited. "The Fillydelphia Fracas, they're calling it," he says. "Going to kill again so soon?" In shock, your nightmare cloak suddenly vanishes as you drop to your knees, weeping. The Doctor gets up and walks over before he leans into you and hugs. "Doc... what do I do?" you finally ask, wiping tears from your eyes. "That is for you to decide," the Doctor replies as he ends the hug. "I can show you this, though." He hoofs you tomorrow's copy of The Canterlot Chronicle, the front cover bearing a photo of you disappearing in a cloud of crows. It's so expertly shot and framed that you know it had to have been edited. "The Crimson Holiday Uprising, they're calling it," he says. Just the name they gave that monstrous attack, your monstrous attack, causes the guilt to come rushing back as you try to regain your composer as you try to read the newspaper without crying... You read about how Shining Armor has called for a Task force to catch the Offender. “The terrorist Flag Burner was a murderer yes, but that does not give someone the right to be Judge Jury and Executioner, especially to someone who had already been beaten. From this point forward, The Hooded Offender is wanted for Murder in the First Degree, on top of all his past crimes. Anypony that is associated with The Horde, will be detained.” -Some declaration by Princess Celestia regarding the incident in Fillydelphia -Your "brutal execution" of Flag Burner -Millions (if not billions) in damages to Fillydelphia -Surprisingly, only confirmed death in attacks are Captain Iron Shield (Flag Burner's body not found...) -Racketeers and Stained Shields arrested on order of Shining Armor during restoration of Fillydelphia -Increased crackdown on the Horde -Horde membership unofficially sharply dropping due to events in Fillydelphia You stare at the rest of the paper in shock as you read out loud, "What was supposed to be Hearth's Warming Eve come early turned into an ordeal worse than Nightmare Night as the city of FIllydelphia was rocked by one of the most destructive attacks since Discord's return. It all started at the annual HWE Hoofball game where a mysterious individual named 'Flag Burner' impersonated Equestria's Most Wanted fugitive, The Hooded Offender, and took the stadium hostage before making a threatening speech and publicly executing Fillydelphia Royal Guard Captain Iron Shield (who was though to have died in a carriage accident a few days prior) on alleged accusations of corruption. The real Hooded Offender appeared to do battle with the renegade impostor which escalated into a full-blown riot that caused billions of Bits worth of damages to the city before it finally ended with the Hooded Offender brutally and mercilessly executing Flag Burner before escaping in a whirlwind of crows." You gulp slightly in guilt as you continue to read outloud "The terrorist Flag Burner was a murderer yes', Captain Armor announced in a press conference 'but that does not give someone the right to be Judge, Jury, and Executioner, especially to someone who had already been beaten. From this point forward, The Hooded Offender is wanted for Murder, on top of all his past crimes and his bounty has been doubled. Anypony that is associated with 'The Horde', will be detained." You sigh in guilt knowing this was all your fault as you continue to read out loud "Due to the extensive damages to Fillydelphia, Princess Celestia has declared the city to be in a State of Emergency and has placed the city under martial law. Ponies are being advised to please evacuate the area and to find shelter with friends and family while reconstruction efforts were underway. Unto further news, Captain Shining Armor has used his newly granted martial law authority to initiate a large crackdown on the city's racketeers and several Fillydelphian Royal Guard members. Rumors say that many of the Guards are 'stained shields' who were putting more priority on looting and trying to capture the illegal tax-free bounty on the Hooded Offender placed by Flag Burner. Captain Armor has also placed specific arrest focus on members of the, now dubbed by anonymous sources, 'Crimson Knights', a renegade splinter faction of 'The Horde' that was founded by Flag Burner and is now being classified as a terrorist group. Captain Armor says that the Crimson Knights can be identified by wearing the typical Horde Cloaks, but with the blood-red crimson symbol of an arrow going through the sun both on the hood and tattooed somewhere on the ponies body. If you see any of these ponies please contact a local guard immediately." You stare at the newspaper in confusion, your grief subdued for now, as you think, I don't remember seeing that symbol on any of those Fanatics. I guess I was too busy kicking their butts to notice. Wait..what's this? "By some holiday miracle, the death toll of this devastation was very low. Only two deaths have been confirmed. Royal Guard Captain Iron Shield, who's family have been hit hard by this loss, and the so called 'False Hood' Flag Burner. However, Flag Burner's body was never found, but based on witness statements, it is safe to assume he is dead." Only two deaths... You start to shake uncontrollably as you slowly look at the Doctor and ask... “NO…that’s wrong…it’s mine…I’m a murderer Doc…I killed him…I couldn’t save anyone so I killed him…they’re all dead…because of me.” “No Bugze…no they’re not.” The Doctor says as he hands you a news paper. The paper headlines “Chaos in Fillydelphia: The Hooded Offender Strikes Again” The Date on the paper is for Tomorrow, but something confuses you. The Death Toll is only 2. Iron Shield and Flag Burner (Who's body was not recovered, but seeing as how you collapsed a building on top of it you can understand why). You look up to the Doctor. “How?” He just looks at you and says, “My gift…my gift for them…Everyone lives…” he then puts his head down in sadness. You are shocked as you read through the paper more and see that all the buildings were mysteriously evacuated, that all this was caused by a rogue faction of The Horde and how the Hooded Offender brutally dealt with their mysterious leader Flag Burner. “Th-they didn’t die? Noling else was killed by him? But that means…” you stutter in shock. “I…I killed him for no reason…I’ve made everything worse” “The Riots were going to happen, Iron Shield was going to die…but no one else would...Not while I had anything to say about it…” The Doctor then grabs the Paper away from you. “This should have been a story about a crazed stallion who was brought down by the guards, a pony who would’ve stood trial. It would’ve gained national attention. Others would’ve stood up for you, that the actions of Burner were that of a radical…that the Hooded Offender was not a killer…” He looks at the paper in sadness as you weep a bit more. “It’s why I didn’t want you involved.” “Why…why couldn’t you just tell me this…why? Please, just for once, answer me…” you plead. “I wish I could Bugze…I truly do…but I can’t” he looks down, “You will understand why eventually, but until then...” “Spoilers..." you sigh as he nods. “I can’t say more…I’m sorry Bugze…truly, from the bottom of my hearts…I am sorry…things are going to get a lot worse for you from here on out.” "H...How?" He just looks at you and says, “My gift... My Hearth's Warming Eve gift for them... Everyone lives...” he then puts his head down in sadness. "At least that's how it was supposed to go..." “Th-they didn't die? Noling else was killed by him? But that means...” you stutter in shock. "I... I killed him for no reason... I've made everything worse!” “The stadium would have been captured and Iron Shield was going to die... but his death was a fixed point in time and no one else would have died... Not while I had anything to say about it…” The Doctor then grabs the Paper away from you, “This should have been a story about a crazed stallion who was brought down by the Royal Guard at the stadium, a terrorist who would've stood trial. It would've gained national attention. Others would've stood up for you, that the actions of Burner were that of a crazed radical... that the Hooded Offender was not a killer...” He looks at the paper in sadness as you weep a bit more. “That’s why I didn't want you involved.” “Why... why couldn't you just tell me this... why?! Please, just for once, answer me...” you plead. “I wish I could Bugze... I truly do... but I can’t” he looks down, “You will understand why eventually, but until then...” “Spoilers..." you sigh as he nods. “I can’t say more…I’m sorry Bugze…truly, from the bottom of my hearts…I am sorry…things are going to get a lot worse for you from here on out.” You just stare off into the distance as tears once again begin to stream from your eyes, but The Doctor holds out his hoof as he gives you a sad smile. You accept his hoof as he helps pull you up. He looks at you for a moment before saying... Doctor puts up a smile as he says, "Don't worry, a good portion of the population did notice that you, for the most part, were working to defeat the crazed Horde, and the factions of the Horde that are loyal to you will receive a sharp spike in memberships as such. Unfortunately, the ponies in charge can't bring themselves to forgive even good-intentioned murder. Effective immediately, the Hooded Offender is also wanted for first-degree murder. In addition, an all-out colthunt is beginning. There's no place in Equestria the Offender can hide." "Due to these events, overall Horde membership will shrink due to many members either leaving due to the increased crackdown or the more radical and violent ones leaving to join the Crimson Knights. However, a good portion of the population did notice that you, for the most part, were working to defeat the crazed Horde, and the factions of the Horde that are loyal to you will be even more so. Unfortunately, the ponies in charge won't tolerated even a well-intentioned murderous vigilante so now they are going to re-double their efforts to capture you. Soon, there will be no place in Equestria the Offender can hide... But maybe Baker Sylvester Tennant still can." You nod your head in understanding, causing the Doctor to nod his head as well. He then walks over to the TARDIS and says... He then walks back into the TARDIS. “I’ll take you wherever you want to go…when you’re ready.” He then walks back inside leaving you to lament by yourself. “I’m a Monster” you lament as you look at the blood on your hooves, and remember how you imploded Flag’s head. “He’s dead because of me.” Selena sounds mournful and even scared as she talks to you. “Bugze…please. I tried to stop you I did! Please don’t do this! Please!” “Do what?” “Kill us…please…I tried…please” she says tearfully. You remember you pact/threat you made with her…how you made her cry. You hear that fear in her voice right now and it makes you feel even worse. Maybe all you are is a monster. “I…Look I’m…” “We can’t die now! We have to protect Nightshade before that maniac’s henchponies get to her. PLEASE!” she pleads. “Oh Buck!” you reply as you remember. You go to the Doctor and have him take you to the Train Station. “I’ll take you wherever you want to go... when you’re ready.” He then walks back inside leaving you by yourself in the field, “I’m a Monster” you lament as you look at the figurative blood on your hooves, “He’s dead because of me.” Bugze... please. I tried to stop you I did! Please don’t do this! Please! Selena yells, sounding mournful and even scared as she talks to you, Do what? Kill us... please... I tried... please... she says tearfully. You remember the pact/threat you made with her... how you made her cry. You hear that fear in her voice right now and it makes you feel even worse. Maybe all you are is a monster... I... Look I’m... We can’t die now! We have to protect Nightshade before that maniac’s henchponies get to her. PLEASE! she pleads. “Oh Buck!” you yell out loud as you remember before immediately rushing into the TARDIS and yelling, "Doc, we need to get to Ponyville, NOW!!!" The Doctor chuckles as he starts to fumble at the controls, "Relax Bugze, we've got all the ti-" "Relax? RELAX?!!! My daughter is in danger by Flag Burner's leftover nut-" you yell before the Doctor interrupts. "Nightshade is not in Ponyville. She went with the Elements of Harmony to assist with the Hearth's Warming Eve pageant in Canterlot. They should be returning tomorrow. Even if that wasn't the case, we're in a time machine." "Oh..." you say in realization. As the Doctor continues to operate the controls, he slightly laughs as he says, "You know, you remind me of myself," The Doctor said, facing the console with his back the only thing you see. Confused, you stared at the Timelord for an explanation. "Always changing, wearing different "faces", wether in fear or bitterness, just to hide the truth behind that jolly facade." Finally, he turned to face you. He looked... Old. "Fear and hate made you stronger, it's your superpower, but it doesn't have to make you feel alone for it. When you're already wise, when you're already the strongest you can be, your nightmares becomes a companion for you." He smiled softly. "You're the nightmare who made others unite in friendship to defeat you, who made sure no one was alone, are you not?' Not really, but you have your own "Nightmare" who keeps you company. Selena... "You know, you remind me of myself," Confused, you stared at the Time lord for an explanation, "Always changing, wearing different 'faces', whether in fear or bitterness, just to hide the truth behind that jolly facade." Finally, he turned to face you. He looked... Old. "Fear and hate made you stronger, it's your superpower, but it doesn't have to make you feel alone for it. When you're already wise, when you're already the strongest you can be, your nightmares becomes a companion for you." He smiled softly. "You're the nightmare who made others unite in friendship to defeat you, who made sure no one was alone, are you not?" "Not really," you reply solemnly, "But I have my own 'Nightmare' who keeps me company." Selena... After that thought, you feel the TARDIS land. You take off your awes-no... your Nobody Cloak. As you're about to put it in away, you feel something... wet on your cheek. You put your hoof to it and pull back to see... Notice that your face is still bleeding where Flag Burner scratched you with that bracelet. The Doctor scans the wound and discovers that you were wounded by Orichalcum, one of the extremely rarest minerals in Equestria, but also one of the strongest. He further explains how items made of Orichalcum never rust, stay sharp for over a hundred years, cut through even dragon scales, and could negate magic. The Doctor then heals your face wound with his Sonic Screwdriver, but warns that the scar will be permanent as he further warns you that Orichalcum cancels out healing factors and thus is one of the few things that can slay alicorns and even you in the fast-healing Nightmare Cloak (Orichalcum injuries can only be healed with outside help). Blood? You stare at your hoof in confusion as you say low to yourself, "That's strange. My healing factor should have kicked in by now. So, why am I still bleeding?" The Doctor seems to take notice of your state and trots over to you. He takes out his Sonic Screwdriver (even in your predicament, you had to hold back a fancoly squee) and begins to scan your face with it. His eyes widen in wonderment as he says, "How odd. It appears you got cut by some sort of Orichalcum weapon." You look at him in confusion as you ask, "Orichal-what now?" The Doctor sighs as he says, "Orichalcum my dear boy. It is an extremely rare mineral in Equestria, but also one of the strongest. You see, items and weapons made from Orichalcum never rust, can stay sharp for centuries, can cut through even dragon scales, and could negate magic. It's amazing that this element still exist's. I could have sworn that the last of it was mined a millennium ago. Tell me Bugze, what caused this wound?" You try to think hard back to your battle (which you'd rather forget to be honest) for what could have caused your wound. You gasp in surprise as you remember what caused it, Flag Burners strange bracelet. That must have been it! But where could he have gotten that? As you were thinking, you don't notice the Doctor stop using his Screwdriver as he says, "There we go, good as new. Sadly that scar on your eye and face is permanent. Orichalcum is the only known materiel to cancel out healing factors. Weapons made of it could even kill alicorns back in the olden times. You could even be killed when you lose your, um... temper." You gulp slightly in fear as you ask, "Can I... can I see the scar?" The Doctor nods his head as he walks over to a random box in the corner and pics up a hoof mirror. He carries it over to you and shows you your face, and you can't help but whistle as you say, "Dang." Your right eye is now sporting a diagonal line scar that looks something like this. You can't help but think, I'm gonna need something to cover that up, but for now I've got some unfinished business... You change back into your Tennant persona and exit the TARDIS. You thank the Doctor as you put on your Baker-Slyvester-Tennant outfit and you walk out of the TARDIS and onto the Ponyville train station at night. But before you can continue you hear the Doctor call out... You change back into your Tennant persona and exit the TARDIS. “Bugze…” the Doctor calls, “please trust me when I say that I will try to keep you safe. “he then looks deeper into your eyes, “all three of you.” You are shocked that he knows about Selena, but before you can ask anything, he materializes away. The Doctor then spoke up: "You know, you have grown to my heart, just like our dear Derpy here, so do me a favor: Don't die." "Bugze. Please trust me when I say that I will try to keep you safe." he then looks deeper into your eyes, “All three of you.” You are shocked that he knows about Selena, but before you can ask anything he continues, "You know, Derpy and I have grown quite fond of you, so do me a favor: Don't die." As the TARDIS begins to disappear, you smirk thankfully as you whisper, "Thanks Doc." And with that you run off to find these so-called "Crimson Knights"... 20 MINUTES LATER You eventually find the Ponyville Horde HQ (the one where only believers of the Offender's cause can see it). When you opened the door you saw Octavia tied up on the ground and surrounded by 3 ponies wearing Horde cloaks, but with the Crimson Knights symbol. You would have wondered how they found this place, *snap* but for you have to save Octavia! "Don't make us hurt a classy lady like yous miss, just tells us where Nig-" "PSYCHO CRUSHER!" You spin forward and slam into the interrogator, sending him flying and smashing into a dining chest. The Crimson Knight to your left yells in shock "WHAT THE-" *wham* "FALCON PUNCH!" You whirl around and slam a flaming hoof into his face, knocking his head into a metal bar, knocking him out. The last thug stands there shaking in fear as he asks... You find the stallions in question, they’re clearly wearing their robes. “How can you be here already?” “You’re master is dead,” you growl at them with glowing eyes. “I killed him.” “You lie!” “Oh really? Then why am I here?” They don’t have an answer for that. “If you hurt my daughter I’ll…” you hesitate, “I’ll kill you too.” “Hurt her? Why would we do that?” “Huh?” you asked confused. “We’re here to bring the child into our midst, to become our symbol.” “Well that’s not gonna happen.” “H-How can you be here already? Master said he killed you!” “You’re master is dead,” you growl with glowing eyes as you move towards Octavia. “I- The Offender killed him.” You hear Octavia gasp in shock, but before you can say anything the terrified henchmen yells, “You lie!” “Oh really? Then why am I here?” The terrified henchman doesn't say anything, so you just continue to glare at him as you reach Octavia before growling, “If you hurt my daughter I’ll…” you hesitate, “He'll kill you too.” Another gasp from Octavia, “Hurt her? Why would we do that?” “Huh?” you asked confused. “We’re here to bring the child into our midst, to become our symbol.” You just finished untying Octavia, but what the stallion says make you say in a calmly angry tone, “...Well that’s not gonna happen. SHORYUKEN!” You rush forward and hit him with a rising uppercut that smashes him against the ceiling before he comes crashing down onto a table. You the pick him up and hold him in the air as you say threateningly, "Now, your gonna take your unconscious friends out of here before-" *pow pow crack thud* You look behind you to see that the thug that you knocked into the chest got up, but Octavia knocked him out with a 3-hit Karate combo. You turn back to the thug in your grasp and continue, "I make you hurt more. Understood?" The terrified henchmen nods his head in fear as you drop him. He scrambles away from you, grabs his unconscious comrades, and runs for the door. As he runs you roar after him in the Royal Canterlot Voice, "AND LET YOUR BUDDIES KNOW THAT IF I EVER SEE THEM AROUND HERE AGAIN, I'LL HUNT DOWN AND SLAUGHTER EVERY SINGLE LAST ONE OF THEM!" The henchmen just screams in terror as he runs out the door. You turn over to Octavia, who says, "Thank you Mr. Tennant. I thought they were fellow members and they ambushe-" You stop her with a cold glare as you say, "Tell the Horde the same thing, and have a meeting be set up soon. Me and the Offender are going to have a little chat with all of you. Now I'm leaving and you're not following." Mean yes, but if you're going to make your point clear this is the best way. The Horde and Crimson Knights needed to be dealt with soon. And if threats are gonna make it happen, then so be it. With that you teleport away, leaving a confused (and hurt) Octavia behind. You walk through town as night settles in. The streets are empty, save for the warm glow from all the windows. You trudge on. And on. And on. It doesn't feel right, this town. It's too peaceful after what you've seen. The news must not have traveled this far yet. All the families huddled together in peace and love will be huddled in fear all too soon. You slump to the ground, leaning against a street sign. Do you even belong here anymore? You hear something running towards you. Quickly. You look up just in time to see Winona jump into your lap and start licking your face. "Whoa! Whoa, girl! Okay, okay, you're happy to see me!" She jumps off of you and bounds back and forth, finally crouching down and wagging her tail. "You don't understand either, do you? You don't know what I've done." Her tail stops wagging and she picks up her head, tilting it to the side. "Although... I've heard animals have some kind of sixth sense. Fluttershy certainly makes it sound like you know more than most ponies think you do." Winona whines and takes one step forward. "Do you know what I did, girl? Can you smell the blood on me?" You hold up your hoof. "Do you know what this hoof just did to a stallion you never met before?" She leans in and sniffs your hoof. Then she gives it a small lick. "And what does that mean, I wonder? I wish I knew what you were thinking." You lean your head back against the post. "Or maybe that would make me feel worse. It's bad enough knowing what ponies think of me." Winona wines again and walks behind the post. She comes back around with a pink ball in her mouth. You see For ball related emergencies! written on it before she rolls it over to you. And she crouches down again, wagging her tail. "...Snrk!" You can't help yourself. You laugh, even as Winona noses the ball closer to you. You finally pick it up and throw it towards Sweet Apple Acres, standing up and following after the chasing dog. NEAR SWEET APPLE ACRES You walk through town as the stars twinkle above. The streets are empty, save for the warm glow from all the windows. You trudge on. And on. And on. It doesn't feel right, this town. It's too peaceful after what you've seen. The news must not have traveled this far yet. All the families huddled together in peace and love will be huddled in fear all too soon. You slump to the ground, leaning against a street sign. Do you even belong here anymore? As you sadly walk towards your shed, you can't help but think, I came here in a hurry for no reason. Sure, I saved Octavia, but Nightshade left with the Deadly Five and Fluttershy to Canterlot after I left and they should be here tomorrow. Which is fine, I can't wait to see my- Your thoughts are interrupted when you hear something running towards you. You look up just in time to see Winona jump into you and start licking your face. "Whoa! Whoa, girl! Okay, okay, you're happy to see me!" She jumps off of you and bounds back and forth, finally crouching down and wagging her tail. "You don't understand either, do you? You don't know what I've done..." Her tail stops wagging and she picks up her head, tilting it to the side. "Although... I've heard animals have some kind of sixth sense. Fluttershy certainly makes it sound like you know more than most ponies think you do." Winona whines and takes one step forward. "Do you know what I did, girl? Can you smell the blood on me?" You hold up your hoof. "Do you know what this hoof just did to a stallion you never met before?" She leans in and sniffs your hoof before she gives it a small lick. "I what that means... I wish I knew what you were thinking." You lean your head back against the post. "Or maybe that would make me feel worse. It's bad enough knowing what ponies think of me..." Winona wines again and walks behind the post and comes back around with a pink ball in her mouth. You see a tag with "In case of ball emergencies!" written on it before she rolls it over to you and crouches down again, wagging her tail. "...Snrk!" You can't help yourself as you laugh, even as Winona noses the ball closer to you. You finally pick it up and throw it towards Sweet Apple Acres, standing up and following after the chasing dog. As you finally reach your shack (and after multiple games of fetch on the way here) you bid the dog farewell as you enter the shack. You sigh sadly, as you plop down onto the cot and begin to think in despair... BrownDog77 comment I killed someone... Even if he did deserve it, I didn't have to. He was beaten, but I let my anger control me. It's time for the Hooded Offender to go away, for the Horde to go away so that noling else will do what has happened this night. Fluttershy, Cadance... I hope they'll understand. Before long, you fade off to sleep and encounter Selena within the dreamscape “Please Bugze... Please... I’m sorry...” Selena says in sadness. “No, I’m sorry Selena.” you tell her. “What?” she asks clearly taken aback. “It wasn't you that did this... it was me... all me... I’m sorry.” “I... I don’t...” she sputters. “You tried to stop me, you looked out for me... and I didn't listen... I’m not going to punish you for my mistakes. I’m sorry I made you promise that in the first place.” “I... thank you,” she says sounding relieved. “I don’t think I’ll ever kill again...” You tell her. “C-can you not take comfort that only the murderer died?” she asks. “I’m trying... I mean, yeah he deserved it, but...” you put your head down. "Listen, I’m sorry I threatened you before. I’m sorry about our pact... can we start over?” “How?” “Can you just promise me, just a plain old promise that we’ll never do this again... please.” “...I promise you my friend, I will not kill, and I will do my best to ensure that you never take another life.” She says before she does something you don’t expect, “Cross my heart, and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” “Did you just Pinkie Promise?” you ask in disbelief as you tilt your head in confusion. “That mare’s wrath scares me, so you know I’m completely serious” she smiles at you. “Thank you,” you smile back. “We will get through this Bugze... we have to. We still have this ‘Nightmare Comes’ situation to contend with.” A realization hits you like a slingshot Falcon Punch to the face causing you to yell, “Oh... Buck! I knew I forgot to tell the Doctor something!” Your eye twitches in annoyance as you yell, "BUCK YOU LADY LUCK!!!" THE NEXT MORNING, THE TRAIN STATION You walk back and forth nervously as you wait for the train Nightshade is supposed to be on to arrived. You were so nervous that yo forgot to eat breakfast! Just as you think it's gonna be late, you see the train come into the station. You smile in happiness as the doors open to revel Nightshade with the Deadly Five and Fluttershy behind her. Nightshade gives you a bright grin as she yells, "DADDY!" Before tackle-hugging you, and you can't help but chuckle at this even as you do your mental best to hold back tears, you don't want Nightshade to see you crying now. But your happy moment is ruined when Nightshade asks, "Uh... Daddy? What happened to your eye?" You also hear multiple gasp come from behind Nightshade. You sigh in sadness as you think, Really should have gotten something to cover my scar before coming here... What do you do?