//------------------------------// // Chapter 4, I had to be sure // Story: Friendship is Life // by alejin //------------------------------// As Alex continued walking through Ponyville, he decided to visit one of his friends. He arrived at Carousel Boutique, everything was the same there: beautiful pony clothing, jewelry, accessories, etc. he kept on walking inside the Boutique marveled by everything at sight, that was when he saw the hoods; like the one he used, they even had the assassins logo on them: “What is this?” Alex thought. He still couldn´t believe his eyes, all the details, it was an exact copy of HIS hood. Suddenly, a voice broke the silence: “Hello and welcome to Carousel Boutique where everything is unique and magnifique. What can I do for you?” “I am actually just looking at the place lady.” Alex replied. “Please call me Rarity darling, Rarity.” “Oh, ok. Lady Rarity” Her eyes widened after hearing him tell her name in that tone. “Is it something wrong Lady Rarity?” Alex asked. “Not at all. I just… What can I do for you?” The tone of Alex´s voice was still inside her head. “Well, I´m new here and as I was walking around Ponyville I heard everypony say that the things you sell in this store are the best in Equestria. So I just came by to see if I something would catch my attention and surely everything did. So you are looking at your new customer.” Rarity blushed after hearing this. “Well, thank you darling. I like that idea as well.” “Ok! See you later lady.” Alex said with a smile. “Please just call me Rarity darling.” As soon as Alex left the place, Sweetie Bell came down stairs, she was still sleepy. “Sister, who were you talking to?” “It was a new pony I just met. A true gentlecolt I must say, his name was..., oh! I didn´t ask his name. I´m so silly!” “Yes you are!” Sweetie Bell said. Alex arrived at Golden Oaks Library, he knocked the door and then a Royal Canterlot voice came from the inside: “FOR THE LAST TIME PINKIE! THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PSYCHIC, STOP ASKING ME THAT!” Alex rememberd how Twilight was able to use THAT voice as she was a princess now. “Excuse me lady, but I am not Pinkie.” The library doors opened to show a beautiful Alicorn inside. “I´m so sorry, I thought you were a friend of mine!” She said. “You don´t need to worry, are you Princess Twilight Sparkle?” Alex asked while bowing. “Yes, but please just call me Twilight and it is not necessary for you to bow before me. I am a regular pony, just like everypony else!” “I can accept calling you Twilight but I must still bow before you princess. You see, I am new here and I was meeting the place so I just wanted to come visit this famous library.” “Do you like to read?” Twilight asked. “Yes I do! History books and novels.” “I’m glad to hear that. Please come inside!” “Thank you Twilight.” He said. Twilight showed him where the history books and novels were. While he was looking at them, she offered him a cup of tea and apologized for using her Canterlot voice a little earlier. After having a short conversation she wrote all of his information on a library card if he decided to come back again (of course she didn´t know all this information was fake). Alex was about to leave the place, he didn’t turn his back on Twilight so he was walking backwards for the door, he couldn´t notice spike running towards him. Spike was carrying some books so he couldn´t see Alex either. When Alex finally turned around, it was too late. He couldn´t avoid the little dragon from crashing against him. They both felt on the ground. “I´m so sorry mister!” Spike said. “My name is Axel. And it’s ok; it was definitely my fault for walking backwards. What is your name little dragon?” Alex asked. “I am Spike, the only DRAGON in Ponyville, Princess Twilight´s number one assistant” “Well, it was nice to meet you!” Alex replied while looking at Spike right into his eyes. “…you?” Spike was staring at him, with a strange look on his face. “Is it everything ok little friend?” Alex asked. “Yeah! It’s nothing, I´m just feeling a little confused because of crashing against you, that’s all!” Alex helped him pick up the books and taking them into the library. “You know, - Spike said – 4 months have passed since a good friend of mine…” “A friend of yours…?” Alex asked, feeling sad for the little dragon. “Well, don’t worry. I don’t want to trouble you with my things.” “I understand. It was nice to meet you both Twilight and Spike, I hope we meet again.” “See you later Axel.” They both said. Alex continued walking around Ponyville and came across BonBon’s Candy Shop. He approached the place only to find it closed. A note was hanging on the door “I’m still travelling with Lyra, the Shop will be closed for at least two more weeks”. After reading this note, Alex realized it was almost three pm, so he started his way to Sugarcube. He had walked just a few meters when he heard a familiar voice: “Watch out!” Thanks to his reflexes, he was able to jump aside and avoid getting hit by a Rainbow Mane Cyan Pegasus who landed heavily on the ground. He quickly helped her stand up. Still confused by the impact, she said: “Wow! Thank Celestia you were fast enough to dodge me. I’m sorry about that, I was flying here for the party but lost control and almost hit you!” “It's ok miss!” Alex replied with a little smile on his face. “Miss? I’m no Miss! Well, I am, but I am better known as Rainbow Dash THE FASTEST FLYING PEGASUS IN EQUESTRIA!” “Oh! I see. So you are Rainbow Dash the winner of the Young Flying Competition? Wow! Indeed you are the fastest and the most awesome Pegasus in Equestria!” “Thank you – Rainbow Dash said – I think you meant the most awesome PONY in Equestria.” “Well, I meant to say pegasus, because The Most Awesome Pony in Equestria tittle is already taken” “Taken? And who is that?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Me!” Alex said in a serious tone. “Yeah? You wish! but I must say, I like your optimism. Maybe we should hang out some time and have a little competition as well. What do you say?” “Anytime Skittles!” Alex answered. “Skittles? What?!” She exclaimed. “Nothing! Never mind, let’s just hurry up for the party, it is about to begin!” ”Ok lets go, but you know, I shouldn’t have mentioned a party. You see, it was planned for you and if YOU don’t look surprised the one who planned it will be kind of sad, so can you please pretend not to know everything YOU know about the party?” She asked him. “It’s ok Rainbow Dash, but only because you ask me, and I don’t want anypony to be sad” (it’s funny because I had to pretend anyways) Alex thought. Rainbow Dash smiled and then opened the door for him. At that moment, everypony inside screamed: “SURPRISE!” Alex, pretending not to know anything, fell on his back as if scared for what just happened, Pinkie Pie ran to him and help him up: “Great! We did it! He was really surprised!” Alex was amazed by the amount of ponys that were inside the place. “Welcome! It’s me Pinkie Pie. We had met before remember? I gave you a coupon for a free cupcake and told you to be here at three o’clock. I had prepared this special party for you because I always make parties for my new friends. Would you like to be my friend? Please be my friend!” Pinkie Pie said Pinkie Pie got close to him and whispered in his hear “We will be special friends, because I know your secret!” Alex froze when he heard that, he managed to pull himself together and asked: “Do, do you know it? Aren’t you upset I didn’t tell you myself?” “Why should I be upset. We all have secrets you silly. But you aren’t very good at keeping them.” She answered Alex looked at her bright eyes. He was really amazed at how easy it was for her to find out who he was. “I do know your secret! You are a psychic.” “What?! Is that my secret? Well, why do you think I’m a psychic?” “Well, you knew my name without me telling you first.” “Didn’t you think somepony else could have told me something about you before we met?” “Nope, I know nopony did. I saw you when you entered the Town and the first Pony to talk to you was me. So please stop denying it, I got you!” “Yeah! You got me.” “Yay! I have a psychic friend” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “Guys, could you please come inside, everypony is waiting to meet Axel” Ranbow Dash told them. They both laughed, as they hadn’t realized everypony was looking at them. They went into the place and closed the doors behind them. “HELLO EVERYPONY! THIS IS. . . WHAT KIND OF FRIEND AM I? I DON’T EVEN KNOW HIS NAME!” Pinkie Pie said feeling a little embarrassed. “It’s ok Pinkie Pie, my name is Axel.” “OK! HELLO EVERYPONY THIS IS MY FRIEND AXEL, HE IS NEW IN PONYVILLE, EVERYPONY PLEASE SAY HELLO AND LETS START CELEBRATING!” “YAY!” Everypony cheered. Everypony inside Sugarcube began to celebrate. They were dancing, playing around, eating snacks. Some of them even talked to Alex asking him all kinds of questions. Everypony was there, all the Elements, Spike, but most importantly, HER. She was the only one he didn’t see before coming to the party. Like all the others, she hadn’t change a bit. The Crusaders joined the party and started telling stories of their fantastic adventures. Everypony was enjoying the party. It seemed as if they all forgot the sad things that happened a few months ago. It was a good thing, but it was sad at the same time. Alex looked at everypony laughing and having a great time. He wondered if they had just moved on “Maybe they just forgot about me”. His little sister, Spike, everypony was looking so happy he started to wonder if it was really necessary for him to tell them he was still alive. Maybe it was better this way. Why not to just let them think he was gone for good. Anyways, he wasn’t planning to stay there permanently; he had also killed a pony. And maybe some of them would be afraid to see him again because of it. They moved on, they forgot him, everything in Equestria was fine. It wasn’t necessary for him to come back and bring sad memories to them. He remembered telling Steven his trip was to find out if this was his place to stay, but it was clear now. It never was. Coming back here was a huge mistake. His heart was full of happiness and sadness, full of doubts, full of loneliness. He walked to the door and realized everypony was too busy being happy that they didn’t even notice it. He was thinking now on how to survive until the next Meteor Shower so he could go back to earth. He was opening the doors when a voice came from the inside: “I hope all of you are enjoying the party!” Pinkie Pay said. “Axel, how about you come up here and tell us all something about yourself?!” Alex closed the door and said: “I really don’t think that’s necessary” “Oh please Axel, just come here and say something!” She asked. As Axel was walking to where Pinkie Pie was he saw Spike, the Mane 6 and the Crusaders gathering in the place. Spike said: “Sorry everypony. I didn’t mean to interrupt this great party but before listening to Axel, I wanted to take a moment and pay a little tribute to a very close friend of mine who left us exactly four months ago. He was the only human in Equestria, a true hero, a true friend and my mentor. I just wanted to ask you to never forget him, never forget why he died and that he loved Equestria as much as all of us do.” Tears started to come out from Spike’s eyes. Sweetie Bell stepped forward and said: “As many of you know, Alex the human was my adopted brother and I love him with all of my heart. All I wanted to say is that I love you Alex, and I hope you are happy up there with your family, please don’t forget me brother!” The rest of the Mane 6 and the Crusaders bowed as a sign of respect in memory of Alex. Remembering all of the adventures they had, the happy and sad moments, the first time he showed up, how he invented the the Alichoco muffins. The next one to talk was Fluttershy: “ Alex was so special to me, I’d give anything to have him right here with us now. I promised him that I would move on, but its so difficult. No matter how hard I try. I promised him that I would never cry again, but I can’t. I can’t stop missing him.” Alex was impressed. They hadn’t forgotten him. He kept walking towards the center of the building. “We’re sorry Axel - Pinkie Pie said – we know this is your time and your party, but Alex was very special to all of us, we would give anything to have him here, ANYTHING! But please come here and tell us all who you are and where have you come from!” Alex’s heart was beating so fast, his friends still remembered him. They were acting like nothing had happened but they were still sad. He kept walking to where Pinkie Pie was, every step weight like a ton, he didn’t know what to think anymore. He had a good plan already, give a little speech, go back to the Everfree Forest and wait for the next Meteor Shower so he could go back to earth. They would be fine, sooner or later a human stops grieving his lost ones,they still remember them but the pain goes away. That would happen with them as well, they are ponies from Equestria, their happiness surpasses their sadness for miles. He could still see them crying for him: “They just need a little more time to forget me.” He said to himself. Alex felt his heart breaking before such faces. He didn’t even realize everypony was looking at him, waiting to hear him speak. The memories of all the things he and his friends went through, all of their happy moments, her eyes, HER EYES! “Hi everypony, I wanted to say it’s good to be here and that I’m glad to meet all of you for the first time …But it would be a lie!” Everypony was shocked for what he just said. He could she them all looking at each other confused. “Please, don’t misunderstand me. What I wanted to say is that, this is not the first time I meet some of you here in Ponyville, I have so many memories of this place, memories of you!” Alex could hear them whispering, wondering what he was talking about. Pinkie Pie interrupted him: “That’s a good one Axel, but I know everyone here, and I am pretty sure I haven’t seen you before!” “No! – Alex said – I am not lying. I still have many memories of this place, of you and your friends. I still remember the day we met. That day in the hospital and how I discovered you smell like cotton candy, and when you told me how proud you were of your personal hygiene or how I couldn’t believe when you told me you didn’t know anything about chocolate chip muffins Pinkie” Pinkie Pie was just standing there, staring at him with a blank expression. Rarity noticed this and asked her: “Pinkie Darling! Are you alright?” “And you too Lady Rarity!” Alex told her. “Axel, I told you to just call me Rarity.” “Don’t you remember when I took your hoof in my hand, kissed it and called you Lady Rarity for the first time? I hope my job as a Gem Finder and my room in your basement are still vacant, Lady Rarity.” Rarity looked at Alex and fell on the ground unconscious. “Rainbow, I haven’t forgotten I still owe you an All You Can eat in Hoofdonalds. I still can’t believe SpitFire lost that day!” Rainbow’s mouth was wide open, her wings stopped moving. She was a Pegasus turned into a statue. “Applejack, I see you have taken good care of your beautiful blonde mane. I must tell you, blondes still drive me crazy!” Applejack started babbling, she was about to faint as well. “Twilight, Spike, I hope you haven’t spent too much time playing with my two you-know-what, and if you have Spike, I hope you kept your word and played for only two hours a day. Not to mention Twilight, NOW YOU ARE AN ALICORN! YOU ARE A PRINCESS!” Twilight and Spike were shocked by his words. “How do you know that?” Was all Twilight managed to say before Alex started talking again. “Fluttershy, I’m glad you have tried to keep your promise, I still remember that nice farewell gift you gave me in my “last moments”. I have missed you too. I’ve been missing all of you since I woke up in that hospital on Earth!” Alex turned around to where Sweetie Bell and the Crusaders were. He was covered in tears, he stood firmly and took of his pendant. A bright light, as bright as the sun itself blinded everypony who was looking. When the light faded they saw him. Standing there, right in front of them; Alex, the human; their friend. He was looking at Sweetie Bell. He walked to her and picked her up in his arms. Hugging her like he never did before: “ Sweetie Bell, I would never ever dare to forget about you, not in this life or the other, I love you too much to let that happen!” Fluttershy fainted too as Rarity was regaining her consciousness. The CMC were shocked. Alex, their friend was hugging Sweetie; he wasn’t a Spirit or a ghost. After their experience there was a possibility of him being a Changeling. But no, this hug was real, and the one giving it was HIM! How was it possible? Sweetie Bell was crying: “Are you real? You are not a cruel joke . . . right?” “Yes Sister, I’m real. I’m so sorry I was absent for all this time. I’ll do anything to make it up to you.” “You don’t have to. You are here, my wish came true! The cake wish, IT REALLY WORKS! Thank you brother, thank you so much! Please, never leave me again!” “I never left you Sweetie Bell, you know I will always be with you, even if someday you can’t see me.” “I know brother, please let me enjoy this moment and thank you for not forgetting me!” “Never! I will never do that to you sister. You two as well little cuties” Alex said looking at Scootaloo and Applebloom. They both looked at each other and then hugged him, they had to be sure it was the real him, not a ghost or an illusion. Even though they were always talking, this time the words had failed them. They didn’t even know what to say anymore. Alex turned around and saw the rest of his friends crying, Twilight, Spike, all of them had tears in their eyes. Fluttershy was still unconscious. He looked at all of them and said in a loud voice so everypony could hear him: “Hi everypony, I’m Back!” He barely finished this words when somepony jumped on him with such strength, he fell on his back. It was Applejack, she was looking at him with anger in her eyes. “Don’t even try to move! – she said with a strong voice – Twilight hurry! Use a Scanning Spell, if he turns out being a Changeling ah will make him wish he was never born!” Twilight agreed, her horn started to glow and used a Scanning Spell on Alex. After she was done, she looked at Applejack right into her eyes: “It’s really him…” Applejack started to cry and kissed him on his cheek. “ah am so sorry – she said – ah had to, ah had to be sure.” Alex looked at her and put his hand on her face: “Yes pretty cowgirl, it’s me!” Twilight helped him stand up and asked: “Alex, how is this even possible?” “I know it is hard to believe but here I am!” She hugged him with all of her strength. “Alex dude! I can’t believe you are back! I always new somepony as you couldn’t end up like that!” Rainbow Dash said. “I really don’t know what to say!” “How about, WELCOME BACK?!” Alex replied with a big smile on his face. Spike was finally able to pull himself together: “My partner! I don’t know what you did and I really don’t care. Thank you for not being dead!” “I was just lucky Spike, lucky as always. I’ll tell you everything you want to know but I have to focus on other things now.” Pinkie Pie was still silent, she didn’t even say a word, didn’t even move where she was standing, she was so lost in her thoughts. Alex got near her and got on his knees. He could see her eyes moving to find his, they looked at each other for a moment, not saying even the slightest word. Tears started to come out of her eyes. “Ali, is it really you? Please tell me you are not a ghost! Have I finally gone crazy?” Alex gave her a warm hug and said: “No Pinkie Pie, you haven’t gone nuts, it is really me. And I’m here with you, hugging you.” Everypony was watching, all of them knew how hard it was for Pinkie Pie to smile again after Alex died. And now there she was, with the biggest smile she ever had. “Ali, it is you! The real you! I’m so happy to see you again I can barely handle all this happiness, I feel like I’m going to faint…” She closed her eyes as Alex carefully placed her on the ground. “It’s ok guys, I guess it was too much for her.” Alex stood up so he could speak to the rest of the ponies that were gathering around. Diamond Tiara, Derpy and her daughter, the Crusaders, for all of them, it was one of the happiest days in Ponyville. Alex promised to give them an explanation on how he was able to survive but now they had to take care of Pinkie Pie who was still lying on the floor. She was carefully taken upstairs to her room. Everypony started to leave the place, but Alex had something else to do, he needed to talk to the Elements and Spike. Once everypony was gone, he was finally able to be with his friends. They were still looking at him with disbelief in their eyes: “Guys come on, you know it is me, the real Alex, standing in front of you!” “We are sorry Alex, but after everything that happened. It is really impossible for you to be here!” Twilight said. “Wow! Twilight, you do realize how unscientific that sounds right?” “If you being here with us is impossible then… screw science!” She answered with a smile. “Thank you Twilight. I know you really don’t mean THAT but thanks anyways. And guys I think I owe you all an explanation.” Everypony gathered around him as he sat on the floor. “Ok guys, you might get comfortable as this will be a long… Well, it is really not a long story…”