The morning light shone against my eyes, waking me; I considered rolling over and trying to go back to sleep but Twi's head was on my chest and I didn't want to disturb her. I settled for shading my eyes with one hand gently stroking Twi's mane with the other... The more I pondered this trip the less I wanted to go, not that I didn't want to help the Princesses because I did. But we'd just gotten home and all I wanted to do was spend some time with my family…
A bit selfish I supposed, still I was curious about what they could possible need my help with? That itself was a little troubling but I had said I would so I would. I had time still before the train though so I would enjoy this quiet moment... She stirred against me stretching with a groan ending up on top of me looking down my arms around her.
"You’re so beautiful Twi, seriously what do you see in me?" I teased squeezing her and giving her a soft kiss.
"Hmm... Not sure, maybe someone who loves me, holds me, wants me, makes me feel so..." She shivered slightly her soft body pressed against me.
"Sounds good to me love."
We kissed caressing one another softly. "You know, we have a little time," she said as a sly grin spread across her face.
"Mooom! We're out of milk! And Star's a little stinky..."
"Tinkey! Tinkey!"
We smiled to each other. "Duty calls..." She sighed, I chuckled slightly and she covered her mouth. "Rick! That’s not what I meant!" Her embarrassment only made me laugh even harder, I pulled her down for another passionate kiss before we reluctantly separated. I took care of the breakfast situation while Twi took Star for a quick bath and change.
"How about some eggs and toast Angel?"
"Kay!"
She helped me around the kitchen and while I knew I was supposed to be upset with her I was just happy to see her again, however... "You had a good time With Apple
Bloom and Sweetie Belle?"
"Yup! It was a lot of hard work but fun too!"
"That’s great, all the pets behaved themselves?"
"Yeah..."
"Angel bunny?"
"He made a little trouble... But we handled it."
"I'm glad to hear that, and how was the train ride from the Crystal Empire...?"
"So loong...! I mean... How...? Aww... We didn't mean to... Angel bunny just... And we..." She sighed and collapsed down onto the floor. "Sorry dad..."
I sighed as well kneeling down and pulling her into my arms tilting her head up to look in her big tear filled purple eyes. "Angel... The only thing I'm upset about is you could have been hurt, Sweetie Belle or Apple Bloom, the pets. On the train or at the Empire... I'm sure you could have found help but it was dangerous..."
"Did you see us on the train?!"
"No, I was a little suspicious of whoever was in that cabin but I really had no idea."
"Then how...?"
I gave her a squeeze and a kiss on the nose. "Perhaps you've forgotten those four days you were gone? Pearl checked in on you and didn't find you no problem maybe you were all out playing but later when Big Mac and Inkie stopped by and still couldn't find you... Well they got together and started looking around and asking questions. Three fillies and a passel of pets is pretty easy to remember, eventually their inquiries led them to the train station and the conductor there who remembered you very well and where you were going..."
"Oh... Oops... We had a good reason really!"
"Ok."
"Ok...?"
"You can tell us all about it at breakfast."
So over our meal she told us everything that happened, and while it certainly was a strange set of events it also didn't excuse her from not getting help... Well heck I might have done the same at her age in that position but trying to keep it from us...? Things turned out thankfully and I hoped she'd learned and would be more cautious in the future, that could be stretching it though. Three weeks grounding plus a couple days staying late at school to make up anything she missed was what we decided.
"I understand..."
"That’s my filly... Well I better get to the train station, come to see me off before school?"
"What?! But... But you just got home! That’s not fair!" She was almost in tears again as I pulled her close hugging her tight. "Your right Angel, it's not fair to you but it won't be for long and if the Princesses hadn't asked I wouldn't go at all..."
"The Princesses...?"
"That’s right honey, still I wish I knew what they..." Twi shook her head. "Never mind, we had best hurry."
The four of us headed out Star galloping ahead and then coming back trying to entice her sister into chasing her but she followed along quietly still looking a little down.
Maybe you could see if Magnum, Pearl and Sweetie Belle as well as Mac, Inkie, Applejack and Apple Bloom can join you for supper tonight? Hear the whole story from all three of them, might make them feel better?
Might cheer up Scootaloo you mean...?
Well...
I know you, I love you.
Thanks, love you too.
We came up onto the boarding station a bit late passengers already getting on, I hurried up to get a ticket only to have one handed to me from the teller.
"Guess they knew you'd be coming." He nodded as I took it.
"Thanks." I still had a few minutes so I knelt down before my two girls gathering up my happy little foal first. "You be good while I'm gone baby..."
"Daddy!"
I gave her a hug and kiss letting her scamper off turning to my sullen filly, I reached out and gently pushed her mane back. "I'll be back before you know it... I'll need to do an extensive check of the border when I get home, I could sure use a helper..."
Her smile rose at that. "Really...?! But I'm grounded..." And fell again.
"Oh I don't know..." I kissed her forehead nudging her chin up. "A long hike through nature, learning and educational... I think mom will be ok with it."
She smiled again throwing herself against me both of us hugging. "Love you dad..."
"Love you Angel..."
I moved over to Twilight kneeling down again to kiss her softly. "Never seems to be any time for us lately love..."
"Kid's will do that..." She smiled.
"No regrets, when I get back how about we convince Fluttershy to take the girls for a night and I take you out for dinner, dancing, whatever you want?"
She kissed me again with a smile. "Sounds good, miss you already..."
"You too..." I scooped up Star as she galloped past giving her a last kiss. "Love you baby." I passed her to Twi and boarded the train just as it was ready to depart, I found a seat quickly pushing up the window to wave goodbye...
Love you.
Love you.
They faded into the distance and I sank down in my seat for the ride...
"Hey Rick..."
I jumped slightly at the soft familiar voice beside me, Lyra... How a bright mint colored pony could sneak up on you was anyone’s guess. I gave her a hug still happy to see her. "Lyra, nice to see you." I looked around. "Bon Bon's not with you?"
"She's running the store, just me and my parents for a couple days... Ugh..." She giggled. "If I can last that long."
I chuckled giving her another squeeze. "Parents can drive you crazy it's true, but they only want what’s best for you right?"
"What THEY think is best."
I laughed. "True, true... I think you can handle it, so what else is new?"
We chatted throughout the train ride, she told me how things were going with her and Bon Bon and her writing she asked a few questions and jotted down some notes seeing she had a 'captive' audience. I told her about the Empire and how they had gotten the games, she was excited hoping to convince Bon Bon to go with her. Contrary to the long, boring and lonely trip I had been expecting with Lyra there the trip flew by and before I knew it we were pulling into the station at Canterlot.
"Looks like we're here."
"Wow! That went fast! I'm glad you were here Rick!" She grinned hugging me.
"I'm glad too Lyra, let me walk you to your parents."
"Really? Thanks!"
We collected her luggage, she had a few bags but I didn't mind carrying a couple of them while she levitated the last as we walked. She pointed out stores and restaurants she liked. She'd lived here for quite a while and admitted she missed it but she loved small town life with Bon Bon even more. We approached a swankier part of town finally stopping in front of a large impressive house complete with a huge yard and a tall fence.
"Well... Here goes nothing..." She giggled.
"Wow Lyra, I'm impressed."
"What? Oh! The house, well my family’s been in Canterlot since.... Well the beginning I think. We're not royalty or anything... Though sometimes they sure act like it..."
I put her bags down and squeezed her shoulder gently. "You'll be fine Lyra, I'm willing to bet they don't approve of your new life but at least you’re still talking and getting together, that’s important for a family."
"Thanks... Hope I see you later, maybe we'll catch the same train home!"
"That'd be nice, see you and good luck." I smiled as the gates swung open for her and she entered her bags in tow. "Well I better get to the palace or they'll be wondering where I am."
I oriented myself easily, Canterlot was a huge city but the palace rose above all easily visible from likely any part of the city. Conversely I wasn't too far away naturally the posh part of the city would be near the palace. I had my medallion on and visible not that I was expecting trouble but when summoned one should play the part.
I straightened out my slightly rumpled clothing from the long train ride plucking the few strands of Lyra's mane off, Twi wouldn't appreciate those. The guards watched me warily from a distance until I got closer than they either recognized me or mayhap the emblem and they snapped to attention. I saluted them passing by heading toward the throne room, Luna was likely asleep so I would see if Princess Celestia had time to see me.
The moment I entered I noticed her head turn to face me a moment she nodded slightly before turning her attention back to the group before her. She dealt with them and several more while I moved quietly standing in the back of the room so as not to disturb anyone.
"We shall break for twenty minutes..." She announced stepping down from her throne making her way slowly through the crowd towards the back of the room, I moved to meet her at the back doors catching snippets of conversation as I walked.
"...been calling breaks far more than usual."
"And longer as well, used to be a five minute recess and only once a day I..."
"...heard she's sick that’s why she's been taking it easy."
"Sure doesn't look sick, she's practically glowing, maybe she looks a little tired..."
I snuck through the doors while the crowd’s attention was still focused on her the two guards there let me pass without comment again either recognizing me or the medallion. I waited to the side for a moment until I heard her speak to her guards. "No disturbances, not even Kibitz."
"Yes Princess!"
I stayed out of view as they swept the doors open for her bowing as they closed. "Good to see you Princess, you needed my help with something?"
The look of relief on her face was clear, she took a step forward but stopped herself nodding to me.
"It is good to see you as well Sir Sparkle, I'm so glad you could come to help me... Us."
"Well what’s wrong? What do you need...?"
She looked around nervously. "I'll tell you everything but not here. Please?"
She extended a wing towards me and I carefully took ahold of it as she teleported us, I took a moment to reorient myself. Maybe someday I would get the hang of this teleportation thing... The room I found myself in could be called Spartan but only if it had anything at all in it. Four blank walls ceiling and floor not even dust yet still the air was fresh and it was pleasantly cool.
She sat down regarding me with her ageless eyes but there was something else there too, fear? Uncertainty? I had seen these in her eyes once before when Twilight and I had our darkest day...
"What is it?"
She sighed, "I don't have long... everything you'll need is inside but first I have to explain... I... I didn't mean for this to happen..."
"You’re freaking me out Princess... Just tell me, I'll help any way I can."
"Very well..."
She started slowly almost ashamedly talking about her own loneliness and how Luna had convinced her to start taking some time for herself, look for someone for herself... She actually blushed at that admission and I had to keep myself from grinning, while I had to admit I didn't think of her worrying about things like that I could definitely understand her need... All of our need for love, even if we couldn't quite understand it. She went on telling of her thoughts and plans for a potential mate somehow eventually leading her to the old human embassy, that was a surprise. I knew humankind had been here, but I hadn't known they had a castle... Something still left behind. That's something I'd like to see sometime...
She paused a moment as if unsure whether or not to continue but then burst forth telling me how she ventured thru the portal she thought sealed in my world, her explorations, her thoughts and finally her interactions leading to her saving the life of the human named John and her accidental trapping of him in this world... As she finished tears fell from her eyes as she looked over to a blank section of wall her horn lighting up and it becoming translucent revealing a room reminiscent of the one we were in but with a door, window, medical supplies all around and in the middle propped up in a bed a lone human form bandaged in a few areas of his body most notably the eyes.
I looked for a moment then turned back to her finding her turned away from me her head down, I shook my head with a smile. Silly mare, save a life and feel guilty about it, a life here was far preferable to death. Even more so then a life back on Earth even, for me at least but him... Well that’s something I'd have to determine. I stepped toward her and she stiffened as if she feared I would slap her, I chuckled softly with a smile reaching out and pulling her to me gently. She didn't resist as I wrapped my arms around her holding her close, she sighed softly leaning against me. Her flowing mane, her soft coat, her scent every bit the equal of any mare... Well I might be a bit biased towards Twilight there no one could compare to her. I could feel something within her, a warmth... Greater than any pony or even a horse might radiate, something deeper... No matter, I held her a minute stroking her mane letting her relax.
"Princess..."
"Please, sir... Please, Rick. When we are alone at least let us do away with our titles..." She looked at me her eyes still damp.
I wiped away her tears smiling. "Celestia... You've done nothing wrong..."
"But I..."
"Saved his life?"
"We don't know, I..."
"Shh... We humans might be pretty resilient but from what you told me he was as good as dead. A second sooner, a second later... Life and death, all that matters is he's here now, and here to stay..."
"There are options..."
"Such as? Seems you've sealed the portal very securely, can another be opened elsewhere?"
"No... Not to your world..." She whispered.
"Perhaps Zecora?"
"I think she was able to bring you through only because of how weak the barrier had become..."
"So for now at least he's stuck."
"I... Yes." She seemed a bit unsure of that but I let it go for now.
"But you can't keep him blindfolded and a prisoner in this room forever..."
"I know! I don't want to! It's just... That’s why I need your help."
"Good, good. Well then I think your break is about up, how soon before you can call another?"
"Not until Luna takes over tonight..."
"Fair enough, I'll talk to him... Start things slow, see what I can find out about him."
"Okay... Do you think...? I mean... Could he be happy here?"
"We humans can be tricky creatures, some people can adjust to a... Unusual situation quite well, others... Well hopefully he has an open mind."
"I will leave it to you then, Rick?"
"Yes?"
She enveloped me in her wings pulling me close for a hug whispering. "Thank you." And then with a flash of magic she was gone.
It was a strange situation to be sure but she seemed even more ill at ease then I would have thought... But mares much like women will forever be beyond my comprehension. I looked back into the room taking a deep breath and teleported in.
The room smelled as a thousand other hospital rooms I'd been in, a bit stale, cleaners, a human smell and a faint pony one as well, one I'd just experienced. How much time had the Princess been spending in here...? There were several conveniently placed hooks located on the wall beside where I teleported in, a white lab coat, stethoscope and doctors bag hung there. Well prepared aren't you Princess? I smiled donning the robe and putting the stethoscope around my neck in a typical doctor fashion.
I put the bag at the foot of his bed looking him over as he slept.
He lay there quietly a guitar leaning on the bed beside him, interesting... No outward signs of injury except for a few bruised bones and... A burnt patch of skin on his right arm that began at his tricep and snaked underneath him on his back, old clearly. He stirred and began hacking and coughing.
"Are you alright?" I asked him.
"Oh yeah, out-friggin'-standing..."
Preoccupied and shocked at the patch of leathery skin on his upper arm I blurted out. "What happened there on your arm?"
He coughed again before he gave a blunt and honest answer. "Got burned."
Well at least he's got his sarcasm down I thought to myself.
Looking at him internally showed moderate damage of his lungs, a smoker? Possibly. There were also... Particulates of some kind metallic in nature that had collected in part of his lungs. It might have been from the smoke... But given the way they had deposited, it must have been from time spent working in that industry... Either way it would clear up on its own, other than that he seemed in good health. That out of the way I took another look at him one human to another, he had a thick mop of brown hair in the middle of his head shaved at the sides sticking out from the bandages wrapped around his head. He looked quite young from what I could see, clean shaven which was confusing but looking around I found a basin, brush and soap as well as a straight razor. Difficult enough when you could see... He was slight but wiry kept in shape by the hard work he did no doubt. Sorry buddy no need for oil and gas workers here but we'll find you something... I chuckled to myself.
He moved slightly turning towards me. "Tia? Are you here?" He smiled hopefully.
Tia? Really...? Now who told you about that name I wonder... "No, sorry..."
He pulled back looking confused. "Who are you?"
"Rick, I'm the... I'm the on call physician, how do you feel?"
"Oh. Good to meet you." He extended his hand in my direction and I grasped it firmly. "I'm good, coughing a little bit and I'm worried I'm blind but..."
"I understand, and we'll get to that. But first may I ask you some questions?"
"Uh, okay..."
"Your name?"
"John. My dad calls me Julio, and the guys on my shift... Well... That's not really anything I should repeat."
I chuckled. "Any family nearby?"
"Yes but, they should've been notified..." His expression fell a bit. "My mom... Nobody's here yet though. I guess it's real bad isn't it."
I diverted the conversation. "Married? Dating? Single?"
"I... I'm... Single. Perpetually."
"Just gauging if you've had any memory impairment from the accident, tell me exactly what you remember."
He sighed heavily, "Okay, how much time do you have doc?"
Odd question. "I've got plenty of time." I uneasily replied.
"Good 'cause it'll take a while."
In what could only be described as a combination of information overload and the ramblings of technical jargon that amounted to a foreign language, he told me about his work that day pretty straightforward until the accident, how he got thrown around and fell down the ladder but he couldn't remember after that... I could tell he was holding back a bit and encouraged him to share which he did slowly telling of an angelic being who made the pain go away and he swore he'd seen her again before he woke up here... He shook his head embarrassed.
"Interesting..." And it was, while Celestia had told me he'd seemed to see her in her spirit form his recollection confirmed that which shouldn't have been possible... Well I didn't know really, Twi would spend days trying to find out... Heh, just the thought of her stabbed a little pang of loneliness through me.
"I'm not crazy... Maybe it was just the smoke, or the fire... I don't know... Maybe I really was burning to death..."
"What if it wasn't...?"
"You a shrink too doc?" He grinned.
"Humor me, what if it was something else...? Something not of our world?"
"What like an alien?"
"I suppose any life outside of our world would be considered 'alien'..."
"I'd say you've been watching too much sci-fi channel." He said chuckling.
I was getting nowhere with trying to subtly explain things to him until he could see again. "Ok please, let's put a pin in that for now then..." I looked through the doctor’s bag a moment locating what I needed, a pair of surgical scissors. "Now just relax a moment, keep your eyes closed."
He looked at me though his eyes were obscured his mouth bore an incredulous expression and what came out of his mouth next was something I didn't expect. "Yeah, I don't think that'll be a problem."
Smart ass... Resisting the urge to smack him upside the head, I cut away the bandages looking him over. "Ok. Let’s turn the light down a bit..." The glowing orb Celestia had suspended from the ceiling just needed a touch of magic to adjust, I turned it quite low to spare his eyes and to keep him from seeing it. I pulled the drapes as well taking a seat across from him. "Alright slowly now, take your time..."
His eyelids crept open then slammed shut wincing even the minimal light in the room hard on his eyes. "Ach!" He recovered quickly though holding up his hand to cover his right eye. "I'm ok, just need to get used to it again..." He tried again, and again tears running from his eyes. I handed his a few Kleenex letting him adjust, it took about ten minutes but finally he was able to see clearly looking around wide-eyed his brown eyes clear.
"That’s better, so how do they feel?"
"Sore, but I can see!" He grabbed me by the shoulders. "I have seen the light! I can't wait to see Tia!"
"Oh?"
He blushed slightly. "Well... You know, she has such a beautiful voice and she's so kind and nice..."
"She is at that... Though there’s certainly much more to her, she's... A little older then you..."
His eyes went wide and he got a stubborn look on his face. "I know. She has a son too, Spike I know all about her, and besides I like older women."
Not even close I thought to myself, but I was surprised she had told him about Spike. "Been talking a bit have you?"
"Well there wasn't much else to do you know? I guess she mustn’t have many other patients or maybe..."
"Maybe?"
"Maybe she... She wanted to talk with me?"
"Ah, hoping for a little Florence Nightingale action eh?" I playfully jabbed him in the ribs.
"No. I want her to like me for me not just because I'm her patient... I mean... Please don't tell her."
"What? That you’re attracted to her?"
"I'm just... She deserves someone much better than me."
"Hmm... Maybe, maybe not. That’s for her to decide don't you think?"
"Right... Of course... Do you think...?"
"Well you've gotten to know each other pretty well it seems."
"Yeah, we've talked a lot it seems whenever I wake up she’s around... When my beard started getting itchy she offered to help, takes care of me, listens to me complain about my life and has told me all about her life..."
Not quite... "I see, and a bit of guitar too I see, you play?"
"Oh... A bit, she seems to enjoy it... I'm not that good."
"Alright, let me ask you something then."
"Go ahead."
"What if when you meet her she doesn't line up to your expectations? I have no doubt you have an idea of what she might look like?"
"Y... Yes."
"Well what if she doesn't look like that at all. Maybe she's homely?"
"Doesn't matter." He answered so quickly and decisively I almost believed him.
"Alright, though you might be hanging onto a romantic ideal which is fine until you meet her for the first time and buckle bailing on everything you believed in, everything you 'claimed' to feel!"
His eyes went wide and he actually managed to get halfway out of bed before I pushed him back down gently, he was still quite weak. "How dare you! You don't know me! You don't know how I feel about her or what I'll do...!"
I smiled and sat back down. "Maybe not, but I have a better idea now..."
"What is this? You’re not like any doctor I've ever seen before."
"I'll take that as a compliment, I know Celestia, maybe not too well but she's quite special and I would hate to see her hurt, it would be... Unpleasant for you."
"Is that a threat?!"
"Not at all. Now then, what if she's ugly? Big nose, big teeth, wide spaced eyes...?"
"Don't be ridiculous."
"I may not know you yet but you certainly don't know her, what makes you so sure?"
He leaned back as did I we'd been both leaning forward practically yelling at each other, while I was trying to provoke him I wasn't mad at him but if this was going to go anywhere, originally I just was thinking of his place in Equestrian society now he and Celestia... I was going to make damn sure he felt something genuinely for her and not just what he thought she was. And making him mad, frustrating him? More likely to blurt out something, reveal some truth... Of course I couldn't be sure she felt anything for him other than guilt... But something... Something about the way she talked about him, looked at him told me she felt something too...
He looked at me still annoyed but then smiled wryly. "You know what, I don't. I don't know anything for sure, but she... I can feel something so deep... A connection like I've never felt before..."
That’s more like it. "Good... But again, what if she's not what you think? She's still herself, her voice, her mannerisms, her... Soul. But not human?"
"What do you mean?"
"Say she's an AI, a robot we use to tend to patients here..."
He thought a moment. "That would be one amazing robot... I could fall in love with a robot like her..."
Closer still but... Love is more than just a word... "Let me spin it another way, here on Earth a lot of people think we're the center of the universe but there’s so much more out there. A practically infinite, galaxies, universes, worlds...
"Now I know your pulling my leg, an alien? What would she be doing here? Why would she want anything to do with me...?"
"Even aliens get lonely... But let me present you with one more, right beside us... Overlapping us even there are dimensions we can't even comprehend, can't see, most people would close their minds to such an idea. Worlds without humans, other forms of sapient life... Who knows, dogs, cats...? Horses..."
"So what? Your saying she came from another dimension? I'm not sure I buy that..."
Well enough leading him by the nose, time to put some cards on the table. "No... I'm not saying she came from there at all..." The pitcher of water floated over to my hand I poured us both a glass levitating one over to him. "I'm saying your there..." I smiled and leaned back taking a drink. "Or to be more accurate, we are."
He just sat there staring at the glass before him his look shifting from confused to bewildered and afraid back and forth. He reached out nudging the glass before him moving it slightly as if to test it was real. "How...?"
"This world, dimension, whatever you want to call it has a few different rules... Magic, long dead or suppressed in our world is very prevalent here."
"And you can...?"
"That is a long story, but we're here to learn about you, and your future here."
"Here...? I... What do you mean?"
I sighed. "Unfortunately when you were brought here... There’s no way back, the one who brought you here accidently feels terrible about it."
"Stuck...? I don't understand..."
"It's a lot to take in I know, here..." An idea came to mind and I helped him up letting him lean on me for support taking him over to the window carefully pulling aside the blinds making sure he could take the brightness thankfully it was later day. The view was breathtaking, the city stretched out below us and even though we were quite high you could still make out ponies going about their day to day business some on the ground, some in the air.
He stumbled back with a gasp. "What... What the hell?!" He pushed me away leaning against the wall. "Is this some sort of sick joke?"
"I certainly can see how you might think so..."
I opened the window gesturing and stepping back. "Take a closer look..."
He cautiously looked out leaning further and further until I had to lunge forward grabbing him to keep him from toppling out, I pulled him back in and he stumbled over to his bed collapsing into it holding his head. "I... What... How...? It's not possible, what are they?"
"Ponies, but they’re not the only one..."
"What do you mean?"
"Some are more like ponies from back home, with some notable exceptions of course..."
"Exceptions?"
I sat back down with a sigh. "Your still not getting it, they’re not animals... Ok we're all animals but their just as intelligent as us, hell more intelligent plenty of them. There are differences naturally, ways we think, see things..."
"How do you know all this? How long have you been here? You are human right?!"
"I am..."
"How many more...?"
"Just you and me, hopefully it will stay that way. Don't get me wrong I know there are plenty of good people out there, and you know there are plenty of others who would react... Poorly to all this. I'm hoping your one of the former for all our sakes, for her sake..."
"Tia! She's...?"
"A pony? Well, yes and no. Like I said she's something special but you already knew that. But she's not human, and believe me there’s nothing wrong with that."
"You... How long have you been here?" He asked again.
"Getting close to two years now..." I smiled in memory. "It was strange, I missed my home and family... Still do some days, but it turned out there was a reason... I found someone, something I never thought I would find... Love. Someone I couldn't live without..." Quite literally and figuratively I chuckled as he continued to stare at me.
"Are you insane? All of this... It's too much..."
"Heh... I really did think I was going crazy at one point, but I got over it, adjusted, married the mare I love, we adopted a little filly who needed us love her so much and thanks to Celestia's sister actually managed to have one of our own, the light of our lives... It's a lot to take on I know and I'm probably really not helping but there’s only one thing you need to focus on right now. With all you know now, assuming you can accept it, do you love her?"
"Do I..?"
"It's all that matters, everything else can be worked on, overcome... Do you love her?"
His eyes darted around the room his breathing becoming erratic, I was about to put him back to sleep, maybe rewrap his eyes and he'd think it all a dream...
"Do I...? Why won't you let me see her...? Am I...? No, this is a dream... This ain't real!" He began to panic. I tried to hold him down but even for a little guy he was strong, he got away and tried to open the door. It glowed softly golden naturally Celestia had the room securely sealed, far beyond either of our ability to open. He began to mule kick the door. "This is a fucking dream! Lemme out!!! I WANT OUT!!!" He began punching the door until his knuckles were bleeding.
I didn't try to stop him any damage he did I could fix...
Suddenly there was a flash and Luna stood beside me her horn lighting up pulling John away from the door and tossing him onto the bed. "Enough!" She stomped her fore hoof causing a small thunderclap John stared at her surprised and confused. "I won't have you harming yourself human named John unless..." She glared at him sternly. "You intend to break my sister’s heart then know my vengeance will be swift and terrible!"
The room darkened and I rolled my eyes slightly, dramatic much Luna? But with a sudden flash everything was light again and Celestia knelt by the bed covering John protectively. "Luna!"
"What? He needed to know where I stand..."
Her attention immediately switched back to him as he collapsed back into the bed. "Tia? I... I knew... Somehow... I knew it was you..." His voice was a mere whisper. A tear ran down his cheek as he passed out into Celestia's gentle grip.
Celestia gathering him up immediately nuzzled him and wrapped him up in a blanket from the bed. "What happened?!"
I scanned him and helped her cover him back up. "Nothing to worry about, too much too soon. He'll be fine with some more rest, tomorrow."
She knelt on the floor beside him laying her head beside his. "I'll just wait... In case he needs me... I have so much to explain..."
"Princess..." I took a step forward.
Celestia's horn glowed before freezing me in place. "Please Rick. Let me be the first thing he sees when he wakes up. He deserves to hear it from me."
"Please Rick." Luna pulled me away before I could say any more whispering to me. "If you think me hard headed Rick best you not push my sister too far, she can be unbelievably tenacious when she wants something..."
"Luna?" I asked as she pulled me to the back to the hospital room.
"I sensed her terrible unease and had to call an emergency recess from the night court. Please let us leave Tia to him, there's nothing more we can do."
"Ok, ok..."
"Rick?" Celestia asked.
"Yes Princess?"
"Thank you, truly I was at a loss, I hope... I..." She went silent laying her head back down.
"We'll talk more tomorrow, rest..." Luna wrapped a wing around me preparing to teleport. "Celestia... Do you feel something for him?"
Her head shot up looking at me. "I... I... Yes..." She whispered laying her head upon his chest as Luna and I disappeared.
The chamber we appeared in could be one of any in the palace, a small bathroom and shower, comfy bed and a balcony looking out over the kingdom. I collapsed onto the bed pulling Luna playfully with me. "Well that was interesting..."
"Tia was glued to the wall watching and listening to you two."
"How long?"
"Long enough, don't you think you should have gone a bit slower?"
"Maybe... But why prolong it? He's got to adapt... I know that was rough on him, but it would've been a shock either way... Though it seems he has a reason to adapt eh? Just how long has he been here?"
"Three days but Tia's been his guardian angel from the beginning... I mean I understand she felt guilty but I'm so glad it's something more!" She giggled.
"I hope so, not just some... 'Puppy-love', it's hard to believe... Ok, ok I'm not one to talk. I'm happy for them both I hope they can make it work, I hope he can make it work, hard to adjust."
Luna smiled nudging me. "You did fine and so will he... I hope, Tia's been hurt before..."
"I remember, let's hope for the best..."
"Spike's not going to be happy."
"Spike? What about Discord?!"
"He'll be fine... I'll make sure of that." She giggled again.
I laughed and relaxed back with a sigh, Luna looked at me curiously. "What’s on your mind Rick?"
"Just worried about your sister and John..." She arched an eyebrow at me.
"Okay... Not so worried about that now, just missing Twi and the girls. Things have been pretty busy lately and Twi and I haven't had much time..."
"Ooh..." She smiled knowingly. "I see... No time for..." She giggled.
"Luna..." I gave her a gentle push. "That’s ok we'll make due..."
"Well I could help you with that..." I looked at her astonished, she looked back at me cocking her head. "What...?" She immediately went red clapping her hooves over her mouth. "In the dream! The dream! I could connect you and Twilight! Oh gods!"
She buried her head in the pillow as I laughed uproariously, I hugged her tightly. "Thanks Luna, I needed that and I would love to see Twi tonight."
She lifted her head up smiling. "I'll do that, sweet dreams Rick..." She smiled mischievously before looking off in the distance I assumed towards her sister and John.
"Something the matter Luna?" I asked worriedly.
"No, it's just... He's dreaming. His dreams though are something I shall ask him about later. Goodnight, Rick." And with that she disappeared in a flash of light.
I thumped back to the mattress sighing heavily, what a day... I got up and had a quick shower laying down and getting comfortable in the crisp sheets, Twilight...
A sky full of bright stars... I smiled and looked over finding Twilight lying beside me just turning over herself. "Rick!"
"Hey love, Luna granted me a favor..."
"I see..." She looked around and seeing nothing smiled slyly. "Let the games begin..." She giggled as she tackled me both of us tumbling to the clouds...
Dreams... Things always seem to move so slowly, a dream could seem to take hours yet you've only been asleep for minutes. We had plenty of time to talk, discuss Celestia and John and just what this could mean, and of course we had time for... Other, distractions...
Dawns light awoke me and I stretched feeling pretty comfortable trying to remember last night’s dream but most of it was fleeting... Checking I found it to be nearly nine in the morning, fairly late for me but it had been a long night. I got up and dressed finding a breakfast tray waiting for me, I ate and made my way down the tower trying to orient myself eventually finding my way back to the throne room where I again stayed in the back to watch Princess Celestia deal with her duties, she didn't look too tired in fact a bit elated.
I had no doubt she had seen me and as noon passed and she called for a lunch break she gave me a barely perceptible nod as she headed out of the room, I followed meeting her where I had the day before.
I bowed with a smile. "You’re looking well this morning Princess, Late night...?"
She smiled warmly. "A bit, but well worth it. And you slept well?"
Her smirk told me she had a good idea how Luna had helped. "I certainly did... And John...?"
"Let us go and see for ourselves..." She extended her wing and again we teleported finding ourselves in a familiar room, though surprisingly now the medical paraphernalia was gone opening the room right up, the window was open sunlight streaming in but John was still fast asleep.
"How's he faring?" I asked quietly.
"He had a great deal of questions and concerns but he seemed more willing to accept certain truths from me then you... No offence." She whispered.
"None taken, you'll both be alright then?"
She looked over at him and smiled softly. "I think so... It's going to take time but I think... I hope..."
"What did you talk about...? If you don't mind me asking?"
"A great deal..." She teleported us into the other chamber so we could talking without disturbing John and she shared at least some of what they talked about, through the transparent window we could see John was still asleep when we had to stop. She only had a half hour for lunch and she teleported us back to the back room when we had to stop.
"Again my deepest thanks Sir Sparkle, without your assistance I am not sure what we would have done." She smiled with a wink.
I glanced and noticed the door was slightly ajar and played along. "I am naturally at your service Princess whenever you need, best of luck." I bowed deeply.
"Say hello to Twilight for me." She nodded back exiting the guards closing the doors tightly behind her.
"Looks like things went well..." Came a voice from the shadows making me jump as Luna stepped forth. "Sorry..." She grinned.
"No problem, shouldn't you be asleep?"
"I was but I wanted to thank you too for helping us..."
"Luna, you know I can never repay what you've done for us. Princess Celestia too, so not another word about it."
She smiled shaking her head. "Understood, here..." She floated a worn unmarked tome over to me."
"What’s this?"
"A book of unfinished spells created by Starswirl the Bearded, my sister feels Twilight may be able to make something of them..."
"Well I'm pretty sure she won't have a problem with that." I chuckled.
"Indeed... Do you wish for a teleport to the train station?"
"No rush Luna, I've still got some time I thought I'd look around Canterlot a little."
"Sounds like a plan..."
I stepped over and embraced her. "See you later Luna, sleep tight."
She held me a moment then stepped back and smiled. "Until we meet again..." And she was gone.
I made my way out of the palace heading towards the train station but window shopping and taking my time the ancient book tucked under my arm, things were looking good. Who knows what the future might hold...?