Tag was floating in darkness, a familiar feeling. His hooves touched solid ground and he stood still. Open Book came into view but Tag didn’t react, he was just happy that he would never see another riding crop again. Open Book was standing right in front of him now.
“Tag?” he asked reluctantly. Tag looked into the distance. Open Book waved a hoof in front of his face. “Tag?” Tag startled and looked at Open Book.
“What?” He asked. Open Book was taken aback.
“Are you feeling better now?” He asked.
“I feel fine… perfectly fiiiiiiiiine.” He said and unsuccessfully tried to stifle a giggle.
“This is not good.” Book sighed.
----
Pinkie stood in the kitchen alone, not even she could be happy after the events that had occurred. She was worried about Tag but she was also worried about her friends. She looked at the fridge door hanging open and the items inside.
“Snap out of it Pinkie!” She said to herself. And trotted over to the fridge; she got out several eggs. “Your friends need you! You have to keep’em smiling!”
----
Applejack stopped galloping and looked around; the dark air made it hard for her to see the path in front of her but that didn’t stop her from starting to run again. She jumped over a tree root without hesitation and watched as the trees flew by. It was almost like at the orchard; when she needed to be by herself the orchard was always a welcoming retreat but she still felt troubled. She should have done something, anything. She felt helpless and hated herself for it. A tear coursed its way down her cheek and she stopped in front of the tree. She stared at the ground trying to fight off a small sob. She was unable to protect one of her friends and now he might never be the same again. She punched the tree hard with her hoof causing it to shake violently.
----
Spike stood outside Fluttershy’s door trying desperately to reason with the terrified pegasus.
“Come on Fluttershy, all the bad guys have gone away! It’s safe now! I promise!” He said knocking on the door again.
“No, I’m not coming out!” Came the soft voice on the other side. Spike sighed irritably.
“Tor really needs somepony to help through this and you’re the pony for the job!” He reasoned. There was silence on the other side. “Come on Fluttershy, it’s during times like these that we all need to help each other!” The door creaked open slightly to reveal Fluttershy looking at him with saucer like eyes.
“Does Tor really need my help that badly?” She asked quietly. Spike nodded.
“He’s taken it really hard on top of the fact that he was without Torais for so long. He’s in really bad shape and could use some company.” Spike explained. Fluttershy opened the door and stepped out into the hallway.
“I suppose… if he wouldn’t mind.” She said.
----
Tome looked up from Iron Hoof’s corpse and around the room. Tac lay closer to the door in a large puddle of blood. He sighed and looked back to Iron Hoof.
“I’m so sorry that I didn’t believe you, old friend.” He whispered to himself. He felt the presence of a pony behind him and turned around; Luna stood behind him with a respectful look on her face.
“We had made a grave mistake and paid for it.” She said somberly; paying her respects to Iron Hoof with a bowed head. “We’ve suffered the loss of two great ponies.” Tome looked to Tac and then to Iron Hoof.
“Tac was not a great pony, he was just good at putting on an act. The only good pony we lost was Sir Iron Hoof.” He said. Luna nodded.
“True, but Tag might be gone as well, I didn’t get to apologize for attacking him; it feels so long ago and I fear it may have contributed to Discord winning him over.” She said sadly. “But Discord is still at large and we must find his base before Discord’s Chaos can free him.”
“We’ll have to start from scratch; I suspect that Tac relayed the news that we know of Discord’s old base and that he’s found a new one.” Tome sighed.
“How do you suggest we start?” Luna asked.
“We must instate a new tactician and general to start.” Tome said starting towards the door. “Then we declare war.”
----
Tor shifted uncomfortably in his bed. The nurse put her hoof on his head worriedly; he didn’t show any signs of fever but she couldn’t seem to wake him up. She heard a knock at the door and rushed to open it. Spike stood outside beside Fluttershy.
“How’s Tor doing?” She asked quietly.
“Not good.” The nurse said shaking her head. “His body seems fine but it looks like he’s having a horrible nightmare but nothing I do will wake him up.” Tor let out a small cry that sent Fluttershy straight to his side. She put a hoof calmingly on his and started to sing a soft lullaby. When she had finished Tor shifted slightly and seemed to calm down; his frown turned into a small smile and he slept contentedly. The nurse smiled and left the room stepping quietly over Spike’s sleeping form and leaving Fluttershy to keep a silent vigil.
----
Tag hopped around the cell; he didn’t seem to mind when he bumped into the bars, he just went in a different direction humming to himself. Twilight, Celestia, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash stood nearby.
“It would seem that Tag was driven clinically insane, if that hadn’t been so obvious I would’ve been surprised.” Celestia sighed. Rarity cast another glance at Tag.
“Will they be able to… make him sane again?” She asked apprehensively.
“I don’t think it’s that easy, he might need months in a mental ward to help get over the trauma, and even after that years of therapy.” Twilight sighed.
“Is that it? Are we giving up on him after all this?” Rainbow Dash cried but Celestia shook her head.
“Do not think we are giving up Rainbow Dash, but it is a long road to recovery. Tag’s world is so small compared to yours, and Discord had been distorting it for the past… two days now. It’s not surprising that he ended up like this” Celestia sighed. “Please forgive me but I must oversee Iron Hoof’s funeral. And apologize to his family for being so foolish.” She trotted away.
“She seems to be taking it really hard compared to everypony else.” Rainbow Dash mused as she watched the princess’s retreating figure.
“Tac was apparently in service a long time and Princess Celestia had grown used to his advice.” Twilight explained. “It’s only natural that she’s so badly shocked.” Rainbow Dash shrugged.
“I’m going to tell Tor the… news” She said and flew off in the direction Celestia had gone leaving Twilight with Rarity.
“I’m going to see if Spike has gotten Fluttershy to come out of her room.” She said simply and followed Rainbow Dash.
Rarity trotted up to the cell slowly wary of Tag’s every move. She stood right in front of the bars and simply watched him. He eventually noticed her and cowered on the other side of the cell.
“Tag…” She trailed off. He looked up at her. She placed her hoof against the bars and watched him; he slowly stepped over and placed his hoof on hers. A tear slowly rolled down her cheek. “Don’t you remember?”
----
“Don’t you remember?” The words echoed around the inside of Tag ‘s head. Open Book looked at Tag again.
“Do you?” He asked lightly.
“I remember a riding crop.” He whimpered.
----
“Our first date…” Rarity whispered smiling faintly at the memory.
----
“Date?” Tag wondered. Open Book saw his opportunity. He tapped Tag’s head with his horn.
----
“I know this probably wasn’t the most romantic of evenings.” Tag sighed.
“It’s okay, I believe we agreed that this would be a learning experience for the both of us. This was just a lesson; I’m sure there will be more to talk about in the future” Rarity said. Tag smiled.
“Thank you for understanding, it makes the stares much easier to bare.”
----
Tag clutched his head between his hooves causing Rarity to jump back.
----
Tag danced around in pain. Book watched with a concerned look on his face but unable to do anything.
“FIRST date… learnING…. ExpERIEnce… the STARES…” Tag stopped and looked upward; he screamed and screamed. It finally made sense.
----
Rarity watched Tag with the utmost caution; she didn’t know what had just happened. He sat in the middle of the cell with a serene look on his face; he opened his eyes and looked right into Rarity’s.
“I’m back.” He breathed. She just stared at him; he gave her a confused look. “Am I back? Do you have the urge to hit me with a riding crop? Spooning?” He asked her. Rarity shook her head without saying a word. “… Are you going to say something or look at me all day?” He asked.
“What just happened?” Rarity murmured. Tag smiled.
“You fixed me. I guess.” He said.
“Really?” She asked uncertainly.
“I believe so. Why don’t you let me out then and see?” He asked.
“Are you crazy?” Rarity exclaimed. “After what happened I don’t think it would be good idea.” Tag closed his eyes.
“So you won’t?” He asked. “Don’t you trust me? After you told me that everypony deserves a second chance?” Rarity stared at him.
“Fine… but I’ve got my eye on you.” She said. Rarity reluctantly opened the cell gate and allowed Tag out. He stood still and breathed in deeply. He stepped right in front of Rarity; she stepped back and looked at him fearfully, but the look in his eyes dissolved it in an instant. He put his face close to hers and brought her into a deep kiss.
“The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world” -Gman