//------------------------------//
// Mark of the Beast 
// Story: Extremely Loud, Intensely Bright, Drastically Tense, Exceedingly Tight 
// by h4ns 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 66: Mark of the Beast

Bait laid on his hospital bed, attempting to keep still as the feeling in his foreleg began to slowly creep back. The morning before the tan colt had received his skin graft, and to cut costs he had elected to only have his wounded leg put under, as well as the area around his rump where the graft would be removed.

At the time it had sounded like a good idea, since he wanted to save as many bits as possible to buy the plot of land he and Bryce had seen that one fateful day. But when he was wheeled into the operating room he could do little but lie on his belly as the doctor cut away the flesh. And when it came time to place the graft he had tried to look away, but would always find himself looking back down. He didn't know when, but at some point during the procedure Bait had passed out and awoke later to find Nurse Tenderheart standing over him.

But now the anesthesia was wearing off, and with it came a horrible itch on his foreleg, and the unmistakable burn one only felt when skin was removed from muscle. If Amethyst weren't there to hold his hoof back he was sure he would have scratched the graft off by now.

Just then, the itching on Bait's foreleg flared up, becoming unbearable. He tried to pull away from the magenta mare but she held fast. "Bait, you have to take your mind off of it."

Bait gave a moan. "I would very much like to see you say the same thing if you were in my hooves," he said, giving another jerk.

"I'm sure it hurts, but is it worth the doctor having to cut off more of your butt to get another graft?"

Bait ceased struggling. "We wouldn't have to deal with this at all if you had cut my leg off, like I had asked."

"You and I both know I was never going to do that."

Bait lay on his side, admiting defeat. Then a sly grin spread across his face. "Bryce...?"

Bryce, who sat across from the foot of Bait's hospital bed, was quick to say, "No!"

"You don't know what I was going to ask of you."

"Fine, what is it?" Before Bait could get a whole word out, Bryce firmly stated, "No!"

Bait let out a huff before pulling at Amethyst's grip. He was met with the same result. "Bait, you need to be patient," she said in as calming a voice she could muster. "The nurse will be back any second with some ointment."

"Maybe so, but she's taking her sweet-!"

"Bait..." Amethyst gave a sigh. Just then, her expression changed to a reassuring smile. "Tell you what: If you can hold out long enough for the nurse to come by I'll give you something nice."

It was enough to make Bait freeze. "Oh, and what might that be?"

"It depends, how much do you want it?"

"It depends more on what it is."

"You won't find out unless you behave. But I will say this: It's something you'll like."

Bait was doubtful, but with the look Amethyst gave him he could tell she wasn't bluffing. He wanted to struggle more, he could tell she had loosened her grip. But he knew if he pulled now she wasn't going to stop him. If he trusted her, and he did, he would have to play along, despite how much it hurt. And it really, really hurt. With his injured hoof, Bait placed it on top of Amethyst's. "Okay, Amethyst. But if you intend to make this a recurring bribe I will pull away now."

"Oh ho, not after you see what I have for you."

Dinky, who had been sitting in Bryce's lap, asked the human, "What do you think she's gonna give him?"

Bryce looked down to the purple-grey filly. "Well, if it's what I think it is you'll need this." He opened his palm with the fingers held together in front of Dinky's face. 

"Why would I need that?"

"Just in case."

A few minutes later, Nurse Redheart came in, carrying a tube of ointment and fresh gauze on a metal tray. In no time at all she removed the gauze wrapped around Bait's leg and rear, took great care to rub in a fair amount of ointment, and rewrapped the wounded areas. After checking his vitals, she said, "Doctor Stables will be in shortly. When he does I'm telling you now that can stay, but please stay out of the way." Without another word, the white nurse left the room.

With the itch now gone, Bait could now allow himself to relax. Settling down on his bed, he looked to Amethyst. "Now that my itching is gone, I would very much like to see my prize."

"Alright, you've earned it." Bending down, Amethyst came close to the tan colt's face. Expecting what was to come next, he pursed his lips. Dinky hid her eyes behind Bryce's offered hand, not wanting to see her older sister do something so icky with a boy. But it all seemed to be in vain when the magenta mare diverted her course to Bait's cheek.

Bait's face froze, with his lips still pursed. He slowly lowered the corners of his mouth into a scowl.

With a smile that ran from ear to ear, Amethyst asked, "Feel better?"

Bait held his scowl, but it soon gave way to a cocky grin. "Oh, it helped. But I think I feel the itch coming back. I don't know why, but it appears to be coming back here," he said, pointing to his lips.

"You poor baby. I think I may be able to help with that." 

The whole time Dinky had kept her gaze blocked by Bryce's hand. She parted two of the human's fingers in time to see Amethyst give the ailing colt a proper smooch on the mouth. She quickly put Bryce's fingers back in the way. "Eww, gross, Amy!" She said loud enough that only her and Bryce could hear.

Bryce laughed in his throat. "You'll say that now, Dink, but when you grow up and find that special someone you'll understand."

"I doubt that, Bryce. Just tell me when it's over."

The two ponies released themselves, taking time to stare into each other's eyes in a dreamlike state. "If that's going to be your way of motivation, Amethyst, I may have to let you coax me into things more often."

The magenta mare gave the tan colt a soft smack across the face. "Don't press your luck, mister. I know you well enough to know when you're trying to play somepony. So don't think you can play me so easily."

Bait gave a chuckle. " I think I'll take that bet."

They kissed a second time, though not a long as the first. When they backed away, Amethyst said, "I'm glad things went well, Bait. I still can't believe they had to take out a part of your..." She held a hoof over her mouth, though it did little to hold back her giggles.

"Please, don't remind me."

"I'm sorry, but it's your..." She lost herself in another fit of giggles.

"Yes, yes I'm sure it's funny to you, but at least you have the pleasure of being able to sit. I have to stay on my side. I'm bound to get bed sores."

"I'm sure it's not that bad. At least now you have a good excuse whenever you half-" Amethyst cut herself when she saw Bait's glare. "Anyway, I hope you get well enough to come home soon."

"Must you leave so soon?"

"Fraid so. I have to get Dinky to the apple farm, and then come back to town so I can foalsit. But if I have time I'll be back before the visiting hours are over."

"But what if I have another itch? I think I feel one coming on now."

Amethyst shook her head. She found her coltfriend's wanting of her adorable, yet at the same time sweet. "I would, but I wouldn't want you to overdose. Now take care, and don't scratch it." She then strode over to Bryce and took her little sister on her back.

Before the two sisters could leave, Dinky asked, "Bryce, are you gonna be at the job bore again today?"

"I have to, Dink. I need to find myself a job," he said, knowing she wouldn't like the answer.

"But do you have to wait around there? A job bore has to be so boring. And I miss seeing you."

" I know, Dink, but it's like fishing... Okay, not that example. I just have to be there in case something good does come along. If I'm not there when it happens than someone else might catch it before I can." He placed a hand on her back. "Do you understand?"

Dinky wanted to shout back, "NO!" But she instead gave a nod as she sank down on her hooves, almost on the verge of tears.

Bryce gave a sigh. "Dink, it's not that I don't like being with you, I do. I just need to work. I mean, don't you like playing with Corn and Apple Bloom?"

"I do, but you're more fun," the purple-grey filly said, as she continued to stare down at the floor. "And you went with Miss Fluttershy the other day."

"I know, but she needed my help. And you..." He caught himself before he could say anymore. In truth, he didn't know what he would have said next. Seeing the filly, who was trying her hardest not to break down and cry as she sat on her older sister's back tore his heart. He couldn't remember how long it had been since he had spent more than a half hour with her. And any chance of that happening the day Bait was bit were dashed. And he was about to do that now. 

He shook his head as he thought to himself, She forgave me for her birthday, and for going off to work without telling her, but this... "Dink," he finally said, "I know it's been a long time, and one day there's going to be more time in between when we see each other, but I guess I should spend some time with you while I can."

At that the unicorn filly perked up. "Are you sure you don't want to stay at the job bore?"

"I am, Dink, but there's someone I need to see in town before I can spend time with you. So I'm going to wait at the job board, wait for her to come by, and afterwards come to the farm. How's that sound?"

"Do you promise?"

"Well, as long as nothing comes up that needs my immediate attention, I promise."

"Do you Pinkie Promise?"

Bryce let out another sigh. "For you, I will."

Just then, from the aether of the universe, though more likely from the open doorway, Pinkie Pie jumped out, causing Bryce to jump. "If you're gonna do it then do it right!"

With his heart hammering in his chest, Bryce did the ritual motions of the Pinkie Promise, complete with the words that went along with it.

Satisfied, Pinkie left the room.

After the beating in his heart had slowed, Bryce said, "I'll be there, Dinky. For you, I'll be there." Taking a second to give each other a quick hug, Bryce said his good-byes to the filly, who was almost dancing on her sister's back. When they were well out of the hospital, Bryce said to Bait, "Well, it's good to see you two are getting along nicely."

"You can say that again. And I should also say thank you."

"For what?"

"Why, for introducing us in the first place, of course."

"That? That was nothing."

Bait propped himself up to see Bryce. "Maybe so, but something came out of it, it seems."

"Well, you know... I mean, I've told you before why I thought you two would be a good match. All I did were the introductions."

"Yes, but enough about my love life. How did things go with Miss Fluttershy?"

Bryce cradled his arms against his chest as she wiggled his toes in his usual way. "Well, it's complicated."

"Did something go wrong?"

"It's nothing big, but I guess it's not small, either." Bryce cradles himself for a little while longer before saying, "We went to town, got what she needed, stopped for lunch, went back to her house, and...I hit her on the head with a can of peaches."

For a moment Bait stared at Bryce, unsure of how to handle the situation. "To me, that does sound bad. Is she okay?"

"Well, she is, but that's not what I feel bad about." He took in a deep breath. "I...know that she likes me."

With that said Bait gave a smile. "You see there, Bryce, you worried for nothing."

"But I only know because I did something I shouldn't have done."

"May I ask what you did precisely?"

"Well, it's not easy to explain. It was pretty invasive."

"Come now. I'm sure whatever it is it's not as bad as it seems; you tend to overthink such things. You are acting as if you read her diary."

Bryce began to wiggle his toes with more force. "Well, in a sense..."

"I'm sorry, but are you saying you did read her diary?"

"In a way, yes..."

"What does 'in a way' mean?" Bryce didn't give a response, prompting Bait to add, "I suppose the how is beside the point. Does she know about it?"

"I don't know. I don't know if she knows I know, or what she would say if she did. I mean, she's nice, but what I did... She'll have to hate me after this."

"Bryce, you are overthinking this, yet again. I doubt she would hate you for what you did. She would probably feel hurt, but she wouldn't hate you."

"Well, what should I do?"

"In my opinion, tell her. Get it out there before you both are too far down the line and she finds out herself."

"Maybe. But I want to ask you if you're going to tell Amethyst about what you did?"

"IIII have been meaning to," Bait replied, trying to draw out his answer. "It's just, I can never find the right time. And when I do think about it we are both in such a good mood. And-"

"So you'll tell me to do it, while having no intention of doing so yourself?"

"I wouldn't say it in that way."

Giving Bait a cold stare, Bryce bluntly stated, "You're a hypocrite."

"No, because I intend to tell her."

"But are you?"

"If I can find the right-"

"Are you!?"

"If you would allow me to-"

"ARE YOU!?" Bryce's outburst caught the tan colt off guard, leaving his mouth open midsentence. Bryce found it hard to tell whether Bait had been spooked by his shout, or surprised. But he could tell what Bait wasn't thinking about. "You aren't, are you?"

"I would, Bryce, but compared to what you did this is major."

"And what I did was minor? You- You've taken a lot of money from a lot of ponies; I betrayed the trust of the pony- No, the pegasus... I betrayed Fluttershy's trust in me. Whether she hates me or not she'll never forget about it. And when I tell her any chance I might have had will go out the window."

"I'm sorry, but did you say when? You're going to tell her to spite me?"

Bryce stood up. "You think me petty? No, I'm not going to do it out of spite. I'm doing it because it's the right thing to do. If I was going to do it out of spite I wouldn't stop with Fluttershy, I'd stop with Amethyst. But I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't sink so low that I would make someone blurt out something they didn't want someome else to know about. But I don't know when I'll see her next, but when I do I'm going to be honest with her because she's that important to me. If you cared that much about Amethyst you will do the same."

Bait narrowed his eyes at Bait. "Who are you to question me about something like this?"

"Bite the fattest part of my ass!" Bryce said as he made his way for the door. "And stop rubbing your eyes; it looks like you just got back from a Cheech and Chong performance."

"Hold on," Bait said in confusion. "What about my eyes?" But Bryce was already out the door and down the hall, breezing past Doctor Stables and Nurse Redheart as he went out.

When the doctor came to Bait's bedside he was just as preplexed by the colt's eyes. Taking a ophthalmoscope in his magic, the mustard colored stallion looked into Bait's eyes. "Have you been rubbing your eyes, or is there anything you would be allergic to?"

"I... I... No, nothing I know of. And I haven't been rubbing my eyes. What's going on?"

"Nurse Redheart, a mirror."

When Nurse Redheart brought the mirror into Bait's line of sight he was thrown back. The whites of his eyes were a deep crimson red. The way they watered made it look like he were crying. Bait couldn't believe he hadn't noticed before. "Doctor, what's happening."

"I can't say for sure yet, but it could be conjunctivitis, or pink eye as it's more commonly known."

"Pink eye? How did I get pink eye?"

"There has been a slight epidemic in the last few weeks. There haven't been many cases but things like this find their way around."

"Am I going to be okay, because I kissed my fillyfriend. And she has a foal she's been foalsitting."

"It depends. There doesn't appear to be any yellow discharge, so it may be viral."

"Is that good or-?" Bait stopped when he saw the doctor shake his head. "Is she going to be okay?"

"It's nothing to worry about. All you need is a regiment of eye drops and you'll be as good as new. In truth, it was good we found it here, at the hospital. We just need to add the necessary medicine to your chart while you're healing up. In the mean time you should just relax and avoid picking at it."

"But what about my fillyfriend?"

"If you see her anytime soon you should let her know. Though if she is a foalsitter I wouldn't doubt you got it from her. Other than that there's little we can do. With that out of the I would like to look over your skin graft."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

From her hiding spot underneath a bush, Scootaloo had a very desirable view of Rainbow, who was going about her usual training session. This was something the orange pegasus would do on an almost religious basis. It didn't matter where she was or what she was doing, Scootaloo would come here just to see Rainbow practice. And it was all in preparation for the day; the day Scootaloo would be able to get herself off the ground and soar through the clouds, literally through them. No soft, fluffy cotton ball was going to get in her way of becoming the greatest flyer in all of Equestria. She wouldn't be surprised if her Cutie Mark turned out to be of Raibow Dash herself. What would be more awesome then having a Cutie Mark of an already awesome pegasus?

But for now Scootaloo had to settle with sticking to the ground and watch the expert at her work.

Just then, Rainbow decided to take a break and flew up to a nearby cloud to catch her second wind. Feeling confident she wouldn't be seen, Scootaloo decided to give flying another go. Steping out from under her hiding place, she stood with her legs apart. Taking in a deep breath, and gritting her teeth, Scootaloo flexed out her small wings. After a few more breaths, she starting flapping her wings with all her might. It started slow but quickly grew into a loud buzz.

Scootaloo kept at it, going so far until she was red in the face and sweat poured down her whole body. With each new found cranny of energy she found she put it into her wings. But no matter how much she tried her legs were planted to the spot. In an attempt to speed things up, she started hopping in place, thinking her buzzing wings would keep her aloft.

All she managed to do was bring pain into her hooves and joints. But Scootaloo wasn't going to quit. Rainbow wouldn't quit and there was no way she was going to until either her body gave out or gravity gave in.

So with one more jump, Scootaloo hopped up into the air, much higher than she ever had before. But it would seem the former breaking point was destined to happen when a cramp that felt like somepony were jabbing a knife into her wing crept its way down the effected wing to her spine.

When this happened, Scootaloo's wing stopped its buzzing and she came down hard. But the force of her hitting the ground was nothing compared to her cramped wing, which reverberated in pain. Through gritted teeth, Scootaloo scoffed, "Stupid...cramp...!" Before letting out a round of hisses.

From off to the side, she heard somepony ask her, "Ya alright there, squirt?"

Scootaloo looked to the source; part way out of disbelief because she one pony who owned the voice; part way out of fear for the same reason. When her vision came into focus her suspicions were proved correct: Rainbow was there, and she must have seen the whole thing. "Hey," she said, waving a hoof in front of her face. "You okay, squirt? Didn't scramble your brain, did ya?"

"I... Uh..." Scootallo managed to get out.

"What ya get, a cramp? Yeah, I got a lot of those when I was first learning to fly. Let me tell ya, those things are nasty. And that jumping thing you did was hilarious." Scootaloo retreated back a few inches, ashamed to have her idol witness her at her worst. "Eh, don't worry, squirt. I'm not gonna tell anypony. Anyway, what are you doing all the way out here? You weren't spying on me, were you?"

Anything Scootaloo said next was lost in an inaudible mess. In her mind she was sweating buckets. Great, now she's going to think I'm some kind of stalker. Why now!?

"As far as stalkers you're not one of the worst. If you wanted to see me practice you don't have to act all secretive and junk. I don't mind an audience." Rainbow snuck in close, and whispered, "Just don't go telling anypony about my moves. If anypony knew what I was doing the Wonderbolts wouldn't think it was original."

"I... I won't..." Scootaloo muttered out.

"Great. Thanks, squirt."

With that said, Scootaloo expected Rainbow to fly off, but instead the rainbow mare had more to ask. "Hey, what's your name?"

"It's...Scootaloo..."

"Scootaloo? Yeah, I thought I recognized ya. You're the filly Bryce has been looking for." At mention of the human's name, Scootaloo tensed up. "He's been asking about you. He said if I saw you to send you his way. He's probably somewhere near city hall about now."

Scootaloo knew this already. And that was the reason why she avoided that part of town. 

"Don't ask me why, but he talks about you like he knows you already. I saw him earlier and he said to tell you to come by so he can give you something. Didn't say what, but he said you'd like it. But if it's something he made I'm sure it's gonna be awesome." She waited for Scootaloo to give a response, but the orange pegasus gave none. "Well, that's all I have to say. I guess I'll see you around." With a quick salute, Rainbow took back to the sky, leaving a very anxious Scootaloo behind her.

For a few minutes, Scootaloo sat where Rainbow had left her and watched as the rainbow mare zipped through the sky a few times more. After a while the cyan mare flew out of sight, leaving Scootaloo with nothing to do for the rest of the day.

Along her way back into Ponyville Scootaloo wasn't sure what she should do. She considered the possibily of doing as Rainbow had suggested and seeing Bryce, but the question was what he would do. Most likely nothing spectacular, but then again Rainbow had said whatever he had for her had to be awesome. And if Rainbow thought that then it had to be so.

But Scootaloo didn't know if she could handle being close to the human. The biggest reason being how he reminded her so much of Bright. It was bad enough their names sounded so similar, but then there was the way he acted like the colt she had once known. His way with foals, his way when he would stand up for anypony in danger, and just the little phrases he said; all of it was a mirror image of Bright.

What was she to do?

Her thoughts were soon after pierced by an all too familiar tone: The sound of a wolf call. She hadn't been in complete control of her steps before, but now that she was she retched in horror at where she was now. She was in the town center, standing right before the job board, and right across from it was the source of her doubts: Bryce, who sat on a park bench. He beckoned her to come over with a wave back that went over his head, just like Bright used to do.

Scootaloo didn't know what caused her to step towards him, but whatever it was had her in its full power. In under a minute's time she was standing in arm's length of the human.

Bryce looked down to his watch, popping open the front casing. "Well, I thought you'd never come," he said with a smirk. She didn't fully understand what he said next, but she could have sworn it was, "Though you're a few minutes early," as if he were expecting her.

What happened next almost made Scootaloo run away in fear. From his satchel, he produced a knife with a short blade. Bryce saw this, and said, "Don't worry about this. It's not for you." From his satchel he pulled out something Scootaloo couldn't see. Taking the knife in his other hand, Bryce began to cut away at whatever the item was in his large hand. "This is going to take me a few minutes to finish." He nodded to the seat next to him on the bench. "Why don't you take a seat until then?"

Though it was welcoming, Scootaloo refused the offer and stood on her hooves where she'd stopped.

"Well, suit yourself." Bryce worked away for a few minutes before asking, "How have things been with you?"

Scootaloo didn't give any answer.

"Well, if you don't feel like talking then you don't have to."

Scootaloo looked down. That marked the third time the human had started a sentence with the word 'well'. It had annoyed her for the longest time whenever Bright said it, and this guy was no different.

With a dry mouth, Scootaloo said, "I've... I've been fine..."

"Well, that's good to hear. Are you in school yet?"

"No, not until next year."

"Well, that's nice. I'm sure that'll be here before you know it."

There it was again; twice more now. Scootaloo couldn't tell if it was out of habit or if he was doing it on purpose. "Why do you say that all the time?"

"Say what?"

"Well. Why do you say that a lot?"

"Well, I don't know. It's just one of those things that don't have a real origin behind them, I guess. They just exist."

"Yeah, well, it ain't proper."

Bryce laughed in his throat. "Yeah, I suppose I can guess where you got that from." Bryce blew into his hand, blowing out a cloud of wood shavings. "It's done. Now I just need to put my mark on it." Turning the object around in his hand, he continued to carve.

Her curiosity peaked, Scootaloo stepped up on the seat next to Bryce to try and get a look at whatever he hid from from her. When Bryce saw this he pulled it out of her sight. "Nuh uh, no peeking."

Scootaloo had witnessed this before with Bright. He would always do the same thing to her when he made her gifts. She knew she would have to be patient with the human, just as she had with Bright. Any second now he would finish with whatever he was doing, wrap it inside a piece of cloth, and present it to her like it was the most precious thing in the world. Most often it had been, to Scootaloo at least, but she doubted the human could size up to Bright's little gifts.

With his work done, Bryce placed his knife down and reached into his satchel a second time, pulling out a piece of sandpaper. After smoothing the edges, he went into his satchel yet again, coming back with a plaid bandana. Carefully wrapping the small object inside the bandana, he held it out to Scootaloo.

For a second Scootaloo was reluctant to take it, but after seeing the way Bryce looked at her she decided to accept it.

She had half expected Bryce to leave afterwards, but instead he stuck aroud, as if waiting for her to open it. He held that same smirk on his face.

Scootaloo looked down to the plaid bandana in her hooves. Whatever it held inside didn't feel very big, and not very heavy. Taking in a deep breath, then letting it out slowly she pulled at the bandana. She pulled away the corners like the petals of a flower. When she reached the center she felt a knot form in her throat.

Inside was a perfect wooden copy of Rainbow Dash. Taking it tenderly in her hooves she looked the figure over, trying to find a flaw. But there were none. Down to each individual feather the mini Rainbow Dash was flawless. There was only one thing Scootaloo saw out of place. On the bottom side of the right-rear hoof, Bryce had etched in a mark, a mark that was familiar to her.

It was of a shield. It had a flat top and a pointed bottom. The mark was split evenly down the middle into two equal parts.

Bryce caught on to this. "That's my mark. It tells you I made it."

"Why is it that though?"

"Well, it's copied after my birthmark. I'd show it to you, but a lot of ponies would take it the wrong way if I showed it to you out here."

Scootaloo allowed that to hang in the air before she began to wrap mini Dash back in the bandana. After doing a mediocre job of it she shoved it back to Bryce. "I can't take it."

"Why not? I made it just for you."

"It's...too nice. I'd wreck it."

"I'm sure you wouldn't. You like it too much to let anything bad happen to it." He inched it back over to Scootaloo.

"I don't want it!"

"Well, will you take it anyways?"

In a fit of rage, Scootaloo smacked the bandana away, with the mini Dash still in it. "Would you stop saying that word! It's annoying, Bright!!!" When the words pierced the air Scootaloo could hardly believe she'd been the one to have said it. But she knew she had. She didn't know why, but she couldn't hold herself back from crying there on the bench.

Bryce bit down on his lower lip as his wiggled his toes in his usual way. "Scootaloo, just calm down now," he said in a calming tone. He placed a hand on her withers and used his thumb to rub her back. "It's going to be alright. I wasn't trying to force it on you."

Scootaloo kept crying, unable to hold the tears back. She didn't want the human to be here for this, not when she was a weak little foal. She should have stuck with her original plan and avoided him. And now he trying to calm her down like a whinny baby.

"Kid, I'm sorry for that. I don't read others very we- Very good. I thought you would like a little Rainbow, since you like her so much. But I guess it's just another thing I screwed up, huh?"

"No, it's not that... It's just..." Scootaloo crawled over to Bryce's thigh, and proceeded to beat into the thick muscle, all the while repeating in between sobs, "You're not Bright, you're not Bright."

Bryce allowed her to go at it until she gave up and buried her face in his leg. "No, I'm not Bright Smiles; I'm Bryce Smales. But I must be like him in a lot of ways for you to have called me by his name." He continued to rub his thumb through her withers, not once stopping the soothing motion.

"Why are you like him? Why do you have to be just like him?"

"I'm sure to you I am, but I'm sure if you watch me long enough you find something different. But as for the why I wish I could tell you, but I can't. Hell, there's a lot of things I wish I knew the answer to myself. Like why I'm here in this world of little horse things in the first place. Or why I can do some of the things I do. Or even why you... Why you remind me of someone I used to know."

Scootaloo let out a huff. Her knowing about him was one thing, but now he had to be toying with her. "You're just saying that."

"No I'm not, Scout."

"Yes you..." Scootaloo hadn't caught it at first, but she knew the one thing that was out of place. She looked up to Bryce, to the grey eyes that were once like Bright's. "What did you call me?"

"I called you Scout, because that's who you remind me of. And like you she grew up not knowing who her parents were, and none of her potential adoptive parents could put up with her for very long. She chose to let her fists, though I guess in your case your hooves do the talking. And like you she was often teased by the other children for being smaller than other kids her age. And, to top it off, you both eventually found someone that cared for you like a father would his daughter, and they were taken out of your lives in the blink of an eye."

She didn't want to admit it, especially not to the human, but Scootaloo could somehow tell he was being honest with her. Even about the last part. Everything up to that he could have picked up easily from eavesdropping. But that last part was something moping could have told. "Bryce, how do you know about that?"

"I wish I could tell you, Scootaloo. But all I can say is from experieence. Despite how impossible it is, I know." He looked down to her. "But I don't want you to see me as someone I'm not. Despite how much I'm like him, I'm not him. I'm sure if you were to spend enough time with me you would see the differences; some subtle; some not. That is, excluding our differences in physical features. And in the same way you don't want me to see you as someone you never met."

"I... I wouldn't, I guess."

"I thought not." Bryce bent down and picked up the bandana off the ground. He held it out to Scootaloo. "Do you want this? Because if you wanted I could make you someone different."

For a second, she wanted to ask him to make one of Bright, something for her to remember him by. But she knew it wouldn't seem right. Bright was gone, and no figure, no matter how well carved would be the same as him. She took the bandana from Bryce, and opened it to find mini Dash was unharmed. "No, that's fine. This is fine with me. I just... It looks just like her."

"Well, I've been around her enough to know what she looks like."

"Bryce, can I ask you one thing though? You don't like Rarity, do you? And I don't mean like, I mean like like."

"Well, Scootaloo, I can see you thinking that, but as far as we're both concerned we'll both only ever be friends. I mean, she's too elegant and prissy for my tastes. Besides, I burned that bridge, and that's slightly a euphemism."

When Bryce said that Scootaloo gave a smile. Bryce had that for him. Rarity had been everything to Bright and Bryce couldn't stand her, which in her opinion was for the best. If Rarity and Bright had gotten together she would have run away to get out of having to look and act like a filly. Scootaloo would rather be allowed to play in the mud than wear a frilly, frou-frou monstrosity that other fillies her age would drool over. The mere thought made Scootaloo want to hit herself in the head with a rock.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the better part of the morning Rumble had been having a go at the monkey bars. It was hard for him to get in the beginning, since he was so unused to the experience. But an hour later he was able to not only get himself across, but also make himself hang with his back legs. But Thunderlane thought it as foalish. Sure, it would be interesting if he were an earth pony or a unicorn, but Rumble was a pegasus and could just as easily use his wings to get across.

And the fact Rumble wasn't using his wings to do so made Thunderlane that much more upset. He was a pegasus. He shouldn't do things any of the lesser equine species could do themselves. Instead, Thunderlane resolved to grumble to himself and ignore his brother's foalish antics.

What also fueled his anger was the fact he was still flightless. It had been weeks, and still he was left grounded. It didn't matter how many good deeds he did for other ponies his wings refused to work their magic. He could see it all was pointless, and Bryce had been playing him for an idiot. An act of humility, who ever heard of something so stupid for something that was rightfully your's?

It wasn't long after Thunderlane heard an audible grinding noise off to his side. Looking over, he found it came from a merry-go-round. Seeing nopony around, he took it to have come from the wind and let it be. That was until he heard it squeak again.

Thunderlane tried to ignore it, but he looked over and saw the metal disk turning around, but now at a speed much too fast to have been caused by a light breeze.

It has shaken him a little, but he brushed it off as some foal he couldn't see playing tricks on him. "Ha ha, very funny," he yelled out.

"What, what's so funny?" Rumble asked as he hung from his hind legs.

"Nothing. Just some stupid foal trying to be cute. Well it ain't gonna work, ya hear."

The only sound that came back was from the merry-go-round as it came to a halt.

Rumble looked over to his brother, deeply concerned. "Lane, I don't think anypony's there."

"Yeah, that's what they want you to think!" Thunderlane shouted over to the unseen prankster. But there came no answer back.

Pulling himself up, Rumble unlatched himself from the bar and landed on the ground. He trotted over to the slate grey stallion. "Lane, is everything alright? You're acting like there's somepony standing right behind you only you can see."

"Yeah, because there is."

"Wait, there is?"

"Of course, can't you see'm?"

Rumble took a second to look over the playground. "I...don't see anypony. Except you and me."

"Yeah, well, they're out there. I just know it."

Rumble shook his head. "Lane, don't you think you're just being paranoid? I mean, before you thought Bryce was out to get you, then you said he took your flight, and then there's the last few weeks where you were being nice to other ponies for no reason. And now you're nothing but a jerk."

"Yeah, so!?"

"I'm just saying you need to relax, bro. I mean, you were a jerk before. But now you do nothing all day but sit there like you're waiting for the sky to fall. To tell you the truth, I liked you better when we actually did stuff together. Sure, you would always cheat or make up rules at the last minute, but now we do nothing at all."

"Maybe I don't want to do anything."

Rumble narrowed his brow. "Fine, you can do nothing. I'm just gonna leave; just fly off and leave you here."

"No you're not, not without me you aren't. Mom and Dad would kill me."

Rumble took flight, going well out of reach of the slate grey pegasus. "I'd like to see you try and stop me!"

With that said, Rumble flew off in the direction of his and his brother's house. Thunderlane jumped up. "Rumble, you get back here!" Rumble ignored his brother's calls and continued to fly for home. Knowing what little else to do, Thunderlane ran after his brother. He wasn't going to catch the butt end of a punishment because Rumble wasn't listening to him.

Slowing down so he could properly see, Rumble found his brother coming after him. But instead of flying after him, like he had expected, Thunderlane was running behind him on the ground. Rumble was beyond belief. He had been sure his brother would have flown up to get him, tackle him, do something so he wouldn't get in trouble with their parents. But Thunderlane was running, which he had stated at least a hundred times before was the worst form of travel that the wingless unicorns and earth ponies took because they weren't as cool as pegasi.

He didn't believe it, but there it was. Thunderlane had been telling the truth.

Though he expected a pounding from the mohawked stallion, Rumble descended down to the ground. When Thunderlane finally caught up he had the meanest look on his face the light grey pegasus had ever seen. "Rumble, what the buck do you think you're doing!? If you think I'm going to get in trouble for you then you've got another thing coming!"

"Lane, I'm-"

"Shut up! If you think I was a jerk before you ain't seen nothing yet!"

"LANE!!!"

"WHAT!?!?!?"

"Y- You really can't fly, can you?"

"Oh, you just now notice!?"

"I- I thoguht you were... I don't know..."

"Well here it is, peabrain! I! Can't! Fly! Do you understand me now!?"

What followed was Thunderlane panting, his chest blowing up and down, while Rumble could do little but stare up at the slate grey stallion. Rumble couldn't believe it but Thunderlane had been telling the truth.

"Lane...?"

"What...!?" Thunderlane said with spite.

"Wh- What happened?"

"I already told you, it was Bryce. He took my flight away, and he won't give it back."

"What did you do to him?"

"Nothing," Thunderlane said firmly.

Rumble doubted it. "You did something, Lane. What was it?"

"I didn't do anything to him. All I did was yell at that one mare. You know, the one with the freaky eyes," he said, rolling his own eyes around.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing nopony else in their right mind hasn't said before. She's nothing but a freak."

"You said that to her?"

"No, all I said was her daughters would be better off with parents that were more normal."

Rumble looked to his brother dumbfounded. "How is that any better?"

"Well it's true."

"How do you know? You're nothing put a thug. And a thief. And now an idiot."

Thunderlane brought up a hoof. "Say that again, I dare you!"

"It's true, you are. But I don't see how Bryce did this."

"It's... I don't know what it is. But it's some kind of...mind control."

At that Rumble facehoofed. Celestia, not this again. I thought hearing it from Rocksalt was dumb, but Thunderlane... Okay, maybe I could believe that, now. But still, mind control? "Lane...really...?"

"I know, but it's true. I swear. I saw... You just have to trust me."

"I can believe you not being able to fly, but mind control?"

"He can!"

"Lane, are you sure, or did you just let yourself believe he could?"

"He can. You know what, I'll prove it."

"How. By asking him nicely?"

"No, I'm-"

"Lane, would you listen to yourself for a second! You're loco in the coco."

"No, I'm-"

Jumping up, Rumble gave the stallion a firm slap to the face. When Rumble landed back down he was prepared to run away, but Thunderane didn't move. 

"Doo gin..." Thunderlane mumbled.

"What?"

"Do it again..."

"Lane, are you sure?"

Thunderlane gave a slow nod.

"Uh... Okay..." Jumping up a second time, Rumble gave his brother a second slap to the face. And again both he and Thunderlane froze on the spot.

When nothing was said for a good while, Rumble said, "Lane, you need to stop this before you get your butt kicked. I mean, you're acting like a pony who needs to be placed inside a padded room, with another padded room inside of that one."

"Rumble... He..."

"Lane, I'm sorry, but shut up! Is this really getting you anywhere? Is blaming everything on Bryce making you feel any better?"

"But... He d-"

Rumble placed his hoof over his brother's mouth. "Just listen to me," he said, looking him in the eyes. "You need to drop this, because I'm afraid you're goign to do something so terrible to him he's going to bury you. And I wouldn't stop him. What you need to do is apologize to him. To him and Miss Doo."

Thunderlane's pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints. He shook his head, with Rumble's hoof still over his mouth.

"Yes, Lane. If you keep doing this then I'm going to avoid you. I don't care if I have to run away, I will not want to ever see you again. And if anypony ever asks me if I know who you are, I'll tell'em: You mean that flightless freak of a pegasus. No, I don't know him. I've just seen him around. I wouldn't want to get around a freak like him, I might get whatever freakish flightless disease he has."

Thunderlane felt his heart drum inside his chest. Having to be around Bryce was one thing, but apologizing was a whole different theater of war. But he could tell Rumble would do it just by the look in his eyes. He could handle everypony else pretending they didn't know him, but not Rumble.

Letting out a groan as he rolled his eyes, Thunderlane nodded.

Rumble removed his hoof, giving a determined smile. He had lost hope in his older brother, but it seemed he had gotten through somehow. He walked past the slate grey pegasus, and received a smack on the back of the head. "Ow, Lane!"

"That's for slapping me. I'm only going to do it once because I wanted it the second time. Now let's go home. I gotta think of a way to catch Bryce when he's alone. I'll apologize, but I won't let anypony say I did it."