//------------------------------// // Chapter 23: Broken // Story: Lost and Fallen // by Superdale33 //------------------------------// Lost and Fallen Chapter 23: Broken My senses came slowly. My body was lighter, yet encompassed in warmth. It was making me dizzy, but as I blinked my eyes open, the sight of the ceiling, with its wooden finish, eased my mind. It might have been my fatigue thinking, but I was far too comfortable to complain. The blanket laid over me was heavy enough to hinder my movements, and I was okay with that. Light emanated from the window over my head, shining in the room and making it glow with radiance. Everything was peaceful. Not a noise to be heard. Of course, I tried to recall how I got here in bed, but all I could remember was drinking some gin after seeing Alex… I bolted straight up, quickly glancing around as my shadow cast against the walls.  The room was mundane, having only the bed and a side table. The only door was across from me, and the memories of a nightmare flooded my mind. Quickly, I patted around the bed, finding no Ponies in the room. The shirt I wore was plain white, definitely my shirt, but it terrified and calmed me. Where the hell did my clothing go, or better yet, my bullet proof vest? Panicking wouldn’t help me, and I took a long breath. My heart still pounded in my chest, however, no matter how much I tried. I was vulnerable; one shot at me and I was dead. Who had taken it off? If only I could remember. I knew I hadn’t drank too much, or maybe that was just it. I had one too many drinks and couldn’t remember a thing from last night. Shaking my head, I threw off the blanket and slipped out of bed. I still had my black pants, so that was something. Even still, I hurried out of the room, searching the floor for my shoes and socks, since they were missing too. The floor was tidy, but none of my things were here, not even my guns. No protection, no guns; if I was suddenly attacked, I would be screwed. Charging out the door, I took a moment to see how the light radiated on the walls. I wasn’t one to take notice of something like that, especially with the situation I was in, but something about the hallway was stimulating. The deep red carpet, the hanging lights, and the pictures of mountains were all I took note of. It was warm and welcoming. It gave me hope that I wasn’t in a dire situation, that I could breathe easy and rest. But my chest was still tight, and barren. I couldn’t stand it. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have minded, but this was Equestria, and considering what I had gone through, I wasn’t going to take a chance without my vest. “Fascinating,” a voice said in a hush a few doors down. It wasn’t very loud, but in the still atmosphere, it was like a blow horn going off. Briskly making my way down the hallway, I kept my ears perked for any other sounds, but none could be heard except for my footsteps. Stopping at a door, I glanced at the others, wondering if I had guessed correctly. Everything else was either too far or too close for the noise to have originated from. Although, I didn’t give my reasoning much thought; I was just in a hurry to find my stuff. Reaching out for the door knob, I finally noticed the bandage wrapped around my hand. The binding was heavier around my wrist, where the bullet had grazed me. Holding it up for a closer inspection, I turned my hand around, stroking the thin cloth. Whoever had bound it was very good, I didn’t even notice my hand had been wrapped up. Wiggling my fingers, a faint pang of pain erupted from my wrist. It wasn’t completely healed just yet. Resting the hand to my side, I used my other hand to grab the knob and turn it. Entering the room, I found Twilight lying on her bed, her bags were leaning against the base - lucky her. She faced away from me, too transfixed on something to notice my entrance. Her horn glowed and levitated the object high enough for me to… My bullet proof vest! “Hey, hey!” I exclaimed, startling her as the magic around my vest disappeared, allowing it to fall back onto the bed with barely a sound. Twilight whipped her head around as her ears splayed back, her hooves scrunching together. The surprise and guilt on her almost made me want to take back my aggression, but I wasn’t going to let her off easy. “What the hell, Twilight? You just take my stuff without asking first?” “I didn’t want to waste the opportunity,” she explained quickly, reaching out a hoof to nudge my vest. “You were asleep, and I thought I could just get a quick peek of it before you-” “Seriously?” I questioned, causing her to shrink away, shifting her body enough to face me without difficulty. “I said you could look at it all you want after you learned to play the harmonica. Why didn’t you just practice?” Twilight looked away, her mouth open but nothing legible was coming out. It wasn’t until after she took a shaky breath did she speak coherently. “You weren’t using it, Nolan,” she stated, her face hardening, “And you’re in a safe place. Nothing bad would happen to you.” “It’s still mine, Twilight,” I said back, pointing at her with my bad hand, “You know more than anyone that taking something is considered stealing. I mean for fuck’s sake, you’re a princess!” “And what about you!?” Twilight snapped back, facing me again with resolve. Her eyes locked with my own as her brows furrowed. “You have something that I might be able to replicate and use on other Ponies. I can save lives, but you’d rather be selfish and keep it for yourself, and just have me learn how to use a stupid instrument!” Her words caught me off guard, and I could feel my stomach flip, “You’ve been thinking about this for a while.” “Yes, I have,” she stated, standing on her bed, splaying her wings in a triumphant matter. “And as a princess, I have the right to use any means necessary to protect Ponies. That includes taking a vest that stops bullets.” “And how long will that take?” I asked, raising a brow. “To learn its properties, replicate it, and distribute it? How long?” That gave her pause, her face easing up as her mind worked over my words. I wasn’t an expert with kevlar, but I knew damn well it wasn’t easy to make. And with how technology was pretty hit and miss with Ponies, I already felt like I had won the argument. “I don’t know,” she said at last, her eyes wandering to the bed. Her wings retracted back to her side, hiding away along with her assertion. “Exactly,” I said firmly, “What good is it to have something that could take years to recreate, huh? Call me selfish all you want, but by the time my vest can be used by any of you, the Humans will have cleared out.” Or at least, that was the idea. I had no clue how long it would take to accomplish that. But Twilight got the message as she lied back down, defeated. A spark was in her eyes, giving some cheer to her as she looked to me with a faint smile. “The Humans will be gone and we won’t have any need for your vest,” she said before glancing back at it, “or its… amazing technology, which would be really, really cool to study.” Hearing Twilight use the word ‘cool’ got a smirk out of me. Coming from a Princess like her, from a brainiac like her, was funny enough on its own. I had to remember that Twilight wouldn’t do something without a reason. It probably wasn’t the best idea to come charging in and yelling. “Just practice the harmonica,” I said, gesturing to her bags as I rubbed my beard, “even if it is a ‘stupid instrument’.” She blushed in embarrassment and guilt, “Yeah, sorry about that. I got caught up in the moment. I guess you have some attachment to it, huh? Like with me and a good book?” “Not quite,” I chuckled, “But you have to respect it.” “Right,” Twilight nodded, before looking to her saddle bags. I half expected her to levitate it out, but nothing happened. “I wish I brought it with me. I thought we’d be finding Rarity, lickity split.” Lickity split; that was something I hadn’t heard for a long time. She must have been tired if she was using words like that. Twilight looked to me with curiosity, “Did it take you this long to find Fluttershy?” “Can’t say,” I shrugged, stepping closer, “We haven’t found Rarity yet.” I sat on the edge of Twilight’s bed as she pushed herself up onto her haunches. She was in thought, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to interrupt her. If I was her, I would hate it if someone did that. I stared at the wall, finding it was exactly the same as my room. Seeing the wooden walls kicked my mind in gear and reminded me that I still didn’t know how yesterday had ended. “By the way,” I started, stopping a moment to catch her attention. She wasn’t too unnerved from being driven from her thoughts. “Do you know what happened last night-?” “Hey, Twilight!” Alex called as he poked his head in. I could say with confidence that after seeing him again, he hadn’t changed a bit. He still wore the old tan colored uniform, though I doubted he had any other clothing to change into. “Do you know- Oh, there he is! Nolan, where’ve you been? When I didn’t find you in your…” His eyes widened at Twilight, causing her to lean back like she was being threatened. Her wings fluttered as a result, and it made Alex shake his head. He was more surprised than when I told him I was the Masked Man. “You…” he started, raising a shaky finger to point at Twilight. She stared at it as if it would shoot a bullet at her, lifting up both her hooves to cover her chest. “You're an Alicorn.” He shook his head before squinting, “When did you become an Alicorn!?” “A couple months ago,” Twilight said, lowering a foreleg while raising another, more confused than threatened. Alex was speechless. Seeing an Alicorn for the first time would probably surprise me too if I didn’t know they were so rare. Although, Alex had phrased his question that didn’t contribute to that explanation. Looking back at Twilight, I remembered we had covered her wings during the whole excursion to the inn. I chuckled, “Twilight, you didn’t tell them you were a Princess?” “It never came up,” she muttered as she turned away from us. “P-Princess!?” Alex exclaimed, throwing a hand onto his head, flustered. I swore he was going to overload from sheer shock, much like I did from last night. “Wait until Vincent hears this!” The words barely left his mouth before Alex was already out of the room. Twilight jerked her body up as she hopped out of her bed. She was readying herself to give chase, but Alex popped his head around the doorway. “Oh, and uh, by the way,” he said quietly, staring at the floor. “Sorry about hitting your head against the table last night.” “Say what?” I asked, glancing to Twilight for confirmation, as Alex had disappeared again. Her nod was exaggerated, along with the roll of her eyes, “He got really excited and nearly tackled you right into a table. He wouldn’t stop fretting over you until we got you into bed.” Self-consciously, I rubbed my head, finding no sore spot. After being patched up numerous times by these Ponies, I should have expected my wounds wouldn’t be acting up. Hell, I had a tendril tear right through my shoulder, and it was healed in hours. Or was it days? I never got a definite time on how long I was out back then. Twilight galloped out of the room, no doubt chasing Alex. I didn’t see the problem about our friends knowing she was a princess. However, bringing up the tendril had triggered something in me. It felt so long ago that I agreed to this crusade to gather the Elements of Harmony to get home. My motive back then was sturdy: find a way to get back home. I suppose I still have that motive, but… I shook my head, too tired and hungry to think too much of it. No point dwelling on my past motivations. I wasn’t even sure why I brought up what I had been through. Several times, I had reflected on my actions and such, and several times, I had to focus back on the topic at hand. And at the moment, it was finding Rarity. And my shoes… and guns. {~+~} Either Twilight was hording my things for study, or she simply kept them for safekeeping. Whichever was the case, my clothing and weapons were underneath the bed when I searched. Though, not my knife. It wasn’t as personal as Vera was, but there may come a situation in the future that would call for it. I really needed to get a letter out to Rainbow when I got the chance. Fully clothed - and leaving my mask - I adjusted the straps on my combat vest as I shuffled out the door. Getting them in the right position for comfortability and maneuverability was tricky. Too tight and I couldn’t aim and move properly. Too limp and the vest would be shifting around my torso. At the moment, one strap was being quite cumbersome, unwilling to get to just the right point. A door to my right creaked open, drawing my attention as my hands remained on the strap. It came from the opposite wall, a stream of light highlighting its place. Berry Punch stepped out, taking a gander around the hallway before her eyes landed on me. Her eyes widened a bit before a faint blush erupted around her cheeks. I didn’t know what it was about Ponies, but their blushes were easy to spot. Regardless, she faced away from me as she trotted past, heading towards where I expect the stairs were. I didn’t pay her too much mind, more focused on my strap than her, but Anthony stepped out of the same room as Berry Punch’s in his shirt and boxers. It was hard not to give him a funny look. “You didn’t hear anything, did you?” he asked hastily, pointing a finger at me. If he was close enough, I would have bent that finger straight up. I really didn’t like his accusatory tone. “And exactly what wasn’t I supposed to hear?” I questioned. The strap had finally given in, freeing my arms as I crossed them. Anthony gave a soft scoff before stepping back into his - or Berry Punch’s - room, slamming the door behind him. I grunted as I turned back to the hallway behind me, “Friendly.” Berry Punch stood there, looking behind her as if conflicted on something. She didn’t have a problem speaking around me last night, so I had no idea what was making her freeze up. Although, it may pertain to how her and Anthony were in the same room. It took only a second for the implications to settle in me, and I swallowed as a shiver passed through my body. “Can I speak to you?” she asked, more saddened than nervous, the blush long gone, “When you’re ready, that is. I’m just going to be checking on the wine barrels.” And then she cantered away, far faster than usual, swiftly entering through another room. Alone again, I dared a glance back to the room Anthony occupied, half expecting it to open again. {~+~} “Twilight, princess, alicorn…” Vincent said as I walked down the stairs. He sounded like he was studying for a test, but when I saw him, along with Alex and Twilight around the bar, that was hardly the case. Vincent was messing with a few of the drinks behind the counter, though his hands were just turning a few of the bottles around. Probably just looking busy. “Am I missing anything else?” “No!” Twilight snapped, stomping a hoof, her wings fluttering in agitation. “That’s all. I’m a princess and an Alicorn.” “Okay, okay,” Vincent said holding up a hand as he faced her, “I just don’t want to be left in the dark here. I mean, you’re a princess! Shouldn’t we be bowing or something?” An idea popped in my head, and I smirked. Walking off the last step of the stairs, I lowered my upper body as I situated a hand on my chest and back. “Greetings, your majesty,” I said pompously, closing my eyes with a smug look. “Your bags wait in your room for your studies to continue. And tea shall be served at seven o’clock on the dot as promised!” “Damnit!” Vincent said, and I opened an eye to see him glance between Twilight and myself with genuine worry. “I knew I should have bowed. The one time I meet royalty and I mess it up!” Alex was equally just as uneasy with how I was acting around Twilight, but showed it by holding up his chin with a hand, his eyes glued to the side. In honesty, he could have been suppressing a laugh. “No, there isn’t-!” Twilight said before she cut herself off, grinding her teeth, “Augh! Nolan!” My gentle laugh was enough to ease Vincent as he put a hand over his heart, relaxing his shoulders. Alex was just confused. Seeing their faces was worth it. I was so glad they hadn’t known about Twilight’s status as princess. “Jeez,” Vincent said, resting on the counter, “Don’t even joke about that, Nolan.” “I don’t see the problem,” I said with a smile, chuckling. I stepped closer as Alex reached for a glass of water. It could have been vodka, since it was a bar, but Alex was smart enough to know the consequences of drinking in the morning. I sure as hell did, and I wasn’t planning on spending the day in a semi-stupor. “Says you!” Vincent snapped, taking a deep breath, “One moment, Twilight is like every other Unicorn, then Alex comes shouting about an Alicorn princess!” The glare Twilight directed at me was probably the least threatening one I had ever come across in Equestria. One that I could bear with a grin. I didn’t care what Twilight thought, that was funny. Plus, it wasn’t often I could pull off a prank like that. Tearing her eyes away from me, she seethed quietly to herself before turning to the back room. I followed her gaze to the doorway, remembering that Applejack was still there… My smile fell as I sighed, “She still out of it?” “If you mean unresponsive,” Twilight retorted, giving me a sideways glance, “then yes, she’s still out of it.” “Who, Applejack?” Alex questioned, jerking a thumb towards the door. I nodded solemnly as he nursed his drink, swishing it around in the glass. “I don’t know the full story with her, but knowing you, Nolan, it can’t be pretty. My condolences.” He raised the glass before giving a long swig. Vincent went back to turning his bottles. It must have been a force of habit when he was nervous, which must have been saying something when the MP from yesterday were questioning him. He was as still as a rock back then. “How long has she been like that?” Vincent asked gently, turning to Twilight. “Just before we arrived here in the inn,” she answered, facing him with a frown. “And before you ask,” I spoke up, “No, this hasn’t happened before.” I eased my breath; talking about Applejack was making me uncomfortable. My inability to help her was probably the prime suspect behind it, but what we were discussing felt like it should be kept private. “The closest was back in Las Pegasus, when she was having nightmares about her rape.” Twilight blinked at me, her eyebrows raising enough to tell me she hadn’t been informed about this. Vincent and Alex stepped back with the latter rubbing his hand around his glass. “Damn, rape?” Alex said with a shake of his head, “I know Apple Bloom said her sister was tough, but… don’t know what to think of that.” To hear Alex bring up Apple Bloom lifted my spirits. I was glad he hadn’t forgotten her name, and undoubtedly he had a lot of the other foals’ names memorized too. However, it wasn’t enough to change the mood that took precedent over the room. “Wait, nightmares?” Twilight questioned, rushed over to me with renewed anger, “How come you know about these nightmares, but not me?” I raised a brow, “She never told you?” “No!” she said hotly, jabbing a hoof into my stomach. My kevlar vest prevented me from feeling it. “She barely even got out that she was…” She halted as she shied away from me. I groaned, “Rape. Yes, she was raped. As bad as it is, you can’t act like it’s taboo to say it.” Twilight was quiet, staring at my legs as her head hung low. Alex and Vincent were deathly quiet, and it was bugging far too much that they were watching like it was a spectator sport. “We’re best friends,” Twilight whispered, her breath hitching, “She’ll tell you but not me?” The words Apple Bloom said to me echoed in my mind: I know some ponies change when they’re gone for a long time. To think Twilight was more out of the loop than anyone else. Stuck inside a bunker while her friends were surviving against the Human oppression. She needed to know that she had the easy life for those few months, but I didn’t have the energy to bring it up to her. We already had one comatose Pony, we didn’t need another. However, I couldn’t just ignore the issue either. “Maybe she was protecting you,” I suggested, resting against the counter, “She knew you wouldn’t take it well. After all, you have a lot on your mind.” More silence followed as Twilight continued to stare at my legs. They were getting fidgety from how intently she maintained her gaze. Not to mention that Alex and Vincent were still gawking at us. Might as well pop popcorn while they were at it. As if reading my mind, Vincent cleared his throat as he turned away from the bottles. “You know, I think I’ll leave you guys alone for a minute,” he stated, though his voice was definitely pointing to how awkward he was making it by watching the spectacle. That at least let me know how he felt of his position. “I gotta get some groceries, and find Spitfire. She’s not in trouble or anything, but she likes to fly around and wander, and I never know if she could be in trouble or not, so… yeah.” For all that it was worth, I was glad I wasn’t in his position. He shuffled along the bar, trying his hardest not to look to us, before promptly heading for the door. His strides could have been mistaken for a soldier’s, as long as they were. As he stepped out, I took note of the outside through the windows. Daylight cast long shadows on the buildings as several Humans and Ponies went about their day. One thing I was glad to see were their smiles. Genuine, voluntary smiles. I never thought it was possible for Humans and Ponies to get along, besides the obvious exceptions of Alex and myself. To see it so abundantly was heartwarming. Of course, that moment didn’t last as Twilight walked away towards Applejack’s room, leaving Alex and I alone. Shaking my head, I rested my arms on the counter, my eyes flickering over the bottles turned by Vincent. I wasn’t really paying attention to what they read. I was far more curious with the question rattling around my head. “How’d you get here?” I questioned rather lightheartedly. I didn’t expect my voice to be so chipper, considering the tense atmosphere a moment ago. But just thinking about the tracks Alex had to go through to get from Appleloosa to Manehattan was nagging me. I looked over to him inquisitively, and he broke a smile. “Not much of a tale, I’m afraid,” he expressed as he took another shot of his drink. I didn’t expect Alex to be modest. Certainly, he had qualities of a big brother - which wasn’t unexpected with him having a younger sister - but I figured he would have boasted about his trek, if just to keep things comedic between ourselves. “Try me,” I stated back with a smile. He gave a dry chuckle. “I just walked,” he said with a shrug, “Got really hungry after we parted ways, but I had enough bits on hand to buy some food. Found my way here, and stuck around to recuperate. Pretty big coincidence that we ran into each other.” “That all?” I joked. He gave me a gentle shove, “Don’t even start.” {~+~} Poking my head through a door, I was instantly met by the cool, still air. Barrels on top of barrels hugged the walls, leaving the center of the room bare, where a lantern sat with Berry Punch. She was adjusting a spout from one of the barrels, but she knew I was there. Not just from the door closing, but just from the way she stopped for a brief moment. Whatever it was she wanted to discuss with me must have been digging around in her mind. Stepping closer was eerie, like the room was watching us. Every step, every move was observed by the inanimate barrels surrounding us. If I was claustrophobic, I would go as far as to say they were suffocating. The lantern's light cast large shadows across the room, dancing as the flame flickered. I stared at these shadows as I sat crossed legged in front of the lantern, but Berry Punch still didn’t move to greet me. “So why do you keep the liquor up here?” I started, keeping things civil, “Wouldn’t it be easier to keep it cool in a basement or cellar?” Berry Punch grunted, finally looking over her shoulder to me, “Liquor is rare in Equestria. It isn’t that it’s banned, but no one really has the expertise to make and maintain alcohol properly. Applejack makes some mean Apple Cider, but other than her, I can’t name anypony else.” “That still doesn’t answer my question,” I retorted, keeping my voice even. “The inn doesn’t have a basement,” she deadpanned, not at all pleased with how I had worded my sentence. A thunk was heard as she banged a hoof against the barrel before spinning around to face me. Her face was dead serious, and I kept mine as casual as possible. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like what she wanted to bring up. “But enough small talk,” she stated, her hooves clopping as she made her way to the lantern. They were even creepier than my footsteps. Sitting on her haunches, she narrowed her eyes before speaking again, “You’re the Masked Man.” She was stating it. She already knew the answer. But I could tell she wasn’t beating around the bush. In a way, she was verifying her own knowledge, and it was only right to oblige her. “Right,” I said, resting my arms on my legs. “Which means you were the one who freed all those foals back in Appleloosa,” she said, her head tilting just a bit to the side. I nodded at her words. “So I have to ask you this.” She swallowed, taking a few breathes as a hoof pawed at the ground, “Do you know a filly named… named Piña Colada?” The name stuck a chord in me. I couldn’t recognize the name, but something inside of me snapped and a flood of misery rushed forth. My heart stung, but I couldn’t figure out why. My face contorted as I racked my brain for a memory portraying to that name. She was a filly… back in Appleloosa… I recoiled as a memory flashed before my eyes. A filly, bleeding in her chest, so out of it she couldn’t even feel the pain. I rushed her to the hospital, but it was too late. Her name was Piña Colada. I figured I should at least tell you that. Doctor Styles, why did you have to tell me her name? My mouth was dry as Berry Punch looked to me expectantly, her narrow eyes changing to some semblance of hope. She couldn’t be the sister that little filly mentioned, it was too coincidental. I was just getting worked up over nothing. Even still, I knew I was wrong; why would she ask a question like that if she wasn’t her sister? “Y-Yeah,” I choked out, feeling my eyes watering just a tad. My brain was blank. I couldn’t think how to break it to her, I couldn’t figure out an excuse to avoid it, I couldn’t even think of a response besides confirmation. “I knew a filly named…” I gave a shaky sigh, “Piña Colada.” The bright smile on Berry Punch tore me apart. What was worse was the squee she suppressed as she flung her hooves wildly in the air, like how a rearing horse would. I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t break it to her. She was too happy to be toppled back down to grief. “You saw her?” she questioned before hopping to her hooves with a dainty little skip, “I didn’t want to be hopeful, but… yes! She’s still out there!” I shut my eyes facing the ground. My hands were sweaty. I couldn’t concentrate. Please, please don’t ask me- “Where is she now?” she asked, and I fumed. “Back in Las Pegasus with the other foals?” “No,” I whispered, my eyes wandering to the lantern. The flame swayed from every faint breeze in the room, and the shadows followed suit. I was sure the light would give away Piña Colada’s fate. Amazingly, Berry Punch never lost her smile. “Oh, so she’s hiding in another city?” she asked stepping closer as if my next response would go unheard. I was cornered like a rat. “She’s dead,” I blurted, my lips moving of their own accord. Her face contorted, eyes widening as she pulled away. She was disgusted, plain and simple. Who wouldn’t be after hearing what I had said? “Don’t joke about this,” Berry Punch snapped, holding a hoof to her chest. “This is my sister we’re talking about, alright?” I had already known that, yet her words pierced my resolve as I locked my eyes with hers. I couldn’t bear to see hope fleeting from her very expression, but I forced myself anyway. It was all too similar to how Applejack behaved. My heart tightened; at that point, it was just a lump of tissue inside my chest. “No, no you’re lying,” she accused, her voice hollow. She shook her head, “You’re just saying that because… because…” Her eyes furrowed threateningly. “How would you even know!? There must have been loads of foals! It could have been another…” Her words were desperately hurtful, how she would think it easy to think it was just another filly that was shot, tumbling down the hill of sand along with myself. Another filly I struggled to keep alive until we got her to a doctor. “She wanted to see you again,” I stated, trying to remember the last words the filly spoke to me, “She held on for a long time.” “Shut up!” she demanded, throwing a hoof across her eyes, “Just. Stop. Talking! She paused as her teeth clenched, fighting back tears. “How did she die? Tell me that.” “A sniper,” I recounted, lost in the memory. It was playing again, and I couldn’t fight it. I could only sit there and watch as the filly gave a cry of pain as the bullet struck, after seeing those carriages, leading to freedom. “He fired at us, me and the filly. He got both of us, her body and my arm. It was so fast-” A hoof slapped across my cheek. It stung as much as any other strike, but it had more impact. My face was directed to the side, where the shadows continued their dance of darkness. They were taunting me, but I was dead inside. I didn’t know what to feel. Berry Punch, on the other hand, was a plethora of emotion. Her face was shrouded in shadow, as she had to stand over the light to reach me. Her hoof was held to the side after following through with her slap, unable to put it down. “You monster!” she screamed, shoving me away with her hooves. By how little I moved, I could tell she couldn’t muster the same strength she had put into her slap. My cheek was still stinging. “You have the nerve to tell me my sister is dead, and that the hero of the Ponies survives! What kind of sick Human are you!? You’re supposed to save lives, not cause more deaths!” Her eyes gleamed with fury, the only thing I could really see on her face. As much as her torrent of words nailed a hole in my heart, I didn’t rebut. I remained still, and took it. “The Masked Man,” she scorned hotly, her hoof scrapping hard against the floor. “What good are you if you can’t even save my sister! I hope you burn in Tartarus with the Baron and the rest of you good for nothing Humans!” She was gone before I registered her words and the weight behind them, the door slamming shut. I was left with the echos, the lantern, and the shadows, still pirouetting across the walls. A part of me knew she was just spouting nonsense, that she was just angry. Another part knew I deserved every harsh word she pushed onto me. And yet another part strived to do better, to undo the pain that she was going through. All I wanted was silence. {~+~} The flow of time was at a standstill in that room. No windows to see the sun move and the light shift. No clock to see the hands go around and around. It was just me and the barrels of liquor. And to think my brain simply wondered what to do next. It was obvious: find Rarity and save her. My legs didn’t move, my arms were limp. Damnit, just stand up! The room was like another dimension. A place where I could sit and think. Maybe I just wanted this opportunity to let everything soak in. But I was wasting time. Time that could be used for planning or searching. So, get up, pathetic body! My muscles strained as I followed my motivation. I couldn’t describe why I was in such a bizarre state. All I understood was that my body was acting differently than how my brain was. It was separate, and just standing to my feet was a testament to that. My legs were wobbly, and I stumbled a little to the side, grasping a barrel to hold my balance. Piña Colada… That certainly wasn’t going to motivate me. Dwelling on the past, especially a terrible one, usually didn’t. I suppose I could add that little filly along with Emma on my list of failures, the list of people that I could have saved. But I had saved lives too. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Carrot Top… Fleetfoot… Rose... Shit, I had to stop thinking. I might as well teleport to my fucking world while I was at it. Was I so incompetent that I hadn’t realized I was hurting more than I was helping? Berry Punch may have blown up in my face, but she had a reason, a good reason. Even still, I wanted to curse and scream and get all of this weight off me somehow. Did I need to save more lives? Was that it? No one answered. Who the hell would? The door behind me swung open, slamming against the wall hard enough to startle me. I jumped away as I spun around, finding Anthony looming in the doorway, wearing his outfit from yesterday. I would have relaxed - seeing as it wasn’t Berry back to berate me some more - but the look in his eyes were killer. He didn’t move for a while, and I was certain he was just going to leave before he slowly walked towards me. “Hey, Anthony,” I greeted dully, “What’s the matter? You seem kind of-” He socked me in the mouth, sending me crashing into the ground, barely missing the lantern. Unlike with Berry Punch, I was more pissed than impassive, glaring at Anthony from where I lied, rubbing where he had struck me. The taste of copper was already filling up my mouth. “What the hell!?” I screamed at him before spitting out a wad of blood and spit beside me. There was a lot of the former. “You asshole!” Anthony screamed right back, taking a step forward threateningly. “What did you do to Berry Punch!?” Hearing her name made me somber for a moment before I had to spit another wad of blood, reminding me who I was dealing with. “I think that’s a little private, don’t you think?” I snarked, getting back to my feet again. Unlike last time, my body didn’t have a problem. It helped that I really wanted to knock the lights out of Anthony. “Private!?” he yelled in disbelief, glancing back and forth as if an audience would burst out laughing, “She won’t stop crying! And I know damn well she wanted to talk to you beforehand, so fess up!” I knew I wasn't getting out of here without giving him an answer. This world seemed to thrive on that mentality. “Fine,” I grumbled, swishing around the blood in my mouth. I was tempted to swallow it. “Her sister is dead. Are you happy?” He blinked, his facade of big tough guy evaporating, “Her… what?” “Berry Punch’s sister,” I emphasised, getting my turn of assertion, “is dead.” I wasn’t one to insult a friend - or an acquaintance - but boy, did he look like a dumb, blubbering idiot. It might have been my bleeding mouth talking, but his switch around in attitude was worth ridiculing him over. Anthony put the back of his hand against his forehead before turning away from me. “Seriously?” I questioned harshly, “You punch me in the fucking mouth and you don’t even know why?” “She’s-” he started before shaking his head. I spit yet another wad of blood onto the floor. I needed some water, this blood was getting everywhere. “She never said she had a sister.” I was surprised enough to let a bit of spittle drip from my mouth. Wiping it off my chin, I looked to him as he faced me with contemplation. “What was her name?” he asked, his voice surprisingly gentle. “Piña Colada,” I answered. He opened his mouth a moment before giving a ghost of a smile. I wasn’t sure if he found the name slightly amusing and was trying to hide it. I was on the same boat as him back when she passed away. “How long have you known Berry Punch?” I questioned. “Three months, give or take,” he said, the gentleness replaced with somberness. “She was real skittish around me and Vincent for the first week. Didn’t talk, did her part of the work. I think it was when we started up that bar she got interested. And me and her kicked it off.” I raised a brow, and he obliged to my confusion, “We both like liquor.” That little remark got a grunt out of me. “We’ve been… friends,” he stated, but I didn’t like how forced it was. “Friends for a while.” “Just friends?” I asked, crossing my arms, remembering how they were in the same bedroom. I might have been overthinking that part though. “Good friends,” he stressed, though without too much aggression. I didn’t need a black eye along with my bloody mouth. “We’ll keep it at that. After all, if what Twilight told me is right, you have a friend of your own to rescue.” Rarity. Enough distractions, we needed to get back on track. Even still, Twilight’s exposed back forced me to ask, “You see her wings yet?” Anthony grimaced, scratching the back of his head, “Yeah, I saw them.” “At least that’s out of the way then,” I chuckled, stepping towards the door. Before passing through it, however, I turned back to him and punched him in the gut. The breath left him as he crumpled to the floor, gasping for air. “And next time, don’t punch me.” {~+~} Applejack lied in her bed, a blanket covering her body and leaving her head exposed. Of course, I could only see the back of her head from where I sat alongside Twilight. Seeing Applejack again in the exact same position was putting a whole load of pain on my chest. And I couldn’t just give her a pep talk like last time. She might be able to tough out her rape, but knowing full well that her brother was gone… I had no brothers of my own to compare her experience, but losing Emma was all I needed to know what she was going through. Everyone went through grief differently though, and having Applejack lie around, practically lifeless, was very much different to what I had done. With my legs drawn up to my chin, I was relieved to have something to rest my heavy head on. A part of me must have been carrying a part of AJ’s burden. I didn’t know how Twilight could sit without something to rest against. Ponies couldn’t sit like Humans, nor could their legs bend like one. They had to prop themselves up, weather through their own storms. Or maybe Twilight was getting some backlash from Applejack’s mood. As far as I could tell, she was the main link between these Elements of Harmony. Even still she hardly showed any sign of tiring. I grunted; maybe it wasn’t just Applejack who was stubborn. “You say something?” Twilight whispered, facing me as she tilted her head. Seeing her up close, her cleanly cut mane was even sharper than I had thought. A far cry from every other Pony I had met. While I was staring at her mane, she was staring at my mouth, newfound concern bubbling in her expression. “Is that… blood on your lips?” she questioned, lifting a hoof to point. It was so close I swore she was going to touch me. As for her question, I must have missed a few spots when I was cleaning up after the exchange with Anthony. “I’ll get it.” She licked her hoof before reaching out to me, and I was able to back away just before her hoof connected. “Don’t do that,” I accused loudly before wincing and looked to Applejack. Still sleeping. “I’m not a kid.” Twilight bashfully faced the floor, her head hung in shame. “S-Sorry,” she whispered out, “It’s just AJ and…” She took a deep breath, “Did you say something before?” “I was… just thinking,” I muttered back. I wasn’t at all miffed that Twilight got the subject back on track. Her motherly instincts must have been kicking in, and after seeing Spike, I had to imagine how he dealt with her during those moments. “You’ve been friends with Applejack, Fluttershy, and the others for a while, right?” “Yeah,” Twilight said firmly, brokering no argument. “Was it always like that?” I asked. Her eyes studied me, but eventually she turned away with a heavy sigh. “No,” she answered, her eyes half lidded, “Not always. For most of my life, I just stuck with books. I didn’t really think friends were that important.” She chuckled dryly, “Now look at me, sitting here with you, waiting for Applejack to snap out of it.” A small smirk eased on my lips, “I didn’t exactly expect to be in this situation either.” “I guess not,” Twilight agreed with a nod, “Life is strange, huh?” “Nah,” I replied with a shake of my head, “Life is unexpected. But it’s what makes it good, ya know?” Twilight hummed, but I wasn’t sure if it was in thought or in agreement. Either way was fine by me. Eventually, Applejack would wake up, go back to the way she was, and help us out as a friend. But she might not wake up, she might change, and wouldn’t have the energy to do much. Such turmoil was going to tear us apart, and I knew we needed to move on ahead with our plan. It was the reason I was in the room in the first place, to get Twilight. Suddenly, I needed someone else to pull me out. Snapping out of my thoughts, I pressed against the wall as I stood up, gesturing for Twilight to do the same. Hesitantly, she did, glancing back to Applejack. If Twilight and I spent all our time worrying over AJ, we wouldn’t get anything done. As much as I wanted to comfort her when she awoke, we couldn’t waste any more time. I walked past Twilight as she followed along reluctantly, and it wasn’t until we entered the main lobby of the inn did she speak again. “You know,” she said, using her magic to close the door behind us. “I thought it would be so straightforward on these missions. I read that with enough optimism, nothing would be impossible. But after seeing that battlefield…” She gave a tired sigh, her ears slowly folding back, “I don’t know how you guys can even stay on track.” “Well, think of it like this,” I suggested, holding up a finger. My mind was working furiously to come up with a good comparison. “Each mission is like a book. We might get pretty far in one book, or we might not. And sometimes, we have to stop for a moment to work on something else.” “That makes a lot of sense to me,” Twilight nodded with no hint of sarcasm. I could have sworn that analogy wasn’t the greatest, but as long as Twilight got it, mission accomplished. “Oh, and we can make a lot of our life events like books. For example, this whole resistance against these Humans is like a huge book.” She gasped sharply hopping up and down as she trotted over to the bar. “Oh, Oh! And these missions are like chapters!” She was getting pretty lively, which wasn’t at all bad. I wished I could manage something like that, but my mind was far too burdened with everything else. It didn’t help that neither Alex nor Anthony were here, just Carrot Top. She sat in one of the many chairs in the room, her hooves on the table as she tried to hide behind it. She tried her hardest not to look at me, knowing what I wanted to discuss, and it sure as hell wasn’t the wine selection. Movement outside caught my attention, though it just turned out to be several busy Humans and Ponies. They all were reading some sort of poster tacked to the wall across the street. Probably my new bounty, I did cause quite a ruckus last night. Turning back to Carrot Top, her restraint was even more apparent. She may not be moving around much, but the strain on her neck was more than enough proof for me. “Carrot Top,” I said, resting an arm on my hip. She slowly looked to me, and I could tell she really didn’t want to bring up the subject. Frankly, neither did I, but ignoring the elephant in the room wasn’t going to make the scene disappear in my head. “About last night…” “It won’t happen again,” Carrot Top replied blatantly, staring ahead, “It was just to throw off the Humans, n-nothing more.” Oh, it was something more alright, and she was hiding it from me. My stomach boiled for the briefest moment before it simmered down. She was just as awkward with the kiss as I was. Maybe giving it bit more time wouldn’t hurt before I brought it up again. In a place more private, too, as Twilight was giving Carrot Top and I a look of curiosity. Knowing her, that wasn’t a good thing, given the topic. The entrance burst open, not too different from last night, and I whipped around, keeping my back away from the door. I didn’t know why it had occurred to me so late that I was walking around near the windows with S.W.A.T. still on my back. Luckily, it was just Anthony holding the door open with one arm as the other clutched tightly to a piece of paper. He was… excited? It was hard to tell from his pasty skin. I didn’t think it was from fear or worry, but his face was in pure shock, so it was hard to tell. Berry Punch galloped past Anthony before skidding to a halt her eyes whipping over to me. “Nolan!” she yelled, just as aghast, maybe even more so. “You’re not- I mean, it is believable, but it’s just- that one guy- No!” She slapped a hoof to her head, growling before taking a deep breath. It was the first time I had seen her in such a state, and it was putting me on edge. My imagination jumped to Spitfire and Vincent before I had to take a deep breath myself. Get the facts first, then mellow in apprehension. “Slow down,” Twilight advised, stepping closer. She was far calmer than I was. She must have had experience in such tense matters. It worked too, as Berry Punch took another deep breath. Anthony was doing the same, still clutching the paper tightly. If it was any tighter, it would rip. “Sorry, Princess-” “Just Twilight,” Twilight reprimanded quickly. “Right, Twilight,” Berry Punch restated with a nod, wiping a few drops of sweat off her brow. “It’s just, well, look for yourself.” She pointed to Anthony who flinched as our eyes went to him. The paper he held was what I was really looking at. It had to be what was getting everyone all riled up, and if it was giving Anthony the shivers, then I didn’t think I was going to like it. He closed the door - which I didn’t even realize was still open - and sped over to me. I swiped it as soon as it was within range, and looked over the document, preparing for the worst. Graceful Gathering Gala Hosted by True Helper Blueblood “True Helper Blueblood?” I questioned, my earlier anxiety melting away. It sounded like a dumb party than something like an execution. In fact, the picture was of some hoity toity Unicorn Pony with white fur and a yellow mane and tail that screamed over-groomed. The bow tie was just icing on the cake. For a moment, I thought Blueblood was the Pony, but that was impossible. Ponies weren't given rights like that by the Humans. My best assumption was that the Pony was some big attraction. Who knew why he was so important though. “Keep reading,” Anthony said gravely, tapping the paper. Come one, come all! A celebration will be held for those wanting to meet the True Helper himself! Drinks and food will be provided, and slave auctions throughout the night! All Uniques enter free - and bring one guest with no extra charge! All others will need 1 bit for admittance! Have an unwanted slave? Several rich attendees are on the lookout! Earn big Bits! Formal attire required, all who attend must abide by the Occupation Code, event is held- “Alright, I’m getting nauseous from just reading this,” I gripped, covering my eyes to hide them from all this bullshit. It was a bit of an exaggeration, but I still didn’t like how they referred to these Ponies as slaves to be traded like property. “Just read the last part,” Anthony said exasperatedly, whether from my attitude or from sharing the same sentiment. Regardless, I scanned past the location and date until I found the last lines of the poster. Special guests will be visiting from many corners of Equestria! Including Megan Lowery, Joshua Holloway, and the biggest one of all! “The Baron!?” I hissed, reading over the line again. I couldn’t be reading this right; the Baron himself was attending this party!? “Y-You’re joking,” Twilight accused, just as shaken up from the revelation. “There’s no way it’s the Baron. I mean, he’s the one behind this whole invasion!” She tapped her chin, “Right?” “Exactly right,” Anthony nodded glumly, “The very same Baron that never left Canterlot since it was captured.” “Sounds paranoid,” I noted, giving the poster another look over. The information was suddenly more important, sprouting several questions. Why was this Blueblood so significant? And why did he have a title like ‘True Helper’? “What’s more is that the party is tonight,” Anthony said, causing a sigh to escape my lips. I wasn’t sure how to process this. In some light, this was an opportunity to assassinate the head honcho reigning over Equestria. In another light, it was probably going to be so heavily guarded and fortified that none of us were even going to get close without getting deterred. And we still needed to find Rarity. “Do you think…” Twilight started, her magic enveloping the poster. I let it go as she hovered it over to herself, “the Baron owns Rarity? I mean, it’s a bit of a long shot- It’s that Blueblood?!” Her eyes were wide in both surprise and anger, transfixed on the poster that she held an inch away from her muzzle. I couldn’t figure out what she meant before she slammed the poster onto a table, her rage breaking through her expression. “Blueblood is Celestia’s nephew,” Twilight emphasised, slapping a hoof onto the poster. “Why the hay is he called a ‘True Helper’? He definitely didn’t help any Ponies!” No way. A Pony in a position of power. And he wasn’t a captive or anything! I was with Twilight on this one, what the hell did he do to earn a prestigious title like that?! “He’s always been here,” Anthony clarified, with a nod from Berry Punch. “Ever since he sold out those Ponies sneaking out of Canterlot, the group with that princess… I forgot her name.” “Luna,” I whispered, my eyes flicking over from my shoes to the chair to the floor to my shoes again. If Blueblood got his title of ‘True Helper’ from betraying Luna’s Company, then that meant she had never betrayed the Ponies in the first place. All the flak the Ponies back in Las Pegasus were giving her was all for nothing. She was innocent. I was pretty torn up about that. There I was yelling at her back in my dreams. Of course, my shame quickly evolved into fury, seeing the real perpetrator on the poster, with a shit eating grin no less. The Baron wasn’t the only one I wanted to kill at that Graceful Gathering Gala. A good shot through the eyes ought to do it. However, I had to stay rational. As much as this snide prick needed a firm thrashing, we couldn’t get off track. For the second time, the door burst open, allowing Vincent and Spitfire to enter. They might as well have been running for their lives, based on their breathing. Hell, even Spitfire was flying around, and there was no question that she was faster in the air than on foot. Twilight and Berry were the first to see to Vincent; he was swaying a bit. Spitfire flew right over me, her momentum carrying her in a circle before landing on a table next to me. It nearly toppled over from her speed. “We… learned about a… party,” Spitfire spoke with gasps interrupting her. I swore, if she passed out… “Yeah, Graceful Gathering Gala,” I said, walking over to the poster before waving it for emphasis. “That’s… not it,” Vincent gasped out, leaning an arm on a table. Hearing Spitfire was one thing, but hearing Vincent made me more cautious. For someone from the military, he sure didn’t sound like he was in good shape. He held up a hand to ask for a moment, but I didn’t need to hear it. “Rarity's there,” I said with a snap of my fingers, pointing to him afterwards. Both him and Spitfire nearly slipped from their spots. Even the other people in the room looked at me like I was psychic. “How…?” Spitfire started. I shrugged indifferently, “Not hard to assume really. Given how these Elements of Harmony have been, and my luck, it’s a safe guess. And your reactions tell me I’m right.” They both nodded. Vincent slid into a chair and rested his head in his hands. Spitfire simply lied down on the table. I kept a mental note to not use these tables; they were used more for lounging than eating. There I go, trying to distract myself. For good reason though. I was not excited to head to his party. The Baron, Blueblood, and Rarity were all there. Another look at the poster gave me nothing but a reminder that it was unavoidable. “We saw her,” Spitfire revealed, still breathing pretty heavily, but had calmed down enough to speak normally. “She was walking with Blueblood, in the street. I wasn’t sure why they were out there, but it felt off. We couldn’t get a closer look either, me being a Pegasus Pony and all that. “And what’s worse was that I recognized her,” Vincent said with a shake of his head, along with the rest of his body. It was either from his own anger or from his exertion. “Blueblood walks around with her once in awhile. Even passed by the inn at one point.” There was no conclusion to bringing up that information. But I couldn’t find it in myself to blame him for not doing something sooner - if that was what he was getting at. In fact, looking to Anthony, he was brooding in his own way: staring at the floor. Something him and I had in common. The Ponies didn’t know what to do. They stood around looking between everyone, like I did. Waiting. Placing the poster down, I knew what they were expecting, though examining my attire, I didn’t feel like we were quite ready to free yet another Pony. “I’m going to need a suit,” I muttered with no sense of motivation, rubbing my forearm. The pit in my stomach wasn’t going to leave; the last time I had worn a suit was anything but pleasant.