Chapter 10
They stared at his motionless body, unable to say anything. The only sound was Twilight’s heavy breathing as her shock wore off. Fluttershy pulled herself out from under the table where she has been hiding. She slowly walked back over to the table, putting her hoof on Orange’s neck. She let out a small breath and looked back up at Twilight.
“He is still alive, he just passed out again.” She looked back down at Orange, whose chest was slowly moving up and down. “What are we going to do with him? And what did he mean?”
“I don’t know!” Twilight said, starting to pace again. “I don’t know what that meant. But I really don’t think we should stay here much longer.” She turned back to Fluttershy, her eyes wide. “Is he safe for travel?”
“Oh, no! No, no, no! He won’t be safe for a week or more!” she said, backing up into the table. “He has to stay right here.”
“Alright, alright.” Twilight said, closing her eyes. She turned to look at the others. “What do you think we should do? Dual snorted, rolling his eyes.
“I can’t believe you are trusting him!” he said, exasperated. “He just walks in here, after hunting us down and hurting us, and you want us to trust him?! For all we know, he could have told us that to lead us into a trap!”
“So what do you want us to do with him?” Twilight asked, looking him straight in the face. Dual stared straight back.
“You know what I think we should do.” he said, voice cold. “But ask the others what they think.” he said, turning away from her. Twilight rolled, her eyes, but did as he asked.
“I think we should wait until he is awake, then see what he has to say.” Blue said, looking at the black pegasus on the table. “I think that is the only fair way.” The others nodded in agreement, while Dual just shook his head.
“Alright.” Twilight said, rubbing her temples. “Do you mind holding on to him for a couple days?” she asked Fluttershy. I don’t think we should take him back to my place.”
“Of course! I was going to keep him here anyway.” She looked orange up and down. She seemed to be worrying about his strength, as his muscles showed through his fur and feathers. “Umm...anything I should know...you know, if he wakes up?”
“Just be careful.” Twilight responded. “Don’t startle him. If he asks for anything, give it to him. He needs a lot more food than normal ponies, so you might want to stock up today.”
“OK....anything else?”
“As soon as he wakes up, come and get us. Even if it is in the middle of the night.” Fluttershy nodded. Twilight smiled and embraced her. “I can’t thank you enough. I swear I will repay you one day.” She turned back to the others, who were watching her intently. “Come on, let’s head home.” The nodded and spread their wings. They walked back out into the sun and took off. Twilight waved at Fluttershy, then teleported home.
When the library reappeared in front of her, she suddenly felt how tired she was. She collapsed on the floor. A few seconds later, the sound of wings greeted her. She looked up to see Dual and the others flying in through the window above her. They gently touched down, barely making a sound. Blue walked over and nudged Twilight.
“Are you OK?” she asked, worried. She had never seen Twilight like this. Twilight nodded.
"I’m fine. It’s just...” Her voice trailed off as she looked them over one by one. She avoided Dual’s eyes. “This whole thing is riding on you trusting him. And I know some of you are reserving your trust.” Her eyes flashed back to Dual. “But I need you to believe me. I created him. I built him from the ground up. He is not evil. I need you to believe that.”
“We do believe you!” Blue said. She looked at Dual, who just rolled his eyes. “Well, those who matter do.” Dual snorted and walked away, back into their room. Blue looked at the others helplessly.
“Try to help him.” Twilight said, standing up. “I really need some time alone.” She walked over the the stairs and climbed out of sight. Blue huffed and walked over to their room. She opened the door. Dual was standing next to the window, the sun casting a long shadow out behind him.
“Guys, why don’t you go out for a fly or something, OK?” she said. The nodded, flying out the same way they came in. Blue took a deep breath and walked forward. She stopped when she was next to Dual. He was looking out at the distant tree line. When the others flew over that way, he watched them go.
“I know what you are thinking.” he said, not breaking his gaze. “You think I am a heartless monster and I am no better than who we are fighting.”
“Yes. Yes I do.” Blue responded. “I just can’t see why you won’t trust him. he used to be one of us!”
Dual turned to look at her. His black eyes were filled with pain and pity. “I know he did. But you remember what happened, we all do. The real orange died. He died in his cage. Right next to you.”
Blue closed her eyes as the memories rushed back. It had started out as a shiver, something they all got from time to time. He said it was nothing, but his eyes gave away his true feeling. Fear and pain. The doctors acted strangely around him. Carefully handling him, not pushing or kicking him awake. They treated him almost as well as Yellow. It seemed to go on like that for a few weeks. But then it got worse.
His shivers turned to debilitating shakes. He couldn’t even take the walk down the hall to the lab rooms. He started to cough, his lips and tongue turning red every time. He would lie awake at night, trying to stifle his moans of pain, but it did no good. They all heard him. Blue was the closest to him, cage-neighbors they called it. But she was helpless as his very DNA unraveled. It seemed like days as he just lay there, coughing up blood that was falling apart inside of him. His feathers started to fall out, followed by his fur. And his eyes lost that glow of life they had held on to throughout those years. They knew it would be soon.
At last, it happened. One day, he just couldn’t get up. His breathing was ragged as he tried to breath through the blood that was filling his lungs. He reached out as far as he could, touching Blue’s hoof with his own. She watched, tears streaming down her face, as the last of that life left his eyes. He breathed his last words, only to her. Words that she had never spoken to any of her siblings. Words she had kept just for herself.
“Don’t forget me.”
She was pushed back to reality by Dual taking her hoof. She looked down and pulled it away. It was the same one that he had touched. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and took a shuddering breath.
“I know he did. And don’t you think that means we should trust him?” she asked, eyes fogging over. “Somepony gave him back to us. Now I think we should take that gift, whether or not he is as messed up as he is. Every pony deserves a second chance.”
Dual stared at her for a long moment, and she stared right back. Her blue eyes bored into his black ones. She was the only one that could normally tell what he was feeling inside. And she could see it now. Anger, fear, longing. Everything that she was feeling. But there was something else. A need to protect. He was the leader, and he could make no mistakes. And he knew that.
He finally let out a sigh. “Fine.” he said quietly. “I will give him a chance. But only one chance.” Blue’s face lit up, and he was suddenly hit in the stomach. She had rushed forward and embraced him.
“Thank you!” she said. “He only needs one change.” Dual didn’t respond, he just put his fore-legs around her and pulled her closer. She laid her head on his shoulder. They stayed like that for a while, until Blue finally let go.
“I should...you know..” she said, blushing. She pointed out the window at the others, who were still flying around near the forest. Dual nodded, not looking her in the eyes.
“Yeah. They might be spotted or something.” Blue nodded and rushed out of the room, her mind racing. She launched herself out of the window, sighing as the wind cooled her skin and feathers. But she was shaking her head. What was wrong with her? Dual was her brother, not officially, but still! She couldn’t think of him like that. But something kept her thinking about him. She felt funny. Sort of happy and warm. It felt weird. She decided that she would have to talk with Twilight.
She finally reached the forest. She had stayed up near the clouds, trying to stay out of sight. She perched on a cloud, the water vapor supple under her hooves. The wind pulled her blue mane out behind her. Looking down, she would see the others playing a game of tag in the air. Green was trying to catch the others, but you could tell she was going easy on them. Blue just laid down on the cloud, watching them. She seldom got to see them this happy, so she took every opportunity she could.
A small smile spread across her lips as she watched them. Yellow was growing, as was Red. He was almost as big as green was, and Yellow was a close second. Green seemed to be more healthy. She was filling in, and you could no longer see her ribs through her fur. Yellow was reading through Twilight’s books faster than Blue was. It had only taken her a couple days to learn how to read. She wouldn’t let her know, but she was jealous.
Green looked up and saw Blue sitting on the cloud. She waved, then got the others together. They flew up and floated in the air next to her.
“Everything good back there?” Green asked. Blue nodded, stepping away from the cloud.
“I just had to talk some sense into him.” she said, floating over to them. “But we really should get back before we are spotted.” They nodded, flying off towards the nearest cloud. They flew from cloud to cloud, trying to stay out of sight. But they didn’t have to. The sun was starting to set, and most ponies were already inside. A few minutes later, they arrived back at the library, flying through the open window. Dual was sitting in front of the fireplace, waiting for them.
“Hello.” he said, avoiding Blue’s eyes. She could feel her cheeks heat up, and she looked away as well. “I have decided that we will give Orange a chance. But if he tries to do anything to you, I will make sure he won’t ever hurt you again.” He looked at Blue, his expression softening. “Is that OK with you?” Blue nodded. This was her idea. And she didn’t want to be wrong twice.
“Alright then. Twilight is still asleep, so try to be quiet for the next few hours, OK?” he asked, standing up. Yellow instantly ran over to a shelf and pulled down a book. Then she flopped down on the carpet in front of the fireplace and began to read. Blue walked up behind her and read over her shoulder.
“‘Recombinant DNA theory’? A little ironic, don’t you think?” she asked, smiling down at Yellow. Yellow smiled back, then continued to read. Blue just shrugged at Dual, and walked away.
“She’s too smart for her own good.” Dual said, standing next to Blue. “Sometimes I think she is planning something. Just the way she looks at us.” Blue laughed, laying down on the floor. Dual dropped to the ground next to her. Red and Green had gone off to another part of the house. Probably looking for something that would actually interest them. The sun was starting to set, but Blue didn’t feel the need to go watch it. She felt happy and content where she was.
“What do you think Orange meant when he said we should leave?” Blue asked. “Do you think we really are in danger?”
“I am not sure what to think.” Dual said. he was watching Yellow flip through the pages of the book, the smallest smile on his lips. “If he is telling the truth, then we are in danger. But if he is lying, he could lead us straight into a trap.” He closed his eyes and let out a sigh of exasperation. “This whole situation is giving me a headache.”
“Well, you aren’t the sharpest tool in the shed.” she said, smirking.
“Hey! I am smart enough. Maybe not Yellow smart, but smart enough.” He looked away from her. “I just don’t know what to do. Most of me wants to trust him, I really do. But that little part of me says that he could betray us at any moment. And that little part is screaming the loudest.”
“You just have to block that part out.” Blue said. “Trusting him in the best thing we can do.” Dual didn’t respond, so she just laid her head on her front hooves, and watched the sun slowly fall out of the sky. She didn’t know how much time had passed, but when she looked up again, Yellow was fast asleep. Her small head was sitting in the crease of the book. Green poked her head around the corner and saw her. Sme smiled and quietly walked over to her. She gently picked her up and carried her into their room. She held the door open until Red walked in behind her. Then she shut the door.
“This is why you don’t want to trust him, isn’t it?” Blue asked Dual. He nodded slowly, looking her straight in the eyes.
“We have an amazing life here. I don’t want it to be ruined.”
“I understand” Blue said, looking out the window again. She felt something nudge her side, and she looked back. Dula had extended his wings and gently placed them over her back. She could feel the warmth from his feathers seeping into her, and she let out a small sigh. She laid her head down again, closing her eyes. She felt safe and protected. She didn’t want to move.
*****
She opened her eyes, blinking several times to clear them. Light was falling through the windows, hitting the floor in front of her. She stretched, feeling something on her back. Looking, she saw that Dual was still next to her, fast asleep. Smiling, she gently climbed out from under his wing, which retracted back into place. She walked as quietly as possible to the door, pulling it open. She stretched her wings out, feeling her muscles pull at her spine. The sun was just rising out from behind the mountains. She took a deep breath, enjoying herself for the first time in a while.
She was about to walk back inside, when the sound of wings made her turn. Fluttershy dropped to the ground a couple feet away. She was looking extremely scared and nervous. Blue tried to think of a greeting, but she couldn’t. the only thing she could say was.
“Is he...?”
Fluttershy nodded. “You should see him right away.”