//------------------------------// // Chapter 10- The Monster was Kidnapped? // Story: Flames of Equestria // by Mick0339 //------------------------------// Aldon had his eyes groggily open, viewing the world in a drunken state, while floating along the road. "Ok girls, so when are we going to put up a party?" Pinkie asked, jumping around the practically unconscious man. In size comparison, from which it was easier to observe, he was about three times the size of a pony. However, he was also much denser as well. "Pinkie, I don't think he'll be up for a party for al ittle bit after this," Applejack said. "Why not? Everypony loves parties." "Well, we did just technically foal nap him, even though I don't think he'll care too much. Still though." Rarity interjected as they continued to walk, "I needed to make sure he wouldn't skip out on us. He doesn't seem like the one to want to go to a spa, and when I heard he had no idea what it was, it made me fume." Rarity paused, breathing heavily, "he's very heavy though." "Well, look at his size. He's much bigger than Big Mac to say the least. And even taller than Princess Celestia." Everyone at that moment did have to admit, he was huge for anything intelligent. Even a minotaur would have trouble in a size comparison. They may be slightly taller, but no pony has ever seen a more muscular and denser minotaur. his weight came from his body and the blood that ran through it. And it was like holding up a small boulder. It was surely a test for the unicorn and alicorn to see how long they could keep him up. "If he was workin' on the farm, he could do quite a lot." Applejack was indeed having trouble without Big Mac's help. He had suffered an illness a week ago, and it was still strong. He had seen a doctor to check up on it, but what the pony said was he needed rest. Macintosh vouched to continue helping, but Applejack didn't want him to hurt himself or overexert. She would just have Aldon help out a little bit. She hoped he would be willing to help; and inwardly she knew he was the type to help out those in need. All the other girls seemingly ignored Applejack's quiet comment, opting to instead talk about Twilight's condition. Rarity went first, on seeing Twilight staring ahead, "are you alright Twilight?" Twilight looked over smiling, "yeah, I'm just a little exhausted. I'm not used to being a princess still, and it just puts a toll on me sometimes, being somepony you're not used to being. Canterlot exhausted me, and I was only there for a few weeks. I don't understand how the Princesses could put up with the nobles for so long." "Sugarcube, it come with the job. Ah mean, Celestia has been doing it for so long, I doubt it really ever gets to her anymore. Like me and bucking apples, it just becomes habit." Everyone looked to Aldon, who was once again unconscious, his hazy eyes closing. Fluttershy looked closely at his torn frame. his scarred exterior, and yet his peaceful sleep. "I can feel his exhaustion." Everyone went quiet. "I don't think he gets that much sleep anymore." As they continued to the spa, they did indeed observe his peaceful body in the floating aura of magic. The questions the day before had went onto his life before this. The details of his birth were a mystery. His identity was a mystery. Even his powers were. however, when he was asked about the scars, he opted to steer clear of it. He explained it would only hurt him showing him the memories of such experiences. The group had seen horrible things. Ponies have died, and villains had the upper hand. They even lost the whole world once, but he insisted on keeping his memories locked up. For one, it made Rainbow Dash angry. "He's just overreacting. I could handle it. I don't know why he didn't allow us to view some of them. I mean, they can't be all bad?" "I don't know Rainbow Dash, but let's just drop it. He asked us to respect his wishes of not showing us them." Rainbow Dash huffed at Twilight, while most of the rest of the journey went unheard, except for Pinkie and her usual antics. Aloe and Lotus, who ran the Ponyville relaxation center, sat there as ponies came and went, and their client's requests were met with satisfaction. The two twins and happy sisters, who made the ponies in Ponyville happy and content when they leave. That day was rather short on supply of ponies, until another group waddled in. The Elements, minus Applejack, who had to attend to the farm and went back to the orchard on the way to the relaxation center, waltzed in with the new guard in an aura fixated around him. Lotus, the cyan coated, pink maned pony, was in the back checking supplies and daily logs, while Aloe, the opposite, was at the counter, awaiting customers. "How can I help you today Miss Rarity?" Aloe asked, while Rarity approached, leaving Aldon on the floor. He groggily woke up in the background, gaining his hand on the floor for balance as he wobbled his way back up, taking in his surroundings. "Where the hell am I?" "Can we have six of your daily specials?" Rarity asked, while the group behind tried to steady Aldon as he sat down, from which still having some height over the ponies. "Oh of course Miss Rarity." Aloe looked behind her for a second at the creature on the floor, "is he dangerous?" "Oh, Aldon," Rarity turned around, "no, he may look scary, but I assure you he's just fine." "Aldon? That's an odd name." "Yeah, that's what I first thought, but he's not exactly from around here, so it's understandable." Aloe Looked to Rarity curiously after this. "Wait, so he's not from Equestria? Is he from the Griffin Kingdom, or perhaps the Zebra's lands?" Rarity smiled and realized she wasn't allowed to exactly tell. "Uh, yeah, I think one of the outside countries." Aloe nodded. Although originally she thought of the thing as a pet, it speaking and communicating, and sporting clothes made her realize otherwise. However, an ape was a scary encounter, and although he looked different, he appeared just the same, but hairless. the animal definitely did look sophisticated though, and was indeed intelligent. "So a nice hot tub relaxation followed by a soothing massage for six then?" Rarity nodded. "Oh, that'll be seventy two bits please." Rarity dispersed her coin purse and dispensed the bits accordingly, with Aloe transferring them to the register. Aldon was still confused in the background, wondering what was happening, until Rarity walked over and with his face contorted he asked, "what was that?" "What was what darling?" Rarity asked back, trying to avoid the subject. "Why did you drug me and then kidnap me. I was going to come to the 'spa' with you guys anyway." Aldon was irritated, but as he looked into Rarity's eyes he knew it was a losing battle. They may be intelligent, devious ponies, but they were really cute. "What does 'kid-nap' mean?" Pinkie asked. "I think he means foal nap." Twilight's words were true as Aldon nodded. "I guess, as you call children foals and fillies?" The five nodded. Fluttershy approached Aldon as he again stood, much more aligned this time, "I'm sorry. I opted to ask Rarity not to, but she was very insistent." Aldon shook his head, "It's fine. I can mark down another crazy pony at least." Rarity's eyes twitched at that, while Pinkie stood confused. Everyone went to their assigned changing rooms, which were really just mares and stallions. Of course, Aldon was the only one who really needed to change considering everyone else was naked essentially. Although, considering the ponies embarrassment at the hospital, he opted to keep the towel on while he would go in the hot tub. There were separate rooms they could use, but everyone insisted they relax together. Aldon wasn't really arguing, considering he had no idea what was in store for him. Relaxation came rarely for him, and even rarer was 'paid-for-relaxation.' Everyone exited their specific changing rooms, entering the hot springs/tub area. The mares were on the right, while the stallions on the left, when looking from the water. Aldon looked over to see some blushes when they saw him, but he really didn't understand why until he remembered one thing. The different species, and the fact they were intelligent, and had feelings, and...He understood why now, but he also decided he would have none of it. There was one girl he would have married, and she was gone from him. And it also wasn't his thing to have interspecies relationships, it just wasn't his thing. "Alright," Aldon said abruptly getting the blushes away and curious faces on, "so let's see what this is about then." The mares nodded and walked over to the springs all walking in and sighing with relief, as Pinkie jumped overhead. "Cannonball!" and with that, the water exploded around the mares, revealing annoyed expressions and a happy pink pony. Aldon gave a laugh as he slowly got in, with his towel still covering him. Everyone sighed again, except for Aldon who was wondering what it was really about, until Rarity questioned it. "What's the matter? Is it not to your liking?" "No, it just feels like normal water to me," Aldon said. Everyone looked to him dumbfounded, even Pinkie as they basked in the rich warmth. "How? the water is so warm and soothing," Rarity replied. "Do you not like warm water?" Twilight asked. "No, I do it's just...oh." "Uh oh?" Pinkie asked. "No, 'oh,'" Aldon replied. "Hold on." He looked concentrated for a few seconds until he looked so relaxed he slowly descended into the water in delight. "What happened? What did you do?" Rarity asked inquisitively, with Fluttershy also wondering, as an animal enthusiast. "My body temperature, don't you notice it?" Aldon asked. "I mean, it was quite warm but...oh!" Rarity bluntly stated. She remembered from the hospital, from the measurements, his skin was warm and blood was hot. "Yeah, my blood was a little too warm, and my body temperature was raised. I haven't had it like normal for as long as I remember, but this feels amazing," Aldon barely managed to say as he closed his eyes in relaxation and sighed. Everyone smiled at his peaceful expression of almost sleep. "Hey," Rainbow bluntly said, to which aldon opened up an eye to look at her, opting to keep the other closed, "I know you asked about keeping your memories to yourself, but why would you say we couldn't take it?" She sighed in annoyance, "we've been through a lot of things. We've seen things happen, and understand how the world works? So why would you say we were too weak to handle it?" Aldon felt bad, as seeing the Rainbow maned pony feeling inferior. It was true he felt like they would have nightmares afterwards, he couldn't fathom to show them. He didn't want any pity to be put on him. He had suffered in the past, but that was behind him, and he was ahead of them. "I don't want you to see them." Aldon paused and sighed heavily, "my past is behind me. I don't want to bring up old memories, only to feel long forgotten pain. It's not you not being able to stomach it, it's me not able to do it. I just want to forget the past." Rainbow nodded, feeling slightly guilty for pressing the issue. "Was it really that horrible?" Fluttershy asked. "Well, look for yourself. It wasn't all bad though...I met the person I loved, and my friends. Actual friends and made a family out of them. My past isn't all darkness," Aldon lightly smiled, "there were good parts of it. And I wish to share that with you guys, not the pain, or the suffering." Fluttershy nodded, and everyone sat in silence for a few minutes, until Lotus came in to greet the customers and ask for what they wanted as shampoo. "So, what do you ponies think?" Aldon decided he would leave it to the professionals, plus he really didn't know much anyway. "I think the usual will be good. Thank you Lotus." Lotus nodded, leaving a few bottles of rose scented shampoo at the water's side. As if on autopilot, the nearest couple gather some shampoo and began to to do the other's manes from behind. Fluttershy was with Twilight. Rainbow was with Pinkie, and Rarity was left alone to Aldon's left, eyeing at him, while he had his eyes closed. "Um...Aldon?" Rarity nervously asked. "Yes?" Aldon kept his eyes closed. "Could you do my mane?" Rarity asked, slowly stopping the words in an almost timid hush, like Fluttershy. Aldon opened his eyes to the adorable unicorn looking with almost-unjustifiable puppy eyes. She then blushed as he looked at her. He sighed and then smiled, "of course." Sadly, he didn't know much to do in that category, but luckily he could improvise pretty well. He took the shampoo and spread it on his hands, working through Rarity's mane, although he could tell his hands weren't very soft, but she seemed to enjoy them. Although he supposed his hands still must be better than hooves going through your hair. After a little while, the others switched to which Rarity offered, but Aldon shook his head, opting to just relax in the water more. Rarity nodded, while doing the same. The massage followed, where in fact Aldon found out how tight his muscles were wound up. At first it had immensely hurt, and the massager, a female, azured coated, purple maned, offered to stop. Everyone was worried for his well-being, until, after telling the masseuse to continue, he felt his muscles let loose and turn to practical paste. It was perhaps the greatest feeling he ever had. After the enjoyable hour massage, everyone walked out extremely refreshed, but Rarity seemed to stay back with Aldon's masseuse. The two talked, which turned into the masseuse walking away, and Rarity following the group, with a mild blush on her face. Aldon didn't notice, but there was an obvious reason for it, to which he ignored and decided to thank Rarity, promising to pay her back, and went home after good byes. He supposed he could really get used to the world of relatively peaceful ponies. And he had to admit, the experience he had just felt was perhaps the best he had ever had. The Town Hall was empty as he went down. finding Hammerhoof passed out on the table, when he found his bed and shut his eyes. Sleep came easier for him that night, that's for sure.