Twilight’s P.O.V.
The sounds of screaming and crying pierced through my brain, waking me much earlier than I had planned.
“Why can’t I hit you!?” Screamed a familiar raspy voice.
Buck! Rainbow Dash is here and I haven’t had time to prepare the girls. I thought while climbing out of my bed. Spike and Sanguine woke up only moments later, the sounds rapidly stirring them into a panic.
“Twilight! What’s going on?” Sanguine asked while we all cleared our heads and ran to the stairs.
“My friend Rainbow Dash is attacking Eric! We need to stop her!”
She said no more as we scaled the stairs down to the main area of the treebrary, the sight that appeared shocked us. Furniture all around the room had been knocked over and in some cases broken, books knocked from shelves and in the centre was Eric, his gold magic shielding him as a cyan pegasus flung herself bodily against him over and over again.
We all stood there stunned for several moment before noticing the state of Eric, his body wrap upon itself and his arms holding his legs and tears streaming down his face while he cried audibly.
“Rainbow Dash! STOP!” I screamed, but the mare didn’t appear to be listening.
“Take down your shield so I can buck you into oblivion you stupid monster!” She shouted at Eric.
Using my magic I grabbed ahold of Rainbow’s tail and forced her to land. She looked at me with pure rage on her face before noticing who she was looking at.
“Twilight! Why did you stop me, don’t you see there is a monster in here?” She asked, her voice still in a constant shout.
“That’s not a monster! He’s our friend!” Sanguine called out to Rainbow.
“Yeah, sure and who are you anyway? I bet you’re in league with that monster!” Rainbow Dash accused before flying back up and taking a stance in the air.
“STOP!” I cried in the Royal Canterlot Voice. Immediately everypony froze before turning to look at me, shock covering their features. Rainbow Dash had even been pushed back close to the wall, a quick flap of her wings being the only reason she hadn’t been slammed into it.
“What gives Twilight? Who is pony and that thing over there?” She asked while pointing at Eric with her eyes narrowed.
“Her name is Sanguine Soul and his name is Eric Hayes. I met him on the mission Celestia sent me on a few days ago. He is not a monster! Okay, Rainbow Dash?” I finished, my anger very nearly slipping my words back into the RCV.
“Whatever, I’m going to go tell the girls about this.” She growled before shooting out a broken window.
The moment she left, Sanguine, Spike and I quickly ran over to Eric who was still curled into a ball and sobbing loudly.
“Eric? It’s okay, we know you’re not a monster.” Sanguine said softly. “Isn’t that right everypony?”
“Yeah buddy, don’t worry about Rainbow Dash. I know we only met last night but you’re our friend, and you always stick by your friends.” Spike added, getting as close to Eric as possible without setting off his barrier.
“We are all here for you Eric, now why don’t you look over here okay?” I asked the crying human.
Eric’s P.O.V.
I could hear the girls trying to cheer me up but they didn’t really understand what was truly wrong. Why I couldn’t even look up, scared to see the looks of pity on their faces when I tell them why I was in the fetal position and crying like a baby.
If I tell them they won’t understand, such affectionate ponies could being to understand what it’s like to never be close to anyone ever again. Even if they stay by my side I’ll effectively still be alone for the rest of my life. I can’t tell them, not now, not ever.
For a moment I looked up, expecting to see pity but there was none. In shock I looked, seeing nothing but caring looks from my new friends. Even Spike whom I had only just met was looking at me just like Twilight and Sanguine, there was no pity on any of their faces, only worry and care.
That’s right, I have friends. Friends will always be there for you, helping you and caring about you. It was only one of them. I’m sure that Twilight will show them that I’m not some monster to be destroyed.
I raised my arm and wiped away some of the mucous and tears my crying had left on my face, my sleeve cleaning up some of the mess. A small smile entered my face slowly as thoughts reminded me that my friends were here for me. I looked up at my friends again, their faces were full of worry for me.
“I’m sorry you had to take for of me again everyone. I wish I wouldn’t let everything get to me so much. And yeah, that wasn’t all about your friend, she just helped.” I said, my voice rasping from the loss of so much moisture. “Could someone get me some water please?”
Immediately after I asked my question Spike jumping up and ran into the small kitchenette, returning in moment with a glass of water in his claw. I begun to reach for it before stopping.
“Uh, you might want to put it down Spike. I don’t want to blast you into a wall or something.” I said with an apology on my face.
“Right, I forgot about that.” He said while placing the glass on the ground. “It’s no problem buddy.”
“This is what hit me so hard; the thought that I am forever separated from everyone. This barrier keeps me from such simple gestures like a hug or shaking someone's hand, or hood when I meet them. No matter what I’m going to always have this barrier, keeping me from becoming closer to anyone and eventually it will become more than physical. The distance becoming emotional as thoughts takes over from actions.” I explained to the gathering of my friends.
While I explained I could see their faces drop, smiles breaking into frowns as they tried to understand what I was feeling and thinking. I hated to tell them this, to show them how alone I felt even with them here. I watch as Twilight began to sniffle, tears threatening to spill out from her eyes as she looked at me.
“Eric, I had no idea. I’ve been thinking about your magic all this time but I never thought about it like that. I don’t know how I would have been able to keep myself together in your situation, never able to touch a living thing and being thrown into a world that isn’t your own.” She said as the tears started to fall before she pulled herself up, blinking away the remaining moisture in the corner of her eyes. “Don’t worry Eric! You have your friends and we will do everything we can to stop that barrier!” She said confidently, then light appeared entered her eyes and she started hopping up and down. “I know, we can ask Celestia! I’m sure she would have some ideas how to help.”
“But do you think she would help me? I mean, she doesn’t even know me.” I replied with melancholy.
With how one of Twilight’s closest friends reacted to me it would be best not to get too excited. I wouldn’t be surprised if the princess attacked me the moment she saw me.
“I’m sure she will give you a chance, with me there you won't have a problem. I was her personal student and now a princess like her.” Twilight answered cheerily, lessening my current dark mood.
I can’t seem to stay sad with that smile.
“Hey, don’t forget us.” Spike said after climbing up onto Twilight’s back. “We are sticking by your side, no matter what!”
“Friends always stick together, that way we can keep making each other smile.” Added Sanguine.
“You’re right guys, thank you.” I said, my full smile returning to my face.
We sat there for a while, smiling and talking about how we were going to get to Canterlot. Apparently the trains are quite fast. Twilight wanted to request a carriage but organising it would take us even longer and I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about flying. I had never flown back on Earth and I really wasn’t about to start now so we decided a train would be the best and fastest option. Sanguine was very excited over the thought of riding the Friendship Express and that only sealed the deal.
We were deep in another discussion when we heard a loud voice from outside of the library. “Alright girls, the monster was in here with Twilight!” We heard Rainbow shout.
Hearing that I and the girls groaned, all thinking the same thing.
Not again.