//------------------------------//
// Chapter Number Seven 
// Story: An Epic Tale of Epic Proportions 
// by GamingWolf 
//------------------------------//


Mason!
Mason! 
A voice called to him. It sounded far yet close at the same time. 
Mason! 
A voice he had never heard before. Who could it be? 
Mason!


"Fuck off! Can't you see I'm sleeping?" Mason barked in an annoyed tone. He felt a tender, warm embrace. A familiar embrace. "J-Jason?" he called out cautiously. 
I'm here for you, brother. 
Tears welled up in Mason's eyes and he tried to hug his brother but his arms didn't listen to him. In fact, he had no arms, a fact he remembered quickly. Mason sobbed loudly. "Look how fucking pitiful I have become!" he cried. 
Jason held his quivering brother and rubbed his back and head gently. I can see you again and that's all that matters. I thought I lost you.
"'All that matters' to you!" Mason countered angrily. 
Then I will chop off my arms and legs and I will remove my eyes.
Mason sniffled, "You can't," he choked on his tears, "who will hug me then?" 
Mason, I swear on our mother's grave: I will find a way to give you back your limbs and sight.
"I could always count on you, Jason," Mason sniffled. "You always were the good one." 
I had a reason to try my best. 
He felt Jason squeeze him tenderly. 
Now, do I need to wash out that potty mouth of yours?
Mason chuckled and laughed weakly. He felt Jason wipe away his tears and snot. "Yes, please," Mason croaked. 
"So you do have a sweet side," a familiar regal voice said warmly. 
"I thought I was dead," Mason huffed, "You mean to tell me I'm still trapped in this Hellhole?" A flick to the head caught him off guard.
Behave. Jason stated sternly. 
"Yes, sir," Mason moped. Then something clicked in his head, "How can I hear you? How can you hear at all?!"
The same reason how we got here. 
"You met that crazy bitch?!" a second flick to the head calmed him down. 
Yes. She and the Princesses have agreed to help us return home.  Jason informed his brother still in his arms. Now, thank the kind Princesses. Sincerely.  
Mason huffed and spoke monotonously, "You have my thanks. Sincerely." 
"We will try to help in any way we can," Princess Luna replied.
"It is partly our fault for this happening to the two of you," Princess Celestia admitted, "We will try to make up for our mistake." 
The two rulers of Equestria said their farewells and Princess Celestia went to hold court while Princess Luna retired to her chambers to rest. Geoffrey stayed behind in the rocking chair to see how things went. Sweetie Belle also thought it would be a good idea to stay in the room with the brothers. 
Doctor Factual Theory will assist me with making you your prosthetic limbs. I already have a few ideas on how to do it. And since we discovered you can use magic, there are ways you can utilize it to see!
Mason smiled faintly, "I love how you can say the most surprising things so casually." 
Jason chuckled, I try. For your safety and the safety of others, you should get started on practicing magic.
"How come?"
Factual Theory theorized that since you have two different types of energy within you, they will react with one another and build up faster than normal. She also theorized that I must have the ability to absorb energy which is why you stopped your Exorcist routine before exploding. Oh!  Jason turned to the white unicorn sitting along the wall. I apologize for kinda throwing you earlier. 
Sweetie Belle smiled politely at him, "It is understandable. I forgive you." 
"You threw her? Bad, Jason, bad," Mason chastised playfully.
Your safety took precedence over formalities.  
"And you did kind of save us all from being incinerated," Sweetie Belle added. 
A loud growl erupted from Mason's stomach which caught the attention of all in the room, "Man, I'm so hungry, I can eat a horse!" 
Jason and Geoffrey laughed and Sweetie Belle chuckled nervously, the fact that the three males in the room had canines did not go past her unnoticed. She had no doubt that Mason's statement held truth. 

Canterlot Caverns

Princess Celestia examined a small vial in its stand begin to boil.
"You see that? In only a matter of minutes, it has started such a strong reaction!" Factual Theory awed, "But look what happens when we introduce the presence of Jason's blood." Factual Theory levitated the second vial near the first. The second vial began to bubble slowly which soon escalated while the first vial simmered down. Within seconds, both vials stopped boiling completely and their heat dissipated. 
"Fascinating," Princess Celestia replied curiously to the amazed expression the doctor wore, "What does this mean, though?"
"I have no idea," Factual Theory answered nonchalantly, "I guess it means the two of them need to stay within close proximity of each other for the time being." 
"What about Geoffrey's blood?" Princess Celestia inquired. 
"Equally as fascinating, I can assure you!"  the painted mare trotted around the table and stopped in front of a second table which was littered with alembics, flasks, and tubes. Her hoof steps echoed in the stony, confined room. Machines cramped the already tiny space and Princess Celestia had to take precaution to not knock anything over or hit her head on the ceiling. "After numerous tests I have can say with certainty, despite their physical appearance, Geoffrey is a completely different species from the other two. He has forty-eight chromosomes, while the twins only have forty-two. Geoffrey is actually younger than the twins, the elevated oxygen levels in his blood means he comes from a planet with higher amounts of oxygen, giving life there the ability to grow bigger. Additionally, Geoffrey's blood is slightly orange, like a red-orange, due to an unknown protein in his blood. Geoffrey also doesn't have sweat glands. He also doesn't have adrenal glands, further proving to be a different species from the twins."
"Perhaps he will be able to shed a little light about his species when you talk with him," Princess Celestia commented, not knowing exactly what all the doctor said meant. 
"I have also started designing prosthetic limbs for Mason," Factual Theory's ears splayed back, "I hope he can understand that I did not intend for him to be brought into this world that way." 
"Despite Mason's. . . very verbal expressions, I am sure in time, he will come to forgive you," Princess Celestia said with a comforting smile. 
Factual Theory huffed, "I'll pretend to be convinced. Now, Princess Celestia, I have a lot of work to do and data to analyze." 
With her back to her, Princess Celestia could take the obvious hint, "Very well, Doctor. Just know that your work here barely scratches the surface of your punishment." 
Factual Theory sighed inwardly. She heard the Princess lock the cell and her hoof steps increase in distance. "If science has taught me anything, it is patience, Princess," Factual Theory thought contemptuously.