Chapter 2
As John walked he took another large swig from the bottle of ill gotten whiskey, it stung his throat for a moment before a slight sort of sweetness replaced it. He wasn’t actually going to let a manticore eat him, but a walk in the forest did help to clear his nerves. His hands in his pockets, his eyes ahead, he tuned out everything that wasn’t directly involving him. He just wanted to be alone and forget where he was, fate had other plans however.
“John, don’t do this to yourself.” Twilight had caught up with him, he sighed and looked down at her.
“Relax Twi, if I was really going to do it I would use my gun. No, I just needed a walk.” John said to her reassuringly, it didn’t help much.
“John the girls and I are scared for you, you haven’t smiled at all, you barely come out of the barn and when you do its either to work or to drink. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to see in my life, it hurts me on the inside. Every morning I fear i’ll wake up and hear you decided to go through with it, I know you care about us. Thats the kind of Pon- Person you are.”
“I’m a liability Twi, you remember how the Griffons reacted. When they heard about me they wanted blood, the minotaurs have been even worse. How many times have you gone on diplomatic missions?”
“57 times in the past 12 months.” Twilight answered.
“How many of them involved me?” John asked, Twilight paused before shaking her head. “You see what I mean. Celestia wants nothing to do with me, she barely tolerates me hanging around with you. The only ponies I have on my side are you, your friends, Vinyl and Luna.” John stopped walking and looked up the night sky before hanging his head. “Talking isn't doing. It is a kind of good deed to say well; and yet words are not deeds.”
“What does that mean?” Twilight asked.
“It means that no matter what you say, it may make someone feel better but it does not change what truly is. At least thats how I interpreted it.” John replied, he chuckled for a moment. “And I thought I’d never find use for shakespeare.” Twilight stared at John for a moment, he had never chuckled before. “But back to the subject at hand. You and I both know that its been nothing but a political shitstorm since I showed up, I’d be better off in the gallows.”
“John, please stop doing this to yourself.” Twilight said as she watched John take a swig from his bottle of whiskey. “Don’t you care about your friends?”
“OF COURSE I DO!” John shouted, he glared at Twilight.
“Then stop doing this! It may be that you hate it here but Celestia damnit you have friends who can do nothing but watch you do this to yourself!” Twilight said, a few tears coming to her eyes. “You want to be dead?! Fine! But don’t you tell me that we would be better off without you! Thats not how friendship works.” With that Twilight magicked the bottle from John’s grasp and smashed it into the ground, then she opened her wings and took off without waiting for Johns reaction to her actions. John looked at the smashed bottle and then into the sky at Twilight who was flying away, he sighed before turning in the direction of Ponyville.
His feet dragged in the dirt as he walked, he was unsure what to do. Maybe he should just go home to the barn at Sweet Apple Acres, maybe he should get something to drink, apologize to his friends? He needed to do something, he couldn’t just stand around all night. Finally he decided it would be best to go home, his feet shifted direction and traveled towards the orchard. How had his life gotten so bad? That was the only question he would ask god if he died right then and there.
As John arrived at the door to the barn he looked up at the night sky, those tiny dots out in space that didn’t seem to have a care in the world. Near one of those dots was earth, his true home. He felt a sigh escape his lips again, with that he opened the door. The barn was dark, hay was laying about on the floor and in the loft. A makeshift bed sat in the corner with an acoustic guitar leaning against the barrel that acted as a nightstand, John walked over to the bed kicking off his boots and taking off his hat. He lay on his bed and stared up at the ceiling for several minutes before finally drifting off to sleep.
(-♠♦♠-)
John was awoken by a stray beam of sunlight, he covered his eyes and turned over but his slumber was completely lost. Reluctantly he sat up and looked around, it was later than he normally got up and Applejack was pretty punctual about waking him if he wasn’t up on time. Shrugging it off he got up from bed and stretched, his joints popped loudly and released the tension he felt on his back. He walked over to his pile of clean clothes and began to change, slipping into a new pair of underwear, socks, Jeans and and new undershirt. He tucked his stained denim workshirt in after buttoning it and then sat his hat atop his head.
John nodded approval to himself as he looked in the mirror he had set up next to his bed, with that he put on his boots and double knotted the laces as always before walking to the door. He pushed it open, the sun assaulting his tired eyes. He looked around for someone, normally Big Mac and Applejack would be in the fields but still visible. John looked down at himself, he hadn’t remembered to put on his holster so why did he have it. And more importantly why was his revolver in said holster, he had left it at the bar.
“AJ!” John called out but no one answered, the wind blew unsettlingly. “Applejack!”
“Hello John.” A voice said from behind John, he whirled around to see another person. Not a pony. He was dressed entirely in black, his hat covered his face. “Lets test that mettle of yours boy.”
“Who are you!?” John demanded.
“I’m a friend of your friends, you could say. I been sent here to take care of you.” the stranger slid his hand towards his hip but John was faster. his revolver was out and the hammer had been drawn back before the other gun had left the holster. A single round went off and a bullet tore through the stranger’s chest, he fell to the ground.
“Heh, I remember when I was that fast.” The Stranger grunted, John walked over to him and looked down with his revolver at the mans head. His face still hidden by his hat, he let out a soft chuckle. “Guess thats what happens when you go down this path.” he said looking at himself, his gruff voice sounded eerily familiar. “Son, you gotta a stop doing what you're doing with your life or you're gonna end up like me.”
“Who are you man!?” John shouted, the stranger chuckled as he felt back on the ground.
“Someone you know well son, someone you know well.” The man said letting out a cough before going limp, John stepped over to the body. He looked at the hat, it was similiar to the one he himself was wearing, he moved it away and jumped back. The face that stared at him was a very old and scary looking version of himself. “DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU SEE!?” The face shouted at him before burning away to ash. “THIS IS YOUR BODY!” John looked at himself, his own hands were crumbling apart. “THIS IS YOUR BODY ON DRUGS!” He was starting to turn to dust and he couldn’t let a scream out. “ANY QUESTIONS! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA”
Everything went dark and John found himself looking around until he was surrounded by fire with hundreds of burning skulls glaring at him. “YOU ARE DOOMED! DOOOOOOMED! WE HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE FOR YOU HERE!” They all shouted at the same time. John found his own face staring at him, it was on fire as its skin began to burn away and it too began to shout at him in the voice of thousands of demons.
(-♠♦♠-)
John shot up in bed as he felt to hooves shaking him, he was drenched in sweat and his heart was beating faster than anything. He whipped his head around and saw that Applejack was looking at him with a concerned face.
“Sorry AJ, I guess I overslept....” John said sheepishly, Applejack shook her head before she spoke, her tone was full of concern and she had an ‘all business’ look on her face.
“Sugarcube its two in the morning, you woke me up, everypony could hear y’all from the house! Naw ah know y’all are having trouble sleeping and ah was content to let you sort it out But John, you got me and the girls worryin bout you! Tell me what y’all dreamed and ah’ll tell Twi to get Luna, let us help you PLEASE!” Her mane was uncombed, she really had rushed out here to help him.
“Son, you gotta stop doing what you're doing with your life or you're gonna end up like me.”
John looked at Applejack for a moment, suddenly he grabbed her into a tight hug. She returned the gesture as quick as she could. It was the first time he had actually been so frightened by a dream, the vivid picture of it all burned into his mind. He remembered how when he was younger his mom told him that sometimes god would send a message to you in your dreams to help you find your way. He had laughed it off then, but now he wasn't so sure. After he let go of Applejack John told her everything, his dreams and what had happened the night before. Applejack sighed and put a hoof around his shoulder, she knew it would be tougher than just waking up one morning and saying. ‘I quit’
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I'mah we confused what did he do to piss off the other "primitives"?
2833549
Clarify what you mean
2833568>>
I have three theories why the muties hate him. Number one the man knows how to dress. Number two hes a new form of life with knowledge of tech hundreds of years ahead of them, seen as a threat. Number three they are religious zealots who want any form of "alien" life killed, so there power cant be undermined. Oh and impressive speed withe my last comment.
>No OC tag despite being OC-centered
2833595
All in due time,
2833745
Would have one if I could add more than five characters, but I'll figure out something. Don't y'all worry.
2833946 well played.
Bravo! This is interesting. All I can ask for is for you to fix some of the minor problems regarding spelling and grammar.
For a second you caught me off guard with his 'future self' thought it was his dad.
I do understand why some one would want him,
First human, Weapon, Alien, And with the gryphons I guess would be for his meat. I don't know. I'm literally on the edge of my seat. Nice job and good luck.
Im guessing they hate him because of him being different.
2844904
You sir are a mind reader. Here! Have a
2844904 Gordon speaks. My god...
Well ok then. Kinda funny with the drugs thing but it still keeps it's darker atmosphere and it starting to turn a shade lighter :D