Life & Death

by SoulTheCatzgod

2 part 2

Jonathan wept until his eyes could no longer make tears. He sat up, grabbed the bedpost, pulled himself up, and painfully walked over to the window, grabbing one of Fluttershy’s petite chairs on the way. He took off his boots and watched the world go by. There wasn't much to see as this window faced the woods. Time passed like this for an hour or so. As he was wondering what Fluttershy was doing, the door downstairs creaked open and the sound of multiple pairs of hooves accompanied by low whispers echoed through the cottage.

“What kind of a critter is he?” Asked a country twang Jonathan didn’t recognize.

“He said he was a human,” Said a quiet voice that was unmistakably Fluttershy’s.

“How you know he's a he?”

“I'm not sure. I guess I just know. He seems like a he.”

Jonathan groaned. He didn't feel like visiting with anyone, but it didn't seem like he had much choice in the matter. Besides, he supposed he wouldn't want to be rude, even only to figments of his imagination. From behind him, Fluttershy’s small voice said, “Oh, I didn't know if you were up. Are you feeling better?”

Jonathan turned around. Fluttershy was standing in the doorway by herself.

“Yes I feel much better. I heard voices downstairs,” He said, gesturing towards the door.

“Oh yes, my friends are here. Are you feeling well enough to visit?”

“I am.”
Fluttershy turned around and said, “It’s okay, girls, come up!”
Five ponies entered the room. The only one he remembered by name from the show was Pinkie Pie because of her utter randomness and acting like such a spaz all the time. Oddly enough, she was the first one to come forward. Jonathan stood up to greet her when out of nowhere she leapt up and gave him a hug.
“Thank you, thank you so much for saving our friend!” The sudden leaping hug had caught Jonathan off guard.
“Um, you’re welcome, it was no problem,” Pinkie Pie loosened her death grip of love and dropped to the floor, beaming up at him. Now that the ice was broken the other four ponies came forward.
“Thank you, partner. I'm Applejack and this here is Pinkie Pie,” The orange one in a cowboy hat said, shaking Jonathan’s hand vigorously. So this is the country bumpkin, Jonathan thought.
“Thank you, I'm Rarity. Charmed, I'm sure,” A white pony with a horn on her head and huge, gravity-defying curls daintily shook his hand. Unicorns, too?? Jonathan was surprised by how little he remembered from his daughter’s favorite show. I clearly remember something, though – this is my subconscious, after all.
Another unicorn, a purple one, trotted up and shook his hand, as well, “Thank you so much, I'm Twilight Sparkle. I hope we can talk more extensively soon, I have some questions I would love to ask you,” She was very cheerful and smiled at him.
“Yeah, sure…” Jonathan said.
A blue Pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail cautiously walked to Jonathan, “I'm Rainbow Dash. Thank you for saving Fluttershy,” That's what her mouth said but her body language, on the other hand, said, If you ever mess with me or my friends I will put you in your place. She was clearly a fighter and Jonathan respected that.
Jonathan took a good look at the six ponies and noticed one thing they all shared: Insignias on the flanks. He’d noticed the three butterflies on Fluttershy earlier, but the other ponies each had their own – Three balloons, three apples, three diamonds (three was a common number, apparently) and also a cloud with a rainbow lightning bolt, and a fuchsia star surrounded by five smaller stars. These insignias perhaps had some kind of personal meaning, but what it could be he couldn’t remember.
Pinkie Pie looked around, seeming to be looking for someone, “Hey, Twilight, where’s Spike?”
“Oh, Spikes still asleep. He had a long night last night,” Twilight replied.
Rarity spoke up, “Oh, dear, that's a pity. Spike would have loved to have met, um, what was your name again, darling?”
“Jonathan.”
“Yes, he would have loved to have met Jonathan.”
Jonathan had no clue who they were talking about, “Whose Spike?”
“He’s my assistant.” Twilight informed him.
“So, Jonathan dear, Fluttershy told us you’re not sure how you got here,” Rarity said, delicately.
Jonathan sat back down, “Yes, that’s true. I fell asleep, and woke up in your forest,” He still avoided telling them the full truth. It would raise questions that he didn’t feel like answering, even if it was just a dream.
“So, what happened next?” Twilight asked.
“Well, I walked around for a… a few hours, it musta been. Then I came across this rundown, old shack. Found an axe and a few other things. I was actually trying to sharpen the axe when I heard Fluttershy, here, screaming. I think you probably know the rest. I fought off that megalith of a Gila monster, got hit pretty hard, passed out and now I'm here.”
Rarity looked a little distressed, “It must have been horrible for you, having to trudge around the Ever Free Forest like that.”
“Wasn't that bad, actually, I think you have a rather nice forest,” Jonathan said. The six of them were taken aback by this statement.
“You mean you don't know?”Applejack said.
“Know what?”Jonathan asked, confused by such a strange question.
Applejack took a step back and told him, “The Ever Free Forest just ain't natural. The plants grow,” Fluttershy took a step forward, “The animals fend for themselves,” Rainbow Dash also spoke up, “And the clouds move,” Then the three of them shouted in unison, “All on their own!”
Twilight rolled her eyes and Jonathan couldn't help but chuckle to himself, it seemed so ridiculous.
Rainbow Dash seemed insulted, “What's so funny?” She demanded gruffly.
“I'm sorry but, that sounds like my world,” Jonathan immediately cursed himself. He didn't mean to say “my world,” and the thing he was trying to avoid happened.
“What do you mean by ‘your world?’” Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow. Jonathan realized that he’d screwed up and there was no point holding back the truth now. At least most of the truth. He would still keep the suicide business to himself.
“This is going to sound weird, but… I’m asleep. In a coma, actually. I had gotten, um, very ill and I had to be taken to the hospital. I don't know why I'm here. I'm pretty sure I'm dreaming, but this is like no dream I've ever had.”
“I think that Gila monster hit you harder than we thought, Sugarcube,” Applejack said, trying to sound soothing, as if she was talking to a psychiatric patient.
“Perhaps, but I am sure that I'm dreaming. Well, as sure as I can be at least,” Jonathan told her.
“Now, darling,” Rarity said in that upper crust accent that seemed to fit her to a T, “Surely you don't actually believe you're from some other world.”
Jonathan responded quickly, “Are there other humans here?” None of them knew what to say.
“Have you ever seen or even heard of anything like me before?” He continued. The ponies all looked at each other, looking for the one who could answer “yes,” but it was obvious that no one knew. They all looked away uncomfortably, except for Twilight, who had her head tilted to one side, thinking. Her head suddenly straightened and she had a big smile on her face like before, “I remember something I read in a book called Obscure Phenomenon. It suggests that there are a countless number of realities all coexisting and unaware of each other, and through very special circumstances beings from other realities can travel back and forth.”
“What kind of special circumstances?” Rainbow Dash asked, sounding impatient.
“Well, a discharge of extremely powerful magic or,” Twilight stared at Jonathan, looking concerned as the smile faded from her face. She said shakily, “or near death,” They all gasped, except for Jonathan, who sat there looking unperturbed by this news.
“If this is true, I'm so sorry you had to find out like this,” Twilight softly said.
Jonathan crossed his legs, “Near death, ho, well all that means is that I'm still alive, right?” He said, putting on a fake smile. It seemed to do the trick. The six ponies relaxed at Jonathan's optimistic tone.
“Well, I'm sorry everypony, but I have to get back to Sweet Apple Acres. Thank you again, partner, wherever you're from,” Applejack said, tipping her hat at Jonathan. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Rarity said their good-byes and followed suit, leaving Twilight and Fluttershy left.
Fluttershy spoke first, “Twilight and I were wondering if you wanted to see Ponyville.”
“Where would we go?”Jonathan asked, unsure.
“We can go to Sugar Cube Corner, and there's always the market, or we can even go to Sweet Apple Acres and meet the Apple family,” Jonathan didn't know what it was about Fluttershy but whenever she spoke all of his anger and self-loathing seemed to take a backseat, at least temporarily.
Jonathan smiled a real smile and said, “That sounds nice, just let me get my shoes back on,” As he was lacing his boots up, Jonathan couldn't help but wonder, “Don’t you think that it might be kind of strange being seen with me?”
“What do you mean?” Twilight asked.
“I mean, I'm this large, strange looking creature that no one has ever heard of. I could only imagine that I might look kind of scary.”
Twilight waved a front hoof in a, no, that’s ridiculous jester and told him, “I don't think you should worry. Many of these ponies have seen strange and unusual things before.”
Fluttershy took a step forward, “Twilight's right Jonathan, you don't have anything to be scared about.”
Jonathan finished tying his boots and stood up, “Please lead the way, then,” He said and gestured towards the door. He almost surprised himself by his willingness to go, but what the Hell? It was only a dream, after all. I might as well do something, he thought.