M'not dead yet!
I've gone through the originally posted bits and they've been rubbing me wrong. It took me a while to figure it out, and I realized that the it was just TOO melodramatic, so I worked on it some so it goes down a bit smoother.
Oh, and I added a bit more. Figured you guys might like to know that there's some actual PROGRESS.
(There's still going to be a few more changes to make once we get the rest of Tenchi Muyo OVA 4... but I don't think those will have a HUGE impact on
Convalescence.)
Pain.
My whole body ached.
I didn't want to open my eyes, but I knew I had to. I had no idea what had happened and I needed to assess my situation.
Slowly, I cracked them open. To my relief, the light outside was bright, but no more painful than normal. I squinted, groaning from the pain of flexing my facial muscles – even those were sore, dammit! Within seconds, though, my eyes began to adapt and I was able to start taking in the details.
I was in some sort of room... it was like an old hospital. I slowly turned my head to the side and saw a day-lit window with a cast-iron radiator under the sill. An armoire sat against near the corner and there was a door right in front of the bed. Next to me was another bed, empty, and just past that was an open door leading to a hallway beyond. The bed was an old looking sort – all porcelain-coated metal and in a plain white color.
In fact, everything in the room was white.
Why wouldn't it be? In hospitals, like most ordnance bunkers, everything is white so you can better see the contaminants when they appear.
So I had been receiving medical care. Which meant that I was under someone's care. I felt around a bit, shifting my arms and legs, even though they burned from soreness.
I was not restrained, which is a very good sign.
I noticed that my left arm felt particularly pained. I looked down and grimaced as I saw an IV line taped to my wrist, the thick needle embedded deeply into my arm.
I hate these things with a pink and purple passion, but I knew better than to mess with it. On the other hand, though, that didn't mean I couldn't get someone to see about pulling it out for me. I looked around some more and saw a night stand by my side with what looked like an old AM radio... and a silver bell with a black handle, standing upright on the nightstand.
I groped for it clumsily, almost knocked it over, but I got my hand around the handle just before I could push it over the edge and then gave it a shake. The clear, ringing tone was a bit louder than I expected, but I knew this to be a welcome thing.
I heard a gasp at the door and automatically turned to the sound. All I caught was the blurring of blue hair as it disappeared down the hall.
Was it just my imagination or did I hear hoof-beats? Probably just the acoustics.
Whatever had happened, I hoped that answers were waiting for me. I was already starting to feel anxious. I know that Dr. Clay had attacked, but I somehow felt that he was unsuccessful. Even so, I was worried for my ladies and my adoptive family.
The clip-clopping sound got my attention and I turned to the door, anxiously waiting...
A small, white equine figure entered the room. It had a white coat and a pink mane. PINK!? And even stranger was she was wearing an old-fashioned nurse's cap.
She then made some sort of sound... she was talking to me! It was very strange and fluid sounding, almost like the elvish language from Tolkein's Lord of the Rings series.
And then I saw the mark on the equine's flank – a red cross with small, pink hearts at the corners, pointing inwards.
Nurse Redheart.
I was in the world of My Little Pony.
I had crossed dimensional boundaries once more... and the reason for my anxiety fell into place as I felt my heart sink down to my feet.
I tried to hold it back, but it was impossible. My breath caught in my throat and I held the outcry back, letting it out only as a faint, high-pitch wheeze as my eyes teared up against my will.
Dimly, I heard worried and distraught sounding noises from Redheart and I felt her hooves gently probing at my face the way a mother tries to comfort a weeping child. The expression was clear here: Oh my goodness! What's wrong!? Can you tell me where it hurts!?
I had to check my C-Space. I needed to know that was working still! Oh dear sweet Tsunami please tell me I still had Katherine!!!
I made a frantic shucking motion over my left arm. Get this IV out of me, NOW!
Nurse Redheart got the message and I heard her call out to someone, followed by a series of receding hoof-beats. While I waited, Redheart tried to reassure and comfort me. I was so sorely tempted to just grab her and wrap her up in my arms. Oh Goddess, why!? Why do I lose everything like this!?
A frantic set of approaching hoof-beats came, followed by what sounded like a collision with the unoccupied hospital bed. A few excited imprecations later, Redheart was by my side once more and said something to me. I think it was something along the lines of bracing myself.
Carefully, she removed the medical tape. Then the gentle pressure at the puncture site, followed by the dull ache of the needle being removed. Quickly and deftly a bandage was tied around it.
Redheart then made a probing, comforting sound. There now, is that better?
Gently, I pushed her aside as I pulled up my blanket to wipe my tears away. She didn't struggle and allowed me my movement as I brought my C-pod into view.
Placement doesn't really matter, as long as I don't hurt anyone or anything, I thought as I hurriedly entered a set of relative coordinates and bearings. I struck the execute key, and just like that, the most welcome sight in all of Equestria appeared at my bedside. I almost broke out into fresh tears, even as Redheart and whoever else was present whinnied in shock.
Sorry, Redheart. I have to do this. I then keyed the emergency escape and I was sucked, feet first, out of the hospital bed, taking the blanket with me.
Just like that, they were gone... or rather I was. The sudden movement was replaced by the familiar feeling of low gravity as I drifted to the common area of my C-Space. As my feet touched the floor, gravity gently increased, pulling me down to the ground in a boneless heap.
Garrick! Please hurry!
“katherine,” I groaned as I painfully levered myself up.
We must complete the bond, Garrick!
“I'm coming, sweetheart” I wheezed as I began to limp to the stairs and pull my way up. “I'm coming baby girl.”
Katherine said no more as I limped my way down the hall to my Garden Room. She knew I was doing everything I could to get there, and she wasn't going to rush me needlessly.
As I pushed my way past the door into the garden, the scents of wood, earth, and sweet flower fragrance filled my sinuses and I stumbled towards my beloved tree, collapsing almost right on top of her.
“katherine,” I whispered sorrowfully. “i'm so sorry...”
A single leaf dropped from the little sapling, the edge of the leaf glinting oddly in the light as it did so. I looked where it landed and saw that the edges of the leaf had a coating of crystallized sap.
You can use it to prick your finger, Garrick. Make the pact and our bond will be complete. You need me and I need you.
I nodded my head and picked up the razor-sharp little leaf, and then harshly nicked the index finger of my left hand, causing it to bleed freely. I then grasped Katherine's tiny trunk gently, yet firmly, making sure my wounded fingertip had solid contact.
The words then came into my mind, and I spoke them out loud.
“I, Garrick Grimm, just as the First Emperor did on the First Day, hear your voice. I name you Katherine of the Second Generation of Tsunami-no-Ki, progenitor of all trees of Jurai. I swear to care for you in all my days, until I am no longer able to. In return, I accept your gifts of power and long life. And now, I shall seal this pact with my own life force. Accept this blood sacrifice, Katherine, and forever be at my side.”
As with Bizen did with Yuki, Katherine now extended thin, vine-like tendrils around my left wrist, wrapping them around my C-Pod's wristband and framing the bezel screen.
I, Katherine of the Second Generation of Tsunami-no-ki, do accept your blood sacrifice. I grant you this Master Key to me so you may effectively command me and my power wherever you may be. And through my Water of Life, I shall grant you long life and youth until the day you die. Go, my bondmate, and partake of the water now. But know that this is your sacrament and you shall be forever changed.
I then went to the pool of crystal clear water that surrounded my tree's planter, and without hesitation I dipped my hands deeply into the water and brought the sparkling treasure to my lips.
I have never tasted water that was so good. The cool liquid swam down my throat leaving a path of refreshment all the way to the bottom.
That didn't last long, though.
Not even a second later, that cool feeling turned to a burning that expanded from my guts to my limbs and all the way to the tips of my fingers and toes. I wanted to cry out, but I would not let myself. To do so would sully the memory of my beautiful little Yuki as I held her close to me, comforting her as she endured the very same fire as it burned through her veins.
I don't know how long it took. Minutes, hours, days... it didn't really matter. All that did matter was that it eventually subsided. I dared to put my hand in the water and take another sip... once more there was that blissful, wondrous sense of refreshment, but no burning came of it.
Afterward, I simply laid there, basking in the warmth of the artificial sunlight and the cool of the earth beneath me. There was something else, as well. A sort of gentle and steady hum... Katherine.
I'm here, Gar-kun. Whenever you need me, no matter where you are. I will always be there for you. You won't be alone.
It was like a kick to the gut and the tears came once more. “But... my family... Katherine, what do we do now!?” I pretty much lost it there, breaking down into wracking sobs.
There was a sound next to me. Something purple, with a sorrowfully sympathetic expression. There was a bright glow, and then a deep and dreamless sleep.
##
I woke up to the sting of half-dried tear tracks on my face. I felt the ache of sorrow and depression gnawing in my chest.
Hello heartbreak, my old friend, I thought to myself tiredly.
I took a deep, shuddering breath and let it out in a sigh, trying not to start crying again. I was in no more pain. No soreness, no stiffness. I was in perfectly good health – fat lot of good that did me.
So, I simply turned over to my shoulder and pulled the blankets tightly around me, barely even registering the fact I was nude underneath them.
I then blinked at what I was confronted with: a canary-yellow pegasus pony with a carnation-pink mane and tail. And she was looking at me with frightened looking seafoam-green eyes.
You guys are gonna love this! Dark-blue hair and emerald-green eyes – a perfect mix between you two!
I couldn't stop the memory from coming. My Hikari... Will I ever get to see her beautiful eyes? I broke down right there and then. This was just so unfair. It didn't matter if I was amongst the most friendly people you could ever wish to meet.
I had been ripped away from my family and I didn’t even know if I would be able to get back to them yet!
I felt a soft pressure on my shoulder and I knew it was Fluttershy, uncertain yet trying to comfort me, whispering sweet and loving sounding words in a tongue so alien and yet so beautiful. And yet it was so painful to hear because part of me just did not want to be consoled - it wanted to wallow in this grief and misery.
Regardless, I fought that evil part of me. Fluttershy, in turn, stayed where she was at, softly rubbing my back and cooing gently to me.
Eventually, someone else came into the room and there was a softly spoken conversation. It was another filly, probably one of the Mane Six. It sounded like Twilight. Fluttershy's voice was fraught with barely contained sorrow. She undoubtedly had no idea why I was so sad, but my sorrow was obviously contagious despite the unknowing. If only they could understand... they’d probably be crying even harder than I am...
“Garrick,” said Twilight's voice suddenly as I felt a hoof at my shoulder once more.
My eyes shot open as I gave Twilight a shocked look. Twilight was giving me a look filled with giddy hope.
“You name Garrick, yes?” she said slowly, her tongue not used to forming the sounds and somewhat misshaping them. “I Twilight Sparkle. I help you.”
“How did you learn my language so quickly?” I asked quietly, my curiosity momentarily overriding my sorrow.
“You tree teach me,” she replied excitedly. “Scared me, but she very nice. Why you so sad? You seem healthy – no problem now.”
I felt my face scrunch up as I fought back the tears. “My family... is gone.”
“Gone? Gone where?”
“No... I was taken away from my family... I won't get to see my child born!”
There it was. The shock from what she had learned. She finally had some inkling, some idea of what I was going through, disconnected as she was.
“But... we can find way back!”
“No. You won't. Not even the Goddesses could discern how I arrived in their world the first time. Goddesses, Twilight! More powerful than your Princesses altogether.”
Twilight took an uncertain step backwards. “... How you know?”
I gave Twilight a sharp look. “How good are you at reading English?”
She tilted her head. “I think I okay.”
I nodded and pulled up the holo-book function – this was a modification of the manual utility that I came up with and Washu coded up with glee. It was eBooks taken to their most logical ultimate conclusion – the best of both worlds: absolute-fidelity digital storage combined with holographic representation of the printed materials. My entire library had been scanned into my C-pod, plus a few other interesting things. Like Washu's thesis on Interdimensional Transfictionality. I pulled up the entire journal of notes with the thesis as an introduction and it appeared as a composition book in my hand.
Twilight gasped and Fluttershy squeaked.
“This book is not real,” I said. “It is made of light and force-fields projected by the device on my wrist using a tiny hole in space. It will only work inside the walls of this room – it will disappear if you try to leave with it.”
“What is in book?” asked Twilight with trepidation.
“The reason why I know all about you,” I said. “As well as how I got here. You can try and find a way home for me, but I don't think you will do any better than someone that makes Princess Celestia look like a child by comparison.”
“What!?” cried out Twilight in shock.
I have to admit, that made me crack a small, grim smile.
“Washu Hakubi, the woman that wrote that book, is more than twenty-thousand years old. Trust me, Celestia is like a child compared to her.”
Twilight gave me a suspicious look, but took the book anyhow and began to read. With the lavender unicorn occupied, I sighed and pulled up the music app and summoned up the wireless ear buds, stuffing them into my ears and putting on some music to help me cope. I knew that once Twilight got into that book she wouldn't be satisfied until she read it cover-to-cover several times.
That was fine by me. I had nothing but time.
Nothing at all but time.
##
Depression makes me sleepy. I dozed off at some point and was woken by Twilight gently prodding me with a hoof.
“Sorry,” she said, offering me the book. I took it numbly and she continued, “This book... strange. I not want believe... but it make sense perfect. You... have real book?”
I shook my head. “No. You will have to transcribe it.”
Twilight nodded. “Okay. You come with.” She then looked over at the side of my bed and I followed her gaze.
Oh... I never did dismiss my door. Oops.
“That door... go to you home?”
I sighed. “Yeah. That's my home now, I guess.”
“You move it?”
“Yes. I can.”
“Good. You come to library. Live there with me.”
“I suppose so,” I said listlessly. I sat up slowly and looked around. The hospital room hadn't changed at all. Fluttershy was gone and Twilight was alone with me. With a sigh, I dismissed the book, then I slowly got to my feet, pulling the bed sheet with me and wrapping it around my waist.
Twilight gave me an odd look, but decided not to question it. As I went to the door to my C-Space she followed. I gave her a stern look at that.
Twilight had the decency to blush. “I... curious. Not look close before.”
I sighed. “Whatever. Don't touch anything.”
“I no foal!” she cried out in indignation.
I snorted at that. “No. You're a scientist. You're curious. And I have many very interesting items inside... some of which may not like magic very much. So, until I know how your magic affects my things... no touching.”
Twilight grumbled something in her native tongue, but didn't seem to really disagree.
We entered my C-space and I went straight to the clothes racks I had setup by my bed. It was only after I had set up my C-space that I realized that I had made a very stereotypical-male type of mistake: I forgot the closet.
So, rather than fret over it, I simply made use of the closet organizers I had and set them up as an open-air clothes storage. It actually seems to work rather well.
I took a look at Twilight and saw that she was staring intently at me.
I sighed, “Whatever,” and let the bed sheet fall as I began by picking out some underwear. This is a foregone conclusion for me. If a person is not gonna give a shit about my modesty, then I just won't give a shit about it either.
“You body strange,” said Twilight.
“My species is called 'Human'.” I said. “We are descended from tree-dwelling apes that evolved to live on savannahs – big grassy plains.” I then tapped the side of my head. “Excellent sense of balance inside the inner-ear to compensate for not having a tail. Excellent range of motion in our spines and our major joints. Good eyesight, good depth perception, good hearing, very sensitive skin – enough to detect air currents. Okay sense of smell... but we don't track by smell. We simply learned how to pay attention to small details.”
Twilight made an excited noise. “You is hunters!”
I nodded. “We're the best on our planet. We dominated the entire world with our special hunting method: outlasting prey.”
Twilight tilted her head. “What you mean?”
“How long can a pony run for?” I asked.
She frowned at that. “Only few hour. Why?”
I grinned. It was not a nice one. “Humans may not be the fastest runners on our planet. There are many that are much faster... but nothing outlasts us. A human in peak fitness can run from sun-up to sun-down... and then some.”
Twilight's eyes widened in shock. “No way!”
My grin got a bit wider. “Oh yes. In fact, I bet I can beat Applejack running from Ponyville to Canterlot, easy. Sure, she may get the lead at first, but I'll beat her by maintaining a steady pace that she can't keep up with.”
“Wait,” said Twilight suddenly as she gave me a queer look. “Open mouth?”
I obliged her by opening my mouth wide. One thing I am grateful for was that Washu saw to the full restoration of my teeth.
“Your teeth... not really like carnivore.”
“Humans are omnivorous,” I said. “You see, we were not only hunters, but gatherers as well. Males typically hunted and females typically gathered. Eventually we developed agriculture and things went from there. Our history is pretty messy.”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “I think that constant.”
I had picked out what I would be wearing. Jeans, long-sleeved black T-shirt, and my ever trustworthy Navy boots – still good thanks to only being gently worn over the years. I then raised an arm and inspected my state of cleanliness. I did smell a bit ripe... but not too badly. It was as though I had bathed yesterday but forgot to put on deodorant.
“How long have I been here?”
“You here five day. Spend most time sleep and heal. Thought you dead – you make big hole in ground.”
I winced at that. I must have fallen from some incredible height or something. The only thing that saved me was the durability enhancements Washu gave me – the monomolecular carbon reinforcements improving my all-around toughness, the lingering medical nanomachines to quickly repair critical damage, and the anti-shock treatment to my neurochemical system to prevent any trauma from killing me outright and blunt the more negative effects of shock.
It was a horrible and selfish thought, but at the time I kinda wished that I didn't have those enhancements. It meant that I was still alive to suffer this new loss. I felt it would have been so much more merciful for me to have died on arrival to this foreign world.
At least now I had some kind of baseline for survivability to really compare with, I thought grimly to myself as I quashed the previous bit of selfish thinking - Aeka would have surely slapped me for thinking so little of everyone else’s feelings. Not that I'm going to go looking for my death, but it is going to be very hard to keep going after this.
“You... okay?” asked Twilight Sparkle tentatively.
“No,” I replied honestly.
“Can... help?”
I gave her a look. “Can you?”
Put on the spot like that, Twilight looked down at the floor and shuffled her hooves.
“I... not know how. You arrive... make strange energy. But no magic. Book help me understand... but not know how send back. Maybe... be friend?”
I sighed. “I... want friends. Friends are good to have. But... I have family. And I was taken away from them. And it hurts... a lot. And I’m worried now if I am stuck here, or if I will jump again. What point would it be to make friends if I’m going to lose them forever?”
Twilight gave me a bewildered look at that and I sighed.
“Look, before we get into anything really existential I need to bathe real quick. Give me about ten minutes... You can look around, but do not touch anything.”
Twilight grumbled once more and I took that as grudging acceptance. I went to the bathroom, taking my clothes with me.
It all felt so surreal. Part of me felt like I should be home... like if I walked out the door right now, I'd be gut-checked by Yuki and reassured that this was all some very surreal nightmare.
I've had nightmares in the past. They were nothing special. Just bad feelings – somehow the idea that it was all a dream hovered in the background, just far enough out of reach to keep me from dreaming more lucidly.
But now... Goddess, I could only wish this were a dream.
That thought, though, brought something to mind as I scrubbed myself down.
Katherine? How are you holding up?
I'm doing good, Gar-kun. And I have great news!
What is it? I thought, daring to raise my hopes.
I still have my connection to Tsunami-sama! I'm still getting energy from her!
I sighed, relieved. It had been something that I hadn't even dared to think about – that if Katherine had lost her connection to Tsunami, then that she would inevitably lose her sapience and become a normal tree. The worst part is that it would not have been unlike losing someone to Alzheimer’s Disease... I was glad I did not have to see it, but I could still imagine it... every day, Katherine's usually vibrant voice getting slower, her words clumsier, until finally... silence.
At the same time, though, I was dismayed because there was still no word about going back home... not that I really expected it.
You should make friends here, Gar-kun, said Katherine with uncharacteristic soberness.
I sighed.
I want my family. Besides, if I make new friends and we jump again...
I didn't need to finish the thought.
Katherine made a mental sigh.
This is going to be a very lonely existence, isn't it?
I'm sorry... just... keep me posted.
I will.
I rinsed and dried off, then got dressed. When I exited the bath, I found Twilight surrounded by books from my library. I sighed at that, but didn't feel any real ire. Twilight was simply doing what she does best – getting lost in a library. As I approached I saw that she had a reasonable cross section of my library. Some math and physics text books, a couple of automotive repair manuals, several science fiction novels by Anne McCaffery and Diane Duane (she was currently reading
So You Want to Be a Wizard), a few mangas and graphic novels... but what caught my eye instantly was my copy of
The Hite Report sitting off to the side.
I was just glad she hadn't started reading that already!
Twilight made some sound of dismay in her native tongue as picked up the book and tucked it under my arm.
“Trust me, you're not ready for this one by a long shot.”
She gave me a challenging look. “What it about?”
I gave her a nasty grin. “A research report on the sexual habits and preferences of human females.”
Twilight blushed a bit. “But... why that bad to know?”
“Twilight. We humans have sex for simple pleasure.”
Twilight's blush turned radioactive. “For... pleasure only?” She then blinked and said, “You right, I not ready.”
With a satisfied nod, I went and shelved the book.
“You may borrow the rest of those books, but I'd like them back in a fortnight.”
Suddenly, I was glomped. I looked down and saw Twilight Sparkle had her forelegs wrapped firmly around me waist while she squealed something joyously in her own language. She then stopped and looked up at me. I simply sighed and raised an eyebrow at her. Twilight chuckled nervously and let go of me, settling back onto all four of her hooves.
“You ready?” she asked.
“I just need my shoes,” I replied as I picked up my navy boots from the chair I'd left them on.
“Looks heavy,” said Twilight eying the footwear.
“A bit,” I allowed. “You ponies have hooves. Humans simply adapted and invented. These are tough, durable, and give good protection. There is even steel inside the tips to protect the most vulnerable parts of my feet.”
“What that?”
“My toes,” I replied, holding a socked foot up and wiggling the appendages. “They're actually fairly important. Over the course of human evolution, they've gone from being prehensile limbs to serving the sole purpose of accurately and evenly distributing weight, thereby improving our overall agility.”
“That why you not need tail!” said Twilight excitedly. “Amazing! Human like no other creature on world!”
“Yeah yeah,” I grumbled as I tied my boots. “Humans are awesome, I get it. Now let's get going. I'd like to get this all over with.”
##
Before I was allowed to leave I was given a very through physical. Even though I grumbled about it, Nurse Redheart was gentle about it all. I understood why, though. Now that I was healthy and whole, they wanted to establish what my normal baselines were. This meant taking my vitals while I was exerting myself.
“You need run harder,” Twilight said after Redheart murmured something in her ear. “Nurse say you not even try. Need see what heart like under strain.”
“Oh is that all?” I grumbled as I rolled my eyes. And then I began to sprint on the treadmill. Oddly enough... I didn't really feel the strain like I would normally have. I mean, sure, I could feel the effort that I was putting into it... but the pain that tells you you're nearing your limit simply wouldn't come.
Of course, the body enhancements were already starting to take affect. I wondered if this is how it felt for Yuki.
Yuki... sweet, loveable, little Yuki... stealing more and more of my heart with that smile of hers... Will I ever see it again?
“Hey? Why stop?” came Twilight's voice suddenly, knocking me out of my reverie.
I looked at Twilight with tears stinging in my eyes. At least Nurse Redheart was taking this well.
“Have you ever known what it was like to lose someone that was a part of you?” I asked Twilight as I sat down on the now motionless treadmill.
Twilight's eyes widened a bit and she shook her head.
“There were four women that are very special to me. They are all strong, beautiful, and remarkable women. The youngest... she always surprises me. She is not physically strong because she is so young... but she more than makes up for it with an indomitable spirit. You cannot break her. She'll only smile at you and ask, oh so sweetly, for even more. The only way you can hurt her is to take her family away.
“And to her, I am her family. I am the man she wants as her husband. And I can only hope that the others are helping her as much as possible, because for me this is taking an effort of will to keep going.”
Twilight swallowed hard at that. Nurse Redheart asked Twilight a question and there was a brief exchange between the two. Suddenly, the Nurse gave me a look, and then began nuzzling me, saying something in a soothing tone.
I didn't have to wonder for long though. Twilight translated for me.
“She say, 'No be sad.' That 'You no be lost forever. You find home soon.'”
I sighed as I got up, gently pushing the Nurse away. “I hope so, Twilight. I really do hope so. Now... how much more does Nurse Redheart need?”
The two ponies had a brief exchange, and Twilight said, “No more. She get plenty data. Also, you not joke on running. I see data. Really can run many hour.”
I sighed heavily. “Twilight... can we get going?”
“Why? What wrong?”
“I'm tired and I would like to sleep in my own bed. By the way, how did you find a bed big enough for me?”
Twilight shrugged. “We have being called Minotaur. Is your size.” Twilight suddenly blinked at that. “Wait, you have name for Minotaur in your language?!”
I nodded. “As well as dragon, unicorn, pegasus, alicorn, hydra, manticor, and griffon. All of them are mythological creatures where I'm from.”
“But how you...” Twilight then blinked and then hoofed her face. “Oh. Transfictionality. I get now.”
##
Afternoon was giving way to evening and the market was just now shuttering their doors and windows. Ponies everywhere were on their way back home, either from their day jobs or with the goods and wares they'd purchased. And everyone of them stopped to stare at me, all in varying degrees of curiosity, surprise, and even a few in horror.
I think the only reason they hadn't broken out into outright panic was because Twilight was escorting me.
We made it back to her home, the library tree, with no incident and I found that the tree was a lot larger than the cartoons made it out to be – it had to be in order to accommodate the library that was held inside it.
I put that aside, though, as I carefully ducked through the library's entrance – it certainly was not scaled for anyone larger than, say, Big Macintosh.
“I don't know if this is going to work as a regular thing,” I said as I came upright again.
Twilight hummed at that thoughtfully. “Maybe we put door outside when other pony used to you.”
“Maybe,” I sighed as I got my first good look at the place. It was much nicer inside that the cartoons implied. There was a lot less pink – all the walls were a comfortable raw-wood color, and every available space was packed full of books. Nearby was the loft where Twilight and Spike slept, along with the stairs that led up there as well as to the balcony. I had zero notion whatsoever about those stairs supporting my weight.
There suddenly came a young, slightly scratchy sounding male voice from the room in back.
Spike the Baby Dragon came in, with two plates in hand and balancing a third on his head. When he saw me looking at him he startled and would have dropped the plate on his head had I not reached down and plucked it away.
There was a short, somewhat heated exchange between Twilight and Spike. I could guess that Spike was a little upset that he didn't get more warning about my arrival, though I think the third plate of food belied that. Perhaps he wasn't aware of the nature of his guest? Probably – that'd be par for the course around here.
Twilight noticed me looking on with a raised eyebrow and then gave me a nervous little smile and laugh.
“I sorry. This Spike, my brother. He not expect you.”
I nodded. “Well, let him know that I apologize for the inconvenience and that I'm looking forward to working with him on transcribing that book.”
Twilight relayed my sentiments and Spike made a surprised sound that I'm pretty sure translated into 'What book?'
Before Twilight could say much, I pulled up the book from my library and had it appear in front of Twilight, which caused her to yelp in surprise. She quickly mastered herself, and gave me a quick thank you before turning back to Spike, Washu's book held in her telepathic grasp, as she began to go over everything with the dragonet.
I simply left them to it, noting that the plates, now set aside by Spike, were all identical in contents, so I set to munching on what was inevitably my share. Fortunately, there was a fork provided, even if it was a bit small for my hands. The food, while being a simple fair of a leafy salad with an assortment of other vegetables and a zingy vinaigrette dressing, was delicious and it was in a filling portion.
Spike and Twilight looked over at me in mild surprise as they heard me munching on a particularly crunchy bit.
“Don't worry about me,” I said idly, waving them on. “I can fend for myself. Carry on.”
Twilight gave Spike a shrug, made some mild mannered sounding comment, and then joined me at the table where I was kneeling. Note to self – procure a cushion for my knees.
Over the course of the meal, Spike asked, through Twilight, all the usual questions. For the most part, Twilight answered for me, but there were a few questions she had to relay to me for clarification.
“What about family?” asked Twilight.
I raised an eyebrow. “What about them?”
“Can you tell about family?”
I sighed at that. “This... I wanted to avoid this,” I said as I looked up to the odd ceiling. It reminded me suddenly of being in Tenju so I looked back at Twilight, who was giving me a look somewhere between expectant and worried. “Fine,” I said, all but snapping. “I'll tell you. But do not expect me to repeat this often, if at all.”
And so I told them everything. Of my original life and its pitfalls and follies and its terrible pains and sorrows, and then of my second life...
About my brothers, Tenchi and Yosho.
My sisters, Ayeka and Sasami.
My friends, Mihoshi and Ryoko, who were so close they might as well have been sisters.
My beloved mentors, Washu-chan and Yakage.
My Mother and Aunt, Funaho and Misaki.
My Grandparents, Seto and Utsusumi.
My Father, the Emperor, Asuza Masaki Jurai.
And then my wonderful women, Minagi, Yuki, Yume, and Achika.
It was an awkward process. Twilight would whisper the translation to Spike, but would become so caught up in the tale that she would lose herself until Spike jabbed her in the ribs with an irritated expression. And then she would give us embarrassed smiles as she requested that I back up a bit.
She was utterly astounded at the situation I had found myself in. A man yanked out of place by a person of evil intents, adopted into a fantastically powerful family, and urged to cultivate his own share of power... among other things.
“It strange you have many bride,” said Twilight as she set about to tucking a more-tired-than-he'd-admit Spike. “But not unheard. Among pony, we call such family 'Herd'. Fall out of practice recent century. This despite gender imbalance. Ratio one colt, two and half filly.”
“Why did it fall out of practice?” I asked.
Twilight shrugged. “Not know certainly. Think culture shift to monogamy. Many book and play of monogamous romance start two-hundred year ago.”
I thought about that for a second. “Might have been Celestia. It's a clever method of gently influencing the populous to control population growth.”
Twilight gave me a shocked look. “How can say thing like that!?”
“Twilight, my Grandmother is a master manipulator, and I find her methods admirable. If this is what Celestia did, then she's not any different from my Grandmother. Hell, I bet Seto would love to spend an evening with Celestia. I can only imagine the debauchery those two would get up to.”
“But.. Princess is proper ruler!”
“Just a facade,” I said through a yawn. “Just you ask her yourself. She'll take you aside and tell you in private – she's bored to tears most days.” I yawned again and looked out the window. Only the barest glow of dusk remained, the sun having long since set. “I'm going to go for a walk.”
“But... what if you get lost!?”
“I can find my way back. I'm not stupid. And I have good night vision – once the moon is high I'll be able to see very clearly.”
I got up, leaving Twilight to splutter as I went to the door, carefully ducked through it, and began to make my way to the west. However, Twilight insisted on following me.
“Can't you take a hint?” I asked acerbically. “I want some time alone.”
“But... I worry... you might get hurt.”
I sighed heavily – so this is what it was about. I turned and looked down at Twilight sternly.
“Twilight Sparkle,” I stated loudly. Kinda wished she had a middle name – it would have had more impact that way. Twilight Andromeda Sparkle would have been nice – it not only sounds lovely, but it has gravitas, too. “I have been dealing with depression for more than thirty years and even though it still hurts me, I am not going to do anything to harm myself. I just want some time alone so I can sort through my emotions without anyone distracting me with warm and fuzzy feelings. Whether anyone likes it or not this is still something I have to deal with myself, because no one else can. Do you understand me?”
“Yes,” said Twilight after a long pause. “Just worry you go into Everfree Forest.”
“No. I was looking for that big hill near Sweet Apple Acres.”
“Oh.”
“Besides, if I go to the Everfree Forest, you shouldn't worry for me. I'm probably far more dangerous than the most dangerous creatures there.”
“You not have claw or scale.”
I laughed. Goddess help me, I laughed. She was so innocent, so naïve. I knew right then and there that I would turn her world view so upside down that by the time Discord showed up she was going to chew him up and spit him back out.
As Twilight backed away in fear from my borderline-insane laughter, I looked down upon her and spoke,
“Twilight Sparkle, remember always what makes us humans special: Mother Nature has never been kind to my people. She did not grant us the gifts of sharp teeth or claws, nor of scales to protect our hides. So we forged our own in fire and crafted them out of steel!” And then I slapped my C-Pod and called out, “First Cut!”
The blade, naked of its sheath, dropped into my waiting hand.
“Behold my claw. Few things are harder and stronger than this, for I have made it to cut through things and withstand blows that are beyond your ken.”
“Ah, may I?” asked Twilight. I nodded my consent and Twilight levitated the blade out of my hand with her magic and began to look it over carefully. Of course, she probably knew a few things about swords, her brother being Captain of the Royal Guard and all.
“You make this?” she asked.
“I did.”
“It very good. Not best, but still excellent. Good style. Good structure. Very heavy, but good balance. What composition?”
“Seventy-six-point-two-five percent iron. Point-seven-five percent carbon. Four percent chromium. One percent vanadium.” I then grinned as I knew the last bit would knock her for a loop. “And eighteen percent tungsten.”
“Tungsten! No wonder this so heavy! How you forge it?”
“With a very, very hot fire.” I then tapped my C-Pod and called for my belt and sheath. Thus provided, I put the belt on around my waist, sheath on my left side, then motioned to have my sword back.
“You still worried for my safety?” I asked as she passed me back the sword and I sheathed it.
“No! Now worried for other pony safety!” griped the unicorn.
“The only people that should worry about me hurting them are monsters. Now please, let me be for some time. I promise I will come back later.”
“Argh! Alright! But you come back or else I come find you.”
She then turned and trotted off, leaving me to myself. With a sigh, I went out looking for that nice hill.
##
I sighed as I heard the approaching hoof beats. Had it really been that long? I checked the time on my C-Pod – Nope, didn't think so.
“I didn't think you'd come after me so soon, Twilight,” I said wearily. “Are you really that worried?”
“And here I thought Bonbon was lying like a rug,” said a voice in perfect English. I blinked at that and jolted upwards.
Standing before me was not a man, but a pony with a brown coat, black mane, and a befuddled expression.
“Oh hell no,” I grumbled. I then side stepped to get a look at the pony's flank. Sure enough, there was a pocket watch cuteymark there. I sighed to myself and looked the pony in the eyes. “As I live and breathe. I never thought I'd ever meet you, Doctor.”
“Well, glad to see my reputation precedes me. I'm afraid you have me at a bit of a disadvantage. Mister?”
“Garrick Grimm. And I'm a man who's every bit as misplaced as you are.”
The Doctor snorted at that. “That's putting it mildly. Well, you seem to be on the up and up. What do you know?”
“Happen to know about a woman named Washu Hakubi?”
“We bump into each other now and then. What of her?”
“The version I know is my Mentor and, don't let this get back to her right away, also a Goddess who's slumming it in the name of Science.”
“Bollocks! You really are a jumper, aren't you? What the bloody hell happened?”
“If you know Washu then you probably know about Clay, right?”
The pony sniffed. “A dirty dog if there ever was any...” A look of realization came over his face. “He didn't.”
I scoffed. “Worse. The Masaki household was just my first layover.”
The Doctor then proceeded to curse up a blue streak in a number of languages.
Take notes, Katherine. Some of that might come in handy later.
Katherine's giggle echoing through my head made me smile a little. Soon enough, though, the Doctor had gotten all the vitriol out of his system and he turned to me.
“Right then. Best come along with me.” And with that he began to trot back towards Ponyville.
“You think you can get me sorted out?” I asked, a glimmer of hope shining in my heart as I jumped up and jogged after him. “Send me back home?”
“I hope I can,” the ponified Galifreyan said noncommittally. “I'll need to run a few tests to be sure. I think I know what's going on, but I really do hope I'm wrong.”
“Shit, you just had to go and say it.”
##
Under the cover of darkness, the Doctor and I made it back to his home, a watchmaker's shop with a cozy looking set of apartments up top. Of course, that wasn't where he really made his home at.
The TARDIS is, and always has been, a blue police call box. And the inside has always been a ramshackle tumbledown collection of rusty bits and pieces all thrown together into the semblance of what someone thought would be what a time machine looks like. And this is to say nothing of the random bits of kipple left laying all over the place.
Let it be known that the good Doctor is indeed one of us, for he is the King of Messy Desks.
“Before I go, would you mind teaching me to make one of those?”
“Sonic screwdriver?” asked the Doctor as he poked at me with said device. “Probably not. Terribly complex little gadget.”
“You forgetting who I said my mentor was?”
“'Course not. Washu Hakubi. Heck of a scientist – give her enough time she'll work anything out. Hell of a drinker, too.”
“And?”
“And I think this is too complex for you.”
I glared at the Doctor and began to recite a very simple, very basic block transfer equation – it was literally the block transfer math version of a 'Hello World' program. It was something that Washu had been encouraging me to dabble in on the offhand chance that I needed to do some hard-coding work on my C-Space.
Also, pretty much everything Katherine did was block transfer equations.
It was pretty dangerous stuff to work with, really. One misspelled parameter could blow you to kingdom come. But the Hello World program was a safe bit of math that Washu had thoroughly drilled me on, and one of the few I felt comfortable in casually dropping in any given setting.
The Doctor simply gaped at me as the words 'Hello World' appeared over my head in a garish, glowing neon-green and in a big, friendly sans font. After the words faded from sight, he then opened his mouth, closed it as he reconsidered, and repeated the process no less than five times.
Finally, he managed to settle on something. “Bloody Americans.”
“Oi. I'm a Texan first. Federalist nation, you know.”
“You know a party trick. I'm not teaching you anything.”
“I know the basic concepts, which puts me leagues ahead of most people you come across.”
“Someone else drummed it into your head.”
“Someone you know and respect, and who felt that I was worthy of it.”
“Bollocks to that! That woman is a self-professed mad genius, and I wholeheartedly agree with her!”
“Oh, c'mon. She's not crazy... at least not anymore than you are. She just likes to have a good time.”
“Her idea of a good time and mine are two entirely different things!”
“Kettle, cried out the pot, thou art black.”
“Bastard.”
“Am not and you know it. Look, I'm a jumper. You said it yourself. And there's no telling when I'm gonna find myself up to my armpits in Goddess only knows what kind of trouble. So how about you do the right thing and show me how to make that wonderful little gadget of yours so I'll have a holdout to get myself out of the shit and into the roses when it counts the most.”
“Now you see here! You say you were one of Washu's students? Someone she favored? Then prove it. Invent something yourself. Build something you can use like my sonic screwdriver to get yourself out of trouble. Impress me.”
I had to admit, he stopped me cold with that one. If there was one thing Washu was always pushing me to do, it was to stop standing on other peoples' shoulders and make something new. This was why many of my weapon designs, save for First Cut, departed so far from the norms.
This situation was no different. If I wanted a macguffin the likes of the sonic screwdriver, then I was going to have to think up one for myself.
I then smiled at the Doctor. “Okay then, Doc. You want me to knock your socks off? You got it. Just don't be disappointed if I manage to pull it off.”
“Blinder! That's the spirit! Now, about your current issue...”
“Hit me, Doc.”
“Right. You're too heavy.”
“Heavy? Okay, I know you're not talking about physical mass.”
“Of course not. Temporal mass. The energy with which you've hit this time-space combined with your temporal mass has you mired in the muck.”
“So it's like time-space is quicksand (and yes, I know what real quicksand is like) and I've somehow managed to get up to my neck in it?”
“An excellent metaphor. Fortunately, someone's got a line tied to you – I'm honestly not quite sure what to make of it, but I can tell that the energy signature is Juraian. They seem to be trying to pull you back, but you're stuck fairly well.”
“It's probably Tsunami. She managed to get some kind of tether onto me before I got punted.” Suddenly, for some weird reason I got the image of two children with tin can phones talking to each other. “Say, Doc? Would it be possible to send some kind of resonance along this line? A carrier wave of some kind?”
“You want to send a message? Is it important?”
“My fiance is pregnant.”
“Ah... that would be important. Let me see what I can work out. You're not even going to ask about getting unstuck?”
“Doc, you said I got a Goddess on the other end trying to pull me out of here. If that's not working, then I doubt there's anything better you can try.”
“Do you ever get tired of being genre savvy?”
“Sometimes, Doc, but it has its advantages.”
##
It didn't take the Doctor long to compile the new app in my C-pod and send the primer message down the line for me. Once I got a message back, I would be in business.
I left from the Doctor's home and went back to the hill, flopping backwards and sighing as I gazed up at the night sky.
It was a brilliant and beautiful night. So full of stars that they overlapped and blotted each other out. The Milky Way was a soft, glowing band of light reaching across the heavens. And the moon itself... it was not the moon I was accustomed to, but it was lovely just the same.
So alien, yet so similar. And unwittingly, I sought out Jurai in the night sky.
I sat up and rubbed my eyes, because I wanted to be sure I wasn't seeing things.
Katherine! Is that what I think it is!?
Let me see... Oh wow, it IS Jurai! Everything matches! Spectral lines, magnitude, motion... But... that's strange...
What is it?
…Garrick, the system is silent. There are no transmissions of any kind coming from there. Just stellar noise.
I knew exactly why that was. The Choushin did not exist in this universe. Therefore, there was no Tsunami to settle on what would become Jurai and grow into the Great Tree. And therefore, there was no Great Tree for the pirate that would become the First Emperor of Jurai to stumble upon.
...What about other star systems? Places with major native habitations? Any society that gained space faring capability without outside assistance.
… I'm picking up on a few... but Garrick, what could they do that a Time Lord can't?
...Nothing. I... guess I just wanted some sort of reassurance.
I'm here for you, Garrick.
I know, Katherine... but... it still feels so empty.
You are stronger than the emptiness, Garrick. Carry on. Fight it. You will get home no matter how long it takes because you are going to live for at least ten-thousand years. Probably even longer than that. I can feel it in you now... you are growing even more powerful. Just like Tenchi-kun. Maybe, someday soon, you can even make a Lighthawk Wing of your own.
That stopped my mind in its tracks. I know Washu had mentioned it before, but I had brushed it aside back then. Besides, I was thinking that it would take me at least a hundred years, maybe more. Now, Katherine was saying 'soon'.
A Lighthawk Wing? Me!?
Your energy marks you as some sort of cousin to Tsunami-sama. And every day, you take more and more of Grandmother's energy into your being. She has adopted you, Gar-kun – you are kin to the Choushin now and the Lighthawk Wings are your new inheritance.
That was food for thought. In fact, as I thought about it, one thing jumped to the fore.
What about you? What happens to you when I hit the threshold? When what I can do exceeds what you can do?
Katherine giggled lightly.
Silly. It's a two-way road! I take care of you and you take care of me. In fact, someday I may not even need to rely on Grandmother. When you become strong enough, I can draw power from you and you alone. All the seeds I produce will be independent from Tsunami-sama's control.
You can create another Empire. One that will rival Jurai.
Power.
That was the only thing that flashed through my mind as her words echoed ominously through my head. The power to carve out an empire of my own, one that I may rule over eternally. Our children would be without number and would spread through the Universe and beyond!
NO! came the thought, screaming from the more rational parts of my mind and blowing out the burning visages of power as effectively as a halon flood.
“No,” I said under my breath, my breathing heavy from an incipient panic attack. Carefully, I took slow breaths and cleared my mind.
I cannot be that. I am not that. I'm just a man... I just want to be a husband and a father. I just want to be a good man.
And that is part of why I love my Gar-kun. And with that I felt a strange sensation, like someone was embracing me from behind – which was strange since I was laying down with my back to the ground. Nonetheless, it was there and I knew what it was. Katherine was giving me a hug.
I knew I was being tested... sort of. Katherine really wanted to see how I would react to being offered that sort of power on a platter. However, I had no doubt in my mind that she would go along with it regardless. Katherine, like all Juraian trees, was created to serve her master...
...but I want her to be her own person.
Warmed by Katherine's affection, I wondered idly how was I to give her a 'hug' back. However, that train of thought eventually meandered back to the stars in the sky. This time, my musings were more idle and soothing.
I hope there is something out there, I thought as the ending of Carl Sagan's Contact came to mind.
Otherwise... that'll be an awful waste of space.
I heard hoofbeats approaching, but didn't bother to get up. I knew who it was for certain this time.
“You feel better now?” said Twilight Sparkle's voice. It was astonishing how quickly she was getting the hang of English.
“A little,” I allowed with a sigh. “If you know anything about emotional disorders, then you should understand that there is no such thing as a 'quick fix'.”
“I know,” replied Twilight with a sigh as well. “I also know, knowing not make easier.”
“Good. I'm glad you understand that. The only thing I will really ask of you is to give me my space when I ask for it. Otherwise... whatever. And just so you know, I'll do what I can to make my way. I don't like the idea of being some sort of welfare case.”
“You is not,” Twilight said sourly.
Finally I looked up at Twilight to give her an equally sour look. “Okay then, where's the hospital bill?”
Twilight chuckled nervously as she gave me a sheepish look. “Pro bono?”
I cocked an eyebrow at the unicorn. “'For the public good' does not exactly apply in my case.” I sighed at that. “At least there's no shortage of things I can do around here. So tomorrow I want to see what I owe to the hospital.”
Twilight growled in frustration. Gotta say, that was kinda cute coming from her.
“Why you be so stubborn?” asked the pony angrily. “Other pony know accident happen. They not angry about not pay hospital.”
“No, they're upset about the seemingly dangerous alien creature in their midst that is tripping their 'stranger danger' sense in a way that makes them want to run for the hills. Being a good member of society is going to be one of the small ways I can show that I'm not some ravenous star-heathen from Dimension-X.”
“Uuuurrrrgh!” groaned Twilight. “Will you try be nice at everypony?”
“Hmm,” I said, thinking. “Just the ones that don't act like they think they're better because they're a pony.”
Twilight made one last comment in Equestrian that sounded something like 'Oh brother!'
##
Interesting thing about my C-Space – setting the time on my C-Pod will adjust all the clocks inside my C-Space, including the ones on my computers and devices.
This was the first thing I did when we got back, though Twilight admitted that although the Princesses were pretty good about raising and setting the sun and moon when they were supposed to... sometimes... things... ...happen.
Making a mental note to keep tabs on the sun and moon schedule, I placed my door in the basement (all the other walls having nearly every available space taken up by books) and told Twilight that I'd be up at around seven in the morning.
Not taking any chances, I had Katherine put me to sleep. The last thing I wanted to do was to lay awake in the dark and think of my family. I knew I'd be having enough nightmares as it was.
##
Nightmares indeed.
Sorrowful dreams of being pulled away from my helpless family by some unseen force. I could hardly care less what it wanted with me, I just wanted out of its unyielding grip! Please don't take me away from my family!
I woke up that morning, my eyes still watery from tears I'd cried and my pillow damp with them.
I clumsily crawled down from my loft bed, got my coffee maker running with automatic, mechanical motions, and went to my sink to clean up my face. Through my sleep-hazed eyes, I could tell that I was absolutely haggard looking. My long hair was everywhere, my face was tear-stained, and my eyes were puffy and dark.
I hate it when I look unhealthy.
I heaved a sigh and went to work on cleaning up the mess, beginning with my hair. Within a few minutes, I had the mass of unruly locks tamed into a reasonably presentable ponytail and that meant I could get to my face without making my hair an even bigger mess. Once I had washed up and toweled off my face I was able to take a better assessment of my grooming status.
What I saw just about knocked me off my feet.
My pores had shrunk to be nearly nonexistent and the developing smile lines and crows feet were gone entirely, though I still had my scars, such as they were. My facial hair had remained, but even with that I looked more like I did when I was twenty-one... which meant that most humans would mistake me for being eighteen - maybe even as young as sixteen.
Again.
If I shaved off the facial hair that would shave another two years off my appearance and I would have no problems sneaking into a high school.
I decided to leave it, for now. I wasn’t ready to get rid of it. Though I had no doubt that at some point in time I may need to do so.
As for why this happened? I didn’t wonder. I knew.
The Water of Life had no real visible effect on Yuki because she was only thirteen. But I had been encroaching on middle-age. Granted, I didn’t look it, but I had the wear and tear from simple things like sun exposure.
With that in mind, I reached for my beard trimmer and set to work on tidying my van dyke. It wouldn’t do to look slovenly with my renewed youth.
##
I came upstairs to find Spike bustling around and Twilight reading Washu’s Journal while a quill caught in her TK field scribbled furiously on the sheaf of parchments. All the while she also made good on putting away a breakfast of eggs, hash browns, and something that looked a bit like bacon.
What I heard next took me by surprise.
“Ohaiyo gosaimas’ Gar-kun.”
I blinked and gave Twilight a queer look while she gave me the smile of the cat that ate the canary.
“Well, Nihongo seems to suit you much better,” I said, switching over to my own flawless Japanese. Thank you oh so very much, Washu-chan.
Twilight nodded, and continued on in rhythmic language. “Yes. This Nihongo, while highly regimented and dependent on loan words, is much simpler to use. The phonetics are much easier for me to handle as well. In fact, it reminds me of Neighponese, only... different. I hypothosize that Neighpon is actually an alternate version of your own Nipon. Am I right?”
“Close enough for government work,” I answered. “Our version is separated from my country by about two-thousand kilometers of open ocean, hence why the two cultures are so alien to each other.”
Twilight nodded excitedly. “Yes! You write left-to-right and down, while the Japanese write down and right-to-left! Your grammar hinges on sentence structure while Japanese grammar depends on word particles! I can’t wait to learn about both cultures so I can write a paper on how they diametrically oppose each other! It must have taken a long time for your two peoples to get along! How did it all work out?”
I sighed. “It wasn’t pretty. There was eventually a horrible war between our two peoples, and my country won that war.”
“A war? But... it couldn’t have been that horrible... could it?”
I sighed again and decided to give it to her straight.
“When we took their southernmost island, they started sending their children out to our soldiers with explosives hidden in their clothes. That provoked us into using the first ever atomic fission chain reaction explosive devices. We had to destroy two of their cities before their emperor decided to surrender.”
Twilight first went pale, then went green, and finally dashed into the kitchen where I could hear her retching into the sink, with Spike chasing after her, making gravely concerned sounds.
Afterwards, there was a short and terse conversation between the two - it was the sharpest I’ve heard her pitch her voice yet. She made some sort of demand of Spike, and when he back talked Twilight only snapped at him loudly.
Spike complied, making his way out through the front door, but before shutting it, he gave me a glare, pointed to his eyes, and then to me.
The door slammed shut loudly.
“Alright,” said Twilight, her voice tense with anger. “Now that we’re alone, why in Tartarus did you feel the need to say something so.... horrible! I mean... that can’t possibly be true!” Her expression became a mixture of hope and dread. “Can it?”
I gave a glare right back at her. “First of all, understand this - we’re not really friends. I don’t want any friends. I want to go back home to my family. So I am not going to do you any favors like sugar-coating the horrible and bloody history of humanity.
“And second, in order for us humans to become awesome, we first had to become horrible. For example my people have been flying for over a hundred years. But in the first years people felt that it was literally ‘flights of fancy’. ‘Why bother with something so dangerous when we have perfectly good feet?’ they would reason. And so, it remained a curiosity to a few, and an obsession to even fewer. Until the world became embroiled in warfare. Suddenly military strategists and tacticians saw the use of the flying machine in their war plans.
“Fifty years afterwards we sent a man to the moon and returned him safely to Earth.”
“THAT’S AMAZING!!!” squealed Twilight. And then she checked herself and asked, “Why?”
“It’s a long story. Simple version: some people with an ax to grind against my country wanted control over that space. My country’s leaders were not about to let it go without a fight.”
Twilight gave me a confused look. “WHY?” she asked.
I sighed at that. “Long version, then. There was another country that had undergone a revolution, killed off the monarchy that ruled them, conquered a swath of other countries around them, and called itself the United Soviet Socialist Republic. Now, I have no huge qualms against socialism, but the ways of the USSR left certain things to be desired.
“You see, their people were forced to come into line under the new socialist system or else they would be banished to the penal colonies, or worse, slaughtered like vermin. And their first leader, a man named Josef Stalin, did not think twice on matters such as those.
“His cossacks took great pleasure in murdering, pillaging, and raping wherever they were sent.”
Twilight went pale and shuddered at the very thought.
I went on. “In the second world war - we had two of them in close succession, by the way - the Soviets had happened upon the plans of the mad ruler of our common enemy. You see, this enemy of ours... he made the USSR look tame by comparison. It was not enough to get in line with everyone else. You also had to be genetically pure. The ethnic cleansing they employed turned the skies black with the ashes of the people they incinerated.”
Twilight turned green. Again. “Tha... That’s...” she murmured as she tried to restrain her stomach.
“Yes. It was heinous. We all but destroyed their country for it. But that is neither here nor there for the moment. The thing is, their mad ruler felt he would not be content with the world. He wanted the moon and stars as well, and had scientist working on how to make that happen.
“And when Stalin’s army beat a path into their capital city, they found many things, including these plans. Stalin quickly had the scientists rounded up and put them to work.
“A few years later, the USSR, with great fanfare, launched an object into stable orbit around the Earth.”
“Orbit? Around the Earth?”
I nodded. “Traveling so fast that it essentially achieves equilibrium with Earth’s gravitational pull and continually ‘falls’ past the horizon, remaining in a continuous, stable loop around the planet.”
“WITHOUT MAGIC!?” she cried out, astounded.
“Without magic,” I confirmed, a small grim smile on my face. “Just chemical rockets and a lot of careful, painstaking calculation. The Soviets had placed a simple temperature reporting device into orbit for ninety-two days.
“What frightened my people, though, was that the Soviets made their intents clear. The rocket used to launch the satellite into orbit was intended to carry nuclear fission bombs on high parabolas and accurately land them wherever they were aimed.”
“Buh... buh... WHY!?” cried out Twilight, on the verge of tears.
“Because my country was the only one with the military might capable of opposing the USSR. And like I said before, Stalin had no qualms about killing people that opposed him. While later leaders would dismantle some of his nihilistic policies, the generally ham handed ways would continue.
“So, for many decades our two countries endured what we called the Cold War - a war that was not really war, a peace that was not really peace.
“And in the meantime we put a man on the moon... only because we didn’t want the Soviets to get there first.”
“You... you were afraid,” Twilight said as she fended off a panic attack. “They threatened you.”
I nodded. “To be fair, we did our own bit of threatening now and then. My people’s leaders were not quite so innocent themselves. Secret projects, clandestine operations, some successful, other utter failures. In response to nuclear intercontinental missiles, we made our own... and then placed them within allied nations right at the Soviet’s borders. In return, the USSR turned a small island nation very close to our country against us and placed their own nuclear missiles there. We tried to stop this from happening by secretly taking the native people opposed to the new government and training them to fight... but they were discovered when we sent them back and they were slaughtered.
“When the Soviets shot down one of our special reconnaissance aircraft, we secretly created a better one. It would fly faster than five times the speed at which sound travels and so high that the sky turns black. It wasn’t subtle, but it could never be shot down because it flew so high and fast.
“The Soviets made all kinds of noise about it, yet they could do nothing to stop it. We would only send more of those planes to monitor their military. And, of course, they were worried about getting into direct warfare with us.”
“But... they had to do something.”
“They did. They instigated proxy-wars by propping up socialist movements in neighboring countries that were formerly allied with us. Said movements were just as vicious and blood thirsty as Stalin’s own revolution. Those wars turned into some very terrible and bloody conflicts, and it was all the more galling for my people because the Soviets were winning more often than not.
“So you see, Twilight, for the most part my people only became awesome in response to the ones that became horrible. So much of our technological progress was from war. But that is what happens with a race like mine. We so readily go to extremes - some of us are so evil that it fails to make any sense, and some of us are so good that it borders on being evil.”
Twilight got her breathing under control and gave me a sorrowful look.
“You’re people are not all evil,” she said. “Many of you are good. Enough that you always seem to find a way to rise above it.”
I nodded. “Indeed. But bear in mind, my people’s history is rife with conflict despite some of our best efforts, and I am not going to shelter you from that aspect of my heritage... Though, I will give you fair warning. I won’t spring anything on you like this again, but when it inevitably comes up it will be no holds barred. Do you understand?”
The unicorn pony nodded weakly. “I do.”
“Alright then. I apologize for the rough treatment, metaphorically speaking. Will Spike be back soon?”
Twilight shook her head. “No, he’s going to be gone most of the day. I sent him off to help a friend.” Twilight smiled and giggled. “He kinda has a crush on her.”
I rolled my eyes at that. “Don’t they always?”
Twilight giggled again and I shook my head.
“So,” I drawled. “What’s on today’s agenda?”
“Mostly just translating this book. I’m already a quarter of the way through.”
“Do you need any help with the translation?” I asked.
“No, I got it. Katherine was pretty thorough when she programed those languages into my head. It’s just that some of the complexities in English are a little hard to understand. I mean, it’s in here, but it’s just...”
“Too much?” I hazarded.
“Yeah. Makes me wonder how you deal with such a language.”
I shrugged. “We usually think nothing of it, seeing as many of us are learning it from birth. However, most people I ever came across that got to know me would always say that I always sounded very proper and always used big words.”
Twilight snorted and rolled her eyes. “Well, that sounds familiar. So what you mean is that most of your people don’t really use the language properly?”
I nodded. “Pretty much.”
“Ugh, I can only imagine. Ponies here are taught much more carefully... well, in most places they are. And then of course there are the regional slangs and accents.”
“No different than from where I came from.”
##
For the rest of the morning, Twilight worked quietly at the translation process, pausing only to ask me to clarify one or two details, usually anecdotal in nature.
I myself had settled into a meditative state. Unfortunately, I couldn’t really assume my favorite pose of sprawling on one of Funaho’s wide branches. Space was at something of a premium in Twilight’s home, so I had to settle for the traditional lotus position.
And that was when Katherine’s telepathic voice went squeeing joyously through my head.
IT’S THEM! IT’S THEM! THEY RESPONDED!
It didn’t take me long at all to figure out what she meant.
Get me a hard copy through the book app! I fired back at her excitedly.
Now!
Right away, a sheaf of papers bound in a presentation folder appeared in my hands. Twilight gave me a curious look from her table, but I mostly ignored her for the moment.
Flipping the folder open, I saw the first letter was from Washu.
Quote:[i]Garrick:[/i]
[i]I can’t tell you how relieved we all are to get this letter from you! Everyone here is worried sick over you, and we’re going to do our best to get you home, ASAP![/i]
[i]I will mention that there does seem to be a time differential. How much, I won’t say - I don’t want you to worry any. We have bigger fish to fry as it is.[/i]
[i]I’m so glad that you managed to find The Doctor on your first go (I’d recognize his handiwork anywhere) - that’s an amazing stroke of luck! Maybe the Multiverse doesn’t hate you as much as you think.[/i]
[i]Be strong for us, Garrick. We miss you and we want you to come home, safe and sound.[/i]
[i]From your Mentor with Love,[/i]
[i]Washu-chan[/i]
My eyes began to sting with tears of pure, unadulterated joy as I flipped to the next letter.
Quote:My Beloved Garrick,
I can’t believe how hard this is. Every day you are gone feels like an eternity. How long will this last? Years? Decades? Centuries?
I miss you so much. The others try to fill the hole in my heart. It helps... but you’ve become such a large part of me that I feel so empty without you.
But the one greatest comfort to me is our child. I can feel her now. Our Hikari is so tiny, but I sense a strong spirit from her. I can already tell that she is going to be magnificent once she is born.
I train at a much slower pace now. My body is a cradle with a precious and fragile treasure inside - one that I have no desire to jar. Every movement I make is with our Hikari in the back of my mind. And I think she knows this. I can feel her love for me already.
There has been talk lately - debate over whether I should place Hikari into stasis until you return. Mother assures me that there would be no adverse affect, especially under her care.
I know that you would want nothing more to be here for her birth, but I also know that you would prefer the natural order of things to run their course.
What do you prefer, my beloved?
Love, everlasting,
Minagi
That knocked me for a loop. But there were other letters to read.
Quote:For My Own
Things have not been easy for me. I knew this going in. I’ve known what measures to take. But in none of my careful plans did I ever suspect that you would not be around. It is far outside your character to abandon us, and you are far too careful to become lost to us.
And yet, here we are.
Despite everything else, though, I have a modicum of happiness for myself.
Your seed has taken root, My Own.
I have decided to name her Hotaru - Japanese names for fire or light in some form or another seem to be the theme. I hope that our little firefly will be the one to shine brightly when things seem the darkest.
Come home quickly. I doubt our daughter will be patient. I am far from it myself. In fact, if I find Clay first, then I fear I will leave nothing of him for you to deal with. And I know you definitely want a piece of his hide for your wall, carved out with your own two hands.
Regretfully yours,
Yume
Quote:Dear Garrick,
I guess it only stands to reason. A man comes out of the blue, sweeps me off my feet, gives me the most outrageously good night in the sack ever, disappears before I get a chance to enjoy the afterglow... and then to top it all off, I find out I’m pregnant.
If it weren’t for the fact that it’s not your fault, I’d want to beat you within an inch of your life and then make you take responsibility.
Fortunately, we all know that that’s not only not in your character, but also who is really to blame.
Clay is a dead man walking. He just hasn’t realized it yet. And I really hope to be there the moment it does happen.
On to more pleasant topics. Our child is a girl - wonder what’s up with that? Three girls in a row? Is this your genetics getting revenge for having so many brothers?
I hope you don’t mind, but I have already decided on a name for her: Akatsuki - because she will be glorious like the rising sun. Just like her momma and poppa.
I know it’s strange for me to say, even though we have only known each other for a few days...
... but I love you. You’ve somehow managed to change my life in a way I don’t totally hate. Yes, even my new responsibilities. I don’t mind being the temporary head of your household in your absence. It helps that the others are backing me up all the way on this.
I want you to know that we purchased a good sized plot of land near where you were born. Washu told us about it, and we only thought it was right.
I wish I had done it sooner! I had no idea it could be so beautiful out here. It was a little frightening at first - there was a huge storm last week and I thought it might bring the house down! Fortunately, though, people seem to know how to build homes for this place.
And then the week after that, all the wildflowers came up and I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.
Come back soon, lover. I’m learning a lot about this place... but I’d rather have you here to show me its secrets yourself.
Love,
Achika
The next letter started without an address.
Quote:After I learned where you came from, I began to learn everything I can about your home. The places, its peoples, the plants and animals... even the ancient history.
All the people that ever wrote about it have something in common. They said that it was a beautiful land.
And they were right. This place is beautiful. It is also a little bit hard and a little bit dangerous. But I think that explains part of why you are the same way. It is a good place to learn to be strong like you.
I’ve been spending a lot of time with Yume. She’s a lot like you - tough, but also gentle. She calls me her little sister. And even when she is angry and snapping at the others, she will always hug me and tell me she’s not angry at me.
Yume even takes time to teach me things. She teaches me about her culture, about her people. She is even teaching me to hunt. I thought it was strange, at first, but then I began to learn to pay attention to the world around me.
It was like I was blind before! I notice things now that I never would have before. And when I go with Yume to practice hunting, I feel more alive than I ever have in my life.
The others are busy planning our new home. While the land they bought already has a small, but sturdy house, it is not going to be enough for us. I’ve been doing what I can to help, and the others do listen to me - especially Yume. But even though I’ve become strong with Bizen’s power, they all tell me that I should take time to play while I’m still young.
Even Yume, but at least she’s a bit more understanding about it.
At least I have Sasami-chan around. She knows what it’s like to not be able to do anything when you’re not grown up yet. But the problem is... I have grown up. Even though my body is that of a little girl’s, my mind is no longer so immature. I have seen too many things.
My friends at school have noticed, too. Even though I’ve become better at everything, no one wants to be my friend anymore. They can see it in my eyes - how their affairs seem so childish to me now. I guess I never really had friends there in the first place. They never were there for me anyhow.
I have been getting better with both the staff and the sword. I can’t really decide between the two, so Washu-chan made me a disguised staff like Sasami-chan’s, and Yume helped me make an energy sword from some of Bizen’s wood.
I am so envious of my sister-wives! All three of them are pregnant now... and I wish I could be, too. I know that it couldn’t be just yet. I’m too young and you would have been in trouble. But I know my body is ready. It reminds me every month. In fact, I’ve decided that I want to save the eggs I have left.
Seto warned me, you see... even though I will retain my youthful vigor for many centuries, my ovaries will still run dry in just a few decades.
After I finish writing this letter, Washu-chan is going to perform the procedure to stop my ovulation. I’ll still develop into a woman - I just won’t release an egg every month.
But please... Come back quickly. I already miss you so much.
I love you, Gar-kun.
Yours Forever
Yuki
There were other letters there - from Tenchi, Ayeka, Sasami, Ryoko, and Mihoshi (GYAH! WALL OF TEXT!). There were letters from... Father... (It would take me time to get used to calling him that) and from Mother as well as Aunt Misaki and Grandmother Seto... even Grandfather Utsutsume!
Even Noboyuki and Reia wrote me letters!
But I couldn’t read them anymore. The Nihongo characters all blurred as the tears ran down my face.
A purple blur appeared by me. She tried to comfort me.
I pushed her away - gently, because I didn’t want to hurt her for wanting to help me - and just shook my head. What I wanted the most was something that no one here could possibly give me.
Without another word, I went down to the basement, into my C-Space, and crawled up into my bed.
God, I hate depression.
