Day 2:
The lads were the first awake. To be precise, Ray was the first one up and he was careful to make sure that the others knew his leg was in pain. This woke everyone up, and they were none too happy.
"Wait, Twilight, that healing spell." Gavin suggested, remembering her healing a scratch on his face from the last time he was here. Twilight shook her head.
"It won't work. That is for only minor injuries." She sighed.
"What if we both do it?" Gavin suggested.
"We can try, page 63." Twilight said to Gavin, who quickly pulled out his spell book and looked at the spell.
"Got it." Gavin said, looking up.
"Hang on, we need to test this." She quickly stopped him.
"Now how are you..." Michael started, but quickly stopped when he saw Twilight lifting a stick up with her magic. "Now what the fuck are you... AHH! YOU FUCKING BITCH!" Michael yelled. Twilight had quickly and harshly slapped Michael hard on the leg with a stick, making him bleed.
"Sorry, Michael." She tried to apologize.
"Yeah, hurt the guy who had his wings cut off in the past." He growled.
"I said sorry." Twilight tried to defend herself.
"Yeah, fuck you." Michael concluded.
"Just fix your friend up, Gavin." Twilight ordered. Gavin hastily complied. After a minute, the cut from the stick had completely healed. It no longer hurt, but Michael was still incredibly angry at Twilight.
"You're..." Michael started, but Twilight cut him off.
"Let's give it a shot." She offered. Gavin, was a little tired from casting such a complex spell, but he gathered as much energy as he could and aided Twilight in an attempt to heal Ray. As soon as they started, Ray began to scream in pain. It became a cloud for Gavin. Twilight was yelling at Gavin to keep the spell going. Ray was screaming louder than he ever had in pain, they all knew that he couldn't handle that pain for much longer. Michael began to scream at them to stop. He was swearing and trying to free himself from the carriage, but in a blind panic and rage, he could make his hooves or wings work with him. Gavin, who was nearly blacking out, forced himself to continue to spell in the last bit of control he had over himself. Suddenly, CRACK! This sent Gavin past his point. The pure sound was enough to make him gag. They all knew what happened. At the loud crack, it all fell silent. Michael was finally able to free himself. Ray was unconscious and Twilight began to get closer to Ray to help him out. Michael's wings flapped hard, in an attempt to get off the ground. Gavin was on the ground, he was throwing up and sobbing like a child. Michael was finally able to see the whole scene because he had finally got his wings to work with him. Michael looked at the scene from the air. Ray was out and laying in an odd position for a pony to be in. Twilight was trying to move Ray into a better position. Gavin was still laying on the ground in tears and almost in his own puke.
"What the hell?" Michael asked unnaturally calmly. No one gave an answer. His first instinct was to comfort Gavin, simply because he knew Ray would be okay in Twilight's hooves. However, he knew he needed to make sure Ray was even alive. That crack could have been anything. Michael landed on top of the sides of the carriage. Twilight had finally gotten Ray into a more natural position. "Is he..." Michael asked through the loud sobs of his British friend.
"He'll be okay." Twilight reassured.
"That crack..." Michael had trouble find words to say.
"Was his bone moving back into position. It is by no means healed, but now is is going to heal faster." Twilight said. "I think." She added. In a quick moment, she looked over to Gavin. "Go comfort him."
"I-I, he." Michael stumbled through words like he was drunk. He shook his head clear, and then nodded. With one last look at Ray, he flew back up and next to Gavin. "Gavin." He said softly. Gavin didn't acknowledge Michael next to him. "Hey, Gavin, my boy." Michael said. Gavin ignored him again. Michael flew behind Gavin and lifted him up to get him away from the puke. Michael made Gavin sit. He took him hooves and forced Gavin to look at him. "Listen to me. Are you listening?" Michael said. Gavin finally nodded at Michael's voice. "Ray's okay. Are you listening?" Michael said and carefully shook Gavin in an attempt to bring him back to humanity.
"Y-yes." Gavin finally talked.
"Talk to me." Michael demanded. Gavin looked over Michael's shoulder to look at Ray. Michael saw this and used his wings to block the view.
"I-I, I buggered it, I minced it, I botched up the spell. Ray is absolutely mullard because of me." Gavin cried.
"No, listen to me. Ray is fine. Everyone is fine." Michael promised. Gavin collapsed into Michael's hooves and couldn't stop sobbing. At first, Michael was very uncomfortable with Gavin sobbing into his forelegs, but he soon settled down when he realized that this was not going to end anytime soon, he got comfortable.
The gents took a slow start. They didn't have anything to worry about. The only thing they stressed about was where they were going next. Eventually, they settled on the bustling city of Manehattan. They hitchhiked in the train.
It was getting to be midday. Ray finally regain consciousness and Gavin finally stopped crying. Instead, Michael forced Gavin to go on a walk. Ray made eye contact with Twilight.
"Holy shit, pony." Ray said. He thought for a moment. "Right, scratch that." Ray corrected himself.
"Do you know where you are?" Twilight asked.
"Of course, Equestria. Near Cloudsdale, right?" Ray responded. Twilight smiled and nodded. "Where's Michael and Gavin?" He asked after a moment of silence.
"Michael took Gavin for a walk." Twilight explained. "What's the last thing you remember?" She finally asked. Ray thought for a moment.
"Pain. Lots of pain." Ray said, prompting him to shiver on the spot. "Twilight, what exactly happened? After the pain of course." Ray asked Twilight.
"I don't know if you remember this, but Michael was yelling at us to stop, and if he wasn't attached to the carriage, he would have been attacking us. After you passed out, Gavin jumped back and threw up..." Twilight started.
"Sounds about right, I heard and felt the crack before I was out. Gavin with his weak gag reflex..." Ray talked to himself.
"Anyway, Gavin was also sobbing like a foal. Michael did his best to comfort him while I made sure you were alive. After a while, Michael got Gavin to go for a walk with him." Twilight finished wrapping up what happened in the seconds that they were trying to heal Ray. It fell silent for a moment. "I'm sorry." Twilight said softly. Her ears were laid back.
"No, no, it's fine. Who were you to know that it would cause that much pain?" Ray tried to comfort Twilight. "And my leg is feeling a lot better."
"It's still broken, the bone is set, and I think it started to heal, but I can't be too sure." Twilight said. "But I should have known. I should have thought about that. I'm really, truly sorry, Ray." Twilight explained. Her eyes began to tear up. Ray pulled himself to Twilight and wiped her tears and moved back away from her.
"Don't blame yourself. You were only trying to help." Ray said. They heard snaps of twigs coming from the forest. Twilight quickly made a quiet shushing sound. Ray nodded. They ducked down and waited. Though if the carriage was found, they would be dead anyway. Twilight may be able to defend them, but if they were pegasi stallions, she would have no way of defending even herself.
"Hello?" Michael asked.
"Michael!" Twilight sharply said. She helped Ray sit up as Michael and Gavin approached the carriage.
"Ray! I-I'm so sorry. I-I can't b-believe..." Gavin stammered.
"No, Gavin, no. Do not apologize. I forgive you. Let's just pretend that this never happened." Ray suggested. Gavin drew a deep breath and nodded.
"How's the leg?" He asked. Ray tried to lift it up, but he winced in pain and lowered back down.
"It's better, it doesn't hurt as bad." Ray said.
"I think that maybe later you will be able to walk on it with a brace. Maybe Gavin and I could try again, we would go slightly slower and easier." Twilight offered. Ray's face showed pure horror.
"Maybe another time, eh?" Ray countered.
"We'll get a brace in the next town." Twilight said. "For now, just sit in a carriage, we'll take turns pulling it." She offered. Gavin had troubles looking at Ray. After a moment of silence, Gavin perked up.
"You know, we can't keep this." Gavin reminded them. This surprised Michael and Ray. He rarely ever gives helpful advice like this.
"He's right. We can't bring it on trains and it will only slow us down. Let's abandon it." Twilight said.
"What about Ray? He can't walk without a brace or anything. Let's keep it until we get to the next town, we aren't getting on the train anyway." Michael reminded them. Twilight face-hoofed.
"I can't believe I didn't think of that." Twilight sighed.
"Put the things you don't want to carry in the carriage. I will fly above the treeline and land in the clearings." Michael explained.
"Thanks. Go slow, if we are at Galloping Gorge by sundown, it will be fine." Twilight instructed. Michael nodded and got himself hooked onto the carriage.
"Everybody ready?" Michael asked.
"Yeah, we're ready when you guys are." Twilight promised. Michael took off and adopted Fluttershy's way of flying to slow himself down.
The gents carefully stepped off the train and into Manehattan. DH took a deep breath of the city air.
"Come on, I want to get home as soon as possible, I have children that need me." Ryan sighed.
"Don't worry, I had the same worry last time, and may I remind you you don't even know we went missing for a week and a half?" Geoff said to calm Ryan down.
"Still, I don't like this pony thing, you also don't know how unnatural this weird thing protruding from your forehead is." Ryan shot back. Geoff thought for a moment. He stopped walking and glared at Ryan.
"Oh yeah, try having to see one of your employees fall extremely sick and die for a moment, or see another employee in a near death state. HE WAS FUCKING MUTILATED! You try to break out of a prison. You have not gone through anything!" Geoff yelled at Ryan. This was uncharacteristic of him. DH quickly turned and gave Geoff an evil eye. A few ponies were looking at Geoff. DH let out a heartfelt chuckle.
"Sorry everypony. These stallions are special. I am their care giver. I apologize for the confusion and possible worry. Let's go, Game Master, Xbox Gamer, and Star Gamer." DH said, coming up with the names on the spot. Geoff, realizing what he had done, playfully caught up to DH. Jack and Ryan followed suit. They continued like this until they were out of sight. Then DH sped up and hurried into a dead end alley. He opened a false door and pushed him in.
"I'm-" Geoff started.
"What is wrong with you! You could have blown our cover! You are so lucky that I was able to compensate for you!" DH disciplined. He took a deep breath. "Geoff, Ryan, I can't have you blowing our cover. You two stay here. Jack and I can get what we need on our own. Do not make too much noise. I'll be back as soon as I can. Let's go, Jack." DH said angrily. He turned, and left, Jack hesitantly following him. Geoff laid his ears back in silence. He looked to Ryan, who was facing away from him and laying on a cot near the door. Geoff looked around, upon exploration, he found another room and he went in it, closing the door behind him. About an hour later, he heard a strange ruckus. He pushed the door open to see. To his surprise, he saw Ryan, standing up.
"Ryan?" He asked. Ryan looked up.
"Oh, hello." He chirped.
"Are you okay?" Geoff asked.
"Yeah, I just tripped." He clarified. Geoff nodded.
"Sorry to hear that buddy." Geoff said warm heartedly. "Hey, about earlier..." He started.
"What about earlier?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean what I said, just, you know, it's stressful. I'm sure you understand with your two children." Geoff said with a frown.
"It's fine, really it is." Ryan said. He opened his mouth to talk again, but was cut off by the door opening.
"Behaved yourselves?" DH asked like he was their father.
"Of course, DH, why wouldn't we."
"I don't know, the way you acted earlier." DH hissed. "Anyway, Jack and I got the things we needed." He said. DH made a quick turn of his head to Jack, then back to Geoff and Ryan. "No thanks to you, Geoff." DH hissed. Geoff laid his ears back again. DH reached into his saddle bag and pulled out some food. He set it on a nearby cot. "Dig in." He offered and picked up a rather juicy apple with his magic. The gents quickly picked up a small amount of food each. Making sure to leave some for later.
Michael kept a close eye on Twilight and Gavin. They guessed they were about halfway through the forest.
"Man, I can't believe we're stuck here again." Ray complained.
"I know, and both times are Gavin's fault." Michael said. He was holding back an anger filled rant.
"But you can hardly blame the guy for the first time. He didn't know, and the second time was during a power outage, so once again, we can hardly blame him." Ray reminded Michael.
"I fucking told him to NOT press the button, and what did he do? Press the button." Michael reminded Ray.
"Whatever. The main problem is that I can't walk." Ray finally said.
"I know." Michael said. "Also, to make sure Death Blow doesn't find any of us." Michael added.
"Yeah..." Ray said and gently nodded. "After what he did to you last time, I don't think we want to get caught up in his issues." Ray said.
"I'm pretty sure Gavin didn't kill him." Michael said.
"Yeah, that energy ball didn't look strong enough to kill a pony, and who knows? Because he's a unicorn, he may have well absorbed some of it." Ray theorized.
"Whatever the case may be, he is most likely alive, and when he hears about us, he's gonna capture us and he's gonna mutilate us." Michael hissed. It fell silent for a moment, and it made both Ray and Michael uncomfortable.
"Michael, what did he do to you?" Ray asked quickly. Michael winced, but it quickly morphed into a freighted expression.
"I really don't want to fucking talk about it." Michael hissed.
"Come on, you were very quiet about it." Ray tried to get Michael to talk.
"Come on, Ray. I really don't want to talk about it." Michael sighed.
"To give us a heads up on what he'll..." Ray started.
"Oh, so that's what you want? You want a fucking 'heads up?' It isn't that hard to guess." Michael hissed, and the shut Ray up. Soon, Michael drew a deep breath. "Have you ever been forced to swallow a part if you?" Michael asked.
"What? That's just fucking disgusting." Ray responded.
"We'll, expect that. My own wing was forced into my stomach. I have never felt so weak and helpless in my life." Michael said, while he was squelching a tear. "I was basically his toy." Michael said softly. He let the tear fall down, Ray wouldn't see anyway. "He starved me the whole time I was there." He added.
"Michael..." Ray started.
"It's okay. I'm okay, I can't blame a man for be curious. Besides, I have to stay strong. If I let this get to me, I'll be a wreck and I don't want to put Lindsay in the situation." Michael said. It was silent again. Then Ray began to giggle. Michael angrily demanded a reason.
"I just thought of his jealous Mike would be if we told him." Ray said. This pulled a chuckle from Michael. Ray soon joined in, not capable of holding it back either. The tensions that had built up instantly went away.
On the other hoof, the gents were quiet, they all, with the exception of DH, had a family to worry about. They all missed seeing their family's faces. Their tensions were high. Even though Geoff had tried to make amends, Ryan still seemed to be angry. Finally, DH had enough.
"Listen, we can't be ignoring each other and not talking to each other. We are a team, and we need to work together." DH tried to pep talk.
"Then why do you act so secretive?" Geoff questioned. DH stood there in awe for a moment.
"I don't - I'm not - What in the hay are you talking about?" He asked, visibly shaking.
"See? Right there. You are acting like you're hiding something from us." Geoff pointed out.
"Why are you hiding from us when we don't even belong in this world." Jack jumped in.
"I'm not - What makes you think I'm-" he started, but stopped and took a deep breath. "I didn't want to worry you." He finally said.
"About what? Are there people, sorry, ponies after us?" Geoff asked.
"Kind of, but instead of ponies they are changelings. They're targeting certain ponies, whether they be strong, wise, intelligent, or just plain a great target, they are kidnapping and impersonating them. I didn't want you to worry, but I am 95% certain that none of you are a changeling, right?" DH said. They all nodded.
"So what's a changeling?" Ryan asked. He seemed a little nervous.
"A changeling is a gross bug-like pony. They feed off love and friendship. Often they imitate ponies to get their love and/or friendship." DH explained. Ryan nodded. It fell silent for a while.
"So you know any magic yet, Ryan?" Geoff asked.
"I think so, unicorns can levitate objects, right?" He asked. DH nodded.
"The best way to do it is to both imagine yourself doing it force it, like when you walk. A unicorn has magic glands. What they do is sense what type of magic the unicorn wants to do then it funnels it through the horn." DH said. Ryan stared at him and blinked his eyes twice.
"Uhm, what?" He asked nervously.
"Just move like like you would move a leg." Geoff sighed. Ryan nodded and tried his best to levitate an apple, after a couple tries, he was able to lift it with somewhat ease.
"It's getting late, we should all get some rest. We have to go to Hoofington tomorrow." DH announced.
"Don't tell me that it is inhabited by Brits..." Geoff groaned.
"Brits?" DH questioned.
"Pe...ponies that talk like Gavin." Geoff explained.
"Sadly, yes. Now get off to bed. You'll need your rest." DH said. Geoff looked over to his employees. They were both looking at Geoff with questioning eyes. Geoff gave them a reassuring nod and went off to bed. He was soon followed by everyone else.
Michael finally saw the edge of the forest. He turned his head for a moment to see if Ray was fine. What Michael saw was a pony fast asleep.
"Ray, get your ass up." Michael said while he kicked the carriage enough to give it a jolt. Ray quickly lifted his head.
"Really, Michael? Fucking really?" Ray hissed. He stretched out his hooves.
"We're here." Michael said and landed the carriage, but he was so exhausted from flying for so long that he slammed the carriage to the ground and he collapsed.
"Michael!" Ray yelled.
"I'm fine." Michael insisted. "Just tired. I think I'm going to lay here for a while." Michael yawned. Ray pushed himself to a more upward position.
"Why don't you get up and relax in here?" Ray offered. "I'll make some room."
"I'm fine, my wings are just sore and am tired." Michael said. He slowly closed his wings and unhitched himself from the carriage. Finally, Michael stood.
"You sure?" Ray asked.
"I told you I'm fine." Michael insisted. Ray sighed.
"If you say so." Ray sighed and slouched back down. Michael sat down and waited for Twilight and Gavin to emerge from the forest, which they did within 30 minutes.
"I'm glad to you you are alright." Twilight said to Michael and Ray.
"Yeah, some for you." Michael said under his breath.
"I think we should be safe for the night, you must be tired, Michael. So go ahead and get some rest." Twilight said. Michael nodded and quickly took his place in front of the carriage. They all fell asleep quickly.