Chapter Four: Pain

Caspian's P.O.V.

I woke up to the sound of coughing, it was Applejack. I looked up, Rainbow Dash slept on top of me, "oh," I muttered.

Applejack pulled Rainbow Dash off of me, she woke up saying something about fires. "What the hell do you think your doing!? You perv!" Applejack threw in my face.

"Its not what it looks like," I tried.

"Oh, yeah? Then what was it?" Applejack demanded.

The others were gathering around, each with a confused look. "We came out last night. We didn't realise it was locked." I sputtered, "we came out to fly."

"Fly!?" Applejack retorted, "what do you mean 'fly'?"

I did not answer, instead I just unfolded my black feathers. Everyone but Rainbow Dash gasped, "we came out to fly. We locked ourselves out, I wasn't doing anything, I swear."

"So why was Rainbow Dash on top of you?" Applejack asked.

"Its cold as, well, night out here. That conserved energy and doubled the heat we put out," I answered.

"What about wild animals?" Fluttershy murmured.

"The best predator within twenty miles of here is a fox, twenty more maybe a wolf. There is plenty of game out there for them," I spoke.

"But-" I cut her off.

"I want you all safe. I wouldn't do anything that wasn't good for you guys. I'm kind of saddened to hear that you don't trust me enough to know that," I looked up with concerned eyes.

"Applejack..." Rainbow Dashed started, "I would never let Caspian do anything. If he tried I would of beat him to a pulp," she smirked at me.

"I just didn't want you to be hurt," Applejack breathed, she bowed her head, the tears where silent.

I pulled her in, "not in a million years," I whispered, "not in a million years," the others wrapped their arms around us, as we cryed togather.

II

Death's P.O.V.

Caspian sat on the sofa, his hands were holding a mug of coffee, his eyes still had sleep in them.

Fluttershy sat beside him, "how did you..." her voice was but a whisper, "... with your wings?"

"Its just like before, the tattoo is just an illusion. You know how it feels like you still have your wings, but then you look and all you see are the tattoo. Those are your wings," Caspian spoke like a poet.

"Can... Can I?" Fluttershy asked.

"Of course, I can, so you can do it better," Caspian smiled.

Fluttershy giggled, "can... Can you s-show me?"

"I'd love to, but I don't want to have... the thing... with Applejack... again," Caspian said.

Fluttershy looked at the ground, "oh," she whispered.

"Do you know who can though?" Fluttershy looked up. "Rainbow Dash."

Fluttershy's face suddenly became very long, "oh."

"Come on, Fluttershy, she taught me. She can teach you!" Caspian said.

"But-" Caspian placed his finger on Fluttershy's lips.

"Go on then," Caspian patted her back, hurrying her away.

He walked up to the second floor, into a room with a musty smell, books were scattered on the book selves around the room, they were spread out on the desk, Twilight was above them.

"Hey," Caspian said.

Twilight's head shot up, startled, she gasped "oh, its just you."

"Yeah," Caspian pulled up a chair, "what're you doing?"

Twilight replied "just reading, whats' up?"

"Do you mind?" Caspian pointed to his own forehead.

"Sure," Twilight raised her bangs revealing a black dot centered on her forehead.

"Interesting," Caspian murmured, he extended his hand, but stopped, "may I?" Twilight nodded. Caspian reached over, putting his fingers on where the dot is, there was a bump, "brilliant."

"Nothing strange has happened, its just there," Twilight said.

Caspian spoke, "this shouldn't hurt, if so it would just be a pinch." He applied his thumb, index and middle finger and pulled gently, Twilight winced.

It took a minute of Caspian's concentration, but he soon then pull a horn out.

Twilight gasped, Caspian's smile broadened "brilliant, just marvelous."

"How'd you?" Twilight exhaled.

Longer Caspian's smile became "magic."

"Your kidding, right?" Twilight was still short of breath.

"Nope," Caspian said, he then snapped his finger and a flame met the wick of the candle sitting on the desk. "Its just harder to do."

"Seems legit," Twilight said, "but how can you do it?"

"Magic can be learned by anyone here, its just easier for unicorns. Because they're unicorns." Caspian explained.

"Oh." Twilight said, "I'll tell Rarity, and try the horn thing, I'll ask if I need any help. Okay?"

Caspian smiled, he seemed to be doing that alot of that recently, "that's what friends are for."

Smiling he left the room.

In the hallway he gazed out the window. Raindow Dash was showing Fluttershy how to use her wings. It didn't look like there was any improvement, but she had wings so that was a start.

Caspian walked into his room, he was about to fall into his bed, then he felt a sudden pain in his chest. It was painful, the pain pushed through his chest, up his throat and moved like thunder. He thought the world could hear his scream.

Caspian's knees buckled, his chest made contact with the floor. His face was tight, he held back tears.

Applejack was the first one there, "sugercube..." she really did care for Caspian, "what can I do?"

Applejack extend her hand, "don't!" Caspian Croached, "its happening again!"

"Wouldn't that send us back?" Applejack asked.

"No. It will take us half way through then destabilise, and we'll all be stuck in the void for eternity," Caspian gasped out. Did I mention he was a genius?

Applejack's expression was one of worry, "what can I do?"

"Go out and lock the door. Make sure no one comes in. No one touches me..." Caspian eyes closed.

Applejack did what she was told.

Gray clouds were gathering outside.

A storm was coming.

So... yeah. Chapter four! Yeah! Just a warning:

This story is going to become really depressing. Like Lord of the Flys. Or the end of Mass Effect.

I'm sorry... I need some tissues.

~Leon