Seven Days and Nikolai's P.O.V.
I woke with a start the bell at the front gate ringing. As I got up and began to unwrap the bandage around my stomach. I touch around the area it was still a little tender but had closed up nicely I just kept the wrap on as a precaution. Now it seemed ready to be taken all the way off, So I threw it on the ground and put on my newest set of clothes. A dark grey shirt and what seemed very close to blue jeans. The bell chimes again, reminding me that there is somepony waiting for me outside of the house. I walk through the house before stepping onto the porch looking towards the gate, noticing Twilight and Rainbow Dash standing there.
"Come on inside." I shout from the porch before going back into the living room sitting down onto me chair. After a couple of seconds the ponies finally make it inside, "Go ahead and have a seat." Twilight sits down on the couch.
"We decided it best to come by and visit with you on light of the events this month." Twilight said while Rainbow Dash walked over towards Tix's chair.
"Hey! Don't sit there, you can sit anywhere else just not there." I say just keeping a firm gaze on her.
"Wha- Why, does it matter where I sit!?" She retorts. Twilight just looks around the room seeming to focus her gaze around the room at the chairs. One chair blue, one red; one black which Rainbow Dash almost sat on.
"That's 'his' chair isn't it?" Twilight says 'his' with a tinge of anger mixed in.
"Yes it is, and while you're in 'our' house you'll respect 'our' wishes." I said emphasizing the 'our's' . Rainbow Dash's eyes narrows and turns around just before doing something that makes my blood boil. She bucked his chair and it broke. I jumped straight out of my chair raising my hand pointing towards her, "You will not sully this land, get out of 'our' house and off the property, right now!" I command practically yelling the 'our'.
"No." Rainbow Dash stands defiantly, the house shifts slightly causes everything to creak and a small rumble comes from the walls. Her posture flickers for a second.
"This is your last warning, I won't sit around letting you break my brother's things." I shout at her.
"You call that monster your brother?" She shouts back.
"You are more of the monster in my eyes coming into my house after I invited you in and breaking stuff that is in property you don't own. He didn't start that fire, you'll see and when you do it will be too little too late!" I say sitting back into my chair, "Also if you don't leave I'll have the house eject you. Now leave last warning."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think all three of you are monsters your 'brother' is just the worst." Rainbow Dash mutters walking towards the door. As she gets almost through the doorway the door slams her flank hard enough to roll her forward.
"Thank you house." I said smirking patting the arm of my chair. Twilight just gave me a questioning look, I just shrugged it off.
"Why would you think he is innocent. We found him and he didn't even fight the charges all he did was smirk?" Twilight finished still staring at me.
"Because my brother always has a plan and an ace up his sleeve." I said with a smile even though I'm not religious I said a quick prayer that he actually did have a plan.
"I doubt it other than the chess game he seemed more carefree." Twilight replied.
"By Luna. I'm sorry Twilight but you have to leave for now. I'll be around later." I said standing up. She looked a little confused but just nodding before walking to the door, and then just teleporting to the other side. I walk over to the desk and dipped a quill in ink before writing.
'Dear Luna,
If you're thinking the same thing that I am in thinking that Tix isn't the one who started this fire then I would like to request that you meet me my house. Tonight at midnight, Hopefully I'll see you then.
Sincerely your subject in need
Nikolai'
I roll up the scroll and begin walking to the door when the bell out front chimes again. A tan pony with an hourglass cutie-mark is standing there with- what I see makes my heart drop slightly. The bags we had in the trunk of my car when we died. I walk out to the gate a smile on my face.
"Come on in and we can talk a little, I have to thank you for returning our bags to us." I said opening the gate for him to walk in. He took a couple of steps before opening his mouth letting the bags fall to the ground.
"Hello, I'm The Doctor- Ahem Doctor Whooves." He says looking at me. My jaw just went slacked for a second.
"Have you seen a blue box, that says police box around here?" I asked studying his face for a hint of emotions, all of my efforts rewarded with a slight grin, "Good, although I have a favor to ask of you. Because otherwise I'm not sure how well it will work out. Could you deliver this to Princess Luna? If you are who I think you are this should be easy, I only ask because it would be extremely hard for me to accomplish this task by myself." I finish taking in a breath of air. He just smiles wider and nods before walking away. Note in mouth.
I pick up both of the bags before walking back into the house and sitting down on my chair tossing Tix's bag onto his chair that is now repaired. I opened my bag and began to look through everything that was inside of my bag. Inside I found; clothes, a double bladed bat knife, sketchbook, pens and pencils, a semi rusted machete, a bag of various food. At the very bottom of the bag I saw a familiar shine that almost made my heart leap through my skin. As I pulled it out it was what was left of an oreo poptart. I jump out of my chair bag in tow, I begin running through the house and bounding for town. As I continued running through town, I stopped out back Sugarcube Corner and knocked on the back door. I only had to wait a couple seconds before the door burst open. A pink blur shot out of the house and stopped in front of me.
"Hi Nikolai, what brings you over?" Pinkie asks.
"Pinkie pie, I need your help its the biggest emergency of our lives." I say between breathes.
"What is it?" Pinkie questions.
"I need you to recreate a treat from my world." I say as I hand her what's left of the pop-tart, " This is very important to me."
"Okay dokey." She grabs it and rushes inside shutting the door behind her. I stand outside the door waiting and shaking with anticipation and waiting for the final product, the sickening smell of smoke swept through all my senses. I turned around and notices smoke bellowed up from a house. Outside of the house there were two stallions holding back a mare.
"It's too dangerous for you go inside of there." One of the stallions says.
"My foal is still inside!" The mare shouted. I sigh slightly as I rush towards the house. As I got closer the heat waved over me. With each step closer it got hotter. I kept running turning slightly to bust down the door with my shoulder. As I got inside I kept running.
"Where are you." I called out.
"Upstairs in my closet." A small voice replied. I quickly followed the voice up the stairs and began running through the rooms, My breath was getting short and I began to run quicker. Breaking down the door with a colorful design on it. I trace around the walls with my hands trying to find the closet through the smoke. As I find the door I crouch down below the smoke and take a breathe opening the closet door.
"Where is the nearest window?" I ask the small foal in front of me. The foal just raises his hoof and points directly at the window. I scooped the foal up and ran towards the window. As I got closer I saw it was already open so I hugged the foal a little tighter before launching myself out of the window. As the ground is rushing up to meet me I turn slightly slamming onto the ground. I cough slightly and my vision begins fading and I soon slip into blackness.
A couple days later
My eyes flicker open and I scour the room, finding it too clean and it smells too clean. I sigh as the door slides open and a short brown stallion walks in and sets a bag onto the bed right next to my torso on the bed. After that he gives me a quick nod before walking towards the door. He walk out of the room only to have six more ponies file into the room. I stretch over and move the bag closer to my torso before welcoming them.
"Welcome you six, Pinkie did you ever get that recipe remade?" I question as if it is the most urgent question in the world. She just smiles wide and nods her head.
"You'll be happy to hear that the first batch will be done in under a week." Pinkie said looking at me. The rest just looked between us before I cleared my throat to get the attention of the room.
"So is there a reason you all decided to drop by?" I asked them.
"We just wanted to see how you were doing I mean you did save that foal." Twilight said.
"What was that stallion that walked out of here earlier, here for?" Rainbow Dash questioned. I just move the bag onto my stomach before opening it up and looking inside of the bag. After taking a quick peak inside of it my jaw dropped slightly before grabbing the envelope out and shutting the bag. I rip open the top of the envelope and began to silently read the letter to myself.
'Dear Fuckface,
What the fuck bro, can you hurry up? Come and visit bitch.
Your incarcerated bro.
P.S. Don't spend it all in one place.
P.S.S. Because I'll know.
P.S.S.S. Fuckin' Brotherhood.'
"Well I know who wrote this." I said aloud.
"Who was it then?" Twilight asked looking at me.
"Don't worry 'bout it." I reply attempting an italian accent.
"Why shouldn't we, you're being awfully suspicious?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Because you have no say in the matter after you desecrated me and my brothers holy land." I replied nonchalantly.
"Well then why don't you tell us about these items you've acquired?" Twilight followed up.
"I don't believe that is any of your business." I declared waving my hand to the side.
"It is our business though." Celestia said walking into the room Luna right behind her.
"Fuck..." I said burying my face in my hands for a second, "Fine but they don't get to listen in."
"Is that the bag Tix sent you?" Celestia asks, I move the bag further onto my chest.
"Maybe, maybe not." I say wincing slightly I toss the bag off my and look down to my chest. On my now revealed chest a message is burnt on my flesh. Celestia takes this time to read the message aloud.
"When the heat is dire,
Watch out for fire.
S.T.B."
"Ahh, so that's it." Celestia says looking back up to my face.
"What is it?" I asked.
"That is need to know." Celestia says with a smile on her face.
"Then if you can't tell me that then at least listen to me. Because my brother is innocent!" I shout.
"I know." Celestia replies.
"Well good because I-wait what?" I asked confused.
"I said I know." Celestia replied again this shocking everyone and everypony in the room.
"Then why is- but wait why is- then why is he in there then? Am I missing something?" I asked again confused.
"All will be revealed soon enough." Celestia says before disappearing in a flash of light.
"No wait- dammit. Luna I need to talk to you?" I say towards Luna, "Now that she is gone though, Everypony except Luna would you kindly get the hell out of my room?" They all just nod slightly before heading towards the door.
"Now what did thou need from me?" Luna asks
"Did you know about this?" I countered her question.
"No I didn't." Luna replies.
"But you did think he was innocent, like me right?" I interrogated further.
"Indeed I did." Luna replied
"Well then what do we do from here?" I questioned.
"I am also unsure." Luna replied.
"Perhaps we should go and visit him." I suggest.
"I'm afraid, I'm much too busy to attend this quest of yours." Luna stammered slightly.
"Don't lie to yourself you want to see the big lug too." I said, "Besides you're a Princess you can do whatever you want to do."
"I suppose you are correct, I do miss the chess." Luna answered honestly. I stand up throwing my cloak on and putting the bag underneath it on my hip. I fall backwards onto the hard ground as a bright light flashed and when I could see clearly again I noticed we were close to the dungeon entrance.
"Well I guess that made the journey a lot quicker than if I walked." I said with a smile. She just started walking towards the building, "Well not much small talk then I guess." Walking past a couple of guards they were talking about how that freak of an inmate got himself a good cell.
I just kept following Luna and the warden began moving us down towards an entrance to a hallway of cells, all of them were carpeted and had beds, chairs, and record player. We arrive at a cell with all the aforementioned amenities as well as a bookshelf. As they let us into the cell I noticed Tix sitting on a chair facing the bookshelf away from the door.
"Welcome to my humble abode." Tix says moving his chair to the entrance.
"I wouldn't say that while in prison." I say looking around the cell. Tix stands up and walks to the bars getting as close to the cell with the black curtain as he can.
"Boss, can you entertain my friend for a couple minutes?" Tix says towards the cell that is covered.
"Sure, send him over." A deep voice erupted from the behind the curtains.
"Nikolai just go over, Boss be civil please." Tix said moving me to the cell door. Tix walks back into his cell pulling his sheets off his bed hanging them in front of the bars as I silently walk towards 'Boss's cell.
As I walk into Boss's cell, I notice a stallion not particularly impressive although his coat was the most interesting part about him it seemed to absorb all of the light and I couldn't discern most features.
"Hello, Nikolai was it?" he asked and I just responded with a nod, "No need to be that shy, I don't bite."
"Ehh, I feel I was just sent over here so he could spend a little time with her." I replied.
"Probably but then again who knows. Anything you want to ask me?" he questioned with a smile on his face.
"Well, what are you in here for?" I asked.
"A lot of things, but I think it is just so they can keep an eye on me." He replied.
"Well I guess that makes sense, you don't seem like a bad pony." I said looking around the cell.
"Only when I want to play nice." He said still gazing at me. I hear a slight squeak.
"Well I should have guessed there was mice around this place." I say looking around the floor.
"Yup we have some pretty loud mice around here." He says smiling a wide grin, some of his teeth were jagged. I glance back to the front of the cell.
"Yeah, so if you had to guess what those two are talking about what would that guess be?" I asked looking at the curtains.
"Probably, talking about chess." He says laughing slightly, "You seem slightly concerned about something?"
"I've just been thinking of how to prove Tix's innocence." I reply.
"Well he is no more a guilty of that crime as I am a pink fluffy mare." He said with a chuckle, "That being said I think that stallion has a game he is playing."
"Yeah, he usually has some kind of plan. His actions usually never wasted, but that could also just be him being lazy. Although he is starting to get fit now after being in here for awhile."
"I'm not sure about him being lazy, but I understand the distaste for useless actions. You only need them when you are just toying with somepony." He said, "Well they should be done now."
"Alright then bye." I said walking out of the cell. As I was returning to Tix's cell right before I got to the door but a bright light came from underneath the sheets that were hung up. I open the cell taking a step inside seeing only Tix.
Tix just looked at me with a smile on his face. I looked around the room noticing a couple things out of place but nothing too messed up.
"What exactly happened in here?" I question looking towards my comrade. His smile only grew slightly larger.
"By whatever do you mean we just had a nice chat." Tix said laughing slightly. I just sat there and looked at him for a second before I finally snapped out of it.
"Alright then bro." I said, "I'm sure you'll eventually tell me."
"Yeah, yeah, I'll tell you. Eventually, until then please get me out of here. I mean it's fun and all that jazz but I'm almost sure I just got recruited into the mob… Finish your investigation quickly and I'll tell you all about it." I just nod at him before I walk towards the cell door.
"Cya." I said over my shoulder.
"Deuces." Tix says going back to sitting down. On the way out I thought about the prisons layout and what was going on, and even more so what he has planned. It is entirely possible his plan is just to wait. Which wouldn't be too uncommon for him. As I get to the front of the castle I notice Celestia and Luna both just sitting there as if they were waiting for me.
"Hello Nikolai." Celestia says looking at me.
"How can you just stand there so calm when you, yourself said he was innocent." I shouted in contest.
"Because it would put us at odds with our citizens besides there is a plan in motion here. But I doubt he told you anything about it. Not yet anyway." Celestia said before glancing to Luna.
"Yes, quite. We have taken the care of bring a carriage around so you can return to your home with haste." Luna said as aforementioned carriage landed behind them. I just nod to them before thinking about the plan. I get on the carriage and await it to take off.
Tix's POV
I lay back down on my bed staring up at the ceiling of my cell, "Did I do the right thing Boss." I call out still staring at my ceiling.
"I cannot tell you if it was right or wrong. I can't judge if something you did was right. It's time for you to actually ask that question to yourself and think about it. I mean you certainly aren't as innocent as those ponies think you are." Boss says with dry cackle at the end.
"The great lengths I'd go to help my friends. The question is, though is that fire. I'm not sure what started it but I'm sure that it was started for us. A sign of something." I dejectedly state.
"What's the matter don't like the hooves of fate messing with your life?" Boss says.
"Not really, I'm sure we could've managed without the meddling of other ponies. Although just because another pony got involved that means that there will just be more mess to clean up later. We both know that more mess just means more work. I really hate work ." I say continuing to just lay on my bed.
"Well perhaps its time you just get used to it. Don't worry you won't get too many assignments from me in here. But on the outside I have somethings I'll need you to see too by yourself." Boss says.
"Of course, I always prefer it so that I get to do work while I'm free versus in here anyway." I reply, "Then again you were telling me what was going to happen."
"Indeed you have no choice in the matter besides you already owe me a couple of favors." He says a grumbling coming into his voice.
"Hmm, for what might I already owe you some favors for other than beating up some of your stallions?" I question.
"Hmm, just sit there and think about it for a while I'm sure it will eventually hit you, Now I'm going to bed." He replies before the sound of deep breathes reaches my ears. It felt as though we were in our own little world during that conversation. I couldn't get rid of the feeling that something strange happened just then.
I felt a dragging feeling just sitting there on my bed. I couldn't shake the feeling that he knew more than he let on. Then again I think that is the case and he just isn't going to tell me because he wants to see how it will play out. I fell asleep with thoughts like these racing through my head.
The next morning was dreary beyond belief nopony stepped up to me or even looked at me and they all left me alone when I was doing my exercises. It was very unsettling and I wasn't sure why they were until the thought came to me that it must be because I was recruited by Boss.
P.O.V Nikolai
After arriving back home I noticed that the six meddling ponies were waiting at the front. After dismounting the carriage I walk over to the gate looking down at the six, "What do you girls want?" I ask without looking at Rainbow Dash, speaking of she looked rather guilt ridden.
"We… Came to apologize." Twilight said looking at me. The other five just nodded.
"Well certainly you didn't come here just for that?" I theorized.
"U-Uhm I suppose not. We still want to get to know you guys." Twilight answers.
"I'll let you in if you all swear not to go rabid and break stuff." I say pointedly at Rainbow Dash. She blushes a bit.
"Y-Yeah I'm sorry about that, it won't happen again I swear." Rainbow Dash says looking back at me.
"Good because if you break that promise I'll never talk or let you on the property again." I state before opening the gate, "Come on in." I walk towards the front door casually before entering the house, Kai nowhere to be seen. I shrug it off before walking in and sitting down in my chair. The ponies flood into the room finding a seat on the couch or a couple of the spare seats.
"Wow. You guys got his chair fixed that quickly?" Rainbow asked looking at the chair. I just nod looking around the room looking at the positions they all took.
"So you guys wanted to know about us, or perhaps your more interested in why an innocent man is just rotting in jail even though everyone knows he is innocent." I say carefully watching their facial expressions, There were a couple who looked caught off guard so I assumed that was why they visited, "Well ask your questions and I'll answer them to the best of my ability."
"Well then why is he still incarcerated?" Twilight asked the first question quickly.
"No idea." I respond.
"When will he get out?" Rainbow Dash questioned next.
"Not sure." I respond again. They all just look at me, "What I'm telling you the truth believe it or not."
"Alright then what is Tix's plan, you always seem sure he has one." Twilight asks and her friends just nod at that point.
"Like he'd tell me." I state, "I said I'd try my best but I don't really seem to know anymore about it than you girls do." The nod slowly, "But if this is what your here for I suggest you girls head on home before it gets to late, it gets dangerous out here at night." I warn them.
"Thanks anyway, Nikolai." They all pretty much repeat the phrase one time each and leave. I take a deep breath in and just relax a little in my chair.
"This situation is confusing." I say aloud.
A couple days later Tix's P.O.V
I wake up and look across the cell to see Loki spending his time in ease now, I sigh before looking around.
"You've been silent for days Tix, what's up." Boss's voice booms.
"Just planning." I respond quietly.
"Hm, good reason I suppose. What are you planning though?" Boss asked.
"An escape, but I'm waiting on word, also if you expect me to kill for you outside of here there had better be a damned good reason." I say only to have a guard enter the block after my sentence ends and he slowly just begins sliding mail into each ponies cell. A couple pieces of mail get slid to Boss and I get one parcel of mail. Quickly scoping the envelope up seeing it's from Nikolai and Kai. I slide it open only to read.
'Hey Bro,
The investigation isn't really going anywhere. It's pretty much at a stand still we haven't even stumbled on clues of the arson other than that it was a pony and the fire was purposeful.
Your Bros.'
"Well this would be what I was waiting for, Say boss could you make a small distraction tonight at 11:55 pm?" I question. Boss laughs a little.
"Well if you think that's all you need to escape shouldn't be that hard then." Boss replies. I move back to my bed laying down on it relaxing.
"Hopefully it will all go like I planned it but, usually when you make plans life gets in the way." I say softly more to myself than to Boss. I doze off after finishing that sentence, only to be woken up after what I assume was a couple hours.
"It's almost time." Boss warns me. I stand up and begin warming up my muscles making sure I rotate all my joints so that they don't lock up or get hurt on the way.
"Good." I state pulling out a small piece of metal, bringing it into view the key to my cell, courtesy of Loki. 'For such a bad thief that gets caught a lot he is pretty good at pickpocketing.' I walk up and lean on the door using a small mirror I leave on my cell bars to look down the way there are two guards posted at the end of the hallway. Far enough that they are out of earshot.
A loud alarm starts blaring and those two guards jump to attention and they talk for a second and one runs out and the other just watches out the front door, I take this time to unlock the cell door and slowly began sliding it only enough so I can slip out and then I slid it back to the shut position and I set the key in front of Boss's cell, before I begin taking quick quiet steps towards the front door and the guard takes that time to scan left and right out the door, I'm about fifteen feet from him. He slowly starts to take a couple steps backwards and I'm almost jogging as quietly as I can on the left wall, he starts turning right and begins scanning the inside of the room and I'm now less than a foot from him and he begins walking further into the room and I take that as a chance to slip out of the front door. After out the door and against the wall I let out a deep sigh before I begin skulking around the ground there is a riot in another cell block which should buy me enough time.
A giant light keeps sweeping most of the open area of the prison recreational area, Their lack of experience when it comes to prisons makes the darkest side of myself smile. I slowly open the door to the main office and slid in before slowly closing it continueing my quick movements if I timed it out right I should have seven minutes before they find out I'm gone. What I do in those seven minutes will make or break this escape. I walk through a couple checkpoints that are unmanned, and I get to the room I wanted prisoner belongings. I slide open the door, just because it's behind some checkpoints they just leave it open, I chuckle slightly before calming myself once again, I find a box with my name on it. I quickly swipe the box quickly swapping my clothes with my prison attire. I quickly take a loot around the room seeing some filing cabinets, I open the cabinets looking for through my cell blocks files, I recognize everyone's files before I notice one missing. There is nothing in here on Boss. I grab my file and Loki's file tucking them into my waistband before hiding the rest of the files in different prison boxes.
I look around and the alarm begins blaring even louder, I hear sliding and locking, that must be the checkpoints locking down. I slowly open the door peeking into the hallway before I slide out and continue my quiet jogging. I see a light coming from around the corner plastered on the wall to my right, judging by the radius of the light he was at least ten feet down the hallway, I look around my surroundings and can't come up with something so for reckless plan a reckless play was necessary I flip the hood of my cloak up and press against the wall. I hear the hoof steps booming like thunder and I here the pair stop right next to me, I even see them point their light directly at me.
"I can't believe that monster just vanished." One guard said.
"I thought they couldn't use magic, it's just scary knowing that that freak is out there. I heard he was put in here for burning down a house with a family inside, and assault on some of the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony." The other guard said, "Come on we need to keep looking."
I hear them walk down the hallway and my mind is racing, why didn't they see me. I can't worry about it too much it's time to continue I move quickly again down the hallway they came from and end up near the maintenance door, the front door to the place about a couple hundred feet down the next hallway and then the barracks for the prison the other way in the hallway. I sigh, and look around for a moment before I hear tons of hoofsteps in a running rhythm. My mind racing as the sounds just keep getting closer and closer.