My Little Arrival

Ch.17: Le Affable

Kayla and I were sat down on the couch by the entrance to the kitchen. Cozy and Sombra excused themselves for a moment. Before Kayla and I could react, they were back, a pot of tea and cups in Sombra's magic. Cozy, meanwhile, was holding a few chairs. Cozy smiled. "I like your hair, Kayla."

Kayla smiled softly, though she was on guard. It made sense. We did not know how loyal they were to Chrysless and Tirek. Perhaps this was to be a final drink before the execution? Sombra would notice my scared state and decided to address it. "Relax David. I do not believe in killing. We all have a life to live, and it is not mine to take. That is someone else's."

The two sat, Cozy floating a cup of tea to me. I quietly took it, slowly bringing it to my lips. The tea, at the very least, was not a death vessel. In fact, it was delicious!

Kayla chuckled as I drink a considerable amount of it, then setting the cup down. Sombra cleared his throat. "Before I ask what I am going to, I need to let you two know I nor Cozy approve of Chrysless' or Tirek's actions. Due to them, Equestria lost some incredible ponies. And already Earth has suffered. If those two were to get these glasses, your planet would perish... and it would not be quick."

"How can we trust you?" Kayla asked immediately.

Cozy decided to answer. "Tirek would have forced the glasses from you, then may have tried to kill you. Chrysless would have mind controlled you, then seduced David." All four of us shuddered. This was not to say Chrysless was not pretty; but inner ugliness can make someone truly horrifying.

"Meanwhile" Sombra continued. "We only want to have them. I want to help Earth. Yes, the Star can create worlds and take life away, but they can also improve worlds. Your world has too many issues that have to be addressed for the good of all."

We all were silent for a moment. I then asked the following: "If I handed them over, would I have your word that my family is spared? That Kayla's will? That Fluttershy and her friends are?" Without a second thought, Cozy and Sombra vigorously nodded, smiles on their faces.

"Absolutely" they said in unison.

I took a moment to think. Even in my short time, I had heard of evil. Terrorists that killed people. Men that "exercised their rights" on defenseless women and children. Church leaders that brainwashed people into despair. Was this the right thing to do?

After a moment, I reached into my pocket, and pulled out the glasses case, and handed them over. "Okay. I trust you."

"Your parents sound amazing" Cozy smiled. We were walking out the door, Sombra and Kayla ahead of us. I nodded, fondly thinking about them. "Yeah. I was thinking of ordering them and I pizza for dinner."

As we walked down the steps, I suddenly got an eerie feeling. It could be that Tirek and Chrysless had just returned. There was something, manelavent, about their walk. Like they were victorious devils walking over the bones of their victims as they ascended to their throne.

Tirek grinned, trotting up to Sombra, and whispered in his ear. He stepped back, then went inside without a word. Chrysless wished to say something but headed inside as well.

"What's going on?" Kayla asked. Sombra frowned. "I... you need to get home, David. I wished it would never come to this. I'm going to kill him" Sombra whispered, gritting his teeth. "I'm going to kill Tirek. A life for a life!" he said, trying but failing to control his temper. Then the tears fell. The pit in my stomach dropped, and I fell to my knees. My parents were dead.

"MOM! DAD!"

It was now two in the afternoon. My parent's bodies had been brought to the morgue. I was sitting on my porch steps, head in my hands. The Mane 6 and the Princesses were gone, still meeting up apparently.

I was numb. I had gone through the motions of what needed to be done, but I was shaking. What would I do going forward? I knew that Kayla's Mom adored me, and would let me move in. Was I ready to be on my own, perhaps?

In those moments, those ideas were fleeting. I was lost, alone, Kayla's comforting words as she sat next to me being a murmur I could not hear. I stood, a resolution at hand. Sombra had told us that the star, out of all places, was in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

"Let's go meet up with the Legion" I told Kayla quietly. The stillness, and acceptance, in my voice told her what I intended to do. She shook her head, attempting to pull me back down. "That's suicide David, and you know it."

"Sure" I said. "But what do I have to lose? My parents are gone, God knows where Fluttershy and company are, and while I trust Sombra and Cozy. I think they're going to fail. What more do I have to lose?"

With that, I let go of Kayla's hand. She followed me. "No. You're not going alone. We're a couple in arms."

I allowed a small smile, and we took her car, driving through Cheboygan one last time. Recalling fun times as children, places where pranks were pulled, and even locations of good times brought us at peace. Due to my faith, I had never feared death, but it felt raw, and real now.

Truly, we were in the Endgame.