"How dare you show your face here." Nexus Spark snarled as he turned to face me. His eyes told a multitude of stories, all ranging through cycles of rage and sorrow and back again. My heart pounded and I knew I was on a sailing ship that was going down. Nexus lowered his head, horn pointed straight at me and I saw what he intended to do before he did it. He started to charge at me, his horn about to become my skewer. I immediately grabbed the revolver from its holster and yelled, "Stop!" tears were welling in my eyes, I hated having to draw on my ex best friend.
Nexus did stop, inches from the barrel. He stared at it and spoke, "It would seem time has caught up with us."
I nodded, "So it has. Look, I don't want to shoot you Nexy."
"Don't call me that," Nexus spat.
"Okay…Nexus."
Nexus stared me in the eyes then looked back at the gun. Back and forth his eyes darted until I realized he was building up a spell on his horn. Too late for me to do anything about it, he used his magic to yank the gun from my grasp. I threw up a magical shield right as he began firing. Not one, not two, but five shots before he finally realized he'd wasted the bullets. "There's only one bullet left, and it should be reserved for you."
I lowered my shield, "Nexus, I've been through too much and come too far to let you shoot me now. OJ's in the next room for crying out loud!"
"Oh, so now you care about anypony other than yourself?" I saw the gun was wavering in his grip. Maybe he didn't want to shoot me.
My lower lip quivered and I felt a tear fall, "You never even gave me a chance to explain myself."
"Then do it. Give me a good reason not to shoot you where you stand. I doubt you can throw up another shield fast enough to block the next bullet heading straight for you."
"I should've told you, okay, I've always regretted not telling you what was waiting for us down in that Stable. But listen! I didn't know they were including the department heads. I thought it was only residents…" I took a step toward him and he lowered the gun just a little more.
"You thought it was only residents getting frozen and somehow that makes it better? If I'm being honest, that makes it seem a little worse." his gun still lowered even as he said it. Now it was pointed at my chest.
"I'm only trying to say, if I had known it was all of us, if I had known the security team was going to turn on us, I would've said something. I made a mistake I've regretted since the day you woke me up. If you want to shoot me go ahead, because Nexus…" more tears streamed down my face as I got ever closer to him. I finally knew what it was that I had been searching for for so long and why I had never been able to find it. All those Stable-Tech maps didn't mean a damn thing with Nexus standing right in front of me. "All this time I've been searching for treasure when all along I've had it right here. I've been searching for so long, and I finally know it's you. Nexus, I've loved you for so long."
Nexus had tears in his eyes too and he dropped the pistol, "But Blitz, I've hated you for so much longer!" Our faces were inches apart and we stared into each others eyes. All thoughts of anypony but myself and him were gone. I felt my heart thumping and new what I wanted. Nexus gasped but didn't stop me when I planted a kiss on his lips. He actually melted right into it. I was a little surprised that he didn't fight me, but instead let me part his lips as the kiss became more passionate. I grew scared instantly and I jumped away when thoughts of Capper crossed my mind.
"By Faust!" we both exclaimed. I stared at him with curious eyes and he backed up a few paces, his rump hitting the computer bank just behind him. "I don't think…you should've done that…" Nexus said, but he didn't look to sure of himself. I felt a tinge of regret, I knew if Capper had seen he would be upset.
"You can have your gun back if you'd like…" I nodded toward the pistol on the floor.
"Keep it. I don't like being reminded of Sugar Pop laying there like that." he kicked it over to me.
"I understand. It makes me think of you every time I use it." I hoofed it, feeling the grooves of Nexus' cutie mark on the side of the silver gun.
"I hope not in a bad way…I'm sorry I attacked you. I just…I have a lot of feelings of anger and resentment toward you. I kind of have an automatic response…I never knew how I'd react if I ever saw you again."
"It's okay. I deserve it." I bowed my head.
"No, Blitz. I can't stay angry at you. If we're ever going to move forward we both have to accept that you don't deserve my fury." he patted me on the shoulder and I locked eyes with him. For the first time in a long time I felt relief. "If anything, Stable-Tech deserves our rage. In my travels through the wasteland it was clear to see that Stable-Tech caused most of our problems."
"Why do you think I was hunting for their treasures for so long?" I laughed. Nexus withdrew his hoof.
"I see you two are getting along nicely," said Capper behind me. I spun around and my face was furiously flushed.
"Capper! How are you?" I squeaked like a mouse.
"I'm doing alright." he said but I didn't hear it in his voice. Cheshire circled around him.
"Is that… a Wonderland program?" Nexus stepped forward and stared intently at Cheshire.
"That I am, but I am a living program thank you very much and kindly." Cheshire floated above Capper and crossed his arms.
"I never knew the Wonderland programs could evolve in this way. I'm a little shocked and a little pleased." Nexus beamed, the first time I had seen him smile since running into him. "You're pure magic!"
"That I am. But I'm not all there either," he slowly faded out of existence as he twirled through the air upside down. His smile twirled with him going from a grin to a frown and back again before disappearing with him. When next he reappeared he was floating along beside me. Nexus was all smiles for him. "My baby is all grown up!" he was squealing in glee.
"Is there any way you can get him out of my head? His software has downloaded into my brain and I'd love to give him his own body."
"The only way that could be done is if you're a synth yourself and you've intermingled with arcane programming by accident."
"That is all very true." Capper nodded.
"Wait, so you're a synth? Wow! I never would've been able to tell."
"I'm made from the same stuff as Celestia and Luna. We are much more realistic. The magic running through my veins is alicorn in nature."
"Fascinating! I never thought to use alicorn magic, but then again there really aren't any alicorns at my disposal. Your Orange Juice is the first alicorn I've seen since leaving the Stable." Nexus was like a foal in a candy shop. "How did that come about anyway?"
"We took some drugs, Sympathy we call it. It's made from Whistle Reed and Rage, among other things."
"You're kidding!" Nexus stared at me with wide eyes.
"Not in the slightest."
"Who knew Rage had such applications."
I lifted my hoof and an orb of magical energy appeared on it, "You mean like this? I'm the Element of Vigilance now."
"You're telling me this Sympathy, so called, has given you magical abilities? Even though you're not a unicorn?"
"That's right baby!" Capper flicked at his sleeves and a couple sparks of energy snapped off his paws.
"You said your magic is akin to alicorn, does that mean you are also an Element of Harmony and you are just as powerful as Orange Juice? And what about Cheshire? Surely his magic must be in sync with yours?" Nexus was full of questions.
"I had magic before I took Sympathy," said Capper. "All thanks to my alicorn blood and Cheshire's meddling."
"I do not meddle!" Cheshire snapped, then he smiled wide, "Oh perhaps only a little bit. I am also the Element of Promise alongside Capper. Our magicks are intertwined. You could say we need each other."
"Which is not something I'm happy with exactly, seeing as Capper is my tomfriend."
"I've grown accustomed to Cheshire's presence but we both would be a bit more happy if Cheshire had a physical body."
"I can say I'm not exactly mad for it," Cheshire twisted around Capper and kept up his smiling. I don't think I'd ever seen the purple striped cat without his smile.
"We can certainly do that here, if you're willing to give up some of your alicorn blood. It won't adversely affect you but you may feel drowsy for a few hours after the process."
"I am perfectly willing to give some blood, if it means Cheshire will finally be free to roam on his own. Will his abilities remain the same? We will need them in the upcoming fight."
"A fight we hope you will back us on."
"His abilities will remain the same as long as the blood transfusion goes well. Because his program resides in your head you share the same DNA. It will be almost as though you are blood brothers."
"I am happy as a whistling kettle to hear that," said Cheshire.
"I already have one brother, who's to stop us adding another to the family?"
"Then I will get my scientists on crafting a body for Cheshire. Will you please follow Flight Control down to Biotech?" Nexus said and clicked his earpiece. "Flight Control, take Capper to Biotech and have our scientists down there craft a body for Cheshire Cat. Thank you." he clicked off. "Now," he turned to me as Capper left the room. Buck came in after him, OJ on his tail. "What is this fight you mention?"
Capper Dapperpaws
The Biotech lab was a bit chillier than the rest of the Institute. A shiver went down my spine as the doors sealed behind us. Flight Control led us through a winding passageway to the laboratory waiting for us. I had an ominous feeling, and I almost didn't like it.
"Reminds one of taking a trip through the Tulgey Wood," said Cheshire, paws on my shoulders as though he were hiding from a monster.
"What are you afraid of?"
"I have to admit, I'm a little afraid of being separate from you." Cheshire twisted through the air and came to float in front of me. "I've grown attached to you, Capper Dapperpaws."
"I've grown attached to you too." I smiled at him and his smile returned.
"Separation anxiety of this nature is not to be unexpected," said Flight Control from ahead of us. Cheshire floated away from me and went to swirl by her ear. "How long have you two been together like this?"
She jumped, startled when Cheshire spoke, "We've been together, I'd say, for a few months I think." Cheshire was stroking his chin and staring up toward the ceiling.
"I agree with that," I said.
"We are here," said Flight Control stopping in front of a door. "Inside are a few synthesizing pods, where the Biotech lab has worked on making Cheshire a new body. We need some alicorn blood to wake up Cheshire's sleeping form, so on you go. It's a simple process if you follow instructions."
"Instructions are my middle name!" I replied, but internally I was a bit nervous, though I'd never show it.
Cheshire was in my ear, "I can tell you're worried about something."
"Aren't we all?" I asked as I walked through the doors, Cheshire on my tail.
"Let's take this trip down the rabbit hole together, shall we?" he held out a paw to me and I reached out, intending to grasp it, but I only sifted right through him. He was an apparition, not actually there. It would be strange for him to be apart from me. My heart thumped as the scientists had me lay down in the pod. They attached an IV to me and my magical blood began to fill the bag. When it was done they took the IV out and put in a saline drip instead. Then the pod closed around me.
"Capper, can you hear me?" asked Flight Control.
"Yes, I can hear you."
"Good. In order for our lab technicians to separate the two of you we must run you through the Wonderland program. It's going to feel like falling. We are administering a sedative through your drip. Be ready."
I took a deep breath, feeling my nerves racing in every which direction. Then all around me the pod structure changed from padded to wooden. There was dirt falling from above and a light that was the pod window far far away. I reached up and realized there was nothing beneath me. I was falling, like she had said, but it felt all too real. I didn't know where I was. "Find me in the Duchess' house," I heard Cheshire's voice.
How was I to find him? The room grew dark and I hit the bottom as a leaf would hit the ground. I was surprised there was no pain. I stood and looked around. I was standing on the ceiling, my head upside down. Then I fell again, hitting the floor with a thud. "Oof!" There was a table and a key rested on top of that table. It was simple enough, find the door the key fit. There was a bottle on the table labelled "Drink me," I rolled my eyes.
"How much more obvious can ya get?" I pocketed the key and picked up the bottle. "Here goes nothing." I drank it and my whole body began to shrink. The table grew bigger and bigger while I only fell down down down. My trenchcoat did not shrink with me. I felt naked without it.
"My goodness, put on some clothes!" called a voice. It was a pony, pristine white, like porcelain. He ran through the small door on the right and it slammed shut.
"A wild goose chase then," I smiled. "I'll catch that mouse yet." I ran toward the door, and my journey through Wonderland had only just begun.