Chapter 32 I Walk This Empty Street

Capper Dapperpaws

I walked through a field of flowers, really tall flowers. I was nowhere near as tall as them. That's when a dandelion jumped in front of me and roared. I backed up a few paces, out of the reach of his stem. He could only travel so far. "I know we always ask this, but I am always so curious, but what kind of flower are you?" asked a Rose.

"I am a cattail." I winked at her and she giggled.

"But you have no petals!"

"Then I'm not as perfect a flower as you!" I told her. She swooned and when she straightened again signalled to the other flowers, "Girls, keep the dandelion at bay, Mr. Cattail must be allowed to pass at once!"

"Do you know the way to the Duchess' house?" I asked her.

"Of course! Right this way and make a left. If you hit the Tulgey Wood you have gone too far." the Rose smiled down at me. She must think me the most handsome thing she'd ever seen. I was glad for it, I didn't know what I'd do if I didn't have a clear path.

I came to a row of cottages and I wondered which was who's? I walked up to the first mailbox and it was labelled Indiscreet. The second mailbox was labelled Incognito. The third was named Duchess Finely. I nodded to myself and walked toward her house. A dog opened the door, standing on two feet and barking it's head off. "Since when do dogs stand on two feet?" I asked him.

"Since when do cats stand on two feet?" he asked me right back. "I am a Cu Sith, and what are you?"

"I am a Cait Sith is what. Why is everyone so keen on what I am?"

"Because you must know yourself before you know your fellow." nodded the dog.

"May I pass?"

"I may see fit to chase you off the property, but seeing as though the Duchess expects you for tea and crumpets, who am I to disagree?" he gave a little bow and stepped to the side.

I entered the home and noticed that everything inside was either too big or too small. I saw the kitchen first, where a cricket was cooking something in a pot. He had a pepper grinder in his hands and ground a few rounds of pepper. However, he did not stop there. He just kept going and going and going. I shivered at the amount of pepper in that soup and continued walking on by. I came to a doorway leading into a foyer where a woman with a very large head was sitting rocking a baby.

"I've been expecting you, Capper Dapperpaws. Your name is well known amongst the flowers of the garden."

"All I had to do was tell them I was a cattail."

"And are you? If not, you lie well."

"I'm a con tomcat, what can I say?" I fluffed my lapels and smiled at her.

"We could use a cat like you in court!" she smiled and passed me a plate with a crumpet on it. "Would you like some butter?"

I thought it might be rude to refuse an offer from a Duchess so I nodded and said, "Yes, thank you."

"So, what brings you to my neck of the woods?" she smiled as she sipped her tea and I gingerly dunked my crumpet into my own tea.

"I am looking for someone," I said.

"Not the White Rabbit I hope, pesky little thing."

"No, not him. I am looking for the Cheshire Cat."

"Chessie? Oh, he left awhile ago to have tea with the Poner. If you head straight through the Tulgey Wood and then go right, you should find the Poner's cottage."

"Thank you, and thank you for the tea," I lifted her petite hand to my lips and planted a kiss there.

"Oh, you're so sweet." she crooned.

I left the house on a happy note, but I couldn't help but sneeze as I walked past the kitchen. There was pepper everywhere, "I would go light on the pepper." I advised the cricket.

He shook a fist at me, "Don't tell me what to do!"

I ducked out before a plate he hurled could smash in my face.

The Tulgey Wood was a dark and mysterious place. I came to a curled branch where I knew if Cheshire was here, he'd be sitting on it. This wasn't my first rodeo through the Wonderland program. Some things were still familiar to me, more so than some others. I took a right as the Duchess had instructed and I indeed came upon the Hatter's cottage. I saw said Hatter sitting at the head of two tables, one rectangular at the far end and one circular closest to me. There was a brown rabbit with one crooked ear and a mouse sitting in a teacup. I had been here before so I knew exactly what to expect. However, there were some small differences I had yet to pick up on.

"Company approaches!" yelled the Poner, a small blue pony.

"For the second time in one day my tea is interrupted!" the mouse snapped.

"I find it quite amusing!" said the hare in a deep nasally tone.

"Well I don't." the mouse was angry.

"Talking mice," I smiled wide and picked up the tea cup.

"Oh please don't do that! I've had enough with cats joking to eat me." the mouse moved backward in her cup.

"Who says I'm joking?" my smile only grew wider and I could barely contain a laugh. To her I must look the most evil thing in the world so I slowly set the cup down.

"I say you're joking!" yelled the Poner.

"He's joking, he's joking!" the hair mimicked.

"What brings you here, I daresay not the tea?" the Poner poured the kettle but nothing came out.

"I'm looking for the Cheshire Cat."

"Oh dear me, oh my!" the Poner set the kettle down so hard it shattered on the spot.

"He was just here!" the mouse called.

"Yes, that he was," the Poner nodded and his hat bounced.

"He just left!" the hare nodded his agreement.

"He made the guard a little angry, as to how you'd have to ask him." said the Poner.

"So he's on the run." I stated. "Did he say where he was going?"

"Only back through the Tulgey Wood! It's an excellent place to hide, if only you don't get turned around." the Poner nodded toward his gate, where the Tulgey Wood lie in wait.

"Thank you!" I called and skipped on back to the Wood.

"You better be here, mangy cat." I huffed. "I'm sick of this game."

The Cheshire Cat appeared by a swipe of his tail through the air and on his favorite branch he perched. "But tis only a game! A game is it not?"

"The Wonderland program may be just a game, but it doesn't mean you had to play them."

"That I did, though! They had me chasing after you as well, and for some reason the King is yet again angry with me. In fact, I hear their approaching footsteps now."

"You always piss off the royal guard?" I asked as he jumped on down and we ran off through the trees. I could see the Duchess' house from here but it seemed to get further and further away the more we ran toward it. This was like a chase nightmare, where you never neared the end of the hall as the monster chased behind you.

"That I do indeed! How can I lose my head when there's no body to detach it from?" I looked back at the Cheshire Cat and saw that he was in fact only a floating head.

"Oh, don't do that!" I said but I was only messing as I laughed at him and his body reappeared. "So you played this game with the King?"

"Of course I did, I do so love to interrupt his croquet game. The Queen is lovely by the way."

"I see."

"Take my paw, or we shall never again see the light of day again." the Cheshire Cat held out a paw to me and I slowly took it, quite unsure what to expect. I hadn't ever been able to touch him. He was soft, and I shivered at the touch. "Are you quite alright?"

"I am now." I smiled at him. Then I let him drag me forward and boy was the rush amazing! It was like flying but we were still walking on the ground. My feet never left the forest floor but next I knew we were standing outside the three cottages overlooking the flower garden. "How did it get so small?"

"It's called a rush. The question you should be asking is how did we get so big?"

I glanced at the houses, realizing they looked like dollhouses and they were half my height. "What did you do?"

"As we rushed through the Tulgey Wood we accidentally consumed some berries, rather unavoidable, that. Now the only way to escape is to have a Drink me potion and head back through the door."

"Where do we get a Drink me potion?" I asked him.

"Ask the cricket, he is rather good at making them."

"Is pepper an ingredient?"

"Not pepper persay, but he does like to use a lot of it, doesn't he?"

"He really does." I leaned down and tapped lightly on the door. Out came the Cu Sith and I asked as quietly as I could, "Is the cricket home?"

"Yes he is. What do you need?"

"Two Drink me potions please."

"Since you asked so nicely." the dog rolled his eyes and went back inside. Then he came out with some tiny cups of what looked like plain old water.

"Thank you," I nodded and handed one to Cheshire.

"You are very welcome, now please don't disturb us anymore, giant cretin." then he slammed the door.

"Why is he so crabby?"

"He's always crabby, don't mind him," said Cheshire. We walked out to the garden and then threw back our shots of Drink me potions. We began to shrink and found ourselves in front of the flowers once again.

"Oh Cattail, Lavender, how lovely to see you again."

"You're a Lavender?" I nudged him and laughed.

"That I am!" his purple stripes swirled in on themselves before stopping to rest again.

"Ah, I get it."

"You were quite clever to be Cattail." he winked at me. "I hope you still have the key, because I lost mine."

"I do," I nodded and lifted it up. Cheshire put a paw on my shoulder and I turned to him.

"Can I just say it's been an honor being a part of you?" he was smiling that devilishly wide smile.

"I'm glad it has, I have to say I might miss you."

"I'll still be around. They are making me a body, are they not?"

"They are." I noticed our snouts were ever so closer together.

"I care about you a lot," he said.

"Me too." in that moment our lips touched and I found myself drawn into a kiss with him. I heard the Rose swoon and the other flowers go "Awww!"

I broke the kiss at once, my eyes wide, "I…we shouldn't have done that."

"But I wanted to," and Cheshire took my key and turned the lock. "You need to open the door now. It's time to wake up."

I gulped and turned from him, trying not to think on our kiss. He grabbed my paw. Then I opened it and white light poured out. I was blinded for a split second…

When next I opened my eyes and my eyes adjusted to the light I realized I was back in the Institute. I tried to sit up but a doctor pushed me back down, "Don't, you're going to be a bit weak."

"I feel so tired!"

"We took almost 1 pint of blood from you. You need to relax until you feel ready to rise. Here, eat this, it'll help you regain your strength."

I nibbled on it and asked, "How's Cheshire doing?"

"You've brought him into the back door program we created so we coul download him into the body we have prepared. It'll take several hours." said the white coat.

Another scientist came up to me with a clipboard in one hoof, "You've been out for several days. You need to recuperate before we can allow you to get up. We are administering some drugs through the drip to help you feel better. You'll be on your feet in no time." he smiled at me.

"That's good! A cat always lands on his feet."

"He really does," the doctor nodded and messed with the drip a little and then I fell asleep.

Ravager Blitzfire

On the Eve of Hearts and Hooves Day I wondered about Capper. I was pacing the bedroom that had been given to me. It had been 3 days since he'd entered the Wonderland program to separate Cheshire from his mind. I had to admit, I was a little glad Cheshire would be getting his own body. I liked Capper being just Capper.

I hit the intercom and Flight Control answered, "Yes, what is it this time?"

"How's Capper doing?"

"Actually I was just notified, he is awake. Would you like to visit him?"

"Yes!"

"I'll send an escort then."

"I don't need an escort." I told her.

"Can you get to the Biotech without a guide?"

I thought about it and realized I didn't even really know where any of their departments were. So begrudgingly I said, "No."

When I arrived at the Biotech the escort left me to it. I entered cautiously, the big door sliding open and I entered. A bunch of scientists ran back and forth, and the chatter in the room was high. I saw a few pods all in rows and I was reminded of Stable 14. A chill went down my spine. Two of the pods were occupied but only one was open. I went to the one that was open, seeing Capper laying there.

"Hey Cap," I smiled at him.

"Hey Blitzy," he stuck his tongue out at me.

A doctor came then and said, "He's coming off a sedative, so he may be a little, ya know…" he made a circular motion near the side of his head.

"Wonky?"

The doctor nodded and trotted off. "I'm not wonky!" Capper giggled at me.

"Hey, guess what?"

"What's that?" he stared me in the eyes for a brief second before his gaze wandered off.

"You're awake just in time for Pumpkin Spice's Hearts and Hooves Day celebration."

"Oh cookie!"

I laughed at him, "What?"

"I said hurray!" Capper stuck his tongue out at me.

I grabbed a scientist and asked, "How long till he comes down from this?"

"Oh, probably a couple hours. We can send someone to you if you'd like."

"Sure." with that I left the Biotech lab.

Capper was up on his feet the next day but Cheshire was still being downloaded into his new body. The process took awhile, especially since unchecked alicorn magic could be so volatile, they had to take their time about it. That was okay because it meant I would get to dance with Capper without having to worry about Cheshire.

I was so worried about Cheshire but then I went and made the same exact mistake I was worried Capper would make. I kissed somepony else. On Hearts and Hooves day no less. I understood why Capper was pissed. I chased him down and he shrugged my off when I lifted a hoof to touch him. "I'm sorry." I said. "I know that doesn't mean much, but I really am sorry."

"Sorry for what? For kissing another pony and not me? On Hearts and Hooves Day of all days?" He wouldn't even bother to look at me.

"Yes, sorry for all of that. Sorry my heart is torn between you and Nexus. I still don't even get all these feelings, and when he goes to kiss me, I don't want to reject him, and I'm sorry for that too."

"Cheshire kissed me." Capper said.

"Wait what?"

"In the Wonderland program. I kissed him back, too."

I took a step back. "So wait, you're mad at me for kissing Nexus and you went and did the same thing?"

"I won't apologize and honestly neither should you. Maybe Nexus is a better fit for you and Cheshire is a better fit for me."

"Now wait just a minute, I didn't say all that!" my heart was breaking at his words. I didn't want to hear it. I still loved him.

"You might as well though, right?"

"No! I still love you Capper. You're breaking my heart."

"And you're breaking mine. Maybe we should take a break, huh?"

"Are you breaking up with me?"

"No! Ravager Blitzfire," he finally turned to me, "I love you more than anything you could know. I just feel hurt." he was crying and I wanted to reach out and dry those tears. "I see you care about Nexus. That's fine. I'm not angry anymore but I am hurt. But it doesn't matter because your heart isn't the only one that's torn. I love Cheshire too!"

"Then maybe that's okay…" my voice trailed off, not quite believing my own words. I had never been too fond of Cheshire for this exact reason.

"You don't believe it though, do you?"

"I'm trying too…relationships are complicated, and I've never been too good at them."

"You were doing just fine before Nexus came along," Capper crossed his arms and I chewed on my lip.

"I could say the same about you and Cheshire."

"That's why I think a break is necessary. We're not breaking up, don't think of it like that. No, we're just exploring our options."

"I understand." My heart felt heavy, like it was sinking in my chest. I didn't like this feeling but I supposed it had to be this way. I wandered off, feeling lost without my anchor. Capper had been my rock for so long. Why did I keep messing things up?

The party was over and everypony was retiring for the night. I was tired, tired of everything and sick of it all. I went to my room and wished I could slam the door but they slid merrily shut. I scoffed and kicked out at nothing. The Institute was too pristine for my liking.

I was just climbing into bed when there came a knock at my door. I pressed the button to open it up and found myself face to face with Nexus. He was holding a bottle of wine in his neon green magic. "I felt you could use a pick me up after that fight with Capper."

"How do you know of my fight with Capper?"

"Well you were in a public space. I um…sorta eavesdropped. Are you okay?"

"I could be better." I took the bottle of wine from him and popped the cork, chugging a bit of it. Then I gave it back to Nexus who had some wine glasses in his magical grasp that I hadn't noticed.

"You really could, couldn't you?" the door slid shut and Nexus was laughing at me. I had chugged half the bottle in one go. He poured himself a glass and set the bottle down on the dresser alongside the cup he'd brought for me. I was tempted to grab the bottle and chug the rest but then I started to feel the buzz and knew I didn't need anymore. That didn't stop me from pouring another glass and getting a look from Nexus as I sipped at it.

"You good there?" he asked me.

"No, I definitely am not. Capper wants to "take a break," whatever that's supposed to mean." I mumbled and Nexus shook his head.

"Same old Blitz, when you get drunk you get angry."

"I do not get angy!" I said, slurring my words. "I am in fact a very happy pony."

"I hope you are," Nexus smiled at me and our glasses clinked together. I tipped back the rest of mine and then hiccuped.

"What are you doing here, Nexy?" I asked him.

"I wanted to come and toast to a happy Hearts and Hooves Day. It is a happy one, isn't it?"

I hiccuped and said, "It is now that you're here…with alcyhol."

"Silly Blitz." Nexus laughed and drank the rest of his. He went to pour himself another glass and found that I had finished off the bottle.

I leaned toward him and I kissed him. "I care a lot about you Nexus." I murmured against his lips. He kissed me back.

"I think I do too." he pulled away and looked into his empty glass, "It's just really hard after feeling anger and resentment toward you for 7 years."

"I tried to avoid thinking about you for 7 years, filling my time with menial treasure hunting." I hiccuped again and smiled at him.

"I'm sure it wasn't menial if you were doing it. When you set your mind to something, you're really good at it."

"I am?" I looked up toward the ceiling.

"You always were, why do you think they made you Overseer?"

"I am Overseer, aren't I! And you're the Maker!" I tapped him on the chest.

"I have done pretty well for myself."

I touched him and drew him into another kiss. I whispered, "How did I get this far? Just tell me who you are and why you're here."

"You're everywhere to me," Nexus closed his eyes and I rubbed my hooves along his back. He fell on top of me in the bed and I stared into his beautiful emerald eyes. His mane fell over me and our noses booped. "Is this okay, Blitzy?"

"I think so," I stared at him, taking him all in before we continued to lock lips. Our tongues danced with each other while our hooves explored the other. I felt his flank and then back up his spine, feeling the soft fur. I wanted all of him and I was too drunk to care about the consequences. I drew him in and we went all the way that night. Something I never in my wildest dreams thought would ever happen. If you'd have told me 7 years ago I'd be having sex with my ex best friend, I probably would've rolled my eyes and shot you.

"I'm glad we're here," Nexus mumbled.

I was glad too.