Galvanized Emotion

by Uictoriam Ducere

Charlie has been called many things in his life. A criminal, a thug, and now a deadman. Awakening in a world filled with headache inducing magic ponies who drive him crazy was the last thing he expected. He must now learn to keep his temper in check to stay on their good side as they are the only ones who can bring him home. Being murdered though, makes that kind of difficult… AU

11. Act 1: California Dreamin'

Ducere here,

Big 100,000-word update!

Given how many chapters I've written thus far and how far along into the general story I've gotten, this is going to be a gigantic novel. Just for comparison we're not even halfway through the first act and there is a total of 5 all together. I'm hoping to be done this project by the end of December but that's very optimistic. This is a giant undertaking and considering this is my largest work to date and the most I've ever consecutively written. This will be a challenge but one I'm willing to undertake.

My goal is one chapter of about 10,000 words every 4 days. This is a goal, but it more than likely will be updated weekly as that seems a little ambitious, especially when school starts up again in September. I will not abandon this project until it is complete that is a fact so don't worry. No 10-year hiatus incoming.

Also I just wanted to apologize for any grammatical errors you may see while reading, I am doing my best to remedy them as I work. I read and reread over and over but it seems I always miss some no matter how many times I check. There is also a problem with the doc manager not liking Bold and Italics for some reason, so that's been fun to deal with as well. I will be correcting any I see but what's posted story wise will remain the same. I will not be doing any large revisions of a chapter unless I deem it necessary.

Also wanted to thank everyone who's taken a gander and left a like and follow. It really helps motivate me to write so you guys aren't left with a cliffhanger that will never be concluded.

But that's enough outta me, let's get back to the ass known as Charlie and see what he's up to.

Chapter 11: California Dreamin'

"Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not;

and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad."

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Charlie POV

DREAM WORLD

I feel myself awake from slumber, but nothing feels right…

My body doesn't ache, nor does it scream out in pain as I rub my forehead. In fact, it doesn't even feel like my body at all. I hear myself groan, but my voice sounds like it's someone else's, someone small. I can also tell that I wasn't in my bed as I was sitting up in something that was akin to a bean bag which was almost too comfortable to be something real.

I must have died in my sleep after my accident with Rainbow… Fuckin' finally free of those accursed ponies, now I can-

"You're finally awake it seems," the certain voice of an annoying Princess fills my ears making me groan in disappointment.

My eye's slowly open and Princess Celestia fills my vision staring with a warm smile and the kindest motherly eyes she could give me. Fuckin' gross. Why is she here? There was an intricately made table separating us with platters of tea, accompanied with cups and of course milk and sugar residing nearby.

My disgust upon seeing the matriarch doesn't stay very long as I kinda freak out at where we are currently. It wasn't the library, it wasn't the castle, and it sure as shit wasn't in fuckin' Kansas…

We were floating on some kind of tangent cloud high up in the sky with the sun raining down its warmth upon us from above. The cloud resembled that of an island, about the size of a city block with all sorts of weird structures that has no right to be sitting on a fuckin' cloud. It seemed to be crafted to fit a certain theme as well as I gaze further taking in my surroundings.

The best way I can describe it would be that it resembled that of a Roman temple with large impeccably made marble pillars that reached upward around the perimeter as some kind of barrier from what lies beyond, that being nothing. All around us were statues of what looked like Greek gods, but one stands out in particular as it resembled a certain doofus I know quite well.

Fuckin' Pee Wee.

The fat cross eyed fuck stood upon a pillar wearing a toga with some kind of wreath around his head holding what looked like a harp. In fact, upon further observation all the statues seemed to be people of my past, much to my dismay, with a few small exceptions. One exception being a larger statue behind Celestia, but it looked like just feet and ankles like the rest of it fell off into the void somewhere.

"Though, maybe awake might not be the right word, but it is a start, don't you think…" I look back at the Monarch as she catches my attention. She pours herself a cup with her magic. "I didn't we'd need to have this conversation this early as it's only been a single week, but you, like always, seem to have made me underestimate your abilities to make things difficult yet again."

I scoff, "Go fuck yo-"

I cut myself off as my eyes widen as my voice sounded so much younger than it was supposed to be. I look down at my hands and they appear to be that of a child. Looking down at my clothes I all but jump out of my seat when I realize it's the Wellington's school uniform. I start panicking as a one would do in this situation.

"Da fuck is this? Why am I fuckin' 12 again!" my voice cracks as I scream, trying to pull the damned thing off me. I feel magic grip me making me halt my assault on the clothes.

"You must calm yourself, Charlie, it is only an illusion." I stare at her with anger, but her smile doesn't stop. "An illusion crafted in your own mind."

Illusion? Mind? What? Is this a fuckin' dream?

I guffaw at her, "You're sayin' we're in my fuckin' wet noodle?" I shake my head as my tiny fists clench at the sky, "Un-fuckin'-believable! I lucid dream for the first time in my entire life and the only thing I could possibly come up with is Queen Queef's tea party?! What the fuck, man! I just can't catch a break! The last thing I want to see in my dreams is a pony, let alone her!"

She rolls her eyes at my tantrum, but her smile remains, "I suppose that is one description we could use for the situation," She pauses to sip from a teacup, "This is a dream. I, however, am more than a figment of your demented fantasy. If I was, I'd more than likely be, what I think you call, a stripper…"

My kiddish features scrunch in confusion. "What? Are you fuckin' sayin' what I think you're sayin'?"

Her smile grows brighter, "Of course I am! I'm visiting you in the dream realm," She sets the cup onto the table. "Courtesy of my sister, of course. I apologize for her absence as she has to tend the dreams of other ponies on this night. She should be along shortly, but for now it is just you and I for this splendid outing." She pours a second glass and floats it over to me. "Milk or sugar?"

I take my tea and throw it in her face. Or it would have if it she didn't stop it with her magic right before it hit her, still smiling like she wasn't about to melt from the steaming drink. The hot liquid reenters the cup and is placed back at my side like nothing happens.

I lean back in my chair and cross my arms as I stare at the cup with hatred. "I can't even have fun in my own fuckin' dreams. Why even live…"

She actually chuckles at that much to my surprise, "I'm very sorry my idea of fun isn't the same as yours, Charlie."

"So what?! You fuckin' make me child so you can fuckin' make the word kidnap a fuckin' reality? I knew you were a fuckin' freak." I shake my head gazing around at this dreamscape, still not really believing this is happening. "Fuckin' kid diddlin' ponies… Fuck my life."

She chuckles again at my negative attitude finding it amusing, "The spell we used only lets me enter a dream, Charlie, not sculpt one." She adds milk and one cube of sugar to my cup just the way I like it, "You being 12 again was of your own doing, I assure you. It is odd your subconscious chose this as it's form to materialize as, but you must have chose it for a reason." She looks around at the Island and smiles, "The same with your inner sanctuary as well. I must say, it is quite a tranquil location. It was not what I was expecting, however it is very pleasant."

I feel my eyebrows shoot upwards, "My 'inner sanctuary'? What the fuck is that supposed to mean? I thought this was a dream?"

She beams with excitement, "Exactly what it sounds like, my grumpy friend." She raises a hoof and gestures to the island with grandeur. "Inside of the mind of every pony lies a sanctuary for the conscious mind to dwell. We are inside yours! Marvelous, isn't it? This is how my sister can manipulate dreams as well as create them. The origins dreams and nightmares all trickle down from here. Luna just manipulates them to be a little more… pleasant. I was very doubtful you would even have such a place that existed inside that cold uncaring head of yours, but my sister assured me that it was there, if not a tad tucked away and little dusty, I may add."

I feel my hands ball into fists, "Your fuckin' sister has already been inside my mind?! What the fuck! You fuckin' ponies REALLY need to learn what fuckin' personal space is and how to respect it! Christ alive, man! Can I not have my brain to my fuckin' self?!"

She takes her first sip of tea and moans a little at its flavor before looking up at me, "If it's of any consolation she explained to me that entering your mind was extremely difficult. She almost couldn't do it which is quite impressive, very few can withstand her dream magic. Must be your stubborn resolve at play hmm?"

"FUCK! YOU!"

The island quakes a little when I finish my angry rant and a large cracking sound pulls my attention towards the edge of the island. One of the marble pillars cracks and topples downward into what I assume is the void of my mind causing Celestia's smile to finally drop.

"Charlie, I need you to remain calm. I understand that this is beyond unprecedented," I scoff at her word choosing like it was a bad habit. "Yes, when you first arrived, I had tasked my sister with seeing just who you really were. She…" Her face drops to a more somber look, "was very sympathetic towards your cause and informed me of what she seen."

"My cause? Da fuck is that supposed to mean?"

She looks down at her tea, "Let's just say I understand where you're coming from."

"Well, bully for you, Princess." I cross my arms and glare at the monarch in front of me with contempt. "What the fuck is this supposed to be, Celestia? I'm sure this ain't just a social visit."

"On the contrary! This nothing but a social visit to my favorite resident human and hopefully a peaceful one as well. I was going to have you write letters like Twilight, but this is much more convenient for the both of us." The sentence sounds like it would be sarcastic, but she meant it. "You and I haven't been able to talk as much I'd like to and I plan on changing that. We've only conversed a hooful of times and I'd like to get to know you on a more personal level."

"A handful too fuckin' many if you ask me." I give a couple ironic chuckles, "I thought we'd seen enough of each other to last the rest of my fucked-up life. Crazy how perspective really changes things, Sunder thighs." I snarl.

She rolls her eyes playfully, "Oh, Charlie, you really know how to flatter a mare…" she admonishes while she stirs her tea, "How has my prized student been treating you these past few months? Good I hope?" She says as she takes a sip like she didn't completely switch the topic on me.

"Annoying as fuckin' always, your majesty…" I take a sip of the tea finally and to my surprise it actually tastes surprisingly good. "Why are you even asking me? She talks to you almost every day with those fuckin' letters she sends you. I'm fuckin' sure it's all filled with the shit I've been doing down to the fuckin' millisecond. Christ I can fuckin' see the letters now, 'duh at 12:52 Charlie called me an unpleasant word which I will have to find the definition of later.'…"

At that she actually laughs whole heartedly, "That is indeed my Twilight…" She calms herself by taking a sip of tea. "Yes, she has kept tabs on you, but that's not I'm looking for. I want to plant the seeds of a thriving relationship between us and I need a little more than some footnotes."

I pull on my hair in a coy manner disingenuously, "Well, I like long walks on the beach…"

She laughs again at my antics, "That's not what I meant, Charlie, and you know it!" She closes her eyes to concentrate her magic and an entire tray of tea cakes appears. "I want to get to know you, not the things you do. Though I will say her letters do add some much-needed context in the happenings in my beloved Ponyville."

"Oh yeah? Like what?" I pick up one of the tea cakes and take a bite. They're lemon squares and are fuckin' delicious making me moan a little as I chew.

Her look hardens just a tad, "Like how your aimlessness is what gets you into trouble the most…"

I pause mid chew and swallow, "My aimlessness? What the fuck are you talking about?"

"You just seem like you don't have any goals or any personal aspirations here in Equestria. She tells me you'd rather sleep the days away than even try to make any attempt at trying to find some sort of comfort." She pours herself another cup. "I understand that your visit here is temporary, but why should that stop you from finding some enjoyment. It may alleviate some of what you call boredom."

"Enjoyment she says…" I lick my lips and shake my head not believing what I'm hearing, "You fuckin' ponies wouldn't know entertainment if it walked up and molested you."

She shakes her head, "I'm not talking about something that amuses you, I'm talking about what you want in life, Charlie. Just because you're here now doesn't mean your entire life should be on hold. You can still find your purpose."

I jab a thumb in my chest and drape my arm over my chair, "oh, I know my purpose alright, celery stick, you all just don't like that it's insulting everyone."

She sighs like I'm a toddler not getting his way, "Being difficult is not a purpose."

I shrug, "I don't know, I've made a living out of it somehow."

"Well, other than being the town grump what else do you like doing. I could tap into my personal reserves to get some items that you may need should you wish it?"

I snort, "Take a bribe from royalty? Yeah, hard pass, sister. I hate you enough as it is, I really don't need debt of the crown whispering in my ear every now and again. Although, I hear guillotines are in fashion this time of year…"

She ignores my revolutionary rebel rousing, "You have to do something, Charlie, it's affecting you and everypony around you." She uses her magic to pop a letter out of thin air and scans in lightly, "Like this letter here for instance! I believe this was a day before your incident…"

I sink into my chair and groan, "Oh boy, here we go…"

She clears her throat and reads it aloud.

"To Princess Celestia,

My thoughts of Charlie still remain on the forefront of my mind, and it troubles me so.

He may not seem it at first, as you might only see a sarcastic brute, but he is incredibly intelligent, and his capabilities seem endless if he put effort into any of them. Sometimes he even surpasses my own intellect in some regards, however, he applies it to nothing. He'd rather sleep and throw rocks at passerby ponies who stroll by the library.

(Which he was doing right now, I had to pause writing this letter to scold him)"

She looks up at me with disapproval as I start cackling but continues.

"I'm worried, Princess. He just seems so disconnected from everything around him and I feel that I'm failing him somehow. I try to keep him engaged with books and taking him around town, but he just has no captivation in anything at all. Every potential friend he could have made ended in flames.

Now, it's just Spike and I. Don't get me wrong Spike has been a good influence to keep him busy and they've been growing closer the past few months, but I don't think it's enough. This last month has been the worst so far. He just sulks in his room and sleeps for days at a time. The only motivation he seems to have is for food which he's been eating less of every day and our conversations have been getting shorter as well.

He's unhappy here…

I know that this is a lot to ask, but can you come to the library as soon as possible?

I'd like to discuss something in private that is very important, and I don't want to wait any longer.

Spike will not like it but my fears of what he'll do are getting the better of me.

Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle"

She finishes the letter and looks at me expectantly like it proved her point or something.

I frown at the last sentence she spoke, but I ignore it for now, "And what was the point of this part of show and tell again?" I shrug, "Yeah, I'm miserable. Tell me something I don't know, fuck face."

"It proves that your listlessness spreads to others," the letter disappears, and she puts one of her glistening hooves on the table. "Your friends are worr-"

"They aren't my fuckin' friends." I quickly interject.

She freezes and her demeanor changes a little, "Twilight seems to think she is."

"And she's delusional." My eyes narrow, "She's a fuckin' roommate and nothing more."

"You've been living with her for almost half a year. Surely you must have some kind of-"

A swift bang on the table cuts her off. "She is not my fuckin' friend! She holds the same value to me as piece of gum on the sidewalk."

Her eyebrows lift up like she caught me in a lie, "And what of Spike? Is he also just a dragon you live with. He practically worships the ground you walk."

"Then Spike is retarded. No, he is retarded. Why anyone would adore me is beyond my comprehension." My mood begins to sour fast, "What the fuck is this?"

She shakes her head in disbelief, "I just refuse to believe they mean absolutely nothing to you! Twilight has time after time again stuck by you after everything you've pulled. How can you think so little of my student?"

I lean in moving my cup to the side as I lock eyes, "Because I don't fuckin' care. I don't care about their feelings or what they think. I don't want to know what they want or need, and I especially don't want their trust. They can all fuckin' rot for all I care."

She slightly flinches at my comment, "If this is the case then why does Twilight and Spike believe that it is mutual?"

I shrug being fed up with the conversation, "I don't know! They're stupid? What do you want me to say?" I stand on my chair and give a melodramatic pose. "Oh, woe is me! How could I have not seen the error of my ways! I must and shall befriend them all as they are the family I needed all along…"

She sighs and looks at her half-eaten lemon square, "I'm starting to realize why you appear to be a colt in your subconscious…"

I point at her, "Correctomundo, senorita!" I sit down and get comfortable again, "See? You're finally catching on! I believed in you a hundred percent of the way." I finish it with an okay sign and a ridiculously overt wink. "I don't learn anything. Can't teach an old dog new tricks and such. It ain't fuckin' rocket science to understand who I am."

She looks at me funny, "Actually, it is. You just go about your day expecting everypony to know what's going on inside your head, but how can they."

"Da fuck are you talking about? I pride myself in how airtight this som' bitch is." I tap my noodle. "Why would I assume that I expect anything from anyone?"

"You said it yourself, Charlie. You think you're not complicated but then compliment your own abilities to keep others out and not letting them know what's going on." She crosses her arms, and a devious smirk appears, "I expected you to be many things, but a hypocrite wasn't one of them…"

"What the fuck did yo- Nope, this is bait." I shake my head, "You're baiting me into yelling so you can exploit it… I didn't hear you say that it was just my imagination…"

Her smile widens, "Does your imagination beget hypocrisy as well?"

I shut my eyes as the anger takes hold, "I don't hear you! In fact, I don't hear anything at all."

"That's mighty hypocritical of you considering you heard me just fine a minute ago."

I open my eyes and smile, "See? It doesn't affect me at all. Just slides right off my back."

"Hypocrit-"

"FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU, CELLY! SAY IT AGAIN!"

She chuckles seeing my hold a spoon at her like a weapon, "I believe I've made my point." She watches me literally sizzle like bacon as steam comes off of me literally. Dreams are fuckin' weird. "You just don't trust anypony, Charlie. It gonna keep you down even in your own world. It's a good lesson to learn no matter what happens in the future."

"Actually, I wouldn't even fuckin' be here if I'd just never trusted anyone!" I smile and my eyes widen in mock surprise, "Lesson learned? If you trust people then you get sent to fucked talking horse land!"

"Is that what you blame for your sudden arrival? Your own trust?" She laughs a little skeptically. "I think there's a little more to it than that."

My face twists in annoyance, "Da fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"To be put bluntly, you don't take any responsibility for your own actions," She moves her tea to the side, seemingly having her fill and continues, "Just like how you believe the mark on your hand is not just. Do you really believe that everything that has happened to you was without some kind of warrant? If that's what you believe, then you truly are more delusional that I thought you were."

"It's better to be delusional than nothing at all." I sneer as I lean into my chair.

She lifts an eyebrow, "That's incredibly specious, especially coming from you, but I suppose there is some truth to it. Your delusion that you're currently more than nothing is ironic at best."

My eyes narrow and I start looking for ammunition to chuck at her head, "Are you fuckin' insulting me? Because if you are I definitely get started on a fuckin' rebuttal if you wish."

"Just stating the truth. If you take offense, then you simply enjoy the lie you've built for yourself."

"Da fuck is that supp-" Before I could ask my question in full, I fuckin' realize what this is. The questions, the food, the friendly appearance. "I can't believe this is happening! Are you for fuckin' real?"

She tilts her head unsure what I'm insinuating, "I think we established I am indeed here at the moment…"

I slam a fist on the table making the dishes clatter at the force, she doesn't blink, "You're fuckin' smarter than that ya schmuck. You're fuckin' trying to play me!" her eyebrows shoot up not understanding what I mean. "You fuckin' come at me when I'm the most vulnerable in my own fuckin' mind and you offer me treats to get me to trust you, so I'll open up to you. This isn't a social call, it's a fuckin' therapy session!"

She chuckles in an incredulous manner. "Can friendship and therapy not coincide?"

My eyes narrow and I glare daggers at her, "One: I already told you I don't want your fuckin' friendship. Two: I don't need your help. Three: Go fuck yourself with a fuckin' tree trunk."

She looked a little hurt, "Is the idea of being my friends with Twilight and I that distasteful? You didn't seem to mind having friends at home…" She says as she stares at one of the statues.

I follow her gaze and see that the statue is of Bill. He was also in a toga holding a stone that looked like the 10 commandments from the bible. The scrawny shit had a knife sticking out of his back and some water drips out of the wound like a fountain. His face held a smile but there was no friendliness behind it at all. Just a mask…

My expression goes uncharacteristically blank as I turn back to the monarch, "Let me just clear the air being that it's just you and me here. No snark, no sarcasm, just the honest to God truth. Do you want to know what you are to me? A fuckin' means to an end. The same goes with Twilight, Spike, and whoever else you fuckin' chuck my way to try to get me to be nice. You call me aimless, but I assure you, I do have a goal. I have one goal and one goal only and makin' friends ain't apart of it. I'm getting home and nothing's going to stop me. I'll tear a hole in the fuckin' fabric of the universe to get there and if I have to destroy you all to make that happen then so fuckin' be it. Which is exactly why you should stop fuckin' fraternizing with me like I'm your high school buddy and fuckin' look harder for that portal home. Now I'll say this one last time, I don't fuckin' need anyone! Especially not you fuckin' ponies."

She looks at me with a tinge of sadness, but a hardness of a leader remains, "Being head of a state, you learn all the ins and outs of lying, for your own and from others." Her eyes narrow a tad, "If I could lie as well as you do to yourself, I would have conquered half the world already."

"Do I get an award for that?" I sneer as I dip my lemon square in the tea and take a bite. "I don't know what you expect from me or why you even have an expectation to begin with. I'm a lonely prick and I'm going to die a lonely prick. So just fuckin' leave me alone so I can get what I expect."

She looks at me very strangely like she wants to say something, but refrains and just sighs, "I believe I shall draw our outing to a conclusion. This chat has been," She pauses to think of the right word, "...educational, but overall has been very pleasant."

I almost breathe a sigh of relief. "Fuckin' finally! Get the fuck out of here and please let the door slap your ass on the way out…"

She looks at me one more time with a conflicted face but eventually stands, "Then I believe I will bid you a farewell."

Her horn lights up and seemingly out of nowhere a swarm of butterflies, which were incandescently lit in a flurry of different bright colors, fly around her and myself. One of them lands on my nose and the little thing was adorable. The pattern on its wings looked like sunshine as well as moonlight. It takes off joining the swarm and they condense together a little way away from the table and transform into a very detailed and transient looking door. On the face was what looked like two ponies chasing each other in a circle, one being Celestia and the other Luna. She opens the door with her magic and a bright warm glow could be felt on the other side.

she turns to me before entering, "In all the 10,000 years I've walked the ground I stand on, you are indeed the saddest being I've ever been acquainted with." She gives me the warmest smile I'd ever seen and I'm not exaggerating, "Please take care of yourself, Charlie… You may not agree, but you don't deserve the misery you carry on your shoulders alone. Till we meet again…"

With that she enters the door, and it shuts tight and the same swarm of butterflies return as they fly upwards towards the sun disappearing entirely, leaving me alone in this 'inner sanctuary' to dwell in my anger…

"Da fuck do you know what I deserve?! What I want?!" I guess I scream to myself. "You don't know fuckin' anything, you fuckin' douche canoe!"

The island shakes some more but was relatively small making me lean back in my cloud and grumble. I sat there in silence for some time as the thoughts hit me like a thunderstorm.

Mostly about the monarch herself.

Fuckin' cunt… I can't believe the audacity of her, but she's always been like that. Since the first day I met her, she's been a pain a royal pain in my ass. I'll never forget when she finally flew down from Canterlot by herself to take a look at the wildman of Ponyville. It was about like two weeks in I'd like to say, I was lounging around the library poking fun at Twilight's horn and what it reminded me of while she worked, which she didn't appreciate at all believe me. Twilight wanted to do more research about the spell and how it affects could blah blah blah….

It was pretty late in the evening as well as I remember spike was in the middle of cleaning dishes from dinner. He was looking over at me every now and again still unsure about my existence. He left me alone for the most part at the time, but he wouldn't start getting very annoying until later on. There was a hard knocking on the window making the lizard jump out of his apron in fear. I was totally not hiding behind a bookcase with a chair over my head when Twilight went over to investigate the noise.

Lo and behold when she opened the window Celestia flew inside in a manner that could only be described as showing off. She let her wings out as far as they could, and she stood straight and tall as we took in her sight. Her crown twinkled like a star as it glistened in the candlelight of the kitchen. Her gold adorned horseshoes shared its glimmer. Twilight and Spike bowed cluing me in that this was the fabled Princess that I'd heard so much about from the egghead herself. I'm going to be honest; I wasn't very impressed.

Annoyed more like…

She greeted her student and nuzzled little spike and then she set her gaze upon me. One that I still think of from time to time. She walked up to me with an intently staring like I was a threat and just stood there with unending eye contact. She looked like she was on a mission as her features screamed caution and worry as our eye staring contest went on. Twilight tried saying something but was quickly hushed by her leader, making her slink back to her groveling. Her eyes darted around somewhat as she stepped closer like she was analyzing every atom of my body.

After a good fuckin' minute her features softened significantly like she found what was she was looking for and she even donned some somberness and understanding. Like she was proved wrong I guess, I don't know. I can't prove it, but I swear I saw a small tear form in one of her eyes as she backed up some, but I don't know if that was just my imagination or not.

She then finally introduced herself.

"My name is Princess Celestia, co-leader of Equestria and to her people." A small smile forms, "Hello, Charlie, I've heard a lot about you from my prized student! May I finally be the first to officially welcome you to my kingdom. I hope your stay has been at the very least accommodating."

I roll my eyes, "Yeah, accommodated like a case of hemorrhoids over here…" I hear Twilight gasp like she knows what's coming next. "Is there a fuckin' reason you took your jolly fuckin' grand ol' time getting your ass down here? Tweedle dick over there sent that fuckin' letter weeks ago! I've been sitting here with my dick in my hand, eating fuckin' oats like I'm a fuckin' barn animal waiting for you to show up! Da fuck! Too busy getting hand fed grapes and getting your cunt massaged, you fuckin' pompous royal fuck!"

Her eyebrows shoot up some at my rant and looks over at Twilight who has all but fainted from my onslaught. Spike also was in complete shock that I mouthed off to her but I see something else I can't name. She looks back at me a little perturbed, obviously not used to my personality, but her face softens into amusement as she starts giggling making me almost go cross eyed in anger.

"It has been quite some time since I haven't been addressed as royalty in such a manner! Twilight has mentioned your crassness, but I figured she was over exaggerating, apparently not." Her horn lights up as a chair from the table pulls out and she walks over taking a seat waiting for me to join her. "Come, sit! We have much to discuss."

"You're damn fuckin' right we do! Fuckin' bullshit makin' me wait like I don't have things to do…" I mutter as I swing my chair around backwards and lean into the back rest. "You have any idea how fuckin' bored you get when your hidden in a library like you were Quasimodo's flaccid dick? It gets pretty fuckin' old pretty fuckin' fast!"

Her amused look doesn't leave, in fact it gets stronger, "I understand that this is beyond an inconvenience for you as well that my tardiness for this meeting has no excuses. I was away on Royal business overseas and did my best to return as quickly as possible."

"Inconvenienced," I scoff at her word choosing. "You don't know the fuckin' half of it, Flicka.So now that you're finally here you can wave that dildo on your noggin around and send me home God dammit!"

This is the first time I see her face twitch; it wasn't anything major, but it was enough to clue me in that whatever she said next wasn't gonna be nice.

She looks down at the table at the book Twilight used to summon me here and frowns, "I'm afraid it's a little more complicated than just a zap of magic and off you go."

I freeze and I feel my scowl slowly get deeper. "Da fuck does that mean?" I snarl through gritted teeth as I start to realize what she's gonna say.

She opens the book and flips through it. "It means that I don't have a way home for you just yet…"

"WHAT!? The fuck you mean you don't have a way home for me yet?! Was I not waiting for you to do just that?!" I stand incredulously and I pull at my hair trying my best not to have an aneurysm.

She looked unbothered by my rant and even fuckin' smiled like I wasn't about to have a meltdown and dose her in radiation. Her horn lights up and I feel myself be dragged back to my chair somewhat delicately and summoned small braces to hold my hands to the arms and flipped through the book and pauses at one of the pages. It was very, very, very small, but I saw her flinch. I swear on my family jewels that she did, and I won't hear anything otherwise.

"I said not yet. I know the work of the author of this book quite well and have seen the magics that follow its pages." She looks over at me who's pretty much one step away from gnawing off my arm to free myself. "I have an extensive collection in the archives that will no doubt shed light on this mysterious spell and how to replicate it."

I stop my struggling and think over her words with contempt. "But you can send me home, right? I mean that's the whole fuckin' point to this is that you send me fuckin' home!"

She stops and shuts the book making it disappear with her magic before turning to me. "Of course, Charlie, I can find your home in no time at all." She smiles and turns to her student. "Perhaps some tea? It has been a long journey and I'd like to talk to our new guest some more…"

We talked for about an hour, most of which I didn't take seriously at all. She did the same song and dance Twilight did with a never-ending avalanche of personal questions all of which were dismissed or answered vaguely. I never felt anything malevolent from the monarch, but I could definitely tell something was wrong. There was an edge about her questioning that never felt right to me. Like she had an ulterior motive, but what the fuck do I know.

The last thing she told me is that she would be in touch about any news she'd find and then bid us adieu, leaving through the same window she entered in a hurry. She didn't even say goodbye to Twilight properly, which made her remark how odd it was. I just shrugged it off as her being a royal cunt and that's still my prognosis of her.

I will say that she definitely wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting an inbred horse version of a Habsburg like Charles II of Spain who was nothing more than a puppet for his aristocracy like all the other fucked monarchies of my world.

What? Don't act all fuckin' surprised I know some shit; I liked watching the history channel at Caspers…

Anyhow, that's not what I saw. She looked like she actually cared about her subjects. No, it went beyond caring, she saw everypony as one of her own and I have to admit it was quite admirable. If the heads of my fucked governments were anything like that, I'd like them a lot more.

Oh what the fuck am I saying, of course I wouldn't but you get what I mean.

I lean into my chair and stare upwards towards the sky, but I pause as my vision focuses. You see the sky wasn't empty and no, I'm not talking about clouds neither. All over the sky above us were items and things floating about. Thing's I actually recognized all from my past.

I saw my piece of shit Bronco floating along like it was always meant to be there. It's rusted frame and body was a very pleasant sight to see. Its large off-road tires spun graciously around as it had no traction to stop, and the blue paint looked worn and faded. If only I could hear the engine… As I thought about it the thing actually revved making me smile hearing the sound. I stole the damn thing well over 10 years ago and it's never let me down since. All the nights we slept inside while we were on the open road made it seem like a place I'd always think fondly of. If I ever had a permanent home in my fucked-up life it'd be that car. Dylan always busted my balls to get rid of it and it was falling apart, but I never had the nerve to junk it. Besides, everyone in my part of town knew who's it was so it kinda felt like a calling card.

I look over at the and see something that almost turns my blood cold. The front sign to Caspers floats slowly spinning. The emblem and trademark of the bar was a caricature of a small Irish leprechaun who was the man Casper himself. He was a degenerate gambler and owed Bill a lot of money. Like fuck you money. I remember the day we went in to collect and he told me and Brad no. We just looked at each other and then preceded to beat the ever-living piss out of him for it. It's not that he didn't want to pay us back, but more of he couldn't pay us back. He blew 45,000 at a poker table. As I said, degenerate gambler. Bill made a deal to get the bar signed in his name and boom, new headquarters. I never did hear what happened to the little man, but I'm sure it wasn't anything pretty… Probably lost everything including his life all because of me...

I shake my head. Fuck em… It's not like I fuckin' care what happened to em…

Another item flew in the direction of the sign taking my attention away from bad memories I'd hope to never see again, to a piece of clothing that made my frown deepen. The stupid hat… Wally's hat. It was the first time we'd all gone to a ball game when we came back to Boston some 10 odd years ago. Seems like fuckin' forever ago. A welcome home to the prodigal sons, I guess. Wally was down from being on the road for so long is understandably make someone bored, especially for a 10-year-old. Bill actually got tickets somehow to a home game and I figured why not, I'd been working my ass off to get set up in the city and I needed a break. It was fun, I had a great time.

A better time than whatever happened at lunch, that's for fuckin' sure.

My thought's shift to what ended up happening before I blew up. Rainbow fuckin' Dash. That's all I gotta say. I can't believe she fuckin' did that. Scratch that, I actually can. Fuckin' cunt. I think the worst part is I'm not even gonna be able to get payback even if I wanted to. And I really, really, REALLY do.

I can't help but berate myself for my explosion though. I'm a fuckin' idiot. Can't fuckin' believe I almost died for a stupid fuckin' hat. Only I could be so fuckin' stupid. The damn thing meant a lot to me, especially here in horse land. It was a reminder of what I need to do, but not enough to get killed over it. I'm really gonna need to have a talk with Twilight about her… It's getting worse and so are the shocks as you can tell already.

I sat there at the table still nibbling on the snacks and drinks for some time just waiting after my thoughts calmed down. For what to happen? I don't know, just something. Boredom gets the better of me and I get up from my seat, but not before grabbing one more lemon square to explore this 'sanctuary'. Walking around on a cloud you'd think it would be bouncy or whatever, but it's not. There was an actual hard floor that was hidden by a fluffy white blanket that reminded me of a tiled bathroom. The uniform shoes I wore made a distinctive clack as I walked around, a noise that made my brow furrow as it brought memories back from a place I don't fuckin' like at all.

The first thing I do with this newfound solitude is walk towards what's left of that newly fallen pillar as it intrigued me the most. As I approach, I begin to realize just how massive they were. They had the girth of matured oak trees and the pillars themselves were detailed in a way that looked like it took centuries to carve. Each one was evenly spaced about 20 feet or so apart which is kinda overkill seeing how fuckin' large they are.

How do I explain the pillars themselves? If you close your eyes and imagine a roman column that's exactly what it looks like. Fuckin' weird. Even weirder is that none of these pillars are connected with any kind of roof, they're just erected around the whole island for no fuckin' reason at all other than being some kind of unpractical fence.

I look down in between the two pillars in front of me and notice an obvious dip making me frown. Am I fuckin' stuck here? Moving forward towards one of the pillars, I hold onto the marble and peer over the edge and gaze into an unsightly abyss that went on forever. It was quite freaky as I looked, the top half I was currently standing on had bright blue skies with other small clouds dancing around. However, when you look down it almost resembles the dead of night minus the stars. I hock a loogie and watch it fall into the void, vanishing in seconds.

Getting the willies from a sudden fear of heights, I pull back and look over towards something else to explore. The statues all around the island grabs my attention next. They really were just scattered like salt and pepper on food. No rhyme or reason at all, just chaos. I see one nearby and walk over, it makes me frown as I get closer because I know who it is.

A stocky balding gentleman with a bulbous nose and a beard in a toga was standing proudly atop a pillar with a claw hammer in one hand and a carpenter square in the other. He had a cap on his head that resembled Santa's making me frown even further.

"You were always a jolly fellow, Mr Campbell…" I lament to myself as I gaze upon him.

I met him when I was 14. I just got out of Wellington's and placed in his care for a short while until…Well, that's not important.

He was one of them foster houses, I think. I don't know I never looked into it too much. He was quite the Character if I remember correctly and I think he really enjoyed my company, but I couldn't tell you for certain. He was a carpenter by trade, but if I'm being honest, he was more of an artist. He could look at a block of wood and turn into something beautiful like a meticulously made jewelry box to a statue of himself in the finest details you've ever seen. Looking down I realize that there was an empty golden plaque attached to the pillar like it was supposed to have some significance.

My hand brushes the cool metal subconsciously and then it happens. The plaque lights up in a golden aura and a handful of fireflies scream out of it. They circle me as if they were inspecting me leaving small golden light tracers behind them as they flew. When they had enough of me they flew up to the stature and landed on the man being absorbed into the stony surface. The stony appendages of Mr. Campbell slowly begin to move making me fall backwards onto the floor in fear.

He looks down at me with pupil-less blank eyes with a warm smile I recall quite well.

"If you can turn a piece of useless lumber into something worth meaning, then why can't that also be applied to life, son!" He gleams in a voice that sounded so familiar yet so painful.

He slowly moves back into his original pose and the fireflies shoot out of him and back into the plaque from whence they came. As they enter, the words that the man spoke just a second ago sear onto the surface and stays for all to see.

"Well, that sucked…" I say to myself as I brush off my clothes. I look over at Pee Wee's statue seeing the same fuckin' empty plaque as Mr. Campbells making me glare at it realizing I ain't touching one of these things again.

I look over at the other end of the Island and something catches my attention. There was a gazebo of some kind with the same pillars and a ring of carved stone as its roof. The structure held an oval shape with two dead bushes placed at either side, but they made Charlie Brown's Christmas tree look like a redwood. The entrance was propped up by a small flight of stairs to an archway. On top of the arch was some kind of sentence chiseled in the stone, but it was etched out or eroded so whatever it said was unintelligible.

I walk my way up the steps and I realize its a botanical garden of some kind, but it just wasn't right. All the plants were dead or decaying like it hadn't been tended to in years. Fuckin' creepy as hell too. A small pathway cut through dead grass and my eyebrows lift as I see where it leads to. Seven statues were diligently placed like they were the most important but that's not why they are surprising. They're of a certain group of ponies who've been driving me crazy all fuckin' week and beyond. Unlike the pearly white statues outside these ones looked of a dark slate, like charcoal with the exception of two of them.

Rarity's was all the way on the left and had a sowing needle entering some fabric as she stitched together what looked like my pants with a smile like she was enjoying her work.

Applejack's was right next to her holding up a jug of what looked like apple cider as if she wanted to give me a toast. On her side was the same ax that I used on her farm embedded in the pillar she was standing on.

Fluttershy next to the cowmare smiling down at a rabbit with kindness petting its head, she also had what looked like my quilt folded neatly over her back and a basket filled with what looked like food.

All the way on the right was the party animal herself, Pinkie Pie. She was bursting out of a cake wearing what looked like a sombrero holding two confetti poppers as actual confetti endlessly spewed from what seemed like nothing.

Rainbow's statue was next to Pinkies, but it was cracked and half of it was missing, but I can tell it was that shit head without a doubt. I couldn't tell what she was doing as half of her was gone but it was something stupid, I can assure you knowing that cunt.

Twilight was gazing upon a book that looked very much like my journal, smiling all the while as she read away. I couldn't help but notice that unlike the others she was actually pearly white like the others outside… I don't know what significance this holds, but it's something to note, I guess.

The last was the most unique one was the center piece of the whole shindig, Spike. Just like Twilight, he too was pearly white. He had a halo and horns both adorning his small head as he stood proudly. His face was a mixture of hate and joy split down the middle by a small sword he was holding upwards with the blade touching his snout. At the base of his pillar in the garden was a single live rose barely holding on as it blew around slowly in a wind that was nonexistent.

Behind them was some sort of scene of Ponyville in colored glass. Inside the town I saw Twilight and her friends circled around a dark mysterious figure holding something over his head. Looked like a book, I think. My eyes widen a tad when I realize the handsome fellow was myself, go fuckin' figure.

My face turns to agitation when I remember what Celestia told me, that this was all created in my own mind.

"This is so fuckin' stupid. What the fuck is any of this supposed to mean, Charlie?" I ask myself as I turn on my heel and leave garden, "You stupid fuck…You can literally craft fuckin' anything and the only thing you do is make a Disney exhibit for Pompeii.

Angry at myself, I start my back over to my seat at the table, but the statue of Bill enters my peripheral making me pause. I stare over at him as he stands in the same pose he was when Celestia gazed at him, but I now notice the same blank plaque underneath him. Shaking my head, I walk away from it, but something stops me.

"Don't do it…" I warn to myself, "It's not fuckin' worth it."

I try to take another step, but I can't. Standing with him to my back for what felt like an eternity I finally sigh as my curiosity gets the better of me. Finally turning on my heel to go touch the plaque like it wasn't going to be the single worst thing to happen to me.

I touch the sign and the same fireflies spring out and absorb into the soulless shit head. He looks around confused, his joints rumble like rocks as he does so, and stares down at me with a genuine smile when he notices me.

"Trust me, pal, you stick by me you won't regret it…" He states with a hint of excitement. He then rustles back to his original pose and the fireflies fly back into the plaque. His haunted words become etched into the sign just like Mr. Campbell's.

I start feeling anger as his words sink into my mind. "You fuck…" I say as I stare at the snake, "How can you stand there and say somethin' like that after what you did…"

The statue does not answer.

"Got nothin' to say now do you, ya fuck!" My hands clench into tiny fists, "After everything I did for you?! After everything I sacrificed?! I fuckin' gave you all I had! Everything!"

Again, no answer making me angrier.

"Say something, Bill!" The statue does not stir, "FUCKIN' SAY SOMETHING!"

The island shakes hard making me tumble backwards onto the floor as the quakes progressively get worse. Bill's statue cracks from the right shoulder to his left hip, essentially cutting him in two, and it topples down onto the hard floor exploding into pieces. His head slides over near my foot and I make eye contact for an uncomfortable amount of time before I sneer kicking the fucker towards the pile.

"I told you it wasn't worth it, idiot…" I shake my head in despondence knowing I shouldn't have done that. I stand up brush my feet off and look at the now destroyed statue rubbing my head. I give one last sneer before turning back to the table.

Or that's what I would have done if I hadn't walked into someone the moment I spun around. I take a dazed step back after getting a mouth full of dark blue fur and look up to see a certain Princess staring at me with a blank expression.

I give a tired laugh and rub my forehead, "Another fuckin' royal pony, I just can't fuckin' win," I look up at her with with a scowl, "You know, it's etiquette where I come from to announce that you've entered someones mind upon arrival, you fuckin' freak."

Luna cocks her head intently watching my movements like I was a fuckin' zoo animal.

I throw my hands up in the air in frustration, "Is there somethin' you want to say to me, moonie, or is it customary to stare like you've got nothin' going on upstairs?"

She blinks unwavering by my outburst and finally her opens her mouth to speak, "Tis strange thee can walketh in thy owneth mind unguarded. Thy resolute nature seemeth to be more stout than anticipated."

"Well, I'm fuckin' full of surprises it seems, now get the fuck outta my way," I sneer and push past her back to the table.

"Thine have never seen such concentration of power from one individual before," I hear her follow making me groan as I reach the table grabbing the last lemon square, "Thee wilt bid me thy secret to this power."

I look over at her with what I call confused annoyance, "Power? I don't have any fuckin' powers, the fuck you talkin' about."

"Thy mind is that of an iron fortress, sir Charlie, very few can resist thine magics." She takes my seat and stares at me expectantly, "How doth the do it?"

"I don't fuckin' know, Freddy Kruger," I say with my mouth full. "I don't fuckin' do anything. Why? Is not being able to get inside my wet noodle a fuckin' bum fest for you? Gonna cry about it?"

Her eyes narrow a tad like she didn't believe me but return to normal, "Thy mind must be sterner than most if thee does not even try to protect it."

I chuckle taking another bite, "you know, some prick I knew called me pigheaded a long time ago. I wonder if that has anything to do with it, princess."

She looks at me confused, "Thee doth not share the head of a pig…"

"You're not very smart, are you?" I shake my head as I take a sip of now cold tea to wash down my bite, but she doesn't look away expecting me to explain myself, "I'm fuckin' thick skulled, retard."

Some recognition fills her features, "Normally the thick witted art the easiest to control. It still doesn't explain how thee does it." She finally settles in and pours herself some tea and warms it up with her magic, "How has't thee been dreaming?"

I finish my 4th and last helping of the cake and look back at her, "Like fuckin' dog water… Why?"

"Mine own duty is to giveth dreams upon every pony on thy ground of Equestria. They cannot doth so themselves." She takes a sip looking at me still expectantly. "Even odder that thee dreameth on thy own, a skill only mine sister and I can achieveth."

I shrug and give a laugh, "What can I say, I guess I'm just built different." I shake my head in complete irratation that these pony fucks can't even dream properly. "By the fuckin' way, Mrs. Sandman, how about you sprinkle some of that sleepy dust over my own head sometime asshole. I'm tired of having fuckin' nightmares every night. What, you just don't like giving dreams to ape things?"

She cocks her head still studying me as I bring up my night terrors, "I am unable to help thee in yond regard, sire Charlie. I can still manipulateth thy dreams, however it is too difficult to doth it every night. There is an entire nation yond requires mine own duty first and foremost. Giving thee a dream on every moon would be… troublesome…"

I wipe my mouth, "Then what the fuck are you good for then? Fuckin' useless…" Her eye twitches in anger at my comment, but suppresses it as I continue. "Why the fuck do you care how my dreams are anyways, moon pie."

"I may not be able to manipulateth thy dreams, but I can still view them." She states rather firmly.

I tense up upon hearing that, "Wait a fuckin' minute… You can't actually see what I'm dreaming? Can you?" She smiles, "Oh my fuckin' God, you fuckin' can."

She sports a proud look, "It is mine own specialty!" She booms making me grab my ears, "Though, thou dreams art particularly…" She looks at me and her face softens some, "Unpleasant."

I rub my eyes just so done with this fuckin' world, "You fuckin' ponies are worse than the feds, I swear to God…"

She actually gives me a somber expression and sighs, "If it is of any consolation, I tryeth mine best to steer cleareth of them."

"Fuckin' tell me about it…" I grumble and sit back into my chair thinking about that dark silhouette who's been tormenting me.

"However, since receiving mine own mark it hast been quiet so I shall asketh again, how has't thy dreams been?"

I lean back in my chair and polish my nails, "Fuckin' awesome! Let me tell ya, I haven't slept so well in my entire fuckin' life." my words drip with sarcasm.

She blinks and her eyebrows raise incredulously, "Yond is not what I've seen from before mine mark."

"Wait a minute, your mark…" I pause as a memory of the fight with Celestia comes to my mind.

"My beloved sister has recommended a… corporal punishment in a sense that will suit you just fine. It is a curse appropriately dubbed 'The Mark of Wrath'"

"It was fuckin' you! You fuckin' had this shit put on me! The fuck is the matter with you!" I wave my child hand but when I look at it I notice it is not present making me stop for a second.

"The punishment wilt suiteth the crime." she smiles a little at that.

I jut my thumb towards the edge of the island, "I still could just throw myself off a balcony just to fuckin' spite you."

Her face falls back into one I can't decipher, "Thee and I both knoweth thee wouldn't do that…"

"Oh yeah? And what makes you so fuckin' sure about that, dick munch?" I lean back and cross my arms.

"Thou art vindictiveness is what keeps thee going is it not?" She calmly states.

I feel my eyes narrow, "I don't know what you're talking about."

She shakes her head amused, "Thou art a lot more cunning than that, we art inside thine mind." She looks around the island, "Even now, thy heart swells with vengeance, I can feel it" She turns back to me, "Who hast wronged thee, Charlie?"

"Who molested you when you were seven?" she looked appalled, "See? Don't like it when I dredge up shit you don't want to talk about so fuckin' drop it!"

She paused for a minute as if she had to think how to word her next sentence, "…Thee think thou art alone in this feeling, especially here." just as I was about to say something with a little heat to it she continued, "Liketh myself for instance."

I guffaw and actually give a laugh and point a finger at her, "I'm sure you think you're all fuckin' that but I assure you, you have no fuckin' clue what you're talking about."

Her look hardens, "The same anger thee feeleth was the same I garnered a very long time ago. I felt I had been wronged and I wanted it to be righted, but it consumed me," She looked down at the table as if a painful memory began to play. "Everything I hadst wast put to the side to fuel it even further. Mine own sister hath tried her most to calm me down, but because it was her who I hath felt wronged by it only madeth it worse."

I shake my hands in the air in mock terror, "Oooooooooh family drama! The horror…" I shake my head and stand, "I'm going to go somewhere else now. Bye, hope you have fun with you're-HEY"

As I started to walk away she gripped me with her magic and threw me back into my seat. She stood up still gripping me and walked around the table with narrowed eyes. I would of spit on her but her magic also clamped my jaw shut too. Fuckin' women…

She towers over my smaller frame and coninues, "I hath tried to endeth mine own sisters life and usurp her throne." She paused for dramatic effect and it kinda worked, "For mine own crime I was banished to the moon for 1000 years and all I didst in yond time was plot and planeth her demise without any other desire. It was… it was…" She stopped looking off into the distance and looked back down at me with knowing eyes, "It is nay a way to live, Charlie… Thee will not find solace should thou continue this path."

She lets may jaw go free so that I may respond but the rest of my body is still being held down into the seat.

"Who the fuck said I want solace!" I snarl, "It doesn't fuckin' matter what I fuckin' want anymore! Because what I want I can't have! So go ahead and judge me all you want! Send me all the self pity you can find because I won't fuckin' stop until he's fuckin' dead! You hear me you cunt?! I won't fuckin' stop! Not now, not EVER!"

The island shakes and another pillar collapses this time falling inwards and it slams down crushing what was left of Bill's statue with a terrible crash causing yet another quake. The dark monarch doesn't flinch at the sight at all. She stared at the pillar for quite some time and looked back at me.

"Hatred has already clung to thou like a sickness and shall spread until there is nothing left of thee." She lets me go and takes a few steps back with a tired look, "I shall not stop thee from thou quest, for it is not thine to decide. Woe the temptation of revenge and it's siren calls, Charlie."

"Woe my nuts in your mouth, Luna…" I snarl.

She sighs once more, "Very well," Her horn light's up and I feel energy pulsate around me, "I wish thee luck on this journey…"

A bright light causes my eyes to slam shut and one final voice resonates inside me as I'm sent away from this sanctuary.

"We shall see thee again, Charlie…"

OoOoO

Twilight POV

"I'm never going to find what I'm looking for…" I groan as I stare over to the clock reading about 1:42 in the morning, "I've gone through every book in the library for anymore information about this Ensemble and I can't find anything! It's like he never existed!"

The night had settled pretty uneventfully considering what happened today with Charlie. The explosion really shook us, but our finding's about this 'Ensemble of Canterlot' made me more worried than the mark itself. The fact that he… he…

I shook my head at the thought and look back over at a book laid across the table and summon it over. I'd like to say that I continued studying, however, my thoughts of day kept distracting me to the point I had no choice, but to listen to them.

Everypony did everything they could to find more information we could find that may be helpful. We lucked out with Pinkie Pie's uncanny ability to find things without much effort for Star Swirl's book, but we didn't have the same luck for rest of the day. After we finished all we could find on the mark the mares finally bid a farewell and that they'd be back tomorrow to help more, but if I'm being honest I don't think it would really change anything. We combed through the entire library and the only book that has anything to do with this blasted mark.

It seemed even Star Swirl had limited knowledge of it as well which is really disheartening as he always seemed to have answers to everything.

I sigh as I pick up my book again, "Spike did yo-"

I stop my question when I gaze over to where the dragon was working passed out, snoring softly as he drooled over a book his head was laying in.

"I guess not…" I say annoyed.

The drake has been… troublesome to say the least. We've basically only have been working about at hooves length and we'd only exchanged some glares, but other than that it's been pretty silent in here since the mares left. Awkward silence, but silence regardless.

I sigh thinking back to our argument. I can't believe he eaves dropped on that conversation. I knew something was wrong as he'd been a little standoffish the next day, but I didn't think it was because he heard me. Now what am I gonna do…

I'll have to sort it out later…

"Spike, wake up," I shake him a little but all he does is snore even louder. Unbelievable.

I look over at a piece of paper nearby and see something written down so I use my magic to bring it over thinking

I look back at the clock one more time and realize that I'm not going to get anywhere anytime sooner than I was an hour ago. A yawn escapes me without my permission making me sigh, "Maybe turning in for the night wouldn't be for the worst thing to do. C'mon, Spike, let's go to bed…"

Using my magic I pick up the troublesome dragon, who grumbles a little but remains asleep and head out of the main hall up to our room. I placed Spike in his bed where he'll actually sleep for once it seemed and I gaze over at mine as it calls to more for blissful slumber, but something stops me as a certain fried individual enters my brain.

"Oh, I better go check on him." I turn my back on the temptation of rest to go see if my grumpy friend is fairing any better than he was earlier.

I walk over to his room and his door was slightly ajar letting me poke my tired head in. I couldn't see much of anything, but I could see his sleeping mass slowly move on his bed making me enter slowly and using my magic to light some of the candles so I can see. A chair, adorned with his quilt, sat by his bedside with some of Fluttershy's things that she left behind, but they hadn't moved since the last time I'd been in here to check on him so I know he hasn't been moving much at least.

I sit on the chair and gaze at the wounded creature with a certain type of affectionate somberness. He looked terrible. His blanker only covered up to his waste so his burns were in complete view although I will admit they now look superficial thanks to Fluttershy. That aloe and whatever that nectar was really did work wonders like she said it would.

I wish it could have done the same thing to his mane. The burns singed half of his head pretty much bald form the burns but at least it was just around his ear. Well, you could say what's left of his hair will now definitely be bug free now I guess. His beard fared the worst as almost half of it is gone revealing the red tender skin underneath.

The last thing I gaze at are the most foreboding from his attack. That being the runes running up his arm and ending at about his elbow. I must have checked and rechecked every language analog there was to view and I couldn't find anything. I even cross examined Charlie's own journal to see if it was his own strange language, but no luck. I also don't even know how to explain the runes themselves. I can't explain it but they give me the willies. It makes no scientific sense at all, however, I'm just going to go out on a limb and say it isn't a good sign.

"F-fuck you… Celly…" He mumbles in his sleep causing me to cock my head. Celly? That's a new one. Normally it's Wally or this Bill character he always sleep talks about. Huh, strange. Well, at least he's breathing and not dea- I shake my head at the thought that's been bothering me all day.

His soul.

There's something really, really, really wrong with it. I don't know what it is, but it wasn't right at all. It felt like it had been torn to pieces and put back together with spit and duck tape. I felt it as I tugged on it and it screamed at me in torment, like it was being boiled alive. I don't know much about souls and what they are supposed to feel like, but I know that isn't it.

I feel a shudder from either the cold or the experience. Either way I used my magic to wrap his quilt around me to ward off any other shivers and it did the trick.

I lay my head on the bed looking at his sleeping features warily still hoping I wasn't overreacting about what I'd felt.

"I'm gonna make it up to you, Charlie, for everything…" I smile as I see him itch his nose, "Even if it kills me…" My eye's shut and I feel the dream world take me almost immediately.

Seems like Princess Luna was working overtime today…