Patric's POV: FIVE YEARS PRIOR.

"NICHOLAS!" I screamed weakly as I limped through the trees. I watched him inch further and further away as he slipped from my sight. My pursuit slowed as the pain in my back increased. I fell to my knees, pain rocketing through me as I gasped for breath. My vision blacked as I started to pass out.

"NO!" A voice screamed, snapping me back to reality. I jumped up and ran towards the voice, seeing a man kneeling down. I walked over, my speed faltering as I felt more blood run down my back and drip to the forest floor. When I got closer I noticed there was another taller figure lying on the ground on his back. The man on the ground was concealed by a blue cloak, with stars on it. The man who stood on his knees looked up at me, staring.

"Help... Me..." I said, falling to my knees. The pain finally peaked and I lost consciousness.

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I sighed, glancing down at the revolver, rotating it in my hand. There was a knock at the door, taking my glance away from the weapon. I placed it in the drawer and walked upstairs, the front door coming in view. I cracked it open to see a man standing there, a blue cloaked man with his arm around his shoulder, and a Pegasus hovering mid air, a yellow aura around him.

"Please help me..." The man in the middle said.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I'm Colin." He said.

"What happened to them?" I asked.

"My friend was stabbed. The other guy... I have no idea." He said.

"Uh... Yeah come in." I said hesitantly, motioning to the couch. It wasn't until the man he held with his magic came closer that I noticed something horrifying.

"What the fuck happened to his wing?" I asked as I saw one missing, blood seeping onto the floor.

"I don't know but he's losing a lot of blood. Do you have a medical kit or something?" Colin asked.

"Yeah just a second..." I said quickly, rushing to another room and scavenging through boxes. I grabbed a red bag with a cross on it and ran back to the room. I put it on the floor and started dumping everything out and organized the tools and equipment.

"So what can I call your friend?" I asked, staring at the unconscious man that had been wearing a blue cloak earlier.

"Starswirl." Colin said. I stopped dead in my tracks, my head jolting up to stare at him.

"What?!" I said in utter shock.

"I can stitch him up. The other guy... Do you know how to cauterize a wound?" Colin asked. I was still trying to process who was bleeding out in his arms.

"DO YOU KNOW OR NOT?" He said angrily.

"Y... Yeah!" I said, rushing to the kitchen and turning on the stove. I grabbed a pan and placed it on it, waiting for it to heat up. I peeked back into the room. Colin was holding Star, crying as he sowed the wound.

"It's... It's too deep." He mumbled, "I don't know what to do..."

I grabbed the pan and ran to the other man and splayed him out on his stomach. With a deep breath I pressed the pan to what was left of his wing to seal the wound. His eyes shot open and he let out a bloodcurdling scream. His arms flailed back to try to grab me, but I held him down.

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"No no no..." I sobbed as I stitched Starswirl's wound, knowing it was futile. My cries were interrupted by a scream of agony. My head shot up to see the man I had brought in calling out in pain as his wing was cauterized. He was held down for a few moments, but knocked the pan out of his hand. I watched it slide across the room and stop in front of the window. The one winged grabbed him and started choking him. I used my magic to rip his hand away, holding him down as he struggled to get free, a rage in his eyes.

"He's trying to help you!" I yelled. His glance meet me and he started to calm down.

"We need to cauterize your wing... You've been bleeding badly for awhile." I said. His head turned back to the other man, then to the pan.

"What's your name?" I asked. He looked back at me.

"Patric." He said.

"Nice to meet you Patric. I'm Colin, and he's..." I said, "Well... I don't really know who you are."

"Cecil..." The man said hoarsely, rubbing his throat.

"Well it's nice to meet the both of you." I said, beginning to cough.

"I need to finish cauterizing it. Think you can handle it?" Cecil asked.

"Just do it..." Patric said weakly. Cecil walked over to grab the pan, when something I could never have expected happened. When Cecil reached for the pan, the light from the window hit his hand. The skin on it receded and faded away to reveal a bony, skeletal hand. I quickly glanced back to Patirc, who wasn't looking, obviously focused on his missing wing. As he pulled his hand back, the skin reformed as if nothing had happened. I stared at it astonished as he approached Patric.

"This is going to hurt alright?" Cecil said.

"Just get it over with." Patric said impatiently. Cecil took a breath in and pushed the searing pan against the nub that once held his wing. Patric's teeth clamped together as a muffled scream worked its way out. His mouth shot open and he let out a scream that made me cringe. Patric passed out, lying motionless as the pan was pulled off. There was a long moment of silence.

"I'll... Take him upstairs. You going to be okay down here?" Cecil said.

"Yeah..." I said weakly as I looked back down at my teacher, who was growing pale. I stared at Starswirl as Cecil left the room, dragging Patric upstairs. I felt a hand grip my arm. I looked down at Starswirl, who was awake.

"Master..." I said in shock as he stared up at me, "I don't know what to do... The cut is too deep I can't... I can't-"

"Colin..." He interrupted, "My life doesn't matter."

"That's bullshit." I said, tears beginning to form again.

"Listen to me." He said quietly, "Before I die..."

"Star... Don't say that..." I said as I started to weep, "We can fix this..."

"Just listen... I'm old Colin. And in my time I've learned that life will try to break you. And nobody can protect you from that... But you have to be strong." He said.

"I... I know master." I said weakly, "I swear... The man that did this to you will pay."

"No!" He yelled, gripping me tighter, "Promise me you wont kill him. You have studied under me, and I have trained you for years. You're like a son to me... I can't stand to think what it might do to you. Don't late hate consume you... Please."

I closed my eyes, anger brewing in me as images of the man in the red cloak stabbing him flash through my head. I looked down at him and nodded.

"Thank you..." He said, his eyes slowly closing as the last ounce of his life slipped from my grasp.

"Star...Star please!" I said, shaking him violently. "Please don't die... God damn it you can't die!"

My eyes snapped shut and my head sunk down as my tears fell to his clothes.

"Goodbye..."

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I placed Patric down onto the bed. A few moments later he woke up, his eyes gazing up to mine.

"Are you okay?" I asked. As I stared down at him, I saw a sparkle in his eye as he looked into my eyes. "Did... You need anything to drink or... You lost a lot a blood and I thoug-"

I was interrupted as his lips met with mine. My eyes shot open and my face flushed bright red as we stood there, locked together. He pulled back, looking away from me.

"Sorry..." He said after a pause.

"That's... Alright." I said with an embarrassed tone. I looked back at him, our eyes met again. There was something about those eyes... I just...

"It's not... That it was bad..." I said shyly.

"No no... I shouldn't have. I had no right to and I know that you probably aren-" He rambled.

"I'm bisexual Patric." I said, hushing him.

"Oh... So you..." He said quietly.

"Attracted to you? Maybe a little." I said with a smile.

"Oh! Okay... Well I uh... That's good to hear, I'm glad tha-" He said quickly before I interrupted.

"Oh shut up already." I said, pressing my lips to his.

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THREE DAYS LATER:

"How long did you know him...?" I asked, kneeling down beside him as we stared at the grave.

"A long time Patric..." Colin said. I looked at him, he was in pain... His heart was torn up, I could tell.

"Are you going to be okay?" I asked.

"Yeah..." He nodded, never taking his eyes off the grave. He covered his mouth and started coughing.

"Are you okay?" I said with a tinge of concern in my voice. When his hand pulled away from his mouth, there was blood stained on them.

"What... What's wrong with you?" I asked, staring at the blood. He started breathing heavy, wheezing slowly growing louder.

"My bag... Grab my bag." He said quickly, pointing next to the grave. I reached over and opened it, handing it to him. He reached inside and pulled out a syringe full of a yellow liquid. He took the needle and plunged it into his chest, injecting it into himself. He took in a deep breath, his breathing slowing to a normal healthy sound. He pulled it out, breaking off the needle and replacing it with a clean one, then filling the syringe up with the same liquid from a vial. After he finished he replaced it back in the bag and closed it.

"What was that??" I asked, a hand on his shoulder as I looked at the small bit of blood running down the tiny puncture mark on his chest.

"Medicine." He said.

"For what?" I asked.

"I'm very sick..." He said, trying to avoid the question.

"Listen, I know you saved my life and all... And I don't have any rights to ask questions but... I'm concerned about you. You can tell me." I said. His eyes for the first time made contact with mine. I could see his glimmer in the light.

"Lung cancer." He said.

"That's...Horrible..." I said in disbelief, "How long do you have left?"

"I don't know. This medicine suppresses it. It's currently at stage 2. But the doctors I've been too said they can't treat it. They said I probably have a few good years left before it gets to the point where the medicine won't help anymore." He said. There was a long pause as our heads turned away from each other.

"His name is Nicholas." I said.

"What?" He asked confused.

"The man who killed your friend. His name is Nicholas. He's the one that did this to me. And I swear I'm going to kill him for what he's done to me, and you." I said, using my thumb to point back to my wing. He stared at me, then at my wing before starting to laugh.

"What's so funny?" I said angrily.

"The irony..." He said, staring down at the grave.

"What irony?" I asked.

"You want to kill him... And I don't." He said.

"But he... Killed your friend... How could you not want that?!" I asked in surprise.

"Don't get me wrong, I did at first... But..." He started.

"But what?" I asked.

"But I don't. I just want to tell him something." He said.

"And what would that be?" I asked. He shook his head.

"No... This is something I have to tell him, and him alone." He said. He reached over and grabbed my hand as he stared down at the grave.

"He was my teacher, and the only friend I've ever had." He said as a tear slipped its way out, "I don't want to be alone again..."

I tightened my grip on his hard and stood up. I placed my hand on his cheek and wiped the tear away.

"You won't be." I said as I kissed him. We melted into each other, more tears sliding down his face as he pulled away, pressing his head to my chest.

"I won't ever leave you Colin... I promise."

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THE NEXT DAY:

I groaned as I twisted another screw in. I scratched my head, looking at the blueprints. I heard footsteps behind me, and turned to see Patric walking towards me.

"Hey Patric." I said as I turned back to the mechanical wing that was about half constructed.

"Hey Cecil..." He said as he looked over my shoulder, "Is that it?"

"It's not finished yet." Cecil said, pushing him slightly. He laughed a little.

"I thought it looked a little small..." He said. I laughed sarcastically.

"Did you need anything?" I asked.

"Actually... I needed to tell you something." He said as he took a seat in an empty chair.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I think I'm in love with Colin." He said. I immediately stopped, the screwdriver I was holding no longer turning.

"What happened a couple days ago..." He said hesitantly.

"Don't worry about it." I said as I started working again, "It was just the 'Florence Nightingale' effect. It didn't mean anything."

"Oh... Alright. You're sure that you're okay with it?" He asked.

"Absolutely Patric. You two look like you'd make a great couple." I said.

"I'm so happy you understand!" He said as he put me in a bear hug.

"Okay..." I said weakly, trying to breathe, "I'm happy you're happy... But I need to breathe Patric..."

He let go and laughed, "Sorry! And thank you. It takes a lot of stress off my back... No pun intended."

"Again, don't worry about it." I said with a smile, "Now go upstairs and get your cute ass something to eat."

"Yes sir!" He said, turning and heading out of the basement. I stared back down at the wing, a single tear falling from my face onto it.

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ONE MONTH LATER:

"Okay!" I shouted up to him, "Try flying!"

"I don't know about this..." He yelled from the top of my tower.

"Come on! Colin will catch you if you fall." I yelled.

"Fine!" He yelled. He looked back, extending his wing, then it's new mechanical twin.

"Get ready to catch him..." I whispered to Colin. Patric dove off the tower, but instead of plummeting, he soared!

"It worked!" He shouted, starting to laugh.

"Holy shit... It works." I said with my mouth ajar. I watched as he flapped both his wings, actually gaining altitude. I started to laugh, cheering as he bolted through the sky.

"You have fun up there!" Colin shouted, "Im going to talk with Cecil for a moment."

He motioned me inside and we sat down.

"What is it?" I asked.

"There's something I should tell you." He said.

"Go on..." I said as my curiosity began to expose itself.

"A month ago, when we first arrived at your door..." He said.

"What about it?" I questioned.

"I saw your hand... When you reached for the pan." He said. My heart dropped.

"I... Why didn't you say anything?" I asked surprised.

"Well... You helped us. You didn't look like a bad guy, so I figured it wasn't my right to pry." He said, "I won't tell anyone."

"Thank you..." I said, relief washing over me.

"But there is something I want to tell you." He said.

"What?" I asked.

"I noticed you live here all alone. And I could imagine you've been here for quite awhile, am I right?" He asked.

"Yes..." I said quietly.

"And I'd imagine it's because of your... You know." He said, motioning to my hand.

"Well... It's more than just my hand. But yes." I said, gazing down at my hand.

"Can I give you a bit of advice?" He said.

"Sure..." I said with a shrug.

"Life will try to break you... And nobody can protect you from that." He said, giving a long pause before continuing, "But living alone won't either, because solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on this planet. You are here to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up. And when it happens that you are broken, or betrayed, or left, or hurt... Sit by an apple tree."

"What??" I asked, thrown off by the last part. He laughed a little.

"Just think about it. Sit by an apple tree and listen to the apples falling all around you, wasting their sweetness." He said.

"Alright..." I said, "Go on..."

"And when the day is over, and you're about to leave, you have to tell yourself something." He said.

"And what would that be?" I asked. He paused for a moment before placing a hand on my shoulder.

"That you tasted as many as you could." He finished, a smile on his face. I stared at him.

"I don't understand..." I said.

"You will some day." He said. I smiled, pulling him into a hug.

"You take care of him alright?" I said, patting him on the back.

"I will." He said, walking out the door. Patric landed and walked up to me, hugging me goodbye.

"Take care you two..." I said.

"Take care yourself." Patric said. After they left I closed the door. Staring at it. I sighed, moving upstairs to my room. I fell back onto it, staring at the ceiling.

"Cecil..." A voice said. I looked around the room, trying to find the source of it.

"Cecil." It said, a little louder this time.

"CECIL!"

My eyes snapped open, my head jerking up from the table. I looked down at the mechanical wing on the table.

"Oh..." I mumbled to myself groggily. I was about to continue repairing it when I was forced into a hug.

"I thought you were dead..." Fluttershy said, her face brimming with tears. My eyes glanced down to the gun lying on the floor. I stared at it, then back to her.

"Fluttershy I..." I tried to say before being hit in the arm several times.

"You selfish BASTARD!" She screamed, continuing to hit me. I raised my arms defensively.

"HOW COULD YOU EVEN THINK OF DOING THAT!" She yelled. Her punches got weaker and weaker, then she fell into me, crying.

"Fluttershy I'm so sorry... I..." I said, beginning to cry myself.

"Don't ever... Do that again." She said, tightening her grip around me.

"I won't... I promise." I said, "I love you Fluttershy."

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THE NEXT MORNING:

"Thanks for the repair." Patric said, flexing his new and improved wing.

"Don't mention it." I said.

"Come on Cecil, we're going to be late!" Fluttershy said, tugging on my shoulder.

"But the sun's not even up..." I said, "How early are we supposed to be?"

"Just come on..." She said, pulling me out the door.

"I'll come too." Patric said, following in turn. As I stepped outside, the last bit of moonlight left hit me, my body changed to it's skeletal counterpart.

"You sure I can't wear my hood..." I asked nervously. She immediately blindfolded me.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"It's a surprise. Just walk." She said.

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"We've been walking for half an hour..." I groaned.

"We're almost there." She said as I heard a door slide open. We walked inside a house or... something. Smelled a bit off... I heard the door close behind us.

"Okay. You can take your blindfold off." She said. I reached up and pulled it off to see that I was in a barn. All her friends were around me, staring at me.

"What... What's going on?" I asked. I was answered by the barn door opening and the moonlight flooding in. I was turned back into my other form. But I also noticed that in the light, there were a lot more people here.... A bunch of bright lights turned on overhead, lighting up the entire barn.

"Is... Everyone in town here??" I asked, turning to several people in the crowd I recognized from last night.

"Yep!" Pinkie shouted, "And we're here to show you how much we care about you."

"But... I hurt Fluttershy... How could you forgive me so easily?" I said in utter surprise.

"Because I love you." Fluttershy said, "And we're all your friends."

If I could, I would be crying right now. I hugged her, gripping her tightly.

"Thank you... Thank you so much." I said.

"No!" A voice from the crowd screamed. I turned to see Nicholas staring at me.

"You idiots! How can you just accept him like that? He's a freak! A monster!" He yelled in anger. There was a pause as he glanced around at the crowd. Everyone was glaring at him.

"I only see one monster here." Twilight said. Nicholas looked around in shock, backing away.

"You... You can't..." He said weakly. He turned and ran. I looked at Fluttershy, and she looked back at me.

"Let's get this party started!" Pinkie screamed as the blue haired girl pulled her goggles down and turned on the music. The crowd started cheering and dancing. She took a step back and held her hand out.

"Would you like to dance?" She asked.

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THREE HOURS LATER:

"That was pretty fun." I said as me and Fluttershy walked towards the exit to the barn.

"The day's just starting too." She said. I walked outside and into the morning sun just coming over the horizon. I looked at my hands to see them revert back to normal. It was then that I saw the farm for the first time.

"Are those..." I said, eyes widening as I stared towards the fields of trees.

"Apple trees. This is Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack's farm and home." Fluttershy said. I looked at the trees, staring speechless at them glisten in the sunlight. I walked over to one and sat down, leaning against it as I watched the sunrise. I stared out into the vast fields, the beauty of the sun shining across it. I smiled as a tear slid down my face.

"What's wrong?" Fluttershy asked.

"Nothing... It's just something a friend told me... A long time ago. Some advice he gave me that I didn't quite understand until now... Until you." I said. She sat next to me and I wrapped my arm around her.

"We could try that restaurant again. I'm sure this time it'll be a bit nicer now." She asked, looking up at me.

THUNK!

I looked to my left, and saw an apple sitting next to me. I looked down at her and said,

"Maybe we can stay here... A little bit longer..."

Author's Notes:

Sorry if this one took a bit longer to come out. Just bad timing and all, hadn't got a chance to write for a good amount of time. I hope you enjoy it!