I feel all ALONE every day, and you’re so FAR AWAY, I know SOMETHING’S  got to change, INSIDE OF ME- Inside Of Me, Dead By Sunrise

Episode 2: The Choices We Make

“You…”

For a moment, he could have sworn the very blood that flowed in his veins ran as cold as the Arctic sea. David merely stood there, completely numbed in astonishment by the unexpected guest that was standing before him. A cold sweat trickled down the back of his neck, his hazel eyes lay in the gape of complete disbelief.

“Oh, excuse me, just where are my manners?” the man in the black suit said before stepping closer to the young man. He then extended his right hand in a formal greeting.

“Miguel Estrada,” His voice was as husky and monotone, no more different than he sounded on the holovision.

The young doctor’s eyes shifted cautiously and restlessly in the direction of Miguel’s hand. It may be a universal proclamation of acknowledgement and peace however David could not help but ponder on the motives that may lay behind it. It took a short while before he proceeded to shake the stranger’s hand in return, everyone deserves a benefit of a doubt, the least he could do was hear him out.

“Dr David Stone…”

Miguel nodded, upon sensing a rather uncomfortable feeling of doubt and surmise in the air, released his hand before taking a step backwards from David’s comfort zone as to give the young man a little more room to breathe and to analyze the situation.

“I am willing to bet you have plenty of questions my good sir. Starting with what is God’s name is the Director of the Conversion Bureau doing in my office, am I correct?” he asked.

The young doctor’s expression however remained neutral, fighting desperately to bury the the myriad of questions he was dying unload on the man. “That would be the first, yes,” David agreed.

“Well then, I know you are a busy man Dr Stone so I will get straight to the point,” said Miguel, folding his arms. “I am pretty certain you are familiar with the Conversion Bureau,”

David nodded. “To the extent of my resources, vaguely”

There was a brief pause at the end of David’s sentence before the man inquired “And what of the Human Liberation Front?”

The young man felt his fist clench unexpectedly, his teeth clenched in resentment. “What about them?” he asked.

Miguel gave a long and heavy sigh, his dark brown eyes peering deep into David’s own. The young man felt an uncomfortable feeling wash over him, it was almost as if his very soul was being read like an open book.

“We live in dangerous times Dr Stone, I believe I need not bring to light  the current situation the American people and all of Ponykind face today. Protests, riots and all manner of atrocities continue despite the efforts of our government and our President.

About a week ago, the Conversion centre in New Jersey had been besieged, ravaged and decimated by radicals. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the incident,”

“I read about that in the New York Times but Bureau has no solid proof-“

“But you know better, don’t you Dr Stone?” Miguel interrupted

David was forced to silence the moment his very words were taken from him. There was most definitely something unnerving about Miguel’s eyes and it made the young man feel uneasy. It was then, the man reached into his coat pocket and removed a cigarette stick.

“Do you mind?”

“No, not at all, I have the purifier on,” replied David, his finger pointed briefly at the black device next to his table.

With the permission of his host, he then lit the tip of cigarette with silver lighter. Images of roses and thorns were engraved upon its polished surfaced along with several Spanish words carved beautifully in cursive.

“And I am afraid that the hostility will only escalate from here on out. Though some may keep to more peaceful methods of voicing their perspectives and beliefs, others had already begun taking matters into their own hands.

The Medical Centre stationed at the Bureau receives almost a dozen reports of savage assaults on Ponies on a daily basis,” said Miguel

David remained idle in thought as he watched the thin line of smoke ghosting upwards to the plastered ceiling above. “So many have been wheeled into the emergency rooms that honestly I have lost count. Bones broken, flesh carved, cutie marks mutilated, the list goes on,” he continued.

“I wouldn’t be surprised, fanatics always intend to get their message through one way or another,” David said, a tone of apathy in his voice.

The man took another puff from his cigarette before flicking the ashes into the bin next to him. “I agree, in all my years in the army the one thing I have learned about the human race is that we are indeed very convicted creatures.

But even so, Dr Stone, the human race as we know it is coming to a slow but inevitable end. You are a smart young man, you have seen the signs,” said Miguel.

At that very moment, he broke eye contact with the man. “It doesn’t take a person with my caliber to come to such obvious conclusions Mr Estrada.

“But the human race is tenacious and relentless. For decades they have survived and they will keep on surviving, they will keep on fighting no matter what the future may hold,“

“But would that truly be a future worth fighting for?” Miguel inquired.

David felt his fist clench and his teeth gritting slightly, irritated by the fact he was being cornered and outwitted every twist and turn however he fought to keep his composure.

“Which in turn, leads me to my next question Dr. Stone.  What is your personal opinion on the Ponies and their kind?” said the man, his voice taking a colder and stricter tone.

The young doctor felt yet a another chill, like the coldness of ice creeping through every nerve and every fiber of his spine. A sense of uneasiness gripped at his gut knowing his feelings walked the fine line between guilt and anger.

However, David’s eyes narrowed in agitation for he knew clearly of the man’s intentions. He was manipulating the situation, twisting every word, every sentence to his advantage in an effort to drive the young doctor a corner. But why? What does he stand to gain? David had no idea but he certainly was beginning to grow weary of this game of twenty questions.

Silently, Miguel inhaled yet another puff from his cigarette. The red ember glint burning through up the flammable roll of paper and tobacco followed a pungent puff of smoke.

“Allow me to paint you a picture Dr Stone, your shift has come to an end. You pack your suitcase, hang up your coat, wave the receptionist goodbye and make your way into the streets,” said Miguel.

David swallow hard, cautiously pondering on a possible direction or purpose of his words.

“It is dark, quiet and late. You make your way down an empty street with only the radiant lights of the street lamps to guide you. All in all, it was another uneventful walk home, but suddenly…”

Miguel paused deliberately for dramatic effect by taking yet another puff from his cigarette.

“You hear a cry for help from a dark alleyway nearby. Succumbing to your curiosity and your good will, you rush to help. There you see a filly. She is hurt, scared and helplessly surrounded by several men.

One could only assume these uncivilized brutes to be from the HLF. Brandished in their hands were knives, sticks, ropes, the rest I intend to leave to your imagination Dr. Stone. But right now, you are faced with a choice…” said the man.

“Either help that filly, or simply ignore, sorry, forsake her and be on your merry way while leaving her to her fate. So here is my question Dr. Stone, what would you do? What would you have done?”

At that moment, it was almost as if Miguel had reached into the very depths of his soul and snatched the life out of him. David felt his body go numb, his eyes widened in complete and utter shock. Never once had he pondered on such a possibility let alone a decision. What would he do? What would he had done? He felt a lump in his throat, his teeth gritted as his fist clenched.

“I… I…” he stammered.

However, Miguel interrupted him yet again “You’re not a hard man to read Dr. Stone. I caught a glimpse of you in the children’s ward moments earlier and I saw the way you looked at that couple, more precisely the apathy in your eyes,”

Miguel definitely struck a nerve. “You were stalking me?” David asked, his eyes narrowed in hostility.

“Stalking is a rather harsh word. No, I wasn’t stalking you, merely observing” Miguel replied, taking another puff from his cigarette.

“You see, you may have convinced yourself that your efforts to resuscitate that child wouldn’t have made a difference. Gino Stigma is terminal after all, still you could have tried, but you didn’t, did you?” he added.

“You want to know why?”

The young doctor was silent

“Because you have lost your faith in the human race, you have lost faith in yourself,” said Miguel

“SHUT UP!” David slammed his fit on the glass table hard enough to cause his stack of stationary to tip over and scatter itself all over the glossy surface.

“You don’t know the first thing about me! Just who the Hell do you think you are!?”

“Don’t I? I believe I am merely stating the obvious but this is the part where I find myself face to face with a rather intriguing enigma, why continue to stay human when you feel that way?

What is keeping you from joining the tens of thousands of humans before you?”

David scoffed “Because unlike some, I still have my pride, I have my dignity. I was brought into this world as a human being and may the Devil take my soul before I give that up, even for the promise of a better life!” he exclaimed.

Miguel chuckled dryly. “Pride? That is rather shallow isn’t it? If I could have a penny for every time I heard that one,”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means, Dr Stone, you aren’t the first and you most certainly will not be the last. You can have my word on that,”

David felt terribly offended with that statement. “Call it whatever you want Mr Estrada but I remain true to my beliefs. I have gotten this far with my blood, sweat and tears and I did with two legs and not four!” David replied, anger flaring in his veins.

“Then answer my question Dr Stone! What would you have done? Would you had rushed to her aid or would you just walked away.

Or better yet, would you rather stand by like a gutless coward and watch them beat the living daylights out of her!?” Miguel raised his voice.

“I don’t owe you the liberty Mr Estrada! You barge into my office uninvited and now you’re giving me a lecture on my perspectives!? Screw you!” David snarled.

“I know very well you are trying to avoid it Dr Stone but you are doing a very, very poor job at doing so.

Now answer my question, or am I to believe that you are no better than those zealots from the HLF!?” Miguel exclaimed.

“I told you, I don’t have to answer that! I don’t-“ David snarled in retaliation

“What would you have done Dr Stone!? WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE!?” Miguel hollered at the top of his voice.

“I DON’T KNOW!” David cried in utter frustration, shutting his eyes as he turned away. With his fists clenched tightly he then took a deep breath, his voice now uttered in remorse “I don’t know…”

“That is what I thought,”. The man took another puff from his cigarette. “Then riddle me this Dr Stone, do you believe in the possibility of peace between our two races?” he asked.

David ran his hand down his face. “Peace, I remembered a time when I was naive enough to believe in something as callow as peace,”

He shrugged before returning his gaze to the man before him. “I used to believe in the possibility of a world without conflict, a world devoid of pain or suffering free of prejudice and animosity where humans and all of Ponykind could coexist peacefully with one another.

But everyday when I turn on the news...”

David sighed. “No, I have given up peace as an option Mr. Estrada. I believe as long as humans, no, people like the HLF and their self-righteous ideals continue to exist, peace is nothing but an illusion,”

The young doctor was well aware he had just quoted the the man in the golden armor from his dream as much as it was against his better judgement.

“What if you were given a chance to change that? Would you take it?” said Miguel.

David cocked an eyebrow, taking a sudden interest in his peculiar question. “Just where do you intend on going with this Mr. Estrada?”

Miguel took another puff from his cigarette. “Judging by your impressive intellect, I believe you are well aware of the existence of V.A.N.G.A.R.D, are you not?” he asked.

The young man nodded “I am, but once again, vaguely. All I know is that they keep the peace between humans and Pony kind” he added.

Miguel bore a rather confident smile. “How would you like to be a part of it?”

David’s eyes widened a little. “Part… of V.A.N.G.A.R.D?”

Miguel took another puff from his cigarette. “Dr. David Stone, you come at a rather high recommendation and we are certainly in need of your expertise on the team” he said.

The young doctor felt confused, at a high recommendation? From who?

“My apologies for not being completely honest with you. This was no casual visit, this was test and I am delighted to announce that you had passed.

Believe me when I say, it is something I say very often. The bottom line is, I want you on my team,” said Miguel.

“But I am no soldier, sure I may have some experience in self defense but my expertise lie in genetics, me… medicine. What good would I be to you?” David said.

“Rather humble aren’t you? You have two black belts, an IQ of over three hundred, graduated high school at the age of thirteen and Harvard with a medical degree at the age of eighteen.

Yes, I do admit your CV is indeed impressive but there is something I admire most about you,”

“And what is that Mr Estrada?” David inquired curiously.

The man paused for a moment, crushing the cigarette butt with his fist before discarding it into the bin beside him.

“Your heart Dr Stone, you are not easily swayed by promise of peace or paradise, you remain true to your beliefs and I personally believe that truly is commendable” he said.

The young doctor was silent, taking a moment to ponder on the man’s words. However before he could string together the words for a sentence, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Rest your worries, I do not expect you to make a decision here and now,” he said, clutched in his other hand was a card, brandished in the direction of the young doctor.

“Here is my card, think long and hard about this and when you have your answer, when you truly believe you are ready, come find me at the Bureau,” he said.

The young man felt reluctant at first but then took the white card in his hand, written on it in bright silver were the words ‘The Conversion Bureau- Director- Col. Miguel. C. Estrada’.

“Now if you would excuse me as I take my leave. I have an appointment with the Secretary of Defense and I am already a full hour late,” he said, giving a gentle tap on David’s shoulder.

The man made his way to the door, the same tinkling of the bell rang briefly as he proceeded to open it. However, David turned around in time to catch the man just as he was stepping out into the hallway.

“Mr Estrada!” The man to pause in his step.

“Why do this? Why offer me a place in V.A.N.G.U.A.R.D? Even after what I said...”

Miguel returned his question with a warm smile. “That was because you were speaking your mind and not from your heart.

David, a wise man once told me, we are measured and judged not by our heritage or the blood in our veins but by the choices that we make,”

The young doctor was silent.

“I believe that every man has his right to believe what he wants to believe but when faced with a situation where he will be forced to make a decision that would challenge those beliefs, I believe that he will follow his heart and do the right thing,” he added.

“But why me?”

“Because, like you, I too believe in a world where humans and Ponykind can find finally find peace with one another.

Good evening Dr Stone and thank you for your hospitality, I certainly look forward to our next meeting,” he said before shutting the door behind him.

The young doctor sighed, his eyes lay fixed on the card in his hand. V.A.N.G.A.R.D, who was he kidding? Why would they possibly want a doctor joining their ranks? But then again, how much did he know, how much does the world truly know about about V.A.N.G.A.R.D? About the Bureau?

Were they spectres, ghosts, recognizable only as deja vu and dismissed just as quickly? Just who were they, truly? David allowed his suspicions to get the best of him, working up a bunch of assumptions but in the end they merely remained as such.

However, the young man could not help but remember the look in Miguel’s eyes. That look of fortitude and determination that would inspire comfort and confidence even in the most skeptical of men. Somehow David knew deep inside of him that he meant everything that he had said, just as he would on the holovision.  

“Argh!” The young doctor ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, he felt confused and he needed a second opinion.

Then, a crack of thunder then directed his attention to the window just as drops of rain began splattering against his window pane. “Oh Shit!” he cursed, moving to grab his leather bag before making his way toward the exit.

**********

   The city felt colder than usual, especially since summer was coming to a slow but definite end. David could feel the cold biting into his flesh as he braved the rain, the raindrops trickling from his old, worn out fedora given his pathetic excuse for an umbrella. He tucked his hand and his leather suitcase into his thick leather overcoat, grumbling as he unexpectedly stepped into a puddle in the middle of the street.

There was something increasingly different about these streets and no, it was not the voices resonating from the holographic billboards or the projected screens blaring images of some distant beach paradise with the sun shining brightly in the sky. It was the dwindling amount of people David would expect walking the streets on their way home from work.

Almost a year ago, he would brush shoulders every ten minutes with some random pedestrian due to how narrow the sidewalk was, now all he could eye were about a dozen people ahead of him, not putting into count the Ponies draped in their brightly colored raincoats. David shrugged, the lights from the flashing neon reflected upon his leather coat as the sounds of the passing cars were drowned by the heavy rainfall.

Darn, he could use a drink right about now, speaking of which. The young doctor then stopped in front of a small pub which bore a resemblance to an old English tavern with the words ‘Tim Bak Tuu’ engraved in wood lay holstered in chains above the typical oak door with the sounds of good ole tavern music from behind it.

“Little high little low!” he cried jovially, entering the tavern with a hard push on the door.

“Come on David, that joke is sad and old! You need some new material and this time please leave your coat at the door, I don’t want my customers slipping again,” replied the bartender that was standing behind a large wooden counter.

David chuckled, removing his rain drenched coat and hat before hanging it on a wooden hook by the door. “Hey, if anyone breaks a leg, just send them my way,” he said, closing his umbrella before leaning it against the wall.

“Har Har, easy for you to say cause you’re not the one getting sued” said the bartender with a scowl on his face.

“Oh lighten up Mikey, you know I was just kidding” said David as he sat himself upon a wooden stool by the counter.

Micheal Stone, David’s elder cousin, both of them moving to New York years ago believing in the old saying ‘If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere’, the Big Apple, where dreams are made of. The young doctor scoffed silently as he studied the strapping twenty five year old with eyes of bright cobalt blue and dark brown hair.

Though first impressions may have been misleading, he is a graduate from the esteemed culinary school of Le Corden Bleu and the youngest to ever be awarded a Michelin Star in recognition of his skills. To why he would even consider settling in a place such as this despite the myriad of offers for the position of Head Chef from five star restaurants from all over the globe was a complete and utter mystery to the David.

Was it arrogance? No, Mikey was never the type to let fame and recognition go to his head. Now that he thought of it, the young man had never bore any feelings of envy, dissatisfaction or even regret. After the grand opening of of his very own bar downtown, being content had pretty much become his middle name. It was probably the only reason why the young doctor had complete and utter faith that he would never see his cousin trotting into his office as a pastel horse.

His hazel eyes looked over his shoulders, noticing a strange crowd of both humans and Ponies mingling with one another. The bar felt oddly lively without so much as a trace of animosity between to two races with their smiles and laughter bringing such warmth and joy to the atmosphere. The young man smiled ever so warmly before returning his gaze to his cousin.

“So, what can I do you for cous?” asked Mikey with a smile on his face, only to raise his eyebrow in confusion when he realized David has been staring eerily at him for quite some time.

“Whoa, I know I’m pretty cous, but my door don’t swing that way,”

“Who? Wha? No! God! You’re sick you know that!” David said, snapping to attention. “And I’ll have a pint if you don’t mind!”

Mikey chuckled “Alright, a pint it is,” he said, reaching for a chilled glass from his cooler as he filled it with beer to the brim from a golden tap perched behind his counter.

As he waited for his drink, the young doctor rubbed the back of his head in hesitation suddenly realizing why he was there in the first place.

“What is it this time? That bitch nurse Jackie got your tie up in a twist again?” said Mikey all of a sudden.

David’s eyes widened for a moment. “Wha? No! No, that’s not it…”

“Come on David, I know when something’s on your mind. You always have that face when you do, that ‘IhaveabigproblemandIneedsomehelpbutIdon’twanttoadmitit’ face,” teased Mikey, distorting his expression in an effort to mock his cousin before sliding the mug in his direction.

“Oh grow up Mikey” said David, pouting as he caught the cold handle of the beer filled mug.

“So you gonna tell me or do I have to play charades with you again?”

David took a sip from his beer before laying down the thick glass mug on the glossy marble counter top. “Let’s just say, I have this… friend… of a friend…” said David

Mikey nodded his head. “Riggghht, a friend of a friend… please do go on,”

The young doctor merely glared unamused. “Well, let’s just say, he’s been offered a job, by some… Hospital! Yeah. And they seem a little shady, he doesn’t know what they do exactly, or what he’d be doing there,”

The young bartender folded his arms and rubbed his chin in thought.

“Now my question is, do you think that he should? I mean, take them up on the offer?” David inquired.

“Will he be helping others by doing do?” Mikey asked all of a sudden.

Hazel eyes widened in surprised. “Yes, in a manner of speaking,” he answered awkwardly.

“Will he have a chance to change this God forsaken world for the better?” Mikey asked yet again.

“Yes, probably” said David as awkwardly as before.

Mikey’s eyes narrowed a little, leaning over his counter as his face inched closer and closer to David’s own, making the poor doctor back away uncomfortably, his voice now striking a rather serious tone.

“Will he be able to save us all?”

“Ma…maybe?” replied David, feeling awfully uncomfortable right about now.

“Then there’s your answer right there!” said Mikey with a laugh, backing away from the young doctor with David breathing a sigh of relief.

“You know I hate it when you do that” said David with a scowl.

“Sorry cous, but you know how I get with your friend of a friend stories. But all in all, tell your ‘friend’, I see no harm in him joining this ‘hospital’,” said Mikey before turning his back to his younger cousin. He then grabbed hold a whisky glass from the top shelf as he began polishing it with a clean towel.

“Long as he believes that he could do some good in this world…” said Mikey. His sudden  moment of silence made David cock an eyebrow.

“David, you and I have been here for a long time and I’ve seen this city gone from bad to worse. Although at times I may seem as if I hadn’t a care in the world but I’m no stranger to what goes on around me.

I’ve read the papers and I’ve seen the news. Truth is people are scared cous, all our lives we were led to believe that we were all alone in the universe. Then five years ago this place, Equestria popped up on the map,” said Mikey

David remained silent, taking a sip from his beer before allowing his cousin to continue.

“Then these, Ponies, started migrating into our cities and integrating themselves into our societies and our way of life.  Not long after the idea of Ponification surfaced along with a promise of a better life, a better future.

Humans can be tolerant David but even tolerance has its limits and some people just aren’t ready to accept the idea that their very existence is under threat,” he added, slotting back the glistening glass into the cooler beside him.

“Humans after all are frail, fearful and insecure creatures, we all know that. They always constantly fear what they do not understand. Whether its caused by blatant ignorance or arrogance, I don’t know but what I do know is that fear will always turn to hatred and as we have learned time and time again from the pages of our bloody history that hatred will inevitably lead to suffering,”

David’s eyes narrowed. “So let me get this straight, are you saying what those crazy bastards are doing out there to the ponies are because they are afraid?”

“I didn’t say that David, not exactly,” replied Mikey, turning to face his younger cousin.

“Then what are you trying to say? The HLF are crazy nutjob humanists who believe violence is the only answer to anything and everything.

Those violent attacks on Ponies? They’re not doing it because they’re afraid, they’re doing it because they get off to it!” said David, his clear detest in the tone of his voice.

“I know how you feel cous but these are but the actions of a few so labeling the entire human race as bloodthirsty, war mongering savages is plain unfair.

You’re not like that and neither am I yet we walk on two legs and enjoy a good hot dog once in a while,” said Mikey.

“Your point?” David inquired.

Mikey shrugged. “You remember the stories Grandpa used to tell us? Stories of heroes, knights in shining armor riding into battle, that whole shebang?” he asked. David nodded at the question before taking another sip from his pint.

“Remember that one story about Arthas? The Valiant? Remember the part when he was forced to choose between his own kind and that of the Vargans? The wolf people?” Mikey asked yet again with David nodding yet again.

“He did make a choice David but he chose no side, instead he chose to fight for himself and his beliefs. By doing so, he was forever immortalized as a hero for both for the Vargans and his people,” said the young man and with a smile on his face.

“Come to think of it, how did that story end anyways?” asked David.

Mikey chuckled nervously as he rubbed the back of his head “Sorry, I forgot, it’s been so long, heh” he said with a nervous chuckle as David smacked his forehead, dumbfounded by his cousin.

“If you’re going to use one of Grandpa’s stories as an example, the least you could do is to remember how it ended you dolt,”

“But the bottom line is…” said Mikey, grabbing David’s attention.

“I believe that that both humans and ponies could do without the idea of vigilantes, false prophets, or even saviors.

What they need is a hero, someone who believes he could save this God forsaken world, one who would give it his all to fight not just for the humans but for all Ponykind” said Mikey before returning to polishing his beer mugs.

“And cous… I believe the world could really use one right about now,” he said with a shrug.

David was silent in thought, taking a deep gulp from his beer mug, his hazel eyes focused on the rising bubbles behind the transparent glass grasped in his hand.

“Eh! Mikey! Would you top me up, ole buddy, ole pal!” came a sudden voice next to the young doctor, startling him for a moment.

His eyes shifted to what appears to be an old colt, his coat was as brown as oak and his whitish mane was messy and unkept. David can tell from his overly foul and repulsive breath not to mention his lack of coordination that he has had a pint too many.

“I would, if you pay off your tab you bootless, leaching, good-for-nothing old goat!” snapped Mikey, snatching away the beer mug from the colt’s mouth.

“Oh come on, throw me a bone here!” said the colt.

“I’ma throw something at you alright and it ain’t gonna be no bone! In fact, maybe I should throw you instead! Right out onto the curb!” said Mikey, folding up his sleeves.

David merely watched, a grin growing on his face as if amused by the whole commotion. “I guess manners have long died for you youngens, maybe I should just move away, faaarr away to Equestria!” said the old colt.

“Well what’s stopping you? Go on, git! Leaavee this place! Oh wait, they don’t have BEER there do they!?” Mikey exclaimed as he slapped the counter top.

As both colt and man continued to argue, David turned away. He idly swirled the golden liquid within his glass as he gazed into his own reflection. A hero? The young doctor has never thought of it that way, but he could not shake the thought, the reasoning behind it. V.A.N.G.U.A.R.D, The Bureau, Miguel? Could he really do some good by joining them?

But Mikey was right in more ways than one. The world was in complete disarray and even with the remnants of the human race having come to terms with what it has become, he knew that threat of an all out anarchy was just waiting for a chance to rear its ugly head.

However, in the end he was just one man, what could one man do? The young man shrugged before proceeding to down what was left in his mug.

*********

“So, any plans for tomorrow? It’s the weekend after all,” said Mikey as he slid his hand into the long sleeve of his leather overcoat. David shook his head.

“With luck, some well deserved rest. Sides, I have to get back to the hospital later tomorrow,” said David, straitening his own coat. Mikey shrugged

“Again? David there’s more to life than playing doctor you know. Don’t get me wrong, I know you’re good at what you do and  they’re a little shorthanded at the moment but don’t you think you’re letting them make a mule outta you?”

David chuckled. “Mule is quite the understatement Mikey but unfortunately with everyone headed for the Conversion Centers, someones got to look after the patients,”

Mikey nodded “Well, I guess you’re right. Hey, someones gotta care right?” he said with a smile before walking outside into the rain.

The young doctor took one last look at the bar behind him which was now dark and bare. It has been hours since he first arrived and the patrons had long left the establishment, with the exception of one having to be booted out with a firm kick to the behind.

“Hey come on, we don’t have all night cous. I wanna get home as much as you do” Mikey said.

David nodded, slipping on his fedora before tucking his bag into his coat and making his way outside.

The two young men then said their goodbyes before going their separate ways. David’s eyes wandered to the watch worn on his wrist, the face of his classic Rolex, an heirloom from his late grandfather showed both hands pointing to 12am. Has he been there that long?  David groaned but was relieved at the knowledge that his apartment was only two blocks away. Umbrella in hand, he made his way down the desolate street.

The young doctor lay silent in thought, trying hard to ignore the persistent voices from the sidewalk Plexiglas billboards that came to life the movement it sensed him passing by. He has heard his fair share of propaganda disguised as high budget ads from the Conversion Bureau.

Not to mention the religious, egotistical and often self righteous bullshit from the Human Liberation Front and their hippy counterparts, the I.S.H.A or better known as The International Human Survival Alliance. David scoffed, today has been pretty eventful and any effort to digest any more might just give him heartburn.

With his mind somewhere between Jupiter and Mars in a manner of speaking, David suddenly found himself a good four inches shorter on his right side. His leather loafer now completely submerged in a deep puddle.

“Oh GOD DAMMIT!” he cursed, lifting his foot out of the mucky rainwater. Those were his favorite pair of shoes and he had saved a great deal for them too.

“Can’t I get a freaking break? I’m not asking for the world here you know just-“

“Help! Help us, please!”

         The young man felt his heart jump the moment he heard the call. His eyes snapped frantically the alleyway not too far from where he stood. Without a second thought, he took off down the rain drenched walkway as fast as he could. As he got closer, his caught several more voices mostly male and by judging by the manner of which they spoke, they were definitely not friendly.

Their cries as if egging someone or something on made him sick, loud enough to drown out someones terrified cries and pleas for mercy. He slid to a stop at the entrance of the alleyway, with his heart racing and his breaths frantic as his hazel eyes stared at complete disbelieve at the sight that lay before him.

“My turn!” cried a man, chuckling cynically as he twirled what appears to be baseball bat in his hand.

  This was not happening, definitely not happening. David swore that this was a joke, a dream, anything, but this was not happening. There at the very end of the dark, filthy alleyway were six men.

They brandished each a baseball bat, a hockey stick, even a metal pole accompanied by the evil yet sinister smiles  that lay plastered on their faces. Their menacing eyes lay fixed on the very thing they had outnumbered and outgunned, surrounding them like a pack of hungry hyenas giggling at the thought that they would soon have their fill. It was then, David felt the exact same chill run down his spine.

“Please, please just leave us alone…” she pleaded

It was a filly but she was not alone. She laid helplessly on the ground, her lime green pelt smeared with mud and her cutie mark was too stained to make out. Lying protectively over a brown colt, panting on the ground, blood streaked down his head from a horrible gash that David could only assume was caused by the blunt edge of one of those baseball bats.

“And miss out on the fun?! Fat chance freak!” said one of the men, laughing somewhat manically as he did.

“You’re an abomination, a monster, and you know what we do to monsters now do you?” said the other, this one wearing a red baseball cap.

The filly gritted her teeth, tears brimming in her eyes as if silently asking Why? Why would they do such a thing? They have done nothing to them, why did they attack without cause or provocation?

“Please, let us go! I’ll do anything, please…” she pleaded yet again.

“The only place you’re going is the morgue freak,” sneered the other man, his large beer belly almost spilling out from his overly tight jeans.

Her tears spilled from her eyes only to be washed away by the rain. She knew that deep down inside that no one was going to come to her aid, they were Ponies, and their lives meant nothing to these two legged creatures. It was then she felt a soft nuzzle on her neck as her peach orange eyes shifted down to the injured colt.

“It’s okay Mint, I’m right here with you,” he muttered.

The filly felt her lower lip tremble. “I know…,” she said.

David merely watched from the entrance of the alley, petrified by the whole ordeal. His mind was frantic, loss for options, loss for choices, everything was at a blank. Then, he felt a gasp escape him as his heart skipped a beat.

BAM!

Small drips of blood splattered across the pavement as the baseball bat came in contact with the filly’s head. She tumbled almost lifelessly to the wet cement floor with her eyes half awake. The world was spinning and everything was a blur, the numbing pain throbbing at the back of her skull which was possibly fractured from the initial impact.

“Whoo wee! That was a good one!” cried one of the men.

“Hey, before we up finish these freaks, why don’t we take a lil’ souvenir?” said the other as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small hunting knife.

The young doctor felt the very warmth desert his body, all that was left was the bitter cold and a grip like vice around his windpipe.

Just walk away…

This was not his fight, not his fight. Even if he did, it would be one against six, the odds were stacked against him. He had no intention of getting hurt over a bunch of unfortunate Ponies who should known better than to wander outside this late at night.  David cursed under his breath, why was this happening? Why did he have to be at the wrong place and the wrong time? Why? Why? Why?

Walk away…

David gritted his teeth as he turned away, proceeding taking a single step with every intention of leaving that place behind.

“This here’s gonna be my fourth Cutie Mark, well momma always did wanted me to get a hobby,” the man said, getting on his knees as he twirled the knife in his hand.

Walk away now, this would have all been a bad dream…

“Don’t you touch her!” the colt cried, only to receive a hard kick to the stomach in return. He coughed and choked, spitting some blood onto the concrete floor.

“Shut yer yap monster, you’re gonna be next,” said the human in the red baseball cap.

David shut his eyes and clenched his fists “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, please forgive me,” he muttered.

“You’re sorry? You're not thinking of running away now are you?"

“Grandpa?” David’s eyes snapped wide open. It came to him like an angel’s whisper and soon the words began flowing like drops of rain upon his lather coat.

“I believe that every man has the right to believe what he wants to believe but when faced with a situation where he will be forced to make a decision that would challenge those self conceived beliefs, I believe he will follow his heart and do the right thing”

“I believe that the Ponies and the human race could do without the idea of vigilantes, false prophets, or even saviors.

What they need is a hero, someone who believes in a world without conflict, one who would give it his all to fight not just for the humans but for all Ponykind”

“And cous… I believe the world could really use one right about now”

“We will all have our crossroads David, life is but a journey filled with twists and turns. Always remember that there will always an easy way, a right way and a crazy way.

These choices will be ours and ours alone and being capable of doing so it what makes us…”

“Human…” David’s muttered. “I know Grandpa” He dropped his umbrella to the ground as it was taken away by the wind.

He then removed his fedora, allowing his hair to be drenched in the pouring rain with the raindrops running down his face before tossing it into the street. The young doctor then reached back and pulled the hood of his coat over his head as it shrouded his eyes in blackness.

“Let’s do this…” he said, slipping off his glasses from the bridge of his nose.

The man’s eyes widened as if in ecstasy, the half lidded eyes of the filly reflected silver blade of the knife. She felt so tired, tired of fighting it, Princess Celestia was right, these were vile creatures who knew no mercy or compassion. She should have listened to her parents and stayed in Manehattan, now she will pay for her naivety.

“I’m sorry Jonas…” she muttered weakly.

“Do it! I wanna hear her scream!” cried one of the men. The silver blade was about an inch from her flank when all of a sudden, the men heard the sounds of rainwater splashing violently behind them which sounded more like heavy footsteps.

“What the heck?” said the man with the knife, his eyes looking up just in time to catch a young man sprinting down the alleyway, a leather suitcase clenched in his hand.

The fat bearded man from before merely stared, half in confusion and bewilderment but when he realized he was standing directly in the path of the young man, it was too late.

The young man swung his suitcase in his direction with all his might, the hard leather case hitting the man’s chest at such a force, it knocked the air right out of his lungs. But by impulse, he clenched the hard bag in his arms as he tried to regain his composure. However, the young man gave him no chance to do so.

His baby blue eyes widened as the young man leaped into the air, spinning mid flight, he landed a hard kick to the man’s chest. The man choked and convulsed as the kick landed directly on his solar plexus, feeling the very space between his ribs crack upon impact.

The blow was powerful enough to send him flying in to the air, his large heavy frame took off like a loose cannonball as he was sent tumbling backwards. The man with the knife could only let out a short, shrill, girl-like squeal the moment the man came barreling into him, sending both of them crashing into the hard brick wall at the end of the alley.

“Austin! Bubba!” His gaze now filled with rage as he turned his attention to the man in the hood, landing effortlessly on his own two feet.

“You son of a bitch!” the man in the baseball cap snarled.

David’s eyes narrowed at the men before him. “I don’t know if you’re crazy or just plain stupid but you sure picked the wrong guys to tangle with,” said the other.

“Let the Ponies go,” said David, his voice deep and threatening.

“Oh, lookie what we have here boys, we got ourselves a pony lovin fag!” said one of them, looking a little younger than the others, David assumed he was eighteen.

“Well we’ve dealt with these sons of bitches before,” said the other. Up close, David noticed the golden tooth on his bottom jaw.

“Maybe this one just needs a lesson he won’t forget. Don’t worry, we’re mighty good at teachin, we’re so good we should start chargin,” said the one with the single earring on his left ear.

“Bubba! Bubba, Jesus Christ Bubba!” cried the man with the knife.

The large man, the one referred to as Bubba was bleeding furiously from his side, the hunting knife buried completely in the wound.

He moaned and cried “Oh God, I’ma gonna die. I don’t wanna die…”

“You won’t Bubba, I promise. Oh God, we gotta get him to a doctor,” the man known as Austin said frantically.

David held back the urge to help the man, the wound looked deep and if left untreated, the loss of blood would lead to shock or worse, infection and their particular location left cleanliness to question.

“YOU!” David’s attention snapped back to Austin, climbing to his feet as he snatched the baseball bat from the man in the cap.

“You did this to Bubba! I’ma kill you! I’ma KILL YOU GOOD!” he snarled.

David brazenly stood his ground “You don’t want to do this,” said the young doctor warned, his fists clenching at the sight of the approaching man.

“SHUT UP!” he cried as he lifted the bat, rushing close to the young man he took a full out swing. David ducked just in time, the hard wooden bat missing his forehead by near inches.

His hazel eyes narrowed, in a blink of an eye David retaliated by swinging his right into Austin’s left cheek, the very impact was almost bone breaking as it knocked the very sense right out of the man. The man stumbled backwards but before he could regain his composure, David swung his leg into the man’s head. A spray of saliva and bits of blood spouted from Austin’s lips feeling as if he had just taken the brunt of sledgehammer to the face. He felt the world starting to grow hazy and turbulent.

But that did little to stop the man, shaking it off he charged again, taking another swing at the young doctor. However this time David was ready for him as he caught the bat in his hand. Before the man could so much as blink, David slammed his fist straight into the man’s chin, immediately sending his head backwards in a violent snapping motion.

Gritting his teeth, he brought the bat right down to his knee, the sound of cracking and splintering wood echoed through the alley as the bat was snapped in half before ripping the pieces from Austin’s hands and tossing them aside.

Austin was dazed, his lip was busted and bleeding. David then dashed forward, throwing his arms around the man’s neck as he held him tightly. With a single motion, he brought his knee up to his chest, slamming it hard enough to choke him upon impact. He then continued, once, twice, three times over and over again, from his chest to his stomach well aware that he was reducing the man’s ribs to mere pieces with ever impact.

Austin cried furiously, charging forward he attempted to tackle his shoulder into the young doctor, however David immediately retreated. In a burst of energy, he dragged the man down to his waistline before driving his knee right into the man’s face with a blow so hard he snapped backwards back onto to his feet with his teeth was now soaked with blood.

David’s knuckles cracked as his hands curled into fists, with all his might, he then slammed them into the man’s face like the pistons of a car. One to his left cheek, one to his right, one to his chest then to his side. Austin felt like a punching bag and through his daze he tried to get in a few punches of his own but David merely dodged or deflected them, returning punches twice as hard. The young doctor’s was fast, his feet stepping from side to side as if he was dancing in the rain.

With a snarl, David landed a hard uppercut to Austin’s chin, sending his head snapping violently backwards. Finally, he spun around and landed a hard kick to the man’s stomach.

POW!

        The man could have sworn his very his soul had been shot right out of his body like a slug from the barrel of a shotgun. It was if he felt his very stomach had ruptured and exploded as it caved in from the explosion of force before being violently and helplessly tossed into the brick wall behind him. The others were dazed but upon seeing their fellow man sliding unconscious to the floor, they burst into a fit of rage.

They came, baseball bat, hockey stick and metal rod a swinging. David barred his teeth, his eyes lit up with the fury of an animal long caged within. If it was a brawl they want, then by God’s name they shall have it. David shifted into his stance, deflecting the first attack with two brash swings to the face before sending the man with the baseball cap stumbling backward with a kick to the chest.

The one with the gold tooth swung a the metal rod in his direction, missing the young man as he ducked and weaved his way through the of violent, aimless swings. David then dug his feet into the ground before propelling himself into a dash, ducking under yet another swing, he tackled himself into the man before throwing his arms around the man’s waist. With a single motion, he spun himself around behind the man before lifting him into the air.

The man was caught completely off guard and definitely off motion as he was thrown into suplex back first into the concrete. He groaned and writhed from the flaring pain in his back and his neck. Hues of bright hazel widened the moment he caught a hockey stick being swung downwards in his direction. He rolled away just in time as it hit the ground with a loud metallic clang.  

The teenager raised the stick again, however David rolled onto his back before slamming his foot into his stomach hard enough to send him staggering backwards a couple of steps. The young doctor rushed to his feet before he charging forward, his knuckles cracked as his fist curled tightly.

Without a second thought, he swung a barrage of brash punches and kicks into the teenager, slamming his hardened fists into his face, ribs, sides. The teenager fumbled about as he tried to ready himself for another swing his hockey stick before David stepped in and slammed his fist into his side right into his stomach.

The teen felt an as if his gut had twisted itself in a knot as coughed and choked. Discombobulated and dazed, he bit his bottom lip from the excruciating pain like drills piercing into his brain. David’s eyes narrowed yet again as he round-housed the teenager right into the cheek. The blow sent his head snapping furiously to the side with his body spinning in a full circle as he took a hard tumbled to the ground.

The one with the earring pulled out a butterfly knife from his pocket, unfolding it almost flawlessly in his hand before swinging violently and frantically with every intention of slashing the young doctor to ribbons. David shifted back into his stance, instinctively raising his hands to protect his face as dodged the silver razor best he could.

“Argh!” he cried, having the blade cut right though his leather jacket and across his right arm.

Fortunately it was just It was just a graze, however the man grew cocky judging by the overconfident sneer on his face as he lunged forward, thrusting his blade forward in the direction of David’s chest. Big mistake! Immediately, he dodged to the side as the silver blade barely missing him by a hair before grabbing hold of the man’s wrist. Like an uncoiled spring, with an eruption of raw power David then swung his hardened fist into the man’s side, a direct impact straight into the liver.

The man body contorted as his jaw lay agape, it was almost as if every single pain receptor in his body ignited at that very moment. It overwhelmed him to a point where he could had emptied the contents of his stomach all over the pavement but it was far from over. David then swung his fist violently into the man’s face, once, twice then with all his might he slammed the man’s elbow down mercilessly on his knee.

The sickening sound of the bones ins his arm snapping in two was drowned by a long wail of pure agony. David barred his teeth like a wild animal before swinging the same knee straight into the man’s stomach, the impact knocking the air right out of him.

With the man’s arm was now limp in his own, David tossed the knife into the air. With a firm grip on the man’s wrist, he slammed his foot into the man’s side at the same time wrenching the arm right out of its socket.

He screamed in pure agony.

He then dragged the man in the direction of the nearby dumpster before slapping his hand on the plastic lid. Just as the blade began descending back to the ground, David snatched it in mid air before driving the four inch blade straight into the man’s palm, pinning him to the dumpster.

“AAAARRRHHH! YOU SON OF A BITCH! ARRRGH!”

“Do me a favor and stay here for a moment would you?” David said sadistically. As the man tried to free himself, the young doctor returned his attention to the staggering trio finally managing to regain what was left of their composure.

“COME ON!” he cried as he raised his fists in challenge to the men before him. They kept a safe distance, with their confidence gone they were now stricken with doubt and fear and even with their weapons clasped tightly in their hands, they were hesitant to attack.

Suddenly, David felt a sharp pain on the back of his head. His eyes widened feeling as if the world had come to an abrupt stop. He caught shards of broken tempered glass probably from that of a bottle whistling past him as he tumbled to the ground. Everything felt silent and not even the sounds of the rain had muted in his eardrums.

His breaths grow heavy and the feeling of something warm running down the bridge of his nose made him realize the blow was a lot worse than anticipated. He groaned as he was forced onto his feet by the two men and the teenager. David finally laid eyes on his attacker Austin from before. He battered,  bruised and pissed as Hell as he tossed what was left of a broken Jack Daniels into the street.

“Hold him!” he snarled. David was then mercilessly flung into the wall with all three of them pinning him tightly. Austin spat the blood from his mouth onto the ground. “Well boy, since you’re in such a hurry to die then I’ma gonna have you fitted for a halo!” he said.

With all his strength, he drove his fist into David’s stomach. David’s eyes widened, gasping as he spat involuntary from the impact of the punch. God did it hurt! Nothing had prepared him for that. Austin then grabbed a handful of David’s hair, lifting his head before slamming his fist into David’s right cheek and then again into his left, over and over again.  

The young doctor was in a world of pain, his face was completely battered and bruised with blood splattering onto the floor with each and every impact. However Austin could not satisfy the itch within, he wanted more, he wanted the young man to regret that whore of a mother of his ever brought him into this world.

His green eyes searched the alley for something else, something he could use and it was not long before he settled his gaze on the metal pole on the ground. He smiled maliciously before reaching down, tightening his grip around it as the thunder roared terrifyingly in the skies above.

David could feel his consciousness slipping away, through his half lidded eyes he saw Austin approach him, the sinister sneer bore clearly on his face. “Boys, why don’t we make a retard outta this one?” he said. The others merely returned that question with the sinister smiles of their own.

“I want you to remember this, this is what happens punk ass bitches like you who try to mess with the HLF. THIS here is what happens when you decide play hero and side with those freaks!

But don’t worry, after we put you in asylum we’ll be sure to take very, very good care of them,”

This was it, this was the end of the road, he gambled and he loss and David has never felt more powerless. He thought he was strong enough but it was merely a poor decision based on foolish assumptions and now it was time to give the Devil his due. David smiled weakly, at least this time he tried.

“Giving so soon boy?”

David’s eyes widened, was he that close to death already?

“Remember the stories, remember Arthas The Valiant…”

David recalled his Grandfather’s tale, of the brave warrior, bloodied, broken and bruised upon the battlefield. Upon the large armored man brandishing a sword, ready to cut our hero down, the hero merely smiled, even at the face of death. “Smiling at your demise Arthas?” asked the man.

“No…” The hero replied. I told you once before, didn’t I? As long as courage continue to flow through my veins, as long I my soul remains untainted and my body unbroken…”

“Heaven help the poor bastard that stands in my way…” muttered David under his breath.

“Remember David, courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear,”

His hazel eyes wandered to the wounded Ponies on the ground, gazing deep into the filly’s orange eyes. Though half lidded and barely conscious, she called out to him, begging him, pleading with all her heart and soul. “Save us, save us please…” David shook the daze from his eyes just Austin swung the metal rod in his direction.

“You know what you have to do... NOW FIGHT!”

David cried at the top of his voice, with an eruption of raw power he grabbed the man by his shirt and dragged the bewildered man in the baseball cap with all his might, putting him helplessly in the direct path of the metal rod. Austin’s eyes widened, it was a little too late to stop.

The gut wrenching sounds of a bone cracking and shattering upon impact could be heard as a spray of blood splattered over the surface of the wall. The light of life and consciousness faded from the man’s eyes as he was sent face first into to the ground from the terrifying impact of the metal rod. His bloodstained cap floated lifelessly to the rain drenched concrete.

“Oh my gawd, KENNY!”.

David snapped his attention to the man next to him with fury of a thousand suns flaring in his hazel eyes. The man shrieked just as the young man launched himself forward, slamming his forehead into the man’s nose feeling it turn to mush from the brunt of the force. “AAARGGH!” The man cried in pain just as David’s caught sight of glossy ivory hilt a hunting knife holstered at his belt. Now pissed drunk with rage, he reached for the blade before ripping it out from the leather sheathe, all five inches and as malicious as a cobra’s fang.

Without thinking twice, he buried the blade into the man’s stomach. The man chocked, feeling five inches of cold hard steel slice right into his belly. David yelled in pure rage before ripping the blade out and stabbing it back into the man’s stomach, again and again. As patches of blood splattered all over the floor, he then tore the blade from the man’s body and watched callously as the man fell to the floor barely clutching his wounds as he did.

“Son of a bitch!” Austin cursed, taking another swing at the young doctor. However David ducked, spinning into the man as he twirled the knife in his hand, flipping it downwards. With his grip tightly around the ivory hilt, with a single motion he slashed the blade across Austin’s stomach cutting deep into his abdomen. “Argh! SHIT!”

Austin snarled before swinging the pole in an effort to retaliate but a clang of metal rung through the alley as knife and pole came into contact with David making good use of  blade to deflect the metal pole away  from him. In that short moment, David grabbed hold of the pole but not before slashing Austin across the chest. “ARGH!” The young doctor spun around as he  slammed the blunt edge of his elbow into Austin’s nose.  He cried in pure agony, letting go of the pole as he stumbled backwards. “Son of a bwitch! He bwoke my noase! FARK!” he cried, clutching his nose.

With his grip now firmly on the pole, he let out another rage filled cry as he swung it into Austin’s knee. “AAAARRRGGGHH!” The man went straight to the ground.

The young doctor then turned his attention to the young teenager who was now literally petrified at the image of the demon before him. The hockey stick almost vibrating in his hand, a faint stench of urine became apparent for the boy was so scared that he peed himself.

Then suddenly, unable to contain himself any longer, he dropped the hockey stick, bursting into tears. “Please… please, I don’t wanna die. I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’ll never do it again, I swear!” he pleaded.

David’s eyes remained as deadly as ever as he brandishing the metal pole in his direction. “Go home kid, before I change my mind but if I ever see you around these HLF scum again...” he threatened.

The young boy nodded frantically before sprinting off into the rain as fast as his legs could carry him.

“Whevere da heck do you shink you’re goin!? Get back ere, get ba-“

David twirled the blade in his hand before flinging it in Austin’s direction. The man’s words were cut short by a long horrendous cry from the bottom of his throat. His panicked eyes shifted to the knife that protruded from his thigh.

“AAAAARRRGH! SON OF A... GOD DAMMIT!” he screamed.

Jerking hard on the blade, the man who was pinned to the dumpster finally managed to free himself. Using his good hand, he brandished his bloody knife before taking off in David’s direction only to be met with the blunt end of the metal pole slamming hard into his stomach.

He choked, a sickening goop of blood and saliva dribbled from his busted lips the moment he felt the air knocked out of his body, staggering and stumbling several steps backward. David kicked away the blade he had dropped as he approached the man, tightening his grip on the pole. The man could only stare in horror as David swung the pole in his direction, madly bludgeoning the man over and over again, painting the walls with splatters of bright crimson.

The man screamed and pleaded but it fell on deaf ears, even as he lifted his hands as a sign of surrender, David took a hard swing at his fingers. “AAAARRRGGH!” he screamed. The young doctor snarled before lunged forward, taking one final swing to the man’s face, feeling his jaw shatter upon impact. The very light was snuffed from his eyes as he tumbled unconsciously to the ground.

The young doctor shifted his attention back to Austin, attempting to crawl away like the worthless bug he was, dragging his now limp leg on the ground. David walked ahead of him before mercilessly stomping his foot down on his fingers. “ARGHHHH!!!” Austin screamed.

“THAT! That you bastard is what REAL pain feels like! You love pain, I’m going to let you can have it, as much as you want!” David snarled, increasing the pressure of his foot on the man’s fingers.

“Pwease! Pwease have mewcy!” Austin finally said, pleading through his busted nose, begging for the pain to stop.

“MERCY!? MERCY!? Did you show THEM mercy you cock-sucking piece of SHIT!” David snarled viciously before slamming his foot into Austin’s stomach, causing the man to choke and convulse.

“Pwease… have me awested, thow me in jail, I down’t care. But pwlease, stop…” he said through his gasping breath.

David’s eyes narrowed, feeling his hand tremble as his grip tightened hard around the blood stained metal rod. “Arrested?... People get arrested… criminals get arrested… MEN get ARRESTED!

No, people get arrested…” said the young doctor as he raised the metal rod above his head. Austin’s eyes suddenly widened in fear.

“No! NO PWEASE!” he begged.

“Animals get PUT DOWN!” David snarled as he brought the pole down on the man’s head.

“STOP!” The rod stopped but an inch from the man’s temple. His eyes were screwed shut thinking that the Devil had come for him.

David shifted his gaze to the voice realizing it had been the filly from before, leaning weakly against the brown colt.

“Please… please stop. No more…” she said meekly. David then returned his gaze to the man, glaring deep into his eyes with pure hatred.

“Remember this you rotten son of a bitch, she, a PONY, is the only reason why you’re still breathing…” he said, tossing the metal rod to the side, hearing the loud metal hit the concrete with a metallic clang.

He then turned to leave but not before slamming his foot into Austin’s face, knocking him out cold.

David spat the blood from his mouth onto the man’s body, feeling worst of his rage had come to pass. He wiped the blood from his forehead as he made his way to the ponies at the end of the alley.

“Are you alright?”

The colt nodded. “We’re a little banged up but we’ll be okay…”

“Thank you…” said the filly next to him. “You saved our lives didn’t have to and yet you did. I’m sorry you got hurt because of us…” she said with a soft smile.

David smiled through his horribly bruised face. “Don’t mention it. Come on, let’s get you two to a hospital,”

Together with the two ponies, they headed out of the dark, decrepit alley. However, David he stopped midway before taking a moment to looking back on the brutality and carnage he had unleashed on those men.

He shrugged as he pulled out a black device with transparent Plexiglas surface. Turning it on, David then proceeded to tap on the colored keypad.

The two Ponies paused in their tracks. “Is something the matter?” the colt asked. David continued to tap on the screen

“Just give me a moment…” he said.

It was then, a blank hologram was projected before him. “911, what is your emergency?” came a voice from the device.

“Please send an ambulance down to Sixteenth Street down an alleyway. A fight had broken out, five men, probably HLF and I think they’re all seriously wounded,”

“Very well sir, hold on and stay put, help is on its way” said the voice. “Please hurry” David said before hanging up.

The filly smiled warmly “They tried to kill you but instead of leaving them for dead, you chose to show them compassion,” she said.

David sighed, slipping the device back into his pocket. “As much as despise the HLF and things they have done, no one deserves to be left behind,” he said.

“Now come on…” he said, leading the two ponies out of the alleyway.

“… the hospital’s not too far from here,”

(To be continued…)