I sat on something, a white box sitting on the otherwise featureless black void. "Sam...hello." I muttered, waiting for him to step back through the door. And as I predicted, he stepped backwards, looking around my prison.

He spun around, looking around the void and eventually landing his eyes on me. "You...what the hell are you!?" He threw his arm out, pointing at me, "What are you!?"

I looked down at my body, somehow bright despite the complete lack of light. "I'm you, you god damn idiot." I stood up, kicking the bright white box out from behind me. "I'm the you that lived here before, that had his life ripped away. And you...you're the one I could take it back from."

Sam walked up to me. "I don't understand what this is! I just- you're me, but--"

"My name is Able, and we're nothing alike. But...we both share a certain something that I would like to have." I paced around. "...But, we've got time. Find a seat somewhere...I think we should talk." I walked over to where I'd kicked the box and dragged it over. "Sorry the place is kinda empty, haven't had much time to move in properly."

Sam looked around, eventually sitting on the ground, "What is this place? Where are we?"

I looked around the blank void. The one door our was closed for a time, but soon enough it would be open again and one of us could head through. "I don't know. Hell? It might be hell, or purgatory. I have to admit I'm not really sure. I certainly feels like I wasn't supposed to end up here when I died." I rubbed the back of my neck. "When I died I saw two paths. One, a bunch of others were following, and one that lead to this...box. I picked the latter, and here I am, waiting."

Sam looked around, "You can't go back?"

I joined him in his scanning. "Maybe. I'm sure the way back is out there somewhere, but who can tell where, I could spend years searching." I rubbed my chin, "But this place doesn't matter. What matters is out there." I pointed to the slim crack of light from where the doorway stood. "Strange isn't it? Two minds, one body, talking horses, a land of magic. It's almost like a fairytale."

Sam looked over to the door. "...That gi- mare...whatever. How do you--"

"No, how do we, know her." I corrected, "And we talked a while, she helped me sort my head out, and we fucked."

Sam cringed, "So- wait- what?"

I let out a dry cough, "I lived here, in my own body, about a year ago? Maybe more now, but it feels like a year. I had a whole little adventure, dimension hopping, trying to get home. But...as we do, I died. Wound up here, waiting. Until you came along that is."

Sam scratched his head. "So, there was two of me?"

I closed my eyes and shook my head. "You walked through a magical doorway to another world filled with talking ponies. This is a fact. Is it so hard to believe there could be other instances of yourself, other worlds that have versions of you? Or, from my perspective, other version of me."

Sam stared at me, worried. "So...I mean, what does that mean for me?"

I slowly cocked my head, "It means...that mare out there, the one I love, the mare who pulled me from a jail cell, is going to take some time, hear each of our cases and decide who dies."

"What!? But you-- Why is me dying even an option!?"

I stared at him. "Because you have something I want. Something I need."

"And what about me!?" Sam snapped, standing up, "What happens if she decides to keep you instead of me!?"

I started shaking my head softly, "I don't know. But I really don't know who she's going to pick. The innocent one...or the one she supposedly cares about." I turned to the door, watching it creak open, "Either way, there's no going back. All we can do is move forward." I pointed towards the door, "You go ahead and take this one. But uh...do me a favor and kiss her for me. Do me that and I'll give you a day or so."

Sam stood up, glaring at me. "You want me to kiss a horse? You, some fucking brain parasite, want me to do something for--"

"It's not for me," I hissed, "It's for her. Now get the hell out of here, give me some time to make this place a little more comfortable."

Sam sputtered and hissed, pointing his finger at me. "This isn't over!"

I shook my head, "It won't be over until there's only one of us left. And I must admit, I'd rather be the one left standing."

Sam walked through the door. Next Chapter: Sharing Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 29 Minutes