I woke up the next day, after rolling over and smacking my head off the floor. I looked around rapidly trying to figure out what happened until I remembered that I had fell asleep on the couch while 'resting for a sec'. I put my hand to my head. Blood. I wiped it off my hand and went to the sink to clean myself up, must have hit the ground hard, it was relatively soft. I remember wondering why I could smell the blood, when there was so little of it.

I walked through the dark room and into the kitchen, picked up a glass out of the cupboard and began filling it with tap water. I took this moment to take a look behind me, and around the room, maybe Chrome was up? I might be able find a used cup or other evidence to show he's about.

My blood froze. Nothing had prepared me for the sight behind me.

The glass dropped into the sink, and shattered, sending waves of intense sound throughout the room.

The blood I had found on my head... was NOT mine.

Blood was pooling in the center of the room, just outside the kitchen area, past the table and behind the couch. Hanging limply from the ceiling was a pony, who I gauged to be just older than Feather. She was hung, upright, by her front hooves and throat. They were entangled in a sharp wire that was tied to the light fixture on the ceiling. The wire had cut into her flesh through her own weight, and send crimson streams down her body, which was now barely recognizable as a cyan blue. Her dark mane was matted with the dried liquid and stuck to her face. Her eyes here rolled back and wide open, gazing at me with wide whites, a look of terror plastered on her face.

Once I tore myself from her eyes, I noticed many small incisions in her stomach, as I looked closer I found they were not random, and were in fact words. "NEVER" They read.

Where I had fell from the couch, I had landed in a pool of blood that had spread from behind the couch all the way underneath and out the other side. I looked down at myself, I was coated in blood. I quickly rid myself of the t-shirt, before emptying my already empty stomach into the sink, along with the broken glass. I washed my hands of the blood and bile, then noticed that there was still some blood on my chest, from where the t-shirt had been. Disregarding my trousers or the floor, I scooped some water over to my chest, allowing it to wash it away. I looked to check for any remnants, there was no blood, but what there WAS chilled me. "FORGIVE". Written. In scars.

That's when my mind snapped out of its early-morning trance.

If the guy who did this got here after I fell asleep... then what about...

"CHROME!!" I yelled, sprinting from the kitchen and skirting around the corpse and rammed into his bedroom door. It held.

I hit it again with my shoulder. It buckled slightly. "CHROME!!" I repeated.

I stepped back and used one leg to kick at the door, the handle gave way before the hinges so the door flew open, hit the wall and stopped, the handle area bent and splintered. I rushed into the room. Chrome was asleep, in his dark sheets. I was relieved, before something occurred to me a second later.

How could he sleep through all of that?

Wait, Chrome's sheets are a light blue... why are they... oh shit. No. Nononononnonono!

"Chrome? Dude?" I said, I walked up to his bed and felt the sheet. Wet.

I squeezed it, releasing a thick, red liquid. I ripped the blood-soaked cloth off of him, it hit the wall with a sickening sound.

Chrome remained motionless, coated in blood from his head down. Along his side was another inscription. "NEVER" Again, in scars, but these ones were bloodied, still leaking.

Still bleeding.

Blood moving.

Heart beating.

HE'S ALIVE.

And only just, too. I Flipped him over and checked his body for more cuts, while also checking his pulse by putting my fingers where I thought that vein would be on his neck. His underside was cut in a grid-like pattern, the bed directly beneath him was over-saturated in blood, creating a small puddle. I almost threw up again, but there was nothing left.

His pulse, which I was lucky to find, was very slow, compared to mine at least. And his breathing was barely even rising his chest.

I picked him up in a cradle position, I had to use my entire body to lift him, I almost buckled under his weight. But I was not about to let him die.

"Come on Chrome. Come on." I whispered as I walked.

I carried him to the front door, and kicked it. The frame clicked and creaked. I kicked again. And again. Until in gave in and fell off its hinges and bathed us in morning light. I held a stern face. Gasps and screams frequently sounded as I ran through the street. I say ran, I was really walking, the weight of Chrome slowing me down immensely. I didn't know where the hospital was, so I set for the palace, hoping Celestia wouldn't mind if I brought a guest.

The guards at the door froze when they saw me. Unsure what to do. I walked straight past them. They didn't even try to stop me. My face was still covered in some of the mystery ponies blood, my blood, and Chrome's blood. And I probably had an expression on my face that was less than pleasant. They probably lost their jobs, now that I think about it.

I made my way to the Throne room, leaving a thin trail of blood behind me. Most of it was from Chrome, who's wings were hanging limply open with a small trickle of blood dripping from each feather. I bypassed the stunned guards and ignored the ones that spoke up. Until one of the two in front of the door stopped me.

"What are you doing, Monster! Put that pony down and give yourself in, or face me!" I glared at him, he didn't even flinch. I ran out of ideas pretty quick. So I lifted a a bloody-soled foot and kicked him, right on his nose. He fell, a mixture of his and someone else's blood covering his face. The other guard ran away. These guys are terrible.

I kicked in the throne room doors. I'm getting good at this.

Celestia and Luna where both in their respective thrones, Luna looking rather tired. They were both looking over paperwork.

Upon hearing the door crash in, they looked up with determined glares, which immediately fell into horrified stares. The paper fell to the ground and was strewn around the room. Luna recovered first, and began rushing across the long room. A couple steps in I set Chrome down on the floor gently. Ruining a carpet-rug that was probably older than he was.

"Some help would be nice." I said, trying to appear calm.

Celestia snapped over to me with her magic as Luna stopped in front of me. Glancing between the words written on me and Chrome, they were both frozen.

Now, before I write this (it's a very clear memory) I want you to know that this barely ever happens, never even. I SNAPPED.

"FUCKING HEAL HIM GOD DAMMIT". They blinked at me.

"Dan..." Celestia said. "This pony is... dead."

I looked down, he wasn't breathing.

"NO!" I fell to my knees in front of him. "NO NO NO NO NO NO GOD DAMMIT NO!" I punched the marble floor, hard enough to cause the blood on my arm to flick off of me and onto the floor. "HE'S NOT! HE CAN'T BE!"

Luna walked up behind me, she put a hoof on my hunched shoulder. "He's gone Dan."

I slapped her hoof away, it was more of a punch than anything. My probably already broken knuckles crackling on her shoes. "NO HE'S FUCKING NOT! YOU TWO ARE THE PRINCESSES OR FUCK'S SAKE, JUST REVIVE HIM OR SOMETHING! ANYTHING! KILL ME AND PUT MY LIFE-FORCE IN HIS BODY FOR ALL I CARE! ... Just ...bring him back to me."

Celestia, who had been the most taken back by my outbursts finally spoke up. "Dan, there is nothing we can do. You have to let him go."

This was not a fun day for her, or me. "FUCK YOU, YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING! YOU MOVED THE MOTHERFUCKING SUN AND MOON YOU BITCH! HOW CAN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU CAN'T 'MAGIC HIM BACK' WITH 'THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP' OR SOME CRAP?!" She slowly shook her head. I exhaled. "GOD. FUCKING. DAAMNIIT!" I used my entire body to throw as much power into the punch as I could, when it connected with the floor, I felt a sickening crack in my wrist. That's when I gave up, on everything. My rage subsided and turned to sadness.

I fell to my back. "Just... " I looked over at Chrome. His lifeless eyes were staring into the distance. I placed my head on his shoulder and hugged his front leg. "Buddy... please man... not like this... please!" He didn't stir. "Dude, buddy... please man... just... come back... please..." My voice; a high pitched whisper. After a couple seconds of silence, Luna broke it.

"How did this happen Dan?" My sadness turned back to anger.

"IS NOW REALLY THE FUCKING TIME? CAN'T YOU SEE I'M HAVING A FUCKING MOMENT HERE?? I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE NO FRIENDS, BUT AT LEAST BE A LITTLE FUCKING CONSIDERATE!"

That cut her deep. Her eyes welled up and she ran out of the room, completely knocking one of the doors of it's hinge. Celestia was glaring daggers at me. I hate myself for this day. "OOHH, AND I GUESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TOO?! SURE, GO AHEAD AND INTERROGATE ME WHILE MY ONLY FRIEND LAYS FUCKING DEAD ON THE FLOOR AFTER I CARRIED HIM HERE!!" I cracked again, anger turning back to sadness again. I fell onto Chrome's side.

"Du-hu-ude, just come back man... just fucking come back... please..." My neck gave way and I sobbed into his blood-soaked fur.

Celestia sighed. "If it will make you feel better I can perform some healing magic on him, it will heal his injuries but it wont br-"

"JUST FUCKING DO IT, NOW!" My hands balled up into fists, well, one of them did, the other hung limp from my wrist down.

Celestia lowered her head to us and a gold dust began to settle on us. My wrist snapped back into place, my cuts healed, the blood turned water-like and fell to the floor and vanished. But the scars remained. Same story for Chrome, except blood began pouring from his mouth, then disappearing.

Wait... what if he suffocated on his blood? People that die of asphyxiation can be... I gasped.

"CELESTIA, 300 VOLTS TO HIS CHEST, NOW!" I flipped him onto his back and turned his head so the blood kept coming out.

"What? Dan, that would kill a po-"

"Just, do it." I said, in a calm confident voice I had to pull all of my will power to perform, I wanted to scream, but now was not the time. I had a pony to save.

Celestia hung her head. "Stand clear." I did so and a bolt of lightning fell from the ceiling and hit Chrome, he convulsed for a second, then fell limp. What I did next surprised Celestia to a degree that I wish I had caught on camera, if the circumstances were not so dire I would have laughed. I attempted CPR and mouth-to-mouth. I didn't know anything medical, I just tried my best to make his lungs work. I did a couple breaths for him then backed away. Nothing.

"Celestia, 400 volts."

"Da-"

"DO IT" She did so, with hopeless eyes. Chrome convulsed again and I repeated my improvised CPR. Another couple forced breaths later, I looked at his face and waited. For even the slightest movement. Nothing. I continued breathing for him. I looked and waited again. Nothing.

"Dammit, again. 500 volts!" Celestia did so with no argument, but had her head hung to the floor. I continued the CPR for another minute or so, and stared at his face. Nothing. NO HE MUST BE ALIVE, NOT LIKE THIS. Still nothing. I waited for what seemed like a year, I closed my eyes, tears falling from them as I knelt over him.

Chrome. Not like this...

"Dan, I don't know what you were trying to do but it clearly didn't wor-" She stopped so suddenly in made me jump. I snapped my eyes open and stared at Chrome. An ear twitched. I froze as emotion filled my body. Relief, he was alive. Joy, my friend was back. Anger, they were going to let him die. Rage, someone did this to him.

"Dan..." Celestia said "Did you just..." She was trembling slightly.

"Oh my god! YES!" I yelled. I continued the CPR for a couple seconds and looked to him again. His eyes slowly closed. Celestia gasped, I just stared in pure amazement. Then his eyes opened again, centered on me, no longer distant.

"D- Da..." He rasped.

"CHRO-O-OME!" I hugged him as hard as I could, then looked to Celestia. She was completely struck with... something. "Get this guy to the infirmary." She blinked at me. "THE INFIRMARY GOD DAMMIT." She shook herself and nodded, determined. Chrome was placed on a medical stretcher that appeared in a blast of magic, Celestia ran out of the room, pushing it with her magic. I ran beside Chrome. I was not leaving his side ever again.

"Look at me." I said to him. His head sluggishly turned to me.

"Da- -an."

"Nonono" I shushed him. "Relax, your fine, we're getting you help. Just relax, everything's fine." A small wholesome smile grew on his face as he turned his head back up to look at the ceiling rushing by. He extended a hoof and placed it on the hand I had resting on the side of the stretcher.

Once we got to the infirmary and he was all set up, Celestia asked me what happened, I explained everything I had seen at the house and asked her to check on Feather. She immediately dispatched a CSI group and left to check on Feather personally, since she was still in the infirmary.

She came back couple minutes later and said that Feather was fine, and was due to leave that day. She said that she explained to Feather what had happened, but kept in vague and told her not to leave her room for a while. And Celestia appointed guards to me, Chrome and Feather for the next week or so. Two each. That night I slept (what little I could get) in a seat next to Chrome's bed, idly stroking a fluffy fore-hoof.

I was happy to have him back. And for once, I was proud.

***

A hoof poked my hand, I retracted it and curled into my chair, cold. Very cold.

Why am I in a chair? Oh right, Chrome basically died... OH SHIT, CHROME..

My eyes snapped open as I remembered what happened the day before, my mind still raw from emotion. I looked around the room seaching for Chrome. All 4 of our guards were by the door. Once my eyes met his I stopped. He was sitting up, smiling at me, his hoof placed on my arm. My face burst into a teary smile and I hugged him, being sure to be gentle, and to avoid his wings. "Good to have you back man." I whispered to him, too happy to project my voice any louder. He responded by hugging tighter.

"Good to be back, Dan." I somewhat reluctantly pulled away from him, he looked me in the eyes, his eyes slightly wet and buzzing with emotion. "Celestia came by earlier, she explained to me what happened." I went back in for a hug but he stopped me by putting a hoof to each of my shoulders. "How did you know?"

"Know what Chrome?" I asked, choking slightly at his name. He smiled at that.

"That that... thing you did would... 'bring me back'." Oh yeah, didn't think they might not have CPR or defib-units here.

"Well... I've seen it work on humans..." I rubbed the back of my neck. "People have been dead for hours before being 'revived' by using that technique. Though, I probably did it wrong, I was never taught. I just kind of... did what I thought was correct..."

"Well, I for one think you did a good job." He said, indicating to himself. I chuckled slightly at that. Even just hours after practically dying, he still has a sense of humor. "How does it work?"

"Errr... hm. Well the electricity thing is... well, it's shocks your heart, and since muscles use weak electronic pulses to move, the electricity can 'shock' your heart back into action." He nodded understanding at least part of what I said. "And the breathing thing..." God this is awkward, I practically kissed him. He just smiled at my pause. "Well it puts air into your lungs, allowing some oxygen to be absorbed by the blood. And then pressing your chest empty's your lungs of air, allowing new air to fill it. It simulates breathing and allows some oxygen into the blood when the heart starts to pump again. I think that's how it works, but I might be wrong, as I said, I never learned how to do it, I just guessed really." He smiled and continued to nod.

"Dan, you have no idea how thankful I am." His eyes hardened "Thanks Dan, truly." BE HUMBLE. BE HUMBLE. DONT BRAG DAMNIT.

"Hey, don't sweat it. I was just looking out for my bro." He rolled his eyes. "Dude, you have no idea how angry I was at the princesses when they said they couldn't do anything. I mean, you should have heard some of the things I said to Celestia and Lu- Oh shit!"

He, and the guards stared at me, wide-eyed.

"Oh... yeah, that's a lot worse here than it is back at home... welp, speaking of which i just remembered that I need to go and apologize to Luna." The guards flinched at my lack of titling. They'll get used to it.

I walked towards the door, my two guards rotated to flank me as I left, but I stopped in the doorway. "Sorry about this Chrome, but it's rather important."

"I understand, it's fine. Also..." He leaned closer to me with a smug grin. He whispered. "THREE mares." I was confused for a second.

Three mares? what could that mean? Then a memory triggered.

*

"I like the sound of that." I said. "But I think I will be busy tomorrow, I have got to pick up some clothes from Hazel, then I have another meeting with Celestia."

Chrome put a hoof over my shoulder and leaned on me, his chin resting on my other shoulder "Oh, look at you Dan! Not one, but TWO mares!"

*

"Shutup Chrome." He beamed at me as I closed the door behind my guards.

On the way to the throne room, which was quite a ways when your not running beside a recently revived friend, I decided to try and become chummy with my guards.

"So, guys." I said, matching their pace, walking between them. "What are your names?"

"Steel Spring, sir." One said. He had a slightly nasally voice.

"Well, nice to meet you, Steel. I don't think we've met."

"Oh we have..." he said, rather darkly.

"Um... remind me?" Please don't tell me he's...

"The one you kicked." Well, that explains the voice. "Don't worry, no hard feelings. I was... over-reacting."

"Thanks dude, it's fine. I would probably react the same way if someone came up to me carrying a dead body covered in blood." He just 'Hmmed' and turned back to look forward. "What about you?" I ask the other guard.

"Don't you reconise me sir?" I blinked and looked at him closely. I noticed the green specs in his eyes. Welp, better play along, or he might think I can detect changelings or something, which I can, I guess.

"No? I guess? All you guards look that same to me, I don't know how you do it." The other guard looked a little offended but stayed quiet. "And what's with this 'sir' stuff?"

"I'm Ebony Towers, Sir." He said nervously.

"Oh yeah, you! Now I... remember." If someone asks how I know this guy I will be screwed.

"And this 'Sir' stuff is because you have been placed in a higher position than us, as we are hired under you." He continued.

"Hmm, makes sense I guess. But you can call me Dan, you too Steel." He snorted. Fine, be that way. "What's happening with you Ebony?"

"You know, not much. This is the most exciting thing that has happened since you saw me last. But this doesn't beat chasing you around in the hallways."

"What?" I asked, turning to him.

"You know, that one time when you were yelling at that orange pony?" Oh yeah, Feather.

"Yeah, that was... bad." I said, hanging my head slightly.

"I don't know, it made my job a lot more fun for a couple seconds." He got a glare from the other guard. I laughed as he flinched.

We were approaching the throne-room doors, well... door. The other one was still missing, maybe it's out being repaired after Luna practically blew it up. "Okay guys," I say to my guards. "Just, stay quiet during this okay?" They both nodded.

I felt like being polite so I knocked on the one remaining door, even though I could see that Celestia and Luna were doing paper work again, or still. The carpet was also gone. Guess the blood looked kinda bad huh. They both looked up when I knocked, Luna was staring at me with a rage that made me want to turn and run. But Celestia was there, she wouldn't let anything happen right? Celestia seemed to play along with my door-charade.

"Who is it?" She asked. Clearly able to see me. Luna relinquished me from her glare for a second by rolling her eyes. But it returned.

I pushed open the door slightly and ducked round it as if the other door were still there. "Just me, again." Celestia smiled at our ridiculousness. "No dying ponies this time I promise."

"Come on in," Celestia said. "What do you need? I see your guards are doing their job still, you don't mind them?" she said, eyeing the two.

"Oh, no. I don't mind. I actually know Ebony, here, from before."

"Nice to see you making friends Dan." I 'pshhed' at her. "Now, what did you need."

I took a deep breath and composed myself. "I am here..." I said, I turned to Luna. "...to apologize." Luna was taken-aback, while Celestia just smiled like she always does. "To both of you, but mostly to you, Luna."

There was a long pause. Luna looked around the room awkwardly. "Well?" she eventually said. "Lets hear it then."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry."

"Is that it?"

"No, that was me apologizing for that awkward pause."

"Oh."

Another pause. I put on my best smug grin, Celestia joined me.

"Well, get on with it!" Luna said, slightly annoyed. I decided against apologizing for that second pause.

"Luna, I was being insensitive, mindless even. I feel incredible sorrow for using such language in your presence and for personally and intentionally insulting you. I wanted to apologize for this in hopes that we could never speak of this again, or at least be back on equal ground. Well, as equal a princess can be to a... well... a civilian."

"I accept this apology." Luna said. "But I doubt we will never talk of what happened ever again, Celestia wanted to talk to you about it anyway, nothing bad though, by the sounds of it." She and I both looked to Celestia, who was wearing a legit smile, not her usual idle one.

"Yes, I wish to personally congratulate you, for you have earned multiple rewards."

"What?" I asked, confused. The guards either side of me were stammering for some reason.

She elaborated. "You have earned the title of 'Defender' for saving the life of a pony even I had given up all hope of saving. The title of 'Insubordinate Hero' for ignoring my protests and doing what turned out to be the right thing. The title of 'Medical specialist' for creating the reviving method now known as DCPR. And the title 'Sir' as you have gained both mine and Luna's personal blessings. When you leave this room, you will no longer be Dan Micheals. You will be 'Sir Dan Micheals, Insubordinate Hero, Defender and Medical Specialist'." Damn, that's a nice title. "If you accept, of course."

Heh... DCPR... Bet that stands for 'Dan's... CPR...' ...I never figured out what that stood for.

The guards either side of me were giving looks of pure wonder and jealousy. "I accept." I looked around the room. "So, what do these titles do for me?" The guards looked at me like I was an idiot, Celestia just smiled.

"The title of Insubordinate Hero allows you to ignore almost all authority."

"Well, I kinda already do that anyway."

"Indeed. The title of Defender allows you to have around the same amount of authority as a middle-ranking guard, and allows you to form your own squad if you so wished."

"So I can enter and exit the palace without having to talk to the guards at the main gates?"

"I guess so, though that's hardly the biggest thing you could be using that title for."

"Hey, I won't be leading anyone into battle for at least another couple days."

"Yeah, sure you won't. And the title Medial Specialist allows you free reign over any hospital in Equestria and the ability to over-rule any

doctors or healers in the medicinal field."

"Not that useful, but meh, I'll take it. Plus it makes me sound smart."

"And our personal blessings gives you another little boost of authority. On the scale, I would say you are just below that of Guard Captain." The guards gawked at me, I just stood there and took it all in. "Anything else you needed to ask?"

"Nope, I'm outta here. See ya guys!"

"If giving you the ability to ignore authority makes you talk like that I might just remove the title."

"Jeez, I was just joking about. But anyway, I need to go and brag about these cool new words on my name before anyone removes them."

Celestia rolled her eyes, Luna just looked at me strangely. She had been for a while, it was scary.

I spent the next couple hours messing with guards since they no longer had power over me.

Next Chapter: Chapter 8: Singing Songs And Righting Wrongs Estimated time remaining: 11 Hours, 32 Minutes