Bonds between worlds chapter ch 7

By Foxgear

Nico’s and Applejane’s age, 38, Mac’s age 14, Applejack age 12, Applebloom age 7

(Nico’s log May 15, 2007

Two years have passed since I discovered Madhoof was still alive. For those two years, we have been engaged in a constant battle of cat and mouse. I enlisted the help of the three Sirens that had once served unknowingly under Madhoof. I say unknowingly because they didn’t know their boss’s name. Only that he gave them food and shelter and a source of magic to feed off. They didn’t ask any more of their employer beyond what their next job was. In exchange for the information, I let them leave town alive.

With their inside knowledge, Ferocious, Stryker Six, and I have Madhoof on the run. Without the sirens to play bodyguard he had to start sending his half-baked experiments after us. None of them returned to him.

We have destroyed a total of twelve of his various labs and the number of disappearing orphans have dropped. We were getting close to his home base, which is why he’s being more cautious. Still, it’s only a matter of time till I find him.

On a lighter note, I have come across another Equestrian by the name of Sunset Shimmer. A letter was delivered to me foretelling her arrival. The letter bore the mark of Dusk. A unicorn pony that had been with my team when I was sent through the portal all those years ago. I wonder how she sent it? Is she here? If so why hasn’t she contacted me till now?

The whole ordeal was rather strange, but it was only right to help a fellow equestrian. Even if they have a huge chip on their shoulder. I’ve documented her as a cousin of the Apple Clan and set her up in the south shack, I hope she and my daughter can get along. They look about the same age and will be attending school together.

End of Nico’s log)

The sound of cranking and clanking echoed through the air as Nico sat on the floor of his shop, his arms and hands covered with oil and grease as he tinkers with Bailey’s old John Deere tracker. He calls Mac to bring him a different size wrench. Cursing as his oily hands slip, becoming pinched between the wrench and motor housing. Mac hands him the wrench and he slips it on the bolt head, pushing with all his strength to turn the rusted bolt. The head of the bolt breaks. Nico letting out a string of curses as he throws the wrench to the ground.

“Son of an Irish whore! Fuck, fuck, FUCK!” He seethes staring at the broken bolt head. It was stuck in the housing. Completely flush with the motor head. He’d have to weld another bolt to it and hopefully turn it out, but the chances were slim. The old John Deere might be finished.

Spotting Mac trembling beside him. Nico took a deep calming breath and smiles at his son. “Let’s take a break.” He suggests walking over to the fridge and pulling out two cans of root beer. Handing one to Mac as he pops the tab on his own. They sat down on the stools located in the shop and sip their beverages in silence.

They sat there for ten minutes never saying a word. Mac too nervous to speak and Nico to ashamed. He didn’t like getting angry over such small things, but his frustration over not capturing Madhoof was beginning to seep into his family life and his family was paying the price for it. He didn’t know how much longer he could go on like this.

A black Mustang drives into the yard, it was Luna’s car, Nico looks at his watch reading two o’clock. Applejack was supposed to be doing a bake sale or something. She didn’t look happy as she climbs out of the passenger seat of Luna’s car. Two boxes of baked goods in her arms. Applejack storms pass the shop door, spitting out a string of hushed curses as she stomps up the porch.

“Hey! Keep it down! Your mother’s trying to sleep in there!” Nico yells, lingering anger bringing an undeserved harshness to his voice. Applejack’s shoulder slump as she continues quietly into the house.

Luna walks over looking exhausted, taking a soda for herself from the fridge. “I’m guessing you’re not having a good day either, Nico?”

Nico glares at the tractor, “Not really. Mac why don’t you go off and play until chore time.” The young teen quietly walks off. Probably heading for his ‘secret’ fort he built out in the orchard. “So,” Nico began taking another gulp of his drink, “What crawled up Applejack’s crawl? Bake sale didn’t go well?”

“It could have been better,” Luna sighs, “She had apparently told everyone the school softball team would be coming in support and to play a mock game, but they never showed up. She’s been seething about her friend Rainbow Dash lying to her the entire ride home.”

“Rainbow Dash lying? Can’t really picture that. That girl is far too proud to go back on her word. Probably a misunderstanding. I’m sure they’ll work things out soon.” He chuckles wishing his problems could be so simply fixed.

“So, how’s Applejane doing? I heard she wasn’t feeling well.”

Nico ran his hand through his hair, “I don’t know. She’s been so weak and tired lately, but the doctors can’t seem to find anything wrong with her. Nothing shows up on the tests, but her body doesn’t seem to be getting any nutrients, but she’s eating and drinking fine. It might just be a strange bug she caught. If you want to go say hi I’m sure she’d appreciate it.”

“No, I’ll wait till she’s better. I gotta go meet with Ferocious soon anyway.” Luna says checking her own watch.

Nico waves, yelling, “Alright, we’ll see you around. Oh, congrats on getting the vice Principle position. Put my tax dollars to good use, will you?” Luna merely rolls her eyes as she walks back to her car and drives away.

Returning to the tractor Nico begins trying to figure out how to get the broken bolt out of the head cap. Firing up the welder he tacks another bolt on top of the broken one, waits of the weld tacks to cool before trying to turn the bolt out. Slowly he works the bolt out, breaking the flimsy tacks several times before finally getting the old rusty bolt out. Deciding he’d done with this project for today he goes off to do chores. While tossing a bale of hay down from the loft, who else should he find playing in the loft then his youngest daughter, Applebloom.

“Hi, daddy!” She cries popping out from between the square bales, covered head to toe in hay. His daughters were defiantly tomboys, though Bailey just said they were actual country girls.

“Hey baby Bloom, what have I told you about playing up here yourself?”

“To tell someone first!” She exclaimed tossing up a cloud of hay dust. Causing Nico to sneeze.

“Right, but you can’t be running around here when daddy’s working with the pitch fork, so down you go.” He replies lowering her down to the ground level of the barn. “Run off and play in the sand box or something.”

“Ok!”

Smiling Nico resumes his chores.

After the cows and horses were fed and some apples picked. Nico staggers to the house, the sun barely shining over the tree tops. He was a little late. Inside the house, he found a plate of mash potatoes and meat in plastic wrap in the fridge. He heats the meal in the microwave, taking the time to wash his hands and face before eating.

Taking the first bite Nico frowned at the taste. Not that it was bad but different. Another bite confirmed his suspicions, Applejack had made the potatoes. Finishing the semi hot meal quickly Nico strolls over to his and Applejane’s bedroom. Quietly he tips toes over to her sleeping form and rolls her over.

Applejane’s face was pale, her eyes were sunken, her skin cold and clammy. She almost looks dead. The faint pulse of her heart is the only indication she was alive. It pains him to see her like this, a far cry of the warm caring woman he loves. It hurt the kids even more. They pretend not to notice, but they knew something was wrong with their mother.

“Nico…?” Applejane crocked softly, opening her eyes. Her usually bright green eyes were dull and unfocused.

“Sorry, did I wake you?” She shook her head or tries to. Barely moving her head an inch side to side. “Do you need something? Some food or water?” Again, she shook her head. “Alright. I’m going to go shower. You go back to sleep. We’ll see about getting you in to see a doctor tomorrow.”

“Ok…” She whispered weakly, her eyes falling shut. Nico stood there watching her sleep and listening to her shallow wheezing breaths. Whatever was affecting her was getting worse.

Stepping out of the room Nico went and showers, choosing to sleep on the sofa as to not disturbed Applejane again. Hopefully, this next doctor’s trip will finally shed some light on what’s going on.

The morning came fast. The kids were scrambling about looking for their notebooks and backpacks. Nico berating them for not simply putting them in their rooms instead of tossing them where ever. After passing out a meager breakfast of toast and juice. Nico had the three kids in the truck and down the driveway just in time to meet the bus.

“You three have a good day,” He told them as they climb out of the truck.

Pulling back into the yard Nico went about the morning chores. His mind on auto pilot as he threw out the buckets of feed and bales of hay. He wanted to get Applejane to the hospital as soon as possible, so much so that he was jogging to the house the moment chores were done. His hand barely touched the door handle when a sudden crash comes from inside.

He ran inside towards the source of the noise. In the kitchen, he found Applejane in her night gown on the floor coughing up a lung. A smashed plate lay beside her, but he paid it no mind as he knelt beside her. She continued to cough, and cough, and cough till she hacked up blood in her hand. Applejane stared fearfully at him before collapsing in his arms.

“APPLEJANE!” Nico scoops his wife into his arms running for the truck. Starting it and tearing down the road as he whipped out his cell phone.

“Canterlot General, Nyx speaking…”

“Nyx! Get the emergency room ready! I’m bringing Applejane in! She coughed up and blood and collapsed! You better be ready when I get there or so help me God! I will end you, Changeling!” He hung up on her before she could reply.

Quickly dialing Ferocious’s number. “Feri, I need you to go to the kid’s school and tell Luna Applejane’s in the emergency room. Do I want the kids to come?” Nico looked over to Applejane, he didn’t want the kids to see her like this, but… “Yes, have Luna talk to them first before bringing them. I’ll try to keep you guys updated.”

Nico arrived at the hospital. Nurse Nyx or full name Nyxia was waiting with a stretcher at the door. He laid Applejane on it, running by her side the entire way to the emergency room, Nyxia blocked him from entering the room.

“Sorry, you’ll have to wait here, Nico. Please just try to keep calm.” The Changeling Nurse urged, noticing no one bothered to remove Nico of his pistol. “You might also want to leave that in your truck.” She adds tugging his jacket down to cover the firearm better. “We’ll take care of her, I promise. Now go cool off. Doctor Blue Shield will want to know what to ask you some questions after they finish looking Applejane over.”

He stood in silence, processing her words and then simply walking away. Disposing of his gun in the glove box he quickly returns to the hall outside the emergency room. Waiting for what seems like hours. Taking only short breaks to walk around or grab a drink from a vending machine.

Nearly three hours later Luna and the kids show up.

“Daddy, what’s wrong with mommy?” Applebloom asks as she climbed on to his lap. Mac and Applejack standing near looking uncomfortable and worried. He didn’t have much to reassure them with though.

“I don’t know baby boom, but the Doctors are doing everything they can for mommy. We just have to wait.” Nico told them. The kids sat with him. Applebloom clutching to his side as Mac and Applejack sat in silence. Luna sat across from him, offering encouraging smiles every now and then, but they grew fainter with each passing hour.

At seven Ferocious joined them. The red-haired biker distracted Mac and Applejack with one of his wild and reckless stories. Getting a few chuckles out of the kids.

At eight, Nyxia called for him to enter the emergency room.

“Watch over the kids, I’ll be back.” Nico got up and follows the changeling nurse, who led him to a glass window. On the side rested Applejane, looking even weaker than before. “How’s she doing?”

Nyxia sighs and looks away, “The doctors found a toxin never they never seen before in her blood. They couldn’t detect it before because there was so little at the time they couldn’t isolate it, but know her blood is almost overflowing with it. It’s nothing no human has ever seen before.”

“What about a pony?”

“Tatzlwurm or lindwyrm to ponies not from Equestria. I’ve seen its work before.”

“Can an antidote be made?” Nico asks touching the glass. Nyx doesn’t respond right away. “Nyx?”

“In time, the doctors could take her blood and make an antidote, but without knowing the Earth equivalent of the ingredients it would take years to make. I doubt there are many manticores and Celestia Sun Flowers you know.” Nyxia took a breath and looked him straight in the eye. “I’m sorry Nico, we can’t save her.”

The whole world went mute for Nico as he stares at his dying wife. He turns away and begins to walk and then he began to run! He ran through the halls, past the nurses and doctors, pass his family and friends. He ran for the truck. His foot stomping the pedal to the floor as he drove for the school. He ran for the statue in front of it, the portal back home. He stares at his tear streaked face in the mirror as the rain began to fall as he pounds at the surface with his fist.

“Open up! Let me come home! I need to save her! I need to save Applejane, PLEASE! CELESTIA! LUNA! PLEASE LET ME THROUGH!” He cried in anguish falling to his knees. It would be another three years before the portal was set to open again. Nico knew that and had come anyway. Hoping for some miracle to happen. For Celestia, to will the portal open be standing there with everything he needed by her hooves.

That wasn’t going to happen. It would never happen. It was beyond fantasy, beyond even the furthest scope of reality, but he wished for it to happen. No matter how he wished though, the portal never opened.

Nico walks away and returns to the hospital soaking wet. He takes Applebloom by the hand, motions for Mac and Applejack to follow as he leads them into the emergency room.

“Let’s go see mom,” He says to them. Keeping the fact that it would be the last time to himself.

The funeral was a week later. Everything was happening so fast. So fast he couldn’t keep up. The entire Apple Clan was coming to it, on top of every person that ever met Applejane. Nico had no idea what to do, no idea what flowers he was supposed to have, the casket and stuff like that. Stuff he and Applejane never even thought about.

It pissed him off beyond measure. All the questions the funeral director was asking. How in the hell could he answer them when he couldn’t even explain to his youngest why her mother was inside of a cold metal box! How fuck could he know where he wanted to bury the love of his life!

Seething Nico grabs a bottle of ale from the fridge and took a quick swig before putting it back. He’s been reaching for the bottle a lot more this past week. A lot more. He couldn’t today. Not when they were burying Applejane today.

“Kids! It’s time!” He yells standing by the door. None of them came. Reluctantly he stomps up the stairs to their rooms. Applebloom lay on her bed crying into her pillow with Applejack beside her trying to counsel her and failing miserably. Her own face red from crying.

Moving down the hall he arrived at Mac’s room. The young boy sat silently on his bed staring at the championship belt buckle on his desk. Mac had won the buckle in a rodeo Applejane had helped train him for only a few months ago. Beside the buckle was a picture of the two after the rodeo.

Nico sat beside his son, putting his arm over Mac’s shoulder. “It’s time to go, son.”

“I don’t want to go.”

“I know you don’t, I don’t want to either, but I know I have to go. I have to go because I’ll regret not going.” Nico said.

“Why?” Mac asked turning to look at him. “What’s the point? Mom is… mom is already gone…”

Nico ruffs Mac’s hair and stood him up, “To pay our final respects to her as a family and to remember why we loved her. I know right now you feel overwhelmed with pain and sorrow and you're right too, but those feelings will fade with time. What won’t fade is your love for your mother. Even if you forget the sound of her voice and she was like, you will always carry your love for her.” Nico embraces Mac, the young boy hanging tightly to his waist. When they broke apart Mac looked at him with red tear stained eyes.

“You’ve done this before dad?”

His kids didn’t know his past, only because he didn’t speak of it. Hell, even Applejane never knew he was a pony from another world. It made it hard sometimes when they asked questions about it.

“I’ve buried a few friends before. This is different from that, but the feelings are the same.” He led Mac out into the hall. Applejack stood with Applebloom asleep in her arms. He should have sat them all down and spoken to them. Too late for that now, but there would be plenty of time later. He takes Applebloom from her sister’s grasp and leads the way down stairs.

Together they left for the funeral.

At the service, a variety of people spoke, telling stories of Applejane, Bailey was the first to speak, talking about how he and Applejane would pick apples together in her youth. Granny Smith following by saying how proud she was of her daughter and the children she raised. Many more people spoke until it was Nico’s turn. He took the stand beside his wife’s coffin looking out past the crowd to the rolling hills spread out before him. He imaged this was the spot Applejane would have wanted to be buried on.

“I met Applejane on a cold rainy night with a shattered rib cage and nothing to my name. Whether by chance or by fate she found me I will never know, but she brought purpose to my life. Through her, I found friends in a place where I had none. Friends that have been a great help in this difficult time. Lastly, she gave me a family and blessed me with three wonderful children.” Nico stutters, his hands trembling with every spoken word. He bit back the tears, his fist tightening as he looks at the gathered people. “Where I come from, a place far from here, we have a tradition when we bury our loved ones. We sing a final song for them. I would like to embrace that tradition now, please feel free to join me.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK3H5cHfgzw

The song comes to an end, the crowd falling silent as the Applejane’s casket is lowered into the earth. People begin to file out to their cars. Nico stood with his family by the grave, till only they remained.

“Come on kids, it’s time to go home.”

Back home Nico put the kids to bed, usually, Applejane would be the one to do it, not that he never did it before. It’s just… different. Applebloom didn’t want her usual story, Applejack didn’t want to talk, and Mac… well, he would talk when he wanted to.

“Good night guys,” He said from the hallway. Shutting off the lights Nico went down stairs. Stopping by his and Applejane’s room, which now just his room. Looking inside he saw their empty bed, wordlessly shutting the door and made for his recliner. Where he’s been sleeping this past week since Applejane died.

Falling back into the chair Nico pulls the blanket laying on the floor over himself and turns on the TV. Mindlessly he sips his beer while watching the local news. Nico was about to nod off when something heavy crawled onto his lap. A tuft of red hair fills his vision as Applebloom nuzzles against him.

“What’s wrong Baby Boom?”

“I had a nightmare.”

Nico brushes his finger through her hair, “I see, you can lay with daddy for a bit.”

They laid there for a bit in the dull blue light of the TV. Eventually, Nico wasn’t sure when Applebloom fell asleep again and he took her back to her room. After laying his youngest back in her best he found his middle child in the hall.

Applejack stood in her oversized T-shirt in the blue glow of the nightlight in the hall. The nightlight was there to help the kids get down stairs to the bathroom. However, he didn’t think she was up for the bathroom.

“What is it AJ?” He said tiredly. She fidgets with her hands, looking uncertain about what to say. “Speak AJ or go back to bed.”

“Are…” She began, tears and hiccups impeding her speech. “Are we going to be ok, dad?”

Guess it wasn’t just Applebloom having nightmares. Nico hugs Applejack and leads her back to her room. “I don’t know.” He answers honestly as he tucks her back into bed. “Someday things will be normal, different, but normal. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

“You’re not going to remarry, are you?”

(Where the fuck is this coming from?) Nico recoiled, completely blindsided by the question. “Can’t say, too busy to think about stuff like that.” He said with a shallow smile, trying to lighten the mood. It didn’t work.

“So, your replacing mom?” She asked tearfully.

“No,” He answers quickly and firmly. “Look, your stressed and confused, but rest assured I’m not going to start looking for another wife now or ever. No one could replace your mom.”

“Ok,” Applejack yawned snuggling down into her blanket. “But I guess I wouldn’t mind Cherry or Auntie Celestia if you ever did.”

(Ok… going just assume that’s sleep talk.)

Warily Nico returns down stairs, looking between the recliner and the bedroom. Turning off the TV he steps into the bedroom. For the first time in a week, he laid in his own bed, the first time since Applejane died. He reaches over to where Applejane usually laid, once warm and inviting, now a cold reminder of what was missing in his life.

“Sorry AJ, there’s no replacing her,” He said to the ceiling as he fell asleep.

The morning came quickly for Nico or should have but his clock read ten AM. Hours past when he should have been up doing chores. Did he forget to set his alarm? Turning the clock around Nico found it unplugged, did he accidentally pull the cord out last night? No that can’t be it. The cord was behind the night stand.

“Whatever,” Nico said groggily getting out of bed. The cows, sows, and horses will be bellowing up a storm by now. He better feed them. Nico rolls out of bed, pulling on a T-shirt and jeans and pulling his boots on at the door. On the porch, he looks out towards the barn to find Mac and Applejack out doing his chores and failing at it.

Mac stood up to his knees in cow manure, the feed buckets tipped over with crushed corn lying spoiled in the slop. Applejack was in the same situation with a broken hay bale. Fresh alfalfa sticking out of her hair as she tries to shoo the cows away, desperately trying to get the bale of hay to the feed bunk.

(What the hell.) Nico stepped off the porch towards the barn. Slipping his rubbers over his boots he jumps over the fence. “ERRYUP! GET ALONG BOSSIES!” He shouts with a booming voice, spooking the cows away. Grabbing the pails from Mac, Nico tosses what feed was left into the bunks, pulling Mac out of his boots and dropping him off the other side of the fence in his socks. Next, he picks up the entire bale of hay and threw it into the bunk.

Grabbing Applejack by her shoulders he hoists her up out of her boots too and set her beside Mac. Going back for their boots he tosses them over the fence, grumbling, “Go wash those up.” Slogging through the muck Nico went about finishing the chores.

“So,” Nico said after finishing the chores and staring down his two oldest. “You two unplugged my alarm?” They nod yes. “Alright, why did you do that?”

“We just wanted to do ‘em,” Mac said boldly, pushing Applejack behind his back. “It was my idea too.”

“Uh ah, I’m sure. Look, I appreciate the thought, but you two already have your assigned chores, when you’re a little older and stronger you’ll be ready for my chores. Now run along and get cleaned up.” Nico shoos them off making for the house. He hasn’t seen Applebloom yet, better go check her room.

Opening the front door Nico notices a colorful bouquet of flowers laying on the porch. He hadn’t notice them before, he wonders who they’re from. Picking up the bouquet Nico turns it over, looking for the card to see who it was from.

His blood ran cold when saw the signature. “Doctor M. D. Hoof…” Nico snarls as his hands crush the bouquet, the note falls off and clatters to the ground. Reading.

(Dear 088,

Sorry, to hear about your mate. Lindwyrm venom is so dangerous as I’m sure you know. Pity, I had only meant to send you a warning, but it seems I might have overestimated the dosage I slipped your mate while she tended to your Apple stand. How tragic.

It would be a shame for anyone else you love to fall ill.

Regards, Your creator

Dr. Madhoof

P.S. You have very lovely children. I’ll keep an eye on their progress.

Crumbling the flowers Nico seethes with rage, sparks of magic arcing off his body. Every light bulb on the farm flickers as storms clouds rumble overhead. The thunder cracks with such intensity it was like a cannon being fired.

The hurried footsteps of Mac and Applejack running for shelter brought Nico back from the brink. He clamps down on his magic bringing a quick end to the flickering lights, but the storm was here to stay as it continue to rumble overhead.

“That storm came in really fast. Should we be worried about it dad?” Mac asks looking up at the sky.

“I don’t think so,” Nico replies with as much control as he could manage. Staying where he stood, too focused on keeping his cool to do anything else. His eyes flicking over to the right, where Applejack stood staring at his hands and the crumbled flowers. Getting a clear view of his snarl.

“Who are those flowers from dad?” Applejack asked warily. “You… um… don’t look happy about them.

“No one you need to concern yourself off. Be off, the both of you. I… I need to take care of some things today. I’m gonna call Feri to come watch you.” Nico storms into the house, quickly dialing the bar’s number. Telling Feri to come out to the farm and to bring Luna if she was available. The kids might appreciate having her around. After that, he went out to his old shack.

The shack that had once been his home was now more a man cave but really acts as his own private office for his monster hunts. Inside were maps, newspaper clipping, and other miscellaneous things. There was even an old motorcycle he had bought a while ago. He and Mac were fixing as sort of father/son project.

Flipping on the lamp by the desk Nico pours over the maps that mark where they found Madhoof’s hidden labs, next there was a map with all the missing person locations. A lot of the missing persons coincided with the labs, as did many of the orphanages. Despite all this, they have been unable to find Madhoof’s main lab. The one he was most likely hiding in now.

He was missing a piece of the puzzle. But what?

Taking a marking Nico drew lines between the labs. The labs were located throughout various parts of the major parts of the city, where the colleges and stuff where. Some were clustered together, some were spread out, but none of them really connected to anywhere or made any patterns. It made since Madhoof wouldn’t set his labs up in a way that would lead to his real one. He wasn’t freaking TV villain.

So where…

Hours passed and Nico found himself no further than before. Looking at the big map on the wall Nico began to put red pins on the locations the orphans were disappearing and then green where the labs were located. There were certain parts of the city where there were no labs or disappearances that matched the profile of Madhoof’s victims. Females, from the ages sixteen to nineteen, all orphans. There were a few males taken too but at a vastly lower rate. He wondered why that was.

Looking at the blank portion of the map Nico found Crystal College to be right in the heart of it. Crystal College, why did that seem important? Where the missing orphans students there? No, no, Crystal College was an upper-class college, very expensive. No orphan could afford to attend it… unless they were given a scholarship or grant too!

“Holy fuck,” he cursed grabbing a handful of the newspaper clippings. Booting the laptop on the desk Nico googles some of the missing student’s names. Sure enough, some, if not all, had received a grant to go to Crystal College prior to disappearing!

Madhoof and missing orphans go hand and hand, this way he could pick and choose which ones he wants and up duct them! Nobody would care they were gone anyway. Most would probably assume they dropped out and took the money and ran. It was the perfect cover and all Madhoof had to do was not get his name in the paper. Which was easy for college professors if they don’t do anything stupid to gain attention.

“I found you bastard, I finally fucking found you! Walking over to the cabinet Nico retrieves his patroller’s coat and a short 12gauge shotgun loaded with buck shot. He was going to blow that bastard away piece by piece!

Mi Amore Cadenza, or Cadence as known by her friends, was a student teacher at Crystal College. She was bright, cheery, and happy to help others at the drop of a hat. She had a boyfriend, Shining Armor, who she deeply loves and was hopefully going to propose to her someday. Overall, she would say life was a happy one.

However, starting a little over two years ago, back when she and her just on the verge of graduating from high school. They had graduated early via a special program for advanced students but had been called back to par take in the friendship games. Where Shining was handily defeated by a boy about two years younger than him. But that was beside the point. Two years ago, her friends started to disappear.

Now normally the disappearance of kids was a big deal, but when those kids were orphans, it seemed like they were brushed aside quicker than most. Who cared about a missing person that wasn’t missed? She did. Because they weren’t just classmates or friends, they were family to her. Her fellow orphans.

Yes, she valedictorian of Crystal Prep was an orphan. A fact that she didn’t hide, but also didn’t advise either. It probably had to do with her name. It was too fancy to belong to someone who was an orphan was the consensus. She didn’t blame people for thinking that, Mi Amore Cadenza, was a fancier name than most.

Back on to the subject. Her friends had started to disappear. Just up and vanishing. Many thought they just dropped out of school or college and ran away. After all, some of the orphanages weren’t in the best neighborhoods and the caretakers couldn’t keep track of well… anyone. If you were a teen you were expected to take care of yourself. If the cops didn’t have to bring you back, you didn’t get the ruler.

Again, she couldn’t blame people for assuming this. People had their own problems and lives and really what were they going to do? Go out and look for a missing kid in a city of one million people after work? Probably not.

For a while, even she too kept a blind eye to what was going on. She knew some of the girls missing, but she couldn’t say she really knew them well.

Then Kerosene disappeared.

Kerosene was a friend. A real friend. A friend she grew up in the same orphanage with, they shared a room for most of their lives! They were even roommates to this day! They both won grants to attend Crystal College, she went for teaching, while Kerosene went for Arson investigator. Ironic given her name… and hobby, but only old trash cans!

She just couldn’t believe Kerosene would just walk away after working so hard. Hell, she couldn’t believe she would just leave without even saying goodbye to her! It had to be something else. Which is why she was going through the school records. She has already deduced that a lot of the missing girls had won grants to attend Crystal College. They went missing in different places, but there was still that connection. Some never made it to their first day, others disappeared after a few months, but none had made it past their first year.

She and Kerosene had been about to reach their second year when she disappeared.

Trying to find something, anything, to connect them all was hard. Cadence first hunch was maybe one of the teachers was involved somehow. Like they were part of sex trafficking ring or organ sellers. Not a pleasant thought, but when most of the victims were female the mind tends to travel that way. Though there were few boys here and there too. Hence the organ sellers angle. All the missing people went into different fields of study after being accepted, so there wasn’t much to connect them other than gender and the fact they were orphans.

However, there was one name she did see come up a lot. Professor M. D. Hoof, the chemistry professor. The current teacher she was assigned to observe this week!

A sudden chill ran up her spine. What if it was him? What if she was next?

Checking her watch, she found it was nearly ten at night! Professor Hoof said he was going to be staying late tonight too.

“Maybe I should go home. Shining is probably worried.” Cadence began to gather up the files she pulled when someone knocks at the door. The hair on the back of her neck rose as she stares at the silhouette outside the door. “W-who is it?”

“Ah, you still here Cadenza. I had thought you’d gone home by now.” Professor Hoof said from the other side. He sounds… pleased. It was creepy.

“Um, yes! I was just leaving. Just have to put away some files is all.” She said quickly, picking up the pace, not even caring if the files were going in the right order. Whether her hunch was right or wrong she did not want to be alone with him!

The door opens.

“Oh, allow me to help you then,” The Professor said coming inside. The professor was a tall stocky man, with peach tone skin and brown hair. He looks odd in a world where people had skin and hair tones ranging from pink and green and everything between.

“No, no I’m fine. You can go home. You’ve worked so hard today already.” Cadence said hurriedly, but he caught her hand and took one the files.

“Oh, you don’t know the half of it, but you’ll understand when you start teaching.” Professor Hoof opened the file, giving Cadence a slanted look. “Quite the late-night research, planning to switch your major to criminal investigation?”

“Umm… my boyfriend is planning to. I thought I would… um… I-I should really be getting home. He’s probably worried! He’s probably in the parking lot now!” Cadence all put threw the last of the files into the cabinet and made for the door. Professor Hoof grabbing her by the arm and tossing her against the desk! Pinning her down with his body. She went rigged when she felt his arousal poke her thigh. He was getting excited from this!

However, his face said differently as it was twisted into an angry snarl. “You’re working for him aren’t you, you pink bitch! I figured once I taught those siren wenches a lesson, 088’s progress in throating me would diminish! But I see now those filthy siren sluts left a little spy behind! Well, I’ll be sure to package you up nice for your master!”

“What the fu-kagh,” Cadence didn’t get to finish as Professor Hoof grabs her by the throat and began to squeeze! She struggles frantically! Her breath quickening as her vision began to bleed to black!

(He’s going to kill me! He’s really going to kill me!)

Madhoof pulls Cadence’s head back by the pony tail and smashes her head against the table! Her struggles cease as he let her body drop to the floor. A low groan lets him know she was still alive.

“Don’t worry my little princess, I have much more planned for you, so much more, that you’ll wish I’ll have killed you here.” Madhoof chuckles while stroking her cheek.

Cadence groans as her vision flickered. She heard the door opening and someone walking in.

“CADENCE!”

It was Shining, what was he doing? She wonders. There was the sound of struggle and then things got quiet. What was happening? She was being picked up. Her head bobbing against the professors back. She saw Shining hanging beside her. The floor began to move, they went down a stair well, an old stair well. The one leads down into the school’s old basement. They go through a door, one with a lot of locks from what she could hear. The professor closes it behind them. They go further inside. There are more doors.

Through the doors, Cadence saw things that made her stomach ill. She saw monstrous creatures like those from the Greek legends, Minotaurs, Centaurs, lizard like men all with a woman screaming in blood-curdling terror as the sound of flesh smacking echoed off the walls. She looks away, unable meet the enslaved women’s glossy eyes. Their minds and bodies broken beyond repair.

She recognizes some of the faces. They were some of the missing girls!

They enter another door at the end of the hall. All the moans and groans and slapping of flesh were instantly muted once they enter the room. The room smelt sterile, like a hospital, but blood stains mar the floor and walls. Countless test tubes and beakers with strange liquid were everywhere. As if they had just entered Dr. Frankenstein’s lar. Maybe they did.

Shining disappears from Cadence’s blurry view, followed by metallic clicking. The professor begins to walk again and hoists her over his shoulder and lays her on a cold metal table. Leather straps are attached to her limbs.

“First, let’s get that concussion taken care of,” Madhoof says sticking something into her neck. It was a needle! Something was coming out of it! Her body felt so hot, but her vision clears and she becomes fully aware of her surroundings again. Cadence whips her head frantically around, her chest heaving as the panic began to settle in. Her only source of comfort was Shining Armor strapped to the table across from her. Which really much of a comfort, but at least he had tried to save her.

“What did you do to me?” Cadence demands, feeling one hundred percent again. Madhoof stood with his back to her, hunched over a small metal table.

“Nothing yet, I just injected you with a bit of healing elixir, very standard stuff where I’m from. Mundane even, but to you, I bet it seems like magic.” He said with a sly grin. Holding up a pair of metal scissors Madhoof leers over her, placing the cold cutting tool against her skin, making her shiver.

“What are you doing?”

“Preparing you, my new test subject.” In one fell swoop he cuts Cadence’s shirt and bra, quickly following was her skirt and then her underwear. Madhoof’s face remaining cold and emotionless throughout it all, as if not even caring about the exposed girl before him. “Now what to do, what to do. I’ve tried earth elements, water, and recently fire. All too mundane for a rare catch like yourself. Yes, yes what to do?”

“What are you talking about?” Cadence demands again for answers. “What have you been doing to my friends! What did you do to Kerosene!”

“Kerosene? Oh, the foul mouthed one, well no so foul now. Though she has still yet to know her place, she’s getting there. What to see?” Madhoof walks away from her. Returning moments later with another metal table. On it was Kerosene, the yellow haired and red skin girl was completely naked too, her eyes tear stained as Madhoof held up a red/orange syringe.

“Please, no more, no more, please! I can’t take it!”

“Oh hush,” Madhoof said stabbing the syringe into her breast. Kerosene began to wail tears of liquid flame! Her entire body turning to flame! Cadence screams for her friend, while Madhoof stood back looking bored. “I wonder if this will finally have the right effect. A whole mouth doing this and I still haven’t gotten it right. Poor workmanship on my part really.”

“You, sick fuck! What are you doing to her!”

Madhoof smiled a sickening pleased smile, “I’m making her better. My previous test subjected failed to kill my enemy, so I must make more. Unfortunately, it will be awhile till my long-term projects are ready. Thus, I must resort to this primitive way of doing things.”

“Long term projects…” Cadence thought back to the monster and women in the hall. “You are a fucking monster! You can’t treat people like livestock! You can’t even be called human!”

Madhoof just laughs, “Not human? That’s fine by me. I’m not even from this world. But I must confess it is your species that gave me the idea of selective breeding. The advancement of your sciences is truly amazing. Ah, here we are! I have the perfect serum combination for you!” The professor held up two syringes, one black, one white.

“What… what are those?” Cadence struggled against her bonds, but she was unable to break free as Madhoof positioned the needles over her chest.

“Light and dark, I’ve tried this on several others, but they couldn’t handle it, I hope you’re as special as I hope you are Princess.”

The needles drew closer, the ends pressing against her skin, in the background Shining was awake and screaming her name. Accompanying the wails of kerosene as she continues to burn. Was this it? Was this end of her life? Her freedom? Was she doomed to be this man’s puppet? What of Shining? What would he do to him? What would happen to Twilight, Shining’s little sister? What lie would she be told of their sudden disappearance?

The plungers of the syringes began to lower, their strange contents entering the needle when…BANG!

“What was that?” Madhoof said pulling the needles away from her skin. Cadence breathes a brief sigh of relief,
wondering what was going on out there. There were screams coming from the hall followed by BANG! BANG! BANG!

Someone pounds on the door, one of the creatures from the hall, “Master! Master! Please! Please save me! He’s a monster! He’s a (BANG!)” The creature’s voice fell silent as blood seeped under the door frame.

For a moment, everything was silent.

Then, BANG! The latch of the door shook as pebbles of cement fell off the stone door. Another BANG! Followed and glowing blue hand came smashing through the cement, grabbing the latch and unlocking the door.

The door swung open revealing a towering, growling man, covered in blood and carrying a shotgun. Lightning arcs off the man’s body, a long leathery tail swooshing behind him.

Cadence couldn’t tell if he was here to save them or kill them. But that didn’t matter as the mystery man took one look at the professor and grew even angrier.

“MAAAADHOOFFFFF!”

The man charges becoming more monstrous as devil like wings emerges from his back, Madhoof ran to meet him. The mad doctor’s body growing with huge muscles and ears appearing on top of his head.

They began to fight!

--break

This was it. This was fucking it! He’s finally found him! The bastard doctor that made him. The one he chased between worlds, the one that’s been fucking up his life, the one that killed APPLEJANE! He fucking found him! Were Nico’s thoughts as he delivers a powerful right hook to Madhoof’s face. The mad doctor didn’t go down, barely even flinching at the punch. He forgot Madhoof was an earth pony, their toughness, and strength carrying over to this world too.

“088!” Madhoof screams throwing fiery of jabs at him. The punches hurt as much as he thought they would. Nico’s armor scales barely doing anything to reduce their power.

“THE NAMES NICO VEGA! I AM NOT YOUR PET ANYMORE!” Nico screams back, digging his claws deep into Madhoof’s chest, gouging out a handful of flesh! Plunging his fist into the mad scientist’s chest, Nico fought through his ribs, trying to dig out Madhoof’s heart! “YOU TOOK WHAT I LOVE MOST! NOW IT’S MY TURN!”

Madhoof grabs Nico’s arm and tosses the smaller man into the wall. One hand pressed against the wound, while the other dug around a nearby table for a healing elixir. He picked up a green syringe

Recovering quickly Nico charges, tackling Madhoof and sending both barreling through the lab. Beakers and vials fell to the floor, shattering, the contents igniting as the two enemies continue to struggle. After tipping over a table Nico gains the upper hand pinning Madhoof under his knees as he ground pounds the scientist’s face into the floor.

“You killed her! (Punch!) You killed my wife you bastard! (Punch! Crack!) You took her from me! You took her from my children! You fucking (Punck! Crunch!) Piece of (Punch! Crack!) pony shit! I should have pulled you to shore that night and bashed your skull against a rock till it was nothing but mush! The only fucking time I’m grateful that you created me is right now! SO, I FUCKING KILL YOU MYSELF!”

Madhoof’s face was a bloody mess, his lip was busted, his right eye was swollen, while his left hung against his cheek. Blood and vomit rose in his throat, spilling out between his battered lips. There was no doubt, he was going to die. But he didn’t have to die alone.

Raising his arm with the syringe, he threw one last punch, stabbing Nico in the chest and injecting the green serum into the blue rinin. Nico staggers off him, hissing through his teeth as green mist rose of his flesh.

“What did you do?”

Madhoof splutters out a fountain of blood from his lips as he laughs. Nico’s response was to stomp on his leg, breaking it. He was going to do more, but the cries of the two kids on the table caught his attention.

“Save us! Save us please!” The pink girl cried as the fire grew hotter, engulfing half the room already. It wouldn’t be much longer till the whole place went up and then none of them would be getting out of here.

Going to his discarded shotgun, Nico loads the last rounds he has and took aim. BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Four shots ring out as he severs Madhoof’s arms and legs, the mad scientist let out a cry of unyielding screams. Nico grabs him by the hair and drags him closer to the flames.

“Enjoy your trip to Tartarus,” He spat as Madhoof’s head became engulfed in the fire. With his claws, Nico quickly cut the bounds on the pink girl. Throwing her over his shoulder he cut the boy free and did the same, breaking off into a sprint to the outer hall. Where the fire had already begun to spread, feeding off the fat and flesh of Madhoof’s slain experiments. “Hang on, and close your eyes.” He told the two, quickly running through the gore, the blood of his slain enemies splashing onto his pant leg. He had left none alive, none. It was mercy. None of the test subjects would have been able to regain their sanity again anyway.

Carrying the two out the basement, smoke already filling the hall, Nico did the only reasonable thing. He broke the window. It was the first floor, so it was no big deal. Getting his two recuse victims pass the broken glass, he finally set them down on the sidewalk by his truck.

“Here, it’s not much but’s it’s better than nothing,” Nico said handing Cadence a jacket that fell past her thighs, so it covered the important parts as least.

“Thanks,” Cadence replied, looking jittery. No surprise there. She looks him up and down, clearly freaked out. He was covered in blood from head to tow. “You look normal now… what… who are you?”

Nico didn’t reply, instead chose to get into his truck. Madhoof had put a barrier around the school, hence why emergency services haven’t arrived yet. Give it a few more minutes and this place would have cops, and firefighter’s up the wazoo. They could take care of the clearly traumatized kids, or young adults, whatever they were kids to him.

“Doesn’t matter,” Nico replies, putting on his seat belt. That stab wound from Madhoof was burning and green bubbles were boiling around the wound. That probably wasn’t good. “Madhoof is dead, your live, there does need to need to be any more than. Cops will be here soon, stay here, tell them he kidnaped you and he was going to rape/murder there are plenty of bodies to clear that story. You never saw me and everything that doesn’t make sense stays in your head. Doctors will just assume you seeing monsters is due to trauma anyway.”

“You’ve done this before,” Cadence said matter of fact. Her face glistening with tears in the lamp light. Nico’s hands tighten around the steering wheel. He should really do more for these kids, but what could he do to really help them?

He simply replied, “Yes.”

“Kerosene, my friend who was on fire before the fire started, was there no way to save her? Was there no way to save any of them?”

“That’s beyond my ability to answer. I’m just a soldier, nothing more. As for you two, it’s up to you to decide how to move on from here.” Nico starts the pickup and pulls away, leaving the two kids to fend for themselves. He hated this part of the job. The shattered innocents of those he leaves in his wake
.

As Nico drove towards home he thought of Applejane and wondered what she would think of all this. Would she be happy that he avenged her? He laughs humorlessly. She probably wouldn’t. She’d be much angrier about him leaving the kids so suddenly. He had plenty of time to make it up to them at least.

The wound in his chest burns and frizzles, his skin contracting painfully like he was being stabbed all over again. He pulls the truck over to the side of the road, dry heaving badly when he removes his hand from his mouth specs of blood marred on his palm.

Nico stares at the palm for a little while before continuing home. He had kids to look after. For however long he had left.

Author's Notes:

Next time the Epilogue