The low sound of Nick’s breathing could be heard in the hospital room, he had been battered, bruised, and beaten. He was almost motionless aside from the slow rise and fall of his chest. His eyes shut. The doctor had finished his examination, the unicorn letting out a soft sigh and pulling his glasses up, exiting the room Twilight and her friends, including Eris had all been silent in waiting. “Doctor...how is he?”

The unicorn sighed, “your friend has suffered massive damage to his skull, even with the help of magic he won’t be at a hundred percent for a while…now for the worst news..”

Rainbow Dash’s eye twitched, “there’s WORSE news..?” The cyan pegasus asked, the doctor nodded. “He seems to be in a comma of sorts...we’re unsure if he’ll wake or not..” The group’s hearts all universally sank.

Tears forming in Fluttershy’s eyes as she buried her face into Rainbow’s chest, the usual brash mare staying silent to comfort her longtime friend. Pinkie Pie’s mane deflated in a almost cartoonish manner, as she looked to the side. Trying her hardest to contain the sheer negative emotions swelling inside her at this news, Applejack pulling off her hat and putting it on her chest as Rarity began to cry out as well, Starlight doing her best to comfort the mare along with Spike. “Nick…” Twilight muttered clenching her eyes shut as Eris then exclaimed, “no! He has to be ok! He’ll wake up! He will!”

The draconquus refused to believe what she was hearing, her emotions getting the better of her as Twilight spoke. “Eris...the beating he took, the blows that dragon gave...it was terrible..we ju-”

Eris grabbed Twilight’s snout and kept her mouth closed, “don’t finish that sentence! He WILL be ok! Nick is tougher than that...he has to pull through...he HAS to…” Eris said, tears forming in her eyes. The doctor put a hoof on her back, “all we can do now? Is wait and see what happens...in the worst case...I...I’m sorry for your lose…”

The room fell silent, and the hospital air seemed colder than usual. Nick’s body unmoving as he laid on his back…

“Where am I?” Nick asked himself, air was chilling as all he saw was pitch black. Slowly, something began to form in the darkness. A large one story house. Looking around Nick slowly made his way to the house, feeling tied to the building.

Pushing the front door open he was blinded by light, blinking a bit his vision soon returned to him as he examined his surroundings, a comfy and furry couch to his right and what seemed to be a wooden guitar on its stand to his left. Nick was shivering, this seemed so familiar… That’s when he heard a voice. “NICK! I’M HOME!”

Nick’s heart sank, he knew where he was. “Dad? You’re home early!” He heard another voice say, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. His heart was racing in the pit of his stomach as he saw something he’d thought he’d never see again emerge from the well lit kitchen.

“D-dad..?” He asked, his father was wearing a UPS uniform with a wide smile on his face as Nick’s younger self walked out of his room down the hallway to the left. “Mhm, I was supposed to come home earlier but I thought I’d grab some food so you know we could hang out, oh that and I wanted to take the Banshee out for a drive!” His father said.

The real Nick stood in silence, he was stunned, he was confused. Emotions flowing through his body as he walked forward, “yeah that sounds awesome!” Younger Nick said as Nick shook his head, ‘this can’t be real...I remember this day...I...I..’

“You don’t understand?” His younger self asked, real Nick looked at his younger self. “Wait you can-”

“Yes I can see you, we both can.” Young Nick motioned to his father, who was staring right at him. Dead in his eyes as real Nick stared back, sweat forming on his face. “D-dad...I’d thought I’d never see you again…”

“I never thought I’d see you here so soon son. What happened? And why are you wearing that toy?” His dad asked, having the classic smile that Nick loved so much.

“I-I, dad...so much has happened...I…” Nick was cut off, his father placing a hand on his shoulder and chuckling. “Nick, walk with me.” His dad said moving his hands away from his shoulders and floating out of the house and through the front door, back into the black nothingness.

“Dad! Wait!” Nick shouted as he chased after him, blindly running into the nothingness. Trying to catch up with his father who was floating away faster and faster before the world shifted and changed to the outside neighborhood that his father's’ house was on. Panting Nick looked up, his dad standing in front of him. “Now Nick, tell me. What has happened to you in these past years since I passed on?”

Nick stood tall, walking down the street with his father. Explaining everything, from him going to the comic con and grabbing the Omnitrix, to him having his ass kicked by the Executioner. His father nodded as Nick said, “dad I just...I don’t know if I can do it...from nearly dying to Erebus the first time to now this..? I can’t save anyone..I can’t save Equestria…”

“Nick, do you remember what you always told me when you were a kid?” Nick’s father asked, Nick shook his head. “Daddy, I wanna be a superhero! And when I looked into those young eyes, I saw a fire. That spark of determination to become a hero, to do something good. To do it, because it’s the right thing to do.”

Nick stayed silent, “upon my death when I didn’t return that night. And when I looked down upon you to view you when you became a senior, that fire died. As if I was the motivation for you to do something good because of how good of a person I was.” His father sighed, “Nick. I’m not perfect, I’ve done some dumb shit in the past that I regret. But it’s from my mistakes that I want you to grow from, you’re being presented the opportunity to be what you wanted. To become a hero to these ponies and a weird hybrid of a woman who is head over heels for you.”

Nick looked to the ground not responding, his father pausing and getting in front of him. “Nick, you are a good person. But you are not perfect, as a hero you are going to make mistakes. You’ll lose and there will be a lot of heartache, but you can’t let that stop you. What have I always told you?”

“A-a father and son who pray together…”

“Stay together. And while in this life there is no definitive god, I will always be there to help you. To guide you.” Nick’s dad could see the tears rolling down Nick’s face and begin to soak in his clothes. Grabbing his father, Nick hugged him tightly and bawled out. His father rubbing his back to help reassure him he closed his eyes.

“You have a chance Nick to save a world...to be the hero you want to be...and even in your darkest hour, you will never be alone...however the choice is left up to you.” His father said, releasing his grip on Nick he backed up.

A light opened up behind Nick, a figure standing in front of the light. “You can choose to take the hard way out and return to the world of the living, or stay with me in death.”

Nick looked between the two options, “dad…”

“Yes son?” His father asked raising an eyebrow.

“I love you...very much...but people need me.” Nick said turning his back to his father, his eyes red from crying so much, tears still forming. His father closed his eyes before smiling, “I’ll always be here Nick.” He said before disappearing, like sand being blown into the wind.

Nick was stopped by a figure that looked like Twilight, “Nick! You can’t go back! You failed us! We can handle ourselves, you did your best!”

Nick looked at the Twilight, “no...I have to go back..” He said as Twilight smirked. Her body began to shift and buckle, bones forming out of her body as the flesh and fur of her body slowly disappeared. A hood forming over her head as long boney fingers formed at her hooves holding a scythe.

“Your soul is mine Nicholas Taylor...NOBODY ESCAPES DEATH!” The creature shouted, it lunged at Nick. Nick narrowed his eyes and dodged to the side, slamming his fist into the creatures face he jumped back. “Tch, trust me pal. I’ll be making my way out of here…” Nick said, trying to bring back his joking attitude.

Death looked at him, swinging its scythe in a wide horizontal slash. Nick leapt over the swing and slammed his fit into Death’s spin, it wiping around and slamming the butt of its scythe into Nick’s face and knocking him to the ground. Raising the blade up, Death slammed it into Nick’s stomach.

Nick letting out a shriek as Death’s hollow eyes stared into his. “I admire your bravery...but you are foolish, you cannot hide from Death. I am everywhere! Your soul will be mine!”

Nick leaned his head back shakily, the ground beginning to envelope him into the black eternal nothingness as he stuck a hand out, no he couldn’t do it...

…

…

...

That’s when he felt a rough hand grab his, pulling him out of the darkness Death backed away. “Impossible…” It said as Nick looked at his father and then at Death. “No, nothing is impossible. I have no reason to hide...because we’re stronger than you think.” Nick said, his father walking into him and almost merging with him.

Nick smirked, “shall we dance?” He asked, Death charging at him and swinging its scythe. Nick rolled along the ground and evaded the swing, slamming his fist into Death’s jaw in a crushing uppercut. Memories of his past flooding into his head with each strike he dealt Death, from his birth, him and his friend Jacob playing Pokemon on the school bus, and him being bullied. To him meeting the Mane Six for the first time, to him fighting Erebus and pausing upon him cuddling up against Eris.

Letting out a cry, Nick formed both of his hands into fists and brung them down over Death’s skull. The entity laying on the ground, its skull actually cracked as it tried to rise to its feet. Nick walked past it, and back toward the light, pausing before looking up. “Thank you Dad…”

“Anytime Nick, you now know I’m always here.” His father said from above, Nick walking through the light. Death weakly grabbing its scythe as it panted, a small smile forming on its skull. “Well played Taylor...well played…”

Nick’s eyes slowly opened up, bandages around his head and most of his body as his eyes looked around. It was night time, most of the group had left the hospital. But a few members stayed, such as Twilight, Starlight Glimmer, Spike, and Eris who were all asleep. Nick’s eyes then fell upon a clock which was in front of him, ‘4:56 AM…’ He thought.

Letting out a low groan, his body was still EXTREMELY sore, but seemed to be in much better condition then his initial fight with the Executioner, he was a little woozy as well from most of the medicine and such that was being pumped into him.

“H-hello..?” He said softly, his voice was weak. But he managed to form that, Starlight Glimmer’s ears perked up at the sound of Nick’s voice, slowly opening up her eyes she rubbed a hoof against her face. That’s when her eyes widened, “Nick? You’re awake!” She said, joy filling her eyes as the mare restrained herself from hugging him tightly. Nudging Twilight and Eris, the two slowly began to awake.

Twilight was the first to react, tears streaming down her face as she couldn't control herself. Hugging Nick tightly the human let out grunts of pain, “hugs...hurt!” He said as Twilight blushed and backed away, giving a sheepish smile at him.

Eris however, when she saw Nick was awake she shouted. “WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!? YOU HAD ME WORRIED SICK!”

Nick winched slightly, but then found Eris’s arms gently wrapped around him, her head nuzzling into the side of his neck as she began to cry as well. “Don’t EVER do that again..” She said snapping her fingers and grabbing the literal tissue box and blowing her nose with it.

Nick gave a dopey smile, “happy to see you all too…” He said as he looked up, envisioning his father who had his arms crossed and a wide smile on his face giving Nick a thumbs up.

Nick felt a tear roll down his face, he knew his purpose...he knew he could do it now. His father was with him the whole time, he just never saw it. And now? Once he got out of this bed and the clutches of Eris. He was going to save Equestria and make himself, and his father proud.

Author's Notes:

I'm back baby! Sorry for the very long hiatus, writers block was awful. But I'm back now, and I hope to continue this story since all of you seem to really enjoy it. So I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and ciao! ^^