“W-what? How?!” Ash stammered.

The nurse levitated the mirror back into her pocket. “I’m sorry, but we don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?!”

“Please try and stay calm, sir. Now, I, nor any of the doctors in Canterlot, have seen or heard of anything like your condition. It isn’t natural.”

“So what? It’s something magical?”

“It has to be. There is no other rational explanation.”

Ash sunk back into the bed. “So what now?”

“Previous examinations have shown nothing wrong. Aside from a change in colour, your eyes are perfectly fine.”

Ash snorted.

“As for magically, Princess Celestia herself performed that examination. She turned up nothing.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“Celestia wants to keep you hear until we can figure out what happened. I’ll let her know you’re awake and you can give her a report, and she’ll probably bring your friends in too. In the mean time, stay in bed. You can let me know if you need anything.”

The nurse left, leaving Ash alone. He sighed and thought about the situation.

Did this happen because of that thing in the forest? What was that thing, anyway?

“You are in danger.”

Ash jumped at the voice. It sounded like a whisper in his ear, but there was nopony else in the room. “Who’s there?”

“You are in danger. Flee.”

“Who are you?”

“We are the same.”

A feeling of unease crossed over the grey Pegasus. He could feel something wrong, in the back of his mind. “So... you’re me?”

“Yes. Danger approaches. You must flee now.”

He was about to respond when the door opened. His eyes widened when the Celestia entered, along with a pair of unicorn guards.

The whispering had stopped, and Ash bowed his head. “Princess...”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Ash looked up. The princess had a slight frown on her face, and her expression was similar to the hard gaze the guards used. Ash shrank back before her eyes, which were fixed on his.

“Princess... what-”

“Silence. Ash, you are a good stallion, and I’m sorry it had to come to this, but it is necessary.”

Confusion and fear assaulted Ash. Come to what? What is she sorry for? Is she responsible for this?

Her intentions finally became clear when one of the guards levitated a syringe full of a clear, bluish liquid.

Celestia turned and headed toward the door. She paused before leaving and turned to him again. “I’m sorry.” She said before she disappeared, leaving Ash alone with the two guards.

Ash looked between them frantically. “What are you doing?!”

He tried to get up, but found himself held down. The second guard’s horn glowed, surrounded by a pale greenish grey aura.

The first drew closer, the syringe approaching with him. “By order of Princess Celestia, your life if forfeit.”

Ash struggled. “Why?!”

The guard drew even closer still, until he was standing over the helpless Pegasus. “You can’t do this!” Ash screamed.

Ash thrashed as hard as he could, suddenly feeling a lapse in the field holding him. With a final push he broke free.

“You are out of time. Kill them.” The voice growled.

The guards seemed unfazed by his escape, only angered. The first launched the syringe down at him. Ash rolled off the bed, dragging the blanket with him. The syringe barely missed him, driving itself into the mattress as Ash fell to the floor.

He struggled to free himself from the covers as the second of the guards charged at him. Ash tore free from the grip of the sheets just in time to be slammed into the wall by the guard.

He involuntarily cried out as the guard spun around and aimed a buck at Ash’s head.

No you don’t!

Ash pulled himself out of the way as the guard’s hooves smashed into the wall, creating two holes where Ash’s head had once been.

Strangely, Ash recovered from the assault abnormally quickly. He felt a surge of anger, and leapt on the guard with all the force he could muster.

Ash could feel the guard’s ribs crack under the force of his impact. The guard cried out in pain as they landed on the ground. Fuelled by his anger, the grey Pegasus scrambled on top of the stunned unicorn and struck his head repeatedly. He could feel the guard’s armour, flesh and bone give under the volley of punches.

The other guard let out a wordless war cry a jumped at Ash, knocking him off his companion. The guard reared up and brought his hooves down on Ash’s chest, forcing the air from his lungs. The rage that had overcome Ash swelled with the wave of pain. He bucked upwards, sending his hooves into the guard’s unprotected stomach with a sickening thump.

The guard’s eyes widened and he choked. Blood began to drip from his mouth as he fell to one side, wheezing.

Ash slowly stood, the rage from the fight subsiding. The Pegasus surveyed the room. The bed, syringe still protruding from the mattress, had been shoved aside, presumably when he fell. Two holes showed the points where the guard’s hooves had collided with the wall. Ash looked at the two guards.

The first was unrecognisable. His helmed was dented and distorted, and his visible face covered in blood and gashes. Ash could even see a split in one of his eyes, which stared blankly forward.

The second guard lay on his side, blood dripping from his mouth and a massive black bruise with two distinctive hoof marks on his underside. His haggard breaths became slower and slower until they stopped completely.

Ash stood still, staring at the horror he had created.

What have I done?

“You did what was necessary.”

He spun wildly, searching the room for the source of the voice. “Who are you?” he snarled.

“You still do not understand. I am YOU.”

“That doesn’t make any sense!”

“Doesn’t it? We are the same being. If it helps, think of me as a section of your subconscious.”

Ash’s heart was racing. This thing was in his head?

“What do you want?”

“To help us.”

Ash let out a short bark of bitter laughter. He could feel tears beginning to form in his eyes. “How can you possible help me?”

“I already have. It was with my strength that you defeated your assailants and protected you from serious injury.”

“You killed them?!”

“No, I merely supplied the means. It was you who performed the deed.”

Ash couldn’t contain himself any longer. He let out a choking sob and tears ran down his face. He had just killed two ponies. Taken their lives in a fit of rage.

I’m a murderer.

“You must leave.”

“Just leave me alone.” He sobbed.

“It’s not safe here. Leave.”

“And go where?!” he shouted, “Where can I go? They’ll hunt me down! I killed two ponies!”

A scream filled Ash’s ears. He turned to the door to see the nurse. Her eyes were wide and her face a mask of terror. Her gaze darted between the broken corpses and the blood covered Pegasus, before she turned tail and bolted out of sight, screaming at the top of her lungs.

That... voice is right. If I stay here they’ll find me, and I don’t want to hurt anypony else.

He turned to the single window of the room. The view was impressive, and showed the bright lights of Canterlot in the dark of the night. Ash leapt toward it, closing his eyes as he broke through the glass.

The air outside was cold, but a refreshing change from the smell of sterilisers that had plagued the hospital, and the more recent stench of blood and death. Feeling the wind in his mane calmed him, to an extent, and he felt the feeling of freedom flight brought to him. Only, something was missing.

Rainbow Dash.

A feeling of loneliness crept over him. He had to find her.

And tell her what? That I’ve just killed two ponies in cold blood. And what about Celestia? What would she tell her? I’ll kill that bitch!

Rage boiled up inside him, but he realised what was happening.

No! Don’t let your anger rule you. I need to find Dash, that’s all that matters at the moment.

He adjusted his course to head toward the Royal Castle. That was where the nurse said she had been, but also where Celestia was most likely to be.

Celestia walked through the immense hallway in her castle, her mind wandering over the recent events. She truly regretted what she had done, but there was no other way. The princess thought back to her encounter with the element of loyalty. She’ll recover, eventually.

Guards stood to attention as she past them, but the sound of hoofsteps echoed down the hallway, causing Celestia to look around.

A Pegasus guard ran toward her. He stopped before her and bowed. “Princess...”

“Rise, captain.” He obeyed.

“The target has escaped, your majesty.” He said, “Both the guards you left to deal with him are dead.”

Celestia frowned. This was getting out of hand. “He killed them? How?”

“We’re not sure. Hoof shaped bruising on the bodies suggest he fought them unarmed, but both of them look like they were hit with sledge hammers. We believe he has escaped into the city.”

The white alicorn thought for a moment, then addressed the guard. “Put the city guard on alert, he cannot be allowed to escape. Also, evacuate the hospital wing and torch it.”

The captain looked up in shock. “Princess-”

“You have your orders, captain. Leave no evidence behind.”

The Pegasus bowed once again. “Of course, princess.”

He turned to a pair of guards stationed in the hall. “You two, alert the guard! I want this city on high alert in ten minutes!”

“Sir, yes, sir!” the shouted in unison.

The guards took off to complete their assigned tasks, leaving Celestia alone in the hall. She stayed for a moment, just appreciating the calmness of the castle.

A calmness that wouldn’t last.

A/N: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is property of Hasbro, all characters are property of their respective owners. Thanks for reading! Rate, comment, track!