The sound of this heart rate monitor is going to get annoying. I've been left in this stupid hospital room, attached to this stupid machine since last night. I'm still waiting for Celestia to come up with the new plan for me… I hope I get to stay in a dungeon again. At least then, I'd be kept away from… did ponies call Luna and Celetia the 'Royal Sisters'? If so, then that was a pretty lousy title. I mean, it's pretty telling of what they are, they are sisters and are royal. Whatever, it doesn't matter. If I get left in the dungeons, then I probably won't need to interact with the Royal Sisters for a bit, and that would be nice. While my initial anger had mostly subsided after… Well, crashing into a wall and nearly dying, I still was kinda mad.
This kind of reminds me of the time that I fell off my bike while going down a steep hill. I crashed into something, later I was told it was a fire hydrant, and I went flying. Needless to say, I needed a cast on my arm, stitches, and lots of painkillers. I was bored out of my mind sitting in that hospital. I couldn't even really study or read since my left hand was broken(Yes, I'm left handed, well, left hoofed now. That's if I can even really write like I could with human hands). My brother came in at some point an hour or so in with his laptop. We spent hours just watching stupid videos, because I was really grouchy while I was on pain killers, and the stupid videos my brother made helped a lot. I let out a chuckle as I recalled a video, where my brother tried to sell a box of used tissues like it was a revolutionary piece of technology.
Good thing that this time around, I had no pain killers, no laptop-wielding brother armed with videos that he made to make me laugh… My brother was going to college after my summer vacation was over. He was going to some special high school that specifically had a video editing class, which was a passion that he had. We had a whole summer planned out, sure, we'd probably be lazing about and being couch potatoes, but we had a road trip planned out at some point. Now, here I was, sitting in a hospital and miserable. I couldn't even at least call my brother and talk with him, that would be too luxurious. I want to die.
That's it, no rhyme or reason to it. I simply want to die. I was bored out of my mind, I was doomed to stay with a couple ponies that I currently hate, and I couldn't even spend the summer with my brother. The real kicker is that I'm also a Changeling, and I don't know what they are. I just know that they have their own queen, and ponies hate them. That guard that was chasing me yesterday was a pretty good sign of what would happen if I still tried to live on my own. Y'know, ignoring the big tree castle, Ponyville seems like a really nice place to live. It seemed pretty quiet, and I could probably find some old, abandoned house to live in. I could then either steal groceries, or feed off of love… I could do that right? Whatever, I have nothing to live for right now.
Well, I'd probably have to learn how to feed off of love first, and that's assuming I don't just let myself become a chalk outline. Well, that would also be a little too generous for me. I'd probably just get tossed in a ditch somewhere, and maybe two people would show up to my funeral. That's if I'm lucky. If I'm unlucky, I just get tossed in a ditch, and then my corpse sits and rots without a single memory of who I was. I'll just be known as 'that Changeling that has a backpack, and got its ass kicked by Princess Celestia without even making a dent on her'. That's assuming that I'll even be remembered to begin with, so I'll keep my hopes low. If I keep them low, then I can't be disappointed.
The door clicked open and Princess Celestia was the first to walk in the room. Soon followed by Princess Luna, who was giving me an expression that was a mix between concern and anger. I couldn't even wave at either of them, since one of my arm- forelegs was strapped to the bed, and the other was in a sling. Do these guys fully expect that I could run away like this? I could barely run away from a Royal Guard while on four legs, so what hope do I have at getting away with three? I'd make a huge commotion by simply being out in the open, and then I'd probably get murdered anyways.
"So, am I gonna get punished for fighting against that Guard?" I asked. I went straight for the throat, not even caring if I seemed a little rude.
"You cannot even be bothered to say 'hello'? Do you even come close to understand how worried you made me and Celestia? You leave, blinded by anger, and you end up fighting a member of the Royal Guard and that you're drenched in your own blood?" Princess Luna asked. "You could have died, and the first thing you ask is 'am I in trouble?'"
"Actually, I didn't fight one of your guards and lose. I got into a tussle with a wall and lost to said wall. I clobbered the guard over the head with a trash can lid and won, thank you very much, Princess," I chuckled humorlessly. I, a child, could take down a trained guard with a trash can lid, but got my ass handed to me on a silver platter by a wall. It wasn't even a brick wall either, it was wood! It still hurt like hell when it happened. "Besides, I might as well get straight to the point. You and I are both well aware that… I'm not stoked to see you or Princess Celestia," I said. I don't know why I've started using… their titles instead of just names. Perhaps it was just because I was now an outsider looking in.
Before these two had betrayed my trust, they were just 'Luna and Celestia' or 'Lulu and Celly'. Now they were just princesses to me. Pretty faces that smiled and waved, and I don't think I can truly just see them as people. Or at least anybody I'd casually sit down and watch a movie with. Formalities for people you barely knew, no formalities for those you'd call family… God dammit, I really got attached to these two too quickly. What the hell was I thinking? I was shaken out of my thoughts as I realized that Luna was standing over my bed, and now I could feel just how tall she was in comparison to me.
Yeah, this is the same pony that carried me on her back without my legs even touching the floor, but now I could truly see it. Before, I came up to around Princess Luna's neck, or her chest if you didn't count my horn. Now, the hospital bed came around the Lunar Princess's knees, and she towered over me now that I was forced to lie on my back. "Y'know, with an expression like that, and how you're standing over me right now, I could make the mistake that you actually care about me, Princess. If you're gonna toss me in a cell for assaulting a guard, you can just tell me."
"Ray, I care about you, dammit! Get over your anger for a damned second, you idiot! I stayed by your side while you were asleep for a reason. I tried to convince you to stay in Canterlot for a reason. I took the time out of my duties to talk to you in your dreams, Ray. I did it because I care about you. I know we've only met four days ago, but I couldn't help but grow attached, okay? I can tell you're smart, I can tell that your… more humorous side isn't something you get to show very often. I can tell that you didn't really see me or Celestia as parental figures, but I could tell that you enjoyed our company, Ray. You are my child Ray, not by blood, but you are my son. I care about you, even if you believe otherwise."
I shrugged, it was the only thing I could really do. "Luna, I cared. I trusted you and your sister, a little too quickly I might add. I stuck out my neck for you and Celestia. Whether you were a part of it or not, Celestia shattered any trust I had for either of you. You… I could've gone the fuck home, I could've helped my brother film something. I could've pretended to ignore my brother while he geeked out over some new video editing technique that he learnt at school, while secretly admiring my brother's talents. Celestia knew that I still had a chance at going home, and then didn't say a fucking word as that opportunity got shot like a dog." I took a deep breath and coughed a couple times.
"There might be a time where I'm willing to stick my neck out again, Luna, I really do. I would've loved it if we were at least really good friends. I wish I never tried to get an answer about being able to return sometimes, that I just remained blissfully unaware. I had those thoughts while I was laying on the ground in pain, Luna. But, that time for me to trust you again… seems far and away in the future," I took a sigh as I realized just how dry my throat was. My voice was beginning to crack a bit. "And I'm sorry if I'm coming off as a bit cold, but I don't think I can even begin to come off as friendly with you, or your sister… especially when Celestia said she'd drag me right back to Canterlot."
As if on queue, I eyed Celestia; I wanted her to talk. "We… will be taking you back to Canterlot in a week's time while you recover. It shouldn't be more than three days before you're walking again, healing magic works wonders," Princess Celestia said. "You will still have your room, albeit we will probably post guards by the room's doors, just to make sure you don't try to escape again. I will try my best to get back into your good graces again, and then we'll begin trying to introduce you to the public. I believe Queen Chrysalis will be wanting to meet up with you in a week or two, and ask her to teach you how to properly use your body. From magic to flight, you should at least know how your body works."
"And… you're not taking my thoughts on this into account. Just like how you seemed to just assume that I'd be happy with knowing that I'm missing out on three years of my life. I know, I made a deal when I met you, that I'd be an ugly little bug prince, and then you can study humans and learn about Changelings from me in one go. But I was under no obligation to remain a part of your deal, Princess Celestia. I don't want to live in a castle, I don't want to be your 'cute little Changeling' kid. Hell, I barely want to be associated with you, and the fact that I'm even talking to you is a miracle.
"I don't want to go back to Canterlot, where I don't have to worry about anything. Being cooped up in that room, while being confined to the inside of the castle, where I couldn't even explore Canterlot felt terrible. I'll give you a bit of knowledge on the human psyche, Princess Celestia. When you present a human with the great unknown, or even just a new location, they will want to explore it. Even if that area's been mapped out, if you put a person from Spain in Japan, they will want to try everything. From food, to little attractions, to just looking at views they don't have at home. What you're doing is essentially locking a bird up, clipping its wings, and keeping it in a cage all day." I jabbed a finger out towards the window.
"I don't give a damn if ponies don't like me, I've stopped caring about that since yesterday. I don't care if you think somebody's gonna try and kill me, because I'll feel alive. I'd rather have three years of exploration before I get to go home again. At least I'll be making memories instead of staring at my ceiling, or reading the same book for a 257th time that week. When I got into that fight with your guard, I felt alive even if I was scared out of my mind. I'm starting to accept that I will just be missing out on a huge chunk of life back at home, so I want to fill it with something still memorable. I'm not going back to Canterlot with you, no matter how many guards you bring. I'll fucking fight tooth and nail before I see myself inside that castle again."
My voice died after that, I was very dehydrated, and there wasn't one of those water bags connected in my arm. These ponies can make a working heart rate monitor, but not anything to keep somebody hydrated while they're hospitalized. I wonder how anybody survives if they go into a coma. Both Princesses stared at me with wide eyes, and it kind of looked like Princess Luna was going to say something, but the doctor came in with… a bottle of water. "I'm sorry that I didn't bring this in sooner, I thought the nurse would've done it by now." The bottle filled with the clear, life giving liquid was set on the nightstand beside my bed.
"Anyways, I've got a status report, if you'd like to hear that."
"Yes please, I hate being tied down to a bed," I said, while trying to be nice. I wasn't about to lash out at some guy doing their job, that would be a low blow, even for me. I don't know how doctors and nurses are treated here, but it would still feel wrong to yell at somebody just to make sure you didn't bleed to death. The doctor scratched his head before his eyes widened slightly. He grabbed the thing tying my good leg to the bed, and untied it. If I could, or knew how to kiss with these pony-horse-bug lips, I would've kissed him right then and there. First, a huge bottle of clean water, and he unties me? I think I'm in love.
"That's odd, I specifically told the nurse to not tie you down. You've been nothing but courteous since you've arrived, Changeling. While I don't know if you have any ulterior motives, you don't seem like you'd lash out," the doctor said.
"Well, I am going to listen to you. My life is kind of in your hands right now, and I don't really see a point in being rude. You're Not the one that injured me, that damned rabid wall did," I said rather jokingly. The doctor chuckled. "I mean, what is with you ponies and your pesky walls? Just be like us Changelings, living in caverns. Houses that keep you warm during the winter? You tell me you want to live in comfort? Sounds disgusting," I said with an over exaggerated scoff. The doctor was now laughing. Mission achieved, I made somebody laugh.
"I suppose those pesky walls that we ponies build are quite problematic. Even I find myself walking into them a couple times when I'm trying to read reports from my nurses," the doctor said. "And quite frankly, I am with you, my Changeling friend. Let's start a revolution against walls, buildings, screw it! Let's protest the existence of towns! Those have hundreds of walls!" The doctor said, Wow, this was like talking to an old mate back from my hometown.
"Y'know what doc?" I asked while rubbing my chin. "You're onto something with that. We may just have to burn down Ponyville… dammit, that's illegal," we both chuckled before the doctor got to business.
"Your carapace has healed rather nicely after we hit you with a healing spell. You don't feel any sudden, sharp pains around the cracks anymore, do you?" I shook my head. "Good, that means it healed better than we thought. Your leg is going to be a problem for a few days, but nothing, some good ol' rest and a few doses of enchanted healing pills can't solve it. If you'd like to walk around, we do have a few leg wheels. While they're made for ponies, I think we can make one work for you, just make sure you return the leg wheel you borrow when you're done. Other than that, you are doing pretty good. You're still good to perform magic while you recover, I personally recommend it, but not flying or running. You need to take things slow while your carapace heals and your leg mends. Any other questions?"
"Well… don't I have to check in with you a week after I'm healed? I asked.
"Of course! We need to make sure you've healed properly… as for how we'll do that, I don't know. It's not everyday that I have Changeling patients. Usually Changelings are why I find myself in the hospital," the doctor and I chuckled. "But yes, three days to fully recover, and then a check up a week or two after you recover. I might ask you to check in a couple more times after that, but I am mostly curious as to how your carapace works, and what job it serves. Since you clearly still have bones under it and your muscles, because you have a broken leg…"
"Say doc, can I get your name sometime? You seem like the kind of pony I'd like to eat some very, very unhealthy, but tasty fast food with. I'd offer to meet up with you at a bar, but I'm only 14, and I don't think that's the legal drinking age around these parts, even if I'm Irish."
The doctor nodded, before his eyes widened. "Wait what now? Do you have parents, or anybody to take care of…" the doctor turned to Princess Celestia and Luna. "I suppose you two are his guardians…" I made no comment on that. "But yeah, I think we can meet up sometime. Whenever you're in town, just stop by and say you're looking for Time Turner, or Doctor Turner. I heard from Ditzy, my wife, that there was a friendly Changeling on the train when she came back yesterday. So I'm assuming you're Changeling, right?" Time Turner asked.
"I… you can say that, I guess. I am looking forward to talking to Ditzy again, she's pretty cool," I said. That was the first pony to speak to me like a person, without immediately being disgusted by my literal outer shell. That alone made me kinda like that pony, and this was her husband? Well, surely they have enough in common to make getting along with this guy very easy… plus Time Turner is actually kinda enjoyable to be around even while he's being professional… he didn't look very professional though.
Time Turner had a light brown, almost tan coat, with a long mane and tail that were a darker shade of brown. His cutie mark was… an hourglass?
"Say, I don't know if this is rude, but why do you have that cutie mark?" I asked.
The doctor paused before shrugging. "I…" he leaned in. "I am not a pony, but I am a Time Lord. I usually go by my pony name, Time Turner while I'm here. I'm simply known as 'the Doctor' and I'm a time traveler. Only you and my wife know, so please don't let that secret out," the Doctor asked. He backed away and his usual cheery expression returned. "Anyways, I have quite a few other patients to check in on, so I will bid you farewell for now, Changeling. Alionsy!" I tilted my head for a second as my head began to wrap around the concept of a time traveler… Why the heck was he just being a normal, boring doctor if he can time travel?
Well, I guess you do make a lot of money as a doctor, and I suppose doing surgeries must be a walk in the park if you know how to build a time machine.
"So, about me staying out of Canterlot?" I asked after I downed some water. It was actually crystal clear, and it was delicious. I had no idea how you can make something so… flavorless taste so damn good.
"We can… make arrangements for you to stay in Ponyville I suppose," Princess Celestia said. "But I will have to discuss the terms with the Element Bearers before I can give you a definitive answer. If how you managed to break Time Turner out of his usual professionalism says anything, then you… might be able to live amongst ponies for a time with supervision."
"Sister, allow me to simply stay behind with Ray. My duties have little to no paperwork like yours do, and I would like to keep an eye on our little Changeling before he decides to fight another one of your guards," Luna said. The Lunar Princess turned to me. "And while we are here, I will help introduce Ray to the rest of town, with the help from Twilight and her friends of course," Luna said. "Plus, I will need to come down soon for my usual visit to Ponyville on Nightmare Night, so arranging me to stay and watch Ray will save some pony power that it takes to haul two alicorns to and from Ponyville." Celestia nodded.
"Is the whole 'Luna staying with me' negotiable? I'd like to not live under the same roof as her so soon," I said.
"Nope, I am staying with you, Ray. Somebody has to keep an eye on you, and I doubt you can cook," Luna said. I sighed, knowing that I really couldn't argue against that point.
"Alright then, it lets me stay out of that castle, at least," I said with a small smile. I really hope that this goes over well, and who knows? I might actually like Luna again in a week from now! Like that will happen so soon.
Anyways, the two sisters left, they seemed to be in a heated discussion over what their favorite candy was, and I was alone again. I moved my hoof over to grab my backpack… it's nowhere to be found. Did that get taken while I was knocked out? Probably. Knowing Princess Celestia, she went and swiped my phone and other electronics in there. Like it mattered now… I was really hoping to somehow get my phone charged at some point, then I can at least have something to remind me of what I'm pushing forward for.
Recovery was pretty straight forward, since I just sat and looked ugly, a few inspections of my carapace, and a few stink eyes from nurses. Time Turner came around occasionally, sometimes with Ditzy in tow, and then we'd chat for a little bit. I really don't get why ponies seem to not like Ditzy all that well. Sure, they weren't ballsy enough to insult her, but the cyan pegasus was pretty nice. She even brought me a muffin that I tried to turn down. The sad expression she had on her face when I started saying no made me say otherwise.
It was a good muffin though.
Eventually, halfway through the day, I heard a knock and a nurse poked their head in the door. "Changeling, you've got a couple of visitors, I'm not going to ask you if you want to see them. Not only do I think that you can't understand me, but I'd send them up even if you could say yes or no," she said. Grand, stuff like this really brought my mood up. I love being insulted, especially since I never really responded.
After the whole situation with Prince Blueblood, I figured it really would be best to not show a reaction. So when somebody gave me the stink eye, called me stupid, or something even more flattering then I just remained shut. I didn't wanna sucker punch anybody right now, and it just made things easier for me. Sure, my pride does hurt a little bit more with each glance, glare and insult but I'm starting to tune this sort of thing out.
Shortly after, Princess Luna strolled in with Twilight Sparkle… oh great. "Good evening, Ray," Princess Luna bowed her head, and Twilight gave me an awkward wave. "I apologize for not showing up earlier, I was still making arrangements for where we will stay, and fortunately, Princess Twilight has offered us a room in her castle. We were just coming to check up on how you're doing, Ray. Are you feeling any better?
I didn't bother to respond. I just kept my eyes on my broken leg, since the cast my arm was in became suddenly interesting. If my silent treatment technique worked on nurses, surely it'll work on Princess Luna. "Hey Twilight, so you're offering me and Princess Luna a place to stay, eh? That's pretty cool of you, but I think I've had enough of a taste for royal, fancy shit to last a lifetime. I'd rather not be spiled rotten by the time I see my mom again. Still pretty cool of you to let me take up a bit of space and waste the oxygen in your castle!"
"What's oxygen?" Twilight asked.
"Something humans in my world classified as a gas. Makes up a majority of the air we breathe. There's some other stuff too, but I can't remember the periodic table off the top of my head. If I can, I'll show you. I think my backpack had some assignments on the periodic table, which I aced. Dunno where my bag went, which kinda sucks though." I stopped when I felt a weight on my bed that wasn't me.
Luna was now knelt by my bed, allowing half of her body to lay on it. "Hey Luna, personal space? I don't think a hospital bed's gonna hold one teenage Changeling and an alicorn. No offense but… you're kinda big," I said. Luna smirked at me for some reason. "What? Did I say something offensive?" I asked.
"No, but you did call me big. That is a bit weird, to call your adoptive mother 'big.'" She said.
"Wha?" Twilight and Luna giggled for a moment before I shook my head.
"Anyway, why are you laying on my bed?" Luna draped a wing over most of my body, and she gave a nuzzle to my cheek. It felt… actually kind of nice, and I could sense the prince's emotions… Was that love? It was oddly sweet, and was mixed in with happiness I guess? I dunno, it was kinda sour, but pleasantly sour…. Am I tasting emotions? I shrugged. "Is this how you're gonna win me over, cuddles and nuzzles?"
"Not just that, but after Nightmare Night, I do have something fun for us to do, which is why Twilight is here. She and her friends would like to take along with you and I, as we make rounds around Equestria. Obviously we will have to publically announce that you exist before then, but that won't be too hard, since Twilight is also helping me with that." I nodded as I began to process what was said.
"Wait, you're actually listening to me? Like you actually get that I don't wanna be cooped up in a room all day?" I asked.
"Well, unless it is opposite day, then yes-" Luna began to struggle for air as I hugged her with my good leg as hard as I could. It didn't takr long for me to realize what I just did and I backed off.
"Sorry about that. Didn't mean to strangle you," I said.
"Worry not, Ray. I… get your excitement," Luna said. We both grinned like a couple of idiots, before Twilight butted in.
"So, are you both friends again?" She asked.
"Well, I don't know about that one," I said before a mischievous grin began to etch its way onto my face. "Friends? Foes? I dunno. Dunno the meaning of those, but I'm willing to bet they mean the same thing. Luna, I am now your foe!" Luna's face contorted into a fearful expression, which quickly turned into a glare…
"Well, we shall smite thou where thou stand! Face our wrath!" Luna then gently pulled me into a hug, making sure not to upset any of the cracks in the carapace, and I couldn't help but smile… didn't I go off on a whole tirade about how me and Luna weren't likely to be friends with each other for a while? Well, so much for that. I guess I'm willing to take her word, and that she really had nothing to do with withholding information that could've been important to me.
This Princess, no, just Luna came out all this way to make sure I was alright. She could've gone back to Canterlot, her home, and lived in comfort and pretended like I never existed. Yet she decided to station herself in Ponyville to make sure she could keep track of me, when I was very vocal about how I felt about Canterlot Castle. Well, whatever, I guess that's… behind us now.
"So… sorry about being an ass yesterday when I found out well, y'know," Luna placed a hoof on my nuzzle, effectively shutting me up.
"You were mad, and fully believed that my sister and I had betrayed you. While I had nothing to do with whatever made my sister do what she did, I did know at least a night before I told you. I would have told you right then and there in your sleep, but I had promised Tia that I wouldn't let you know… and believe me, I've been called way worse by angry subjects and demonized by them for a millenium. I can take a fussy teenager, thank you."
"I'm not a fussy teenager, I'm a vicious, cold blooded killer!" With that I used my good leg and booped Luna on the nose, and she dropped her head on my chest, like I just killed her. "God damn Luna, if I couldn't feel you breathing, I'd actually think you were dead!" Luna smirked before she tried to take a step back from the bed.
"Well Ray, I will come retrieve you from the hospital tomorrow. I'm glad that you're willing to give me another chance, even if it is much sooner than either of us were expecting."