Chapter 8
Gloria slammed the phone on the receiver with trembling hands. She got up out of her chair and ran out of her office, running into many people along the way; she even knocked over a fellow co-worker carrying coffee. The sound of piping-hot coffee hitting the cold, freshly waxed floor made a slight hiss as Gloria sprinted towards her car. She pushed open the doors that lead out of HighTop Banks' main branch and got into her car. Gloria thrust the key into the ignition, pulled into drive, and drove towards the hospital that held her son, completely ignoring other civilians that unfortunately happened to be in her way.
Several car horns and middle fingers from annoyed drivers later, Gloria arrived at the hospital. She parked her car in the front of the building, covering two parking spots. She threw the car into park and hastily exited. She ran as fast as her legs and high heels could let her until she was in the main lobby. A man reading a newspaper looked up and noticed Gloria, her hair was an absolute mess, her lipstick was smeared a bit across her mouth and her eyeliner was smudged by her tears. The man promptly continued reading his newspaper, paying Gloria no mind.
Gloria ran up towards the front desk and slammed her fists on the counter, making the receptionist jump back in her chair. She recovered and looked at Gloria, who had tears in her eyes.
"Where is Casper!" Gloria yelled at the top of her lungs, her voice shaking the counter that held her clenched fists.
The receptionist held a trembling finger towards the hallway with a sign reading "Post-ER". Gloria ran as fast as she could towards the hallway and began searching for Casper. She looked at all the rooms that were on the left side of the hallway. No dice. She paced herself and looked at the beginning of the right side of the hallway, and about four doors down, she saw what she had so desperately been looking for.
Casper G., Room 205, Torso Fracture
Gloria quickly opened the door and ran towards the drapes that surrounded Casper's bed. She hesitated at first, she was afraid of what she might see. She pushed the drapes aside and almost fainted at what she saw. She saw her son's chest was slightly misplaced and his torso was at a five degree angle more than what it should have been. The doctors had done their best to remove the blood from his clothing and his face, but Gloria could still see the faded red stains on his face. She stepped back until her back was against the wall and she slowly began to slide down the wall until she hit the floor. Her eyes began to water, and she cried. She cried more or less like a child who had lost their favorite toy, and it continued for what seemed like forever. Her cries were soon interrupted by a knock on the door to Casper's room.
"Hello? Ma'am? I'm sorry to interrupt, but, I need to check Casper's vital signs and check for any new signs of damage."
Gloria faced the nurse, and the nurse could see that Gloria had been crying.
"It'll only be a minute, I promise you."
The nurse mustered whatever sort of facial expression she could and walked past Gloria, towards the machines accompanying Casper at his side. Gloria heard the faint sound of graphite writing on the clipboard the nurse was holding. There was a slight pause, the nurse flipped the pencil and began erasing what she wrote, wiped the eraser remains off the clipboard, and resumed writing. The nurse caught glances at Gloria, who was now staring at her with still eyes. The nurse breathed a heavy sigh.
"Ma'am, I assume you are Casper's mother?"
Gloria's blinked her lifeless eyes and looked up at the nurse.
"Yes. I'm Gloria, his mother."
"Well, Gloria, can you come over here and help me read the numbers on this machine? I left my contacts at home, and I can't see without them."
Gloria wiped the tears off of her face, stood up, and walked towards the nurse. The nurse smiled as Gloria read to her whatever the nurse asked of her. She would point, and Gloria would read it aloud. Gloria caught glances at her son, and tears formed in her eyes. The nurse noticed whenever Gloria wouldn't respond that she was overlooking Casper. A faint sob was heard, and the nurse placed her hand on Gloria's shoulder, and reassured her that Casper was fine. Both women gave warm, comforting smiles.
"Well, that's the last of the reading I needed. Thank you ever so much." said the nurse.
"It's my pleasure. Anything to help assure Casper's safety and well-being." Gloria gave the nurse an awkward smile, which she returned.
As Gloria waved goodbye to the exiting nurse, the sound of clanging metal caused Gloria to quickly turn around and assess the situation. Her jaw dropped at what she saw. Casper was engulfed in a light-purple aura and his torso was inching slowly towards its original position, pre-accident. Gloria fell backwards in awe, but she caught herself on Casper's already-shaking bed frame, which was cold to the touch. She brought herself back up on her feet and attempted to comprehend what she was seeing. Gloria stood there for seemed like hours, watching as Casper's torso finally reached its original position. The aura around Casper dissipated and Casper was just lying there in the bed, as if nothing had happened. Gloria rubbed her eyes, she rubbed them twice just for good measure, she also blinked. When she realized that what she saw was indeed real, she fainted and collapsed on the hospital floor, right next to Casper.
Casper grabbed his head with both hands, an excruciating pain suddenly inflicted upon him. He stood up from Fluttershy's couch and stumbled around the cottage, the pain eventually causing him to fall to his knees. The three ponies surrounded Casper, each with matching worried expressions upon their faces. Rainbow, naturally, ran to Casper's side, attempting to help in any way she could. The only noise Casper was making was a painful scream that shook the foundations of the cottage. Fluttershy began to back away, but she returned once Casper's screaming began to subside. At once, as if Casper had been in no pain at all, he stood back up on his feet and looked around. He noticed that Applejack, Fluttershy and Rainbow formed a semi-circle surrounding him, and he sat back down on the couch, oblivious as to how he was standing. Rainbow followed Casper to the couch as he took a seat. Fluttershy and Applejack followed suit.
"Casper, why were you screaming? You had us worried." a worried Rainbow Dash asked.
"I was screaming? That's not right. I'm sure I was just about to finish telling Fluttershy my story."
"It was a good story." whispered Fluttershy.
"So, you don't remember anything that just happened?" Rainbow had a confused look on her face.
"You ponies are weird. I was never screaming. I was telling Fluttershy my story." finished Casper.
Rainbow raised a hoof in objection, but not before being interrupted by Casper.
"However, my vision did go black for a second, the next thing I know, I was standing up. That's all I know. Honest."
Applejack trotted up beside Rainbow and glared at Casper's face. Casper saw that her face was not changing at all, it stayed one emotion.
"Yup, he's telling the truth. The whole and honest truth." reassured Applejack, who broke her facial singularity with a smile.
Rainbow whipped her tail in annoyance.
"I knew he wasn't lying. Casper wouldn't lie to us." Rainbow rubbed her head against Casper's thigh.
"Let's just get this whole thing behind us. We should go visit Twilight." projected Fluttershy.
Casper looked at Rainbow, she gave him a nod of her head in approval.
"Yeah, it's been a few hours now since 'the incident'; she should be well and rested at this point."
"What happened?" both Fluttershy and Applejack asked in unison.
Rainbow and Casper looked at each other, giggled a bit, and returned their focus towards Applejack and Fluttershy.
"I'll tell you at a different time girls, it's a bit… personal." said Rainbow.
Applejack and Fluttershy nodded their heads in agreement. Casper walked over towards the door of the cottage and opened it, his hand pointing towards Ponyville.
"Ladies first." Casper said with a childish smirk.
"What a gentlecolt." Fluttershy said,, accompanied by a blush.
"Thank 'ya kindly, Casper." Applejack tipped her hat in thanks, following Fluttershy out the door.
Casper stopped Rainbow as she was approaching the door. She looked up at Casper.
"Are you sure we should go see Twilight? She's probably still asleep." Casper put a frown on his face. "Besides, I don't want to show my face near Twilight after what happened."
Rainbow was shocked to hear that, her face showed it flawlessly.
No one questions me! Rainbow was furious in her thoughts. Who does he think he is to question…
Rainbow stopped her mental rant when she saw Casper's face of shame and sadness. Something in her mind told her to respect his decision, but Rainbow's stubbornness overthrew the voice in her head.
"I understand, Casper. But we should be there for Twilight, you know, go and check on her. Having her friends there should make her calm down." finished Rainbow.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Sorry for doubting you, Rainbow."
As Casper lent down to give Rainbow a kiss on the forehead, a sudden voice interrupted him.
"Ah-hem!"
Casper looked outside to see Applejack and Fluttershy waiting near the bridge towards Ponyville. A hot blush rushed into Casper's cheeks, accompanied by a playful hit on the face by Rainbow's tail.
"Sorry girls, Casper had to tell me something. Let's go see Twilight." said Rainbow.
10 minutes later, the posse had arrived at the Ponyville Library. Fluttershy knocked on the door three times, as the friends had always done when at one another's home. An energetic Spike, wearing a small white apron, answered the door.
"Hey, everypony! What bring you all here?"
Spike immediately recognized the displaced human amongst the ponies.
"Hey, Casper! So you've met Fluttershy and Applejack, I see. You and Rainbow seem to have taken a liking to each other too, I'm glad."
Spike realized he was going off tangent and decided to allow the group inside. Casper assumed his usual spot on the couch he was "repaired" on. Rainbow jumped on the couch and took her spot snuggled right next to Casper. Applejack sat next to Rainbow, and Fluttershy laid down on the floor. Spike quickly addressed the group, as to not lose their attention.
"So, what's up? Is everypony here to visit Twilight? If so, be careful, I think she's still asleep."
Fluttershy raised her hoof in the air.
"That's fine, Spike. We don't mind waiting for her."
Fluttershy spoke for the whole group, who unanimously nodded their heads in approval. Spike drew a puzzled look on his face and continued.
"Well then, make yourselves at home. I was just about to finish a batch of sandwiches, if anyone is hungry."
Spike returned to the kitchen and continued on the sandwiches. The ponies all awkwardly looked around the library, occasionally stealing glances at Casper, who was sitting with his left leg resting on his right thigh. He smiled at Rainbow, who gave an awkward smile back. Rainbow pressed her hooves against her head, essentially making a "facehoof" which Casper noticed, and made a small chuckle about. He finally broke the silence and stood up, forming both hands into fists, and pressed his spine against them, stretching out his back. He began to ascend the stairs towards Twilight's room. The ponies awkwardly followed with light feet, as to not disturb Spike, who seemed to be lost in a "sandwich trance".
Eventually, Casper and the three ponies arrived at Twilight's bedroom door. Casper opened the door to her room, the door slowly creaked open, making his stealthy endeavors, less stealthy. Casper poked his head through the door and saw the purple-coated unicorn napping on the edge of her bed. A silent snore accompanied her tossing and turning. It looked to Casper as though she was having a bad dream.
Casper turned back towards the ponies and put a finger to his mouth, signifying them to be quiet. As Casper slowly began to close the door, a faint, lavender glow shined on a wall inside of her room. Casper frantically looked back into her room, only to see that Twilight was fully engulfed by her own aura, emitting from her horn. Casper, with the well-being of his friends on his mind, forcefully pushing the door open to Twilight's room. The whole room had a slight purple aura around it that seemed to dissipate on cue with Twilight's ever-silent snore. Casper ran downstairs towards Spike. By the time he had reached him, he was hyperventilating and gasping for breath. Casper mustered a few inaudible words and forced Spike up the stairs. Casper burst into Twilight's room, purple dragon in-hand, and showed Spike what was going on. What Casper heard next made him extremely uneasy.
Spike was laughing. Every one of the ponies joined in on the laughter. Casper's face turned from an expression of amnesty to one of aggression. He turned around and gave the ponies a piece of his mind.
"How can you laugh at this? It looks like something's wrong with her!"
At that moment, as though on cue, Twilight's magic shakily picked up a vase on her dresser and began to fling it around the room. As Casper continued to go off on the ponies, the inevitable happened. The vase hit Casper square in the forehead, causing him to drop Spike suddenly and fall to the floor, grabbing his head in shock. Rainbow was the first of the group to stop laughing, the other ponies followed suit. Rainbow rushed over to Casper and held out a hoof to help him up. He accepted her generosity and got back up on his feet. Rainbow turned around and addressed Applejack.
"This has gone on long enough, AJ, also because Casper seems really worried about her. Go wake up Twilight, will you?"
Applejack obediently walked over to Twilight's side of the bed, but not before hitting Rainbow in the face with her tail in annoyance.
"Alright, come and help me, Fluttershy." said Applejack.
A sheepish "Yes" was heard behind Casper, and the yellow pegasus trotted up next to Applejack's side, near Twilight. With a nod of her head, Applejack began to climb onto the bed slowly, as to not wake Twilight, and Fluttershy began to hum a gracious and calming melody close to Twilight's ear. Applejack carefully placed her two front hooves against Twilight's body and began to rub her forehead, around her horn. Casper looked around as the lavender glow around the room began to dissipate, and soon, the aura around her body had disappeared.
Twilight lay still, breathless and motionless, as Applejack hopped off the bed and Fluttershy stopped her humming. A few seconds past until Twilight finally made a movement, which made Casper breathe a heavy sigh of relief. Twilight groaned as she stretched out her legs, and immediately made eye contact with Fluttershy, who gave her a reassuring smile. Twilight gasped and looked around the room, identifying the five other beings in her room.
She sat up in her bed, and instantly regretted doing it as a massive blood rush went to her head.
"Ugh, what happened? I was only asleep for a few hours, right?" asked Twilight.
Twilight pushed away the covers that hadn't already been thrown around in her sleep and steadied herself on all fours next to Applejack. Rainbow walked forward and addressed Twilight.
"You were sleep casting, Twi. You hit Casper in the face with a vase, it was hilarious!"
Twilight examined Casper's face to verify Rainbow's claim. Sure enough, the reddened forehead and broken vase scattered around Casper was proof enough. With the blood rush over, Twilight slowly made her way over to Casper. She looked into his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Casper. I didn't mean to do that, honest." Twilight dropped her head in shame. "Ever since I was born, I inherited my mom's magical abilities. She does the exact same thing in her sleep. I'm really, really sorry."
Casper saw a tear well up in Twilight's eye, and it began to roll down her cheek, dropping onto the floor. A slight sob accompanied the tears. Casper felt something inside him that rendered him completely heartbroken. He felt bad for Twilight, she really wanted to keep the friendship between them strong and unbroken.
All the ponies in Ponyville were nice and friendly, there's no way that they would hurt me. thought Casper.
Casper got down on his knees and guided Twilight's head, ever so gently, to his eye level. He wiped away the tears in her eyes and he brought her head close to his, bringing her into a hug. Twilight's initial reaction was to push him away, but she saw the glint in his eyes, the passion, the care, and those thoughts were instantly erased out of her mind. Twilight rested her head on his shoulder and placed her right foreleg around his neck, bringing him in closer. Twilight spoke softly into his ear.
"Thank you, Casper. I really needed that. I'm glad to be in the hooves—I mean, hands—of a good friend such as yourself."
Twilight laughed at her mistake, and Casper joined in, along with Applejack, followed by Fluttershy, and as hard as Rainbow tried to hold it back, she joined in as well. In the midst of the laughter, Casper placed his hand on Twilight's shoulder.
"I'm still willing to make up for losing your trust earlier. Anything you need, I'll try my hardest to get it done." said Casper, with an accompanying smile.
"The fact that you would is all I need from you to regain my trust. Besides," Twilight looked up at the clock in the corner of her bedroom, "you should probably go and visit the princesses anyways."
Casper stood up and patted Twilight's head, brushing her mane with his hands. An annoyed look overtook Twilight's face, but melted away at Casper's gesture of good will.
"Thanks, Twilight. You're the best."
While the rest of the ponies were laughing, Casper tapped Rainbow on the shoulder.
"What do you want, Casper? Can't you see that I'm having fun over here?" Rainbow looked distant as she replied to Casper, she clearly was enjoying the moment. But Casper digressed.
"Rainbow, I think we should go visit the princesses. I'm sure they'd like to know my whereabouts and what progress I've made on finding a way back home, however soon that may be…"
Casper's explanation was rudely interrupted by Rainbow.
"Wait, hold on. You want to leave?"
Rainbow had yelled loud enough to stop the laughter and bring all the attention in the room onto Casper. He had no choice but to continue.
"Well, yeah. Don't get me wrong, I love Equestria, well, at least the Ponyville part. I only want to leave because I don't belong here, that's all." reiterated Casper.
"But, we've become such good friends, Casper. You've said that Equestria is better than your planet, anyways. Why would you want to leave such a 'perfect' place?"
Rainbow stood firm, but she was biting her lips, trying to hold back her true emotions. Casper was starting to get annoyed, but masked it with a face of confusion.
"I can't just leave my family back home! I'm sure they're worried sick about me. Hell, I don't even know if I have a life I can return back to. I'm not sure if I'm dead or not!"
Casper frantically looked for a pair of eyes that had even the tiniest glint of understanding, but his search came up empty handed. He sighed, and continued.
"Look, guys, I don't any of you. In fact, I enjoy the company of every single one of you. I don't hate anything in Ponyville, for that matter. But the fact remains that I don't belong here. Once I go see the princesses, they'll decide my fate here. I don't want to say more than that, I don't want to hurt anypony's feelings." The word "anypony" rolled off Casper's tongue in a weird way, but he disregarded it.
Rainbow walked up towards Casper, and looked him up from head to toe. She tilted her head a bit, and finally, after a few seconds of nothingness, she hit Casper square in the stomach with her hoof. A small "oof" was mustered by Casper as he fell to the floor in pain. For a pony, Rainbow packed quite the punch. He recovered and faced Rainbow, who couldn't help but smile.
"Why'd you do that? That hurt!" said an infuriated Casper.
Rainbow's mouth began to move, but what came out of it surprised Casper. She was laughing. At first, it was a snicker, then it became a steady, hearty laugh. She literally fell on the floor and laughed, and every pony in the room began to laugh as well. Casper looked around the room, confused, as to how causing him physical pain was funny. He ignored the laughs and grabbed Spike out of the group and asked him to go grab him a blank parchment to write a letter to the princesses with. Spike hurried obediently, and returned within seconds, freshly-dabbed-in-ink quill and parchment in hand, and gave it to Casper. Casper walked outside of the room and walked into Twilight's study and placed a chair in front of the empty desk. He smoothed out the rolled-up parchment on the table and placed the quill on it, and began writing.
Dear Princesses Celestia and Luna,
Hey, it's me, Casper, the human you met at the Ponyville library. I am attempting to find a way back to Earth, but currently, it's to no avail. I write this letter in the hopes of being granted temporary placement and guidance in Ponyville as my attempts stretch on. Also, we need to talk in person. I really need to learn more about my current leaders.
-Please respond soon,
~Casper G.
Casper read over the letter again and again, examining it for grammatical mistakes and/or errors. Once he was finished, he returned the chair to where he had originally found it and walked outside of the study. Spike was leaning up against the wall, waiting for Casper. Casper handed the parchment to Spike, who rolled it up, held it vertically in the palm of his hand, and unleashed the tiny green flame that whisked the parchment away to Canterlot.
Almost instantly, Spike burped out another piece of parchment, this one with a symbol of the sun engraved on it. Spike handed the letter to Casper, who read it with amazing accuracy and quick eyes. His face glowed, and he rushed inside Twilight's bedroom to tell the ponies the good news.
Author's notes:
OHMYLORD did this take forever to write. At about two weeks in, I had almost given up on the chapter for good, but then I decided to hand write the chapters in a notebook, away from the temptations of a computer or Xbox, and once finished, type it up in Word. At about 1000 words, I scratched what I had and started anew, and I think I like the revisions I've made.
Sorry this took so long to write, I'm going to try to release a new chapter once every two weeks now instead of one week, because I simply cannot be bothered to just write this story, I have friends, homework, and other things. I know most people have told me to just go at my own pace, which is what I am now doing, but giving a deadline makes me actually try and get things done, rather than slack off and procrastinate.
There should be one last chapter after this that introduces Pinkie Pie to Casper, and then I can be obligated to get started on the main story.
And don't worry, OP shall deliver. ;)
Thanks for reading,
-Grant, a.k.a Frozen Goods