A/N: Another chapter released, and it felt like forever even if it took the entire month to write it!
If you are wondering, I am going to continue 'Consign to Oblivion' and will be taking a break from LTL for the meanwhile to work on it. I'll be back to LTL soon.
Season 8 comes out this March and I have seen the music video for the Friendship School. Frankly, I'm not sure what to think of it but I am more looking forward to seeing what happened with Chrysalis since she went on the run. She'll return in LTL, and it will most likely be in the rewrite for 'To Where and Back Again'.
Review Responses:
guest: Yes, you will be able to see what she looks like. ;)
4theworldman: I know. I try not to be in a hurry whenever I am typing out words.
jvs12: Thanks.
Beep... beep... beep...
There was the slow pacing beat of the heart rate monitor that my ears were slowly starting to pick up when I began to feel myself stir awake. My eyes remain closed, considering that it is still a bit bright in the room, and I allow my hand that had fallen asleep on the soft fabric to begin moving about for the sense of feeling. Yep... feels like real fabric to me.
Being that I had already recognized the sound of the monitor, I can tell that I am lying down in a hospital bed, having been asleep for quite a while. Aside from the sound of beeping, there is also an air vent and an open window next to my bed. A nightstand is at the side on my head end of the bed to the right where the window was... at least what I was feeling when I moved my hands around.
That is when I opened up my eyes to see the environment around me, and that I was in a hospital room, but with a different look this time. The weather outside looks to have a couple of white clouds rolling about in the sky, but it wasn't too bad. A few birds are perched onto the window, watching me as I slowly lean upwards in the bed, the IV cord attached to the veins of my left hand's wrist to make sure I would get better for the time I was out.
No longer dressed in the casual wear that I would be wearing, the usual hospital gown was around me, but was designed for me and given to the hospital all to the thanks of Rarity herself for taking inspiration from seeing me and the clothes I was wearing when I met her for the first time.
Checking the drawer to the left, I could see that my casual clothes were there when the doctors felt like I was prepared to get going. Usually, knowing them, they are able to let me go without a fee. Being that I am married to Twilight, the Princess of Friendship... you can tell that they wouldn't want to charge me for the two reasons of being different and that they didn't want an alicorn staring them down in the face, nor my mother's. They are nice enough though, so I guess it's fair enough.
On the nightstand was a familiar object that I remember receiving from Fluttershy on my birthday. The markings of a bird carved into the wooden instrument itself... the bird whistle. The one item that was given to me from her on my birthday. I'm probably having a brainfart for that moment, because I couldn't remember what the whistle's usage was for again, and it has been a while.
The blue jay perched onto the window, chirps for a bit. The other birds making occasional chirps that followed afterwards, but only when it had got a little too silent aside from the nostrils I had to take in breath and exhale.
I motion my head around to look throughout my body, taking my right hand to touch at my own upper body to see if the injuries that I had were still there. From the feeling of the white yet blood soaked bandages that were like a towel, there doesn't seem to be a sharp sense of pain dulled in from the chest, so as I take the side of the bandage and begin to start tearing it off, I could assume that Arryl had probably done his part.
When the bandages were taken off, I can see no blackened spots where the blood would have been, nor did I see any cuts. There were practically no scars, as if I had never gotten injured in the first place. I look down at my legs, only seeing my left leg having a cast around it, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to take it off to look at it just yet. I'll have to let the doctor check it over one last time before he releases me and makes the judgement on if I should keep it on for a bit.
If it is a broken foot... guess I'll end up having to miss a few days of training with the Song of Order until it gets better. I can feel the wrapping around my wings, but yet I cannot think of taking them off, because I wasn't sure about them either. Being that I trust the doctors and nurses here in Equestria, I'm sure they'll be the first to update me on what the conditions are and if I need any medication to heal the "supposedly" broken wings and left leg. Thankfully aside from the Ponyville Hospital, they do have a Pharmacy in town.
"Well, that's just great..." I said to myself, a little bored since there isn't really much options or much to do here in this small room, and not even anypony else was in the room with me, except for these birds on the window. Hell, I can't even speak Bird.
Oh never mind, the Song of Order is right there in the corner of the room just humming to itself peacefully as it floated. The voice from the blade is silent, so it is probably still not aware that I have woken up from the coma. I mean, it's not like I could try to call for somepony to see that I am alive and well.
I turn to look at the bird whistle, sitting there on the nightstand. I reached out and took the small object in my right hand. My eyes carefully examine it as both my hands touch onto the smooth carven wood and my own brown eyes peering into the dark interior of the object to see the woodwind-like shape within that clear instrument.
A memory of my now-past 21st birthday flashed right before my own eyes when the index finger of my left hand touched the wood-carved beak that resembled the bird species itself, back when I didn't get my wings just yet...
My hands appear to be opening up the small, yet wrapped present that resembled the coat color of my best friend which was pale, light grayish gold. The ribbon that I was untying on the top of it, was the color of her mane. Once it was untied, I take it off and set it aside and proceed to tear off the wrapping paper in a calm fashion, as I'm not like a child on Christmas morning.
From the torn wrapping paper was a small leather box that could fit anything into it. On the top of the box, I opened it up and reached inside to pull out whatever could have been in there. It felt small, yes, but it didn't have to necessarily be big either. Whatever Fluttershy gave me, I know I'm going to be happy with it.
It was a wooden bird-shaped whistle, featuring a hole at the top for my mouth to blow into to create sound. No doubtingly, if I am to ever find any birds, the whistle would be a great form of communication.
Softness is felt on my left hand, and I turn and look to see her sitting there with a smile directed towards me. Her hoof is placed onto the top of my left hand, but I feel okay with her doing this as her look is quite trustful.
"This is no ordinary whistle Brayden," Her soft voice tells me. "It's one of my special whistles that I give to my friends in case they run into trouble that could be considered dangerous. If there is ever a moment in your lifetime where you are lost or are being attacked, you just blow the whistle. The birds will see what is happening and come tell me. We'll come to help you when it happens..."
Brought back into reality from the memory and the sight of the bird whistle in the both of my hands, I must have felt something flow throughout my mind from what Fluttershy had told me before. The birds on the window, chirp a little bit, watching as I had the bird whistle in my hands.
Why would I want to blow into the whistle though, if I am not even in harm's way nor lost in a random part of Equestria and beyond? ...Oh.
No other thoughts consuming my mind, I placed my lips onto the hole and began to blow into the instrument. Both of my open eyes are kept onto the birds perched there as they watch me, quietly chirping among themselves until they heard that sound emitting.
All of the three birds look at other for a few moments, though I cannot tell what they are thinking. Probably just processing what they heard through the whistle, confused because I wasn't even in danger's way. Feeling a bit annoyed that it was probably what thy are thinking, I am leaned closer to the window to speak with them what it meant.
"Go get Fluttershy, please. If by chance, try to get my friends as well." I asked of them, knowing that the first pony they'll go to is my closest friend. Pretty much, that's how the nature here in Ponyville works because 'Fluttershy logic', of course.
The birds stand there for a few moments, and then are quick to turn around, spreading their wings. I watch them flying into the skies and disappear when they pass from the line of sight by the wall to my right. Probably going to be alone in this room again for the next few minutes.
I don't dare try to remove my foot from the cast, since I wasn't sure if it would bring me a lot of pain. Probably one way to find out is when my wife and friends get here. The monitor continues to beep and is practically driving me a little crazy on the inside. Still, I'd have to get used to it at one point or another since this is the third... possibly fourth time that I've ended up in Ponyville Hospital? I've lost count at this point.
The wooden door straight ahead and to the left begins to crawl open with the hallway seen with one doctor moving to the left, probably going to check up on one of his own. "Well, that was quicker than I thought." I thought to myself, knowing that the fastest to come here would either be Fluttershy or my Twiley-bear.
Nope. It's just Nurse Redheart coming in to check up on me and to see if I had woken up from my coma.
She had just turned around and closed the door upon entering inside the room, with only a look of surprise on her face to see me with my eyes open and myself just up and coming to and from. Carrying the iron cart full of medical supplies, she trots over towards me with a stethoscope ready at any given moment necessary.
"You're awake, Mr Brayden." Nurse Redheart informs me. On my face, I almost wanted to show a face that spelled out 'you don't say', but I kept it back because it would be a bit rude for that, and I'm much nicer than to do that. "That's good. You've been in a coma for quite a while now, and I think I can catch you up on things that have happened while you were out."
"Is... Is Twilight okay?" I asked, stopping for only a moment to find the right words.
With the iron cart stopped at the side of the bed I rested in, she nods and places her white colored hoof onto my left hand. "She's fine," She tells me with a bit of relief sighing inside. "You worry about her a lot more than usual."
"She worries about me a lot too. We both love each other, dearly at heart. I would be at my own fault if anything bad happened to her. Same could be said for all of the others I love dearly in my heart. Something bad happens to either me or them, and it's either me or them that worry and fear about what could happen should something go wrong."
She takes ahold of the stethoscope and places it onto my chest. "Breathe... just breathe..." She calmly says to me, knowing that even my health is the priority of her coming into the room. I inhale slowly, getting some air into my chest. A few seconds of holding it in and she tells me. "Exhale..." I did so, releasing the breath and repeating the process for when she would place it on my back.
Well, then her hoof accidentally touched my bandaged left wing while she was moving it around on my back. I can feel the sharp burning pain as her hoof accidentally made contact where the bullets had been.
"Owwww!" I reacted harshly which gave Redheart a bit of an unexpected shock. "Geez..." I said in a tone that sounded quiet and muttered, trying to let the pain numb itself again by not moving them at all.
"Sorry about that Brayden," She apologized. "Your wings are still inflared, so you'll be unable to fly them for a bit." She continues to move the stethoscope around my back, letting me breathe for her to check up on me.
"Aw bummer..." I sound quite disappointed when given the news about my wings.
Few more spots for the stethoscope, and Redheart removes it off my back. "Very good. Your condition except for your wings and foot, is normal. Besides your wings, just give them both time to heal up."
A groan followed afterwards, and I plop the back of my head down onto the soft pillow. "Give them time? I'd practically go crazy if that even lasts a month."
She giggled for a moment. "It almost reminds me of when Rainbow Dash was here. Don't worry though, you'll be going home to rest up and relax until they are healed to the point where you can use them again."
"That is... if Twilight or my friends ever get here."
"I'm sure that they'll be along shortly. But first, a little blood-work on you to see if you are healthy." Nurse Redheart says to me.
Panic began to move quickly throughout my body since by the term 'blood-work', I knew exactly what it meant, especially when she moved towards the iron tray. At the other end of the cart, was the one thing that I feared most. A fucking syringe of all terrible things, to transfer the blood from my body to is what she had picked up.
"Oh god no!" I overreacted, trying to avoid it and being a coward over it as usual. If Rainbow ever saw me chickening out over a needle, she'd practically laugh at me over it. "I am not having that poke me again!"
The nurse began to shush me gently, in the way to keep me calm as she remember that it wasn't the first time she ever saw me try to run away at the sight of a syringe. "Easy there Brayden... easy..." Her hoof gently strokes my hand while I am shaking.
"Why the fuck do I need blood work here and now of all places?" I said with panic in my voice. "I swear- I- I- I've been practically healthy."
"Language, Brayden." She calmly said to me, knowing very well that foul language like that didn't really belong anywhere in Ponyville nor anywhere else in the rest of Equus. "I know you've been healthy, but we just need to make sure of it."
I groaned. "I am not looking forward to this." I said to her as she moves the sleeve that was covering around the top of the left arm.
"Easy there, just don't look and you won't feel anything." She tells me in a calm voice as I can feel that wet stuff that is used for normal shots whether for the flu or not.
I was in that panic once again, trying not to look at Nurse Redheart as she moves closer towards me with the syringe. There is nothing for a moment, and then I grunted when I can feel that recognizable pinch that penetrated into the skin of my left arm, and I am practically biting down on my own mouth to try not to absolutely scream in pain. I really wanted to since these really do hurt a lot, plus I felt some pressure since my own blood is being drawn out into the syringe... it burns as usual.
A few moments pass, and I can feel the needle itself being released from the arm and away from me at last. A breath of relief expels from my own breath, hoping that it would be the only and final time I would ever have to get something like that done again. I can feel the iron of the cart when the syringe was placed back, and I can feel Redheart's hoof on my left arm, probably putting a bandage on it which is most likely true.
"There we go," She tells me. "You can relax over the reality that I won't have to give you any more needles. At least until the next time something badly happens to you."
Oh brother... guess that means more future needles if I am not careful.
The sound of hooves were heard outside in the hallway, galloping at quite a fast pace as if they were quite alarmed to a burglar breaking and entering into their home. Along with the hooves, there is the familiar voices that I remember in the longest time that I have lived in Ponyville even when they stopped outside the door.
"Sounds like you've got some visitors outside the door. I'll go and get them for you, and then you can go back to the castle." Redheart says to me when she turns towards the door and opens it up, going outside and talking quietly.
I wasn't able to hear what they were saying, so I was unable to make out what to lip read on what could be said. But for all I know, it could be my friends and Twilight just coming to make sure I was okay and I got back to the castle safe and sound.
...Or it could be just Alex standing at the door, trying to look like he is holding back something funny. I knew his sense of humor though, so he was probably going to try and trick me into thinking martians have taken over the world or something.
He walks into the room, and approaches towards me while I lied there. "Hey man, good to see you're awake." I take his hand and gave him the friendly hug that me and him shared even as far back as high school, as I held his hand for that moment and then let go once we were finished with our hug.
"Let me guess... you're going to say that aliens have taken over Equestria and that we and a few others are the only survivors left." I said to him, noting his own sarcasm when he usually had it at the time.
"Fuck..." He muttered as he was figured out, with Nurse Redheart gasping when he swore. I chuckled for a moment as he began to speak again. "You figured me out..."
A smirk was on my face the entire time he had been caught trying to use mind trickery of his. "How are the other girls doing? Are they okay?"
"They're right outside the door. I was with them, just getting some ice cream when a few birds... three of them came to Fluttershy and said that you woke up. You should have seen the look on Twilight's face when she said that to everypony else. She's almost practically cried, but... yeah, it's tears of joy."
Nurse Redheart moves away from the iron tray and towards the door she and Alex came in from. She places her hoof onto the doorknob of gold and opens it up, going between the door's arch into the hallway. I listen closely to what she is telling the out-of-sight girls outside of my room.
"Alright girls, he's in here. Make sure you go a little easy on him, he just woke up and could still be weak."
There is the sounds of hooves trotting, and the first mane and coat color that I could see right before my own eyes is that of Applejack's, along with the Stetson-like hat she was wearing. Her green colored eyes looked quite nervous when she was first entering the room, but upon laying her eyes on me had changed her expression. She looked quite surprised, and joyed to see that I was awake.
She trots over towards me, holding that look on her face as I acknowledged her for the first time among my other friends who were coming right into the room, Nurse Redheart holding the door open for them. The gamboge pony takes off her hat and places it close to my chest and left arm, putting the rest of her hooves after that on the bed.
"Long time no see AJ." I said to her, moving up a bit in bed.
"Ya too Brayden," She moves closer in bed, placing her orange hoof onto the top of my left hand. "Ya'll of us were really worried 'bout ya."
"I couldn't let Appleloosa's survivors die... I needed to save them, but at the cost of this happening to me." I said to her, keeping a calm and gentle tone in my voice. "Keeping others alive are worth more than having dead left behind."
Her other hoof began to also take and hold onto my left hand, with a thankful smile crossing onto her mouth, a tearful look in her eyes among that when I felt my hand lift off the mattress and being held by the warm hooves that Applejack had. She seemed almost speechless at first, but I knew what she wanted to say since there were ponies that I knew I had saved that were related to her.
"Sugarcube..." She managed to get out for that moment. I let her take her time, listening as she takes in a bit of breath and exhales it out to keep calm. My closest friend Fluttershy is right behind her, gently giving her back gentle rubs to assist in keeping her calm and trying not to cry, even if she was the happiest she's ever been. "Ah- Ah'd like to thank ya. 'Cause of you... Braeburn is safe thanks to ya. Ah don't know how to repay ya..."
I take my hand away from her hooves and move it around her neck gently. "You don't have to repay me. Think of it as my way of showing my appreciation for you and your family." I said to her.
No other words appear to be said as she moved closer to me and moves the both of her hooves around my back, standing up on her two back legs. My close friend places her head and rests it on my left shoulder. The rest of my friends whom were watching knew that I was doing this in a friendly perspective. Moving my right hand to the back of her behind her mane, I gave her mane a few gentle strokes to ease her down.
Much more moments pass, and we both finally separate from the friendly hug. "Ah... Ah got a bit carried away there." Applejack says to me with a chuckle whilst using her right front hoof to wipe the tears from her eyes.
I moved myself to the side to see my other friends standing there and moving forward to see me. Fluttershy who had been behind Applejack the entire time waited until Applejack was finished talking to me.
There were updates on what was going on after I had gone into the coma, such as how Starlight cast a spell on all of them except Twilight and Spike who were at the hospital to see me as well as the usual princess stuff. Ended up causing chaos at the castle as well as Alex being involved, but to my guess... probably only comments he would make. Needless to say, Starlight who was with the group had joined them and looked a bit embarrassed to hear that story. (Twilight wasn't with the group, so when I had asked, found out she is at the castle, reading a book and unaware that I am awake... probably still worried about me and what I had to go through.)
Rainbow Dash did tell me what was going on that distracted Twilight for a while from me when the Cutie Map had summoned them again. Apparently they were called to the Wonderbolt Academy to solve another friendship problem that were revolving around two Pegasi named Vapor Trail and Sky Stinger. Apparently, something to do when Sky didn't realize that he was unable to fly without support from Vapor, which he lacked the confidence to fly. There were a bit of a fuss, but I am happy that both Rainbow and Twilight resolved the situation and helped both of the Pegasi succeed into passing the entrance exam.
As for the other girls, they all worried about me, but not much else happened in their lives while I was out. Just the normal daily go abouts of them and getting together with others. Pinkie who literally was excited to see that I was awake, though grim about the news, had said that Appleloosa was practically in ruins and the army of Equestria is now prepared for another fight should it come.
Normal news were also heard as well, like the underwater seapony city of Atlantis in the oceans having celebrated the two thousand years of their foundation down there. The Griffon Kingdom from afar were still making huge amounts of spending, though the delegates there were doing all they can to cut down on their budget. Not much out of Saddle Arabia, since they remained quiet. The Dragon Lands, now under Ember's rule is quiet too, but things have been gradually improving since she took power.
I felt like it wouldn't have been necessary to continue wearing the cast around my left foot, so I carefully slipped it out of there while I kept in conversation with my friends. All of them notice, and I don't think any of them took it seriously until Nurse Redheart spoke out against that decision with worry in the tone of her voice.
"Brayden, you might want to slip your foot back in the cast. It's still healing."
I have the expression of doubt on my face when she had told me that. "Oh don't worry about it. It's probably fine-"
At least it did seem fine until my left foot touched the ground, delivering a sharp response of pain from within the broken bone to the muscle nerve. I had got up from the bed and I could feel myself fall down onto my face when I bounced around gripping onto the left leg, but hitting my right foot on the small tray and tripping while the tray moved and hit into the wall.
One of the doctors who were passing by when all the commotion started. When he saw me fall down to the floor on my face, he galloped right in to help me up on my right foot with Nurse Redheart. Alex who saw the whole thing, was practically laughing his ass off on the fact that I was wrong about my left foot being healed. Dammit Alex...
"Alex!" Applejack practically had to slap him upside the head for laughing. "It ain't funny when Brayden's hurt!"
Fluttershy looked practically worried about me after that fall. "Are you okay Brayden?" She asked me while the doctor and Redheart were placing my foot carefully back into the cast.
"I'm fine." I said to her, gently taking her hoof and rubbing it with the fingers of my right hand. "Think I learned my lesson by now about taking off the cast."
"That's good," Redheart says to me once she ensured that the foot was secure inside of the cast. "Try not to do that again. Gave me and the doctor here quite a bit of a scare, and we don't want to risk the foot getting worse. Your friends will help you get back home, and welcome back from that sleep of yours."
"Twilight's planning some really warm soup tonight for dinner! You bet your sweet hooves that some of that delicious soup served by her and Spike will be the best for you!" Pinkie exclaims, excitedly as she bounces up and down. She moves closer to me, placing a hoof to my ear. "Hint: It's definitely not rock soup. We all know you don't like it!"
"Of course Pinkie," I said to her as I got up onto my feet, stumbling only a little bit. "Last time I had it was the first time, and it didn't feel too good on my stomach."
"You mean that he-" Starlight was about to get out with a bit of surprise in her voice.
The pink pony zips over towards the unicorn herself, still holding that smile. "Yep he did. I prefer that the 'word' not be said, as it'd gross out everypony!" She says to her.
Starlight looked confused, but looked to how got what she meant a few moments later. "Huh... guess that explains."
Nurse Redheart took off two things from the table and hands it over to me. Dammit... why'd it have to be crutches?! This is rather embarrassing, considering my leg has to heal and my wings are broken still on my back, so I cannot fly. Ugh, and I thought that everything on me would be healed. Arryl, you're cool, but damn you and your limitations!
"Don't worry hun," Redheart assures me. "Just give it some time, and you'll be ready to walk normally like a human and-"
"Please... don't call me human." I kindly asked of her. I wasn't offended at all, as I knew that she must have said that by mistake.
"My apologies," She tells me, rather apologetic quickly before finishing what she was going to say. "But you'll be ready to fly again at the same time your leg heals up. I really don't recommend trying to fly once the bandages are off, since the wings need a shorter time to breathe and get used to again."
I place the crutches underneath my armpits to support me, even with my friends Rarity and Pinkie at my sides to make sure that I don't fall flat or down again. They would be there like the true friends they were to help me up off the ground. Rainbow goes over to the humming Song of Order and places it on her back to carry it. I take a look at the distance towards the door, setting the crutches forward, then moving myself in the same direction when they go back. Repeat process while my friends trot along with me to make sure that I got home.
We all went out from the hospital, heading down the familiar dirt road to go to the direction of Ponyville. Silence was mostly filled, as this was the first they would ever see me moving about and being alive. Lyra's probably thinking that I am dead right now, so the sight of me should bring her to pounce on me, though it isn't really the time when my wings and foot are still healing.
"So..." I started when nopony had said anything yet. "Other than that, does anypony remember when I ended up in the hospital... again?"
"Ah think Ah can speak on this one from my part," Applejack says, beginning to share her side of the story. "The usual work of harvestin' apples from the trees were being done like always, Ah was buckin' some trees when Ah had heard the news that the train was returnin'. We all galloped as fast as we could-"
"I can fly you know." Rainbow butts in and commented with an annoyed expression on her face.
Everypony who heard Rainbow gave a blank look or just had that expression that just says that they knew already.
"We came to the train station, with Braeburn there along to greet us followed by the feelin' of relief and joy that he was still alive." She tells me, my mind picturing a bit of a family hug filled with tears and the happiness like a soldier on Earth had returned home from a war to their family. "The train doors open again, and Ah thought ya would come out heroic, but it was only tragic when we all saw ya lyin' there on a stretcher. Poor us had to hold back Fluttershy 'cause she was in tears when she tried to reach out to ya."
I looked behind me at Fluttershy as I continued moving forward. Being that it got to that part of the story, her cheeks lit up with pink and she looked a little embarrassed. With a look on my face, I assured her without words that it was okay and there was nothing to be embarrassed about.
"What was everypony else doing?" I asked when I turned back forward.
Pinkie rose a hoof off of the dirt ground and bounced up and down. "Me! Me!" She exclaimed excitedly. "I was baking some cupcakes at the Sugarcube Corner, and I was even adding a delicious chocolate flavor to them, since you REALLY like that kind of cupcake. When I heard you returned, I was going to bring you back there to celebrate, but... yeah, you know by now." On the last part of her words, her excited tone dropped and sounded a bit sad. She lifts the smile back up and the excitement comes back. "You're back though! So I'll be sure to drop them off at the castle for you to have as a snack until you're well again!"
"Thanks Pinkie," I said to her. "I'll be sure to share them with Twilight as well. Can't leave her out after all."
"Well, for me, I was at the Carousel Boutique, thinking about you and hoping you would be fine when I was making another perfect dress for Sapphire Shores." Rarity says to me, trotting beside me.
Rainbow flew forward, turning around and flying backwards as she spoke to me. "I was practicing some of my awesome moves with Scootaloo watching to see how I was doing. I had to perfect a show that I was going to have with the Wonderbolts, which did happen by the way."
"I was at that show," Alex says to me, placing another annoyed expression onto Rainbow's face who had looked happily boastful until he spoke up. "She was absolutely amazing, and quite hot, you could say."
"Your face is going to feel hot if you don't stop flirting with me, Alex!" Rainbow practically almost shouts at him, but maintains a good volume since she probably doesn't want to hurt my ears. I think I knew what she meant by his face being hot, and it has something to do with her hoof slapping him across the face.
Typical Alex at it again with trying to win Rainbow's heart, and failing miserably. I can kind of see the evidence now of his dick moves towards her. I mean, he didn't start acting like that... until he came with Ann and Andrea by their own choice to stay in Equestria.
I turn around to look at Alex who had that clever smirk on his face. "Give it up Alex," I suggested to him. "You're never going to get to her heart with that kind of nonsense."
A huff was heard from Rainbow as she crossed her hooves. "If he wants me, he's got to treat me with the right amount of respect and not be a total..." She paused for a moment as she was about to say the word 'jerk' but didn't. "A total nutcase." She said with the safer exchange of words.
"I hope I am not interrupting, but, um... can I tell him what happened when I saw him on his way to the hospital?" Fluttershy quietly asked, everypony hearing her.
"Yeah yeah we know," Alex rudely responded to her question. "Your friends all pull you back when you were crying your damn ass off and unable to maintain control over your feelings." There were gasps when he swore, along with glares.
Rainbow moves closer to whisper in my ear. "He can't seriously be like that all the time, can he?"
Shaking my head, I whisper back to her. "Believe me, he's always like that."
Fluttershy continues what she was going to say. "Umm... yes, but I was busy feeding the animals at the cottage when I heard that the train was returning."
"Go ahead, Flutters." I said to her, turning around and sharing a friendly smile with her.
"Thanks," She felt appreciated before continuing. "When I heard the train was returning, I told Angel to watch the cottage and the rest of the animals until I got back. I rushed there in time to see the train pull up with everypony else. I was relieved to hear that Braeburn and every one of the survivors made it out, but my expression changed when I saw you," Her expression changed to sound worried and fearful. "You were on the stretcher and I was trying to reach out and see if you were okay. Our friends were holding me back, because there would have been trouble. Even so, I wondered to myself... what if you got a fatal injury? What if the Dragon Queen tortured you really bad that you were going to end up dying?"
I kept my smile. I wanted to gently stroke her cheek as I usually would in times like this to calm her down, but kept something by emotion to reassure her. "Well, I am thankful to be still alive in the end."
The yellow pegasus felt relieved by that, and I can see Starlight Glimmer trotting forward with a bit of speed, and then slowing to the normal pace as everypony else with me was at. She seems eager to tell me something, probably about what happened when she found out. Though I am sure she'll tell me a bit about how Twilight reacted, considering that I only saw briefly when fading in and out of consciousness.
She begins to explain about what happened since Fluttershy was done explaining her side of the story. "I was at the castle with Twilight and Spike in the early morning, just going down on a bit of a lesson with magic. It was almost strange because she seemed a little troubled by the due fact that you were out fighting to save others, and I know that face or thought every time she shows it. She is worried about you."
"I understand when she feels that way. Sometimes when she puts herself into danger, I'll feel that same way too," I responded to her, turning around to focus ahead as we entered into the town of Ponyville. "But when the news of the train returning happened?"
Starlight's expression changes into a sad expression, but her ears haven't flopped downward. "She didn't take it too well when she saw Brayden on the stretcher. The Equestrian military managed to temporarily stitch him up while on the train, but it wasn't enough. Plus the burden of having Alex carry him back to the train was enough to cause him some blood loss."
"You were practically beginning to bleed on me," Alex exclaimed with almost some concern in his voice. "Seriously, you were really heavy and I thought you were going to end up dying on me."
"I... do recall them when I was trying to stay awake... along with me inside the hospital en route to the emergency room. I had an oxygen mask on... and I could hear and see glimpses of Twilight calling my name... or what sounded like her. It was too faint for me to recognize."
"It was her," Starlight continued. "Both me and her followed after you, though she went faster than I. She called out to you, and she said you looked to be in absolute terrible condition... bloody scars and cuts all over you... it was horrifying enough for her to see that. I had to comfort her for you. She was in tears, and she most likely will be again when she sees that you're okay..." She paused for a moment. "Even if you have the cast, bandages and crutches." She puts on an awkward smile and giggles nervously.
"BRAYDEN!"
I knew the sound of that voice when I recognized it. I was quick to turn around just on time to see the familiar friend with very light aquamarine coat and pale, light grayish cyan with white highlights galloping towards me, caught in the gaze of the brilliant gamboge eyes. I already know who it was to expect.
Who else but Lyra Heartstrings?
I feel like she was going to do her tradition and playfully pounce right on me to knock me to the dirt ground for fun. But her expression was different judging by the look on her face. She seemed upset, and I already know why. Probably because I got hurt, just like all the other times. Usually if I was crying, she wanted to go after me to make sure I was okay. But there were tears in her eyes and even by my own instincts, I had to comfort her.
"Lyra." I said to her as she slows down, practically throwing her hooves around me, letting them touch my back. They weren't touching my wings, which to my extent is good since my wings' bandages can be seen. "Is everything alright?" I questioned to her.
"I am," She sniffed for a moment as she held onto the hug. She allows me to stroke her mane in a friendly way. "I heard about what happened and I got worried about you. It was painful to see you hurt like that! I- I- I almost wanted to be there to stop you from going to Appleloosa to save those ponies!"
A calm tone in my voice filled in when I spoke to her. "If I didn't, there would have been plenty of lives lost. Anything for the snobby Canterlot elite to poke at me over and over. They practically tried to kill me."
"I heard," She responded. "They blamed you for the attack that happened in Canterlot. But I believe you all along, because I know you. You wouldn't attack anypony at all! You're as friendly as a feather!"
"Maybe the bullying that I took made me soft in the end, and it's something I like. Softness towards others who show me the good amount of kindness that everypony gives to me."
Lyra keeps a hoof on the top of my hand as she lets go of the hug. "I am glad you are okay." She says to me.
"I know... I get into danger's way sometimes, but it's anything to protect you all from harm."
She doesn't say anything for a minute, though Rainbow looks to be a little annoyed over the fact that I need to get back to the castle, so that Twilight can see me. Finally, she sighs and speaks out. "I am glad you're safe, and because you are with your friends; I guess it is a bad time for us to talk."
"Unfortunately."
"So I guess we can both arrange something together since we haven't done that yet, and I promise that I'll take it easy when it is done. What days are you available?" She asked me, giving off the vibe that she wanted to go on a friendly get-together. She could bring Bon Bon along, which is fine with me because I have spent time with Bon Bon during the journey into Mortem.
"I am available on..." I stopped for a moment. "Geez, I have really lost track of the days I have been in that coma. I guess anytime would be fine?"
A smile lit up on her face. "That's great. Just knock on the door of me and Bon Bon's home, and either one of us will be happy to let you inside."
"Sounds good. I'll see you then." I smiled and said to her.
Her face beams with excitement as she gallops off to join up again with Bon Bon, who had been watching the entire thing from over at the bench they normally sat at. Strange thing, is even the bench moves to wherever they decided to sit next time every time I see the two. The earth pony who watched everything, sees me and waves to me. I wave right back at her.
"C'mon Brayden," Applejack says to me with a bit of a chuckle. "Can't keep Twilight waitin'."
Seeing Applejack by the right side, I move my crutches forward and move ahead down the path that would lead straight back to the castle. All of my friends stay there close to me to make sure that nothing else that was bad happened to me on the way back. I did get to see those familiar places and faces when I came along.
There was the dentist Minuette going out of her dental office to go on lunch break supposedly, closing the door behind her and continuing on her way. She did recognize me from a while, and waves her hoof in greeting. I couldn't wave back at her for the moment, but I did share the warm, yet kind feeling in return.
A few more streets down and we had turned into another direction that I remembered, heading towards the shining crystalline castle ahead. I move on ahead, taking no other directions but forward.
Minutes pass by only a few from the short distance travelled in that short time, and we're already at the steps upward towards the castle. Knowing that I had to say goodbye to my friends, they knew that I would be around to see them a lot many times after, as they knew me to be that way. Some arrangements were made, some were improvised.
Rainbow flies down to me, landing her hooves on the soil and trotting up towards me. From her back, she moves out the Song of Order and offers it to me. "Here," She says to me. "You'll be needing this."
I take my blade by the pommel, and very carefully made sure to sheath it behind my back. By careful, I had to make sure that the sides of both the blade and it's case didn't slide and make contact with any of my wings, since I know I'd get a reaction out of them that would sting. After sliding it into the protector that I sensed Fluttershy slip on during the walk, I settled down my hands, my eyes catching Starlight approach me and then turn around to face our friends.
"Alright, I'm sure that both Twilight and Brayden want to have a bit of their private time together since they haven't talked face-to-face. But I promise he'll come visit you," Starlight informs them. "He'll probably have to get together with me for a friendly visit to see Sunburst when I'm not doing friendship lessons with Twilight."
A smirk crossed onto my face. "So you do like him." I teased her. "Oooooooh."
The unicorn's cheeks lit up when she heard me say that. She giggles for a moment, knowing that I knew all along that she did like him. No wonder I saw her and him together at the Empire, being soft towards one another before we left. "Stop that Brayden," She says to me, knowing I'm just playing around with her. "Yes, it's true that I do share a bit of a relationship with him now."
"During our hang out time, perhaps Trixie can join us?"
"If she isn't busy with her magical performances that she's been recently doing, then yes. I'm sure she'll be happy to join us." She responded to me.
Of course it would be our favorite pink pony zipping up to Starlight with the biggest smile on her fact, that it'd be enough to send others running scared for their lives, even with that innocent look on her face. "Aha!" She exclaimed, bouncing up and down after that when she continued. "I knew that Starlight would eventually let that happen! Starlight and Sunburst are in love!"
The unicorn's cheeks began to blush harder, with Rainbow Dash trying her hardest not to giggle at the sound of it. Though, I know that my multi-colored mane friend would want to get together with Soarin back at the Wonderbolts Academy. Hell, even the mirror version of Rainbow has a crush on that guy. Haven't been in the mirror for a while, so I'll have to go to the mirror world sometime and see how both Adagio and Aria are doing, since it's been a while.
"Pinkie! E-Enough!" The unicorn stuttered a bit, trying to stop blushing. The teasing began though when Dash began to sing.
"Sunburst and Starlight, sitting in a tree..." Rainbow teased with a smile on her face. "K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a filly in a carriage!"
Alex steps forward, placing a hand onto her back after the teasing, and with the unicorn student practically almost swooning by the sound of Sunburst's name. "You're missing one word in the rhythm, but you did a lovely job there Dashie." He says to her.
"Hands off!" She slaps his hand off her back with her right front hoof, removing it off of her, seeing how she looked annoyed.
"I for one hope that you can join me in Manehattan with Coco sometime for a bit of quality friendship time," Rarity says to me. "She'll be really happy to see you."
"And Ah don't think we've hung out fer a while. Ya should drop by Sweet Apple Acres, and ya'll of us can think of something to do together. Whether it's sittin' on my bed in mah room and just talkin' about anythin'. Maybe a friendly dinner away from the farm?" Applejack suggested, seeing that it's been a while since I've got to hang out with one of my closest friends.
"Will figure something out there... partner." I said to her, nodding my head and giving her an honest and trustful smile.
"Don't forget me! You, me and Sonata are going to have to make delicious muffins sometime soon, and use them if we do a good job!" Pinkie exclaims to me with suggestion. "Maybe it could be cupcakes, maybe cookies, or maybe-"
"We can figure it out sometime what to make. Depending what is on our minds." I said to her with a warm smile on my face.
"Okie-dokie-loki!" She says, hopping away back to Ponyville and humming a cheerful tune to herself as she did so.
"Rainbow Dash, I'll definitely need to still hang out with you. Perhaps seeing some of your moves or grabbing a bite to eat!" I said to her.
"Sure thing Brayden! Just say the word and it'll definitely be an awesome time!" She responded to me, turning around and taking flight back off into the clouds.
I looked at Fluttershy. "I'll be sure to get together with you sometime Fluttershy," I said to her. "I do enjoy your company after all."
The yellow pegasi giggled happily. "I always love having you at the cottage. My door is always open for you." She says to me, her cheeks lighting up a bit before she turned around. "I'll see you soon." She finally trots away, looking forward to when I see her again.
"Yes Alex, I know... gotta hang out soon." I said to him, pretending to be annoyed in that sarcastic kind of way.
"You know it." He says to me, turning around. "Peace!" He waves and looks behind him before leaving with Applejack and Rarity who looks a little annoyed. "Remember Andrea and Ann too!" He called out one last time.
"I will!" I said back to him before his voice was out of range. I turn to Starlight and begin speaking with her. "So, with the crutches I have, prepare to have me take a while to go up the steps."
She smiled, raising her right front hoof for a moment off of the ground. "That won't be necessary, Brayden. I'll teleport both of us, along with your crutches to the upper floor, close to the library," She tells me. "Twilight and Spike are usually in there at this time, so she'll be ready for a huge surprise."
"You bet she will be. I've missed her a lot."
Her horn began to channel with magic to the tip of her horn, and for that moment she looks to be thinking about the spell she is processing. I am sure that with this teleportation spell, it wouldn't have an awkward feeling of having my molecules scrambled all over the place, kind of like how Discord had done so.
ZAP!
I was right there inside of the castle, right before those familiar library double doors. Starlight remains in front of me in the same distance she was at when she first cast the spell. Being that it was only a bit for her, the aura on her horn disappears and she wipes the sweat off from her brow.
"She's just inside. Probably reading a book while Spike does the usual organizing on the shelves." She tells me, being right there to watch everything.
"Thanks Starlight."
A bright smile was on her mouth, even when I turned to face the door and placing one hand on the door above the handle. Pausing for a moment and exhaling a few breathes in and out... I can feel Starlight's hoof gently rub my back as I know this will be kind of hard for Twilight to see me again, even after all I had been through.
From there, my hand pushes open the door and I move into the familiar library that I've been in many times since me and Twilight had got married.
On the nearby ladder was Spike who doesn't seem to notice me coming into the room. He looks to be organizing a few leather books that are in the colors of red, green and darker tones of brown. There is one recognizable book from Canterlot that he places back on the shelf. What was it again? Oh yes, it was 'Predictions and Prophecies' from the series premiere.
Looking back ahead to the view of the mirror, I know I recognized that mulberry colored coat and that soft, silky mane of hers in the color of sapphire blue, along with her purple and pink highlights. It's Twilight sitting there on a plush, comfortable red pillow and reading a book silently to herself. I'm not sure which book it is though.
I began to move forward with my crutches to support me. She doesn't seem to hear me coming behind her. Neither did Spike, as I haven't heard anything behind me. The only other thing that I heard behind me was Starlight following right behind with the sound of her hooves trotting on the tiled floor.
Approaching her, I can hear the sounds of her nostrils breathing as she looks to be reading the book her magic is surrounding. I don't exactly know the words she was looking at, but it was probably another story that her violet eyes were laid upon. Not once did she turn as her head is lowered, looking down at the book.
She does however, sigh for that moment. "Starlight?" She asked, still not turning. "I know I've been quiet... but, if you're looking for a few books for our next lessons... I've placed them on the round table behind the pillow I'm sitting on."
I began to gently place my hands onto the both of her shoulders, which looks to have startled her for that moment, and then she finally turns around to look at me. When her eyes were caught in the gaze that my brown eyes were creating, the iris' in her eyes had shrank and looked to be in a bit of surprise. It was as if she was seeing a zombie version of myself having risen from the afterlife.
No, it was really me she was looking at with the softened expression on my face as I was trapped in the loving gaze that both me and my wife which was her would be sharing together. She almost doesn't know what to say at first, but the slow, yet sudden movements in her facial expression, the outcome was going to show before my own eyes.
Twilight had turned all the way around, and I didn't expect her to jump forward towards me, wrapping her hooves around me.
I had practically dropped both of the crutches, with Starlight having to pick them up in the process. I can feel myself stumble about, but do my best to stand still, knowing that I was almost unable to speak due to the stinging from my wings that I can feel when she also wrapped her soft wings around me, touching my bandages.
"You're alive!" She cried out, almost wanting to drop tears of joy from her eyes. "I thought you would never wake up again!"
She gently moved her head closer, pressing it to the upper part of my chest. I almost wanted to grunt in a bit of pain, but I knew I had to resist... though I did in the end. "Twilight..." I struggled to get out, practically sounding close to a harsh whisper and in a lot of pain. "My wings still hurt..."
"Oh, sorry!" She shifts her wings a bit from my own, continuing to hug onto me and never letting go even when I lied my head down on top of her head. I knew from that action that she really liked that, especially when having our time together. Even with my head on top of hers, I gently nuzzle at her mane, to keep her calm - and letting her tears drop down onto my chest.
After a sniffle, I gently move my right hand to gently caress her left cheek. I am giving her gentle shushs to help ease her down, my other hand around her, gently rubbing her back where it had been placed. The humming of the Song of Order on my back is the only other thing heard asides from the sniffling and sobbing alicorn.
She was almost on the verge of crying when she spoke to me. "I almost didn't want you to leave us and go out there! I should have stopped you from going, but I was afraid you would get furious with me! Even after all we did!" She sobbed a bit more, getting in some breath. "When you were on that stretcher and I saw you, I almost couldn't sleep because I thought you would be gone forever! Out of our lives and left for that... dragon queen! You had me so worried!"
I began to gently shush her, still stroking her soft mane as she was sobbing happily. I turn my eyes towards Spike who seems to be happy that I am alive, but knew he would have to tell me later because this was a me-and-Twilight time. The little dragon who was watching looks to be backing up, and making a bit of a hand gesture. I knew what it meant, and it was to talk with the baby dragon once I have calmed my Twilight down and that we would talk in the main foyer with Starlight once she took her nap.
Judging by the look in her eyes, it's as if she never took the opportunity to get some sleep. Though I am sure that both Aunt Luna and Nightmare Moon are going to be happy to see me in one piece, even if they weren't able to reach me in my coma-long dream with Arryl. Though, I shouldn't just explain about my experience with the First Alicorn yet, as it's still a bit early.
Once things are calm again, I'll explain it to my mother and aunt, to see if there are any other answers that they can find out from what I have seen.
The tone of my voice is calm and gentle when I began to talk with her again. "I was worried about you too, but you know I had to put the lives of the innocent to safety. If any were lost, I would feel devastated inside."
"But you did react when the Dragon Queen killed a whole group of ponies, you were practically almost close to probably having a heart attack there. Your connection to all of us is affecting you, and I don't want to risk losing you again!" She says, her sniffling having disappeared a bit, her head moving upward and gently nuzzling against my left cheek.
"Everypony is safe now, and I will be here for you, and every one of our friends. But I make no promise that I will stay back from danger's way again, even if it involves them intending to bring harm to you or anypony else."
"I know you want to protect me because of my princesshood Brayden," She says to me, calming down a little bit, but wiping tears from her eyes with her right front hoof. "But I do have magic to protect myself, just as I will protect you... like I did when you were attacked by timberwolves."
Neither of us could stop looking at one another, my hand gently placed onto Twilight's cheek with a gentle caress to it ven as I held her close to me. Her coat feels just like it felt the first time I held her hoof, which was as warm as a blanket on a winter's cold night. Her violet eyes are locked in the gaze with my own brown eyes, put together in the reunited romantic moment.
I felt myself starting to move closer to her, my eyelids tilting downward to close the closer I was getting to her face. She too is moving towards me, her eyes doing the same thing while we continue to embrace. Almost there, I end up closing my eyes, but I know what was coming, especially when I felt her soft lips gently touching mine.
Me and her were sharing a passionate kiss with one another, releasing and then reattaching our lips together for a moment as I knew Starlight and our dragon friend were behind us, watching as we shared it together. My heart is pounding on the inside, as it was excitement I felt to finally kiss her again and hold her in my arms.
We released from the kiss a few seconds after, and nuzzle each other by the noses. A traditional romance thing that has been going on with Equestrian couples since practically the society of this world began. I can hear her giggle for that moment.
There's the familiar grumble coming from Spike, seeing that Twilight actually has me as a husband for her that actually loves her, and him? He is still trying to win Rarity's heart. "That never happens with me and Rarity..." He complained within earshot as I can hear a broom sweeping away at something. Probably him cleaning up the place.
"Aw, don't worry Spike," I can hear Starlight behind me. "You'll get your chance with her someday."
"More like never," Spike responds to her. "She's a unicorn and me? I'm a baby dragon. Twilight keeps telling me that I am too young for her, which is a bummer."
"Maybe when you're older Spike." Twilight says to her assistant who was also her best friend. She giggled before when we are overhearing their conversation.
"You see what I mean?" Spike complained, before continuing to sweep.
All of us except Spike giggled while Spike continued to brush away at the dust that was falling downward onto the library tiles below our feet. Though I will admit that it looks a little awkward to see my left foot with a cast around it. Still, I had this one feeling stuck in my mind.
This feeling was what felt like where I should be with Twilight and my friends: Home, where the heart is supposed to be.