- >With a scream, both of pain and fright, you awaken to the face of Rainbow Dash.
- >”Anon, what happened?!”
- >She motions to your battered legs.
- >You can barely move your lips, vapid of energy.
- >She fidgets nervously.
- >”I guess you're not talking... Listen, I've got some bad news.”
- >Raise an eyebrow weakly.
- >”Fluttershy, she... she got out.”
- >Looking to your legs, you finally manage to croak out a couple of words.
- “I kn-know.”
- >The cyan blue figure's pupils expand like a supernova.
- >”I- What- You can't be... No!”
- >She simply stands for a few moments, staring ahead whilst shuddering.
- >Closing your eyes you let out a puff.
- >After what feels like a decade, the mare eventually looks down to you.
- >”...Did she...?”
- >Nod.
- >”I... I can't believe it...”
- >Ears are greeted with a pained yowl.
- >You need to get up from the floor.
- “Look *koff* I need h-help.”
- >Through her anguished burbling, she sniffs.
- >”I'll be back as-as-as soon as I can.”
- >She blasts out of your house, rushing to presumably a vet.
- >After all, you're still considered “monkey” to most.
- >She's dotting about, left and right, yelling for help.
- >All the p0nies in town look at her as if she is insane.
- >She's questioning that herself.
- >How could she have gotten herself tied in this web?
- >The sole “human” of her homeland, and she is slowly falling in that cursed pit...
- >The pit from which she has no hope of escape from...
- >For him.
- >She wishes it wasn't so, and she denies it.
- >In her head she refuses to believe it.
- >She almost had herself fooled at one point.
- >But that is of no consequence right now.
- >She still has to save her friend.
- >It's hard to keep consciousness.
- >Even though it's only been 10 minutes since Rainbow left, it feels like an eternity.
- >You feel yourself slipping from reality...
- >Slowly but steadily.
- >Eyelids become heavier with each passing moment.
- >You know you have to stay awake, but it's a hard task...
- >Maybe some sleep won't be so bad...
- >With a cough, you awaken.
- >Your legs are suspended from the curtain railing.
- >Scan your surroundings, to find you're in hospital.
- >The mashed limbs are in casts.
- >There's a small note at your bedside.
- >You try to reach it, but with your legs hanging like that, you can't.
- >It's a hairlength away.
- >You struggle against your bubble, twisting and turning to try and reach.
- >Effort wasted, all in vain.
- >You sigh to yourself.
- >A few moments pass, but then the door gives way.
- >”Ahnon!”
- >Applejack.
- >”What in the hay happened to you?!”
- >It's been a while since you've managed to speak properly.
- >Well, guess you better give the old chords a workout.
- “I *croak* was attacked.”
- >”Oh Celestia, who did it?!”
- >...This is a predicament.
- >If you tell her... will she listen?
- >She's already heard the same from Dash...
- >But from you?
- >Would it make her suspicious?
- >What are you to do?
- >Split second decisions are the worst.
- “I... don't actually know.”
- >”Huh?”
- ”It was in the dark. I was walking home. Next thing I knew I was being beaten into a pulp by someone or someones.”
- >”Are y'all okay?”
- >This pony.
- “Well, obviously not.”
- >She looks saddened by your off-the-cuff comment.
- >But what were you to do?
- >You've been beaten, molested and now you can't even move your fucking legs.
- >”Well ah'm sorry to hear Anon. Ah jist wanted to stop on by to see if y'all were feelin' any better...”
- >Sigh.
- “Sorry. I guess I'm just in a bit of a mess right now.”
- >She smiles slightly.
- >”Well, if yer ever needin' somep0ny to talk to, I'm here.”
- >Nod to her as she walks out.
- >There's not much to do in here.
- >You'd read one of Twilight's books she'd given you, if only you could get someone to get it for you.
- >Shame you didn't remember when Applejack came by.
- >The room is solitary, so no-one to make small talk to either.
- >Most likely wouldn't bother themselves to anyway.
- >It's just your luck that you'd get taken away from your homeland to another place where you are even more of a pariah.
- >Hell, the only reason that party went well until the whole incident, was because everyone there was shit-faced.
- >It's fortunate you're lying in this bed alone.
- >Lest somebody tries to remember what the hell happened.
- >Rainbow Dash was true to her word, but... if anyone else found out?
- >They'd call you a liar, of course.
- >How could the Element Of Kindness be so horrid?
- >That's what they'd say, and that's what you've been pondering for the past week.
- >A few hours have passed since Applejack's visit.
- >You managed to get some sleep, thank goodness.
- >It would have been murder to have to sit - or hang there, rather - for that length of time.
- >A pony knocks upon your door.
- “Come in.”
- >”You have another visitor, Mr. Anonymous.”
- >Oh?
- >”It's technically against the rules to do this, visiting hours are LONG since over, but... this mare made it very clear she needed to see you.”
- >Who could it be?
- >”I'll let you two talk.”
- >The nurse walks out.
- >”H-hello Anon.”
- >...No.
- >It can't be her.
- >”I wanted to tell you something.”
- >There's nothing you can do to stop her.
- >She comes closer and closer to your bedside.
- >Your entire body has begun to seize up.
- >Vocal chords tense, you can't even scream for help!
- >”I w-wanted to say...”
- >She attempts to cup her hoof near your ear.
- >”I'm not finished with you.”
- >The yellow pony retracts, sweat drips from your nose.
- >Her lips curl up slightly, and her tongue wets them.
- >She gives you a small kiss and you can't pull away.
- >Her taste is familiar.
- >You wish it was foreign.
- >She pulls away, and finally turns to leave.
- >”I'm going to go now...”
- >Halfway out the door, she stops and glares daggers at you.
- >”But if you t-tell ANYP0NY about this...”
- >She needn't say a word. You know exactly what she means.
- >She'll be the fucking death of you.
- ////////
- >Anon is in the hospital.
- >You're stuck in Cloudsdale for now.
- >Well, not stuck.
- >But you're not allowed to visit til 11am.
- >If only you didn't have to attend Wonderbolt training yesterday.
- >The worry that has built up inside you is insurmountable.
- >Is he gonna be alright?
- >Is he gonna recover?
- >Where did Fluttershy go?
- >You need to ask somep0ny, but...
- >Who?
- >Does anyp0ny else even know?
- >Anon isn't likely to tell them...
- >And he made you swear not to.
- >But...
- >Is it worth breaking his trust to try and solve this whole mess?
- >By Tartarus, you've only been friends with him for a few days...
- >This is so convoluted.
- >You dart off through the clouds, the wind whooshing next to your ears.
- >Moisture from the sky fluff refreshes you.
- >You've been going around in circles like this for an hour or so.
- >There's just nothing for it.
- >You need to see Anon.
- >Now.
- >Spying the town square, you flap down to it.
- >The clock reads “10:50”.
- >Only ten more minutes.
- >Heck, you might as well walk this one.
- >If you flew, you'd be there in seconds, once more sitting in anticipation.
- >Listing lazily through town, you pass many ponies.
- >They all seem to stare at you funny.
- >What's their deal?
- >You haven't done anything to them.
- >Maybe your frown is putting off the newest lot.
- >As you turn, you catch a glimpse of yourself in a window.
- “Huh.”
- >Your eyes have enormous purple bags underneath them.
- “...So that's why.”
- >Surely you weren't up all night...?
- >From the other side, a pony taps the window with a scared/confused look on his face.
- >You jump back a little, blushing.
- “Sorry...”
- >This whole ordeal is taking as much of a toll on you as it is Anon.
- >The hospital is ahead.
- >You can only hope it's 11am.
- >As you walk in the door, you see the clock.
- “Oh, come on!”
- >10:58.
- >”It's only another two minutes, Rainbow Dash.”
- >The doctors and nurses know you on a first-name basis.
- >What comes with being an athlete is a lot of injuries.
- “Redheart, can't I just go up and see him?”
- >”No, you know how much I hate having unenforced rules.”
- “Fine.”
- >You cross your arms and begin to sulk.
- >That two minutes felt like a year.
- >”Rainbow Dash, you can go see Anon now.”
- >Your heart is racing.
- >Is he okay?
- >”Room 124, remember.”
- >Climbing up the stairs, you pass a couple of doctors.
- >They turn from you.
- >What's the big idea?
- >Anon's door is in front of you.
- ////////
- >It's 11:01.
- >You've been sitting in shock since last night.
- >It's too horrifying to think.
- >You're just gonna become a little fucktoy.
- >For that...
- >She's not even worthy of being called a creature.
- >That entity.
- >The door opens.
- >”Anon?”
- >Rainbow?
- >”Anon, are you alright?”
- >She comes to your bedside, but jumps back at what she sees.
- >A drained, emotionless face.
- >Completely pale, devoid of any sensation whatsoever.
- >Affixed in that same position...
- >Mouth catching flies, your pupils shrunken to atomic sizes.
- >It's not a sight you'd wish upon anyone.
- >”Wha... What happened to you?”
- >You're trying your best to respond.
- >Move your eyes around frantically, trying to let her know.
- >”Anon!”
- >She doesn't seem to understand.
- >”What are you trying to tell me?”
- >Your jaw unlocks slightly.
- >It's not enough, your vocal chords are still wrapped in a slipknot around each other.
- >Tears well up in her eyes.
- >”Is this just a game to you?!”
- >No!
- “Gckk...”
- >Her sobs drown out your feeble noise.
- >”You've made me worry so much...”
- >She sniffs and blubbers violently.
- >”And now you're not gonna tell me ANYTHING?!”
- >Her eyebrows tilt downward.
- >”Well fine! If you ever need me again I'll be nowhere that you can find me!”
- >This is horrific!
- >Surely she must understand...?
- >This isn't your fault...

