Stuck in a Rut: Pt. 6 (Flutterrape)

Previously

http://pastebin.com/iBb3kyG1

 

////////

>How... how could he?!

>Worry you like that and then simply say nothing?

>What did you do to him?!

>Trotting slowly out of the hospital, a doctor stops you.

>He clears his throat.

>”Rainbow Dash?”

>You glare daggers at him.

“What do you want?!”

>He's taken aback a little.

>”I, uh, just wanted to let you know about Anon.”

>When you get a proper look at him, you realise that it's the same doctor you passed on the stairs.

“...Yeah?”

>”He's in a state of shock.”

>What?

>”We don't know what happened. Someone visited him in the middle of the night, claiming they desperately needed to see him. That's about the only clue we have.”

>Oh Celestia, no!

>”He's aware of everything around him, but he can't respond to any of it.”

>Your pupils shrink in sheer horror.

>You've just done a very terrible thing.

>”...We're not sure how long he'll be like this.”

“C... can't you help him somehow?”

>”I'm afraid not. We've already tried.”

>Your voice begins to crack.

“W-well, try harder!”

>With that, you can't take much more of this.

>Your wings fan out and you burst out of the hospital.

>There are droplets of water in your eyes.

>They shouldn't be there.

>The sinking feeling in your stomach shouldn't be there.

////////

 

>Visiting hours are few and far between.

>Even then, VISITORS are few and far between.

>Applejack and Twilight came yesterday.

>You managed to croak up some short sentences to them.

>After that whole condemnable ordeal with Rainbow Dash, it's difficult to puff out words.

>The whole thing replays in your head; why would she assume that you hated her?

>You wish you could rewind to yesterday.

>Sadly, you don't control time.

>Which would be handy right now, given your condition.

>Sitting in a white-washed prison of cleanliness.

>Twilight offered a book, but you've already finished it.

>She doubts your reading skills immensely.

>Dejectedly, you look at the front cover again.

>“Daring Do Learns To Read”.

>Ugh.

 

>Meal time.

>A nurse pony comes in bearing a smile and some food.

>You're not sure if it's genuine or fake.

>“Hello, Anonymous. I hope today hasn't been too exhausting for you.”

>You shake your head.

>“I see. Well, enjoy!”

>She closes the door behind her, but it doesn't click.

>Something stops it.

>You take no notice of it, tucking into a cheese sandwich.

>No ham though. Shame.

>In savouring as much of this food as possible, your attention is drawn from the door.

>A shadow looms into the doorway, menacing its way to your bedside.

>A pony makes its way into the room, but its movements are...

>Awkward, jerky. Like it had bone problems.

>The thing has a huge cloak over it, covering everything on its body.

>Then it speaks.

>“Do you know of me?”

>You swallow abruptly.

>You're unable to return a word; it rears its head.

>A human head.

>A click on the lock ensures you aren't going to be interrupted soon.

>Sweat beads form on your brow.

>“I'll ask again. Do you know of me?”

>You shake your head.

>Hair whips down, this person refuses eye contact.

>“I know of you.”

>Mustering some strength from the sandwich, you croak.

“How?”

>“I've seen it all.”

>The face that meets you isn't male or female.

>It seems to be an amalgamation of both.

>The voice doesn't give much away either.

>“Oh, how I've seen it all. Every single one of our kind who has been here. I've watched, and I've watched. The poor souls who come to this magical world by accident, and I've seen her.”

>Your eye twitches slightly at the last word.

>“I've seen her corrupt. I've seen her butcher. I've seen her.”

>There is no flow to these sentences.

>Like the person's trotting skills, everything is disjointed.

>“You're nothing new. You're just another tool. But you... You have something no-one else did.”

>Shrug your shoulders in questioning.

>“A real friend.”

>Whoever this person is, they can't possibly have been watching very well.

>“That rainbow one. She's the only reason you're still here.”

>At least it got that right.

>Although... a real friend?

>Right now you're not sure.

>“I cannot stay here. Time is running out for the both of us. You must know, however, that no matter what, she will get you. She will have her prize, time and time again. And there is nothing you can do to stop it.”

>With that, the freak takes a cue to leave.

>Putting the cloak back on, it unlocks the door and heads out, quiet as a desert.

>Confusion runs rampant through your head.

 

////////

>You've been at home for a while now.

>Wondering what to do with yourself, you've been pacing back and forth in your room.

>What you said to the poor human...

>You're unsure he will forgive you.

>After all, with all that he's been through with that horrid yellow... thing.

>She isn't of pony-kind.

>Nothing that is capable of THAT can be called a pony.

>Something has to be done.

>You're going to have to break your promise to Anon.

>...Someone has to be told.

 

>Bolt off down to Ponyville.

>Your wings flap faster than they ever have before.

>Almost crashing, but recovering quickly, you arrive in front of Twilight's library.

>She steps out just as you touch the ground, jumping back.

>“Agh! You scared me, Rainbow Dash!”

“No time for that. Look, Twilight, I'm not one to spread lies. You know that, right?”

>She looks at you funny.

>“Uh, of course I do, Rainbow.”

>You continue.

“Good. Because I have something to tell you.”

>She sighs.

>“If this is about Fluttershy again...”

>Your blood pressure begins to rise.

"No. Well... kind of. Look. Just hear me out."

>Smack a hoof off the ground in frustration.

“Anon is in hospital and there's a reason for that. And... I'm pretty sure there's a reason why he can't speak right now.”

>The purple unicorn doesn't look like she's taking you seriously.

>Attempting to attract focus, you stare at her fiercely.

>She looks a little uneasy now.

“The Element of Kindness needs to be stripped of her title.”

>The egghead goes back to her defensiveness.

>“I don't know what it is you have against Fluttershy, but it needs to stop Rainbow! You can't accuse her of doing these things!”

>Your anger is reaching critical.

“Twilight, I told you. I don't lie! Fluttershy is behind everything that's happened to Anon! I saw some of it with my own eyes!”

>She stamps her own hoof.

>“If you really did see it, why did you only tell me now? You're only harming your own cause here!”

“He told me not to tell anyone. I swore it on my wings... But the fact is, he's in hospital and in shock because of her. Something has to be done!”

>She opens her mouth, then stops herself.

“Who or what else could have done all this?”

>Contemplating, a hoof is at her chin, scraping.

>“...You're right, something does need to be done. But, what? We have no proof of anything that she's done to him.”

>Time for you to consider the facts.

“Well... Applejack's the Element of Honesty. Maybe that means she can tell a lie. We get Fluttershy to say what happened... Applejack will know the truth.”

>It makes sense in your head, but of course, Twilight is more intelligent than you.

>“I'm not sure it works that way... She only represents honesty. It doesn't mean she's a pony lie detector. But... It's as good a plan as any right now.”

>Cooling down from your agitation, your expression softens.

>“Unfortunately, it's gonna have to be put on the back-burner for now. I have to go to Canterlot for words with the Princess.”

>You have to jump on this.

“...Can you mention to Celestia at all-”

>“...No, Rainbow. I'm not even sure if I fully believe you yet. This is something serious.”

>If you could press her, you would, but Twilight is hard to budge.

>This isn't something she'll move for.

“I... I understand.”

>She nods, then says goodbye.

>Doing the same, you trot back to the hospital.

////////

 

>You must be going insane.

>Whatever that thing was, there's no way it could've been real.

>What the hell did it mean?

>What was its purpose?

>It came in, said some cryptic bullshit and then left.

>That gives you nothing to go on.

>The doctor said you were in a state of shock, anyway.

>If only you had the internet, you could just look up if hallucinations were a symptom.

>Everything could've been inside your head for all you know.

>Rainbow Dash going crazy, Twilight giving you a foal's book.

>But maybe it's just more tricks of the brain.

>Whatever it is, it's not helping you to think it over.

>Opening up a metaphorical cabinet in your head, you put the thought in there for later.

>God, envisioning these things really don't help with the whole possibly insanity.

>Just as the mind-cabinet closes, a reality-door also closes.

>You look up, gazing at the visage in front of you.

>It's...

>Rainbow?

>“Hi.”

>You point at yourself, mouthing that you can't speak well, hoping she understands.

>“I... I know. I came here to...”

>A strange feeling of dread and anticipation floats through you.

>Your stomach churns.

>“To say I'm sorry.”

>It goes.

>That wasn't what you expected.

>“I wasn't thinking straight. After seeing you with... Well, let's not bring her up. It was difficult to keep coherent thoughts in my head. I didn't know what I was thinking, I just...”

>Your brow furrows, enticing her to continue.

>“I worry. I worry a lot about you. Celestia only knows what you've been through... I never stopped to think about how you felt.”

>Her head droops.

>A heartfelt speech...

>“I understand if you don't want to see me right now.”

>This mare is a confusing one.

>She goes to turn, perplexing you further.

>Something inside you wants to shout, but the other half wants to cower from the world.

>This is it, you have to say something.

>Your throat is dry, but...

“It's... okay.”

>She looks back towards you.

>Those magenta eyes have lit up like you'd never seen another's before.

>She smiles.

>“I'll see you later, Anon.”

>The wooden thud of a door closing hits your ears.