- >"You need your rest!" ordered Fluttershy, pushing you by your waist into your bedroom.
- >You push back.
- "My legs aren't broken! I can still walk around if I want!"
- >"That's just your mild concussion talking!"
- >She pushed harder.
- >You were holding on to the door frame just to keep from being forced into your room.
- >Considering her size and kind nature, she can be quite the brute when she wants to be.
- "I told you, I'm fine!"
- >You use the door frame as leverage to help push against Fluttershy.
- >You were both straining against each other as hard as you could.
- >"It's only been two days! You are so, uhn, not fine!"
- "This is orppression! I have a right to go for a run!"
- >"I said," she let pressure off of you and backed away a bit. "NO!"
- >She flew at you and tackled you through the doorway.
- >You lose all the breath in your lungs from the hit.
- >You stagger backwards and trip over the foot of the bed.
- >You bounce up from the bed and knock the still forward-flying Fluttershy up and into the wall behind the bed.
- >She hits the wall and safely falls to the pillows below.
- --
- >You sit up and spot the clear doorway to your salvation.
- >You leap from the bed and bolt for the door.
- "Freedom!"
- >Running, running, BAM!
- >Face full of door.
- >Fluttershy had raced around you at lightning speed and slammed the door shut, right in your face.
- >You shout and grip your face, staggering back and tripping over the bed again.
- "Ah-haha-how!"
- >"Ohmigosh, I'm so sorry!" cried Fluttershy, rushing over to you and feeling your forehead.
- "Alright," you mumble through your hands. "You win. I'll stay in bed."
- >Fluttershy squeed with a victorious smile.
- >"You see? I told you you were going to hurt yourself. It's a dangerous world out there."
- >You remove your hands from your face and glare at Fluttershy, who returned your gaze with an innocent smile.
- >She's been trying to come up with every excuse to keep you bed-ridden.
- >Swear to God, if it boils down to her smashing your knee caps with a mallet, you're not gonna be too happy about it.
- --
- >"Let me get you something for your head."
- >Fluttershy kissed your forehead before leaving the room to go downstairs.
- >Come to think of it, that actually made your head feel a little better.
- >Fluttershy is such a good pony.
- >You've told yourself, and her as well, so many times before.
- >And it never gets old.
- >Normally, you wouldn't mind lying in bed all day.
- >You're lazy enough to enjoy it for the most part.
- >But the simple fact that you're forced to be here brings out the rebellious side in you.
- >You hear a knock on the door and Fluttershy call out to the visitors.
- >You can't hear the conversation as your bedroom door is muffling the voices.
- >Then, hooves on the staircase.
- >Oh boy, visitors...
- >In walks in Fluttershy with Rarity in tow.
- >Oh boy, Rarity!
- >"Oh my! He really does look as horrible as you said!" said Rarity.
- >You give a deadpan stare at Fluttershy who looks away, embarassed.
- "Gee, thanks. It's always nice to know how others really feel."
- >"Oh, come now, darling. I didn't mean it like that," said Rarity.
- "Heheh. Yeah, I know. I'm just playin'."
- >"Hmm, quite."
- >Rarity was not amused.
- --
- >"So, Anonymous." said Rarity.
- "What."
- >"I was talking to Fluttershy here about going on our little spa day today, but from what I see, she can't possibly leave you here alone!"
- >You roll your eyes.
- "Why does everypony think I'm totally incapable of taking care of myself?"
- >"Because you're hurt, darling. Is it not obvious?"
- "I'm totally mobile! So I had a slight concussion, big whoop."
- >You wave your hands in front of you to emphasize your point.
- >"Well, be that as it may, we will not be going to the spa today."
- "Uh... okay?"
- >"Instead, I will be staying here to help Fluttershy in taking care of you!"
- "Wait, what?!"
- >This is just freakin perfect.
- >If Fluttershy treating you like a baby wasn't bad enough, now you got Rarity here also!
- >The chatty, gossipy, OCD, fashionista pony.
- >"Oh, darling, we're going to have so much fun!" exclaimed Rarity, clopping her forehooves together.
- "Great..."
- --
- >As much as you love Rarity and all she's done for you and Fluttershy, she can become quite an annoyance after being around her for an extended period of time.
- >Not to mention that when she's together with Fluttershy, they become an unstoppable gossip machine.
- >Fluttershy will spill all of her feelings about you to Rarity and many other things you would prefer to keep quiet.
- >One time, Fluttershy almost revealed your secret fetish to Rarity.
- >Luckily, you happened to saunter into the room just before she could.
- >"I'm going to go make your breakfast," said Fluttershy.
- >She left Rarity with you.
- >Rarity looked about your room.
- >Your messy, messy room.
- >"Darling, I... this is just..."
- >Your bed is unmade.
- >The wall decor is askew.
- >And the carpet is a little dirty.
- >But worst of all...
- >Oh sweet Celestia...
- >Your dirty laundry is on the floor.
- >You can swear Rarity's eye twitched a little as she spotted your dirty socks hanging from a dresser drawer.
- >Your shirt tossed across the room.
- >And your pants were lying next to the bed.
- "What?"
- >"Anonymous, how can you live like this!"
- >You look around the room, trying to figure out what the hell she was talking about.
- >So you had few clothes on the ground.
- >You fail to notice anything that would require the city to condemn your home.
- "Uhh... what?"
- >"This..." Rarity levitates your discarded shirt. "This filth!"
- >You raise an eyebrow, still unable to comprehend what she was so upset about.
- --
- >"I simply refuse to allow this!"
- "What?"
- >She begins to clean your room.
- >First beginning with your laundry.
- >Folding them neatly and stacking them in the hamper.
- >You fail to see the reasoning behind this.
- >Next, she moves on to the wall pictures frames and other wall hangings.
- >They looked straight to you.
- >You couldn't even see if she even moved them or not.
- >But after a few minutes at each one, she seemed satisfied.
- >Lastly, she cleaned your carpet.
- >You thought a good sweeping was good enough, but apparently not for Rarity.
- >With great concentration, she lifted the invisible specks of dirt from your carpet, balled them up, and launched them out the window.
- >When she finished with that, she began running about your bedroom, aligning all the furniture to look neater.
- >When she finished, she double checked her handiwork.
- >Everything was perfect.
- >"Now that's much better," she turned too look at you. "Wouldn't you ag-"
- >That bed.
- >That messy, unmade bed.
- >The untucked sheets, the unfluffed pillows.
- >She began walking towards you, horn glowing
- "Rarity, what are you- HNNG!"
- >She magicks the sheets tight and snug against the matress.
- >The comforter as well, which you were under.
- "Too tight!" you squeak out.
- >You manage to free your arms and begin wildly thrashing on the bed, trying to loosen the covers.
- >You finally mess the bed enough that you can get free and stand up.
- >You clutch your chest, breathing hard.
- >"Now why did you go and do that, Anonymous?"
- >Rarity remade the bed and you lied back down, on top of the covers this time.
- >It was a little too hot to be under the blankets anyways.
- --
- >Fluttershy walked in with a tray on her back.
- >It smelled delicious.
- >"Oh, I see Rarity made the bed for you?" wondered Fluttershy.
- "Yeah."
- >"That was nice of you," Fluttershy said to Rarity.
- >"It was no trouble at all," Rarity replied.
- >Fluttershy walked over to the bed.
- >You sat up and Rarity moved the tray into your lap.
- >Bacon, egg, and cheese on buttered toast.
- >Fluttershy knows you so well.
- "Thanks Flutters."
- >Rarity looks at Fluttershy and raises an eyebrow, pointing a hoof at you.
- >Fluttershy blushed.
- >You grab the sandwich and eat, staring at your plate.
- >Rarity and Fluttershy trade glances.
- >"Is- is everything alright, Anon?" asked Rarity.
- >You look up and look back and forth between the two.
- >You swallow.
- "Yeah, why?"
- >"Oh, nothing deary. It's just... you seem so... down."
- >You look to Fluttershy who looks just as worried as Rarity.
- "Uh... I'm fine, thanks."
- >You continue eating.
- >"You're not mad at me, are you?" asked Fluttershy.
- >You choked on your food before finally swallowing it.
- "What? Why would I be mad?"
- >"For making you stay in bed."
- "No, Fluttershy. I'm not mad. Just... meh."
- >"Oh, okay. I'm sorry."
- --
- >A knocking at the door takes Fluttershy downstairs again.
- >You tossed a pillow to Rarity and she used it for a cushion to sit.
- >"So..." said Rarity.
- "So..."
- >You have finished your breakfast and throw the covers off to stand.
- >"Oh! I'll take care of that, darling!"
- >Rarity tried to levitate the tray from your hands, but you held onto it.
- "Nah, it's cool. I got it."
- >You pulled the tray back close.
- >"Oh, but I insist!"
- >Rarity increased her influence over the tray.
- "No, really. I can do it."
- >"Please, Anon. Just stay in bed like you're supposed to."
- >You sigh and release the tray.
- >You climb back into bed as Rarity takes the tray away.
- >Rarity just gets to the door when it flies open and nails her in the face, the crumbs from your plate clinging to her coat.
- >"ANONYMOUS!!!"
- "Oh nonono wait!"
- >You hold out both hands, only to be tackled by the three most adorable fillies you've ever met.
- >Adorable, yes.
- >Situationally aware, no.
- >They failed to notice your bandages and various bruises.
- >Thankfully, Rarity was quick to respond by levitating the three of them off of you.
- >You breathe in deeply before letting out a long, drawn-out sigh of muffled pain.
- >You curl into a loose fetal position.
- >Your head, your chest, and your everything.
- >Pain once more.
- --
- >"Girls, please! You're hurting him!" cried Rarity.
- >The Crusaders, who were laughing and struggling against Rarity's influence, stopped and stared at your injured form.
- >Now it finally sinks in.
- >"Oh,we- uh..."
- >They stutter, but can't seem to form a coherent sentence.
- >Rarity sets them on the floor and they walk up to the side of the bed.
- >They raise their forehooves up and rest their cute little heads on their legs.
- >There's a sadness in their eyes that would break your heart had you payed attention to them.
- >Applejack and Fluttershy come up the stairs and enter the room.
- >You look up to see who it is.
- >You drop your head back down.
- "Shouldn't you girls be in school?" you ask the Crusaders.
- >"Actually, Anon," Applejack stepped forward. "Ah done picked 'em up from school to come visit ya!"
- >You slide up the bed and sit up against the headboard.
- "Well that was cool of you, Applejack."
- >"No problem, Anon!" said Applejack, crossing her legs and striking a pose.
- >You turn to the girls.
- "So, what did the three of you come out here for?"
- >"Well," started Applebloom. "We heard you got hurt."
- >"So we decided to come and see if you were okay!" finished Scootaloo.
- >"We thought you could use the excitement, seeing as you're stuck in bed all day," said Sweetie Belle.
- >You reach out and pat Applebloom's head, as she is the closest.
- "Thank you for the thought girls. Sorry I couldn't walk you to school this morning."
- >Fluttershy dropped her head.
- --
- >"That's okay, Anonymous," said Applebloom. "We know how you saved Fluttershy from the bad pony."
- >"Yeah!" said Scootaloo. "That was awesome! I wish we could've seen it!"
- >No.
- >No they don't.
- >They had no idea, their innocent minds unable to process that kind of horror.
- >"I think it was very brave of you," said Sweetie Belle. "Rarity said it was the most honorable and roman-"
- >Rarity wrapped a leg around Sweetie Belle's mouth.
- >"Okay!" blurted out Rarity. "Well then, this was a nice visit wasn't it?"
- >"But what about what you-" said Sweetie Belle.
- >"Come now, girls! I think it's time you get back to school!"
- >Rarity had an unnervingly large smile on her face.
- >"Awww..." they all pouted.
- >"Heheh. Come on, y'all. Ah'll take ya back. Ah gotta get back to the farm anyhow."
- >"Awww..." they pouted again.
- >"Thanks for coming," said Fluttershy.
- "Yeah, thanks for coming girls."
- >You waved goodbye to them.
- >"Bye Anonymous!" they waved back and ran downstairs.
- >"Ah better get after 'em to make sure they don't bust nothin'," said Applejack, walking out. "It's great to see you're okay Anon."
- "You too Applejack."
- --
- >As Applejack left, you heard a crashing come from downstairs.
- >"Oh darn it!" yelled Applejack, rushing downstairs.
- >As soon as Applejack leaves your bedroom, she is blasted back through the door in a shower of confetti and streamers.
- >You manage to catch her before she hits the wall behind you.
- >Dear God, that hurt worse than the Crusader's ambush...
- >"Woo wee! Thanks a bunch for that, Anon!"
- "No problem," you whisper, your chest in too much pain for much else.
- >"Get well soon, Anonymous!" shouted Pinkie Pie as she bounded into your room.
- >At second glance, you see Rainbow Dash walking up the stairs behind her.
- >Pinkie Pie sees Applejack sitting in your lap.
- >"Ooh! Pony Clause! Me next! Me next!"
- >Pinkie jumped over the bed, landing in your lap and knocking Applejack to the floor.
- >"I want me a barrel of floss, and two balls of glue, to be my friends! And I want-"
- >Two minutes later.
- >"-and a chair made of cheese, and a table made of cheese, and-"
- >"Um, Pinkie Pie?" asked Fluttershy.
- >"Yeah?"
- >"Could you, um, please get down?"
- >"Okie dokie lokie!"
- >Pinkie Pie hopped off the bed.
- >You were clutching your chest with one hand, the other clenched tightly into a fist and shaking violently.
- >Thank you Fluttershy.
- >Rainbow Dash was chuckling at your obvious pain.
- >Somehow, Pinkie Pie failed to notice EVERYTHING.
- >"So Anonymous, how's it feel to be the 'Hero of Ponyville'!"
- >What.
- --
- >You relax your arms.
- "Say what now?"
- >"The whole town is calling you a hero for saving Fluttershy from that creep!" exclaimed Pinkie.
- >You shake your head.
- "I'm not the 'Hero of Ponyville'. That creep was going to... hurt Fluttershy."
- >You clench your fists again.
- "I can't let that happen."
- >"Well regardless, we need to throw you a 'Get Well Soon/Hero' party!"
- "I'm not a hero."
- >"Aw shucks, Anon," said Applejack. "You don't need to undermind yourself like that. We all think you're a hero."
- >"Yes, quite," said Rarity. "I would do anything for a stallion as brave as you, Anon. Fluttershy really scored big with you."
- >Everyone slowly turned their heads towards Rarity.
- >"What?" asked Rarity.
- >"Nothing," said everypony.
- >"Uh... Hello?"
- >Everypony turned to the door to see Twilight standing there with a saddlebag.
- >Why the hell is everypony in your house?
- >Your bedroom at that.
- "Hey."
- >"Hello," answered everypony else.
- --
- "What are you doing here?" you ask Twilight.
- >"Oh I brought wonderful news!" exclaimed Twilight.
- "No. I mean, what are you doing HERE."
- >"Oh... The front door was open, so I got a little worried that your house was broken into again."
- >Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.
- >"And I didn't expect everypony to be here as well."
- "Neither did I." you mutter under your breath.
- >"So what's the good news Twilight?" asked Applejack.
- >"It's not just good news," answered Twilight matter-of-factly.
- >"Well, what is it, darling?" asked Rarity.
- >Twilight levitated 7 golden tickets from her saddlebag.
- >All the ponies' faces lit up with huge smiles.
- "I don't get it. You going to a chocolate factory or something?"
- >Everypony looked at you and gasped, mouth agape.
- >All except Pinkie who gasped, mouth agape, at the wonderful idea you just gave.
- >"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" asked everypony in unison.
- >Pinkie's was excitement.
- "I honestly haven't a clue."
- >"Anonymous, these are tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala!" said Twilight.
- >"It's only the most wonderful occasions in Equestria!" said Rarity.
- >"And also the best party of all time!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie.
- >"Heh, even though last time was a total disaster," said Applejack.
- >Everypony looked at Applejak and nodded.
- >"Yeah," they agreed.
- "Hahaha! What? What happened? Did the cops come bust it up or something?"
- --
- >"Not exactly," said Twilight. "The night was nothing like we imagined it would be."
- "So then why are you all excited about some lame party?"
- >"Because we know what we did wrong!" said Twilight with a smile.
- "Hold on a second. You're not all going to try the same things as last time, are you?"
- >"Well, of course we are," said Applejack. "We still have our reasons for going."
- "What reasons?" you ask, getting a little irritated.
- >"It's really nothing to worry about, darling," said Rarity. "We have it all figured out."
- "Wait. So you've been planning this for while then, haven't you?"
- >"Yes, actually," said Twilight. "And the tickets aren't even the best news."
- "No?"
- >You have a bad feeling about this.
- >Twilight shakes her head.
- >"It turns out, Spike doesn't want his ticket because of last year. I tried to tell him it would be different this year, but he wouldn't hear it."
- >At least Spike has some sense.
- >"So then I thought," continued Twilight. "Why not give you Spike's ticket!"
- >Fuck.
- --
- "Thanks, but I don't think-"
- >"Oh, Twilight, that is just wonderful!" said Fluttershy. "That is very thoughtful of you."
- >"Well, I know how Anon hasn't participated in any of our festivals or ceremonies. I figured that the Grand Galloping Gala would be the best first thing we all do together."
- >"Oh Anon, we could walk the gardens together."
- >Fluttershy gasped.
- >"We can look at all the cute animals together!"
- >"Heheh, yeah. Maybe he can spend some time with his monkey family!" said Rainbow.
- >Everypony turned and glared at her.
- >"What?" she asks.
- >Then they all turn back to you, confused, when they hear your soft laughter.
- "What?" you ask.
- >They all trade glances and shrugs with each other.
- >What can you say?
- >She got you good on that one.
- >And Fluttershy walked right into it.
- >You raise your hand.
- "I gotta question."
- >"What?" asks Twilight.
- "When exactly IS this gala?"
- >"This coming Saturday. Why?"
- >You drop your hand and give her a deadpan stare.
- >Four fucking days.
- "How can I show up when my face is swollen?"
- >"That's the trick," said Twilight. "Princess Celestia dreads the gala every year. She says it's always so boring."
- >"So she asked us to come up with a theme this year!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie.
- "Oh yeah? And what would that be?"
- --
- >"It's a really fun idea!" said Pinkie.
- >"And a fashionable one at that," said Rarity.
- "What is it?"
- >"If not a little creepy," said Rainbow.
- "What is it?"
- >"Aw, come on, Rainbow. It ain't that bad," said Applejack.
- "Hey."
- >"I agree with Rainbow Dash," said Fluttershy. "It can be a little... unnerving."
- "Are you even listening to me?"
- >"There's no need to fret, darling," said Rarity. "You should see the one I have planned for you."
- >"Oh, okay," said Fluttershy.
- "HEY!"
- >Everypony turned to look at you.
- >"There's no need to be rude, Anonymous," scolded Rarity.
- >"Hey now, Anonymous. If y'all wanted somethin', ya shoulda spoken up!" said Applejack.
- >"Hahaha. Yeah Anonymous. What gives?" poked Rainbow.
- >You give them all a deadpan stare.
- >Your eye twitches a little bit.
- >"Well, what did you want, Anonymous?" asked Twilight.
- "What. Is. The. Gala. About."
- --
- "Oh, that?" asked Twilight. "Well, it's an annual event where-"
- "No, damn it. I meant, what was the theme this year?"
- >"Oh... Well why didn't you just say so? asked Twilight, a little offended at your language.
- >"Why are you being so rude today, Anonymous?" asked Rarity.
- "I- ... Uh... Hmm..."
- >You put your hand to your chin.
- >Yeah, why are you being such an asshole today?
- >Granted, you're not allowed to leave your bed, but still.
- >Maybe you're just upset that that pegasus kicked you-
- >Hey, wait a minute!
- >This isn't about you!
- >You shake your head and break your train of thought.
- "Nothing. Sorry. Can you just tell me already?"
- >"Not with that attitude, mister."
- "Please?"
- >"Oh, okay then. It's-"
- >"It's a super fun idea that-"
- "Pinkie!"
- >She stopped talking, sat down, and motioned to zip her lips.
- "Rarity?"
- >"It's a masquerade ball."
- --
- "Oh..."
- >Aw crap...
- >Well actually, that's not as bad as what you were originally thinking.
- >And Twilight was right about one thing.
- >The fact that your face would be covered would conceal you injuries pretty well.
- >But really?
- >A masquerade ball?
- >"What's wrong, Anon?" asked Twilight.
- >You snap out of your train of thought.
- "Huh? What?"
- >"What's wrong?" she asks again.
- "Oh, nothing. "But I do have a question."
- >"What's that?"
- "I don't have a mask. Where would I even get one?"
- >Rarity cleared her throat.
- >"Do you really need to ask?" she asked.
- "Oh yeah... Right..."
- >You feel like an idiot.
- --
- "So," you clap our hands. "Can everypony please leave so I can get some rest? I'm still hurting from all the these shenanigans this morning."
- >You hold a hand to your chest and wince.
- >"Okie dokie lokie!" said Pinkie, bounding over to you.
- >She wrapped you in a tight hug, putting you in more pain.
- >Everypony else, except for Rainbow, joined her.
- >The pain...
- >Just hang in there...
- >It'll all be over in a few seconds...
- >"We'll see you later, Anon! Okay?" asked Pinkie.
- "Okay," you whisper out.
- >They break the hug and you let out a deep sigh of relief.
- >It takes a few minutes longer, but everypony says their goodbyes and Fluttershy manages to push them all out the front door.
- >She comes back upstairs to find you already curled beneath the comforter.
- >"Anon?"
- >She walks over to the side of the bed and nudges you with a hoof.
- >You were out.
- >"He really was tired," she whispered to herself.
- >She tucked you in nice and cozy.
- >"Sweet dreams, Anon."
- >She planted a soft kiss on your forehead before she trotted out of the room.
- --
- >When you woke up, it was dark out.
- >The curtain was closed, so there was no moonlight coming into the room.
- >It was pitch black.
- >A leg around your neck and slow breathing down the back of your neck confirmed that Fluttershy was asleep next to you.
- >You squeeze your eyelids shut and bring both hands to your head.
- >God damn this fucking headache.
- >After a few minutes of just holding your head, you throw off the covers and lie there for a few more minutes.
- >So hot...
- >You need to open a window.
- >You slowly rise to a sitting position, your feet hanging off the side of the bed.
- "What the hell..." you whisper to yourself.
- >Sweat was pouring off of your face and you could not sit still for the life of you.
- >Your splitting headache and this heat...
- >Holy crap this heat...
- >You shamble over to the window, feeling with your hands and testing the floor with your feet for anything you could bump into.
- >You make it safely to the window.
- >You throw the curtain open and begin to fumble with the lock in the dimly-lit room.
- >You finally get it undone and throw the window open.
- >The rush of cold air gives you instant goosebumps.
- --
- >You wrap your naked torso with your arms and shiver.
- >But this cold air is doing nothing for you.
- >You are still sweating profusely, and your skin is now as cold as ice from the breeze blowing through the window.
- >You slowly walk over ot your bed.
- >You don't get in, but just look down and stare at it for a minute.
- >Your throat feels dry and hurts to swallow.
- >Still holding yourself, you slowly walk towards the door, swaying side to side with each step.
- >You slide one hand up and down the door until you finally bump the knob.
- >Turning it slowly as not to wake Fluttershy, you open the door and step out.
- >Carefully descending into the darkness below, you hold both rails with your hands and take one step at a time.
- >You take a blind step, and it doesn't fall down.
- >You've reached the bottom.
- >You shamble your way over to the bathroom door.
- >You slide your hand up and down, and all over the wall, trying to find the lightswitch.
- >You finally run your hand over it and accidentally throw it on.
- "Ah!"
- >You duck your head and cover you eyes with your hands.
- >You were not ready for the bright light just yet.
- --
- >You held your hands tightly against your face, face pointed to the floor.
- >You crack your hands to let a little light in, but it's so bright, you immediately close them again.
- >You stand there for at least 5 minutes, cracking your hands and closing them again.
- >Eventually, you settle for just squeezing your eyelids shut, ocassionally opening and closing them.
- >Through the brief flashes of light, you slowly make your way to the toilet to relieve yourself.
- >Your eyes are closed, but the sounds of the water splashing let you know you're doing good so far.
- >You finish and feel your way to the sink.
- >To hell with a glass, you turn on the cold water and drink through a cupped hand.
- >You stand over the sink, your head drooping down and water dripping from your face.
- >You look to the door with squinted eyes and spot Fluttershy watching you.
- >She had an expressionless face.
- >She walked over and floated up towards you.
- >Taking your head with both hooves, she turns it side to side, examining you.
- >She stares deep into your eyes.
- >With a soft voice she tells you,
- >"Go back to sleep. I will be there in a little while."
- >You nod and make your way upstairs, with help from Fluttershy, and back into bed.
- >Fluttershy doesn't join you.
- --
- >You are asleep within a minute.
- >Morning comes and the sun shines brightly through your window.
- >You haven't woken up like this in a while, and boy do you hate it.
- >The bright light is not helping your headache at all.
- >You roll over and throw the comforter over your head.
- >But now your too hot.
- >You throw it down to your waste.
- >But now your too cold.
- >What the hell!
- >You bring it up over you shoulders and decide to just deal with it.
- >Fluttershy walks into the room, a brown paper bag in her mouth.
- >The first thing she does is walk to the window and closes the curtains.
- >With the sunlight gone, you woll onto your back once more.
- >Fluttershy walks over to the bed and nudges you.
- >You grunt in acknowledgement.
- >She nods.
- >"Sorry," she whispers.
- >She goes downstairs, returning minutes later with a tray and a glass of a sweet-smelling, hot drink.
- --
- >"Anon," whispers Fluttershy.
- >No response.
- >"Anon." she nudges you with a hoof.
- >You grunt in response to being moved.
- >"Anon, please sit up."
- >You groan and iver the course of a minute or two, work and slide your way into a seating position, supported by the headboard.
- >Your head sags low.
- >So tired.
- >You're fighting just to stay sitting up.
- >Fluttershy holds the cup between her hooves and lifts it to your mouth.
- >You sip very, very slowly.
- >It's so hot, yet so good.
- >"Okay, that's enough," said Fluttershy, lowering the cup from your lips.
- >You reach out for more, but Fluttershy lightly takes hold of your hands with her hooves and sets them in your lap.
- >She helps you slide back down into bed and under the covers.
- >She sets the cup down on the end table.
- >She gives you another kiss on the forehead and leaves you to rest.
- --
- >"Anon," whispered Fluttershy, nuzzling the back of your neck.
- "Hmm?" you grunt.
- >"Are you hungry?"
- "No," you say into your pillow.
- >"Oh. Well, would you please eat something?"
- "No."
- >"Please? You've been asleep all day. At least have something for dinner."
- >It was dinner already?
- >You wasted away an entire day.
- >You can't remember the last time you did that, if at all.
- >But after all this sleep, you are still so tired.
- >You roll over and look at the window.
- >You can barely see the sunlight coming through from behind the curtain.
- >It must be sunset.
- >You let out a long, hard yawn and stretch your arms and legs.
- >You rewrap yourself in the blankets and look at Fluttershy.
- >On the tray she was carrying, was a bowl of soup.
- >Vegetable soup by the looks of it.
- >That doesn't sound so bad right now, but you aren't hungry.
- --
- >"Please sit up?" asks Fluttershy.
- >You scoot up to the head of the bed, your back supported by the headboard.
- >Fluttershy places the tray in your lap and even goes as far as to hold the spoon for you.
- "I got it, Fluttershy. Thanks."
- >You take the spoon from her mouth and she nods.
- >You stick it in the soup, but just stare at it.
- >Fluttershy looks back and forth from you and the bowl, confused.
- >"Is... is something wrong, Anon?"
- >There is a genuine worry in her voice.
- "What?" you ask through half-lidded eyes. "Oh. Nothing, nothing. Just... not hungry right now."
- >"Can you please eat something?"
- >It almost sounds like she's about to cry.
- >"You don't have to eat it all."
- >You nod slowly, and slowly raise the spoon to your mouth.
- >A soft blow to cool it down, and then a sip to get it in your mouth.
- >Delicious, but you're just not feeling well enough to fully enjoy it.
- >Fluttershy sits in silence next to the bed as you take you sweet time bring spoonful after spoonful of the bowl's contents to your mouth.
- >Before you know it, your already bringing the bowl to your mouth to drink what's left of the broth.
- >Fluttershy smiles when she sees you down the last of the bowl's contents.
- >You set the bowl back on the tray and Fluttershy moves it aside.
- >"I'm going to have Twilight bring some books over tomorrow and see if we can't figure out what's wrong, okay?"
- "Sure."
- >Fluttershy helps you lay back down and softly tucks you in.
- >"I'll be back in a minute to join you," she whispers.
- >Your eyes close and you're asleep before she even makes it back.
- --
- >Fluttershy wakes you the next morning to see how you're doing.
- >Better, actually.
- >Whatever was in that tea she gave you yesterday morning, you feel a lot better.
- >You still feel like crap, but at least you're not completely useless like you were yesterday.
- >Fluttershy stays in the bed, watching you as you stretch and slowly sit up on the edge of the bed.
- >Your back hurts.
- >Lying down these last couple days can do that.
- >"You okay?"
- >You twist your spine and it pops several times.
- "Meh..." you shrug.
- >You stare at the floor in front of you.
- >"Would you like to go downstairs for breakfast? Or would you rather have me bring you something?"
- >You're not really hungry though.
- "I... I guess I'll go downstairs."
- >"Would you like some help?"
- "Nah," you shake your head. "I got it. I'll be down in a few."
- >Fluttershy moved across the bed and gave you a kiss on the cheek.
- >"Okay."
- >She hopped off the bed and left the room.
- >You decided to lie down for a few minutes longer, and then you'll go to breakfast.
- --
- >Fluttershy pokes you in the side, to which you respond by nearly jumping out of bed.
- >One, you just realized you had fallen asleep.
- >Two, you think you just missed breakfast with Fluttershy.
- >Three, that kinda tickled.
- "Oh, crap! Please tell me I didn't miss breakfast?"
- >Fluttershy giggled.
- >"No, you didn't. I just came up to tell you that it was ready if you want to come down."
- >You sigh in relief.
- "Yeah, just give me a minute."
- >Fluttershy just stands there, watching, making sure you don't go back to sleep.
- >You stare at each other for the better part of a minute before you decide to get off your lazy ass.
- >The first thing you realize is that you fucking stink.
- >When was the last time you had a shower?
- >Fluttershy sees your look of disgust on your face.
- >"You can shower after you eat."
- "Yeah, good idea."
- >You finally get up and slowly hobble your way downstairs.
- >You barely touched your breakfast, but at least you ate.
- >Fluttershy helped you with your shower.
- >The warm water was felt damn good.
- >You feel rejuvinated.
- >Your headache has subsided for now.
- >Shave, brush teeth, get dressed; the usual routine.
- --
- >Twilight had arrived sometime before lunch.
- >You and Fluttershy were lying down on the couch when she knocked on the door.
- >You just yelled for her to come in, not wanting either of you to get up.
- >She enters, wearing a saddle bag.
- >Inside said saddle bag are a large amount of books.
- >She greets the two of you, but then blushes and turns away when she rounds the couch.
- >Neither of you had noticed, but you were lying together in a rather suggestive position.
- >Well, to somepony elses eyes you were.
- >The two of you couldn't find anything wrong with it.
- >Fluttershy hopped off of you and greeted Twilight.
- >The two of them begin searching through various veterinary texts, trying to diagnose your unknown sickness.
- >You open your mouth to speak several times, but they tell you to shush while they discuss what could possibly be wrong with you.
- >You go to the kitchen to grab a glass of water.
- >Boy, were you thirsty.
- >Dehydration is probably not helping you get any better.
- >You return to the living room and lie back down, watching the two ponies sift through the massive stacks of books.
- >"How about this one?" asks Twilight. "Symptoms include fever, fatigue, and sore..."
- >She blushes.
- >"Oh... nevermind."
- >What the hell kind of disease was that?
- >You already know what's wrong, but they refuse to listen.
- >"Maybe it's- No, that's not right..." said Fluttershy.
- >Their first mistake is that they're looking through medical texts for ponies.
- >Their second mistake was that they didn't even bother to ask you about it.
- >You also make a note of the books on apes in the stack.
- >You are not a God damned monkey...
- --
- >"This is awful!" cried Fluttershy. "How can we go to the gala together if he's sick like this?"
- >"We can do it, Fluttershy," assured Twilight. "We still have 2 days."
- >Even that might not be enough time.
- >But seeing as how you're already feeling better, it would only be a minor annoyance more than anything.
- >If anything, you should be grateful that you haven't keeled over yet.
- >Or the ponies of Ponyville for that matter.
- >What with all the exotic diseases you brought with you, and the one's you face in Equestria make it nothing short of a miracle.
- >Or just dumb luck.
- "Hey."
- >No response.
- >"But what if he doesn't get better?" asked Fluttershy. "I don't think I can go to the gala without him."
- >"If we can't figure it out, I'm sure a doctor from Ponyville Mercy Hospital could take a look," suggested Twilight.
- >"Yeah, I guess so."
- >You clear your throat.
- >They both finally take notice of you.
- "I'll be fine."
- >"How can you say that?" asked Twilight. "Fluttershy told me about what was wrong with you yesterday and the night before."
- >"Yeah, Anonymous," said Fluttershy. "I saw you with my own eyes. Even this morning. You are anything but okay."
- "I told you I was feeling better."
- >"I- ..." she stopped and thought.
- >This was true.
- >But you were still not in the best condition today.
- --
- >Twilight was growing ever more intrigued with you.
- >She walked up to you and stared into your eyes, studying you.
- "Can I help you?"
- >"Huh? Oh, sorry."
- >She took a step back.
- >"I was just curious at how you are recovering so quickly from such a horrible illness. It's only been one night."
- >You shrug.
- "That's just how it is, I suppose."
- >She wasn't satisfied with that answer.
- >"That may be, but there's more to it than that."
- >Her horn begins to glow.
- >Whatever she was trying to do wasn't working in the slightest.
- >Your headache came back, about as bad as it was the night before.
- >Twilight lowered her head and backed away.
- >"Heheh, whoops. Sorry."
- >Hold on just a God damned second.
- >Did she just hurt you with magic?
- >Since when are you able to even be touched by magic this bad?
- >Okay, now you're interested also.
- >If Twlight doesn't notice this as well, you're going to have to bring it up to her later.
- >However, this is magic you're talking about.
- >She is sure to notice.
- >Perhaps you should experiment some more...
- >But no fire spells this time...
- >Fluttershy and Twilight discusses your status a little while longer before Twilight said her goodbyes.
- >She left a few books for Fluttershy in case she needed them.
- >She wouldn't need them.
- >As you've tried to tell them already, you're fine.
- >But it was Fluttershy's motherly nature that seemed to make her oblivious to the fact that you knew what you were talking about.
- >It could be your history of saying you're fine, when in fact, you are not.
- >You just shrug it off.
- >As long as she doesn't try to feed you anything too crazy, it shouldn't be that bad.

