The Story That Never Was - Chapter 13

>>What the hell was Celestia doing?

>>You were all aboard for this. It was her gift.

>>To save you from your old life at the measly price of your humanity

>>Your friends could not see it, but these days you were nothing more than an automaton of flesh and bone

>>It gets you what you want, sure.

>>You can't remember a whole lot of your old life

>>But what Celestia allowed you to relive was so horrible that, whatever it was, you were willing to submit to her will in exchange for not having to endure it

>>You didn't have the strength, and you wouldn't have the strength to face the three dimensional world of bland colors and the economic decay of matter if you had a million years with which to prepare

>>Celestia didn't have to put this idea in your head. Not this time.

>>She didn't even have to force nightmares anymore

>>She was content to allow your own fear to do the work for her

>>All she needed to do was occasionally sensor your memories

>>But you were content to allow her. You owed it to her

>>She was your savior, worthy of your unconditional love and worship

>>But today, Celestia might have been taking notes

>>Today, there was doubt

 

>>You looked to your left, seeing your best bro in her sorry state

>>She was just as wrecked as you were, if not more so

>>Celestia's light was only just now beginning to overtake Luna's as the morning dawned

>>It was strange. More so than ever, she looked like an angel

>>A little cyan, quadrupedal cherub

>>Both of you being in hospital beds really, really sucked

 

>>You're the only one who should be

>>But then,if she hadn't interfered, you wouldn't even be in a hospital bed

>>You'd be dead

>>Should you complain? You are torn.

>>Pain racked your chest once more, and it soon spread to your head

>>You wince

>>You hiss

>>But you can't take your eyes off of Rainbow, who lay there in dreamless sleep and has since you first arrived

>>You hoped against hope that she wasn't in some sort of long term coma

>>You pull your sheets up around you and lay back in your less-than-comfortable bed, wondering just how they managed to get a human sized frame and mattress for you on such short notice

 

>>An hour later you are alerted

>>Dash writhes

>>She turns

>>You are very familiar with unconsciousness at this point. You have visited that world so many times in what must have been two, maybe three months

>>You were prepared when Dash regained her functionality

>>“Bwaha! Anon!”

Shhh

>>“-But?!”

Shhh

>>She calmed down, struggling to open her eyes

We're fine

>>Dash cringes in pain as she feels things that you cannot even comprehend going through her pony body

>>“Anon,”

>>She is somewhat more mouthy than you. Always has been.

>>Even in the thralls of unimaginable pain, she persists

>>“Anon, are you...?”

I'm fine, Rainbow.

>>Just now does she take you in, leaning out of her bed somewhat to get a look at you through creased eyes

>>“Thank Celestia”

>>You aren't sure just how much of this Celestia had planned for you

>>You smiled at her, trying to ease her mind

Thank you.

 

>>You place emphasis on the word 'you.'

>>Rainbow lays back in her bed

>>“But how did we...?”

Applejack, apparently.

>>Rainbow cringed and turned her head to look at you

Supposedly she didn't do anything. Twilight was here when I woke up and explained it all.

>>You give Rainbow a sideways glare

You shouldn't have followed me like that.

>>Rainbow made a face

>>“Someone has to save your butt! You get in so much trouble.”

>>You look down to your sheets and try to come up with an answer

>>“Hey. I discovered you, remember? So I gotta protect ya.”

>>You look to her again and stifle a chortle

>>It hurts to laugh

And I thank Celestia every day for it.

>>“Yep! You're my little homo.”

>>You cringe and grip your sheets in your fists

...Sapien. We've been over this

>>Rainbow apparently had no trouble laughing

>>“Bwa haha!”

>>She snorted

>>Her voice was immature, but it was cute

>>She waved a hoof down at you

>>“I just like seeing how you react. It's funny!”

>>Rainbow is a troll, now. Nice.

>>You smile at her and chuckle, infected by her positive attitude

>>You were genuinely happier when she was around. More so than any of the others.

>>Rainbow was there to show you Ponyville

>>She was there to deflect the first rape attempts without a hitch

>>She was there to stand between you and Celestia when she was intent on banishing you

>>And now she was in hospice rags because she is so loyal

>>Because she is such a bro

>>“You won't ever get rid of me, Anon”

You look at her for a moment

>>“No matter where you go, no matter what you do, I will always”

>>“Always”

>>“Have your back”

>>She shouldn't say that

>>She doesn't know the extent of your sins

 

>>An hour later, you two are feasting on the hospital food served for breakfast

>>It sucks

>>And it isn't that fucking chicken

>>But it's food all the same

>>And the water is good

>>You have a hard time eating, anything having to do with your torso brings you pain

>>But you are so hungry

>>Always so hungry

>>The last thing you had to eat was a salad Fluttershy made for you a day and a half ago

>>...Why did that chicken have to be Fluttershy's?

>>Before you two were finished with your meals, a nurse escorted Pinkie Pie and Rarity into the room

>>Pinkie was bouncing in her step, as usual

>>Rarity had a genuine look of concern

>>They must have been here for Rainbow; you hardly know these two

>>Very little interaction after that first few days

>>You remain silent and eat your food while Rarity tends to Rainbow, asking just what happened

>>But you lost sight of Pinkie

>>Good Celestia

>>“Hi!”

>>She pops out from above you, her neck stretching down so she can look you right in the eyes

DJUS!

>>You jump in your seat, which causes you insane pain

Awh-ow-ow!

Pinkie! Please

>>She rises from the floor on the immediate left side of you

>>“Oops! Sorry. Here, I brought you a present!”

>>She hoofed a pink cupcake onto your table. You move your salad bowl.

>>Celestia; you were so sick of salad.

>>“It's a Pinkie Cake!”

>>You excuse her ADHD

Wow, Pinkie! Thank you, I don't know what...

 

>>It suddenly air bursts into a cloud of confectionery cream and confetti

>>You find yourself suddenly realizing that your physical well being is in danger with her proximity

>>Your broken bones and braces would not withstand all this reactionary jumping forever

>>“Oops, sorry! That was the one for when you get better”

>>She explained, and then hoofed a second cake onto the little table in your lap

>>“Bwahaha! Pinkie, you are SO random!”

>>Rainbow spoke up and derpfaced

Thanks, Pinkie

>>You lift a hand

>>Hesitation stays you

>>But you smile and reach to her scalp, roughing up her pink main with a playful pat

>>She beams a wide smile and hops in place

>>“Hey, Anon, why don't you come to Sugarcube corner anymore?”

>>As you wipe off the mess left by the previous gift, you recall how much Pinkie terrifies you

>>How her little 'welcome wagon' knocked you unconscious

You scare me.

>>Pinkie falls silent and looks at you

>>“Really?”

Yes.

>>She leans in and presses one eye against yours, beaming into your soul

>>“...Really?”

Yes.

>>Your answer won't change, no matter how many times she asks

>>She backs off and laughs in her shrill laugh

>>“Well! There's only one way to take care of that!”

>>There's that music again

>>You slouch

>>This shit happened with Fluttershy, too

>>It grew louder, and louder

>>Pinkie looked so happy with herself, and she opened her mouth and inhaled to start singing

>>“Hey, Anon?”

>>It all stopped, and I looked over Pinkie to Rainbow

>>“...My word, dahling what ever were you doing with those ruffians?”

 

>>You looked to your Cyan savior

>>“I'll always have your back, Anon. But I want to know what happened.”

>>You purse your lips and redirect your gaze to the cupcake Pinkie gave to you

>>Yeah, Dash does have the right to know

They were business associates of mine.

>>Rarity cocks her head and her eyebrow

It's not something I'm proud of.

>>You were not usually a man of this many words. You did what had to be done, and that was that.

>>Explaining yourself was hard

>>“Anon...”

>>Dash furrowed her eyebrows

I know, I know

>>You give a deep sigh

>>They all glared at you intently

Alright, this is what happened

 

>>Later that night, after all the physical checkups, you and Dash were returned to your beds

>>She was silent

>>The silence persisted for a ridiculously long time

>>Celestia's light gave way to Luna's

>>You lay your head down, and after she thinks you've fallen asleep she takes up a book and starts flipping through the pages

>>You wait for a few moments, gathering your courage

Hey, Dash

>>There's no answer

>>You sit up on your elbows

...Dash?

>>She gives you a sideways glance before returning to her book

Come on, Dash. Let me at least say I'm...

>>“That's Rainbow Dash, to you.”

>>Silence falls, and you lay your head back down on the pillow

>>Great. Just great.

 

>>The next morning, the Doctors unwrap Rainbow's wounds and pronounce her free to go after two days in the Ponyville Hospice

>>You, on the other hand?

>>Well, human physiology isn't one of their strengths

>>They need more time

>>As Dash leaves her bed, she doesn't even look at you

>>In fact, she goes about her positive, competitive 'can-do' nature like you never even existed

>>This kills you

>>“Thanks, Doc!”

>>She trots out of your view without even so much as saying goodbye

>>You are left, alone. The lights are dimmed by the nurse before she closes the door

>>You are starting to realize that Celestia has plucked you from a life of hatred and damned you to an even worse fate

>>There, you had no friends

>>There, you at least had a job

>>There, you had potential

>>Here? You had friends, but now they all hate you

>>Here? Your are poverty stricken

>>Here? There is no redemption for what has transpired

>>Dash, of all people. Dash! Has chosen to forsake you

>>Twilight has as well

>>And the others

>>Can Celestia see your thoughts right now? Because if she could, she should be taking notes

>>You were her little human

>>And you are starting to doubt her intentions