Title:           Chapter 12: To have a Voice
Author:          CookieSfh
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/22Rs0aJd
First Edit:      Sunday 19th of June 2016 09:32:37 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Last edit on: Monday 4th of July 2016 01:37:10 PM CDT

>The two of you now stand in front of Zecora's hut, with Twilight still asleep on your back.
>You knock on the door and wait for a response.
>Chinka runs behind you, holding you from behind, shaking.
"Chinka, what's wrong?"
>Chinka only grips you harder, trying her best to hide behind your posterior.
>You shake your head and knock on the door again.
>This time you hear something on the other side, is she rummaging through her stuff?
"Zecora, open the door. I can't carry Twilight all night."
>The shuffling of papers and books stops and rushed hoof-steps come close to the door before it opens.
>"Ah Anonymous! I'm so glad you cou-..."
>Before she could finish her sentence, she gathers her thoughts as she looks at the scene in front of her.
>A single colt, carrying a pony covered in bandages half across the Everfree, with a filly firmly gripping his ass while intensely staring at her.
>Zecora shakes her head, ridding the thoughts plaguing her mind. "P-Please come in the both of you. I have prepared some complimentary stew."
>So you walk in, carrying Twilight on your back, and pulling Chinka through the ground as she tries to stop you.
>Zecora closes the door behind her and walks to her cauldron, taking a ladle and two bowls from the shelves
>As she fills the bowls with her stew, Chinka tries to get comfortable with her new surroundings.
>You lay Twilight on the nearby bed, tucking her in and making sure her vitals are still in order.
>Regulated breathing, check. No opened wounds, check.
>You might have to drop her off at a hospital to make sure nothing has gone wrong in her system, but other than that, she looks healthy.
>You turn and find that Chinka has climbed up the walls, all the way to the very top, using a nearby branch as leverage.
>You turn to Zecora, who doesn't look pleased at the situation. "Tell me Anonymous, why does your new friend strive to such heights? I fear that I will not be able to get her down, try as I might."
>Zecora takes on a somber expression, like that of someone who hasn't gotten enough sleep.
>You shrug as well, not knowing what to do.
>The both of you are too tired to deal with the filly that has traveled up onto the ceiling, of which she's now playing with the ornaments hanging above.
"We retrieved the ingredients, but Twilight was badly injured by the Timber-wolf alpha."
>Zecora's eyes go wide. "The leader?! Why did she decide to pick such a fight? Putting both you and the little one in such a situation could have led to a great fright!"
"We didn't pick the situation, they came to us. I took care of the alpha and tended to Twilight's wounds the best I could."
>"'You' took care of the great wooden beast? I'm sorry to say that I lack the proper feast."
>Zecora rubs her temples and looks up to Chinka. "If that is the case... I will let the little one play, but please do watch that she doesn't fall, to her dismay."
"I will do my best."
>"Thank you Anonymous, and I will do the same for your mother, though I am still curious of the whereabouts of your father."
"If you are curious about Discord, I do not know where he lives."
>Zecora pauses, then spit takes, and then walks over to the side of the room and sits onto a leaf-covered chair.
>"I... was not expecting such a turn of events... I need a moment before you can talk to you again."
"Take as much time as you need, I was adopted by Discord, and Twilight is now my current caretaker."
>"I see." Zecora begins to understand, but still, many questions loom over her mind.
>Questions that would best be saved for later.
>Because you really want to sleep.
>You go to Twilight's side and lie down on the floor, watching Chinka do... whatever she is doing.
>"Mmmm... Punka! Punka me stuck!
>Fucking...
"How did you get stuck?"
>"Me go in stick, but no fit."
>You look up and see that Chinka has wedged herself in between two branches.
>She's trying to wiggle herself out, but her bottom prevents her from getting out of the branches' grip.
>You take your saddle off, which is also holds Twilight's saddle, and place it on the bed near Twilight.
"Zecora, when you wish to do so, retrieve the ingredients from Twilight's bed.
>She nods and grabs the two bowls from earlier, placing them onto a table stool.
>And you proceed to climb the walls of the home in order to free Chinka of her current predicament.
>Though it's quite hard trying to not fall asleep while climbing, you manage to swing your way up to Chinka using your mane as momentum.
"Chinka, empty your breathe and relax your muscles. Do not struggle and let your body flow through."
>Chinka pauses her struggle and nods, following the steps you gave her.
>She empties her stomach of all air and lets her hooves fall down, catching nothing but air.
>You position yourself onto the branch, using your hind-hooves as a foundation as you push down the lower branch and lift the upper branch with one hoof.
>Your other hoof pushes her posterior forward, causing her to panic.
>Chinka swings her hooves around trying to find a way to not fall down to the floor.
>And that is when she spots your mane
>She quickly grabs onto the end and holds it for dear life as you finish pushing her rear through the wood prison.
>You however, do not notice the change in weight in time, causing you to lose your balance.
>Your eyes widen as your skin is pulled to the other side of the two branches via your hair.
>This in turn makes you somersault across the branches, heading head-first into the ground.
>And with a two-part thud, you both hit the ground in record time.
>At least, that is what you think the two thuds were.
>You turn your head to find that you've discovered a new definition for bed-head.
>Your hair has fluffed up into a perm, covering the general area of where you were going to land.
>And out comes Chinka, a bright smile plastered on her face.
>"Tunka save Chinka! Big! Big!" Chinka proceeds to give you a suffocating hug, making you empty the air out of your lunges.
>Two for two...
>You try to grimace as Chinka kneads the new bed around her and falls on it, quickly falling asleep.
>Your attempts are all for nought, as you yourself start to become drowsy on this new fuzzy surface.
>So you sleep, falling back into the darkness once again.
>Darkness...
>Back to darkness...
>This time, there is no platform holding you up.
>You simply float in a void immune to time, space, magic, and energy.
>Nothing leaves... nothing comes...
>And it is only you there.
>Nothing else...
>Like it always will be...
>But just then... a light...
>A single, dim light makes itself apparent in the darkness.
>Your eyes open and follow the light, which moves slowly towards you, brightening at a noticeable rate.
>But... before it can reach you.
>Just inches away from your face, something covers the light, hiding its glow and turning your surroundings back into nothingness.
>You try to reach for it, to catch it before it's pulled away, but you can't move.
>The light is taken away, leaving you in the darkness.
>Alone.
>You wake up.
 
 
>Looking out the window, the sunlight of a new day shines bright on your face.
>A bit too bright for you taste.
>You block the sun with your hooves and look around the hut.
>Zecora has fallen asleep on a new bed-spread on the ground while Twilight lays still in the bed.
>Chinka lays sleeping soundly on your fur, cuddling you in her dream state.
>You look at her and see that the flower that Twilight had gave her is still glowing.
>It's faint, but it still glows through the sunlight, its small lily petals glistening in her dirt covered mane.
>You wonder how many are awake at the moment, and you get your answer immediately.
>Your mane retracts itself back into its base mass, gently moving you and Chinka down onto the floorboard.
>Tentacles grow from your shoulders, all pointing towards Twilight.
>At least two.
>You get up and stretch your muscles, smacking your lips and rubbing your eyes.
>Though Chinka refuses to leave your side, hugging and nuzzling into you.
>Why does this filly keep grabbing you?
>If anything, you just want your body back.
>And your tentacles follow your needs, pushing Chinka off and laying her on the ground.
>Chinka grimaces, swinging for something to hold, but finds nothing.
>She quickly gets up and looks around. "Hmm? Wha? Chinka off?"
"You are awake. It is morning."
>Chinka rubs her eyes and nods. "Mmm... food?"
>You look around and see that the stew from yesterday is still brewing, fresh wood stoking the flames.
>So you take the ladle from yesterday and take a new bowl from the shelf.
>Pouring the substance into the bowl, you extend your hoof like rubber to Chinka, placing the bowl in front of her.
>And after that, you make a bowl for yourself and sit next to her.
>"Uh... thank?" Chinka hides a slight blush on her cheek, but you brush it off.
"Eat, the living require food to live."
>Chinka ponders over your statement, but gives up and starts to eat.
>And you turn to face the bowl you prepared.
>You eye it for a few seconds, wondering if any meat was added for flavor.
>Smelling it only makes you more hungry.
>You take your tongue and gently lick the surface, being careful not to touch any of the vegetables.
>It tastes... OK.
>Seasoned well with plenty of herbs and spices, and the vegetables don't seem to have any impact on the taste.
>So you attempt to eat one of the chunks.
>You scoop up a nice, round carrot and let it set in your mouth.
>You proceed to chew through it, wondering what might come of the new food.
>Sweet... earthy texture...
>The carrot literally begins to melt in your mouth as you take in the flavors.
>Swallowing heartily, you sigh satisfied.
>You didn't know there was an alternative to meat.
>Though it isn't as luxurious, it will certainly do.
>Maybe... you could try more of these... alternatives.
>Meat will always be your priority, but if there isn't any to eat...
>Your thoughts are cut short by Chinka, who pats you on the shoulder.
>Looking over at her, she has already finished her bowl and is holding it to you.
"Um... more?"
>"More!"
>You oblige to her request, taking her bowl and another scoop from the cauldron.
>Your tentacles do most of the work as they return to your side, placing the bowl right back where it originally was.
>Chinka's face lights up once more. "Thank! Thank!" and begins furiously eat the entirety of the food you brought.
>And in a few seconds, it's gone.
>A moment of de-ja-vu hits you like a ton of bricks as she moans happily, falling to the floor in a type of bliss.
>Maybe she just hasn't... experienced this before...
>Twilight did say something about her being lonely.
>But how far was she from the line?
~Not very far~
"What do you mean"
~A reminder of you, when you were free, free from the chains, that keep you solemn~
"I remember. Thank you."
>It doesn't respond.
>"You talk!" Chinka runs up to you, tackling you to the ground. "Talk! Talk! Me need talk!"
"What are yo-mmph"
>Chinka places her hooves onto your mouth. "No talk. Me talk!"
>You try to understand what she means by all this, but your left in the dark to wonder as Chinka keeps demanding for you to 'talk'.
>And that is when you see it.
>Out of the corner of your eye, a tiny green slime has made its way through the door, slowly squirming its way towards you.
>Your not sure what to do, and what the slime's intent is, but Chinka seems very determined to stop you from talking.
>So you decide to just observe.
>The both of you watch as the slime pushes its way across the wooden surface of the hut.
>It makes tiny squeaking noises as it comes to a halt in front of the two of you.
>The creature then proceeds to turn into itself, splitting in two and making its way onto you and Chinka.
>It feels... like your tentacles.
>But with a lot more moisture.
>The slime goes up and down your body, searching for something, but doesn't seem to find it as it climbs back down onto the ground.
>The same is done to Chinka before it goes back down, connecting itself to its copy and becoming one again.
>Chinka releases her hooves from your mouth and sighs. "Close.... close..."
"What did you do?"
>"Remember numnum? This sticky!"
>Chinka gets off of your lap and puts her hoof into the slime, causing it to flatten itself away from her hoof.
>Though it retracted its body, her hoof lays soaked in the slimy substance.
>"Sticky likes Chinka! Sticky follow." Chinka pats the slime on its... head?
>It shakes and shivers before going flat again.
>Interesting, a pet and its owner.
>Though you were never a fan of pets.
>You get up and dust yourself off, looking at the slime.
>It comes up like you and follows you to your hoof, lightly pecking it in slime.
"Does it always do this?"
>"Mmmm... only Chinka... Sticky likes!"
>It likes you?
>Looking down, it appears to be licking your hoof with what you think is its tongue.
>But there is something else about it that is making you curious.
"Why is it so small?"
>Chinka points over to Twilight, who is sleeping soundly on the bed. "Sticky big like Punka, but Chinka use too much."
>Hmmm... that would explain it.
>You look over to Zecora, who sleeps like Twilight, except motionless and silent.
>And then you look at Chinka.
>It strikes you that... you never asked her about the flower.
>Why should you care?
>Perhaps she has a similar use that you needed.
"Chinka. Why did you need that flower?"
>Chinka pauses for a moment, thinking of what to say.
>The flower wasn't for her pet.
>Was it for her?
>What would she need it for?
>And... there it is.
>Her feelings.
>Depression, hard and ruthless.
>"Chinka... lost voice. Need voice! But..." She looks down at her slime friend with droopy ears. "Chinka not know what do. But friend help me! Tell Chinka need flower like blue, a-and good friend. All Chinka need... need..."
>She looks away, too distraught by her own emotions to tell you.
>But you do have a vague idea of what she needs.
>She met someone in the wilderness and they told her to retrieve the flower, but something must have happened to them.
"I'm... sorry for your loss."
>Chinka wipes away at her face, what you predict are tears, and shakes her head. "No, Chinka sorry."
>You slowly walk up to her and put your hooves around her head, bringing her into you.
"When you grow upset, you cry. Twilight hugged me to stop the crying. She hugged you to stop the crying. I do not know if it is something she can do alone, but I will try to stop it as well."
>Chinka turns her body towards you, nuzzling into you and returning the hug.
>You suppose that you won't mind your fur getting wet.
>It can clean itself.