Title:           Chapter 14: Birth to Rebirth
Author:          CookieSfh
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/NwEASYUP
First Edit:      Tuesday 6th of September 2016 09:27:00 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Last edit on: Thursday 8th of September 2016 05:41:10 PM CDT

>You've calmed down from your earlier state.
>Maybe it's best if you go back to them.
>After all, you caused the scene.
>Confusion has too much control over your judgement.
>You'll have to deal with that later.
>For now you need to return to them.
>But more importantly, to Twilight.
>She still needs to go to the hospital.
>You get up and turn back into the Everfree to see that Chinka has followed you.
>Why did she wait so long?
>Was she there the whole time?
>Chinka looks back at you with a warm smile and runs towards you.
>Urgh... that feelings back.
>You'll have to ignore it the best you can.
>"Punka no hurt? Is Punka OK?"
"I'm fine Chinka, just..."
>The word is at the tip of your tongue, but you don't want to say it.
>Instead, you opt to give her a... smile?
>That movement you do with your mouth right?
"A bit confused right now, but other than that, I'm fine."
>Chinka looks at you funny, but seems delighted nonetheless. "Good! Stripe want you back. Punka no wake. Nnngh..."
>Chinka holds a thought for a second, but before you can question her, she pulls on your hoof to follow.
>Guess she's in a hurry.
>So you follow her.
>The both of you make it past the thorned bushes and down the path.
>Surprisingly, Chinka had no trouble with the thorns, brushing the thorns off her fur easily.
>She must be accustomed to it though, so it should come to no surprise.
>As you arrive at Zecora's hut, the slime from earlier has moved out of it and appears to have doubled in size.
>It makes a chirping noise, a delight Chinka seems to perk up to. "No worry! We go soon with Punka."
>As she pats the slime, you wonder what she meant about that last part.
"You aren't planning to come with me and Twilight are you?"
>Chinka is clearly caught off guard. "Er, uhm... in! Yes in Stripe home! Yes..."
>Something seems off with her, but you'll have to brush it off for now.
>There are more pressing matters.
>You open the door and see that Zecora is attending to Twilight.
>While asleep, she's begun to hyperventilate with a few hooves kicking out here and there.
>Zecora notices you and beckon you to come closer to her. "Anonymous, I'm afraid that while you were away, Twilight might have been getting worse by the day."
"Not quite that long, but I will try my best to prevent that. She needs to go to the hospital."
>"I agree, though I have no idea what your dear mother is dreaming, it will most likely lead to an injury."
"Then let us not waste anymore time."
>Focusing on your back, multiple tentacles protrude out of your mane and tie themselves around Twilight's struggling body, effectively stopping her flailing.
>Though her breathing hasn't changed a bit.
>Chinka runs in towards Zecora. "Uhm... you have?" Zecora nods and hands her a book of sorts.
>The book cover is blank, so you're unknown to the knowledge it holds, but Chinka seems happy about the exchange.
>"Thank! Me go with Punka now! Safe Stripe!"
>Zecora gives her a reassuring smile. "You too little one."
>Everything is situated... except for one thing.
"Before I go, uhm... sorry for the outburst. You didn't hold any ill intent, yet I still acted upon a whim."
>"Nonsense friend, it was I who was in the wrong. Testing a potion without reassurance of the effects is a great deal of disrespect for me, but I do still wish that we can get along."
"We will."
>The both of you share a glance of understanding as you head out the door, with Chinka following close behind.
>Walking outside, the slime is still in the same position from before.
>Looking at Chinka, she shrugs shyly. "It move slow when small."
"I see."
>You morph another tentacle and move it towards the slime, twisting it together to form a circular platform and effectively lifting the slime from the ground.
>It moves a little and chirps happily at your gesture of good will.
>Guess it really does like you.
>But you better make this quick before Twilight gets worse.
>So the "Three" of you set off towards the nearest hospital in ponyville.
>And in record time.
>There was no trouble in the streets, since most ponies were still asleep at this hour, making it all the more easier to simply carry the both of them.
>As you approached the hospital, a few ponies stood outside, so you had to lower Twilight and the slime in the meantime.
"Chinka, make sure it doesn't go anywhere, I'm going to drop Twilight off at the hospital. After that, I'm heading to the castle."
>"Oh erm... OK. Chinka stay..." She was still thinking about something, but you had no time.
>loosening your grip and lowering both onto the ground, you hoist Twilight onto your back.
>Looks like the ponies haven't noticed till now.
>A few ponies with various medical symbols run up to you with panic in their eyes.
>You explain what had happened, but vaguely. Avoiding details about you and Chinka as well as the giving her the credit for the kill.
>The ponies understand almost instantly and a few more rush out with a stretcher.
>And just like that, she's rushed into the building without a moment of hesitation.
>With that done, the only thing you need to do now is go back to the castle and inform Spike of the news.
>Though you won't know how he will take it.
>But before you can start your leave, you see a very red Chinka, holding the slime in her hooves and looking down.
>What is she doing?
>And more importantly...
>You can't sense any emotion coming from her.
>Another after-affect of the potion?
>Either that, or your blocked emotions are preventing you from seeing others.
>Maybe if you were to release them for now?
>Though you don't want a repeat of last time.
>Last time was different, you just weren't used to the change is all.
>You'll just have to control yourself to an extent.
>You relax yourself and release the bottled energy and a wave of heat and flush fills your face.
>Your stomach turns into knots and your breathing has gone ecstatic to the change in your body.
>Your nostrils flare and your heart pounds fiercely as you look at the-...
>You bite your teeth hard and cringe at the thoughts flowing through your head.
>How is this even possible?
>How can someone put up with such useless mechanisms in their bodies?
>China looks up, now concerned at your current state and runs to you with the slime in one hoof.
>Your everything increases their efforts to fuck with you tenfold.
>You try and shake it all off, but it doesn't help in the slightest.
>So you execute your next attempt, which is to look away from the adorable monstrosity.
>But it is all for naught.
>Just the fact that she's behind you leaves you a flustered mess.
>But...
>Nnnnngh...
>It feels...
>IT FEELS SO FUCKING RIGHT!
>The adrenaline pulsing through you, the heat strewn across your face, your heart beating for release.
>You've never felt such a feeling before that felt so right.
>Such a renewed vigor, like being hit with a freight train.
>Of course you had the worst luck when walking on train tracks...
>That's beside the point.
>China taps your shoulder, making you flinch and look at her.
>"Er uhm... Punka ok? Punka no mad, r-right?"
>A wave of emotions washes over you like moonfire.
"Mad? N-no I'm not mad. I'm more... happy? Excited?"
>China is surprised by this. "Y-you really... mean it?"
"Mean it? No, that phrase would be too weak... maybe- no..."
>Whatever things you think of to explain your situation all seem too deluded, too weak to explain what you're feeling.
>Agh! It all feels like too much is happening at once.
>It's just all TOO MU-...
>What... is she.
>Chinka... is...
>Chinka quickly pushes you away, a deep crimson blush that could rival the red Sea.
>The both of you look at each other with shocked flares of blush.
>Chinka turns away, dropping the slime onto the ground in the process and covers her face with her hooves.
>"OhmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshIamsosososososososossososososorryIdidntmeantodothatIjustthoughtthatifImaybepossiblyk-k-k-k-k-k-kissedyouthatyoumightcalmdownalittleImeanalotIamsosorrypleasedonthurtme!"
>...
"..."
>"..."
>...
>She can talk?
"You can talk?"
>"I can talk?"
>And that's when you notice it.
>The flower in her hair has took on a luminous glow, releasing tiny bits of itself before dispersing around her.
>The both of you look at each other in confusion, until tiny runic symbols form around her mouth and disperse as well.
>Like a chain reaction of magic.
>So that's why she needed the flower.
>She did need that flower to talk, but... she never said the requirements did she?
"Uhm..."
>"Oh umm... Elune."
"Elune?"
>"With the curse lifted, I can speak my regular name... I can speak my regular name. I can speak my regular name! A-a-a-a-and talk as well, ooooh~ this is making me so giddy! What's your name? I never actually got a chance to ask."
"Err... Anon. You didn't hear my name from Twilight and Zecora?"
>Elune thinks for a minute and jumps up. "Oh that! Yeah, names don't really translate with the curse, but now that it's gone I'll be able to say proper names. Actual names... Name names!"
>Well, her bright attitude is still there, so that's good.
>That is until she looks down at her slime friend.
>"Nngh... It'll have to wait to hear your name I guess." The little growing blob chirps in response.
>While her cheery demeanor has effectively distracted herself from the prior event, you however...
>You still sit, bewildered by her random act of... love?
>Twilight said it was a way of showing affection towards another... right?
>Something warm has started to well up inside you.
>It feels nice.
>Not like the other feelings that have emerged.
>This one was familiar as well.
>The one you feel when you're near Twilight.
>Well... at least it doesn't hurt anymore.
>You'd better get to Spike before he starts to worry, though the both of you didn't return last night, so that might be too late.
>And with Elune and the slime with you...
>I suppose were having house guests.
"Elune, we're going to head to the castle. I need to go talk to Spike about the situation with Twilight."
>Elune gasps and gets a bit too close to your face again. "Really! We as in you me and it?!" pointing at her slimy companion.
>And now she's jumping in anticipation.
>How much energy does she have?
>You shouldn't ask that question.
>Not with ponies.
"Yes. Now let's get going, the sun will reach it's peak above the horizon soon."
>"Yay!" Elune's final jump lands right beside you.
>Her smile is brighter now.
>It's starting to hurt your eyes.
>So the both of you head towards the castle, along with the slime.
>Which increases in size every so often.
>You wonder how big it was before you used it for Twilight.
>Plenty bigger that's certain, but you were never able to catch a glimpse of it in the forest.
>Maybe it was tailing the three of you.
>But then how would it keep up?
>You'll just wait and see what it does.
>Meanwhile, you do have a few questions for your renewed friend.
>Very important questions.