>"Do you think she's gonna be ok, Anon?"
>You glance up from your seat at Spike's question.
>His pacing has stopped as he looks at you with big tearful eyes.
>All you can do is shrug and go back to looking at the floor.
>You honestly do not know.
>The two of you had brought Twilight to the Ponyville Hospital over an hour ago.
>At the sight of the unicorn's wounds, the receptionist pony had rushed off to fetch a doctor.
>Within minutes Twilight was being levitated out of your arms and onto a gurney, ponies swarming around her and calling out words and figures.
>She was quickly wheeled down a long corridor and out of sight.
>You were quickly questioned by some remaining doctors, and you answered them as best you could.
>You didn't think they needed to know anything further than 'there's fucking glass sticking out of Twilight's side', but you kept your cool.
>With the receptionist firmly assuring you that she was in safe hands, you and Spike were confined to the waiting area of the Hospital.
>Spike had taken to pacing half an hour ago.
>His constant scuffing across the floor would stop and start as he checked the clock.
>An annoying sound, but you don't have it in you to tell him to stop.
>Not with this iron ball in your stomach and shit on your mind.
>Since you've sat down, all you can do is brace your head in your hands and let the guilt and worry wrack your mind.
>How could you have fucked up so badly? You knew it was a bad idea and yet you hung about.
>Worse, you were the one who screwed it up. If you had just sat put, everything would have been fine.
>Twilight would have been fine.
>Now you don't even know if Twilight will be ok. Sure, it was just a few shards of glass, but they were in pretty deep.
>That fucking scuffing.
"Spike, sit down."
>"Sorry Anon, I just can't-"
"FOR FUCK SAKE, SIT!"
>Even as the words leave you, you instantly regret them.
>You rub your face in frustration as you grumble.
"Sorry. I'm sorry. I'm just-"
>The scuffing begins again as Spike walks over and sits next to you.
>After a pause he whispers "It's not your fault, Anon."
"But it is."
>"No, it's not." He firmly says. "We didn't know what that spell was going to do, Anon. You didn't mean to hurt yourself and Twilight."
"I told you. I'm fine."
>Obviously you were not fine, but physically you were okay.
>It seems the freak magic storm had not left you unscathed after it performed open head surgery on you with a lightning bolt.
>The doctors had also asked questions about a mark on your forehead and the burnt holes in your clothes.
>They bought your mumbled 'toaster accident', for now at least.
>You doubt they would believe you even if you told the truth.
>A human surviving magic lightning? Pass the joint bro.
"It hurt like fuck, but I'm still walking and talking. Fat load of good it's doing right now."
>A tiny claw pets your shoulder.
>"I'm worried too, Anon."
>You can't think of anything decent to say, so you remain silent.
>Spike remains seated next to you, no doubt getting a better vantage point of the clock.
>Only the shuffle of ponies through doors and the faint tick of the clock break the monotony, but even they fade from memory quick enough.
>Finally, a young slender unicorn in a white coat walks up to you and Spike.
>"Excuse me, but are you the ones who brought in Miss Sparkle?"
>You nod. Spike adds a 'yes'.
>The pony gives you both a smile and you feel a sliver of relief. She must be okay.
>"Miss Sparkle is stable for now. Her condition is...worrying, but with our care she's going to be just fine."
>You barely hear Spike give a whoop of joy over your explosive sigh.
"When can we see her?"
>"Right now, if you wish."
>You and Spike all but throw him down the corridor as he leads you to Twilight.
>As you enter her room, your gut begins to tighten up again. Guilt once again, if not hunger.
>Will she blame you for what happened?
>Her bed dominates the room, her drawn face framed against a pillow.
>Her eyes are open, and begin to swim with tears as she sees the two of you.
>Immediately Spike is at her side and giving her a huge cuddle.
>The doctor stiffens in protest while you simply chuckle.
>Twilight looks from Spike to you.
>Even as apologies die in your throat, she simply smiles.
>"I guess I'm still...a novice, huh?" She breathes.
>The feels
>You don't even know how you got to her, all you know is you're hugging and sobbing over her.
>Get a hold of yourself, jeez.
>Eat a dick, brain. Feels time.
>Eventually you pull away and rub your face.
>The doctor, sensing the moment being finally over, walks over and inspects the chart at the foot of the bed.
>"Your readings check out, Miss Sparkle. I would suggest that you stay here in bed for the next couple of days as we monitor the wounds."
>The ball rolls back into your stomach again.
"How bad is it, doc?"
>The pony consults the chart again. "The shards punctured her abdomen, causing some internal bleeding. One found her chest cavity, almost reached her lungs. Aside from that, she's suffered some major magic feedback that could develop unless we keep an eye on it. Honestly, it could have been a lot worse."
>You know he added that last part for your sake, but it didn't help much.
"Jesus, Twi, I almost killed you."
>"No, Anon." She says weakly, laying a hoof against you. "It wasn't your fault. It was just an accident, nothing more."
>Her words did a little to ease your nerves, but it still nagged at you.
>"I'll be back in a while with some more test results." The doctor said as he left.
>"A couple of days here...isn't so bad." Twilight sighs as she settles back on the pillow. "At least they have books."
>"Hopefully no magic books." Spike says with a frown.
"You said it."
>"So little faith." The unicorn jokes. "I guess I deserve it. Still, aside from me, no harm done."
"Uh yeah..."
>"Anon got hit by the storm."
>"What?!"
"Thanks Spike."
>You were hoping to tell her after she had recovered a little.
>Spike starts describing what he saw; Twilight, collapsing, the storm moving, you getting struck.
>As he gets to your moment of fame, Twilight insists on seeing your forehead.
>She gapes in astonishment as you show her the mark.
"It was real fucking painful, but this and the scorch marks are all the storm did. No worries."
>"It kinda looks like a diamond to me." Spike quips from the other side of the bed.
"Well at least it's not a lightning bolt."
>"Why would that be bad?" he asks curiously.
"Because...never mind."
>"Impossible." Twilight croaks, eyes still fixed on the mark. "A magic storm, powerful enough to create what sounds like an elemental singularity, and all it does it leave that mark."
"And the scorch marks."
>"Impossible." Twilight repeats.
>You're not that fussed really, and show it with a long yawn.
"I'm still kicking, and right now I'm starving. Mind if I go eat?"
>"Take your time, Anon. I'm not going anywhere." Twilight says with a chuckle.
>A pang of guilt hits you again at her words, but you put on a smile too and head out.
>You find the cafeteria easily enough and pick up something edible from the counter.
>Sitting down with your salad stuff, you quietly munch away as you scan the area.
>Not a lot of ponies are at the tables, but the few who are look unhappy.
>No doubt they have someone waiting in a ward, beaten up or worse.
>At least they weren't responsible for it, you think darkly.
>You look down to find the next piece of leafy goodness, only to find your plate empty.
>Eating has done nothing to settle your stomach. Lame.
>"Hey Anon."
>Spike waddles up and sits across from you.
>"You doing alight?" He asks, noticing your frown.
"Yeah, yeah. Still feeling like shit, real hungry too, but can't complain."
>"Uh, good?" He gives you a smile and drops a brown bag on the table.
"What's this?"
>"Oh, I asked Twi to magic me my stash from home." He says all nonchalant as he rummages through the bag.
"The hell, Spike? She shouldn't be doing magic in her condition.
>"Relax Anon. She's just had magic feedback, it's nothing she can't handle."
>He picks out a small yellow gem and eyes it, licking his lips. You cannot help but feel disgust.
"Honestly, dude, she shouldn't be doing anything. She needs rest."
>Spike frowns a little at his succulent gem and looks at you. "Yeah, you're right, sorry."
"It's ok. Just have a bit more care."
>He gives you a big nod and tosses the yellow sunburst in his mouth.
>You sit and watch him happily munching away, making sure the delicious lozenge is ground down to a fine scatter of fragments before swallowing.
>Even as Spike reaches inside the bag for another gem, you notice with a start your mouth is watering.
>Jesus, you really must be hungry. You're pining for gems now.
>Delicious gems, locked bundles of wonder. Opal, trilliant, all kinds of shapes. All kinds of flavours.
>Silly Anon. Gems don't have flavours.
>As Spike knocks back a square ruby, you find your fingers tapping anxiously on the table.
>The ball in your gut is twisting and sending spikes into your sides.
>The urge to eat is overwhelming. Yet you only just had a salad.
>What do those gems taste like?
>It's a fucking gem, Anon. Hard rock and tastes like dirt. You don't need it.
>You don't need it.
>...
>You neeeeeeed it.
>Your hand shoots out and grabs Spike's bag.
>Spike blinks in astonishment as you fish out a small shard of ruby.
>Without even thinking, you pop it in your mouth and chew.
>Reap what you sow, Anon. Enjoy your broken teeth.
>Yet, instead of feeling your teeth crack on the hard gemstone, you feel them cleave through it. As if the gem was made of soft butter.
>Within seconds you are chewing fragments of the shard.
>And it tastes fucking amazing.
>Like a collection of all things red. Strawberries, cherries, tomatoes, ketchup...
>...beets, peppers, chille.
>On second thought, this is not fucking amazing. At all.
>Yet even as you continue to chew, the spectrum of taste reaches strawberries again.
>You manage to swallow just before it hits pomegranate.
>"Uh, Anon?" Spike asks, hiding slightly underneath the table.
"Yeah?"
>"You...You just ate a gem."
>You ponder this.
"Yes. Yes I did."
>"Um, that's weird. Why did you eat a gem?"
"I was hungry. It tasted...wow. Does it taste like that to you? All strawberries and peppers and shit?"
>Spike gasps and sits up straight in his chair.
>"Y-You mean you can taste it?" He asks avidly.
>You open your mouth to agree, and feel a burp rising up.
>Actually, it feels more like heartburn. Really, really bad heartburn.
>Your abdomen seizes up as you let out a mighty belch.
>Only instead of your usual noxious gas, you belch fire. A cloud of flame that Spike nimbly ducks under.
>The entire cafeteria falls silent as every pony looks at you.
>Spike's eyes appear over the edge of the table and watch you.
>"Anon...are you a dragon?"
>All you can do is stare at him.
>What the fuck happened to you?
>Quickly, you stand and grab the little dragon around the waist. Flashing a big smile at the stares, you dash from the room.
"Twilight. Now. Now. NOW."
>You both burst into Twilight's room, unsurprisingly finding her behind a book.
>She looks up to see the two of you. Spike under your arm, sweat beading your face.
>"Hi guys." She frowns a little. "What's-"
"Twilight, something's wrong."
>"Wrong?"
>"Anon is a dragon!" Spike yells happily, flailing his arms and legs.
"Spike, not now."
>"I have a big brother!"
"SPIKE."
>Even as you yell, you feel more heartburn coming.
>Prepared, you lean back as your abdomen locks and the fire flies.
>The balloon of flame lasts longer than before and covers half the length of the room, bathing the walls in a reddish glow.
>Finally it stops and you double over, panting.
>Spike slips from your grasp and runs to Twilight, hopping up and down in glee.
>You straighten up and see the fear in Twilight's eyes.
>"Anon. We're going to need that book."
>She can only mean the one that got you and her into this mess.
>Fucking wonderful. More dangerous magic.
>"Can't you teleport it here, Twilight?" Spike asks.
>Before she can reply, you wave a hand to stop her.
"Forget it. You have your magic concussion thing, I don't want you playing delivery mare. I'll go fetch it."
>She gives you a grateful smile even as she absently rubs her forehead.
>"Thanks Anon. Do be careful with the book. It's very fragile and dangerous."
>You sigh, a thin flame escaping your mouth that you casually ignore.
"Twi, I've hung with you for years now. I think I know how to handle a book."
>She gives you a smile. "Just making sure."
>At least she's smiling, you think to yourself as you make your way out of the hospital.
>You don't know what the fuck is going on with you, but hopefully the book has a spell that can fix it.
>If Spike is right, and you are turning into a dragon, you want it sorted right away.
>Fire breath and wings might be cool, but you can't be eating that gem shit for the rest of your life.