>Another day brings the erratic rising of an artificial dawn. >The sun is violently pulled into place by a white goddess, as it is every morning in this backwards world. >Today the princess shines brightly on your darkest day as you crack a single eye open. >You kiss the final parts of blissful sleep away as you welcome lucidity. >Well, sort of lucid, you still got that nasty bump on the head that makes thing hazy from time to time. >Getting out of bed reminds you that you have injuries other than the skull splitting headache. >Large patches cover your sides from where you gained deep claw marks. >With mild struggle you make it out of your bed and begin light limping to the bathroom. >About six feet away from your bed you start to feel something tickling at the back of your mind. >No, it’s not another migraine, it feels like you’re forgetting something. >You sit down while in your thoughts, it’s like remembering this is top importance right now and you don’t know why. >Thinking back on the moments of yesterday nothing other than getting home and sleeping, comes to mind. >And you haven’t done much today. Other than get up. >You search memories to figure out what is catching your interest. >Thinking back on your dreams gives you a small sense that something is wrong. >Like some bad nightmare it comes back to you in a flash. >The night’s dream- no, nightmare was of you and the pink witch. >In your memories she was simply ‘cuddling’ with you while repeating “I love you” softly. >No one else was there. It was only the two of you. In a dark room. >What used to be a terror that you have to live through in the day now follows you in the night. >Right down to the last place you think you’re safe. Your dreams. >Only the dead can know peace from this evil.   >You continue your limps over to the bathroom. >In the mirror stares back a mere shadow of what used to be a carefree man. >Today is the beginning of many that will harbor this same effect. >After a quick SSS you begin walking out of your room. >Shining said he’d have something good for breakfast as his own get-well-soon gift. >Sure smells like a gift. >You open the door to your room. >On the other side is the Pink Bruha. >It’s hard, but you manage to keep a straight face. >”Hey Anon, how are you?” >Her words are making your cringe. “Yeah, I’m fine...” >”Did you check if your opened any wounds in your sleep?” >She has a point there. You did forgo that effort this morning. “No, can’t say I have.” >”Do you need me to? I’ll help if you want!” >Damn, you can’t give her any reason to play nurse with you. “No, I’m fine. I’ll do it after breakfast.” >”Are you sure? It could be bad!” “I can do it after lunch!” >She backs down at your sharper tone. >That was a bit much. She may start harboring suspicions if you don’t say something. “Sorry, I’m just in a sour mood from the injuries.” >Not that! Dammit now she thinks your friendly! >Her mood brightens as yours tanks. >”Okay see you at breakfast!” >You shudder to think that you were friends with her.   >You wheel yourself into the the kitchen with your handy dandy chair that the hospital gave you. >Opening the door first then getting in was a good idea. The Pink Bruha would be all over you with wheelchair pushes. >If you make good precautions like that again you may make your stay tolerable. >You’re rolling down the hallways like it was a race or somthing. >You make hard turns that screech loudly in the hall. >Who would have thought that being impaired would be so fun? >The kitchen is just a sharp turn away, you can smell victory! It smells sort of familiar... >You take the turn with ease and you see Shining in your path down a long hall. >He sees you, and gives you a deep glare. You know it’s a game of chicken now. >You begin to build speed, he sees this and puts on a brave face. >The gap between you two is slowly closing. >Damn, he’s good. >Really good. >Oh shit, he’s close! >You pull on your breaks and twist your chair to the right. >The chair screeches on the crystal floor while sliding forward. >Armor seems to have chickened out to. He’s got his force field surrounding him while he winces. >Looks like a tie to you. >Shining looks at you but just shrugs. Eh, neither of you are up for a “I chickened first” fight. >”Hey, Anon! You ready for breakfast?” “Hell yeah I am!” >You start wheeling yourself next to Armor while you walk. >He takes you into the dining hall. >”Okay man take a seat anywhere, oh, I see you’ve brought your own.” “...” >”Too far?” “Just a tad.” >You roll over to one end of the table and Shining goes into the kitchen to signal that you’re ready to eat. >While he’s inside talking to the chefs the room feels kinda lonely. >Then suddenly to doors to the dining hall open up. >The Pink Menace walks in and waves at you. >Okay, you take back what you said about it feeling lonely, you’d rather be alone right now.   >She walks over to you. >Lucky you took the table’s end, there's only room for one per-uh, pony. >Doesn’t matter to her, she just wants to sit close. >After a bit of awkward silence the room to the kitchen flies open. >Shining is leading a group of the waiters into the dining hall. >He takes his seat as the waiters put plates with silver domes on top. >”Okay Anon, I know how much you love meat. Well the doc told me you need some protein to heal faster. So I thought, ‘why not put them together?’” >The waiter pull off the silver dome. >Under it is a -huge- pile of steak and eggs. >The steam rises to your nose and makes your mouth water. >It reminds you of why you’ve missed meat so much. >You don’t say anything, you just start eating. >”I’ll take that as a thanks.” Said Shining. >You keep chowing down in a food filled bliss, ignorant to the Pink Devil staring right at you. >Despite the incredibly delicious meat, a thought strikes you. “Hey Shining? What’s this meat made from?” >”Manticore.”