>>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