Title: Broken Wings, Chapter 11 - Clear Headed Author: MisterElGuapo Pastebin link: http://pastebin.com/3ePvCyc4 First Edit: Sunday 17th of June 2012 08:20:54 PM CDT Last Edit: Sunday 17th of June 2012 08:20:54 PM CDT >Man, you’ve really screwed the pooch, Anon. >In ALL ways. >You struggle to catch your breath as you run down the moonlit road, trying to catch up to… “…Applejack? Rainbow Dash?” >You stop as the two mares turn to face you, the looks on their faces the textbook definition of serenity. >AJ: “Oh, hey thar’ Anon.” >RD: “Listen, Anon, we were talking…this whole situation is messed up, and…” >AJ: “We decided that we don’ need ya.” >Your heart sinks to your gut. “W…what?” >RJ: “I mean, what do we need you for?” >Dash turns to Applejack, giving her what you can only describe as bedroom eyes. >AJ: “Especially when we’ got each other…” >Man… >Words cannot describe the levels of dafuq you experience as the two mares start making out in front of you. >I mean, they are REALLY going at it. >You just stand there, pokerfaced as the two loves of your life start rutting in the middle of the street. >That’s when you notice the erect phalluses growing between their legs. >Are…are they leaking pasta noodles? >… >WELP. >THERE’S JUST ONE THING LEFT TO DO.   -----------   “AAAAAHHHHH!” >You awake with a start. >Man…what a nightmare. >What smells like tomato sauce? >”You know Anon, the staff sleep room is for hospital staff ONLY…” >You groan and rub your eyes, your limbs waking up from a night spent on an impossibly small bed. “W…wha? Doctor Horse?” >The brown stallion glares at you as you sit up. “Wait…how did I end up here at the hospital?” >”Well, don’t call me an expert, but I’d say you came down with a severe case of toomuchicus drinkus.” “It’s too early for me to interpret your smart-assery, Percival.” >Hehe. Percival. He hates it when folks use his first name. >He bristles a little as he opens the blinds, assaulting you with the light of day. >”The charge nurse said you staggered in here in the dead of night, reeking of alcohol, and promptly passed out in here.” >You groan as you try to remember what exactly happened last night. >You remember the events in the restaurant. >You vaguely remember going to the Hay Seed… >End of file. “Sounds plausible…” >Horse frowns as he comes back around, watching as you adjust your ruffled formal wear from last night. >”So, care to tell me what happened now or before that hangover hits?” “Hangover? What ha-“ >Ow. >Owowowowowow….. “Nevermind.” >You sigh and rub your head, wincing as Dr. Horse sits across from you. “Seriously, it’s a long story.” >”In my experience, long stories usually involve women.” “Hmph…yeah, I guess they do.” >Horse offers you a cup of coffee, something you accept with gusto. >It’s lukewarm and tastes like shit, but you are completely out of fucks to give. >”So, you going to tell me what’s going on?” “What if I say no?” >”Then I have you arrested for trespassing in a restricted area.” “Point made…” >With a heavy breath, you relay your story, starting with the events at the funeral. >To his credit, the doctor listens intently. >Even if he is a bit of a prick. >As you finish up, Horse reclines and stares at you like you just sprouted a third eye. >Man, you could really go for some Gorilla Munch… >”You know, Anon…I think I figured out something about you.” >You lean forward. “What’s that?” >The stallion rolls his eyes. >”Anon, remember that time we got shitfaced with that patient in for alcohol poisoning?” “Yeah, Berry Punch. I’m amazed we got away with it. That reminds me, how is she?” >”We’re expecting our second foal in two months.” “Congratulations.” >Horse smiles a little as he leans forward towards you. >”As I recall, you got so drunk on cognac you spent half the night hitting on her, and then chickened out when she finally responded to your advances.” >You hold up your hands. “Hey, in my defense, she wasn’t your wife back then.” >The stallion waves a hoof dismissively. “My point is, back then you couldn’t make up your mind what you want.” >You open your mouth to respond, but words don’t come. >”Think about it, Anon. Over one patient, you quit your career here to start a private practice. You get into a fight with your marefriend and by the end of the day you’ve gone on to Plan B.” >You bristle a little bit. “Hey! Now that was…” >”PLAN B. What I’m getting at Anon is that you have a history of being indecisive and impulsive.” “Come on now, that’s pushing it.” >”Oh really? You quit here, but yet here you are. You keep coming back to this hospital. Dare I say, you miss it.” “I’m quite happy, thank you?” >”Then why, instead of your own home, you turn up here ranting about a pair of mares?” >Shit…he’s got you there. >”Now, I’m no psychiatrist…and I doubt Dr. Hayfever would see you after that whole fiasco with the bridle…” >You smile. Good times. >Left a bad taste in that creepy pegasus’ mouth for a week. >”…but I don’t need to be one. You regret leaving here. You left because leaving was the easy answer. And that’s what you’ve been doing. Taking the easy way out.” >Your smile fades as you cross your arms. “Shut up…” >The stallion stands up, turning to leave. >”There were two things I learned that night with you and Berry. One was that when it comes to love, there never is an easy way out.” >Your shoulders lurch. Deep inside… >You were afraid of that. >Afraid of making the hard choice. >Hard choices complicate your life. >”You told me that where you come from, your patients were big, dumb, stupid animals. You will find your answers much easier if you’d get rid of that mindset.” >You sigh before looking up. “Wait.” >”Hmmm?” “You said there were two things you learned that night.” >”Oh, yes…it was a line from one of the movies we watched.” >You cock your head as the brown stallion doctor leaves, his words echoing into the room. >”There are a million mares out there, but not many of them will bring you lasagna.” >A million mares…but… >”Now either get your ID and get on shift, or get out of the sleep room before I call security. “ >Hmph. Prick… >You sigh and stand, looking at your disheveled clothing and running a hand through your mussy hair. >You need someplace to think…one place that always helps you get your head on straight. >You make your way up the stairs, taking care not to get seen by the staff. >You come to a door at the very top. >Roof Access. >Luckily for you, nobody ever locks the damn thing. >Slipping out the door, you sit on top of the roof, letting your feet dangle as the world passes by below you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLQH2s3jv3k >You don’t know how long you sit up there, alone with your thoughts. >You wonder where they are. >Applejack is likely on the farm, hard at work at this time of day. >Rainbow Dash…perhaps she went back to Cloudsdale? >Or is she still living in your house? >You wonder if they went by your house this morni… >Oh hell, you were supposed to have appointments today… >… >You hope Redheart is perceptive enough to cancel them for you. >It’s that kind of perception you rely on. >Besides, Dr. Horse was right. >You owe it to everyp0ny to make that hard choice. >And live with the consenquences. >You think about many things. >How AJ and Rainbow make you feel. >What you want in your life. >What you’ve given up, and what you want to get back. >After what seems like forever, you stand up and shield your eyes from the late afternoon sun. >You head downstairs, get cleaned up and hit the pavement. >Because, in the end, when you stop and think about it… >The hard choice isn’t hard at all. >You walk up to the door, where you bet she is. >You knock. >It opens. >You were right. She is here. “…I think, we need to talk.”