//------------------------------// // Chapter Thirty One // Story: Mare In The Everfree Forest // by MoonLily //------------------------------// The room grew cold as I could hear the sound of rain. I opened my eyes noticing the room had changed. the pumpkins and the most fall items Sugar Skull had placed up were gone. the books and the pillows on the floor were picked up and Luna was missing. I could still smell the scent of autumn rain. I shifted in the bed till I heard the sound of hooves walking in. “Just hold her shoulders lightly Garden. I am just testing to see if she can breathe on her own without choking for air.” I pressed myself into the pillows watching as Garden placed his hooves on my shoulders. He noticed I was watching causing him to smile. I felt the tubes in my muzzle being removed causing me to gasp for a bit. “That’s a good sign. Now the ones in the nose” I was not looking forward to that. I stayed still as I felt the tube moving up and out of my stomach causing me to cough a bit. “She is breathing heavily!” “No Red I think you should have given her more of a warning right?” “What’s going on? Everything is so different than last night” I yawned as I felt myself being sat up. “What do you remember?” I noticed Red was wearing a mask as Garden sat beside him. “Twilight and the others were here with Discord and Luna” “Grandmother that was nearly a month ago. You fell into a place between sleep and awake. You weren’t dead either as Discord couldn’t find you in the void and Luna couldn’t find you in the dream world.” “I just fell asleep. it was calming for once having ponies around me while I was going through this. I felt like I didn’t have to get up and find ponies to be with while injured” I looked over at them as Red chuckled. “Your body was so heavily injured you needed sleep. You fell asleep and went into a real deep sleep”  “Did you read Luna’s books?” “No, it is taught in medical school Grandmother. it's rare as most ponies allow Luna to handle their sleep. But you were just so tired your body felt at peace you just allowed yourself the sleep it needed. All those years of not truly resting when you were told to do so are catching up with you” “Can I move or should I stay down?” “Let us remove the rest of the tube and items then we can get you out of bed” I heard him laughing as I leaned into the pillows. I glanced over at the window watching the rain allowing them to pull the rest of the tubes out and place the stitches they needed. I let out a yawn as I noticed Garden Ivy smiling at me. “So how was Nightmare Night?” “The little ones were all excited. Wish you were up most of the family came by to see how you were doing before they left. The only ones that stayed are the elders and the medical side of the family makes some trips up to check on you as well.”  “So the elders stayed to help Jr?” “That and to give Blueblood some hell as they are still after Jr.” “For now I want to keep you here in the room. Most of the castle is packed with ponies trying to get things done before the holiday” he smiled before walking out leaving me with Garden. “How badly have they overworked him?” “Not bad, he been working on some projects that he is happy with” “Till I can get up and figure out where Luna is or is stuck at. Go make sure he doesn’t work himself ragged” I chuckled as I sat up rolling my shoulders. I heard the door shut as Water Ivy walked in smiling. they both had gloves and bathing supplies with clippers. “We are going to help with your coat” I gulped as I helped out of the bed my hooves were shaking as I quickly sat on my flank. I could see my coat was in patches allowing you to see certain scars from stitches. I stayed still feeling them scrub my coat and my mane clean before trimming it down to a proper level causing me to look down at myself. “I am still patchy” I huffed as I felt a towel rubbing against my coat. They gave me another bath trying to get the loose fur off of me. “They had to cut your coat to keep the stitches clean” “I know. do you have any toothpaste and a toothbrush?” “Yes?” “Hoof it over” I watched as they set it up since my magic was still blocked. I took the brush and started to clean my teeth and my mouth. I noticed they were staring till it hit them like a ton of bricks. “Hoping to kiss your mare?” “We heard about the bug that bit you” they were snickering as I glared over at them. I huffed as I rinsed my mouth out over the bin of water they had. “Let me guess Jr?” “Yes” “Figures as much” I sat up stretching my hooves as the door opened up. Red walked in turning red a bit before coughing into his hoof. “Should have knocked” “They were just helping me clean up Red” I huffed still feeling out of it. “Well good news the castle is not packed as I thought. I can get you up and moving before dinner tonight” he smiled as I nodded “Now when you move around the castle I want you to have a pony with you since your hooves have not supported you for a month or so” he kept his grin up as I chuckled a bit. “Let's go I am tired of seeing these walls. Thank you Garden and Water” “It's fine Grandmother” they both smiled before kissing my cheeks. I gave them both a soft hug before standing up. I felt Red wrapping his magic around me as we walked out of the room. I could tell my hooves needed more work now. I sighed as I moved out of the medical wing into the main part of the castle. it was quiet, way too quiet for my liking. “Red it's too quiet for the castle to be on a slow day” I stopped looking at him. his ears went down as he looked over at me. “It’s the Harvest holiday grandmother” “Then why are you and the other two here then?” “We promised to be with you today” “RedGem it's a holiday! I can wait to be helped. You cannot wait Red, you and the others need to go out and celebrate and live your lives” I placed my hoof on his cheek “I been through many holidays as I had a long life my boy but you do not” “But this could or might be your last grandmother” “Then let it be my last Red. You and the others have done so much. You and the rest of the family in the medical field should know how fragile our lives can be” “I know, but since I have you out of bed are you hungry?” “I could go for some real food right now” I smiled as I felt his magic holding onto me. I followed him as we walked out of the main section of the castle to a large ballroom. He walked me through a side door out of the way of the main entrance. I noticed the room was filled with tables and family members. The twins were running around whistling while placing trays of tea and food out. The princesses were sitting at the head table while Twilight and her family were around. I looked over at Red. He smiled as he helped me to the main table where I sat next to Luna. I could tell the others hadn’t noticed me yet. “RED! there you are what were you doing!” I watched as Jr walked over missing his armor. I noticed Solis was also missing his armor as he was sitting at a table enjoying himself. I leaned into the table as I could see Discord was at a table with Fluttershy and Pinkie. Rarity was around with a younger pony at her side. Rainbow was with her with another filly at her side as they were watching Zo. She was busy making her normal plush doll before making it move.  “I was with Garden Ivy and Water Ivy taking care of Grandmother” which made the room grow quiet. “How is she? She hasn’t woken up” “Jr she will wake up. She fell asleep down below the dream world. Her body has found a time to fully allow itself to rest and heal from all those times she was injured. She will wake up when her body says she can or when she feels like it” “But I wanted her to be here. I don’t want this to be her last holiday Red. I want her around when my kids are around like she was for Soltic and Raven. I want my side of the family to know her as well” I could see his ears folding back as he looked at the ground. The room started to feel down as I felt Red release his magic on me. I glanced around noticing they were all looking at the two. I turned my attention to Luna noticing her eyes were looking down. she had a sullen look on her face. My hooves were shaking as I moved closer to her poking her side. I could see a surprised look on her face as her eyes settled on me. I gave her a smile resting my hoof on her side. “Your awake” her voice was cracking as it caused the room to grow silent. “Your awake and your moving. I thought I had done something wrong and” I felt her hoof on my cheek. “She woke up this morning. I had given her a check-up and had Garden and Water help her out of bed. She cannot walk without supervision or help since her hooves and legs are weak right now” Red smiled. “You didn’t do anything Luna. I was just watching you and the group as it was peaceful for once I wasn’t alone while hurt. I just grew tired and fell asleep. I still hurt and it sucks I can’t walk for a long while” I was stopped as I felt her pull me into her hooves. “Just don’t scare me like that” “I can’t promise anything till the fight is done” “For now you can. For now, I do not want you thinking about that fight till you recover” I heard Sweet Tea and Sweet Night barging in. They were pushing carts full of food and drinks. I watched as they passed out bowls of fruit and vegetables before passing out soup. I could smell the roasted mushroom and potato soup from here causing me to smile. I kept an eye on them as they placed down some roasted eggplant with large amounts of soft to hard-boiled eggs. I also noticed they had made some roasted Lobster with shrimp on the side causing Twilight and the others to stare. I chuckled as they placed some tea kettles along with bottles of different kinds of drinks. “Alright, we got the normal spread of soup and roasted veggies along with the crystal empire’s signature roasted seafood. We also got permission to pull out the hundred-year-old zap apple cider, along with the four hundred-year-old apple cider. We also got out the thousand-year-old merlot and all kinds of tea! Let's eat and be merry for this harvest holiday!” I chuckled a bit as I sat up placing my hooves on the table and leaning in. I felt a wing run along my back. “Will you need any help?” “Just getting the food maybe. My magic is still cut off and my hooves aren’t working still” I felt a pillow being placed behind me. as I settled in. I watched as Sweet Tea stopped in front of me making up a small plate for me. She placed a bowl of roasted mushroom soup with a lobster tail on the small plate beside it. I also noticed she made me some warm tea before bouncing off. I placed my hooves on the table pulling a spoon to me. I slowly picked at the soup as I kept dropping the spoon. I got fed up and pushed the soup away from me. I pulled the lobster tail and picked at it. “Do you need help?” “I have it” “Silver this is not the time to let your ego take over” I stopped and looked over at Luna as she was watching me. “Fine” my ears fell against my head. I could see the spoon holding out in front of me helping me eat something. I could not feel my hooves anymore as I stayed still. I could only get a few spoonfuls down causing me to push the food away from me. “Silver?” “Sorry Luna, I am full besides I think your sister is drunk as she getting a bit choosy” I pointed towards Celestia. She was leaning and smiling over at Twilight. they were enjoying themselves as most of the family members were around drunk. I smiled as the doors to the ballroom opened up. I noticed Cadence and Shining Armor smiling as the Empress walked in with a bottle of wine. “Sorry we are late certain ponies talked me into this” she chuckled as the two stared up at her. “Now its a party!”