//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Hospital Visit // Story: Life of a new Pie // by Reily //------------------------------// Another nurse had arrived. A blue one with a green mane arranged in a bun. On some level, it's kind of nice to see all these furry folks. They're cute and if I was a little girl; I would be in bliss despite some aches. Alas I'm not.  The more I looked around and stared, the more I realized that everything I understood about actual horses didn't really apply here. Whatever evolution was up to here really didn't consider predators. How a candy colored creature survived long enough to grow a full sized brain and evolve, I won’t ever know. Plus just watching them grab stuff, it's just so mesmerizing. Hoof goes down, the object goes up. Hoof moves, the object stays. Hoof goes down again and the object goes down.  The nurse finally must have noticed my staring.  “How ya doing? You're in my rotation today so you'll be in excellent hooves. Now I have an excellent story to read to you with lots of pretty pictures. Plus I hear your moms are going to be coming by and may end up bringing you a little treat. It'll perk you right up I bet.”  I'd like to know what's going on, and soon. Though honestly it kinda scares me. Having worries that I could actually be dying isn't something I can help easily. Still just as those old caretakers used to say, until I can't physically move; be quiet and walk it off. But still, the last nurse did confirm I was here for a really good reason.  I raised my right hoof. Then awkwardly lowered it. I wanted to ask what the heck was going on, but my biggest concern was sounding like an idiot. After taking a deep breath , I begrudgingly asked my question. “Hey. Um excuse me. This will go over my head, I know. But what exactly is wrong with me?”  The nurse ruffled my mane. “There there. No need to be down on yourself. You see your glands aren't quite producing enough mana and your body is going through it way faster than it can replenish. Our IVs are trying to help give your body a boost so your mana pool doesn't dip back down into dangerously low levels.”  That explanation only confused me more unfortunately. I really need to find a library and get some basic books when I can leave this cooky hospital, and add mana to the list of subjects I need to learn. Still I give them perks for trying.  “Any additional questions?” The nurse asked. I shook my head no. I’d probably just make myself look really bad if I asked if it was something every five year old here knew about. If mana is anything like oxygen, I just need to know it exists and is meant to be inside you.  “Suit yourself. But remember there's no such thing as stupid questions. With that out of the way, I’ll start reading you a story.”  She reached over and showed me a lovely paperback book with a full moon on the cover over a field of grass. It was incredibly pretty. The moon, all nice and large near the top. The vibrant colors were a nice touch too. Now if only I could read those black letters.  “Mare in the Moon: myths, prophecies , and other legends by Sunny Skies. You're going to love this story. Why I reckon every pony here in Ponyville is happy to have their own piece of history right here with that fiasco a few years ago.”  I rolled my eyes at that remark. It seemed fairly clear that whatever happened in this town was some relatively easy to explain phenomenon and they decided to use folklore to fill in the scientific gaps. Still as much as I hate it, this information is probably worth remembering.  I listened with patient ears as the nurse recounted the tale of two princesses, one of the sun and the moon. At the end of every page , she showed me those beautiful watercolor illustrations following the text. There was a white horse with an aurora for a mane and a blue horse with a mane full of stars. It's only the second page, and I swore these two sisters are going to fight. Predictable plots twist alert. “Sun and moon. Why would they ever get along? They're hardly ever around at the same time”, I asked aloud. “Continue listening and maybe you'll find out” , the nurse said with a wink.  While I sat at the edge of my seat, I kept hearing about their marvelous adventures uniting ponies together or taking down some ancient evil. The artwork was good , but I really wish I could read it myself. I've always learned best seeing the words right in front of me; lectures don't do me any justice.  When the story was put down, I thought back to what she said. It was a few years ago. A few typically means three or less, and in the story Nightmare Moon was scheduled to return in the thousandth year. This year must have been the thousandth and third year, over a thousand year time difference from Earth apparently.  The nurse put down the book, and a steady rhythmic tapping came from the door. Knocking on a door with one of the things needed to keep you upright, that's certainly something. Whichever horse is doing that sure is great at balancing.  “Those would be visitors. I’ll let them in before Miss Pie invites herself in, again. She does wonders for the hospital but gave me quite a fright.”  The nurse pony gently opened the door and there was Pinkie again. Plus a yellow one with wings. She looked so sweet and nice; and smelled like posies. I wonder if she likes animals. Then again, this is an animal world and with a butt tattoo like that she probably takes care of them. Maybe the younger sort.  Before I could ask any questions,  Pinkie came closer and closer. Then gave me a big hug. “I didn't wanna leave you all alone! But now I'm here again. Just a few more days in this boring hospital and you'll be home with us. Doesn't that sound great?”  I was about to open my mouth and ask questions, but Pinkie quickly pulled a cupcake with pink frosting and blue sprinkles from her mane.  “I've also brought you a cupcake. Something told me you needed one.”  I reached out with my free hoof and I felt this odd staticky sensation in my hoof. Not like I was shocking anyone,  it was more like a little tingle. My grip faltered and it just about hit the floor. Pinkie somehow caught it before then.  “No worries, I can help hold it for you”  She held it really close to my muzzle and I bit the cupcake. The taste was absolutely perfect and I’ve never had something this great. It was soft and sweet and the best thing I've ever had. Far from the days of stale kinda soggy cupcakes of my actual youth.  When I finished it, I knew my face was definitely messy. But honestly I didn't care too much. Freshly baked and I swear I could almost taste the love. While I nearly forgot I had wings, they slowly flapped for a few seconds.  Pinkie's smile stretched out so nearly filled her whole face. Her front hooves eagerly pounded the floor. “So you liked them? I knew it! I knew it! Just wait till you learn about the secret ingredient and my special techniques. Oh we'll have so much fun.”  Oh how I envy that boundless energy. I’m exhausted. I can’t even remember having that much energy as a kid, much less more recently. Pretty sure I’d be quaking in the corner with dark circles under my eyes like that yellow pony over there.  “Um. Hey…can you come here for a second? It’d be easier if I could see you.”  The butterfly tattooed pony whose name I swore up and down was Posey came to the right side of Pinkie. Her soft pink long mane was pretty. If I am stuck here for a while, I wouldn’t mind growing it out to be her size. It’d be all nice and flowy in the wind. I can picture it now.  Realizing I was getting sidetracked, I needed to focus. Or at least that ridiculous thought of my head.  “Oh. Is everything okay? Need a hug? I know it's kinda scary. Trust me I know. Maybe you'd like your pillow fluffed.”  She took hold of my pillow and pressed down on it with her hooves.  “Um actually. I wanted to thank you for taking care of small little critters. While they probably aren't always best-behaved, I think they wanna get along with you. I truly do.”  Posey gave a soft small. “You're welcome. And while Angel sure has his ways to show his appreciation, I know very well he was always a softie. I promise we'll be back before you know it. We love you.”  Posey gave me a soft hug and they were escorted out of the room.