//------------------------------// // Hospital Interrogation // Story: Crazy, Clever and Cunning // by Fresnor //------------------------------// I don’t know how long I floated in the darkness as time had no meaning. I thought I would have reached somewhere by now, yet I can’t see, feel or hear anything. Slowly though a sound started pulsing rhythmically through the black expanse around me, a steady beeping that was getting steadily louder. I then realized that my eyes were closed, yet opening them did nothing to pierce that darkness. I then realized that, other than my eyes, I couldn’t move anything and my other senses were gone as well. Did I actually survive casting that spell? If I did it must have been a close thing as the last time I felt like this was… I cut off that train of thought there, though the situation is remarkably similar to the last time I used all of my magic up and even pushed myself further than I should have been able to. I just hope I am in a safer place than that time, if that time was any indication it’s already been a couple days, and I won’t be moving for a few more. I just lay there with my eyes open, waiting for my other senses to start returning again. I wonder why the headache I experienced during the last incident hasn’t kicked in yet, but judging from the fuzziness starting to invade my thought I assume that some being gave me some kind of pain killers recently. Eventually I hear the sound of hoofsteps steadily approaching, followed by a door opening nearby. From the sound of it the pony had entered my room, and out of reflex I tried to turn my head to the sound. While I still hadn’t regained control of my body, I did manage to cause my head to flop to the side from its previous position. The motion as well as my open eyes must have caught the unknown pony’s attention as I soon heard a gasp, followed by rapid hoofsteps heading back out of the room. I just lay there after they leave, having nothing better to do until my senses return. After a while I start to regain some feeling in my extremities as well as my mouth. Feeling how dry it is I try to build up some saliva to moisten it and attempt to talk. Unfortunately I hadn’t recovered enough for that, and only unintelligible noises come out. I give up for now and just focus on what I do have working and eventually hear the sound of a large number of ponies approaching. I hear them enter the room I am in and spread out somewhere on the other end of it. I still can’t see anything, though the darkness seems to be fading some. Of course with my senses recovering the painkillers also are starting to affect my mind more and more covering it in a blanket of fuzz. So by this time my mind was barely registering the ponies in the room as my thoughts just floated around to random things. Eventually one of the ponies gets tired of waiting and finally speaks up in a voice I don’t recognize. “Why are you here?” With the daze I am in the question doesn’t fully reach me. “Oh I’m just laying here, recovering from something that should have killed me and waiting for the donut fairy to arrive.” My answer gets a chuckle out of a couple of the gathered ponies, one I recognize as Pinkie Pie but the other is unfamiliar. There is also another sound, that of a hoof hitting something soft. The owner of the voice just seems to be annoyed by my answer though. “No, I mean why has your kind returned to Equestria from your banishment?” The meds are definitely kicking in now which is really hampering any control over my mouth. “Banishment? That’s the first I’ve heard of it. The ponies around here seem to nice to do something mean like that though, except for that mean Princess Sunbutt who supposedly hates me for some reason.” This statement causes many of the ponies in the room to gasp, though two of them just start laughing even more. The one that isn’t Pinkie is laughing even harder than Pinkie is, and I hear the sound of something hitting the floor in that direction. The speaker though is really not amused and sounds like she is really holding something back. “Do you not know who you are speaking to? Are you really that much of a fool?” “Of course I don’t know who you are; I can’t even see you right now what with the darkness and stuff. I’m glad someone gave me these painkillers though or else I would be blind with a blinding headache though at least I can taste rainbows now because of them.” There is silence from those in the room, excepting the two still laughing, as they process this. A voice I recognize as Twilight’s speaks up after a bit. “Um Princess, maybe we should come back again after those painkillers wear off. She normally is much more… less like Pinkie.” I don’t hear a response though she must have agreed as I soon hear the room clearing out again. I do catch Twilight asking one more question before they get too far away. “What exactly is she anyways? You seem to recognize her species.” Celestia’s answer is the last thing I hear from them. “She’s a kitsune.” This just leaves me to my own thoughts and the donut fairy that finally arrived to send me off to sleep. <><><><><><><> I awoke an indeterminate time later to find that my vision had returned as well as some minimal movement. The drugs had worn off as well leaving me with a serious headache, as well as the memories of what happened before I fell asleep. Did I really say all that to Princess Celestia? I am so not getting out of here alive after that. I just sit there shivering in fear as I picture the things she is probably going to do to me after what I said. I let out a squeak and yank the covers over my head when the door opens. I eventually peek out to find that Nurse Redheart had entered to check up on me so I tried to calm down. As she was about to leave I remembered the reason why I was here in the first place and spoke before she could leave. “Is Scootaloo all right?” She pauses, and gives me a small smile and nod before she closes the door again. I sigh at this and feel much calmer than I did before. Well at least no matter what happens it will be worth it to know that she survived. As I suspect that I will be receiving visitors again soon, I decide to just wait for them to arrive. As I do so I try and figure out how much I had recovered from the backlash of overusing my magic. My basic senses seem to be fully recovered, but any attempts at anything related to my magic just increases my headache. I didn’t try actively casting, but just the act of feeling for my power was enough to trigger it. While I was going over myself I also noticed something else, I had lost the third tail that I had while casting the spell. I guess that was what allowed me to survive, but was also the price of saving Scootaloo instead of my life. Eventually the expected visitors arrive but at least this time I can see them and am in better control of myself. The first to enter was Princess Celestia herself, and I can’t help but shudder a little in fear at the sight of her, followed by her sister Princess Luna. Twilight and her friends follow next, most of them looking unsure of why they are there, though Pinkie seems unfazed as usual. I wonder at why they are there, until I notice the jewelry that they are wearing. Did the princess really think I was a big enough threat to bring out the Elements of Harmony? What would they even do to me, and would they even do anything in the first place? I actually forget why they are there as I ponder these questions until the Princess begins to speak again. “Now that you seem to have recovered from your little… incident before, maybe you can actually answer my questions.” I wince at the sound of the suppressed anger in her voice, as well as the feeling of my headache flaring up from the sound. I try to remember the questions she asked, as well as what I said before. “I apologize for what I said before as I was a bit out of it from the painkillers. As for your questions, I will do my best to answer them though they won’t change much from what I said before. The only exception would be to why I was here, which would be because this was the first place I truly felt safe enough to stay for any length of time.” She narrows her eyes at me at this before continuing with her questions. “You mean to say you know nothing of why your people were driven away to beyond the seas? The things they did to those not of their kind or one of those that served them? Even now after these many centuries there are still reports of them causing havoc in towns such as Featherhaven, Rocktalon Heights, Neigh Orleans…” She kept on with her rant but I had stopped at the second place she named as memories started flooding back to me. I felt my vision narrow as the feeling of flames started flickering across my pelt. I could hear the screaming of the crowds as my breathing started to shorten and my heart beat erratically. I could feel myself shaking as I remember the sight of the blood, so much blood… I snap out of it as I feel someone wrap their forelimbs around me and a song penetrates my thoughts. I can see yellow wings blocking my vision and I realize that Fluttershy must have seen me breaking down so she did what she does best. I just sit there in her embrace as I try to get back control of myself again, thankful that she cares enough to still help me. I can feel tears streaming down my face while I do so, completely out of my control. Eventually I gain control of myself, yet I feel anger rising up within me as I turn me tear-soaked muzzle to the Princess. I notice that she and the rest seem surprised by what just happened, but she is further taken aback by the tone of my voice as I begin to speak in a low voice. “You know nothing of what happened in Rocktalon Heights, the horrors that were permitted to happen there by the town. Did you know that it was one of YOUR ponies that was the cause of the atrocities there, a unicorn performing necromantic rituals in fact?” Princess Celestia looks shocked at this revelation, but I keep pushing. “Did you know that the townsfolk captured travelers for him so that they were spared? Do you know what it’s like to be chased by a mob and not know why? To have your mother stripped away from you as she hides you in a cave? TO FINALLY FIND HER TO SEE SHE WAS MURDERED JUST SO THE NECROMANCER COULD LIVE A FEW YEARS LONGER!?” The eyes of all the ponies in the room were slowly widening as I was saying this, but at this last bit they all just stare in shock as I break down crying against Fluttershy. The pain of six long years of loneliness had finally caught up as I had admitted this. I don’t know how long I cried against Fluttershy, but not once did she make any motions as if to leave during it all. When I had finally cried myself out and looked up again I noticed the looks of pity on most of the mares’ faces, while Princess Celestia was completely unreadable. I continue again, almost too quietly to be heard. “Yet after all of that, I still don’t blame your ponies for what happened, so much that I was willing to give my own life to bring a filly back from beyond the brink of death. But you still condemn me for what my kind supposedly did, something so long ago that it has little to do with me.” Celestia looks towards Twilight for confirmation on this, yet her sister’s eyes widen in shock at something I said. Twilight carefully tells her mentor what happened. “The filly, Scootaloo, had injured herself so bad that we thought she was dead. None of the spells I cast were having any effect at all. Yet as I was about to give up Flarenza came and, using a complicated magic circle and spell, was able to save her. But I mentioned some of that in the letter I sent you Princess.” Celestia looks ashamed at this, but is interrupted by her sister before she can reply. “Twilight, this spell you mention. Did it have any difficult to obtain items that were required in its casting?” I am surprised to recognize her voice as the one laughing along with Pinkie Pie at my drug induced antics before. “Why yes Princess Luna. Four of the five symbols needed certain reagents to represent the elements, while the big thing she called for was a large diamond, why do you ask.” Luna’s mouth drops open in shock at this admission and she seems to be trying to say something but no words emerge. Eventually she regains her voice, though unfortunately for those in the room it was her Canterlot Voice. “HOW IS IT THAT THOU STILL BE ALIVE!?” Her sister stops her from going any further to the relief of my ears. “Sister, do you know what spell it was she cast to save the filly?” Luna nods, and responds in a calmer yet shakier voice. “Yes sister, it is a spell to communicate and bargain with the Pale Mare herself. If she accepts then the user gives up a large portion of their life, and for most beings that means all of it. It was one spell in-“ She pauses at this and narrows her eyes at me. “Just where did you find this spell?” I can tell I may be in trouble for taking the books, but right now I am too weary to care much. “It was from one of six books I found at the castle in the Everfree. It was one of the few spells in them that I could even stand using, most being too horrific. They’ve been locked up since I found them and I haven’t read them since that first time. I’ll return them to you if that is what you wish.” She continues to stare at me for a while longer while her sister watches on in confusion before she answers. “Yes we would very much appreciate having them returned. Some things in them better left untouched, that spell you used for one. You still have not explained how you are alive still.” Feeling a little safer talking with her than her sister I answer honestly. “I really am not sure, yet I believe it had something to do with the loss of my tail.” I wave around the two I still have at the gathered mares, most not yet having a good view of them. Princess Luna falls into silence at this as she looks to be thinking hard about something which gives her sister the opportunity to guide the discussion again. Her attitude seems to have done a complete switch as well since I last looked at her. “I would like to apologize for what I said, I didn’t know you had such a hard life and you are right that I shouldn’t have judged you so unfairly. Even with what happened back with your kind and their leaders things could have changed.” I nod to her at this, too weary to even argue or comment. As she continues her face becomes unreadable again. “Even so there are those that would question your being here so I would like you to swear that none in my kingdom shall come to harm by your actions.” I just look at her and wonder who would even know what I am if it was so long ago, but decide to just go along with it with a small twist while smiling at Pinkie Pie. “I’ll go a bit higher than swearing, I Pinkie Promise that I will not harm any in your kingdom except in defense of myself or others, cross my heart hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” I get a raised eyebrow from her at this, though she eventually chuckles while Pinkie seems to be grinning wider than usual at this. Sure it feels a bit silly to promise like that, but you really can’t argue with the results after hearing what she is like to those that even think of breaking it. Things seem to calm down from there, and I actually wonder how they would react to Selene now since they haven’t blasted me away yet and don’t seem to be planning to anymore. It does bring a question to mind though. “Why are the Elements of Harmony even here? From what I’ve heard of them they only were used against things that are out of balance somehow, so why bring them for me?” From the looks of things I may not have been the only one wondering that as all six of the mares wearing a piece of it turn to the princess. She doesn’t give anything away as she answers. “Well I may have overreacted a bit there, when I read the letter from Twilight I immediately though of the rulers of your kind and how they acted and unfortunately I thought you were going to be like them.” I shake my head at her admission and I grin as I realize that I had a way to possibly stop them if I had to. “Well even if they would have worked, I know a phrase that would have made them worthless anyways.” She raises her eyebrow at this before responding. “Oh? And what phrase would that be?” She sounds both amused and curious at this, though she obviously doesn’t believe me. I just smile and turn towards Pinkie Pie. “Pinkie Pie, chocolate cherry cordial cake with chocolate frosting and cake sprinkles.” All the mares stare between me and Pinkie as I say this, wondering what in the world it is supposed to mean. Pinkie pie though gets one of the biggest grins I have ever seen on her before and I start to get a bit worried. Eventually, she just sort of fades out into while the rest of us stare at where she was. Applejack is the first to recover and voice the question they were all wondering. “Uh, what in the hay was that phrase supposed to mean?” I shake my head to clear it, which aggravates the headache I had almost forgotten about. “Well you know I arrive over a year ago, but I didn’t get a Welcome to Ponyville party from Pinkie. Well I had prevented her from throwing one by challenging her to a guessing game where she had to guess my favorite cake before I would let her. Was that a bad thing to do?” I can probably guess the answer as four hooves meet four faces, the exception being Fluttershy who seems to cower away a bit. Princess Celestia speaks up then. “So how was that supposed to stop the Elements of Harmony?” I just point at the five before answering. “Kind of hard to use them when one is missing isn’t it? Though I would think one of the Bearers not wanting to use it would work as well.” She just shakes her head at this with a chuckle before the conversation goes elsewhere. Eventually the Princesses have to leave, with Princess Luna setting a time to collect the books, and a nurse arrives to check up on me. I was found to be in good enough condition to leave, though with a warning to not utilize any magic for a while but I decided on one stop before I left. Scootaloo was happy to see me as I find her room before I head out. I find it strange that only her two crusader friends are there with no sign of her family. I start to put together the various clues I had picked up over time, and came to a conclusion that I’m surprised none of the others had yet. I would check with her when I could speak to her alone to be sure, but I had an idea ready if I was right. Heading towards the exit of the hospital I talked with Twilight and her friends and asked them what they felt about me now that they knew what I was. Each of them had their own opinions, though after seeing the princess’ reaction to me they understood why I hid myself like I did. Applejack was a bit sore still as it felt to her like lying, and Rarity complained about how the outfit she made me no longer would work and a new one would have to be made, but in the end they were fine with it when I said I had no plans to hide myself to the town anymore. As we exited the hospital as I wonder how the flower trio will react at the sight of me we are all brought up short by the sight of the town. Somehow Pinkie had turned the entire town into some sort of festival event complete with games, rides and even fireworks all for my Welcome to Ponyville party. I turn to look at the others to see them all staring in shock as even they didn’t expect this much. “Yeah, I guess giving her over a year to plan a party was a really bad idea.” I am soon dragged away to the center of the event by the pink wonder herself.