//------------------------------// // The Road To Recovery // Story: Not a Cloud In the Sky // by OutOfTheBlue //------------------------------// "Don't worry, he's no longer in critical condition." Said a yellow unicorn nurse to the two groups in front of her. On one side were the family and friends of a certain Cloud Nine consisting of a grey and black stallion, a small foal with a grey mane and tale, grey eyes, and a turquoise coat, and "Honey Pots" his fiancé. Opposite them were all three princesses, the Elements of Harmony, and the now Prince Shining Armor. The stallion spoke up, "But like, does he have anything permanent? Is he going to be able to fly ever again?" Everyone present leaned in, eager for the reply. "As far as physical injuries go, whatever it is that's in him making his blood like that is also causing him to heal remarkably well. In a few days he should be fine to be released, but he will have to be in a wheelchair until his bones mend. You can't expect anything better after a broken leg and collar bone." Everyone sighed in relief. "However, there will most definitely be some... complications." The disguised Pandora shakily asked, "C-complications?" The nurse nodded solemnly. "Due to the massive amounts of blunt force trauma he received to the cranium, he has a massive contusion and we expect he will be incredibly disoriented for a while. Although, it is possible he could develop temporary retrograde amnesia as well. We won't know until he wakes up." Twilight spoke up, "When will he wake up? We need to try to make amends." Before the nurse could reply Beat in his pony form shot her a glare. "Do you really think we'll let you in that room? You're only getting in there if Cloud says you can." Rainbow jumped to her friends defense. "Hey! Who do you think you are? We can go into that room if we want! And besides, what are you going to do to stop us?" Pandora looked at her with tears in her eyes, "Who do we think we are? Who do we think we are! No, who do you think Y-YOU are! You all beat my fiancé within an inch of his life and then decided you can just trample his feelings too. How do you think he'd feel having the ponies who almost KILLED him just barge into his hospital room! I don't care if you're national heroes and royalty, I'll personally do anything to help Cloud through this. And if he doesn't want to see you, then you'll have to go through me to get to him." The assembled ponies looked shocked before Celestia spoke up. "I believe she's right. Given all that we've said and done to him, he deserves to decide if, and when, he'll meet with us." They nodded drearily before filing out of the waiting room, leaving the three changelings alone with the nurse. Pandora remanded stoic a few moments longer before bursting into tears and was soon being comforted by her two companions. ---------------------------------- Cloud awoke to find he couldn't move. Not that it mattered, he was so tired he wouldn't move anyway. He tried to remember what happened. I was... taking a walk or... there was a... a... something. She was beautiful but.... Cloud grit his teeth as a wave of pain lanced across his mind. He sighed and stared up at the ceiling. He felt cold, and empty. He also felt... something. He couldn't remember. Where was he? What happened? Why did he feel so... so.... He shook his head, eliciting another wince of pain. As he looked around his surroundings, he noticed some weird boxes sitting beside his bed. They were beeping, why were they beeping? He looked out the window and saw a town he couldn't recognize outside. Beyond the town was some... woods. My name is... it's... I'll think of it later. ---------------------------- Cloud turned his head as the door opened. The nurse ushered in three ponies he didn't remember. No... that's not her. She looks kind of familiar but she looks... different. "Hey Cloud, how are you feeling?" The familiar-ish mare said. Cloud just cocked his head. "Who are you?" At this the mare's ears drooped. "I-It's me, your fiancé." Cloud shook his head sadly. "No... you're not her." The nurse patted Pandora's disguised back before saying, "I'll give you some privacy." As the door closed behind her Beat checked the room before giving the all clear. He remanded disguised and watched the door while Pandora reverted to her natural form. Upon her transformation Cloud's eyes widened. "Pandora." She smiled before burying her head in his chest and began sobbing. "C-cloud y-you had m-me so worried. I h-heard you w-were in the hospital and I...." Cloud gently stroked her back while she gently squeezed him. The now undisguised foal climbed up onto the bed. "I hope you get better soon Mr. Cloud." Cloud looked confused for a second before a look of comprehension grew on his face. "Hey buddy! How you doing!" He gently rubbed the top of his head before noticing something. "Hey, where'd your shell go?" The foal hopped excitedly. "Yeah! I'm banished now! Just like Mrs. Pandora and Uncle Beat!" Cloud raised an eyebrow. "Uncle Beat?" Beat shrugged. "I'll keep things child friendly around the squirt. Although if I'm his uncle, that makes you and Pandy his mom and dad." Cloud blanked while his new "son" squealed excitedly. "Can you be my mom and dad! Pleeeeeeeeeease! I wanna be just like a pony! I'll go to school and get a cutie mark and meet the princess and get a marefriend and..." Pandora used a hoof to shut his mouth. "Oooook, let's wait until he's released before we ask him lots of important questions." The foal nodded happily before jumping to the floor. Cloud called after him, "You never told me your name." The foal spun around and proudly declared, "My pony names Aqua!" Cloud nodded before saying, "Anything else? Most ponies have two names." Pandora chose then to add her two cents. "Well... Maybe he can have your family name. Aqua Cloud... sounds nice right?" Aqua started nodding happily. "A bit strange but... it works. I guess you can stay with us, but wait to pop the adoption question till later please." Cloud said with a smile. Pandora and Aqua nodded before someone knocked at the door. "I'm sorry, but visiting hours are over for today. Feel free to come back tomorrow but for now he needs his rest." As his visitors (now disguised again) left Cloud called out after them. "See you tomorrow!" Pandora looked back and darted over to him to give him a quick kiss. After they left Cloud sighed, "I really needed that." He sighed before his persistent gloom settled back over him. It was going to be a long night.