//------------------------------// // Prologue (Rewrite) // Story: The Blind Engineer // by Tinytails42 //------------------------------// Darkness. Just plain void surrounded the small pony and showed no opening for escape. It gave off no feeling, no smell, and worst of all no sound. The fact of feeling nothing would scare most ponies half to death, but they knew that the real nightmare began when their senses did come back. In the phases of ignition, as they have come to call it, the order of which they came back was always different. That annoyed them more than anything, but one thing that would stay the same was that their awareness came back first. Though not just towards the void, but their emotions as well. Before the first phase, they felt numb to it all and honestly prefer it that way. But no pony ever gets what they want. They braced themselves as a wave of dread and panic hit them with the force of the friendship express, as it always did. Also like always, the emotions were too strong and brought them to their tiny knees with their front legs holding their head as if it might explode. A panicked scream forced its way between their clenched teeth and echoed throughout the void. The second phase, sound this time around, had begun. As they tried to slow their quicked breath, they began to hear the familiar sound of crackling and noted how the void seemed to have heated up. "N-not again," they said in a shaky whisper. No longer could they take this sitting down. They had to put a stop to this. They had to do something if they were going to get out before the last phase began. Pushing past their panic, they lifted their hoof to their mouth and bit down hard. Unsurprisingly, all that did was add to the pain coursing through their body and made another shout echo out. As they held their hoof close and mentally cursed themselves, the smell of smoke filled their nose. Yet another sense had returned and with it, the feeling of suffocation as the smoke got thicker. Though the smoke wasn't the only thing that was getting more intense. The void was starting to feel like an oven, the crackling was getting louder, and their panic was reaching an all-time high as they knew what was to come. On cue, the void started to melt, giving way to pulsing and swiveling oranges and reds. In a last-ditch effort, they forced their legs to move. Nowhere they could go, but they just had to go anywhere but there. Though it was all for not. The melted void began to pool on the floor, collecting itself into a misshapen, inky mess of a pony. The void pony darted after them, catching up with ease. This still wasn't enough to deter them from trying to getaway. If there was even a chance of keeping out of this creature's grasp, then they would run to the other side of Equestria for it. However, their attempts to get away did nothing. They cringed as the void pony tackled them to the ground and oozed its black body mass all over them, beginning to feel the ground absorb them. Using what little strength they had, they attempted to claw their way out. With no avail, they sunk deeper and deeper as they tried to think of something, anything they could do. But all they could do was let out one final scream as they were pulled into the ground entirely. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhh..." The scream had carried on to their awaking, likely disturbing the other patients and doctors. They hadn't even noticed that they were still screaming. All they could notice was the lasting feeling of the void pony oozing all over them. Much like their dream, feeling was always the first to return to Clockwork's sleep-paralyzed body. They were now stuck to live out that horrible dream in the waking world, at least until their body permitted them to move. While the feeling of panic was never as strong as in their nightmares, it was still pretty much impossible to ignore. As was the cold sweat dripping down their face. Along with the aching in their body and...jaw? Only then did Clockworks notice that they were still screaming. They quickly slammed their mouth shut with their now moveable hooves, but was taken aback when the smell of blood hit there nose. "Great. Just freaking great!", their whispering voice dripping with annoyance. Now not only were they worried that she heard the screaming but also about how they were going to get blood on the sheets. Clockworks used their uninjured hoof to throw the thin cover off, exposing their fur to the cold and tried to make their way to the towels stored in their desk. The keyword being tried. They jumped off the bed only for their legs to give up on them. While they didn't want to spend the rest of the night with a bloody hoof and their face planted on the cold, hard ground, this was better than her showing up. The lights suddenly turned on, indicated to them only by the click of the switch. "Clockworks dear, are you alri-" Nurse Redheart stopped at the scene before her. However, it didn't take her long to spring into action. Redheart quickly dropped to Clockworks' side to check their heart rate. "You don't need to do all of this, you're acting as if I'm dying." Clockworks huffed as they squirmed under her touch. "Well, you certainly are bleeding like you are. Now hold still please." Nurse Redheart used one hoof to hold Clockworks in place while the other reach for the hydrogen peroxide infused wipe in her scrubs pocket. Using her muzzle to teared open the packet, she braced herself for what she had to do next. " Now, I know you don't like the feeling of this...medicine, but I am only using it for-" "Cut the milk duds Redheart and just do it already." Fed up with how the night was going, Clockworks didn't care how much their hoof hurt anymore. They only wanted it to end. Maybe one day they would get their wish. Ignoring the irritation in their voice, the nurse proceeded to wipe down the injury while tightening her hold on Clockworks as their squirming had quickly turned to thrashing about. They couldn't help it really, all they could focus on was the burning sensation stemming from their hoof and it's ghastly similarities to the heat they would feel in their dreams. Nurse Redheart made quick work of cleaning the wound and wrapping it with the bandages that she often had on her despite the fact her patient was being anything but still. Once the final wrap was secured, she loosened her grip on Clockworks which they promptly used as a chance to escape. They ran to the opposite side of the room and pushed themself against the wall, holding they wrapped hoof close to their chest. They could now feel just how heavy they were breathing. Geez, I am just a big mess, They thought as they took some deep breaths through clenched teeth and the most annoying part is the fact that this isn't even the worst of it. Redheart was saddened at the scene in front of her. The terror written all over Clockworks' face was once again being covered up with unbridled anger and frustration. This was the way it always went so she knew not to take anything they might say personal, it was just their way to cover up their fears and insecurities. Just one of the many walls Redheart made her duty to help break down. " So Clockworks," Redheart said slowly "Did you have another nightmare?" She, of course, knew the answer but hoped that they might take this as a chance to open up and admit it out loud. However, just like every time, Clockworks replied with a defensive "No, of course not." Alright. Maybe they just need a little nudge. Redheart thought hoping this plan didn't go south. " If that's so then why did you have a bit mark on your hoof?" "A pony can get hungry in their sleep can't they," They counted, only growing more defensive as the conversation went on " and how was I supposed to know that it was my hoof?" "While it is normal to get hungry at night from time to time, most ponies would wake up and get a snack or if anything bites on their pillow till they noticed that it wasn't food. But that wasn't the case for you as you clearly couldn't get yourself to wake up even after biting your hoof hard enough to draw blood." Redheart tried her best to keep her voice level and absent of accusations in hopes of just maybe getting through to them. Clockworks simply kept their mouth shut and focused on their still rash breathing. It was clear to them that she was trying too hard this time around, so they made it clear to her that they had a story and it was one they were sticking to. "Right," Redheart had to admit defeat, there was no use in trying when they got like that. Maybe they would be in a better mood tomorrow. "I'll just clean up here and leave you to yourself, but you know that I will have to make a report on this right?" Clockworks only answered by doing a complete 180 and having their back now facing her. She stifled a sigh as she went to clean up the blood on the floor with the cleaning spray that was left on a discarded janitor cart and a towel. All the sheets but the pillowcase were surprisingly blood-free, so she simply took the opted to take the pillow and leave Clockworks with the other one on their bed. Redheart's cleaning process had given them enough time to somewhat calm themself down and to also notice how dry their throat was. So as they heard Redheart begin to take her leave, they took this as a chance to say in a low, barely audible voice "Can I have a glass of water?" The inquiry had defiantly taken her by surprise, as it was unlike Clockworks to directly ask something of somepony else as they would rather demand to do it themself. Had the nurse managed to make a crack in what was thought to be an unbreakable wall? "Of course" Redheart almost run to go and get the cup of water. To her, this was the biggest breakthrough she has had with them and there was no she move slow enough to let it pass her by. As quick as she ran out of the room, she came back with a plastic cup nearly filled to the top with cool water that spilled over the edge of the cup a bit. "Here you go Clockworks." The nurse said as she extended her hoof with the cup towards them. They turned to grab the cup only to end up being about six inches off the mark and grabbed at nothing but air. To keep them from getting frustrated again, Redheart quietly moved the cup back into their range which allowed them to promptly grab it on the second try. A small, victorious smirk graced their face for no more than a second before they turned around again with a hasty thanks and gulped down the contents of the cup. They weren't sure why they were so happy about grabbing a cup, it was something any normal pony could do with ease. Maybe it was because the other nurses would hold the cup for them rather than just hand it to them as Redheart does. Just like when every one of them would leave their room they ask if Clockworks wanted the light the on or off. It would just upset them since it made no difference either way. It's not like that switch could bring their sight back.