//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 (Final on Cancellation) 
// Story: Denial for Equestria 
// by computerneek 
//------------------------------//

I revert from System Standby, yet again, after my recharge break.  This one has lasted longer than the previous ones; I remained dormant for an entire day.  Probably because my power level was much lower than normal when I shut down.  I immediately establish a connection with my body…  Yes, I have survived!  That’s not just one evening, but two nights!

…  I’m lying on my back, on something soft.  Funny, last I remember, I was carrying a book away from the forest.

Oh, and my onboard medical package has given me an alert; it’s running at reduced capacity, as my onboard power cells have run dry.  I’m relying mostly on live generation from the chemical reactor.  Oh well- it was designed for this job, it can…

Er, it’s also thrown up an alert, running at reduced capacity for lack of fuel.  I check; yes, I’m hungry.  Very hungry.

This…  This could be a problem.

I hear something.  It sounds like ponies are talking.

“No, she’s been comatose ever since I brought her in,” somepony says.  “We think she’s in shock or something.”

“Or something?” another voice says.  Sounds like the librarian.

I open my eyes to look while the first answers.  “Yes.  There’s no medical reason for her to still be-!”

It’s the librarian, talking to that same yellow unicorn the Crusaders were bringing when I was crushed by books.  The librarian is staring at me as she interrupts the unicorn.  “She’s awake!”

His head whirls around to look at me as well, then he blinks.  “You’re awake,” he states.

I shift a few muscles in my belly area, causing my stomach to growl.  Then I smile sheepishly.

I don’t move any more than that; judging by the conversation, the unicorn is some kind of medical pony…  and Medical hasn’t yet bothered trying to repair the bones in my damaged wing, instead fighting what seems like some sort of infection, once the bleeding was stopped and my body reasserted homeostasis.  Maybe I landed on it or something?

In any case, the infection has been slowly gaining on Medical, and may soon become a significant problem.  Fortunately, all I need is something to eat and that can be taken care of very easily.





“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

She sighs, watching the mystery filly consume her meal.  “Yes, we’re sure.”

“Do you have any idea how many identical fillies we’ve found dead?  Even killed by the Crusaders’ accident, once?”

She nods, and shudders.  “More than you know.”

“What if she chokes?”

“Would you rather starve her to death?”

Twilight recoils visibly, and wordlessly.

Redheart sighs; she hadn’t meant the retort to come out that sharply.  “Sorry.  It’s just…  Yes, she could choke.  But so could anypony- and here, at least, we’ve got ponies all up and down the building ready to help if something happens.  Besides, even the risk of choking is better than making her reliant upon an IV for her entire life.”

The alicorn cringes away.  “Yeah, I suppose…”