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// 5-7-11 
// Story: A Series of Letters 
// by Dashie04 
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To my husband, Corn “Boot Camp” Husk;

The mailpony came very fast this time. Good on you for pushing it forward. Also, good on you for pushing through the crap we’re dealing with.

I have a brain tumor, and it’s worsening. I can no longer phase out the headache, and it’s killing me. The doctors still predict I only have a couple months to live, perhaps shorter. Regardless, nothing will get in the way of me writing to you. So, despite my ungodly headache, I’m still writing and trying my best to remember what happened these past couple of days.

So, I have a brain tumor, and you’re swiftly gaining a ton of disrespect, suspicion, and overall unfriendliness in your area. It absolutely sucks that such a thing had to happen.

Let me just ask you a moral question. At what point is it just not worth it? What point does the risk outweigh the reward and you should just give up? I know you’re trying to reform Slate, but it’s just him, and the rest of the hive probably won’t do anything given their propaganda, strict queen and whatnot. So, with Slate being all mopey, what time should you just give up? You’ve still got Lance, so perhaps you should just give up.

I know Jack would have my head for that one, but it’s true. At what point does the risk outweigh the reward? Please let me know this, I’m dying to know, literally, unfortunately.

Jack has reluctantly shut up after I told him he could get arrested for disturbing the peace. He still believes in equality in his heart, he just isn’t saying it. He’s still only 15 after all. Most ponies think he’s insane, and he’s almost been booked here for that exact reason. Therefore, he shut up after I told him to because he’d rather live free than die in chains.

Sparky is starting to break down. She loves us a lot more than you’d think, Corny. She constantly bemoans what’ll happen. She constantly hopes for an even better outcome than slowing down the tumor. She wants doctors to try and kill it. 

Otherwise, I think she’s visited me like a filly would check their phone. She’s constantly here to see if I’m alright, and I try to convince her I am alright. I don’t think it ever works, after all, she’s always coming back. She doesn’t want to see her mother die.

The kids are very distraught. They aren’t distraught and sad like Slate is, but I know they feel powerless to do anything. They’re always concerned, and all in all, I think that they both don’t want to see their mother die. Jack still silently hopes for the bettering of ponykind, but Sparky has completely lost her militaristic streak and is now broken down and broken up. I think I’ve said it, now, I’m no psychologist, but I truly think Sparky acts tough because her natural instinct to not be weak overtakes her. She feels powerless, so the very least she can do is convince the other ponies around her that she won’t back down or give in. This gives her at least a little bit of power over herself and a feeling that she isn’t weak, but strong, at least to herself concerning other ponies.

Then again, I’m a history teacher, not a psychologist. That would be pretty cool, but I study the past histories of Nightmare Moon, Discord, and whatnot and teach my students how that affects today, such as Luna or Discord’s reformation. The Elements of Harmony are pretty historical as well.

My life is not going very well either. In fact, hearing you say that your life is going pretty poorly makes me feel worse. I like that I have someone to share my plights with, but you totally deserve better. Does Celestia hate us or something? Jack’s considered insane, Sparky’s broken, I have a brain tumor, and the food here is terrible. There isn’t a single silver lining I know about here. They say every cloud has a silver lining, but my lining is that pink insulation stuff that looks nice, but feels like a ton of tiny glass pieces on sandpaper. 

Overall, it sucks. The only possible diamond in the rough is you succeeding in your quest to reform the Changelings. However, I highly doubt you’ll even achieve that. Slate? Maybe. The rest of the hive? Definitely not.

My health, as stated, hasn’t gotten any better. The doctors say that the tumor’s growing at an alarming rate. They tried their first slowing procedure on me today. They put me under, and reportedly (from Sparky’s account) put me under an x-ray. Then, they examined my head for where the tumor had grown out of control, and tried to kill it with radiation.

Now, ponies haven’t harnessed radiation. Or at least, radiation that could kill stuff. We have harnessed radio waves, microwaves, and x-ray waves. However, most of the lethal ones, are, well, lethal. Too much exposure to something like x-ray could mean disastrous results. Unfortunately, x-rays are just about the only thing we have. 

Reluctantly, the doctors decided to use the x-rays. They shoved a ton of x-rays right where the tumor was and shrinked it a little bit. Now, x-rays can be very dangerous, and they aren’t the most effective killer in the world. Therefore, the doctors can only use x-rays a couple times a day, and the tumor then grows back. 

As they stated, it’s growing at an alarming rate, to the point where I might only have a month to live. They said two months, but that’s for the best-case scenario. Realistically, it’s poor about going to be shorter than that.

So, get done with your military stuff quickly. Don’ run out of money while trying to fight/reform the Changelings. I truly hope you succeed in your goal. I’m certain that my goal to stay alive isn’t going to be met, but your goal is tangible.

Wishing you better than my situation;
Chrissy