//------------------------------//
// Horned 
// Story: Painful Reprieve 
// by Shinigamimirror 
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“NNNGGGGHHHH” Charlie growled through gritted teeth. “Agghh MAKE IT STOP!”

Charlie was nearly yelling at this point. He had his hands cradling his forehead.

“IIIIIT HURTS!” He stopped to catch his breath before continuing to wail in pain. “IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE’S DRILLING A HOLE IN MY HEAD!!!!”

Fluttershy was already by Charlie’s side trying to comfort him, but it was in vain. Her cooing and soft voice were nearly drowned in Charlie’s pain induced fit. She couldn’t do anything but look at Triage expectantly. Triage and Twilight shared a terrified glance before springing to action. Triage grabbed a leather strip and turned to Twilight. Triage’s expression was grave.

“I need you to bind his arms, now!” Triage spoke with authority. Twilight was feeling a sense of panic with her hooves tapping on the ground, but Triage snapped her out of it. Without a word, Twilight nodded and used her magic to grab Charlie’s hands. Charlie fought thrashing his arms around, but was unable to overpower her magical grip.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY HEAD!” Charlie screamed as Twilight put his arms down and tightened the straps around his wrists. He was shaking his head vigorously and writhing around trying to break his arms out of the sling. His fingers dug into the bed below.

“Charlie, I need you to bite down on this!” Triage yelled to raise her voice over the painful shouts as she nearly shoved a leather strip in his mouth with her aura. Charlie didn’t protest and bit down on the leather strip. 

“NNNGGGHHHHH” He continued to scream through the strip. He was biting down on the strip so hard his gums were starting to hurt. Triage turned to Twilight, looking stern. 

“I need to administer a sedative.” She said above the screaming. “Hold the leather strip in his mouth.”

Twilight nodded and took over with her magic. She was scared, but Triage looked like she knew what she was doing. Twilight looked at Charlie. Just a few moments ago they were having a pleasant conversation. Looking at all this pain he was going through...it just didn’t make any sense.

Triage returned with a syringe and inserted it into the IV. She pushed the plunger down and watched Charlie carefully. Charlie’s thrashes and muffled screams died down until a few slight groans escaped. His head lolled to the side and everything went quiet. Triage didn’t waste any time before examining his forehead. 

“Oh, I hope he’s going to be okay.” Fluttershy said nervously. “I don’t like seeing a creature in so much pain. Is there anything I can do?” Fluttershy whimpered while watching Triage. The whole time this was going on, Fluttershy was just watching in abject horror. Charlie didn’t even look at peace after they gave him the sedative.

“Twilight, Fluttershy, look at this. There is something pushing through his skin” There was a large red egg on Charlie’s forehead. In the center of the swollen lump was a cone shaped protrusion pushing through slowly. His skin was peeling back and there was blood dripping down his face. “I need gauze and bandages. It looks like…” It sounded like she didn’t believe what she was saying. “He’s growing a horn.”

"What!?" Twilight interjected, her eyes widening. She stepped forward to take a look for herself. She could see the horn slowly moving through his skin. "Sweet Celestia, he's growing a horn!" Her eyes looked back and forth from Triage to Flutterhsy. “What do we do, what do we do!” She began to pace. “This just doesn't make any sense. He just suddenly shows up in Equestria, and now he's growing a horn!"

“Twilight, you’re going to have to calm down…” Triage said calmly in a motherly voice. “Or I’m going to have to sedate you too.” There was no humor in her voice. This had shocked Twilight and she shook her head as she gathered her wits. 

Fluttershy had returned with gauze. She looked at Charlie with the saddest expression. “You haven't even been here for 6 hours and you’re going through so much.” She bit her lip as she let out a whimper.

“Thank you Fluttershy.” Triage said as she began to treat the skin around the protruding horn. She dabbed at the blood, and used an antimicrobial cream. She started to wrap his forehead in gauze. She wrapped it around his head so only the the horn was uncovered. At this point it was one inch past the skin. She eyed the horn wearily. “I have never seen anything like this.” She muttered to no-one in particular.

“You’re right Triage. There is no need for panic.” Twilight Deliberated. "I'm going to scan for magic again.”  She stopped pacing and lit her horn to scan his head for magic. A bead of sweat trickled down her brow. "I do see a collection of magic at the base of his horn...but it's a normal amount for a…” She pauses and nearly shouts ”Unicorn!" In a moment of panic, she began to prepare a spell.  "Let me try a reversal spell." 

Twilight's horn lit up. Triage opened her mouth with eyes furrowed in protest. Before she could say anything, a bright light filled the room followed by a loud crash; Twilight had been sent flying back into the door. 

"I'm alright." She said feebly. "It looks like there is a strong...counter ward in place." 

Twilight’s voice wavered as she fell to the floor in a puddle of purple.






I was walking through an airport terminal. The noises of shuffling passengers and announcements over the intercom filled the air. I had to bob and weave through rushing crowds and families getting ready to take their flights. Crying children and businessmen talking on the phone paid me no mind as I looked down at my ticket. Terminal A7, flight 309 stared back at me. It didn’t take me long to find the way to the terminal, but there was a nagging feeling in the back of my head. I shouldn’t be here. There was something wrong. 

I glanced behind me quickly. I thought I saw something shimmering behind me but when I looked back it was gone. A feeling of paranoia filled my head. I quickened my pace. Never did I feel so alone and isolated in a place with so many people. I felt like I was being watched. I looked around nervously as I made my way through the throng of passengers.

As I hurried past, I began to feel a sense of urgency. I felt like I was running out of time. As if there were an internal timer in my head and it was about to go off. I glanced behind me again and I could have sworn I saw something billowing in the shop I just passed, but there was nothing there. I just saw a bored shop attendant looking at one of his own magazines.

I shook my head and hurried quickly to the terminal and stopped abruptly at the sight before me. I had found the gate with all the passengers waiting for the flight. In the chair in front of me I saw something that made my blood run cold.  It was me. I was sitting on one of the chairs talking quietly with my wife. I was smiling, and she was beaming, in her arms was my daughter. My wife looked so happy. Her light reddish brown hair and dark green eyes sent a pang of longing through my body. 

Alarm bells were going off in my head. This isn’t right. They can’t get on the plane. A sense of panic fills my head. I walk up to myself with tears in my eyes. “You can’t get on that plane!” I shout with my finger pointing to the gate. 

A few moments passed, and nothing happened. Tears were spilling down my cheeks. They were ignoring me. I tried again. “What’s a matter with you! Can’t you hear me!” I tried to grab my wife’s arm but to my dismay it goes right through. 

“Wha!?” I gasp. “What is this?” I kneel down in front of her and start crying. “Don’t go on the plane!” I pleaded. “Please! You have to listen to me!” I looked up through my tears. The smile on my wife’s face told me I wasn’t getting through to her. I slammed my fists down on the ground in desperation. As my hands hit the ground, all the sounds of the airport subsided all at once. I looked up to see my wife, my daughter, and my own visage fade away. The lights went dim as I heard a loud voice booming behind me.

“GREETINGS STRANGE CREATURE!"






The Princess Notes


Dear Princess Celestia,

Fluttershy found an undocumented creature wounded by the Everfree Forest. It is severely burned and unconscious. It created a shallow crater where we found it and there is very powerful residual magic. I’ve done a quick scan and determined the thaumic readings are not from the creature. We can’t take it to the hospital, and Fluttershy can’t keep it at her cottage. I’m taking it to my lab for now until we can determine where this creature came from and if it’s a threat. 

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

Please do be careful. If it is an undocumented creature we must take full precautions. As my most faithful student, I trust your judgement in bringing no undue harm to the creature or to Equestria. Please keep me updated with your research. I will request assistance from Ponyville hospital to help with the creature’s medical needs. 

Progress Report

8:00 AM - Creature was found in the middle of a charred circle of grass with severe burns all over its body. Charred grass has very powerful residual magic. Unable to determine origin of magic. Unable to determine origin of creature. Burned and tattered Rags found near the creature presumably clothing.

Creature is mostly hairless. Hair atop the head is a light brown color and is matted and signed. Creatures' skin is a peach-white color.  Facial features are significantly smaller and lack a muzzle. Two rear appendages consistent with bipedal locomotion. Two front appendages have hands with five fingers, most likely for grasping and tool usage. Creature has male genitalia. 

9:00AM - Nurse Redheart came to set up my lab as a makeshift hospital room. First aid bandages were removed to apply burn ointment. Bandages were reapplied. Creature is hooked up to IV drip and full monitoring of life signs. Other than severe burns, the creature appears to be stable. Unable to administer pain medication without consent due to unknown effects on creatures neurological biology. Creature is fastened to bed with arm and leg restraints. Magical wards have been cast to prevent any harmful magical effects.

10:33AM - Creature is awake and appears to be in severe pain. Pain medication was given with consent (head nod). The creature has asked for “water”. Creature at least has a rudimentary language system. Upon administration of water, the creature “Thanked” Fluttershy. Creature is capable of understanding social norms. 

10:45AM Pain medication is having the desired effect. Creature is becoming more lucid and is able to converse. Creature’s name is Charlie and he claims he is a “Human” from “Up-state New York.” Creature is considered a minimal threat and arm restraints have been removed. Creature is not familiar with Equestria or it’s inhabitants. Slight magical aura developing around the creature's head. Creature has indicated that he was “in his bed, and then woke up here”. Possible spontaneous inter-dimensional teleportation. Heat burns consistent with a high level of transference. Creature has indicated he is from a non-magical world and is a non-magical creature. Unable to determine origin of spell. So far the creature has indicated it is “not picky” and will eat pancakes. Unable to determine dietary needs, must address further. Pain medication is having unintended side-effects. Vocal and facial tics have been observed.

11:00AM - Triage has arrived and has performed a physical examination. Internal structure has been documented. Keratin abnormality discovered on forehead. Painful to touch, red, and swollen. Blood samples have revealed some peculiar results. Dichotomy observed with erythrocytes and thrombocytes. DNA analysis has revealed Human/Pony Chimerism.

Dear Princess Celestia,

The creature’s name is Charlie and he is a human. He’s a non-magical creature from Up-State New York. He is not a threat to Equestria and has been brought here by powerful magic.

However there is something that has come up. We found pony DNA in his blood, and there is keratin growing out of his forehead. I’m working with Triage to find out what this means for him and for us. We had to sedate him to calm him down. We believe that he is growing a unicorn horn on his forehead. He has a well of magic similar to that of a unicorn. I attempted a reversal spell, but there is a powerful counter ward in place. Whoever or whatever did this does not want us to interfere.