//------------------------------//
// I Hate Hospitals.... 
// Story: Learning to Live and Love 
// by FlashKenshin77 
//------------------------------//

	I floated in darkness, surrounded by voices.
“Why don’t you just die?” My old friend, Chris demanded. “You won’t amount to anything, its better if you gave up now.” He continued.
“Shut up!” I yelled.
“I never loved you; you were just a fun experiment.” My first girlfriend, Ashley said, laughing.
I curled into the fetal position, crying. “Leave me alone.”
*BEEP*
I looked around. “What was that?”
*BEEP BEEP*
“Well that’s really annoying.”
*BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP*
I covered my ears. “Why the hell is that so loud?”
“Please don’t die…” Someone said, their voice breaking through the others.
I quickly looked around. “Hello? Who’s there?” I was left in silence.
*BEEP BEEP*
I was getting frustrated. “That’s it, where the hell is that coming from?” I started to float around, trying to get closer to the beeping noise.
*BEEP BEEP BEEP*
I was right next to it. “Ah-ha! Found you, you rat bastard.” I said. I stared at it. “What the hell is a heart monitor doing here?”
There was a flash of light as I touched it and suddenly I heard the beep again.
“I hate that thing,” I muttered.
“Oh good you're awake.” A voice said. I looked over at a white pony wearing a nurse’s hat. “I’m Nurse Redheart; your friends brought you here after that manticore attack. They got here in the nick of time, that poison was pretty strong.”
Friends; what friends unless… is she talking about Fluttershy and the others? I thought with a groan. “Where am I?”
“You’re at the Ponyville Hospital.”
I immediately sat up, pain shooting through my body, but I ignored it as I started tearing off anything they had me hooked up to.
“What are you doing? You nearly died; you need to let your body recover.”
“Not in a hospital… I hate hospitals.” I said as I broke out in cold sweat.
“Sir please, you need to lie back down and relax. Your body is extremely weak after the surgery.” Redheart said.
“Not a chance; hospitals only make me more nervous.” I said wincing as I took the IV out. “Especially needles.”
She sighed. “Well if you won’t listen to me, maybe I can get the others to convince you.” She said as she left the room. Moments later, the door flew open and my “friends” burst in.
“What are you doing? You need to relax and listen to Nurse Redheart; she did save your life after all.” Twilight said.
“I’m sorry Twilight, but I don’t do hospitals… they make me more paranoid than I already am.”
“Um… I think you should stay in the hospital…it’ll help…I mean if you care about my opinion.” Fluttershy said, looking at the floor.
Rainbow Dash smirked and whispered something into her ear, causing Fluttershy to blush but look at me with her big blue eyes and did her impression of the sad puppy dog face.
I looked at them. “You wouldn’t let me leave anyway would you?” They all shook their head no. I sighed. “Then I guess I’m staying.” I said as I leaned back into the bed and tried to relax. That and I couldn’t say no to Fluttershy.
They all smiled and said that they were glad that I was better but unfortunately, they all had to leave. Rarity had to finish a new dress, Twilight had to write a letter to Princess Celestia about me, Applejack had to go back to work, Pinkie had to do… Pinkie things, and Rainbow Dash had to clear the skies… apparently. As Fluttershy was getting to leave, Rainbow stopped her.
“You should stay here and make sure he doesn’t leave.” She said, pointing at me as Redheart  reattached everything I tore off.
“But… what about my animals?”
“Don’t worry, I got it.”
“Oh… thank you.”
“No problem Fluttershy; just relax and have fun.” Rainbow said with a wink before taking off.
Nurse Redheart stabbed the needle into my arm and the world started to spin. I hate needles. I felt the blood drain from my face and tried not to pass out. I felt something touch my other hand and saw Fluttershy hesitantly hold her hoof on top of my hand. She smiled as she looked at me.
“Thanks,” I whispered and she nodded.
“Alright, everything seems to be back in order. I’ll be back in a few hours to bring you some food and make sure everything is ok.” Redheart said and left the room.
An awkward silence hung in the air, the two of us afraid to start the conversation. “So… you’re a vet?” I asked.
“Um… no I-I just like taking care of animals.” She said blushing.
I smiled. “Me too, I love animals.” I frowned a little, remembering I left my cats when I died.
“Um… Mr. Kennedy, are you alright?” She asked.
“Oh-uh yeah, I’m fine and please, call me Leon.” I lied. She stared into my eyes, almost as if she could tell I was lying.
“Oh… okay Leon.” She said, still staring into my eyes. She shuffled her hooves. “Um… you said you didn’t have any friends… I was wondering why not… if you want to tell me.”
“Oh… well; a lot of people pretended to be my friend, but they all abandoned me or used me…” I said, glossing over many details.
She was silent. “But what about your family… if you don’t mind me asking.”
I sighed. “…My family and I… are on loose terms.”
‘What do you mean?”
“Well; I live with them, I love them, but I don’t connect with any of them if that makes sense.” I said with a sad laugh.
She frowned. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine; why?”
“Well… you’re crying.” She said, her frown deepening.
I touched my eyelid with a finger and sure enough, I was crying. How odd, I didn’t even feel them start. I wiped away the tears and stared at the ceiling. “Why?” I whispered.
“Excuse me?” She asked.
I stared at the bedsheet. “You wouldn’t believe me…” She faintly smiled at me and was quiet, watching me. I sighed, “why are you so nice to me?”
“Because everypony deserves a little kindness.”
I nodded, caving in. “When I… err… died, I met some lady that gave me the choice to either die or live again. But why? Why did she choose here?” I groaned and covered my face. “I should have just stayed dead.”
She slowly walked towards me and put a hesitant hoof on my arm. “If it wasn’t for you, I would be dead…”
“If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have gone into the forest.”
“I always go in there, it was only a matter of time before I did… and besides, nopony knows why they’re here until they get their cutie mark.”
I stared at her, eyebrow raised. “…Cutie mark?”
She nodded. “Yes, the cutie mark is a picture on your flank that shows what your best at.” She turned and showed me hers; it was three purple butterflies. “Mine says that I’m good with animals.”
“So that’s what those are.” I muttered to myself.
“We just have to discover yours.” She insisted.
“I’m sorry Fluttershy, but humans don’t get cutie marks.”
She gasped. “You don’t?”
“Nope, we go along in life and try and find out what we like the hard way.”
“Well… that sounds…”
I laughed. “Yeah, it would be a lot easier if we had those cutie mark things but then it would get a bit awkward.”
“Why?”
“Well… then we wouldn’t wear pants…and yeah.” I said, blushing.
“Oh… I was wondering why you were wearing those…” she whispered.
“Well… humans have no fur on their body so we wear clothes to protect us against the elements. That and to protect our modesty.”
She looked at me. “What do you mean?”
My face suddenly grew warm. “It’s… just… that we don’t have c-certain body c-characteristics that you p-ponies have.”
She grew more confused. “Oh… okay.”
I tried to laugh. “It’s a bit awkward for me to say… sorry.”
“No it’s okay… I think I might be able to figure it out.” She said blushing.
Wait what? “Well… anyway, I wanted to say thank you Fluttershy; for saving my life.”
“I should be thanking you.” A few tears gathered in the corner of her eyes again. “If I had listened to you, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”
I instinctively ran a hand through her mane. “It’s alright, I’m glad you’re alright. It’s not as if the manticore killed me or anything. Besides, I’ll always throw myself in harm’s way; it’s my curse.”
“What do you mean?”
“I usually get hurt because I don’t like seeing other people get hurt. I use to protect my friends when they were being picked on or beaten up.”
She was silent. “You’re a good friend.” She finally said.
I laughed. “Sure I am, that’s why they always leave.” I said as I felt myself start to cry before I dryly chuckled. “Look at me, in another world surrounded by talking ponies…” I said, leaning back against the pillows.
“It’ll be okay Leon, I promise.” She said and wiped a tear from my eye.
I smiled. “Thank you Fluttershy; I’m just not sure.”
“We’ll find a way for you to go home.”
“You can’t.” I whispered.
“Why not?”
Tears burned down my face as I looked her in the eye. “I did it… there’s no going back.”
“Did what?” She asked, worried and confused.
“…I killed myself.” I whispered so quietly I thought she didn’t hear me.
She gasped and started to cry herself.  I didn’t know what to do so I reached forward and gave her a light hug, still not sure what I was doing. She didn’t seem to mind, crying against the hospital gown.
“Why?” She asked, looking into my eyes, her tears running down her cheeks.
“Because… everyone I trusted betrayed me; everyone that I thought could help me used me. No one was there for me when I needed them but I was always there for them… I just couldn’t take it anymore.”
“What about your family?”
“They… didn’t understand. They only cared about themselves… they had too many other troubles to worry about than me so I never said anything.”
She reached around and gave me another hug. “I’m sorry.”
I smiled faintly and gave her a hug back. “Don’t worry Fluttershy, its okay. There’s nothing that I can do about it now; I gotta live with that. But can I ask you for a favor?”
“What?
“Can you not tell the others about my… decision; I’d rather not have it public knowledge.”
She nodded. “I understand and pinkie promise not to say anything.”
“Pinkie Promise?” I asked, wondering how they did that with no pinkies.
“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” She said, crossing her heart and then putting the hoof over her eye.
“That’s an interesting way of promising someone-err somepony.” I said and leaned back against the pillows. Huh… probably shouldn’t have told a pony I just met that I killed myself; they probably think I’m crazy anyway. I started to laugh. I’m a zombie…
“Are you alright Leon?” Fluttershy asked, worried.
“I’m fine… you guys probably think I’m crazy anyway.”
“No, we’re not sure what to think. Twilight said that humans are mean spirited, but you’re different.” Fluttershy said.
Wow… that’s the first time I didn’t hear her stutter. “Well, I’m not sure if I’m mean spirited or not; all I know is I now live with talking ponies. Should be fun.” I said with a small smile.
She smiled back. “Don’t worry, the princesses will know what to do.”
“Princesses?”
“Princesses Celestia and Luna rule Equestria. They’re the nicest ponies I’ve ever met…” Fluttershy said, her voice getting quiet.
I noticed something was bothering her. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh… um… nothing.”
“Fluttershy, I know something is bothering you; but you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
She shivered. “I’m just worried what the princesses will do.”
“What do you mean?”
“What will they do with you?”
“That’s a good question.” A tall white pony said as she entered the room. Her voice sounded so familiar but yet I couldn’t place where I heard it. Fluttershy eeped and bowed as I struggled to do the same. “It’s alright Leon, you don’t have to bow.”
I went out on a limb and guessed. This must be Princess Celestia. She was almost as tall as I was. She had a constantly billowing rainbow mane and white coat. She also had a horn and wings. Odd… I’ve only seen every other pony with one or the other. “Well… I’m in a foreign land and meeting with its ruler; the least I can do is show my respect.” I said hesitantly.
She smiled. “How kind of you but don’t need to bow.” She walked over to me. I saw her horn glowing. “May I read your mind?”
“…Ah … sure, I guess.”
She nodded and pressed her horn against my forehead. I assumed it would hurt so I closed my eyes and prepared for the worst, but I didn’t feel anything. I cracked open an eye and saw her eyes closed and she was concentrating. I looked over to see Fluttershy nervously kicking against the floor.
“Just what I thought.” I heard Celestia whisper as she opened her eyes and took a few steps back.
“So…?”
“It seems as if I was right.”
“Right about what?”
“Nothing, nothing to worry about.”
I looked at her. “What did you see?”
She shook her head. “Now isn’t the time; we still have to decide what to do with you. It’s not every day that Equestria gets a visit from a human.”
“Um… Princess Celestia?”
“Yes Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy blushed. “Twilight said that when a human visits, bad things tend to happen soon after…”
“And you were wondering if that had any merit?” Fluttershy nodded. “To be honest, tensions with the zebras and griffons are a bit… high, but nothing that can’t be negotiated.”
She looked at me. “The last time a human came here… it wasn’t pretty; I had to throw him in the dungeon. Most ponies that remember will want me to do the same with you.” I gulped. “I don’t think I need to; yet. You did nearly die saving Fluttershy if I heard correctly.” She said as Fluttershy blushed harder.
“So what do you want me to do Princess?” I asked.
“Prove to me and the other ponies that you aren’t a threat or deserve to be locked up.” She said. “You’ve met the Element, ask them for ideas.” She started headed towards the door. “Now I need to go lower the sun.”
I stared at her. “You lower the sun?” She nodded. “But the sun lowers each day due to the rotation…” I trailed off. What the hell, that’s impossible; she’s got to be bluffing.
She smiled. “Ask Twilight for a book on the history of Equestria next time you see her. Oh and Leon? I can read minds.” She said the last part directly into my brain. My eyes grew and she left the room, leaving me and Fluttershy alone.
“Leon, what’s wrong?” Fluttershy asked, worriedly.
“Nothing, I’m fine. Your princess just… scared me.” I said as Fluttershy yawned. The sun was almost gone, the moon slowly taking its place. “Fluttershy, you know you can go home anytime; I’m not going anywhere.”
She frowned and looked at the ground. “Oh am I bothering you; I’m sorry. I’ll leave if you want.” She said as she started heading towards the door.
“Fluttershy; wait!” I said, stopping her. “That’s not what I meant. I know you’re tired and you deserve to go home and sleep; I’ve put you through enough trouble.”
“It’s no trouble…”
*Sigh* “Fluttershy; you’re the only per-err-pony I trust… you can stay here if you want.” I said, blushing slightly.
Her wings shot up a little and her face became beet red. “Umm… I… I…” she said, hiding behind her mane again.
“Fluttershy do whatever makes you happy. If you want to leave, that’s alright. If you want to stay; I can ask Nurse Redheart if you could sleep in the other room.”
“No… I really should be leaving; I have to go make sure my pets are okay.” She said, staring at the floor. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it; I understand.” I reassured her.
“I’ll visit tomorrow…” She said.
“I look forward to it. Goodnight Fluttershy, and thanks.” I said.
“Oh it’s not a-a p-problem. Goodnight L-leon.” She said, blushing before leaving me alone.
I sighed. This is going to be a long day. I felt my eyelids grow heavy and I drifted off into sleep.