Pipp opened her eyes slowly.
Too bright.
She closed them again.
Every part of her ached. Like a sort of tingling from the inside. It made no sense. Last she remembered, she…
She…
Her eyes shot open again, half-lidded against the bright sun from the window.
The window?
What window?
Where was she?
She let out a wordless cry of frustration and confusion, closing her eyes again, and instantly something soft and warm was there, gently stroking her forehead.
A smell, a touch, she recognized intimately.
“M-mom?”
“Shush, my darling foal, my dearest Pipp. You are safe, you are warm, and everything is fine.”
Her wing hurt.
“W-where…”
“You’re back at home. Zephyr Heights. At the royal suite of Mercy Cloud Memorial Hospital.”
“…royal suite?”
Her mind wouldn’t catch up with what she was hearing.
Haven gave a strained little laugh. “That’s what I’m calling it. I can’t say I’ve ever seen a hospital room so luxurious. It’s nearly as posh as our palace holding cells. Though it’s a little concerning that the hospital expected royal guests at some point…”
This felt… normal.
Safe.
Pipp took a deep breath. Another.
Focus on one thing at a time.
“Where’s Thunder?” Pipp’s voice sounded rough. Like sandpaper. It felt rough, too. She coughed.
“Thunder is in the ICU, getting the best care possible. He’s going to be just fine, my darling little hero.”
“Hero?” Her mother’s word sent another wave of confusion through her mind.
“My dearest little feather fluff saved the day,” Haven continued. Her hoof kept stroking Pipp’s mane. “I’m so proud of you. You kept your head in an emergency, you did your very best, and because of that, Zipp and the rescue team were able to find you and Thunder before the worst could happen.”
“Zipp found me?”
She was still trying to take this all slowly.
“She did, dear. She insisted. I don’t think she’s slept a moment all week; I finally had to order her home. Don’t you worry, I’ll send for her as soon as I can.”
“…thanks, Mom.”
The pillows were comfy. Fluffy and warm, so different from hard snow and ice. The only source of discomfort was the tingle she felt all over, and…
…something in her hoof.
She shook it, trying to dislodge the stinging sensation.
“Careful, Pipp, you don’t want to dislodge your IV.”
Oh. That made sense. She was in a hospital, after all.
More deep breaths.
Pipp’s eyes shot wide one more time.
“My phone!” she squeaked. “My Pippsqueaks! Did somepony tell them I was…”
“There was an announcement,” Haven interrupted, smiling at her. “Everypony knows you’re both safe. But if you did want to do another livestream, I took the liberty of charging your phone.”
But there was something off in her voice, something amused. Something… embarrassed?
“Did…did my recordings get uploaded?”
Half-remembered monologues, promises to fulfill bucket item lists, unboxing videos, and…
…and…
“Oh no. Tell me you didn’t hear…”
“I heard my youngest daughter keeping a cool head, trying to keep her spirits up, and saving the life of her faithful guard,” Haven said firmly. But there was more her mother wasn’t saying.
“Mom…”
“Yes, well, perhaps I didn’t realize the… somewhat sensitive nature of some of your recordings. And all of your friends wanted an update as soon as possible; they’re all on their way from Maretime Bay right now. So yes. They all heard too. Rest assured, though, that I have since taken the recordings offline until you can… make some edits, if you like. You did, however, set them to automatically upload, so there’s a decent chance several ponies have heard some of the… pronouncements you made.”
“Oh, no,” Pipp moaned, sliding down into the covers.
“Yes, well,” Haven said with a slightly embarrassed laugh. “You may have to answer some questions to your adorable friend Izzy Moonbow about why she’s being hounded by celebrity paparazzi now, asking about a potential royal relationship. But with a mare who could survive a blizzard, being stranded in sub-zero temperatures, and digging a pony out of an avalanche, that conversation should be manageable, right?”
Pipp pulled the warm covers up to hide her face.
“For what it’s worth, I approve,” Haven said, and Pipp groaned.