//------------------------------//
// Post-Surgery 
// Story: Beyond Blind Eyes 
// by Lunaric 
//------------------------------//

Hooves pushed his door open before stopping to smell the air. He closed his eyes and tried to guess what flowers were being sold at the market today. A smile developed on his face. "I think I smell daisies." Opening his eyes, he saw the sun coming out from behind a few fluffy white clouds. To Hooves, they reminded him of something that he couldn't quite put his hoof on. "Hm," He mumbled to himself. "I feel like it is on the tip of my tongue, but I cannot seem to think of it!" Shaking his head, he-

There was a gasp to her left. Cotton looked up from her book to Aqua.

Aqua's face was scrunched up as a magic training ball bounced away from her.

"Are you okay?"

Aqua shook her head and turned to Cotton. "Yeah, I just dropped the ball on my face."

"I've heard that isn't a fun experience."

Aqua had an exasperated look on her face. "Yeah, you can say that again." She shook her head, "Well, while you're here, can you go pick up the ball? I think it probably stopped rolling by now."

Looking out, the ball had indeed stopped rolling a few paces away. "I never left" Cotton got up to go pick up the ball.

"Yeah, physically. You were really engrossed in that book. I could almost hear the dialogue through your ears."

Cotton paused. "I wasn't that distracted!"

Aqua smirked. "Yeah, you were. I heard you say a few lines. Something something Hooves dude going on a walk."

Cotton smiled. "You're hearing things, Aqua."

The filly snorted, "Nah. You're saying things."

"I-..." Cotton shook her head. "Never mind." She continued towards the ball.

"See, there you go again! You're talking."

A long-suffering sigh came from Cotton as she picked up the ball with a hoof and brought it back. Once she got back, she placed the ball between the filly's hooves, lightly tapping the right one with the ball. "Here you go."

"Thanks." 

Cotton laid back down, and began to pick up the book as Aqua spoke up again.

"Hey, Cotton? Is there anything else heavy that I could try to pick up as well? Like anything that wouldn't matter if it was dropped?"

The pegasus raised an eyebrow as the ball floated up and down in front of the filly. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know, something like a school textbook or whatever. Nobody cares about those. Also, I want to f- uh... mess with something heavy. I know these trainers are," Aqua sat up and waved her hooves in the air while she deepened her voice, "magically resistant and supposed to help," Back to normal, "But I don't really think that really has the same feeling as something actually heavy... Or at least, that's what I want to check."

"Uh..." Cotton began to look for anything that could be used, while still being heavy.

She shrugged and continued, "I also kinda want to tire myself out. Exhaust myself to improve and all that. If I'm going to be magically stunted in one way, I might as well try to compensate for it."

Cotton looked down briefly before shaking her head and looking around. "I don't think anything inside would work. Not if you didn't want to break it, that is."

"Ah, that's fair. Unfortunate, but makes sense."

"You could probably use a rock if you wanted to go out in the rain right now," Cotton responded.

"Yeah, uh, no... Conveniently, I'm just starting to feel tired!" A small thump as the previously floating ball hit the floor. The filly giggled, "Gonna have to take a rain check on that one."

Cotton shook her head with a smile.

"I'm not really tired, but my horn is starting to ache..." The filly put a hoof to her horn and hissed quietly. "Actually, I should probably take that as a sign to stop. What with it being what it is now."

"That's probably a good idea. It is constantly aching, or only when you're casting?"

"Very light, dull pain, but it gets a little worse when I do."

"Hm."

Suddenly, Aqua yawned.

"Oh? It's only early afternoon. You're tired already?"

Holding a hoof over her mouth to cover another yawn, she replied, "Y-yeah. I don't know why but I'm feeling real tired for some reason... I'll probably take a nap here in a minute or two."

Cotton smiled and shuffled towards Aqua till they were touching. "Well then, climb on."

Aqua tilted her head as her ears flopped to the side. "On your back?"

"Sure." She began to guide the filly with her left wing.

Standing up and slowly climbing onto Cotton's back, Aqua gingerly settled between the wings. She was facing the same direction as Cotton's body with her eyes closed.

She's so cute! Cotton fluffed her wings up so they were against Aqua's sides.

The filly spoke through another yawn, "T-thanks, Cotton."

Cotton turned back around and picked up her book. "It's my pleasure."

The filly laid her head against the back of the pegasus' neck and mumbled out a quiet, "Yeah."

Looking for where she left off on the page, she responded, "Sleep well."

"Your heartbeat is nice," Aqua mumbled.

Cotton's smile grew. Weirdest compliment I've ever gotten, but thanks.

Shaking his head, "A shame... Still, it's nice out. Now would be a perfect time for my daily walk." And so, Hooves began to trot to...