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// Keep Calm and Kill Time 
// Story: I Blame You 
// by Whitestrake 
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	Being laid up in a hospital sucks, and it had been two days since the Battle for Canterlot had ended. The doctors still wouldn't let me have visitors, so most of my entertainment come in the form of mental exercise. For me, that daydreaming, and I’d lose about four hours at a time to idle fantasy. Anything that would take my mind off the itching would help, though, so I was grateful for that. The slave the nurses applied every six hours helped heal me, and the worst burns had been downgraded, but there would still be permanent scarring over my arms and parts of my chest and back. At the moment, I was considering the possibility of finding technology from spacefaring species that may have inadvertently jumped to Equestria. Sadly, a rapping on my door interrupted my thoughts. It was my nurse, dubbed Nurse Coldheart, though she was a very friendly mare.

“How are you feeling today?” The yellowish earth pony had been nothing but kind to me, though suppose that my arrival had everything to do with it. For the first few hours of my stay, I had been little more than a pile of soiled bandages and barely lucid human, it went without saying that a healer's first instincts overrode the prey response felt by most ponies upon their first encounter with our kind. Actually, it was usually nothing more than an added bit of nervousness.

“About the same as yesterday, but no pain.” That only referred to the deeper damage I had suffered, minor fractures and lacerations from shrapnel, but my skin was notoriously sensitive. Granted, I had played with fire like most other male children, and the fascination with flame had resulted in pain on several occasions, but I had never been lit from head to toe. “That balm is working miracles.”

“Glad to hear it.” I'm not quite sure if the nurse understood that I wanted out as soon as possible, or that my politeness was sarcastic. In the two months or so Jay and I had been in Equestria, the colorful ponies hadn't really grasped human sarcasm, and mine could very subtle. “Well, since you're gaining momentum, I think you can handle some company.”

“Can Trixie come in now?”

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“Just a temporary relocation, it should be quite simple.” Princess Celestia was making an offer to move Jay and Taylor, along with Trixie and the Elements to Canterlot for an undetermined period of time. This was both a relief effort and a defensive measure, the two teens were practically heroes in the capital, and the six Bearers went without saying.

“I have a little too much going on for me in Ponyville to just pack up and move.” That was a blatant lie. In truth, the flautist had spent the previous two months working at Sweet Apple Acres, it was the best kind of employment, but the rural job had grown stale and he'd seen enough of the Apple family to last a lifetime. “You're going to have to make it worth my time.”

“Jay, be reasonable.” Princess Luna had been awake for the past twenty hours, and was in no mood to deal with the stubborn human. The dark blue alicorn was fully aware that he was lying through his teeth, Applejack had been able to agree, and the Element of Honesty had informed the princesses that the flautist did almost nothing outside of work.

“I'm only asking to be payed, maybe stay in a nice suite in a fancy hotel, but that's it.” Actually, Jay was just dragging at the end, the money was what he wanted. Even then, he barely cared about being compensated for his time, his necessities were being provided by the crown, so everything else was just for luxury.

“Fine, stay in Ponyville, and all of your friends will be here.”

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“You look like a pile of melted rubber.” Trixie wasn't aware of the details, classified information and all that, but she knew that I had indeed been burned alive.

“Gee, thanks for the sympathy, Trix.” I started re-wrapping bandages on my arm, fresh ones of course, the soiled roll was in the trash. The blue unicorn looked a little ashamed of herself, and I felt sorry for her, I know how I would feel if the person that saved my life had been severely injured. Not to mention the insulting remark, but that was just something the showmare did without thinking. Nevermind that, I wasn't offended, and she new it.

“If I'd been here I could have helped.” Was she experiencing survivor's guilt with someone who was still very much alive?

“Hey, I lit myself up, don't blame anyone but me for that idea.” Not my proudest moment, but it would have been a badass way to go. The blue pony lunged forward and hugged me, keep in mind that my flesh was still very exposed underneath the layer of gauze, so you can imagine what it felt like to have someone squeeze me. With a pained squeak from me, Trixie relinquished her grip.

“Sorry.” The magician was treating me like I was made of glass, even if it was more than obvious that I was now our group's designated tank. We sat in silence for a bit, enjoying the company and lack of boredom, but still appreciating the quietness of the situation. Visiting hours would end soon, and I would be alone until my discharge tomorrow. This left me with some serious time to think, and I'm not quite certain I like where they would go. Of course, there was one thing I needed to know before Trixie and I parted ways.

“Trix, would like to fire a laser cannon?”

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Extra – Legally Distinct With Ninety Percent More Friendship.
Two months in Equestria, give or take a few days.

“Incoming!” Pinkie ducked behind a low wall as she clutched her weapon to her chest. As Gunner, it was up to her to provide the backbone of any defense or assault, and her Magigun would lead Yellow Team to victory. A sparkball erupted from her previous location, Taylor was the Purple Team's Commando, and was damned accurate with his Sparklauncher. Just as the purple-clad teen rushed the low wall, a lavender beam of light struck his forehead, and he vanished to the Purple Spawn.

Thirty Seconds Remaining! The Princess Celestia's voice echoed from many hidden speakers, so she sounded like she was everywhere at once. Given the number of camera's in the area, she practically was.

“We got an Infiltrator!” Rainbow Dash was referring to Chrysalis, Purple's expert in stealth and espionage. She was able to disguise herself as anypony she wanted, which made her both the easiest and most difficult enemy to defeat. The Element of Loyalty point to Rarity, Yellow's own Infiltrator, and the white pony looked guilty as Pinkie's Magigun rounds teleported her back to Spawn. The Element of Laughter barely had time to notice the Spawn flash was yellow that same flash blocked her eyes.

“You, too?” Dash looked more than agitated that Jay had sprayed Rainfire all over her, in fact, she was loading her Spraysling with new rounds. Purple magic erupted over the weapon as it vanished from existence, the two ponies knew all too well what that meant.

Victory!

In a wave of purple cloth, Yellow Team experienced the Walk of Defeat.