A magic glow enveloped the spoon full of apple sauce as it floated towards your face. You opened you mouth apathetically, allowing it to glide in. You wrapped your lips around the utensil and sucked down the food. You then reopened your mouth, allowing the magically aloft spoon to be removed.
“Well, that looks like the last of it!” Chirped the nurse happily as she levitated the spoon back onto the dining tray. As demeaning as it was, she did treat you like an adult during the whole affair. If she had said something along the lines of “here comes the airplane” you don’t know how you’d react. Of course they don’t have airplanes in Equestria, but you’re sure they have their own cultural equivalent.
As the nurse cleaned up, you rotated your head to gaze out the window at the bright summer morning that lay outside.
“You must be excited to finally be discharged today, huh Anon?” Questioned the nurse. You gave a soft nod.
“Yeah,” you replied. In truth, you weren’t sure what difference it made. A change of scenery, sure, but that was the only thing that would change for you.
If the nurse picked up on your melancholy, she didn’t draw attention to it. She placed the remains of you your breakfast feeding onto a trolley, and looked you over.
“Well your friends should be here soon to escort you home. If you need anything, I’ll be just down the hall, so all you need to do is shout, and I’ll be here in a jiffy!”
“Thank-s,” you respond as she left, with you still staring out the window. In the distance, you could spy pegasi flying through the air. In the past you had envied the way they were able to traverse the sky with ease. The unfettered freedom to travel where they wanted, not being restrained by gravity. Now though, you’d give anything in the world just to be able to move your legs.
You don’t know how long you stared out the window, absorbed in your thoughts. You didn’t even notice the multiple hoof steps approach until they were right next to your bedside.
“Hey Anon, how are you feeling?” You were brought out of your rumination and turned your head to see Twilight standing in front of you. Behind her were Fluttershy and Applejack, along with the nurse who had been attending to you earlier.
“Hey…guys,” you replied. You tried to force a smile for them, but you weren’t sure if you were able to succeed or not. “I’m…alright.”
“You ready to get outa here I reckon?” Questioned Applejack. You nodded. At the very least, you’d be able to appreciate the fresh air and the warmth of the sun on the little portion of your skin you could still feel.
“You gonna…c-carry me?” You questioned.
“Not exactly,” replied Twilight, as she stepped aside to reveal a wheelchair that you hadn’t previously noticed. It looked to be custom made. It had an elongated back and a form fitting head rest, and it had a raised leg rest. It reminded you of the type of chair that Steven Hawking rode around in, only it was more elegantly designed. Instead of steel, the metal seemed to be colored like copper or gold. The wheel spokes were studded with gemstones, clearly Rarity had offered her artistic touch to the design. However you knew the practicality of it’s construction came from Twilight. Your eyes widened when you saw the chair.
“We made this for you. We didn’t think a pony chair would suit you very well,” said Twilight. You felt a sad but grateful smile come to your face. These ponies…even at the worst of times, they knew just the right thing to do and say. There wasn’t a single one of them who you couldn’t count on to be there for you when times were tough.
“T-thanks g-guys…it’s perf-fect.” Twilight used her magic to carefully raise you off of your hospital bed, and placed you on the chair. As you were seated, your arms where placed over your thighs, and your head was placed securely on the headrest. Your neck was comfortable pressing against soft, form fitting padding. You were reclined back into a position of relaxation. You had to fight back tears of appreciation. With a sniff, you smiled gratefully.
“Ready to go?” Questioned Twilight. You nodded.
All eyes were on you as your friends wheeled you through town. The first few minutes of the journey from the hospital were refreshing. The breeze and sunlight on your face refreshed you in a way you’d never thought possible in the past.
‘It’s amazing the things you take for granted,’ you thought. But as you got further into town, the looks of pity became apparent. Some ponies looked at you with shock, some even stopped and stared. You didn’t like that. The pity they were giving you with their expressions cut into you like razor blades. Your friends must have noticed, because they increased their pace, pushing you along faster as Applejack and Fluttershy cast discouraging looks at the gawkers. Soon enough, you saw the Golden Oaks Library over the horizon.
“Aren’t we…g-going h-home?” You questioned.
“You can stay with me for a few days, while we figure everything out,” said Twilight. Great, now you were imposing onto Twilight and Spike.
“T-that’s not…are you s-sure?” You questioned.
“Really Anon,” countered Applejack. “Y’all don’t need to worry none. Friends stick by each other through thick and thin! You’d do the same for us, wouldn’t ya?”
“Y-yeah,” you replied. You would wouldn’t you? You always thought you’d have the courage and integrity to stand by a friend during a time as troublesome as this. Though now, you’d have no way to prove it. It’s not like you could be of any help to anyone any more. You were now permanently affixed to one side of the situation. As you neared the library, Fluttershy galloped forward and opened the door for you with her wing. Twilight thanked her, and rolled you into the library.
‘And so begins my role as a burden to all my friends,’ you thought. You only hoped you could minimize that burden.