Three weeks.
I've been in the hospital for three weeks.
My parents visited me daily, and my big brother came at me once too.
But being alone for almost all day made me think.
I thought about my life... How it was? I thought about every piece of it.
Solitude. Pain. Sorrow. A shiny, passing point of happiness. And I lay on a bed in a hospital.
Few days earlier I got a letter from the Royal Guard Headquarters. It said that I'm classified as unable to perform my duty and I'm going to be disarmed.
Hah, it was just an incidental coincidence, I wanted to leave it anyway.
Yes, I thought about things in those three week. Maybe too much.
But the most painful in my time on that bed, was the one time when Iron Will visited me.
He was so depressed, he hadn't smiled or went in duty for the past weeks.
He blamed himself for the death of Gemmy. I told him that he didn't do it, but my trying was unsuccesfull.
"Will. Seriously. It's the part of our job. Ponies die on the field, you know it too! Please stop blaming yourself and get back in your normal state!" I was worried and angry at him, he must stop or he will kill himslef...
He sighed.
"No, Zeph. I am the responsible for her death. I sent you, Gemmy and the whole squad on that patrol."
I blinked at him. He just sat next to my bed, his head hanging, like he doesn't want to look in my eyes. Even the color of his coat became darker.
I got out of the bed, and sat next to him. My side was still aching but thanks to the unicorn doctors, it was mostly healed.
"Will. Look at me. You have to move on. You can't do anything to change this, torturing yourself will not help you."
He slowly rised his head and looked in my eyes. I only saw pain, sorrow and regret in his bloodshot ones.
"I... I can't. You should go back in your bed. I'm leaving now."
He stood up and walked to the door to leave.
"Will, don't do anything stupid!"
He looked back at me.
"No. I wont."
And he left me alone.
One more week passed and my wound healed enough to allow me free walking around so I left the hospital.
After my short visit in the RGHQ, I got my severance pay (which was pretty big), a parade uniform and a veteran's medal.
With the severance pay and my savings, I bought a small flat in Cloudsdale, in the outskirts of the city, near to Ponyville.
I wanted to show it to my friends... Friend. Only one left.
I went to search Will, if he is alive.
After arriving to Canterlot and flying to our old apartment, I found it's door locked.
"What the hay?..."
I looked for the spare key, it was under the flower pot, next to the door.
After picking it up and opening the door, I heard the sound of a piano and the familiar singing voice of Will.
'Thanks to Celestia he didn't...'
I stepped inside quietly and crept to the room where the piano and he was.
The door was opened slightly so I had a great view on him.
He played on the instrument, a slow, sad song, tearing and singing along.
[Original song: here. ]
"All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for the daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When ponies run in circles its a very, very
Mad world, mad world..."
He stopped and began to cry, but stoped it soon and continued to play.
"Foals are waiting for the day they feel good
Happy birthday, happy birthday
And I feel the way that every foal should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me, what's my lesson?
Look right through me, look right through me
And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When ponies run in circles its a very, very
Mad world, mad world, enlarging your world
Mad world...."
When he stopped and leaned forward to cry, I stepped inside.
He looked at me. He had big sacks under his bloodshot eyes, his mane was disheveled and greyer than ever.
"Zeph. Why did you came here?" His voice was hoarse, I don't know how did he sang so well then....
"I wanted to see if you are alright. Or not. But I can't decide."
I took a deep breath and walked next to him.
"Will, snap out of it. This leads into nothing! You have to stop this!"
He looked in my eyes. I saw his expression changing as he thought about this whole situation. Then he spoke.
"You... You are right. I can't leave everything alone because I lost someone important."
"That's the spirit. Now Will, get yourself ready and go to the HQ, sign yourself to duty!"
He slowly nodded and went in the bathroom.
Twenty minutes later he come out as a new pony: all of the greyness disappeard, he was almost the same. But he didn't smile. For now, this will be enough.
"Hmh, you are ready, let's go!"
I said and led the way.
Few minutes later we began to talk.
"...So I bought it. Not too big, but perfect for me, it's close to Ponyville where I will work."
"Ponyville? And what will you do there?"
"I saw that they need weather ponies, so I thought that will be perfect for me. And guess what?"
"Hmm?"
"I found somepony!..."
"Oh, who?"
"Do you remember that filly I was talking about, that one who did the Sonic Rainboom?"
"Uhm, yeah, did you find her or what?"
"Eeeexactly. And she grown up now. I hope I can get closer to her, she is the captain of the weather ponies."
"Heh, good luck! You will need it!" I glared at him. "Ho-ho-ho, what is this look? Do you want to say something?"
"Yeah."
"And what is it?"
"You are totally your old self."
He blinked few times as he thought about his.
"Well, you said that I have to move on, so I did!"
"True. Oh, we are here." I looked at the gates of the HQ. "I'm afraid I can't wait you, I have to get back in Ponyville soon to submit my application. Visit me soon!"
"Okay, seeya Zeph!"
"Seeya Will. See you later..."
I got in air and flew away, to my new job, to my new home, to my new life.