//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: By a Fireplace // by TheGentlemanCreeper //------------------------------// “Well... What about this place?” you asked as you paused in front of a place named ‘Peppy’s Pizza’. “We could always just order a pizza and take it home.” Keeping her eyes to the ground, Fluttershy kicks idly at the dirt. “Well, umm... If you want to do that, then I’m okay with it...” With a heavy sigh, you hang your head and drag yourself over to a nearby bench. “Hold on... Let’s just take a break for a second, my hooves are killing me...” “I-I’m sorry!” she cries out as she takes a seat next to you. “I just-” “No, no... Don’t be sorry! Listen, I just... I just want to take you out for a nice lunch.” Glancing up at the clocktower, you can’t help but let out another tired sigh. “Well, it looks like that nice lunch is going to have to be a nice dinner...” You wrack your brain, trying to come up with someplace that the timid mare would actually enjoy, chewing at your lip incessantly. “There’s a nice little cafe a block and a half away that we could check out. Feel like eating there?” Fluttershy gives you a half smile as she shifted nervously in her seat. “S-Sure.” “...Do you actually want to go there or are you just saying ‘sure’ because that’s what I suggested?” “I...I... Ummm...” she stammers before letting out a small sigh. “Yes...” Before you can even suggest about going back home and having a quiet meal in, Twilight walks up to the both of you with a rather large grin on her face. “Well hey there Fluttershy! I was actually hoping I’d bump into you. I wanted-Oh! Sorry, were you two in the middle of something?” “Uh... S-Sort of. We... We were just looking for a place for lunch,” Fluttershy says with a little blush. “And well... we’re just having a hard time, is all...” “Yeah, having a hard time agreeing...” you say under your breath. Clearing your throat, you straighten up in your seat and manage to give Twilight a little smile. “So, what are you up to? Out shopping for the next bestseller to add to your library? Because if so, you’re gonna have to wait for me to write it first.” Twilight giggles aloud before shaking her head. “No, no... I was just out buying a few supplies for movie night at the library,” she says as she motions to the roll of white fabric sticking out of her saddlebag. “Which is why I was hoping to catch you. I wanted to know if you’d like to join us.” With a sigh of relief, Twilight rolls the the fabric off her back and stretches. “My back is tied in knots... Mind if I take a seat with you guys for a while?” Fluttershy moves a bit to side and makes some room for Twilight. “No, not at all.” “Movie night?” you ask as you move aside as well, finding yourself rather cramped with all three of you sitting on the same bench. “Wait... Please tell me you’re not going to watch that goddess awful movie Dusk, are you?” “Uch, no way...” Twilight says as she makes a gagging motion. “I couldn’t stand the book, much less sit through the movies... No, we have something much better planned. So, will I see you there ‘shy?" “Umm... W-What kind of movie are you going to watch? Is it going to be a scary movie?” Fluttershy asks nervously. “Because I’d rather not go if you are... If that’s okay...” “Oh don’t be scared Fluttershy,” you say with a playful nudge. “You can just hold onto me for the scary parts.” Fluttershy jumps at the sudden nudge, only to gasp as she bumps into Twilight. “S-Sorry...” she mumbles as she scooches herself closer to you, tensing up as she rubs up against you. “Well... You don’t have to be afraid, ‘shy... We’re watching a comedy. The Cutie Marx Brothers. Nothing scary about it at all,” Twilight says with an awkward blush as she watches Fluttershy nervously shift in her seat. “I, uh... M-Maybe. Who are The Cutie Marx Brothers?” Fluttershy says as she rests her head on your shoulder. “It’s all slapstick comedy, ‘shy,” you say with a little smile. “They’re really funny and I think you’d li-like them...” You feel a blush work it’s way up your neck and struggle to keep a sentence together as you feel a stray hoof run it’s way down your chest. “Ohh... Well, I guess I can go, as long as you come with me,” Fluttershy says with a little smile. “You... You don’t mind if I bring him along, do you?” “I, uh... Not at all ‘shy. You can bring your coltfriend if you want to,” Twilight says, breaking Fluttershy’s little trance and sending her scrambling as she sits up straight and turns bright red. “C-Coltfriend?” she says with a deep blush. “I, uh... He... He’s not, I mean... He’s... And I’m...” “We’ll see you there, Twilight... Why don’t we head back home?” you ask as you hold a hoof out for Fluttershy. “We can get ourselves ready and maybe make a little something for the get together. That is, if you don’t mind, Twi’.” Twilight offers a little shrug as she starts to walk away. “Feel free to bring whatever you want... I’ll see you two love birds tonight.” “L-L-Love birds?” Fluttershy says as you help her up, her whole body visibly shaking as she watches Twilight walk away. “Well, yeah... I guess we’re a... thing now,” you say bashfully. “I gotta admit, I wasn’t as nonchalant as I hoped I’d be with the whole scary movie thing, but uh... You weren’t so subtle either... What was that back there Fluttershy?” “...Cherry tomatoes...” “What?” Fluttershy trots ahead and down the street. “We should make a fruit and veggie platter for the party... But I need some cherry tomatoes...” You stand there in confusion for a few moments before running after her. “Hey wait up! Fluttershy, I was-” “Umm... I’m sorry to interrupt,” she says as she pulls the pouch off around her neck, only to fish around and pull out a few bits. “I just remembered I also need some fresh cucumbers... Do you think you could head over to the little farmer’s market across the street?” You open your mouth to protests, but you just can’t find the words. Instead, you let out a little smile and take the bits from her. “Sure, Fluttershy.” “Great,” she says with a little smile. “I’ll be right around here when you get back.” “Be back in a bit...” As you turn around and tuck the bits away in your own wallet, you can’t get rid of this nagging little thought. Something’s up... What is she not telling me? **************************************************** “How thin do you want to the slices to be?” you ask as you steady the knife on the cucumber. “Oh, it doesn’t matter...” Fluttershy says rather idly as she stares out the window. With a heavy sigh, you set the knife down. “What’s wrong? You’ve been like this ever since we got back.” For the first time since she sat down, Fluttershy turns away from the window and looks at you. “Like what?” “Like... Like this,” you say as you sit down across from her. “There’s something bugging you, I can just tell... Just please, tell me what’s wrong.” Clearing her throat, she looks you straight in the eye. “Tell me what happened when we were talking with Twilight.” You can’t help but blink in confusion. “I’m... Sorry? When what happened?” “When you... for a lack of a better word, umm... changed.” Fluttershy says tentatively. “I just don’t know how else to explain it. When you were talking to her, you were all... confident. And just the way you talked. Like you were a whole other pony that I just didn’t know.” “I... I was? I did?” you ask in confusion. “I honestly don’t remember acting any different...” “Well... you kinda did,” Fluttershy says above a mumble. “And I... I just didn’t like it, okay? I just started thinking about and well it... it...” Fluttershy visibly trembles as she squints her eyes before taking a deep breath. “It scared me, okay?” Reaching out, you cup her hoof in your own. “I’m sorry if I did, I didn’t mean to make you angry, I-” “No, no, no!” Fluttershy cries out in protest. “I’m not mad! I’m just... just...” “Just what?” you ask with increasing worry, moving closer to the shaking mare. “What else is wrong?” “No, nothing.... Nothing’s wrong...” Fluttershy says as she gets to her hooves. “I’m okay... I’m not mad at anything...” Getting up, you follow her to the counter and hover over her shoulder as she picks up the knife and starts slicing the cucumber. “Are you sure everything’s alright?” After a few slices, Fluttershy sets the knife down and turns to you, smiling a bit. “I’m fine,” she says as she places her hooves on your chest. “I still need a serving platter. Can you get it for me? It’s up in the cupboard next to the fridge.” “I... I’ll get it for you, just gimme a second...” You feel your jaw tighten as you make your rummage through the cupboard. She’s doing it again... Finding one of platters Fluttershy was talking about, you pull it out rather roughly, only to have a cascade of plates and bowls fall onto you. One glass dish strikes you right on the crown of your head, eliciting a scream of pain as you collapse to the ground. “Gods damn it all!” you yell out as you hold your head, eyes going fuzzy as you curl up on the floor. You try and calm yourself down, taking deep breaths. The only thing you can hear in that moment is your labored breathing. And a small whimper. Blinking a few times, you look around the kitchen for the sound as you held your aching head before finally realizing something that should have been obvious. “Fluttershy? Where are y-” Eyes straining towards the ceiling, you find yourself staring into the eyes of a rather frightened mare clinging to the ceiling fan. Getting to your hooves, you look up to her in confusion. “Fluttershy, why are you-” Your breath catches in your throat as you pull your hoof away from your head, only to feel something wet. “Damnit... I need a-” Fluttershy’s eyes go wide as she looks down at your head and jumps down looks you over tentatively. “Oh no, no... Keep holding your head, I’ll go and get the first aid kit from the bathroom!” Before you can say anything, Fluttershy zips away, leaving you to slump against the kitchen counter and cradle your bleeding head. “I got it, I got it!” Fluttershy squeaked as she as galloped in with an overly large basket balanced on her back, full of all sorts of medical supplies. “All I needed was a bandage...” you grumble under your breath. “Not a visit to the E.R.” “It’d still be the best idea if we go anyway,” she replies as she pulls out a gauze pad. “For all we know, you could have a concussion.” Taking the gauze pad from her, you hold it to your head. “I feel fine. It’s just a cut.” “It’s better to be safe, than sorry...” Fluttershy says as she pulls out a pack of butterfly stitches. “I really think we should go to the hospital. I can walk you over and-” “It’s fine!” you cry out in frustration. “I’m fine, really. I don’t want to go to the hospital, okay?” Fluttershy looks to you for a few moments before nodding slowly. “O...Okay... Just let me put these on, at least...” Letting out a small sigh of relief, you tense up as you feel the steri strips grip onto your mane and pull at the wound. “Do I get a lollipop at the end of all this?” you ask with a strained smile. “I, uh... I don’t really have any candy,” she says nervously. “But I could go out and-” “It’s a joke, Fluttershy, no need to go all bashful on me,” you say with a little chuckle. You feel yourself blush a little bit as something crosses your mind before giving Fluttershy a smile. “But a kiss to make things all better would be just what the doctor ordered.” It was Fluttershy’s turn to blush with embarrassment. “I uh... I guess I could...” she says with an audible gulp. Trembling ever so slightly, she inches closer before pressing her lips against your cheek and letting out a scared little ‘eep’ that makes you laugh. “Perfect...” you say as you pick yourself up off the floor. “Uh, Fluttershy? I know you want to drop the whole thing-” Fluttershy looks to the first aid kit that she cradled in her hooves and then looks to you with a puzzled look. “No, not that you silly filly...” you say with wide smile. “I mean, well... The thing. Earlier. About me well, changing.” “Ohh... You mean that,” she says with a small frown. “Well, umm... It’s just...” “No, no, you don’t have to say anything... I just wanted you to know that I didn’t meant to scare you or make you mad or anything like that. I don’t know what you mean by when I well, change, but if I do, can you just sort of point it out or something?” Fluttershy looks to you and manages a little nod. “Okay... I’ll... I’ll say something...” she says rather sheepishly. “Promise.” Picking up the dropped plates and bowls, you bring them over to the sink and start rinsing them off. “Great. Now let’s get our flanks into gear. Twilight’s probably expecting us by now!” **************************************************** Balancing the platter of vegetables and fruit on your back, you do your best to hold the library door open for Fluttershy. “Thank you,” she says with a little smile. “Knock knock!” you call out as you walk through the library door. “Where should I put this?” Twilight pokes her head out from the kitchen and nods at a table near the wall. “Right there is fine!” Rainbow Dash touches down from above, holding a roll of white sheet in her hooves. “Perfect timing Fluttershy! I could use another set of hooves. Think you can help me set up the screen?” “S-Sure Rainbow...” “Anything you need me to do?” you call out as you slide Fluttershy’s veggie platter on the table and pop the top off. “Well, can you set up some seats?” a mystery voice calls out from the kitchen. “Me and Twilight here are having a hard time getting this stupid popcorn to-Wait there it goes!” the voice cries out as a succession of pops fill the air. Looking around the library, you see a pile of beanbag chairs and focus for a second, grabbing them with your magic and slide them along the floor into rows in front of the screen. “Done and done!” you call out before turning back to the snack table. “Hey Fluttershy you want some of this punch?” “Um sure,” she calls out as she holds the sheet in place while Rainbow stretches a piece of tape across the corner. “What kind is it?” “Fizzy drunk time!” Rainbow says with a huge smile. A new face walks out from the kitchen carrying a massive bowl of popcorn and lets out a heavy sigh at the name. “I told you, I don’t have a name for it and I really don’t think that one fits. I mean, it’s not supposed to get drunk off of it,” he says before turning to you. “It’s just fruit punch, some lemon lime soda, and a splash of vodka. You honestly would need to drink the whole thing to feel anything, so don’t be put off by it.” “Heh, yeah... I mean, some movies might be improved by the addition of alcohol, but I don’t think this is one of the times,” you say with a chuckle before grabbing two cups of punch. “We just about ready?” The stallion looks around and gives you a little shrug. “Yeah, I think so. Lemme ask Twilight to get the projector set up and we’ll start it up.” Holding your glass up, you give the stallion a little nod. “Cheers,” you toast before taking a sip. “Oh wow, that’s good...” Taking a seat in one of the bean bag chairs, you take another swig of punch and see Fluttershy sit down beside you. “Here, try this.” Fluttershy takes her cup gingerly before looking to you and giggling under her breath. “What? What’s so funny?” “You have um... A little something on you,” she says with a smile, trying not to giggle any louder. “…I can’t see it, where is it?” you ask, honestly wondering what she was talking about. “It’s um… right there. On your nose.” Fluttershy says as she points to the tip of your nose. Crossing your eyes, you catch a glimpse of orange sherbert sticking to it and stick out your tongue, trying your best to lick it off but failing. “Can you get a napkin or-” In one quick little movement, Fluttershy leans forward and licks the sherbert off from your nose, sending a wave of heat through your body as you blush in embarrassment. “Sorry…” she says above a whisper, right before licking her lips. You laugh aloud and throw a hoof around her shoulder and draw her in for a tight hug. “Oh you are just too cute, you know that?” Fluttershy let out a little squeal and shivered in your grasp. “C-Cute...” she half whispers with a deep blush. “TWILIGHT! GO TO MY HOUSE!” the stallion from earlier screams. “THERE’S A CARD ON THE TABLE WITH MY LAWYER’S NUMBER!” You feel like that’s your cue and let go of Fluttershy gingerly before turning to watch him being handcuffed by a royal guard, only to have a purple mare chastise him for “going too far”. When everything starts to calm down again, you turn to Fluttershy. “Um, you okay?” you ask with a sheepish grin. Fluttershy nods slowly and rests her head on your shoulder. “Y...Yeah... I’m great...” she says with a dreamy smile. “Just great...” “Alright everypony!” the now frazzled looking stallion says with heavy breath. “Lemme just push my heart back down my throat and we’ll get the movie started. Sound good?” Everypony let out a collective “yeah”. “Great,” the stallion said with a little sigh before guiding the guard pony. “Now get over here Snaps, I haven’t seen you in for ages.” “Same goes for you, Smokey... Still on the clover I see?” you hear him say before they disappear out the front door. “Well... That was interesting,” you say aloud as you get to your hooves. “I think I need another drink after all that... You want anything while I’m up, Fluttershy?” “No, I’m good~” she says with a big smile before leaning back in her chair. You roll your shoulders before meandering over to the snack table and picking up a few baby carrots and munch on them idly. Now what’s gotten into her? you think as you watch her lay back, still smiling. Walking back, you sit down and make yourself comfortable just as the two stallions walk back into the library, giggling and carrying a smoke cloud with them. “Okay ladies and gentlecolts! Without further ado, let’s get this show on the road! Twi’ baby, hit the lights!” With that, the lights slowly dim before going out completely. “Lights, camera, action!” “Shush!” Twilight hisses out as she starts the film. “The film hasn’t even started yet and you’re already this loud...” “Oh come on Twilight, give the guy a break. It’s mostly my fault he’s like this. I’m the one who got him all wound up,” the guard pony says as he plops himself down beside the purple mare. “C’mere Cheeri~” The mare giggles aloud before snuggling into the guard pony. “Come on now Snaps... Not during the movie...” “What about after?” he asks with a little grin. You feel yourself blush a bit as you did your best to focus on the movie, but if it wasn’t the sweet talk the couples were giving each other, then it was Fluttershy constantly rubbing her leg against yours. “Umm... Hey Fluttershy, can you possibly...” “Hmmm?~” she asks with a sweet little smile. “It’s umm... Just that you’re rubbing my...” Looking down, you hope to get the point across without actually saying it. Fluttershy follows your gaze down and turns bright red as she finally realizes just what she was doing. “Ohh... Ohh my... S-Sorry...” she stutters out as she sits upright in her seat. “It’s... It’s okay,” you say with a bashful smile. “No harm done...” Just when everything starts to get settled down, you feel a little blush work its way up your face as you feel a familiar leg rub against your own. Well... Like I said before... No harm...you think with little smile, all the while Fluttershy works her way closer and closer to you. **************************************************** You can’t help but laugh aloud as Groucho of the Cutie Marx Brothers dances across the screen, singing with all his heart. Oh Lydia oh Lydia, say have you met Lydia? Lydia the Tattooooed Griffon~ She has eyes that folks adore so, and a torso even more so, Your breath catches in your throat and you let out a startled gasp as you feel a pair of hooves wrap around your torso. Looking down, you manages a little smile as Fluttershy hugs you tight, laughing into your coat as Groucho and the gang sing aloud. Lydia oh Lydia, that encyclopedia, oh Lydia the Queen of Tattooooo~! On her back is the battle of Poniloo, Oh to hell with it... Wrapping your own hooves around Fluttershy, you return her embrace, only to feel her completely tense up in your grasp. In one quick movement, she places her hooves on your chest and pushes you off before staring down at her feet, leaving an awkward silence between the two of you, despite the show that was currently unfolding. Beside it the wreck of the Kesley Blue, And proudly above stands Celesta too! You can learn a lot from Lydia! “Fluttershy, what was that all about?” you whisper, feeling a little hurt. “Is something wrong?” Fluttershy quickly shakes her head. “No, no, nothing’s wrong...” she whispers back. “It’s nothing.” “It wasn’t nothing,” you hiss. “You shoved me...away after I hugged you. Now come on, tell me what’s wrong. Is it me? Or-” “I-I’m going home,” Fluttershy tries to announce, only to have her words drowned out by the movie. You watch her get up and make her way for the door and you start off after. “Fluttershy, wait!” you call out as you chase her out the door. “C’mon Fluttershy, what is going on?” “Nothing...” she says rather calmly as she walks down the road. “I just feel like going home.” “Oh come on! Fluttershy, you’ve been doing this all day! I respect you, I think you’re an amazing pony, and I think I even... I even...” Your whole throat goes dry as the word gets stuck, leaving you to watch Fluttershy continue her way home. Come on numbskull, just say it... “I could even say I love you!” you manage to squeak out, stopping Fluttershy in her tracks. She slowly turns around to you, a look of confusion painted on her face. “And well... what does it say about how you feel about me if you keep pushing me away?” “I...I... I don’t know...” she stammered out as she turned back and picked up the pace. “I’m sorry, I just... It’s complicated, okay? I’m not ready to talk about it now.” “Then when?” you asked aloud as you followed her. “When are we going to talk about it?” “I... I don’t know,” Fluttershy mumbles. “I just want to go home now. Why... Why don’t go back and watch the movie?” “No, I’d rather go home with you. That way, we can sit down and talk this out like adults.” Fluttershy stops in her tracks and turns around. “Fine then... I guess I’ll go back to the library and watch the movie.” You stand there, jaw slightly agape as you watch her head back to the library. You throw your hooves up, more than a little irritated but finally concede. “Fine then. I’ll see ya back at the house.” You call out as you watch Fluttershy trot on down the road. Turning back towards Fluttershy’s cottage, you start off down the road. **************************************************** You practically collapse into your bed, your hooves aching and your head pounding. “Gods above, I need a smoke...” you groan aloud as you fish around for a pack of cigarettes. “Oh come on... Where are they?” you ask with increasing worry. “I had a full carton this morning. They didn’t just get up and walk away.” After almost ten minutes of hunting, you meander into the kitchen, craving a cigarette more than anything, but content with raiding the fridge for something to fill the gap. “Cider... That works,” you a say with a little shrug as you grab the jug. You pour yourself a glass of hard cider and sit down in Fluttershy’s library, looking for something to kill the time until she came home. “Ahh... Not as good as my Alpines, but good enough... Now lets see here...” Browsing over Fluttershy’s books, you start grabbing a few at random. “Hmm... Sense and Sensibility... Pride and Prejudice...  Les Misérables... Huh. What’s this one?” All the other books look like they belong, but the brown hardcover book you held in your hooves felt out of place. There was no title, author, no forward, nothing. Opening it up, you’re immediately presented with what looks like a first chapter. 1... My momma said that if I want to start talking to ponies without getting nervous, then I should start a journal. She says “that way, you can pretend that you’re talking to whoever’s reading”. I don’t know if that’s true, but I kinda like it. It’s niec nice to put all my thoughts on paper. “Huh... Looks like her hoofwriting... I wonder if this something Fluttershy’s working on for like, a side project or somet-” From below, you feel something tug on your leg. Looking down, you see Angel pull on you furiously, trying to get your attention. Once he finally has it, he jumps up and down, trying to get the book from you. “Come on, stop it! What’s gotten into you this time? Listen, just go away! I’m reading.” Shaking Angel off of your leg, you turn back to the book and try to continue reading, ignoring Angel’s frantic attempts to get your attention. “I said get out of here...” you grumble under your breath. Blinking a few times through blurry eyes, you rub at them before squinting at the clock. “Getting late...” you mumble before turning back to the book. 27... I met a stallion today after class. His name is Midnight Storm and he seems really really nice. He kept saying how much of a cutie I was and how he wanted to take me on a date. Me, of all ponies... I didn’t want to at first because I was so nervous, but Rainbow Dash was there and she- Your throat goes really dry as the realization of what you were actually reading hit you upside the head. “Whoa... Oh boy... This... This is her diary.” Looking down, you watch Angel make a face that screamed ‘now you get it’ and held out a paw, as if asking for you to give it to him. Making a snap decision, you get to your hooves and continue reading while Angel furiously jumps -she nudged me into it... And I didn’t regret it one bit. Midnight was such a gentlecolt! He took me out for lunch at this little cafe before taking be back to his home where I met his parents. They were even nicer than he was and asked if I wanted to stay for dinner, but I kindly turned them down. I had homework to do, after all. Midnight did ask me if I wanted to go to the movies tomorrow night and... I just don’t know what came over me. I didn’t even think twice about saying yes. “Something’s in here, I just know it...” you mumble under your breath. Gritting your teeth, you rub at your forehead, hoping to soothe your aching head. You take another sip of cider before skipping ahead a few entries, only to find one page that caught your attention; one that seemed to be written rather disjointedly and stained heavily. 35... He seemed like such a good pony... I can’t believe what he made me do... Midnight, he forced me into it... I kept saying no, that I wanted to wait first, for when I got married, but he just... He just kept pushing me to do... to do... it. And I just caved and after it all, he didn’t even look at me... He told me to get out and that he was... he was done with me... I TRUSTED HIM AND HE THREW ME AWAY LIKE- Your heart catches in your chest and a dull pounding echoes in your head drowns out everything except the sound of the front door opening slowly until the owner of the book you held stood in the doorway. For the longest time, Fluttershy simply stood there, staring at you in utter shock and horror, like she couldn’t wrap her head around what she was looking at. You decide if somepony was going to say something, it should be you. “Fluttershy, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-” Your voice catches in your throat as Fluttershy levels her eyes at you and slowly steps out of the doorway and holds the door open. “Please, get out. Now.” “Fluttershy, I didn’t-” “I said,” she says rather sharply, her words cutting you, right down the the very core of your being. “Get out.” Slowly, you make your way to the doorway and step outside and turn around, hoping to say something, anything, but instead are welcomed to the door slamming in your face. “You can come and get your stuff tomorrow...” you hear Fluttershy say from inside. “I’ll leave it outside the door.” You try to find something to say, but find yourself speechless. Instead, you just turn around and walk down the road, only to feel your stomach sink into your hooves and the whole world spin as soon as you hear sobbing coming from the cottage. “You... You sure did it this time...” you say with a sniffle as you wipe at your eyes. Looking to the town, you scan Ponyville’s dark roads and sigh. “Great... I’m going to be sleeping outside tonight, aren’t I?” you ask nopony in particular. “Not like I don’t deserve it...” Your eyes pass by the Ponyville Library and see a few lights on, giving you a little hope. Maybe Twilight can help me out... you think hopefully. She knows Fluttershy well enough... She might- “Gods damnit!” You grab your head and lean against a nearby building, every breath sending a wave of pain right through the very center of your skull. Taking a few deep breaths, you manage a few shaky steps into the streets of Ponyville before the whole world spins and shakes you around. The vertigo becomes too much and before you know it, you’re emptying the contents of your stomach into a nearby alleyway. Taking a deep breath, you try to call out for help, but your words sound wrong and it all melts into a muffled cry. Collapsing to the ground your vision goes blurry just a single piece of conversation from today echoes in the corner of your mind. “For all we know, you could have a concussion.”