//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Glasses are Windows for the Face // Story: Wish upon a Supernova // by Hyper Atomic //------------------------------// Glasses are Windows for the Face I was flying. The warm crimson sky formed a glowing backdrop against the cumulus clouds. The wind whipped through my hair as I soared, my arms straight out as if to direct my course. Over, under, and around the suspended water vapor I flew, my body enjoying the feelings of freedom that came with it. Ka-ching. I stared at the cloud on my left, puzzled as to why it would make such a noise, when the one above me started to speak. “Is he okay?” Ka-ching. The first cloud was getting louder, a very unwelcome shade of gray bubbling up from within. I took off like a rocket, trying to get away from the sound. “He looks burned almost everywhere.” I could barely understand the wisp of stratus I passed at breakneck speed. Ka-ching. It was no use! The ominous dark cloud was gaining on me, no matter how fast I went! A deep and angry thunder began to roil within. My heart was hammering in my ears. “No you can't throw him a party until he's better, we can take it from here.” KA-CHUNK! My eyes snapped open, greeted by a haze of white and a sense of movement. I was still on my side, but not on grass anymore. This was on wheels. “Oh! You're awake!” a female voice spoke out from above my head. I started to crane my neck to see who was addressing me, and a river of pain washed over my skin for the attempt. My face must have shown how much it hurt. “No, don't move! It's okay,” she reassured. In what world is being burned from head to toe anywhere near the definition of 'okay'? The gurney continued to move down the hall, the soft clinking of its wheels the only other sound I could make out. I'm on a gurney. Then I'm in a hospital? Who... “Miss Pie found you unconscious on the grass this morning,” the voice continued, “Can you tell me how you were injured?” “Don't get too many who look like they pulled an Icarus, huh?” I chuckled, but I sounded hoarse, like my mouth wasn't right. “Icarus?” She sounded confused. “Yeah, the story of the guy who flies too close to the sun and burns his wings.” “Oh dear, did you?” Her concern evident. While I may have been expecting this question, what I wasn't expecting was her tone. That certainly wasn't sarcasm. “No...” My voice suddenly unsure. She couldn't have thought I was serious, right? “I'm actually not sure at all how it happened.” We turned a corner, and the gurney must have maneuvered through a doorway. I was still having trouble making out what I was seeing. Jeez, that light must have done a real number on my eyes. The trolley came to a stop, and I definitely had some hearing damage too because I swear I heard two sets of footsteps as she walked around to where I could see. I've heard of double vision, but double audio? Strange … I didn't hear anything else with an echo... “I'm afraid no one could recognize you, what's your name?” My blurry vision could barely make out her form as she asked. It was white with some pink on the side, and I could almost see some kind of red-ish splotch on her head. “Maxwell Glass, ma'am.” I tried to give her a smile. At least that didn't hurt to move. “Mack Swell Glass,” she repeated, sounding more than a little unsure and the way she said it was slightly off as she wrote it down. “Well, I'm nurse Redheart. Don't worry, we'll take good care of you here at Ponyville general hospital, Mr. Glass.” “Thank y-” I began before the words backed up in my throat. Ponyville? I don't know of any city nearby with that name... How far did they take me to find a hospital? AND WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY EYES!? I'm getting a headache like I'm not wearing my glasses. My pupils cycled around the edge of my vision, not seeing any frames. I'm not wearing my glasses. “Um, I'm sorry, but I'm having a great deal of trouble without my glasses and it's giving me an incredible headache. You wouldn't happen to have them would you?” I asked with a little extra sweetness on it. Always be nice to the lady with the needles … and the drugs. “I'm sorry,” her voice carried the frown she must have been wearing. “I'll have to ask Miss Pie if she found any prescription lenses nearby.” Miss Redheart began walking toward what must have been the door. “I'll be right back with some medicine and water.” I sighed and kept my eyes closed. Okay, let's work this backwards. Just think of it as a logic puzzle. I'm in a hospital- correction: Ponyville general hospital. I was admitted by a 'Miss Pie' who found me unconscious. How long was I out? Wait, back up … no one recognized me? Did they not check my wallet? Focus! Okay, before I passed out I was relaxing with my coffee when that light came from- “Here you go,” the nurse smiled, breaking me out of my thoughts as she entered the room with that same double set of footsteps. “This will make you feel much better.” Why does it sound like she was talking around something? I could make out the shapes of a white tray with a glass of water and a pill. Knowing it would hurt, I steeled myself and took a deep breath. Thankfully, my arm was much more responsive than the last time, and the pain was at least bearable. I nabbed the pill and swallowed it before my hand had even brought the water to my lips. My fingers must be as numb as my toes. I can't even feel the glass. I downed the whole thing without a breath, returning the empty cup to the tray. “Since I take it you're not from Ponyville,” her voice not hiding its curiosity, “Where are you from? Cloudsdale?” What is with these places, and why haven't I heard of them? “Actually, I-” “Nurse Reeeedheaaaaart!” Came a sing-song voice from outside the room. “I've found our mystery stallion's glasses! And gosh are they strong! When I put them on everything goes all squitchy and it makes me dizzy but not the fun kind of dizzy like when you spin around and around and around and then try to walk a straight line,” In bounced(?) a mass of pink, not even stopping to take a breath. “that's one of my favorite games, but some ponies get sick when they spin, is that like getting sick from eating too many cupcakes? they're both so fun you want more and more and more and more and-” “Pinkie!” the nurse interjected, breaking the verbal onslaught. “Thank you! Now can you please give them back to Mr. Glass so he can see?” Even without them, I could tell she wore an exasperated expression. I'm not surprised, the pink one sounds fueled by pure sugar. Wait … did she say stallion? “Okie dokie! Your name is Glass? And you need glasses? Glass' glasses! That's so funny!” She didn't even bother handing them to me. After hopping forward, the pink haze quickly shoved the spectacles onto my face. “Hello! My name is Pinkie Pie!” I blinked away the shock of sudden clarity. “Thanks for … finding … my …” The words just drifted away from me. She wasn't wearing some excessively pink outfit. Her skin was literally pink! Pink with light blue eyes and a smile that was inches away from my face. “… glasses.” “You're … welcome.” she mimicked, giggling as she stepped back. My heart began to race. My breathing heavy. “Mr. Glass?” Nurse Redheart was sounding concerned. My eyes darted across to her. Standing there was what looked like a small horse with a white coat and a light pink mane held in a bun underneath her nurse's cap. I again focused on the pink one. That wasn't skin, it was fur. A coat of bright pink fur, with a dark pink mane with almost more bounce than her. “Is something wrong?” My breath stopped, eyes wide, mind scrabbling for purchase as my heart beat faster than ever. This is impossible! Talking horses? I must be dreaming, but the pain … dreams never hurt like that. If this isn't a dream then I must be delusional. They aren't really … wait … I heard two sets of steps before I even saw them. Her voice was muffled because she must have been carrying the tray in her mouth! That's way more detail than I would expect from a hallucination. But if it's not in my head then why aren't they … Slowly, agonizingly, I raised my hand. There, right in front of me, was a dark green furred limb ending in the unmistakeable shape of a hoof. “Oh...” So this is what going insane feels like... Then everything went black.