//------------------------------// // Ch 5: Walking Again // Story: Out of the Darkness // by SergeantShenanigans //------------------------------// Midnight Star woke in a cold sweat, breathing heavily, with eyes as wide as dinner plates. After finally calming down, a heavy scowl grew on his face.‘What was I dreaming about?’ The only thing he seemed to be able to recall from his dream, was a pony with a pointed hat. At least he thought that it was a hat, it was very hazy and he couldn't exactly make out what it was. When he finally decided to give up on trying to remember his dream, he decided to check what time of day it was. His current position prevented him from getting an exact view out of the window, but with a strategically placed mirror, he could barely make out the sun, just starting to rise. It seemed as though, just to mess with him, the sun had chosen that exact moment to shine on the mirror, temporarily blinding him. "OUCH!" he yelped. Figuring that he wouldn't get any more sleep after his sudden panic attack, he decided to check and see if he could move his legs. To his surprise, he could move his front two legs perfectly fine now, besides the occasional bruise and cut, it didn't hurt to move them. A large grin grew on his face as he tested his luck with his back ones. Much to his disappointment, when he tried to move his back left leg, it didn't move, or rather it couldn't move. It was now wrapped in what he could only guess was a cast, it looked like some kind of sling attached to the edge of the bed propped up by the wall. ‘I guess that Zecora either got up early or couldn't sleep.’ After admiring the cast-like sling for a few minutes he decided to try his other back leg and it moved almost as well as his two front legs. ‘They must not’ve been as bad as I thought they were,’ he decided. A wide grin grew on his face as he realized that some time, very soon, he would be able to walk. ‘But where would I go? I do not think that those ponies will be too happy with a mysterious pony who refuses to show his face and showed up at the same time as that “Discord” fellow did.’ It was with a sigh that he finally pushed the thought out of his mind, he would cross that bridge when he came to it. He laid still, he didn't know how long it was for, but for the first time since he could remember he was happy. He sat in contentment thoughts of what he could do when he walked again ran through his head. After what seemed like a few hours he finally registered that he hadn't seen Zecora yet that morning. Looking over to her door he could see it open, so Zecora must have left at some point to go out and do something. Scanning the room for the first time since he awoke, he his eyes drifted over the room until he saw something that caught his eye. On a table just to the side of the bed was a note with his name in bold print on the front, a bowl filled with water, and two apples. Curiosity won over his hunger as he decided to read the note first. To Midnight Star, I have gone out to get you a portable cast, as you have been recovering quite fast. I have asked Miss Fluttershy to check on you, take care she will know what to do. ~Zecora As he read over the note he had finally decided, he would do or get something for Zecora to show his appreciation for caring for him the past 2 days. He started to think of what he could do when his stomach broke out in a vicious growl. Resigning, he decided to oblige and eat the apples that the kind zebra had left him. After sating his hunger, he wondered how long he had been sitting there doing nothing. Looking again at the mirror, making sure it wouldn't blind him again; he saw that the sun was no longer in vision of the window where he could actually see it. ‘I guess I've been here for a few hours,’ he thought before lying down again. He then began to let his mind wander; thinking of what he could do that day. He was starting to get stir crazy, he had been lying in the bed all day, he wouldn't have minded if he didn't have so much excess energy from doing nothing for 2 days. ‘I really need to get out of this bed, even if I can't walk on all four legs,’ he finally decided that he was going to get the cast off and take a walk, even if he had to limp. He leaned forward as far as he could reach his head, and with difficulty, he got the cast untied from the end of the bed. Removing the cast from his leg he foolishly decided to hop off of the bed, he then ran around the room and proceeded to run outside and feel the wind blowing in his mane. ‘Yeah, that would have been great,’ He decided, his thoughts returning to reality. What had actually happened was he jumped out of the bed, but his legs weren't strong enough to hold his full weight and the force of him jumping out of the bed, so he had fallen onto his face, hard. As he lay, contemplating why he was foolish enough to think that his legs would be able to withstand the force of jumping from the bed, a knock sounded at the door. Hearing the knock he wondered who it could possibly be. As if reading his mind he heard a very quiet voice from behind the door "Excuse me Mister Midnight Star, are you awake yet? Zecora sent me here to check on you while she went into town for something." "Yes I am awake, just one moment," he answered trying to get up again, but instead of jumping up and trying to move more than his legs could handle, he pushed himself up and limped towards the door. As he opened it, he received a very shocked and concerned look from Fluttershy. "What are you doing out of bed? You shouldn't be out of bed yet, your legs haven't completely healed, you shouldn't even be able to stand much less walk over here!" Fluttershy scolded as she pushed Star back into bed. "What were you thinking getting out of bed! You won't be able to heal if you don't get your rest!" she added in a motherly tone "I'm sorry, I could finally move my legs again and I was excited, so I wanted to see if I could walk or stand at all," Star looked to the ground in shame. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know, I would probably have wanted to try and walk too if I couldn't remember the last time that I had," Fluttershy sympathized. "It's alright, you were just doing what you thought best," A few moments passed in silence, neither of them saying anything. It wasn't an awkward silence, it was one of contentment. Finally breaking the silence, Star decided to ask. "Where exactly did Zecora go anyway? I know that she went to get a cast for my leg but she has been gone for hours," "Oh she just went to Ponyville hospital; I don't actually know what is taking her so long,"Fluttershy explained. Looking over at her, Star decided to find out more about this kind yellow mare "So, where do you live? You probably don't live in town if you take care of so many animals and I don't think you live in the forest.” Fluttershy took a moment to respond. "I live just outside of this forest in a cottage where I take care of animals, so you were right. I don't think I could live in this forest because it’s really extra super scary at night. And during the day.And all of the time in between.” "Tell me about Ponyville, because I will probably end up there after I can move again, I would like to know what to expect." She seemed to brighten up at the thought of Ponyville. "Oh, well most of the ponies who live there are very kind, also that’s where all of my friends live, that is, besides you, Miss Zecora and my animals," she said happily "Wait, I am one of your friends?" He asked with a tilt of his head "Well of course we are! That is if it is okay with you….." She asked, hiding her face in her mane. "Well of course it is!" Star said happily. "I would love to have such a kind pony as a friend!" A small blush grew on Fluttershy’s face."Oh, well thank you Mister Midnight Star" "Fluttershy, if we are going to be friends, then you will call me Star or Midnight, although, I would prefer Star. It sounds better," Star stated happily. "Alright Mister Midnight Star,” She hesitated a moment “Sorry! I mean, Star." "So anyway, tell me about your friends that live in ponyville." "Well first there’s Twilight, the one who wants to come and question you, she lives in the library, which fits her because she loves to read books. She has an assistant baby dragon named Spike, he is really cute, I love baby dragons, but only baby dragons, not full grown big ones. Next there’s Pinkie pie, she lives in Sugarcube corner and she’s a baker there. She’s really happy all of the time and she loves meeting new ponies, throwing parties, and playing pranks on ponies." She paused and giggled as if a funny memory had passed through her mind then continued. "Then there’s Applejack, she lives at a farm called Sweet Apple Acres, she grows apples and sells them to ponies. She also grows the best apples in town, although she is the only one who grows apples in town so there isn't much competition. Then there’s Rainbow Dash, she lives in a cloud house just outside of town, she is the fastest flier in Equestria! Well at least that’s what I think, she loves speed and racing and one day she wants to be a Wonderbolts," Star gave her a questioning look when she said Wonderbolts. "The Wonderbolts are some of the fastest fliers in Equestria, they are an elite flying team that do shows to entertain ponies all over Equestria," she said explained. "Finally there’s Rarity, she runs a store called Carousel Boutique and she makes the best dresses ever, she’s also my closest friend," Fluttershy finished. "They all sound very nice; maybe I will meet them when I finally go to ponyville. That is, if they don't run me out of town, thinking that I am some sort of deformed monster." "Why don't I introduce you to them when you can walk again? If that's okay with you that is…." She asked. "That sounds great!" he responded happily. After talking for a few more minutes the door opened to reveal a very happy looking Zecora. "Your new cast I have brought, it is for the walking that you have sought," she then pulled out a white cast from her saddlebag and brought it over to Star. "Wow, it looks great! With this I will finally be able to get out of this bed!" he exclaimed. Zecora went about putting the cast on his leg, this however proved to be a little difficult, as she didn't know how to put on the cast correctly, ending with it being put on strangely a few times. Finally after much trial and error she managed to put on his cast. He got up slowly and carefully, making sure that he wouldn't end up on his face like last time. Testing his weight on the cast he slowly walked around the room then turned to Zecora and Fluttershy. "I can walk again! Thank you so much Zecora! I will do something to make this up to you," He exclaimed almost jumping for joy, but stopping himself just in case. "So you can walk again, that is good.Now tell me what happened in my absence, if you would," Zecora asked. So Star and Fluttershy filled Zecora in on what had happened while she was gone. After they finished telling Zecora what had happened Star decided to ask. "What took you so long anyway? You were gone all day; it couldn't have taken that long to walk to Ponyville and back." "When I went to get a cast they had not one, so I had to wait for a cast to be done." "I am so sorry that you had to wait to get me a cast!" he regretted having the cast now, seeing that Zecora had to wait for it. "You shouldn't have gone through so much trouble for me!" Zecora dismissed him with a wave of her hoof. "Do not be sorry, it is quite alright, you should not regret it, though you might." Fluttershy,who had been quiet up until now decided to speak up. "Well this was nice, but I think it’s about time I started heading home…" She looked out the window where the sun was almost completely set. "Oh no! I’m going to be late going home again! Angel will be so upset!" she exclaimed. She turned to Star. "I need to stop coming over here because I keep staying too late." she said a little playfully. Normally she wouldn't be so bold but she felt safe acting like this around him, he had a calming aura. "Well this has been fun, but I have to go now, bye!" Fluttershy said cheerfully before rushing out the door. "A long day this has been, I believe I am going to turn in," Zecora said yawning slightly and heading towards her room. "Goodnight Zecora," Star said. Watching her as she left, he also decided that he should get some rest. Before he laid down, he remembered something, something he had promised himself. ‘I forgot, I said first thing I'm going to do when I can walk again is look at myself in the mirror.’ he reminded himself. Walking over to the mirror he looked at it, and his still currently torn cloak. As he reached for his hood he hesitated, remembering how worried Zecora looked when Fluttershy had suggested that he remove his hood. Finally mustering up his courage, he pulled his hooves up to his head and, hesitated again. ‘Why does this bother me so much?’ he thought still wondering why he couldn't pull of his hood, with a new resolve he finally decided to pull it off before he could think about it. All that worry had led up to this moment, when he finally saw his own face, what he saw disturbed him.