//------------------------------// // Session 20 - You Couldn't Last a Lifetime // Story: Red Eye // by Fonypan //------------------------------// Red Eye sat up at the sound of approaching hooves. The few days she’d spent alone somehow felt longer than the years before she met Timpani. It wasn’t long before Timpani passed through the doorframe. She wore a set of saddlebags, a small lantern, and a bright smile. “HI, Futtershy!” “Hello, Timpani. It’s good to see you, again. I was afraid you wouldn’t come back." “Of course I came back. I said I was going to, didn’t I?” “You did, indeed.” “I brought you some stuff.” “Oh? How thoughtful!” Timpani removed her saddlebags and dropped them on the floor. “I brought a book from the library. It’s about the undead, and I think it’s the same one you were talking about. It has a section on liches, either way.” Timpani telekinetically pulled the book from her bag, and offered it to Red Eye. Red Eye accepted the book, and read the title aloud. “Ghosts, Ghasts, and Ghoulies: All You Ever Wanted to Know About Undead Horrors, but Were Afraid to Ask. This is probably the one. Is Twilight all right with letting me borrow it?” “She was all right with letting me borrow it. She doesn’t need to know where it is until I give it back.” “That seems a little dishonest.” “Nah, it’ll be fine. Just try not to get any blood on it.” Red Eye looked down at the book. It was already smeared with blood, just from brief contact with her hooves. “Oops. Too late for that.” “Oh, well. I’ll just tell Twilight I lost it.” “I don’t want you to get in trouble.” “The worst she can do it put me to work to pay it off. It’s really not a big deal.” “Well, if you’re sure, then I won’t worry about it. Thank you for bringing this to me, Timpani.” “You’re welcome! I read part of it before I brought it here. It mentions that Forgotten preyed on foals to preserve her youth, but didn’t explain how it’s done. I’m afraid to ask, but I’ve been looking for old magic books in the library. If I can find the right spell book, I’ll—“ “No.” “What?” “I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn more about my condition, but I will not drain anypony to restore myself. I miss the mare I used to be, but the price is too dire.” “Even if you had a willing filly to drain?” “No. Even if I wanted to do something so despicable, I’m not a unicorn.” “What if I learn the spell, and do all the magic parts, and you just reap the benefits?” “Timpani, stop. Life is beautiful. You should cherish every moment. Don’t throw it all away for a long-dead wretch like me.” “I know life is great! That’s why I wish I could live forever, like you.” Red Eye dropped the book, and put her clammy hooves on Timpani’s shoulders. “Don’t say that! Don’t ever say that!” “I don’t understand. What’s wrong with eternal life?” “Undeath isn’t eternal life! It’s a never-ending whirlwind of misery and pain!” “Fluttershy, you’re scaring me!” “Good! This is scary! Ponies need to be able to die! Life is wonderful, but it eventually comes to an end. Death is a precious blessing, too. Undeath is nothing but a terrible curse. Look at me. I’m falling apart and I can still feel. I’m in constant pain! Nothing inside me works, anymore. Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve had food in my belly, or air in my lungs? Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve slept? You don’t want this. Nopony wants this.” Timpani’s lip quivered, and her eyes grew misty. “I’m so sorry, Fluttershy.” Red Eye emitted a breathless sigh. “No, I’m the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t have raised my voice. I didn’t mean to upset you.” “I’m not upset because of what you said. I just never realized how hard this is for you.” Timpani hugged Red Eye, and sniffled. “I’ve said a lot of rude things. I’m so sorry, I had no idea being undead was so terrible.” Red Eye returned the hug, inadvertently smearing blood all over Timpani in the process. “It’s all right. Just enjoy life while it lasts, and accept death when it comes.” “What if I become a princess?” “Well, I suppose then you could live forever without consequences, but—“ “Cool! I don’t even want to be a zombie anymore!” “Great! I’m glad we could put that behind us.” “Ooh, I nearly forgot! I have another present for you.” Red Eye released Timpani. “Oh? What is it?” “Just wait, you’ll see.” Timpani removed a roll of fabric, a pair of scissors, a tape measure, a marker, a needle, and a spool of thread from her saddlebags. She found a clean spot on the floor to arrange her things. Then, she approached Red Eye with the tape measure. “What is all of this? What are you doing?” “I thought about what you said last time. Aunt Rarity has been teaching me to sew. I thought I could help you become pretty.” “I don’t follow you.” “I’ll cut some canvas, then sew it onto you! It won’t be perfect, but you’ll be whole again. The canvas I brought is thick and waterproof, so it should last a long time. And it’s almost the same color as your coat!” “Oh my. I never thought of trying something like this. What a good idea!” “I just have to take some measurements, and then I can make patches for you.” Timpani measured the circumference of Red Eye’s left leg. Then, she attempted to straighten out the loose flesh to measure the length of the burn. “A-ah! That’s tender!” “Sorry.” Timpani held Red Eye’s flesh in place and stitched her torn skin back together. Once the leg bone was concealed, she measured and cut a piece of fabric. Timpani covered Red Eye’s burn, and stitched the fabric to her leg. Each time the needle pierced Red Eye's skin, she winced. She did her best to remain still while Timpani stitched the canvas to her leg, but could’t prevent the odd twitch or squirm. Timpani guided the needle with as much precision as she could muster. She made a series of strong sutures along each edge of the canvas patch. Red Eye squirmed and whimpered the entire time. The cold steel punctured her over and over, dragging rough thread behind it. In time, the patch was in place. Timpani finished the last suture and stepped back with a smile. “That worked better than I expected,” said Timpani. “Have a look.” Red Eye held up her left foreleg and examined Timpani’s efforts. She turned her leg from side to side, admiring the stitching. “Excellent work! It’s like my leg is whole again!” “Thanks!” “No, thank you.” “Let’s do your face, next. I wish I could cover your eye without blinding you.” “Yeah, so do I. I think the eye is what freaks a lot of ponies out.” Red Eye put her hoof down and returned her full attention to Timpani. “Oh my gosh, you got your cutie mark!” Timpani twisted around and examined her own flank. “I did! Sutures are my special talent!” “That’s unsettling. Oh, but still, congratulations!” “I can be a doctor! Or a mad scientist who sews corpses together and—“ “Stick with doctor.” “You’re no fun. Ah, well. I should patch up the rest of you before it gets too late.” Timpani measured Red Eye’s head. She took measurements at several different angles, and made sure to get the circumference of Red Eye’s empty socket. After very thoroughly measuring, she drew a pattern on her canvas and cut out an oddly shaped piece of fabric. She pressed the patch against the side of Red Eye’s head, and re-threaded her needle. “Hold still, this might hurt.” Once again, Red Eye endured the pain of having canvas stitched to her flesh. This time onto the ragged edges of her torn scalp and neck. The face patch covered the left side of her skull, and kept her tongue neatly tucked away. For nearly an hour, the process repeated. Timpani measured, re-measured, cut, and sewed until all of Red Eye’s larger wounds and burns were hidden. Soon, only a few scrap pieces of canvas remained. “There! All done!” said Timpani. Red Eye admired herself in the mirror. “I do look much better. Thank you, Timpani.” “You’re welcome! I’m happy to help! I’ll patch you up again if that canvas wears out.” “You are wonderful, Timpani. Don’t ever stop being who you are.” Timpani blushed. “Thanks, Fluttershy. That’s really sweet.” Timpani gently poked Red Eye’s nose and said, “boop!” Then, she turned and started to pack up her things. “I have school in the morning, I should go.” “Good night, Timpani. Take care.” “You too! I’ll see you next time!”