//------------------------------// // Inclement Weather // Story: Whiteout // by Hyper Atomic //------------------------------// Chapter 2: Inclement Weather         Slowly, the darkness that had consumed me began to dissipate, fading into a dull grey.  I opened my eyes sluggishly as the gunk holding them shut released its hold.  An overcast sky above welcomed my return with the light of dusk peeking through the clouds.  My other senses grudgingly began to report in as well before a rather loud and painful rumble issued from within my stomach. -I've been trying to rouse you for nearly twenty minutes and yet your stomach does it in one.  I see how it is.- The familiar voice caused me to jump slightly from where I had landed on my back, a fresh pain arising from my left wing.  The sudden startle forced a quicker reboot of my drugged brain with my nose increasingly aware of what my makeshift landing pad had been. "Ohh..."  I brought my forehooves up to my head and shut my eyes.  "Just... tell me I'm dead..." -Unless Hell's under some new pastel management, I'm afraid not.- I let an exhausted sigh escape as my forelegs dropped back to my sides, landing in something squishy.  I rolled my eyes in mounting frustration as I lifted a single hoof into view, brown muck coating the back half of it.   "Being dead would have been easier..." -You're not wrong, but if we were dead, something should have given it away by now.- "Yeah..."  I agreed before another insistent rumble echoed from inside me followed by a grimace. -Dear lord, how long has it been since you’ve eaten?- "Tch!” I clicked my tongue, “Correct me if I'm wrong, but haven’t we been stuck together since ending up here?!  You should know the answer already,"  I grumbled in annoyance.  Another heavy sigh helped to cool my nerves a bit.  "Besides, I don't understand how any part of me could be thinking about food right now while I’m lying in..."  I swept my eyes around looking at my surroundings as best I could since the muscles in my neck were still sore from the fall.  "Who knows what?!" A mushy, half-eaten pear lazily floated up from the refuse. -I'd say you're currently wallowing in what used to be food at one point, so it’s not that far of a stretch for your subconscious.- The once edible fruit dropped back into the garbage with a wet squish. -But at least YOU can actually eat something to make the hunger go away.- I lingered on the former pear for a moment, before responding with an irked snort.  "If you haven't noticed, there hasn't been a whole lot of opportunities for me to eat anything." Finally, I managed to talk myself into sitting up.  The necessary muscles began to respond, albeit very hesitantly, and I could feel whatever waste I was laying in loosening its hold.  Using my forehooves, I pushed my back up off of the ground, the sticky substances giving way and freeing my wings.  Sitting upright at last, I managed to fold my right wing to my side.  However, any kind of muscle movement at all in my left wing triggered a shooting pain that ran all the way through it and down my spine. -Oh I've noticed.  I've watched every time you managed to find any scrap or morsel of food.  I've seen you enjoy them too, what little there was.- The air hung thick with more than just the cold. -But I could only ever watch.- My eyebrows furrowed at his words before realization finally dawned.  "Wait...  you're telling me, that you're actually hungry?" -Hungry might be putting it lightly.- I blinked a few times.  "How is that even possible?"  After a few moments I let out a sigh of defeat as I hung my head.  "How is any of this possible I suppose..."  I let my head rest there for a few seconds before lifting it back up.  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so ignorant of your situation." -I've put up with it for nearly a week, I can manage.  But if this is what ghosts go through, it’s no wonder so few sound nice.  Anyway. You can still eat, so let's find you something.- Once again my gaze focused on the rotten pear that had taken to levitation moments ago.  "Um... no thanks..." Yet another angry growl emanated from my stomach, the pang almost strong enough to return me to my previous supine position.  I closed my eyes and grimaced through the tightening pain.  Opening them again I looked down over my emaciated form, noticing how dangerously visible my ribs were. -You say one thing, but your body says another.- "I suppose it wouldn't be a bad idea.  After all, the only thing they fed me in the asylum was a tranquilizer.  Wait a minute!"  I looked upward between the buildings that hugged the dirty alley I was currently in.  "How is it that I've been lying here for so long and no one's come to retrieve me?  I was unconscious and everything, that’s not exactly a hard target to miss..." -They walked past the alley not long after, but none of them were looking down.- I cocked an eyebrow before it hit me.  A glance back at my outstretched feathers gave my eyes all the impetus they needed to throw another sarcastic roll.  "Right... They wouldn't have expected someone with wings to plummet into last week’s leftovers." -I overheard them returning too.  I'll bet the city guards have your description now.- "After the last run in we had with them, I'm sure we're still fresh on their minds.  Well...  I guess technically ‘I’m’ still fresh on their minds." -Very true, but if they think you're crazy, then they won't be looking for someone acting normal will they?- I blinked. -That's not too hard to do, right?- "I suppose not..."  I mumbled, turning over to the side as I pushed my legs underneath me.  As I worked my way back onto all fours, a stabbing pain brought my left rear hoof off the ground defensively.  "Yeouch!" -They weren't very careful with that needle, were they?- "Gentleness obviously isn’t on their resume,"  I lamented while rubbing the swollen bruise on my flank. -Come to think of it, you seem to be missing something.- "Huh?"  I replied, confusion written across my face. -Let me put it this way, one of these things is not like the other.- I looked myself over once more.  Aside from the fur and feathers matted with filth and the one wing hanging out to the side, I had no idea what he was talking about.  "Uhh...  Yeah, I got nothing." The sensation of something cold and wet on my other flank jerked my head around.  A glob of something better left unknown was smearing out into a rather sticky looking smiley face. -Would you believe I never took an art class?- "AHH!  What the hell are you doing?!" I shouted, turning in a circle as if to escape the gross paint.  A wad of refuse bounced off the tip of my nose, pausing my freak out. -Focus!  What have all the other ponies you've seen had on their hindquarters?- I shook my head as the ball of trash hit the ground.  My eyebrows twitched as the sensation continued across my flank.  "They certainly didn't have slime smeared across them!  Besides, what exactly is THAT supposed to be?" -I don't know, okay?  Regardless, everyone has some pictographic mark on them except you.- "Well… that may be a problem,” I deadpanned, “but unless they're blind and lack a sense of smell, that's not going to work." -I forgot about smell, though I suppose I should feel lucky given the faces you’ve been making.  Okay, new plan:  First, we need to get you cleaned up.  Next, we hide the fact that you’re missing a fur tattoo.  Finally, you bum some food from a kind stranger.  All of this while simultaneously avoiding the guard patrols, of course.  Easy.- "Hopefully it's a stranger that I haven't already had an encounter with..."  I added sarcastically.  Reluctantly, I put my back hoof on the ground, the pain from my penetrated flank blooming anew.  Trying the best I could with my wing, I managed to get it pressed to my side with half still cocked upwards above my back.  "Would you believe me if I said I've been in worse shape?" -You've been shaped like a horse before?- "...You know what I mean," I grumbled. Warily, I took my first steps since waking up towards the entrance of the alley.  I was a mess, both externally and internally.  Between the horrible hunger pangs, the sore muscles that ached from my landing, and the unknown filth that littered my mane, tail, fur and feathers, I was sure to draw nothing but attention.  Steeling myself with a deep breath, I hesitantly approached the main road as my nerves kicked into overdrive. It was a fairly large street, if not the main thoroughfare then certainly one of the more heavily used.  Multi-storied buildings lined the road, not the least of which was the asylum that I was still standing next to.  Putting it out of mind, I continued searching for my next move.   "Watch yourself!" A gruff tan stallion shouted, nearly making me lose my balance as the cart he pulled passed inches from my face.  The street was full of them. "Whoa!"  I yelped as a bright yellow cart with checkerboard accents stopped right in my path.  The cherry red stallion at the helm looked directly at me before his eyebrows furrowed, followed swiftly by the crinkling of his nose.  The sneer he gave as he pulled away spoke more than he ever could have. "Ow..." -Tough crowd.- "Honestly, that's probably a good thing right?" -If they'd rather not look at you, that's one thing.  If they still can't ignore you, it's another.- Turning to my left, I headed down the narrow sidewalk with no end destination in mind.  The only goal at the time was not getting noticed by the guards, or killed by the crazy cart pulling ponies in the street.  That is, until a rather intoxicating scent managed to overpower the foul smell I was emitting.  I raised my head up, eyes wide and scanning for the origin.  A sudden and very loud rumble coming from my shriveling stomach. On a second floor window, cooling in the early evening air, sat a most heavenly sight.  A beautiful looking, and even better smelling, peach pie rested there tantalizing my hungry form.  My body detached itself from my brain and forged an alliance with my stomach, moving on its own accord like a zombie.  Soon I was directly under the heavenly perpetrator, my mouth a flood of saliva and my stomach screaming for it. -You should keep moving.- Alek's voice had interrupted my trance but certainly not my lustful hunger.  A smile crossed my features as an idea came to mind.  "Couldn't you... you know..." I trailed as I pointed a hoof upwards. -Could I?  Yes.  Will I?  No.- My smile deflated and my stomach gave what I assumed was an angry retort.  "Come on... I'm absolutely starving here.  If only you could smell the heavenly aroma coming off it!" -That's no excuse for stealing.- My lips curled into a scowl.  "Tell me, what other options do I have?  You realize that we have no money, no way of getting money, and a squad of guards looking for us, right?" -I am aware of that, but when we HAVE tried everything else, when there ARE no other options, then will I do such a thing, only then.  Not before.  I’ve already lost my body, I'm not about to lose my morals too.- "...damnit!" I replied angrily.  "It's not about morals anymore!  It's about survival!". Several muffled voices had come into hearing range, ears twisting towards the fresh noises.  My attention turned from the tantalizing treat above to several ponies on the sidewalk with confused expressions looking in my direction.  A few of them were whispering to each other and a couple had turned, doing an about-face as I met their stares. -And is living like a beast still living?  Don't lose yourself, Devon.- Depression quickly replaced my anger.  I hung my head as I took to my hooves and moved on from the delicacy in the window, the scent gradually faded as my stomach continued yelling at me to turn around. Several blocks passed by and I only raised my head long enough to check the streets before crossing.  I had taken to counting the cracks in the concrete.  It was something I did to distract me from the overwhelming hunger and renewed feelings of hopelessness. -Look, you're going to get through this.  WE are going to get through this.- I managed a muffled "Hmph," as I kept my pace.  The scent of pie had vanished from my surroundings but not from my nor my stomach's memories.  Where exactly was I headed anyway?  It's not like I had someplace to go or someone to- -Mind the filly.- "Huh?" I muttered, more to myself than anything.  I raised my head just in time to collide with a short white and rose colored furry roadblock, sending the two of us tumbling to the ground. "Hey! Careful!" came a young and slightly squeaky voice from underneath my splayed wing. "OH!  Oh my gosh!"  I stuttered in alarm as I struggled to get back on my hooves.  "I’m sorry, I wasn't watching at all where I was going!"  Immediately after regaining my footing I put a hoof out to help her up. "It's alright, I guess I wasn't either..." Her foreleg stopped short of mine as her eyes traveled up to my own, widening all the way. "What happened to you?!" she blurted out, mouth agape. My heart managed to climb its way into my throat as I took on a very uncomfortable grin.  Stuck between the uncertainty of what half truths and lies would earn me, I opted for a more subtle approach.  "Uh...  It's a long story."  I replied as a small inkling of sweat started to wet my hairline. "Sure looks like one," the white coated filly half-whispered under her breath before standing up on her own.  "Haven't you got a place to get cleaned up at least?"  Her eyebrow raised in sync with her nose. Slowly, I put my hoof down to the ground while sighing dejectedly.  I turned my head to the left and carefully folded my wing back into its half-cocked position, a small pained frown forming and fading.  "I'm a... sorry for running into you,"  I stated before walking past her, the soreness in my back leg clearly visible after our encounter. "H-hey!  You didn't answer my question!"  A quick galloping of younger hooves and she was again blocking my path.  After a quick toss of her rosy mane, she continued, "Aren't you supposed to answer when somepony asks you a question?" The rather insistent and slightly adorable roadblock forced a quick stop and raised hoof from me.  My eyes darted about while a few inaudible syllables escaped.  I hurried to regain my composure and cleared my throat.  "Well, no, I don't have anyplace to get cleaned up.  I'm a..." I thoughtfully rolled my eyes as I carefully tried to pick my words.  "Not from around here." "Well, obviously!  You don't have the right accent," she stated matter-of-factly before tilting her head to the side, "Don't you have any family or friends you can visit?  I know when my family goes on a trip sometimes we stay with my cousins in Manehattan." "Manehatt..."  My voice trailed off as my mind raced to connect the dots.  Her voice, while feminine, did resemble that of an east coaster.  "Uhh... No, I don't have anyone to visit.  I just sort of ... ended up here." Her gaze drifted over to my partially folded wing where it lingered for more than a moment.  "Then why don't you stay in a hotel?  There's lots over on Mane street." Oh the curiosity of the young.  "Well, the thing about hotels is that you need money to be able to stay there."  I answered half-heartedly, my ears drooping along with my mood.  "And unfortunately, I have none." "Where were you headed that you didn't bring any bits along?"  she puzzled with a short frown.  All of a sudden, her face lit up and she gasped sharply.  "You got hurt, didn't you?  That's why you couldn't make it to where you were going, and ... and now you're stuck here cuz you don't have any way to get home!" -Well she got the last part right, at least.- A look of shock lept across my face at the little filly's sudden outburst of deduction.  While not necessarily accurate, Alek had a point, so I gave my head a nod.  "That's pretty close anyway," I answered as I gave my bruised flank and contorted wing another glance. Her features scrunched up in visible concentration before a smile finally broke through.  "I know!  You can use our bathroom if you'd like!  I'm sure Daddy won't mind.  He always says he'd like it if more ponies cooperated." My eyebrow climbed slowly upwards.  "Umm... While I'm grateful that you're willing to help out a stranger, I don't think it’s wise for you to bring a per... pony you just met into your home."   -Maybe not, but what are you looking for if not charity?  Checking it out wouldn't hurt.- I gave my head a shift to the right as I contemplated it.  The mark on her flank caught my eye but only held it for a moment.  A half-bloomed deep crimson rose contrasted against her white fur, the stems spreading around the flower itself and forming three rings.  "...how old are you anyways?" "I'm old enough to get the groceries all on my own," she retorted, quickly striking a pose with her head held high. "Besides, I have friends over all the time!" Aside from the fact that most everything about this felt wrong, her insistent smile wore down whatever resistance I had and I found myself nodding anyway.  "All right, ... I suppose I'll take you up on your generosity."  It really didn't seem like the red haired little filly was going to take no for an answer.  Alarm sirens were blaring in the back of my mind, but the thought of being clean again all but silenced them just as it brought out a small smile. -You don't have to stay long, remember. Just get clean and get out.- I gave a quick nod to acknowledge Alek before addressing her, "Is your home far?" "Nope!"  She beamed, practically skipping down to the street corner.  How she managed that with four legs I'll never figure out.  I followed at what I hoped was a respectable distance.  There were plenty of eyes still around that I'd rather not give any more reasons to investigate.   The busy carts had somewhat thinned by this point, as the sun had long since fallen behind the buildings, but not yet below the horizon.  Stone and brick townhome-style apartment buildings stretched down the road.  'Blackbriar' hung on a sign in blocky lettering, giving a name to the path ahead. "I can't believe I'm doing this," I whispered only loud enough for Alek to hear.  "Does nothing about this seem kind of... stranger danger-ish to you?" -Beggars can’t be choosers, just be polite and fast.- "Oh! By the way," she called back over her shoulder, "My name's Rosethorn.  What's yours?" "Rosethorn, eh?  That's a nice name!  I'm D..." My voice suddenly dropped out. -Oh, a name!  I knew we were forgetting something.- "Deh?" Rose stopped, "Is that short for something?" "Well, uh..."  I answered as I tried to nonchalantly scan my surroundings for some clue or answer to the issue at hand. -D things, D things, uh ...  Dance? Door? Dragon? Decimal? Drift?- "Drift!"  I blurted out before my comprehension could catch up to my mouth.  "S-snowdrift, yes. That is my name."  I stated perhaps a little too energetically. -Appropriate for someone who spent most of his time falling into them.- My head drew to the side sharply, "That was one day!" "One day what?" Rose arched an eyebrow. My eyes quickly refocused on Rosethorn.  Clearing my throat boisterously before taking a few measured steps, I reached a hoof out to her for the second time.  "I'm Snowdrift, and it's nice to make your acquaintance." "Yeah, maybe after that bath." her crinkled nose only served to reinforce her point. "I’ll accept that."  I added with a grin as we continued on down the sidewalk. Another block of our staccato hoofsteps brought Rose to a stop in front of a clean looking four story apartment building, its stone and brick facade blending in almost seamlessly with the surrounding buildings. "It's on the third floor, come on!" She urged, bounding up the steps and into the building. An audible exhale followed by a few clicks of my hooves and I was pushing the door open and stepping inside the small foyer of her apartment block. Stairs.  Why did it have to be stairs. The foyer wasn't big enough to be hiding an elevator either.  I looked on at them, dreading the active coordination they required.  For having four legs, these ponies sure liked using them a lot. An impatient face peeked around the second floor landing.  "Aren't you coming?" Rose called out from above.  "For a pegasus, you sure like to take your time!" My eyebrow peaked.  "What's that supposed to mean?" I whispered only loud enough for Alek to hear. -I would have said it sounded like a stereotype, except you ARE impatient, reckless, and have a hard time focusing.  So maybe she’s just intuitive.- What started as a snicker quickly turned into an annoyed snort.  "Smart ass..." I continued to the staircase.  With a few calculated moves forward, my front right hoof was on the first step and my respiratory rate was slightly increasing.  I blinked before carefully lifting my other front hoof to the next stair. A rhythm had formed in my head and it quickly transferred to my hooves.  One, front right hoof; two, back left hoof; three, front left hoof...  I listened to the steady hoofbeats while keeping my eyes glued to the next step.  Before long, the stairs had stopped coming and I found myself on a level surface again, a small grin curling across my face. That is, until I remembered there was still another flight to go. It seemed like ages just to climb two flights of stairs, but with the pattern in my mind and my focus where it needed to be, the last flight thankfully went by without any incidents. “Phew…” -They're not so bad without those orderlies chasing you, eh?- "Or when there's not a heavy sedative dragging you down mentally and physically." "Who said they'd drag you?"  Rosethorn barely whispered from my right. "Gah!" I gasped with a start, quickly looking down at the little red-maned filly.  I covered my heart in an attempt to keep it from running away.  "No one did.  I was just, uh ... talking to myself."  While answering her I found myself scratching my head again while wearing a nervous smile. She squinted at me for a moment before nodding to herself sagely.  "I know what you mean."  Her hooves echoed softly on the wooden flooring as she approached a door marked 302.  A quick twist of the handle with her mouth opened the way inside. "... that door wasn't even locked,"  I puzzled as she stepped inside. I took my first steps into the alien atmosphere as the door closed behind me with a soft click.  My vision turned a full three hundred and sixty degrees once inside, absorbing the entire apartment as I moved further in. Directly past the entryway was the living area, a far larger room than I would have expected in a modern day apartment.  The tangerine walls and lacquered flooring were absolutely spotless and shelves of collectibles, both figurines and family photos, covered the majority of the wall space.  Not a single knick-knack appeared out of place, the level of neatness and organization would surely rival that of the most fastidious homeowner.  The furniture was also extremely plush, to the point where it looked as if the delivery tags were only just removed. "Hey!  Don't get that mess everywhere!  Just go straight to the bathroom and get cleaned up. It’s the first door on the right." I took careful steps on the stained wood as I took in the fresh surroundings, trying my hardest not to leave any tracks.  While there was still an inkling of uneasiness at being in an unknown, and very young, pony's apartment, I wasted no time in following her directions and found the bathroom. The door swung shut on its own behind me. -Could you move any slower?  I thought you were wanting to be quick about this.- The curtain pulled itself back and the faucet knobs spun, sending a cascade of water from the showerhead and into the waiting bathtub below.  A lone window set high in the wall creaked open slightly, letting a light chill from the outside work its way in.   The sudden motion of the Alek-powered automated shower elicited a startled yelp.  "I'm never going to get used to that."  I blandly stated. -Hopefully you won't have to get used to it.- "Was that optimism or sarcasm?" -Whatever gets you in there.- I chuckled softly, my gaze drifting to the tub and the rather inviting opportunity to finally wash away the remnants of my asylum ‘adventure’. Carefully, I brought my front hooves over the edge of the basin.  Unfortunately, that resulted in a rather rapid loss of traction as I slipped on the porcelain and down I went.  However, instead of pain from yet another fall, I was met with absolute ecstasy from the rain of hot water against my body as it relaxed all of my sore and much abused muscles.  Instead of trying to stand or attempt any movement, I just splayed out along the bottom with my eyes shut and a massive smile stretching across my face.  My wings likewise unfolded into listless positions at my sides, the sensations reporting in from them was nothing short of euphoric.  All past, present, and future problems were quickly forgotten as the water soaked into my fur. -And thus, the rugged escape artist is reduced to a fuzzy puddle by some plain warm water.- “Don’t care,” I mumbled through the haze.  It was the odor of the runoff that finally brought me out of my reverie.  My nostrils flared as the stench of what had once littered my fur and feathers was released.  An exasperated sigh slipped my lips before I managed to bring my legs underneath me and stand  up.  The color of the water flowing down the drain had tinted into a sickly looking brown.  "Phew..." -While I realize you've been bereft of an actual chance to clean up since we found ourselves in this mess, I'm curious if you've given any thought as to HOW you intend to do so with only hooves.- Standing slack jawed as Alek’s words struck home, I glanced down at my very not-made-for-grasping hooves.  "...Crap."  Looking around the shelf on the wall, I saw a scrub brush lying with its bristles up.  It seemed to have a rather long handle with ... teeth marks? -That look was worth it, but I don't intend to let you waste even more time figuring this out.  I'll do it, but you tell NO ONE.- "Wait...WHAT?!" I stammered. The brush levitated from its perch along with a bar of soap. "Eh-heh," I laughed nervously, "Yeah, very funny, Alek.  Joke's over."  My ear twitched absently, eyes still locked on the slowly approaching bristles. -Do you see me laughing?- “I can’t SEE you at all...” -Exactly- "Look, I don't... I'm not... "  My words and thoughts were a jumbled mess.  I was solely focused on the approaching brush and soap, suddenly looking far more menacing.  It was one thing to have to be bathed by someone else, let alone another guy, but an invisible one too? The bar met bristles while suds began to form as it worked into a lather. -I'd say that you don't have much of a choice in the matter.- I stared on at the floating implements, waiting with bated breath for the humiliation that was to come.  I inhaled deeply and held it before forcing my eyes shut.  "...Fine.  Just, mind the lower regions..." -Believe me, that is the FURTHEST thing from my mind right now.- Before I could say another word, he had already started.  The familiar sounds of brushing hair matched the scrubbing coming from my scalp.  An incomprehensible whine fled my lips as the degrading decontamination began. -Oh, grow up.  You're starting to act like that filly out there.  Scratch that, I bet she'd be taking this better.- "...Whatever, just get it done with."  I replied as the suds fell from my mane down to my face.  Taking in another breath carried with it the scent of rose and lilac.  While pleasing to the senses, it was also very feminine.  "DUDE!”  I breathed in another sample,  “...You're using HER soap on me!" -It's not like I could tell!  I can only see and hear things, besides soap is soap, it'll still get you clean.- I huffed angrily in response and once again shut my eyes.  The brush had moved from my mane to my back, each stroke releasing the collected grime from my fur. -What’s the matter with your wing?  It looks … wrong.- I raised my head up into the water stream to rinse the soap from my face before looking back at my left wing.  "I'm not sure ... something's been off about it since I woke up in the alley."  Stretching the wet feathery appendage out to the side as best I could, it was obvious that where the wing met the back, something was definitely wrong.  "I can't fold it to my side or open it all the way out." -It’s probably dislocated.- The scrubbing had stopped, the heavy rain of the shower was the only sound that filled the room. -I could put it back in place.- I stared at my wing as his words sank in.  "How?  You're no doctor... Are you?" -If you're asking if I'm a vet, no.  But what other choice do you have?  The hospital?- "You have a point there..."  A hospital was clearly out of the question since I caused quite the scene escaping from one, even if it was a mental hospital.  No matter what emergency room, clinic or facility I showed up at, they were sure to have my information by now.  "What do you need to do?"  I asked with an uneasy tone. -I have to re-seat the ball joint into the socket.- "That sounds simple enough... go ahead then." The brush handle floated up to be level with my head. -You'll want to bite down.- "Huh..."  I puzzled before the brush handle was pressed into my mouth. An effervescent tingling had begun to spread throughout my left wing, centered on the shoulder joint.  My limb was slowly raised until I could feel the twinge of nerves being pinched, forcing a tensed posture. -On three.- I nodded around the wooden gag, closing my eyes apprehensively as a pitiful whine fought past the gag in my mouth.   -One- An explosion of agony ripped through my body as my wing was forcefully shoved into me with a heavy ‘pop’.  My legs buckled as I loosed a muffled scream into the handle, my body falling to the soap slicked floor of the basin. I could do nothing but lay there with the water pouring over me, my eyes held tightly shut.  Ragged breaths pushed past the soap brush turned chew toy in my mouth as what felt like waves of fire radiated from my assaulted wing.  Honestly, I should have been grateful that my stomach was empty.  The abrupt and sour twist in my gut would have ejected anything that had the misfortune of still being there. After a few minutes the agony began to subside, replaced with a lingering ache.  I opened my eyes and angrily spit out the scrub brush; deep and fresh indentations were visible on the handle.  "What the hell happened to two and three?!" -I didn't want you to tense up and make the pain worse.- A knocking from the bathroom door caught me off guard.  "Are you alright in there?" Rosethorn's voice filtered through the wall.  "I thought I heard you shouting." I jolted slightly at the sound of Rose's knocking.  "Yeah, I'm fine!  Just... working hard to get all this dirt out!" "Okay," she answered. "Just checking, and I've got a surprise for you when you get out!  So hurry on up!" I paused for a moment, "surprise...?  For me...?"  Once again finding my footing I rose up on all fours.  "What do you suppose she's talking about?" -With how your day's been going?  My money is on the doctor from the asylum being her neighbor and he’s stopped by for a visit.- My eyes turned over sarcastically as the scrubber went back to work applying the soap.  "Well you're certainly playing the part of the pessimist."  I gingerly stretched my newly reset wing out to the side with a few novel pains blooming but flexibility already improving. -If you plan for the worst, you can be pleasantly surprised.  If you expect the best, you'll often be disappointed.- "The words of a true philosopher..." I stated flatly.  "So, can we get this bath over with?  It's kind of lost it's luster now." -Are you implying it had one to begin with?  I would have called it a 'slimy veneer.'- "Haa haa..." I mock laughed as the brush and soap picked up the pace.  Evidently, he was eager to move on as well.  In a few short minutes, the rest of the grime was finally washed out.  Not even a hint of my formerly squalid condition remained. I tipped my wings into the steady downpour, rinsing the soap from my cerulean feathers.  Turning around to face the faucets, I watched as they rotated of their own accord, the fall of hot water reducing to no more than a drizzle.  The shower curtain then slid open, a small breeze pouring in from the vent window.  A little shiver overtook me as it lightly travelled across my drenched fur.   My vision was blocked by a thick and fuzzy cloth that proceeded to brusquely rub the water out of my mane before moving on to my coat. "Ah... whoa... Okay!" Was my answer at suddenly being blinded. -What?  Were you planning on shaking it out like a dog?- I gave my head an annoyed toss, successfully managing to bring my forelock over my eyes, giving my vision a fresh blue and white tint.  "I quit PLANNING anything a while ago." -That much was obvious.- The towel worked its way across both sides and up and down each leg, haphazardly turning my soaked fur into a damp fuzz.  Thankfully, he left my wings to dry on their own.  The dull throb was still present in my left wing as I gingerly folded them to my sides.  I blinked as the towel floated out of eyesight and felt it tugging downward on my tail.  "Watch it back there..."  I deadpanned. Alek finished up in relative silence and I watched as the towel folded itself up and floated towards the drying rack.  Except, it never made it there.  The cloth suddenly fell into a crumpled heap on the floor. "Whoa, what's that all about?"  I asked, raising an eyebrow. -I couldn't ... hold ...- My eyes lowered as a look of concern flooded my features.  There was definitely a hint of pain in his ghostly voice, a tone that I had yet to hear from him.  "What do you mean?  You've been doing similar things since the asylum.  What was so different this time?" -It's like having a migraine everywhere.  I was trying to ignore it, but it just kept building.  I … I must've pushed myself too much.- He sounded quite out of breath for someone without lungs. My expression softened a bit.  "Are you going to be all right?"  I asked, staring at where the bath towel had landed.  "I mean, I can't say that I'm not grateful for everything you've managed thus far, but … maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to give yourself somewhat of a... break?" -I'll be fine, just ... need to lay off moving stuff for a while.- Nodding, my attention turned from the crumpled terry cloth wad to the floor directly in front of the tub.  The pristine turquoise tiles already threatening to dump me back onto my belly should I make even one misstep.  Preparing for the undoubtedly graceful ballet to come, I took a steadying breath and brought my front legs over the edge slowly and carefully.  Both my hooves met the tiled floor with a faint click.  My weight seemed evenly balanced for the most part.  Shuffling a few cautious steps forward, I pulled a back leg over the edge next, setting it down with the same result as the first pair.  A little grin crept across my face as my last hoof slid over the side and ended on the tiled floor.  Incident successfully averted, I brought a hoof up to my face and pushed my forelock off to the side.  "Who knew four legs would require so much more coordination, eh?" -Math?- "Wow!  What an accurate observation!" I gasped, "Four is greater than two, I'll have to write that down."  Shaking my head, I allowed my farce of a smile to drop.  As I stepped over to the door, my attention was quickly snatched up by the reflection in the mirror.  Staring back with the same dumbfounded expression, was a sky blue tinted pegasus.  His cobalt and snow white mane displayed the finest bed head, pushed to one side as it was in lieu of a proper combing.  The emotions that flashed across his golden irises managed to cover several spectrums at once.  Fear, sadness, astonishment, frustration, and ... acceptance?  It was hard to say for sure how I really felt inside after finally getting a good look at ‘me’. -I’m sorry.- I tilted my ears in the direction of his voice. -I didn't mean to make light of your situation.  I may have lost my body, but so have you.- My gaze broke from the mirror and focused on my hooves.  Lifting one up closer to my face, I lightheartedly sighed.  "It's fine, no harm done."  I turned, eyeing the handle of the door.  A look of disgust crawled across my face for an instant.  "Let's hope pony’s mouths are like dog’s," I grumbled before grabbing the handle with my teeth. -Wait.- "What...?"  I spoke past the brass handle in my teeth. A sudden movement from behind caught me off guard as a cold weight landed on my back.  The towel sat draped over my hindquarters, hiding my empty flanks. -You should ... cover that …- Turning to look at the makeshift skirt, I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.  "Because that's not conspicuous at all."  I muttered before gesturing towards a bathrobe that hung on a brass hook next to the tub.  "Why not that instead?" -If you want to figure out how to put that on yourself, be my guest.  I'm off the clock.- "Don't you think it would be a little easier to explain?  Let alone to keep it from sliding off at an inopportune moment?"  I retorted as I grabbed the towel in my mouth and tossed it haphazardly onto the wall rack.  The faint taste of the rose and lilac soap remained on the tip of my tongue, eliciting an audible raspberry as I wandered to the bathrobe. -More worrisome to me is that it isn't filly sized.- "Hey, she mentioned that her dad was the neighborly type, right?"  I stood up on my hind legs, placing a forehoof on the wall as I grabbed the robe in my teeth, and with a flourish that surprised even me, brought it over my wings and back.  Returning to the floor, I lifted one leg and then the other into the sleeves.  "Whoa... this thing is massive.  Her dad must be huge..." -Well done, now you should really hurry up and thank her before getting out of here.  I fear we've already stayed too long.- With my business in the bathroom finally concluded, I returned to the door and worked the handle with my teeth, keeping my tongue carefully tucked to the back of my mouth while pulling it the rest of the way open. "Oh!  You're done fast for how dirty you were, and not being a unicorn." Rose called out from the living room. "You'd think somepony was helping you in there."  While she made her way around a square table, the scent of something savory wafted about the apartment, although not willing to betray its origin. My nostrils flared as the aroma of food invigorated me and roused my hibernating stomach.  A large growl from deep within could be heard throughout the apartment as my sleeping appetite awoke. "I couldn't help but notice you seemed hungry on the way in, so I thought I’d cook you up something."  The filly happily trotted into what must be the kitchen, before returning with a steaming pot she held by the handle in her teeth.  Tilting the pan along with her head, Rose poured the golden ambrosia into a waiting bowl on the table.  I couldn't believe my eyes. Macaroni and cheese. "I don't know how to make much, so I hope you like it." She smiled shyly.  With my mouth agape, I made my way to the place she had set at the living room table.  My world existing solely around the steaming bowl of cheesy goodness.   "This … looks absolutely AMAZING!"  I said as I brought my gaze up to meet hers, I could almost feel myself ready to tear up.  "It smells wonderful too!  Did you really do this just for me?" A bit of her namesake color spread through her cheeks while she glanced away.  "Yeah," Rosethorn barely whispered.  "You just looked so sad before, like you hadn't even had one good day." The largest grin overwhelmed my features and I carefully placed a foreleg around the little filly in a small hug.  "...thank you!  This is the kindest thing anybod-err anypony has ever done for me." "I'm glad I did," she returned the smile, "You're a nice guy, once you get the dirt off." "Heh!" I chuckled lightly, releasing the hug.  My eyes once more on the glorious bowl of nourishment.  Rosethorn took a step back and gestured towards a cushion in front of the table setting.  My flank graciously took up residency on the pillow, the fading bruise appreciative for the soft accommodating material.  The formerly steady smile of mine only wavered slightly as I caught a glimpse of something missing. Silverware. -What're you waiting for, a formal invitation?- Aleks' voice fell on deaf ears as the cheesy confection won out in the end.  Silverware or not, nothing was going to keep me from wolfing down the young filly's cooking.  I placed both hooves on either side of the bowl and dove my muzzle straight on in.  The taste and feeling of warm, prepared food in my mouth was amazing.  My face came up from the bowl, snout covered in cheese as I chewed up my first bite.  Rose commented on my form with a short giggle, sliding a napkin across the table before returning to the kitchen to let me eat. "Mmmm!"  I moaned between mouthfuls.  As I swallowed another bite, I could feel it hit the bottom of my empty stomach.  The shock of finally having something in there caused it to roar anew.  I didn’t have to be fluent in stomach to know that meant something along the lines of: ‘MORE!’ It didn't take long for the bowl to be emptied of its riches and licked clean.  My stomach was at least pacified, but certainly still had room for more.  I managed to wipe my face clean with the napkin and took a deep breath, relaxing into the cushion a bit and scanning my surroundings.  Several pictures adorned the walls and shelves, all seemed to be of little Rosethorn at various ages.  One picture however, caught my attention above all the others.  Squinting, I got up from my seat and crossed the room to get a closer look at the photo.  It was a picture of her, perhaps only taken a year or so ago.  She had definitely grown a bit since then but what held my eyes most was the pony in the picture with her.  A rather large stallion with a burnt orange colored coat was holding her up for the photographer.  He had a silver mane trimmed high and tight, but the most disturbing detail thus far was the polished silver armor he wore and helmet which he kept tucked under his unoccupied foreleg.  My eyes slowly widened as a tidal wave of fear washed over me. -So, you've managed to take advantage of the hospitality of the captain of the city watch's daughter.  Progress!- "Yeah ... I think it's time to go." I responded with a quiver in my voice. Fate however, had other plans as the unmistakable sound of the front door opening promptly demonstrated. "Where's my little rosebud?!" boomed a gravelly voice from the entryway. "Daddy!" Rosethorn squealed, rounding the corner and leaping into the best hug she could manage around his armor clad neck.  “You have to meet Snowdrift!  He’s really nice.” My pupils constricted as my ears fell flat to the sides of my head.  There was no doubt that had there been a mirror in front of me, I would have seen my shade of blue drain into a ghastly white as the blood fled from my face. The brawny stallion craned his neck up, features falling from warm curiosity into hardened stone as his eyes locked onto mine.  "You!" -Are you genetically unlucky, or is this a lifestyle choice?- "oh god ..."  I barely managed past my dry throat.  My pulse raced as my fight or flight response kicked into overdrive.  Unfortunately, he was trained for this.  I wasn't. "Rose, stay back!" He growled, launching towards me with speed that belied his size.  However, I found myself cemented in fear.  In less than an instant, he was on top of me, slamming my face into the floor.  There was a bright whiteness from behind closed eyes as my teeth clacked together from the massive impact.  My world did a sudden backflip before I opened my eyes, the weight of the massive pony plus his armor pushing all the air from my lungs.  Stars danced in front of me as I struggled uselessly against his hold. "Daddy, what are you-" "Are you ok, sweetie?" "I'm fine, but-" "Good.  I was afraid this nutjob might have hurt you.  We've been looking for him all afternoon ever since he escaped from the mental hospital!  He's a very dangerous and unpredictable stallion!" From the corner of my eye, I could see Rose shrinking back at her father's words.  No longer looking at me with the eyes of a friend, but rather through a lens of growing dread.  I fought back a tear while I watched as the first heart to show me compassion vanished. I heard the beast of a stallion take a deep breath of my essence before his head shot upward.  "Why do you smell like my daughter?!" he hissed in a low and menacing voice, "And why are YOU wearing MY bathrobe?!"   I was roughly flipped onto my back, the pressure on my left wing forced out an agonized yelp as I was left staring into his accusing face.  "Umm... I uh-"  I could only give unarticulated mumbles under his menacing stare which rivaled that of any gorgon.  What exactly was I supposed to say here?  I was screwed no matter which way this was going to play out.  My only hope was that the floor would suddenly come alive and swallow me up... or else...  "ALEK!!!  HELP!!!" His eyebrow climbed a few notches, but his hold remained strong. -I'm ... trying ...- The crest atop his helmet began to smoke in wisps that curled along with the scent of burning hair.   -AUGH!- Alek’s anguished scream rang through my ears as a flash replaced the captain’s frill with a fiery blaze as the whole thing ignited.  He staggered backwards, releasing me from underneath his hooves as he looked up in surprise.  Greedily, I sucked in a deep breath once his massive bulk was no longer pressing me down. My world was a disoriented mess as I struggled to fill my lungs.  Adrenaline helped me flip over onto my stomach, shedding the robe as I got to my hooves.  My vision shifted from the stallion working to unseat the burning helmet from his head to Rosethorn, who had cowered away into a corner.  Her eyes were screwed shut as she had taken to hiding under her hooves. "I'm so sorry," was all I could muster before turning tail and making for the only unblocked exit, the living room window.  It being winter, of course the window was closed and locked tight.  Rosethorn's voice from earlier echoed in my head as I made my mad dash.  ‘It's on the third floor, come on’.  I had survived a second story fall, I hoped a third story wasn't that much worse… The sound of a helmet hitting the floor was followed by heavy stamping as I grabbed the latch with my mouth and threw it open.  One good push later and the window swung open, letting in the cold as much as it was letting me out. I shut my eyes tight and took a deep breath.  My back legs coiled before springing my tensed body out the window and soon onto the waiting concrete below.  However, there was no sudden rush of air, or even a long fall.  My hooves landed on what sounded like metal with a hollow 'clank’.  I couldn't believe it, I had landed on a fire escape of all places. "Alek, which way now?"  I called out.  The grated stairs continued upwards towards the roof as well as down, but they stopped a full story above the snowy streets.  I panned both ways before turning around and spotting the now helmetless stallion charging the window opening.  "Alek...?!"  My voice cracked as I started climbing, remembering the rhythm I had sounded in my head earlier.  Just as my last hoof rounded the first flight, the fire escape shuddered as the captain's weight came down on it. "YOU!  STOP RIGHT THERE!" he commanded, his voice echoing throughout the whole city block. "Shit!"  My legs worked overtime, propelling me up the iron framework.  His armor must have made it difficult to maneuver, as I had gained some ground by the time I reached the roof.  I quickly looked around, trying to make at least a semi-educated plan for an escape route.  The snow had started falling in large flurries, coating the city in a blanket of white.  All of the adjoining buildings were of the same height as the apartment I stood upon, their roofs attached to one another.  My legs protested as I forced my hooves across the ice-patched roof at a gallop, leaping over the parapet walls that separated each building. "Alek?!"  I called again through heaving breaths.   Once again, there was no response.  "Alek!  Why aren't you answering?!" "GUARD! TO THE ROOF!"  thundered the captain from somewhere out of sight. He didn't even sound winded. "WATCH THE SKIES!" My ears twitched at the sound of him calling for aid.  I managed a leap over the separating wall of another building, suddenly finding myself skidding to a stop.  I had reached the last structure in the row.  The building I stood atop was open on three sides, two of them to the streets below and the last one facing an alley and a columned stone building two stories shorter.  The only option seemed to be back the way I came and into the waiting hooves of a pony that surely had no restraint left by this point. The sound of the captain’s heavy hoofbeats drew closer as I peered over the edge and onto the thoroughfare below.  "Alek...?"  I pleaded into the night air.  "I could really use your insight right now buddy..." - … glide … across- He sounded weak, as if speaking had become difficult. "Glide...?"  I asked curiously.  My eyes snapped open and I turned my head to the side as I unfolded my forgotten plumage.  "...Oh!"  My attention turned to the backside of the columned building across the alley.  Swallowing the mounting trepidation I took off at an erratic gallop, aiming for the roof across the way.  The muscles in my wings tensed and I spread the feathery appendages out as far as they could go, ignoring the lingering protests from my left side.  "Here's hoping these aren't just for show!"  I prayed as I leapt into the waiting air. Wind and snow whipped past my face as I soared across the chasm of an alley below.  My lips curled into a smile as the thrill of flight took hold.  Not surprisingly, it was short lived as the roof of my target soon passed my eye level. "Crap!" I exclaimed, realizing that I wasn't really flying, just taking longer to crash.  My wings were too stiff to react and I was headed directly for a second floor window.  Moments before the inevitable shattering, the double frame opened slightly only to be thrown wide as I barreled through it.  A few panes of glass fractured against the wall as I collided with a wooden scaffolding. Splintering boards and a tearing drop cloth managed to slow my descent, but not before tumbling out of control onto the stone floor.  I landed hard on my right side, knocking the wind out of me as I slid headfirst into a regrettably sturdy shelf.  A burst of stars flooded behind my eyes from the impact.  I blinked amidst the pain, trying to get a glimpse of anything through my blurred vision, ears ringing all the while. A dull thud sounded from somewhere near my head.  Although still bleary from the fall, my eyes quickly found the culprit.  A hardbound book lay on the ground surrounded by settling dust.  It must have tried to take flight from the shelf above and failed, much like myself.   A subtle creaking from my makeshift entryway drew my attention in time to see it ever so slowly close and latch on its own. "Alek...?" I asked, just above a hoarse moan. -...here- I allowed my head to rest back onto the floor as a tiny smile crept across my muzzle.  "...good." -Devon...- "Hmm?"  I exhaled, barely holding on to my faculties. -Let's ... not do that again ... ever- “Deal.”   Not daring to move even a single muscle for fear of what the reprisal would be from my misused body, I let my tired eyes close.  The shouts of the guards outside slowly faded away as the void of sleep gnawed at my consciousness.  Sweet, blissful, and painfree nothingness awaited me, a far cry from what morning would surely bring.