4. The one who needs to be unbroken
My head felt like it was going to implode when I woke up.
I tried to open my eyes, but the light was too bright.
I put one of my hooves on my forehead to block it away and looked around.
I was in a hospital room.
I could see my mom sitting in the corner.
She was reading a magazine.
I tried to say something.
All I could bring out was: "eep"
Mom looked up immediately, and ran towards me, tears on her cheeks.
"Thank Celestia, you are awake!", she said whilst she hugged me.
I don't know how long she hugged me, but I didn't want it to end. Suddenly, my dad came in.
"You're awake! He's awake!", he shouted.
The doctor seemed to have heard, because he walked in as well.
Dad ran towards us and joined the hug.
I looked out the window. The sun was shining bright.
"How long have I been out?", I asked.
My parents left the hug. Mom and dad gave each other the should-we-tell-him-maybe-we-should look.
"When are we?", I asked again.
"Eleven o' clock dear. It's the day after Hearts and Hooves day", mom said.
I thought back at what had happened yesterday.
"Are the others okay? Is anypony hurt?"
I tried to sit up, but pain cut my stomach, and I laid down again.
"They're fine. That Tais kid is a little bit shaken up by that awful fight. Button and his family are staying with us for a while."
"Is his house gone?"
"One wall. Vendell's parents have agreed to pay the repairs. Now don't you worry about that, you must rest", mom said.
"You were a brave foal, Shutter", dad said.
"How do you know about what happened?", I asked.
"That poor Threshold girl told us. She was really taken aback by what had happened. I've never seen a filly cry as much as she did", dad said.
"Don't tell him that, he'll be worried again", mom whispered in his ear.
I sighed. I hoped she'd be all right.
"You should probably get some rest now", dad said.
"Rest? I've been sleeping for half a day!", I said.
"You don't have to sleep right now, but I'd advice staying here for the weekend", the doctor said.
I wasn't happy with the thought of staying here any longer, but my stomach seemed to agree with the medic.
"Almost forgot!", dad said.
He ran over to his saddlebag next to the coffee table.
My own saddlebag and laptop were next to it.
He grabbed his bag and brought it to the side of the bed.
He fished out a couple of drawings.
I recognised them the second I saw them.
"My drawings!"
"You left them on your work table when you left for the party", dad said.
I braced myself for the upcoming lecture about wasting my time on useless things.
Instead, he smiled at me and said: "How did you come up with this? This is amazing!"
I couldn't believe he approved.
"I based the drawings of the Everfree beasts on biology book from the library. I figured the plans for the robot out myself."
"You simply must build this!", he said.
I hadn't seen him so enthusiastic since the last Daring Do novel came out.
"Do you really think it'll work?", I asked.
"I don't think it, I'm certain of it."
My parents had left to prepare the house for the Mashes' stay.
I was looking into my drawings.
I was going to start building as soon as I got home.
I opened up my laptop and looked at the time. Three thirty.
I remembered the note. I painfully reached into my saddle bag.
I picked up the letter and stared at the text.
"Sugarcube Corner, four o' clock tomorrow"
I still hadn't figured out what to think of it.
I looked at the time again. I made a brainless decision.
I put down my laptop and stuck the not behind my bondages.
Ignoring the pain, I got out of the bed and went off.
The doctor didn't seem to notice I walked by, as he was sorting his paperwork.
I managed to get to Sugarcube Corner. I crawled the last bits, trying to ignore the pain.
The Cakes had taken the weekend off, probably out on a trip for two.
I sat down next to the building. I waited.
Time passed by and I looked inside through the window.
Pinkie Pie was keeping the business going. I saw muffins, cupcakes, pop tarts... Aha, a wall clock!
I gazed at the hour. It was still ten minutes before four o' clock.
I started thinking who the mystery mare could be.
I didn't really suspect anypony, so I just checked every filly name I knew.
The crusaders had been in my sight when the note found its way to my head, so it couldn't possibly be one of them.
Diamond and Silver seemed capable of sending it as a mean trick, so I had to be prepared for trouble.
For a moment, I thought it was Threshold, then again, she alibied out, being at Rarity's shop.
I was disappointed, for some reason. Perhaps because Threshold was a pony I could actually talk to.
I looked at the clock again. It was four.
I looked around, but nopony showed up.
Perhaps she was a little late.
My stomach cramped again, and I struggled not to faint.
If she wouldn't be here soon, she'd probably find me unconscious.
I waited there, fighting the pain.
No mystery mare showed up.
The combination of pain and disappointment caused me to cry.
Pinkie Pie must have heard me, because she walked outside and tried to cheer me up.
"Cookie?", she asked. "Ooh, ooh, balloons will do you well."
I tried to dry my tears, but my stomach cramped again.
"Cupcakes? Milk? Bubbles?", Pinkie asked, desperate to console me.
"Hospital", I managed to say.
"Hospitals? Hospitals aren't fun!", Pinkie said.
"Just take me to the hospital, please."
"Okay then, if that'll make you happy", Pinkie smiled.
She tried to walk me there, but I couldn't move a hoof without cramping together.
"Oh dear, I can't carry you by myself", she said, "Wait here!"
'Duuh', I thought. I collapsed on the floor.
What were probably only a few minutes felt like hours.
I finally saw Pinkie and Rarity approach.
"Rarity was the closest by", Pinkie said.
"I don't think he wants an explanation right now, Pinkie, let's just get him up on his hooves", Rarity replied.
They lifted me up and brought me to the hospital.
They brought me inside and put me down in the bed.
I could see four other ponies there, but I couldn't get a good look until they'd placed me back in the bed.
Threshold instantly embraced me. I was shocked, didn't know what to say.
She hugged a bit too hard and I felt my stomach protest.
"You're hurting him", the doctor stated.
She let go and jumped back. Her cheeks were red.
"Why did you leave, for Luna's sake!", dad said.
I tried to make a sentence, but I didn't know what to say.
Instead, I grabbed the note and put it on top of my sheet.
"I don't like to leave a question unanswered."
Threshold gasped for breath.
"You went to see the girl?", mom asked, surprised.
"You really didn't have to, I knew you were here, so I thought you wouldn't be able to go to the shop", Threshold said.
I frowned.
"How did you give me this letter? You were at Rarity's place."
Rarity smiled.
"She asked if she could leave early, on Hearts and Hooves matters."
"I gave it through the window", Threshold added.
I didn't know what to say.
"She came here to tell you, when she noticed you were gone, she immediately informed us", mom said.
The doctor tried to hide his face in his vest.
"Just... well... I understand if you're mad", Threshold said.
All ponies in the room were awaiting my reaction.
I gave it a quick thought. I raised my shoulders, pulled Threshold towards me and kissed her.
I didn't care about my stomach anymore, the humiliations I had cast upon myself, the struggle through Hearts and Hooves day.
I was happy.
"I..uh..I", she stuttered."
I totally agreed.
Epilogue
Button readied his controller.
I readied mine.
We gave each other a quick I'll-beat-you-so-hard look and started up our robots.
My two first wooden creations sat up quickly.
I let mine move to the left side of the par course, I hopped on its back.
Button did the same with his on the right side.
I was sure I'd win this round.
I knew Button would hit the dust for sure.
Too bad, Button was a pro with joysticks.
The second Sweetie Belle had waved her flag, we shot onto the course.
Button easily tripped my robopony.
I had lost again.
Still, I felt a bit victorious.
Threshold and I had made these guys.
Huge wooden robots, capable of walking.
Next project: a sentient robopony.
Threshold helped me up and gave me a hug.
We didn't talk. We didn't need to.
We went back to the bench and watched Button finish his laps.
"I'm glad I'm here with you", Threshie said.
I gave her a quick kiss.
"You have no idea how glad I am to be with you", I said.
We smiled.
Sweetie Belle sat down next to us.
"You guys planning anything for Hearts and Hooves day, next week?", Sweetie Belle said.
Thresh and I passed a frown. I could tell from her eyes she was thinking the same thing.
"Hell no."