//------------------------------// // Another Interesting Wakeup // Story: A role-playing gamer in Celestia's Court // by Gsarge9289 //------------------------------// I woke up suddenly, with a gasp laying on a hospital bed Rarity at my side along with Sweetie Belle as I moved my head weakly to try and take in my surroundings. "It's okay, Darling. You gave us quite the scare when Rainbow Dash had to fly you here after you fainted in Fluttershy's house from magic exhaustion. Don't try to sit up just yet. You've been out for a few days." I stopped trying to lift my head, resting it back on the pillow with a sigh. "I'll go get a nurse." "Good idea Sweetie Belle, we should let them know he's awake." I heard hurried, small hoof beats as Sweetie Belle made her way out of the room. "Uh, just how long have I been out?" "Three days, Darling. They put this tube in your arm to slowly introduce more fluids and nutrients back into your body. I think Twilight might have even written Princess Luna the night you fainted." I gave another sigh and shifted a bit in the bed. "Great, so I got all of you worried over me. Sorry for being such a pain in the ass." Rarity seemed rather surprised at my using such an uncouth saying. "You saved Fluttershy's henhouse and maybe even Fluttershy herself. Now you're worried about being a burden on us? Where do you get such idea's, Onyxian? We're your friends." I heard two sets of hooves walk in and an unfamiliar voice. "He's speaking with you? Can you understand me, Sir?" I nodded my head lightly. "Yes, I can understand you." "You're recovering from severe magic exhaustion." A white hoof took hold of my head and a flashlight shined into my eyes. "Well your pupils are dilating properly. That's a good sign." I looked up as my eyes adjusted back to normal light seeing Nurse Redheart looking over me, "That I'm not blind? I'm sure I might have panicked at Rarity if that had been the case." "Well, your wit seems to be a bit overactive." "My wit is how I know that I'm alive. Can I sit up or am I confined to bed rest?" I was a bit surprised by the gentle nudge of her hoof on my cheek. "If you want to sit up, do it slowly. I said you're recovering, not recovered." I very slowly edged up on the bed getting to sitting up after about a half a minute. "There, I like being able to look at who I'm talking to." I took a look around at the three ponies around me as I gave them a smile. "So any idea on when I might be able to leave and how much this is going to cost me when I do?" Nurse Redheart looked a bit bewildered when I asked about cost. "Well, we are going to want to make sure you're fully recovered before you leave. As far as the cost of the bed and care we've given you, it's already been taken care of." "Don't look at me Darling. As far as I know, none of us have even seen a bill." Rarity spoke after I turned to look at her with a confused look on my face. "We were informed that all medical expenses were to be directed to the Royal Treasury at Canterlot." I turned looking back at Nurse Redheart with a look of shock on my face. "I see...Thank you for letting me know." I eased myself back down into the bed with a sigh. I guess after Twilight's letter, Luna wanted to help. "Rarity, if you see Spike, could you ask him if he'd be up for giving me a visit?" "Well, I'm sure he'll be with Twilight when they come by later today." I shifted a bit on the bed still having to watch out for the IV in my arm. "Then I guess it'll work out just fine. I'm going to head back to sleep if that's all right with everypony." "That's fine, Darling. We'll wake you up if they bring a meal for you." I nodded my head and closed my eyes. "Thank you." I was woken up with a light shake as I opened my eyes looking up to see Twilight looking down at me. "Hey." Twilight cocked her head to the side at what I guess might have sounded like a half-hearted greeting. "Are you not feeling well?" "Is it normal to not dream after magic exhaustion? I was hoping to tell Luna thank you for helping with my medical expenses, but I haven't dreamed for the three days I was out or during my nap." "Maybe you're just not remembering them." I sat seeing a salad on a plate in front of me as I dug in, noticing the IV was out of my arm. The rumbling of my stomach suddenly reminded me I hadn't had any real food in three days. "Rarity had said something about you needing to talk to me. What's up?" Spike spoke up as I looked over to him. "Yeah, I was hoping to write a letter thanking the Princess for paying for my stay at the hospital." "Oh that was Twilight, she used some of her grant money Celestia gives her to pay for it. Ow!" Twilight stopped Spike as she seemed to be blushing. "Well, I still have a princess to thank, then." I moved over and managed to give Twilight a hug around her neck. "It's no big deal. What are friends for? I'm just happy you're up and recovering." "I guess you're right, I just wish I was sharing more good times than bad." I let her go before it got too awkward. "So, anything interesting happen while I was out?" Twilight shook her head in short answer to my question. "Nothing Earth shattering that I can think of. I'm sure Luna will be happy to hear that you're better. I took some time once you were in the hospital to check out the area where you trapped the hydra and I was very impressed that you managed all of that magic use and were still standing afterwards. Doing all that on your own is amazing for any unicorn without help or a lot of training. You really would do better to go to Canterlot and study at the academy." I chuckled at her as I sat back in the bed and had gotten into an apple while she had been talking. I swallowed my bite and replied. "Canterlot? All of my friends are here. I'd feel bad just leaving." I took another bite and looked her in the eyes. "I'm sure I could continue to practice here. My magic in a city built into a mountain? That doesn't seem all that safe." Twilight had a thoughtful expression on her face that then turned a bit sour. "You make a good point there. That could turn South if you were to have some kind of mishap. You could go to the Crystal Empire? I'm sure Cadance and my brother Shining Armor would be happy to help you. He once put a huge magical shield over all of Canterlot and held it for weeks. He's one of the best unicorns that could help you push your limits." I gave Twilight a thankful smile. "I just built a home and own land here. The idea of growing and pushing my limits is really tempting though." "I'm not saying you have to leave for good, just that it could really help you with how hard you push yourself magically when you encounter danger. You're certainly clever in your use of limited magic types, but you're very hard on yourself." "I asked Discord for help." I chuckled dryly. "I heard and I heard he was a bit unhelpful to you." I frowned a bit and nodded my head. "Maybe her thought I was trying to show off. We had just met." Twilight quirked an eyebrow at me and gave a sigh. "Well you hardly try to show everypony up when I'm around you. I just thought you could do well in the Crystal Empire." I gave a heartfelt sigh and nodded my head. "If that's the advice of my teacher and friend, then let them know I'll be there as soon as I'm able to go. I'm sure I'll see all of you around sometime." I watched Twilight's ears drop down in a slightly saddened fashion. "I'm sure Pinkie would want to plan something." I shook my head at the idea. "It's not like I'll be gone for good. A farewell party would make it seem like I'm not coming back at all. You girls are my friends, I don't plan on leaving for good." Twilight brightened up and gave a smile. She reached out and put her forelegs around me in a hug, her head resting on my shoulder. "I'm glad you think so, too." A few days later I got better, had set my travel plans in order along with my house, and was saying my goodbyes at the train station. I Was dressed in a pair of green cargo pants and a white semi dress shirt Rarity had made for me as everyday wear my mane cut back into a more ruley fashion like I had had at my welcome party thanks to Lotus and Aloe as I started down the line giving Applejack a hug. "You be careful out there, ya hear? You can always write us if'n ya get lonely." I let her go and nodded my head. "I'll make sure to send a letter that I got there safely." Next was Rarity who was a bit less reserved with her hug. "I'm certainly going to miss all of those wonderful accessories you make for my outfits while you're away. There'll most certainly be an opening for you in my boutique when you make your return." I let her go and moved to face Rainbow Dash who looked up at me. "Don't think you're getting a hug from me. I don't do mushy." I simply chuckled as she held out her foreleg and I bumped my fist gently against her hoof. "Thanks for coming to see me off." "I don't leave friends hanging." She smiled up to me as I nodded my head in understanding and was then hugged by Pinkie Pie who was sobbing. "I'll really miss ya, Nixie. I wish you had let me throw a party, but I'll make sure to throw an extra special one when you come back to Ponyville for good." I smiled and hugged Pinkie with one arm, my other hand patting her head. "Can't wait. Thank you Pinkie Pie." She held onto me a bit longer than I would have liked. Once let go, I scooped Fluttershy up into my arms lifting her gently off the ground. She hugged around my neck with her forelegs and, after a silent moment, I gently set her hooves back on the floor to let her go. The last was Twilight, she let me give her a hug around her neck. "I know you'll learn a lot from my brother." I chuckled and let her go standing up picking my luggage. "Don't sweat the small stuff, Twilight." The train whistle blew and made my way onto the train giving my friends one last look as I then set off on something new.