//------------------------------//
// A Stabbed Morning in Crimson: 1 
// Story: Padded Ponies 
// by Ponyess 
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	I had gone to bed the other night, just like every night.  What’s strange with that?  What is strange, is the stabbing pain I felt as I woke up, or I was woken up, by this one pain.



Before I managed to slip the quilt off of myself, the pain suddenly was dulled down and padded away, which is stranger and a bit scaring.

What I found as I finally did get the quilt off of me, is a solid red mass in crimson rubber.  Is it a bloody red rubber diaper, how odd.  But as long as it takes my pain away, maybe I shouldn’t question it or complain, right.



Then I noticed that my nails had changed into diminutive hooves, basically smaller, but identical versions of my hooves.  They now had a pair of boots, looking similar to the once Rarity had been wearing during the cold months of the previous winter, only a red, matching the diapers I wear.

At this point I had slipped out of my bed, my hooves firmly on the floor, feeling silly about the diapers, but grateful for the pain I no longer feel.  Now, what was I to do next, breakfast, naturally, what else?

Walking to the door was surprisingly easy, even with the distracting squeaking noises and the insistent suction from what should be considered boots.  I had forgotten to look at the sheets in my bed to see if there had been a stain, although the stray balloons in my ceiling refused to go entirely unnoticed, just as I had to afford a few stray glances at the images along the stairs down to the kitchen.



Once my steps had taken me into the kitchen without any incidents, I realised, just how early it was since the sun still isn’t up.  As a matter of fact, the moon is firmly up.

Only I couldn’t go back to bed now, wide awake and with an appetite.  Rumaging in the dark, well known room, I soon found the pastries of the day before, the once we couldn’t sell, at the very least not at full price.  Then I swiped a bottle of cider and pulled my price with me out of the room.



At this early hour, there would be no Pony out, so I simply sat down on the counter and uncapped the bottle.  Now I take a good sip, before I peel the muffins I picked for myself, slowly chewing them, with intermittent sips of the cider to wash down the pastries.

These pastries still was yummy, or so I think.  Maybe it was the early hour, or the cider, but I had enjoyed my meal royally.  Since I had had my breakfast, my remaining sleep is twice cursed to oblivion, I certainly couldn’t sleep after a steady breakfast.



From one thought to the next, I chose to go out.  Some fresh air should do me some good.  Beside, maybe a moment to myself could be beneficial to my condition as well.  There wasn’t a single Pony in the streets at this time of night, not even Princess Luna could be seen.  Not that she was expected to be seen in Ponyville of all places.

Once I had cleaned up after my early breakfast I went out, closing the door behind me, no trails of where I had been or what I had been doing.  Not that any Pony would care if I had my breakfast, or what I had had for breakfast, unless it ruined my mood, or stepped on a Pony’s hooves.  This case wasn’t one of either.



A chilly wind could be felt and I hear the eery whistling noises it caused, not that it bothered me.  I can laught at the growls of a Timber Wolf, what is the chilly nightly wind in comparison, right?

After a few minutes, I managed to pass the charred remains of the now dead oak that had been the town library of Ponyville, where Twilight Sparkle used to live, from the day she was stationed in our village, until the fateful day when Tirek burnt it to the ground with a single burst, just to get to her.

At first it made me sad and tears came fourth, demanding to flow, before it hit me, she made it out with both Spike and Owlowiscious, Spike even managed to save his Peewee, so just a few books was actually really lost.  She even got a new home the very same day, just after Tirek had been defeated and sent back to Tartarous.



Seeing the Carousel Boutique did also bring me light to my thoughts.  Rarity is commonly such a creative Pony, even if she can be something of a Drama-Queen and fuzz over none issues on occasions.  On the other rubbery hoof, I can be just as great a Drama-Queen, if and when I am in the mood.

Padded up in the fashion, I wasn’t in the mood to See Rarity right now.  Maybe Twilight Sparkle could help?  As an Alicorn, she was the best chance, at this time.  I didn’t think Zecora, our local Zebra was my best option, besides, her hut is located in the Everfree forest and did not feel like the most convenient place for me to go right now.

I like Zecora, she just isn’t the Pony I expect to give me the help I need right now.  Zebra or Alicorn, what’s the difference?  They are both my friends.  Then again, most every Pony is my friend.  I love having friends and making them smile, that is my call in life.

At this point, I was bouncing towards the destination of choice, the new castle of Ponyville and the home of one of my closest friends, Twilight Sparkle.  I am happy she chose to live among us, that one day after we helped Luna Lulamoon come over her problems as Nightmare on the summer sun celebration.  Would have sucked, if she had chosen to go back to the Royal castle of Canterlot, as fascinated of it as Rarity may be.



Only now, her castle is further from where I live, than her library in the oak tree had been, even if it is close than the castle in Canterlot.

In the end, I guess it did not take me all that long to go there.  I am not one to mope around, even if I do have one of these dark and lonely days, from time to time.  I do make my best to avoid them.

Once I finally did get to the castle, I walk up to the door and give it a good firm knock, announcing my presence at her home.

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