“And the night started out so well,” Gale exclaimed from his position on the couch. “I was over forty miles out despite having just woken up.” He continued, ignoring the looks of confusion on the ponies’ faces. “Piece of shit pothole. Why hadn’t that road been fixed?” He grumbled to himself before lapsing back into silence
Her curiosity getting the better of her, Twilight took his lapse as a chance to ask a few questions. “So Gale,” She began, warily, “What is a car?”
“Yeah! What the hay are you talking about?” Rainbow joined in. “Is that what that thing is called?” She asked, completely ignoring Twilight’s look of disbelief and Gale’s annoyed expression.
After a long sigh Gale responded, “A car is what we humans use to go long distances since we don’t have either the speed or endurance necessary.” Well, most of us anyways. He added mentally.
A few minutes later, Twilight decided it was time to leave. “Come on Rainbow it’s time to go.” She began, walking toward the door.
“What do you mean ‘Time to go.’?” Rainbow asked, indignance written on her face. “It’s been like five minutes! How do we know he’s not dangerous?” She whispered the last line in an attempt to make sure Gale didn’t hear it.
“Dangerous?” Gale huffed. “About the only thing in danger here is my sleep schedule.” He commented dryly. “If you’re leaving can you turn the light off?” He said, walking back over to the bed. “I don’t know how it is for you ponies, but we humans can’t sleep either standing up or with lights on.” He finished, laying down carefully as to not bump his left arm, which happened to be in a cast.
A few hours later, while grocery shopping in the market, Twilight ran into the first of many, major, problems. “The mayor wants to see me?” She asked the stallion, he introduced himself as Windshear
“Yes. She was adamant that I get this to you right away.” he answered.
Unfolding the letter Twilight facehooved. What? At the stallion’s confusion she read aloud, although not too loud. “Ms. Sparkle I’ve requested a meeting to discuss the housing for your newest pet.” Looking directly at Windshear she continued. “If an agreement cannot be met, then the creature will be placed under the authority of the local guard regiment and you will be charged with negligence.”
After a minute of silence Twilight sighed. “This isn’t a joke is it?”
Windshear shook his head sheepishly, “Look, Ms. Sparkle I-I’m just doing what I’m told,” he stammered, ”The mayor needed somepony to deliver the letter and make sure you attend.” He said, doing his best not to look nervous.
Sighing Twilight asked. “So, I need to come with you then?”
“That would be correct.” He stated, a bit of his confidence returning.
“And you know nothing about this?” She ashed, eyebrow raised.
Windshear sighed and replied. “Again, ma’am, I’m just the messenger. I don’t know any more about this than you do.” he said as they approached the steps of town hall.
Walking in the door, Windshear nodded to the secretary and then turned to Twilight. “Okay, Ms Sparkle if you could kindly check in with Mrs. Flower Blossom, then she can inform the mayor and clear a time for your meeting,” He said, walking over the desk. “And I can go back to shopping for dinner tonight.” he said, patting Blossom on the back.
Ten minutes later found Twilight sitting in a chair opposite the mayor while in her office. “Ms. Sparkle you’ve done this town a lot of good by moving into the library and for that I’m grateful. That being said you’ve also done severe collateral damage to the town with some of your more violent experiments, and spells.” she said, twitching slightly at the last one.
I mess up one bucking spell . . . Twilight thought. “So what is this meeting really for, and why did you have to send somepony to retrieve me?” She asked, already thinking of several possible reasons, none of which were good.
The mayor sat there for a few minutes she sighed. “There was an incident a few days ago Ms. Sparkle. An incident reportedly because of an unknown spell effect, a pegasus, and a large metal object out on the edge of town,” She looked up at Twilight. “I was informed that you and another pony were seen carrying a large creature into the hospital not forty five minutes after said incident.” she said, her point still lost on Twilight. “I have it on good authority that you’ve paid for the medical bills to have this creature recuperated.”
How in Tartarus does she know that? Twilight wondered worriedly. Did one of the weather pegasi report Gale’s-
Twilight’s mind came to a screeching halt as Mayor Mare casually leaned over her desk and asked “So Twilight, tell me. Where are you planning on keeping your new pet?” She leaned back and continued. “Because there are several different laws against keeping large animals inside of town.” she sat, hooves crossed and grinning. I finally have a way of getting Sparkle sent back to Canterlot. She thought.
Twilight sat for about three minutes thinking, Oh ponyfeathers what’s Gale going to do when I tell him? It’s not as though- She suddenly leaned forward over the mayor’s desk. “Are you telling me that you’re attempting to call a sentient and fully sapient being a pet, Ms. Mayor?” she asked, standing up from her chair. “Because I’ll have you know that if you are, then by trying to force me into assuming responsibility for him, you would be in violation of several of Equestria’s race and species laws.” She continued with a smirk, “And I don’t think you’d want the princess to hear about that now would you?”
Horseapples! The mayor thought, turning to face the window, before an idea clicked in her head. But I’ve got here with this one. “So you’re saying an intelligent creature crashed outside of town?” She asked, filling her voice with fake curiosity.
Twilight slowly answered. “I guess so.”
She grinned like a mad mare. “That can be interpreted to mean many things Ms. Sparkle. One might even be convinced to believe that it was an attack.” she said, turning back to Twilight with a glint in her eye. “Yes an attack on our quiet little town by an invasive species which you’ve admitted to bringing here.”
Twilight, becoming very worried, took a step forward. “Now you listen here mayor. I haven’t said anything about how he got here.” she said, regretting her choice of words as soon as she’d said it.
“Now Twilight, that’s the second time you’ve mentioned a him, but I’ve never asked about its gender.” The mayor said, smirking now that she believed she’d won.
Oh buck me! Twilight though, watching a grin spread across the mayor’s face. The mayor spent the next few minutes causally explaining how impossible it was for her to get out of this situation before something clicked in Twilight’s mind.
Twilight walked out of town hall with her head hung relatively low. Although she was able to convince her that Gale wasn’t a mindless creature, the mayor had twisted that to mean that he was now her pet, and it would take weeks for her backup plan to take effect. I hope he isn’t too mad with me.
As she walked into the library she almost immediately ran into Spike. “Twilight, you got a letter from Canterlot earlier today and I’ve been wondering where you were.” The drake said, relief evident in his voice.
“Sorry, Spike. I’ve been very busy today taking care of a few things.” She replied, hoping he wouldn’t ask about them.
Spike, perhaps catching the hint, decided not to pry, instead asking. “So have you seen Applejack today? She came by earlier talking about some guards blocking her from getting to a field, or something like that.”
“No I haven’t actually, but I’ll see about finding her later. Right now I need to look at this-” Levitating the scroll from him, she walked up to her room. “- in private.” She continued as Spike started to follow her.
“Aw come one. You always let me read stuff between you and the princess.” He countered.
“I know Spike, but this is something she’s asked me to share with nopony.” Twilight finished, walking up the stairs toward her room.
“Twilight Sparkle,”-The unicorn in question read- ”at first I didn’t know what to think when you’d told me that your friend had accidentally brought a creature from another world into ours, but after reviewing the spell you sent me, along with some digging in the archives, I’ve come to a conclusion on the matter. This creature is definitely not from Equestria. That being said, I think what you’ve done is probably the best course of action.” Oh thank goodness she isn’t upset with me. Twilight thought before continuing. “I, of course, ask you to proceed with caution, but if you can, I would request you gain some information about our guest. It would be useful in making them more comfortable while we, yes I feel I should assist, find a way to send them back to their rightful home.”
Upon reading the letter from Celestia, Twilight went back downstairs and began packing some stuff into her saddlebags.
“Let’s see. Quills? Check. Ink bottle? Check. Several sheets of paper? Check,” Walking to the door she yelled back into the library. “I’ll be back in a little bit Spike, I’ve got some more stuff to take care of.”
“Okay, just be careful.” He responded, while reshelving books.
The rest of Gale’s day had been rather uneventful. Other than a few more conversations with Steady Hoof about his condition, Gale hadn’t had much to do. He was laying on his bed, humming an old tune, when Twilight came back around noon. “Welcome back,” he said, getting up. “I’d thought you were gonna have your friend with you again.” He continued, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice.
Twilight chose to ignore the obviously negative connotations his tone suggested and instead took a stack of paper, a few quills, and an ink bottle out of her saddle bags; which had been placed by the door when she walked in. “So Gale, do you mind if I . . . Um . . . ask you a few questions about your home?” She asked, the nervousness in her voice almost palpable.
Gale sighed. “That figures, there’s someone wanting to study me here too.” He rolled his eyes at her look and continued, “I’ve currently got nothing better to do, so sure. But on one condition.” He added, noting the look on her face.
“What would that be?” She asked worriedly. Hoping word hadn’t gotten back to him about the mayor yet, she didn’t want to tell him too soon lest he become depressed.
“For every question of yours I answer, you have to answer one of mine.” He stated, hoping that would discourage her from actually asking him anything too embarrassing. “I mean it seems only fair that I gain some knowledge of the wherever the hell I am.”
Twilight pondered his condition for a total of half a minute before agreeing. “Yeah, I guess that seems fair.” She said, nodding her consent before asking, “Shall I begin?”
After about three hours of constant questions, Gale was rather happy for Steady Hoof to come in and inform Twilight that visiting hours were over.
“Are they? Wow how time flies.” Walking to the door. ”I guess I’d better get going then.”
As soon as the door shut, Gale turned to Steady Hoof. “You cannot believe how happy I am to see you right now.” At the doctor’s look of confusion he added. “She kept asking questions about every. little. thing.”
“Ah, yes. Ms. Sparkle’s quite the curious one, but seeing that she’s the town’s librarian I guess she has a right to be.” Steady Hoof responded. “Oh right, I was coming in here to ask you about dinner.”
Gale snorted at his comment. “I hope you mean what I can eat and not as in a date.”
With a roll of his eyes Steady Hoof responded. “Of course I meant food. It came to mind a few minutes ago that we don’t exactly know what your species eats.”
After a minute, Gale replied. “Well, humans are omnivores by nature, but most, myself included, lean more to the carnivorous side.” At the doctor’s worried look Gale continued angrily. “Oh come on, just cause I eat meat doesn’t mean I want to take a bite out of everything that moves.”
Steady Hoof laughed for a minute before responding. “Oh, no that’s not what’s got me worried.” He said. “I’m more concerned that we might not have anything for you right now. We haven’t had any griffon patients recently, and we really only keep enough stocked up when one comes through.”
Griffons? Why the hell not I guess, and at least they aren’t afraid of me for eating meat. Gale thought as Steady Hoof paced the room.
“The question is, though.” The doctor asked. “What else can you eat?”
After a good ten minutes of discussion, Steady Hoof left to go have a salad made for Gale’s dinner, while the human in question prepared to go to bed. Salads aren’t that bad . . . I suppose, although if griffons are a thing, then maybe I can get some pork chops somewhere.
Around noon the next day found Gale laying down and humming an old tune when the door opened and Twilight peeked in. “Jeez, didn’t anyone ever tell you to knock?” Gale asked, voice full of mock disgust.
Twilight froze, both surprised and embarrassed, by his comment. “I um, I’m sorry Gale it’s just that I have some news, both good and bad, to give you.” She said
Gales sighed. “Well come on in, it's not like I’m doing anything,” He commented as he got up. “Okay whatcha got for me Ms. Sparkle?” He asked, taking a seat on the couch.
He is going to hate me for this. Twilight thought. “Okay good news first: I convinced Steady Hoof to let me use a high strength healing spell on you, if you agree of course. The spell should mend any broken bones and reduces all cuts to superficial ones,” She continued, knowing that he’d hate her for what came next. “The bad news is . . . “ she started, unsure how he would handle it. “That you’re going to have to move out of the hospital by next week.” She finished, glancing over to see Gale staring at the wall opposite them.
“Okay,” He stated, while looking off to the left. “Now what else is there?” He asked startling Twilight by turning back to her.
“Um, what do you mean?” She asked, afraid of where the conversation was going.
“If the bad news was that I need to be out of the hospital by next week then you’d have said it first.” He said, almost no emotion present in his voice. “I’m assuming the bad news is something that you believe I won't particularly like, and don’t want to tell me for fear I’d get mad, right?” He concluded, standing and heading back to the bed.
Oh horseapples, he’s right. She thought, standing up. “Gale the bad news is -” She was interrupted by Dr. Steady Hoof, who chose that moment to open the door and walk in.
“Oh Twilight, I didn’t know you’d be back so soon.” Steady Hoof said as he walked in. “I was just coming in to check on Gale.” He said turning toward the human.
“So . . . What’s up doc?” Gale asked, smirking at a joke that only he knew. “I didn’t expect to see you back yet.” he continued, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.
“Nothing that would interest you too terribly, Gale. Now, how’re you feeling today?” he asked, walking over to a desk and grabbing a clipboard in his hoof. “Any unnatural bouts of dizziness or fatigue?” he asked before picking up a quill in his mouth and writing something down.
“No, not really doc.” Gale said with a small smirk. “Just a bit hungry, but I can deal.” He continued “I’m more nervous about this ‘spell’ you’re having performed on me.”
The next few minutes consisted of Steady Hoof running Gale threw the spell and what it did before he agreed to it.
After checking all of Gale’s vital, Steady Hoof sighed. “Okay Ms. Sparkle I see your point from earlier, but it will take up to two hours before I have a room properly prepped for this.” He said, turning away and walking towards the door.
Two and a half hours later found Gale standing - broken bones, casts, and all- in the middle of a rune covered circle of chalk on the floor of a hospital room in a, currently unused, emergency room.
“Are you sure about this, Twilight?” He asked, his voice betraying his nervousness. “This seems a little dangerous,” he continued. “Not that I’m complaining of course, especially if it works, but I’d rather not end up with an extra limb or anything. I’d just-” He would have kept rambling if not for Twilight’s magic holding his mouth shut.
“Sorry Gale, but I need to concentrate for this to work.” She apologized, releasing his mouth from its restraints. She then began chanting in a tongue that Gale didn’t understand, to him it sounded a bit like if the Spanish and Germanic languages had a kid. A few minutes passed before Twilight’s horn started to glow. It emitted a soft light at first, but then it rapidly got brighter. Wisps of magic seemed to come out of the floor and surround Gale.
“Um, Twili-” He started, before he became completely enclosed in an orb of purple energy. The room was silent for all of three minutes before Gale screamed in agony. He could feel all of his broken bones slowly healing and putting themselves back in the right places.
The pain was almost unbearable as he felt his leg crack and his arm snap out of its sling, and back into place at his side. He could feel his heart rate spiking at random intervals and his vision blurred, as he momentarily went deaf.
Mercifully for Gale, it was over almost as soon as it began. He fell from the orb and hit the ground on his hands and knees with a soft thud. He slowly stood up, breathing heavily, glared at Twilight and panted, “Fuck, you.” before his legs gave out and he fell forward, out like a light.