Locked away Treasures
"So are they watching us right now?" A nice young doctor asked, her tone was warm. Her light blue hair was pinned up in a neat little bun. Her dress, as white as a swan and matched her pristine coat.
"Yes, Miss Write" a straightjacket-ed Pinkie Pie replied. She was in stark contrast to the mare before her. Yet her current appearance didn't dishevel Pinkie in the slightest. Straight, dark pink hair fell limply over her face and neck. A wide grin plastered on her face. This doctor was kind to her and was definitely one of her favourites, though there wasn't a doctor or nurse she didn't like. To be honest, she couldn't fault any of the staff in particular. Sure some were strict, but they had a job to do and Pinkie understood that.
"Are they always watching us?" The doctor followed up, scribbling something on her note pad. Pinkie thought how useful x-ray vision would have been.
"No, I'd imagine they would only watch us once or twice a week." The jacket she wore, whilst still functional, was not tied up. It hadn't been for weeks. It was greying and starting to smell, a little...used, but Pinkie didn't mind. The nurse however, clearly did.
"Do you mind if I ask about your attire Pinkie?" Dr Write asked, her nose scrunched a little, but did little to budge her soft smile.
"Sure"
"Why do you still wear that thing Pinkie? You do realise you are more than welcome to take it off, right?" Pinkie cocked her head before her eyes fell to her jacket. When she had her answer, she looked back at the doctor again.
"I like it," Pinkie's stare and wide grin returned. The nurse's expression flitted to one of confusion before she realised the hospital's rules about etiquette around patients. It was replaced again by a soft smile within the blink of an eye, but Pinkie still noticed.
"Why is that?" The nurse pursued.
"It was the first and only thing anyone has given me here." The nurses smile definitely slipped at that.
"Don't you at least want a new one?"
"No. This one's warm," the beaming Pinkie retorted. A small smile returned to the doctor. "And it belonged to my best friend here."
"Lyra, yes. How is she?" The doctor leaned forward.
"Fine, I guess" Pinkie's eyes dropped to the floor. A look of thought passing over her face now. "We normally just talk and enjoy each others company." Her smile returned to meet the doctor's. "Besides, she is the only one I can really talk to who doesn't think I'm insane."
"Pinkie, you know about the rules regarding words like that." Eyebrow raised, the doctor took a more serious tone. Pinkie looked down again. The doctor sighed. "Pinkie, paranoia is serious. The idea that an entirely different universe is watching you is not a reasonable thought to have. You're not the only one remember. Lyra is certain of a hyper intelligent form of monkey out there somewhere. Sometimes, you need to apply logic to a situation in order to move forward."
"I know," Pinkie replied, her voice shaking a little.
The doctor sighed, setting down her clipboard and removing her glasses before folding them away.
"It is rare to find someone with a heart of gold Pinkie." She said slowly. Obviously taking her time. "I just hope I don't let you down."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Someday, you'll know." The doctor smiled a tired, genuine smile. But the age showed as small bags under her eyes and signs of crow's feet became subtly visible. "Well," she chirped, picking up her things, "my time with you is up again. It's nice to learn more about you Pinkie. You are always so delightfully happy."
Pinkie nodded as she rose from her seat and headed to the doorway.
"Oh, and Pinkie!" Pinkie turned.
"Sorry for being a little frank with you."
"That's fine. I like Frank, although your impression could be a little better." Dr Write giggled and Pinkie exited the room.
When a soft click from the door echoed around the hallway, Pinkie sighed. Her face drooped a little.
"I guess I still haven't gotten through to her," she told herself. Turning to look back at the room she had just left.
The window was textured and clouded, which distorted the office behind it. Pinkie could see nice Miss Write busying about. She was most likely packing away files for a later time.
Pinkie's attention quickly wandered to the door. 73c West Wing.
"Why am I always treated here? Wings are for Pegasi." Unfortunately, they weren't too friendly as of late. Many 'class' disputes over which breed was better left both earth ponies and pegasi with a salty taste in the mouth. Pinkie had never seen a pegasus before, she had made it her life long ambition to become best friends with one for no other reason than 'she didn't have a super fantastical flying feathery feathered friend' already.
"I wonder what it would be like to have feathers..." She daydreamed. It would probably tickle. The voice in her head called back, as per the ush. Pinkie referred to her as Rosie.
"But you wouldn't need to buy pillows or quills or..." Camouflage for a Mardi Gras.
"That would really come in handy for Grandad Pie, God rest his soul." She signed the cross. God rest his soul Rosie signed too.
Pinkie shook her head before heading down the corridor. It was a long one too. She normally just let her mind run to pass the time. She eyed the walls either side of her. The cream and pink painted walls instilled calm in her. Pink was her favourite colour after all. She couldn't even begin to imagine what it would be like to be a different colour.
For starters she would have to change her name. Her current one would be redundant. But what could you change it to?
"Lemon Pie?" Golden Sun? "Blue Sky?" Rouge Rose? "Green Pastures?" Reddy Cooked? "CHOCOLATE THUNDAH!" Navy Seal! "Cyan tist?"
There was a pause. She was at the end of the corridor now. Hoof resting on the swing door.
...
She waited, looking off to one side. Anticipation for her minds answer.
...
...
Barry White?
"Ok, you win"
Yay :D
Pushing the door open, Pinkie stepped over the boundary.
Ah, the games hall. Where extreme jenga is a way of life and chess is a bloodsport only to be attempted by th-
Thump.
Pinkie was tackled to the ground by a light green pony. Her hair flowed majestically in white and light blue locks. Lyra Heartstrings. Pinkie's best friend.
"Pinkie!" She cheered. "How did it go?"
Pinkie drew a deep breath, only to be stifled by one of Lyra's hooves.
"Answer in three sentences or less. Or in a haiku."
"Ok. However,
She still doesn't believe me,
Or want a party"
"I'll give you points for trying. Maybe I could convince her next time I see her..."
Pinkie looked around the room. It was rather quiet for this time of day. Normally you would have to arrive early to get to the good games. This time, however, there only appeared to be half a dozen ponies present.
Heading over to the small, wooden games cabinet, Pinkie pulled out a chess board while Lyra removed the jenga from its box.
Oh man I love this game! Every second turn, you removed a jenga block from the tower and placed it on top. If a piece was taken from you, you had to remove another block. However, you could place the block on top of the tower in any way you want to. Sideways, across the middle, on its side, frontwise, backwise, topwise, pennywise; the world was your oyster.
Lyra's turn to go first.
• • •
After two hours, a nurse by the name of Nurse Aid and an assistant came to escort both Pinkie and Lyra away. In the end, the score was 27 to 2 to which Pinkie was ecstatic. She scored a whole two points. That was one more than last time. Following Nurse Aid, Pinkie had a grin on her face. Lyra described it once as a perminant fixture. She wasn't wrong.
"Where are we going?" Lyra asked, eyebrow raised.
"To the visitor hall," the nurse called over her shoulder. "Someone has come to see Pinkie."
"So why am I being brought along too?" Lyra questioned. She did want to come along but usually the staff wouldn't be that lenient around visitors.
"Because if we didn't, you two would argue to the nth degree until we let you." The nurse retorted. She gave Lyra and Pinkie a smile. "It's a good thing you two are normally so well behaved."
Passing rooms, closets, doors to other corridors and patient rooms/prison cells as Lyra called them, the small group finally reached their destination.
The hall was, much as the one they came from, quite empty. Small tables surrounded by chairs littered the room. They were all but comfortable. Plastic and cheap, they were purely for function.
However, the table in the centre of the room immediately caught Pinkie's eye. It wasn't so much the table itself, but the figure sat at it.
Pinkie's uncle greeted her with a glint in his eye. Fireworks behind soundproof glass. His outward persona however was that of a dignified traveller. His beige jacket was a little dirty from one of his many adventures, his wide brimmed hat covering what would be his messy mane. But his moustache was still as brilliant as ever. One could rally an army behind such a thing!
A soft smile prickled the sides of his mouth.
"UNCLE BRAVERY!" Pinkie cheered, running up to him, giving him a warm embrace.
"Pinkie, it's magnificent to see you are still here, whilst at the same time still very much concerning." The prickling stopped.
"If I'd known you were coming I would have prepare a welcome party! But the nurses here won't let me near balloons. Not since what happened to Grandad Pie."
"God rest his soul" he signed.
"God rest his soul" she signed.
God rest his soul Rosie signed.
Lyra just stared between them.
An unhappy silence followed. After a considerably long time, Lyra coughed.
"You must be Lyra," Bravery held a hoof out, to which, Lyra took with a smile. "Its so rare to see a unicorn these days, ever since..." He trailed off, noticing Lyra's eyes starting to glisten painfully. "I feel privileged!" He smiled.
"I've heard a lot about you," Lyra stammered, a little intimidated by the stallion before her.
"Nothing good I bet!" He laughed a rich laugh, moustache rippling majestically at the quip. Lyra rubbed her eyes quickly.
"Where have you been? I haven't seen you in years." Pinkie spoke, eyes never lifting from the floor.
"Let's say... I was on a small quest for knowledge." Uncle Bravery announced, gaze breezing over Lyra, betting on her reaction with another twinkle in his eyes. "I have been on the hunt for a city made of gold." Lyra broke almost audibly.
"CITY OF GOLD!?!" Her face lit up as she jumped from her seat only to be stifled by hushes from behind Bravery's moustache. A couple of orderlies glanced over at the ruckus, only to return to their work when Lyra noticed her outburst and quickly sat down again.
He leaned in, dipping his head slightly to darken his eyes in shadow. Another smile rose the corner of his mouth, knowing he had their curiosity. His tone deeper.
"For months I have been searching the globe for something new. I can't understand how ponies could just stay in one spot. I could never do that,it would drive me barmey." He spluttered a little when he realised where he was and who he was talking to. "The point is, I was at a bar in Sri Flanka trying to drink away the summer heat when this pony takes the seat next to me." He sat back looking upward slightly. "Odd looking chap I must say" leaning in quickly, resuming his previous pose, staring at the two captivated mares before him. "Anyway, this pony started talking to me about how he was a traveller before. Said he found some, ancient scroll in a shop once." Waving a hoof. "But that's not the strange part." He turned to Lyra." After a drink or two he tells me stories of other worlds. Other galaxies where he lived separate lives. Where choices were made differently, or evolution caused drastic changes in the development of its inhabitants. Different...worlds..." Bravery leaned in closer to Lyra with a raised eyebrow. "Remind you of anyone?"
Lyra blinked. A slight look of confusion on her face. Her eyes darted to the bewildered Pinkie Pie who sat silently on the what felt like the edge of the conversation.
"Yes, exactly!" His voice a whispered shout of excitement, Pinkie had never seen him so much like a foal since he found a 5 bit coin down the back of the sofa... He got excited over odd things. "Why is that so important? Why is it that the whims of a mad man interest me so? Because I think he's right!" Excitement faded. "You have been here far too long for their mistake Pinkie." Rising from the chair, he spun around and waved an orderly over.
"I'm getting a bit flustered in here but I don't want to impact on the time I have here. May we go outside?"
"No," the orderly replied. "Patients are not allowed outside of the confines of this hospital."
"What about the hospital grounds then?" Bravery's eyes flashed a sly spark. The orderly gave it some thought, rubbing his chin with a hoof, staring at the ground. Bravery gave Pinkie a sideways wink. Pinkie did her best to stifle a grin.
"Ok," the orderly nodded. Eyes rose to meet Pinkie's and Lyra's. "But, they must remain in sight at all times."
Bravery returned the nod before spinning to face Pinkie and Lyra. Grabbing a small sactual from beneath this seat.
"Alright girls, let's go stretch our legs."
• • •
The outside grounds were cold. Whilst it was still sunny, which was a blessing since the pegasi no longer dealt with weather duties, there were many clouds littering the sky. An icy wind, flitted around the enclosure. Pinkie rarely came outside. It was never the right temperature, either being too hot or too cold, even with her jacket. It was almost always raining, and if it wasn't raining then there would be sleet or snow or uncomfortable winds. At least inside it was warm.
The area was a little bigger than a primary school playground. The only difference was the ten foot tall fence that lined the parameter. That, and the lack of anything fun apart from wet grass and mud.
"This never was a happy place," Lyra echoed Pinkie's thoughts.
Here here, sister.
Uncle Bravery could be seen having a quick word with the orderly who had very kindly let us out. His voice trailing a little on the wind.
Pacing over, Bravery's coat now a more shiny colour in the light of the sun, he strolled past them and encouraged them to follow him. One on each side of him, they quickly fell into step just behind him.
"OK, the chap said we only had five minutes before we could head back inside. He also repeated his other condition," stating in a poor impression of the orderly, "they must stay in sight at all times. No acceptions!" Looking around at the completely empty, square grounds he added "I personally can't see how you could lose sight of someone in here."
Lyra's attention fell to Bravery's flank. What would a brave traveller have as a cutiemark?
As it turns out, a flying bald eagle. Obviously.
"Before I begin, I need to give you my bag. When my accomplice arrives, she will let you know what to do with it." He passed the bag to Lyra. Keeping hold of the bag, he stopped swinging her around to look him in the eyes. "Don't lose it."
Letting go, Lyra swung the bag onto her side. The trio returned to their walk.
"You see, I want to ask if you two could join me on this next adventure." Pinkie and Lyra almost jumped him, but he cut them off.
"The problem is, the adventure is out there. And you both..." He looked at Pinkie, "... Are in here. Unfortunately, I don't have the jurisdiction to remove either of you from these premises." Their faces dropped.
"So instead, I'm going to do something a little more... Subtle." Bravery stopped one last time. This time he turned to face Pinkie. He handed her an envelope. "Open it when the time comes." He smiled.
"When would that be?" Pinkie examined the envelope.
"About twenty seconds. Excuse me for a second." He marched to the orderly leaving the two mares bewildered behind him. Lyra more so out of the two of them.
"I thought you were the only odd one in your family." Lyra muttered.
"Where did you think I got it from?" Pinkie kept her attention on Bravery. Lyra however seemed a little distracted. Her ears flicked before turning her head.
Over the wind, a soft droning sound seemed to be growing. Pinkie's head followed Lyra's. The orderly was still distracted by Pinkie's uncle.
Almost instantly, the droning exploded in volume.
A plane dropped out of the sky like a meteor on re-entry, pulling up at the last second to narrowly miss the ground only a few yards ahead of the two mares. The plane, now heading straight toward Pinkie and Lyra, flipped upside down as a pair of hooves reached out as it passed over them. Grabbing them both, they were hoisted into the air before landing on the now right-way-up plane before it sharply charged skyward into the air and over the confines of the hospital.
"WHAT THE BUCK IS GOING ON!?!" Lyra screamed, grabbing onto whatever she could, bag still with her.
"Are you kidding me?" Pinkie asked herself. "How is this subtle?"
Hey don't ask me, he's your uncle!
Pinkie looked back. The orderly could be seen shouting for help whilst others wrestled Bravery. His gaze never left the plane. He mimed, to the best of his abilities, opening something. Before Pinkie could see them move him inside, the plane passed through clouds and her uncle was distorted from site.
The envelope.
Once the pilot calmed down, Pinkie tore the letter open. Out fell a small golden key and a letter with a single sentence.
'I believe you serve a higher purpose.'