//------------------------------// // XII: Apologies and Control // Story: A Certain Urge // by TheUnknownPerson //------------------------------// Pinkie sat at the couch, letting her nerves calm. She let go of the cushion and rested her head on both of her hooves. I can't handle this anymore! Pinkie let a few tears leave her eyes as she contemplated her options. I don't think I can to stay here. Pinkamena's getting worse, and I can't control her anymore. She could hurt anyone of my friends if I give her the chance... she could hurt Maud and my family... Even though Pinkie didn't trust her family anymore, she still thought they still didn't deserve that. "What am I gonna do?" Pinkie quietly asked herself. She felt like she was a danger to everypony she has ever met. Maybe I should just become a loner. Just travel Equestria by myself... Pinkie pondered that option for a moment, but then she dropped. No! I can't just stay by myself! Maybe Zecora could help me... yeah... that's a possibility. Zecora has a potion for everything! Her spirits were slightly lifted by the option, but she continued to think of more options. Maybe I should just try harder to control her. No... that wouldn't work. Like she said, she'd just find another way. Pinkie continued to think, but found that Zecora would be the best bet. She sighed as she got up from the couch and looked at the clock. It was midday. Dang, I need to hurry and prepare to go to Zecora's. Pinkie half galloped upstairs. Looks like I'll be heading back to Ponyville for the day. Pinkie entered the guest bedroom and grabbed her saddlebag. She rushed down the staircase and out of the house. ==================== Fluttershy slowly opened her eyes. Her rest was (thankfully)more peaceful than the last. She had a dream about her being out of the hospital and her taking care of the animals. Unfortunately, it was nothing more than a dream and she wouldn't be able to see her animals for awhile. She knew she'd worry about them, but she also knew that her friends would take care of them if she asked. The room was quiet. Almost peaceful. Unfortunately, that quietness would be broken. "Okay... heart-rate normal. Blood-pressure normal." Fluttershy looked over at the noise and saw Dr. Horse, standing over at her heart monitor, writing numbers on a piece of paper attached to a clipboard. He looked over at her. "Oh, hello Fluttershy." Dr. Horse said as he put his pen into one of his coat pockets. "Um... h-hello doctor." "So, how do you feel?" "Fine, I guess." "What about your wings or your left hind-hoof?" "My wings are ok, b-but my hind-hoof still hurts." "Well, I'm sure I could do something about that." Dr. Horse said as he trotted closer to her and pointed his horn towards her. A small beam of magic hit Fluttershy as a healing warmth washed over her body. There was little to no pain in her body now. "T-thank you." Fluttershy said, relieved. She relaxed. "Anytime. Well, do you need anything else?" "Um... actually, y-yes. I want to know, h-how long will I'll be in here?" Please don't let it be too long... "Well, you'll need be in here for three to four days at the least. After that, you'll be able to discharge. And after that, you'll have to return for physical therapy." I wish that I could get out of here quicker... I miss the animals so much. "Ok... well, w-will I be alright after this? C-could you give me the full diagnosis?" "Well, your attacker thankfully missed any vital muscles or veins when they stabbed into your wings, so you'll be able to fly again. Your hooves won't be one hundred percent until you come back for physical therapy and even after that, they'll still need to heal. The attacker once again missed vital organs when they stabbed into your stomach, but the attacker punctured your lung when they stabbed your chest. We stitched you up and you'll have to come back to get them removed." Please Celestia, don't let her attack me again... Fluttershy thought. I-I won't survive next time. "Thank you." "Anytime. Well, I have to get to other patents. If you need anything, there's a button on the side of your bed to get a nurse's attention. " Dr. Horse said as he walked towards the door. "Alright... thank you." Fluttershy said as Dr. Horse left the room. She took the moment to look over the room once more. Rainbow Dash was still in the chair, but she was asleep with her hooves kicked up against the chair beside her. Her mane was messier than usual. "Thank you, Rainbow Dash..." Fluttershy quietly said. ================= "Hey, Cheesie. I forgot something back in Ponyville. I'm gonna head back and grab it and then come back." Pinkie said, shutting the door behind her. "All right, Pinkie. I'm not gonna be here when you get back, so I'll leave the door unlocked for you. Have a good trip!" "Thanks!" Pinkie said as she exited his house into the humid Las Pegasus air. She continued to trot down the path that she had traveled on not 24 hours ago. Pinkie began to feel anxious I can't be noticed. I just hope that the news hasn't gotten out to the press yet... She opened her saddlebag and looked inside, seeing she had a white, small towel in her saddlebag. I got this from the Sugarcube Corner. This'll do. Pinkie closed her saddlebag and continued to walk away from Las Pegasus and traveled towards Ponyville. However, before she got too far away, an idea popped into Pinkie's mind. She wanted to honor Fluttershy's memory with something. I know that it won't be much, but its the least I can do to say sorry... Pinkie continued to walk down the long path to Ponyville, hopeful her idea would work. ================= Fluttershy sat in her hospital room, bored out of her mind. The day so far had gone by agonizingly slow. The only thing keeping the room from being completely quiet was Rainbow Dash's snoring and the beeping of the heart-beat monitor. I wish Angel was here. Fluttershy missed her animals immensely. She hadn't seen them in two to three days and she was very worried about them. "Rainbow Dash..." Fluttershy quietly called out. "Huh?! What?! Oh- sorry Fluttershy. What do you need?" "Would you go check on my animals and f-feed them please?" "Of course. I have to check on Tank anyway. I'll get one of the others to stay with you while I go and check on them." Rainbow Dash said as she got up from the chair. "Okay... thank you." Fluttershy said as her nerves began to relax. Rainbow Dash exited the room. ============ Pinkie walked down the same empty trail once again. She passed by the rest-stop that she had seen the first time. I probably shouldn't stop. I'm already half-way back to Ponyville in half the time it took me to get to Las Pegasus. Pinkie continued the path, more determined than ever. I hope this all isn't for nothing. ============= An Hour Later Pinkie walked into Ponyville with the white towel cloaking most of her body. She made sure that if anything, her cutie mark was covered. That would be the easiest way to identify her. She walked towards a small rose-bush and picked a flower from it. It was simple, but hopefully it would honor Fluttershy. I'm sorry, Fluttershy. I'm so sorry. Pinkie walked towards the path towards Fluttershy's Cottage, rose in hoof. ================== Fluttershy leaned against the pillow, half asleep. She never thought she'd be this bored. I hope somepony gets here soon... I'm starting to get worried. Fluttershy looked around the room, and began to focus on the window. Suddenly, some birds landed in front of it. They were blue jay birds. Fluttershy looked at them intently. Maybe I could... could maneuver myself over to it. Fluttershy moved her hind-hooves off the bed and stood herself up. The cast-like device on her wings wasn't attached to the bed, so she could move around the bed. It wasn't easy, but she really wanted to get over to the blue jay. Okay... please... Fluttershy slowly put her hind-hooves down onto the ground. The muscles in her hooves were very stiff. At first, they didn't hurt, but when she tried to move them, her muscles painfully tightened and her hoof went back to its prior spot. "Ah!" Fluttershy quietly called out as she waited for her muscles to relax. She tried once more, and was met with similar results. Maybe I should just climb back into bed... Fluttershy didn't relent and continued to try and get rid of the tightness in her muscles. After a few minutes, she tried again. Her muscles were still slightly tight, but they didn't hurt as much. Fluttershy braved through the pain and slowly trotted towards the window. "Hello, little ones." Fluttershy said as she sat her fore-hooves in front of the windows. The birds looked at her with intrigue and they became slightly defensive. "Its alright, little ones. I'm not gonna hurt you." Fluttershy said softly. The birds continued to look at her from behind the window. I wish I could pet them... too bad that the window is locked. I wonder when Rainbow Dash's gonna be back. Hopefully she or somepony shows up here soon. "At least I have you two to keep me company..." Fluttershy said as she smiled at the birds. ===================== Pinkie trotted towards the front door to Fluttershy's house. She had kept her eyes looking towards the ground as she walked up to the door. It is gonna be hard... Pinkie let out a sigh as she opened the door and and walked inside. A flood of bad memories entered her mind as she looked around the room. She looked down at the blood trail that lead towards the couch. "Wait... what?" Pinkie said as she looked at the unfamiliar trail. Did I leave this when I left? She followed the trail. It lead into Fluttershy's room. Pinkie entered the room and was greeted with a familiar sound. Grrrrrr... The cub was in the center of the bed, lying in a dried pool of blood. "Wait, I'm not gonna hurt you!" Pinkie said as she looked at the empty bed. "Where is she?! I thought she was..." Pinkie words trailed off as she began to think. Is she alive?! "Fluttershy!?" Pinkie called out to the house. "Fluttershy, I'm not gonna hurt you!" Pinkie continued as she exited the bedroom and began to searched through the house. She continued to search for what seemed like forever. Suddenly, Pinkie felt something grabbing her left hind-hoof and tugging at her coat. When Pinkie looked back, she was greeted by an angry Angel Bunny. "Angel? Where's Fluttershy!?" Pinkie asked, panicked. Angel angrily punched her hoof. "Please Angel... I'm sorry." Pinkie said as she went to grab Angel. Angel's courage faltered and he hopped away, scared. She angrily stomped her hoof and grunted. "Who's here?!" Pinkie slightly jumped and accidentally dropped the rose. She quietly dashed into the kitchen and out the back door. Oh no...! Pinkie galloped past the house and went towards the path back to Ponyville. I can't let her see me! She pulled the towel over her face as she ran away. After Fluttershy's house was out of sight, Pinkie finally calmed down and stopped galloping. Oh no... that was too close. Is Fluttershy alive? I don't even know, but I hope so... Pinkie's heart slightly leaped with joy. The possible of Fluttershy being alive was something that hadn't crossed her mind. Okay... now I just need to get to Zecora's. =============== Fluttershy quietly talked through the glass to the animals. She had been there for at least 15 minutes. I'm glad that I have these two to talk to... Fluttershy put her hoof against the glass, looking outside at the birds and the trees. It was so peaceful. Well, it was until a multicolored beam flew into the hospital and entered her room. "Fluttershy, you're never gonna believe what I saw!" =============== Pinkie walked through the wooded path to Zecora's hut. Let's hope Zecora has something. Pinkie walked up the steps and knocked on the door. "It is open!" "Hey, Zecora. I needed to ask you for something..." Pinkie said, entering the door. She didn't want to be there for too long in case Pinkamena got control again. "Alright... let me guess. You need a potion, yes?" "Actually, yeah. You see, I need a potion that can help me get rid of Pinkamena. Not literally, but just to get her away from me for like two days. If it works, I'll come back and get another one." "I wouldn't try it, Pinkie. It may be to your dismay." "Please, Zecora. I need this..." Pinkie said in a pleading voice. Zecora sighed. "Alright. I may have potion, but it'll make you have confused motions." "All right... well, go ahead and mix it up please." Pinkie said as she waited for Zecora to mix the potion up. AFter a few moments, Zecora handed her a potion. "Here you go." Zecora said. Pinkie took the potion and drank it. A flash of light filled her vision. Once her vision returned, her muscles quickly stiffened and relaxed before returning to normal. Did it work? "It worked, yes?" "Yes.... I don't feel Pinkamena anymore. Thank you, Zecora." Wait, what?! Pinkamena exited the hut without another word. No! No, no, no! Oh yes... thank you Pinkie. Now, lets go get your family, shall we? It'll help you. No! Don't! ================