//------------------------------// // III: Hope // Story: Dreams & Nightmares // by TheUnknownPerson //------------------------------// Pinkie sat in her small cell, struggling against the straitjacket. The fabric was surprisingly strong, though she expected nothing less from Pinkamena. If I could just get out of this jacket, I could find some way out! Pinkie tried to pull her hooves out of the sleeves, but it seemed the more she struggled, the tighter the jacket became. Come on! She can't keep me locked up forever! She began to struggle against the jacket with fervor, becoming more and more frustrated with every tug. Maybe I should try to get the muzzle off first. At least I'll be able to talk again. Pinkie shook her head, trying to shake off the muzzle. She felt the straps move up and down on her cheeks, rolling around the mounds of her mane. I could wiggle my way over to the bars and try to unstrap it that way. Pinkie began to try and wiggle her way towards the bars in a strange fashion. Unfortunately, moving without her fore-hooves was difficult, to say the least. She had barely moved with all the odd shifting and scraping against the ground. This is gonna take some time... ================ Pinkamena bit into the overly-sweetened muffin as she sat on the couch in Cheese Sandwich's living room. She forced down the sugary muffin, barely managing not to quiver, as Cheese sat down in front of her, biting down on his own muffin. "So... how did you sleep?" Cheese asked, covering his mouth with his left fore-hoof as to not spit food on her. At least he has some manners. "Great. I had a funny dream last ni- today." She forced a giggle. "Oooooo... what was it about?" Cheese asked. He leaned in towards her What would be Pinkie's usual response? "I dreamed that I was inside a huge cake and I had to eat my way out of it! Then, when I finally got outside, there was a huge party there with all my friends!" Pinkamena said, using as much enthusiasm as she could muster up. Yep. That sounds like something Pinkie would dream of. "Cool." "So, what's been up with you?" I'm probably going to regret asking that... "Actually, nothing. There hasn't been that many parties that I've held here besides the one the night before you came. I'd have to move into the downtown of the city, but it's way too dangerous down there." Cheese said, slightly saddened. Great. I'll be stuck with him all night. "That's awful." Pinkamena said disingenuously. "Yeah... but look on the bright side, we could always throw a party here!" Oh horseapples... this is going to be a long night. ================ Marble sat beside her mother for the longest time, just staring at her mother. She was so relieved that her mother wasn't in too much pain. "Are you okay, dear?" "Mhmm." "Good." Cloudy said. They remained quiet for a moment. "Mother, m-may I ask you a question?" "Of course, darling." "W-will everypony be all right after this?" Marble asked. Cloudy froze up. She remained quiet. Marble stared at her, confused. "Mother? Did I do something to upset you?" "I... no. It's just--" Marble waved off her mother, not allowing her to finish. She could clearly see her question was making her uncomfortable. Cloudy nodded, turning to Maud and staring at her. A few minutes of awkward, silent tension passed by. Knock Knock Knock "Hello, it's Nurse Redheart. May I come in?" "Yes. It's open." Cloudy said. Nurse Redheart entered, her light pink mane in a bun, tied behind her nurse cap. She had a blue bag hanging around her neck, bouncing with every step she took. "Sorry to interrupt. I just here to check in on you two." "I need to change out your IV bag. This may sting for a moment." Nurse Redheart said as she went over to Cloudy's IV stand and pulled off the only IV bag. She pulled the needle out of Cloudy's right fore-hoof, wrapping it around the bag and putting it in her bag. She pulled out another, identical bag with a clear liquid inside from the blue bag and hung it up, inserting the needle back into the same spot the previous one in. "Oh, thank you." "You're welcome." Nurse Redheart said as she walked over to Maud. Marble followed behind her, following her hooves as she pulled out a small bottle. "Don't worry. I'm only checking her sensory reactions to some tests and giving her some medicine so her wounds won't get infected. I won't hurt your sister, I promise." Nurse Redheart said. She opened the small bottle and poured some of the ivory liquid onto her fore-hooves. She proceeded to rub it into Maud's injured hooves, stomach, and chest. Marble nodded, still somewhat worried for Maud. "Can you grab that cloth sticking out of the bag for me? I'd do it myself, but I've got this stuff on my hooves." Nurse Redheart asked. Marble grabbed the cloth, giving it to her. "Thank you." Nurse Redheart wiped off her hooves. She put the cloth in her bag along with the bottle. Nurse Redheart pulled Maud's IV off of the rack, removing the needle from her left fore-hoof as she did before. She pulled out another, full one from her bag as she put the old one away and hung it up, inserting the needle back into her fore-hoof. "Maud? Can you hear me? Squeeze my hoof if you can." Nurse Redheart asked as she touched Maud's hoof with her own. Please wake up. Marble silently hoped. Nurse Redheart kept holding her hoof for a few moments before releasing it. She took out the pen-like object and opened up Maud's left eye. She tapped the bottom of the object with her hoof, causing a beam of light shot out of the end of it. She shined the light in Maud's eye. Her pupil just stared blankly at the light for a moment, before slightly moving away from the light. After a moment, she cut it off and closed Maud's eye. "Excuse me, but my I talk to you in private?" Nurse Redheart asked Cloudy as she approached her bed. "Of course. Marble, please step outside for a moment." Cloudy said. Marble nodded as she trotted out the door, shutting it behind her. Marble leaned against the door. I wonder why she'd need to shut the door... but I probably shouldn't peek in on their conversation. Marble tried to resist at first, but eventually, curiosity got the best of her and she put her ear again the door. She listened intently for the sound of anypony's voice. "-What is it that you wanted to talk about, Nurse?" "I have some good news and some bad news." Nurse Redheart said, her voice sounding somber. "Okay... is everything all right?" "The good news is that your daughter is showing some sensory reactions, which is good. That means that she'll most likely be out of here in a few weeks." "The bad news is that when her attacker cut into her hooves, she ripped through the muscle. She won't be able to trot correctly until it heals." "H... how long is it going to take?" "Honestly, I don't know. The attacker may have severed the muscle away from the nerve. If that's so, the muscle may never heal properly. But if it isn't, then it shouldn't take more than a month to two to heal fully and properly." "Oh... okay. T-thank you for bringing this to my attention." Cloudy said, her voice filled with remorse and sadness. Maud could never trot again?! Marble's heart skipped a beat. Quiet hoofsteps approached the door. She backed away from the door and waited for Nurse Redheart to come through. Nurse Redheart came out a few moments later with a saddened frown plastered across her face. "Hello. Thank you for being patient." Nurse Redheart said as she looked down at Marble, trying to smile as best she could. Marble half-smiled back as she entered the room. Cloudy sat in her bed, a frown across her already somber face. "Mother?" Marble said as she went over to the bed. "I'm fine, dear. Nothing to worry about." Cloudy forced an obviously fake smile. "I-I heard what's going on with Maud..." "You did?" Cloudy asked. Marble nodded in response. Cloudy sighed, wiping her eyes. "All we need to do it hope. Hope that it'll heal." "Mhmm" "Well, you should get back to your father before he wakes. Tell him I need to see him when he gets the chance" "Okay, mother. Goodbye." Marble said as she exited the room and started to head back to her father's room. "All we need to do is hope" Marble hoped that statement would be true in the end. ================ Five Hours Later Pinkamena tiredly sat down on the couch beside a passed out Cheese Sandwich. She had to party with him ever since she accidentally brought up the topic. That was the most annoying five hours of my life. Pinkamena stood up, trotting towards the stairs. She ripped off the goofy, white and red polka-dot party hat that Cheese had basically forced on her hours ago tearing the string that held it in place carelessly and threw it over to Cheese. Why does Pinkie love to do something so stupid? It's nothing but a bunch of jumping around and playing a bunch of dumb games for absolutely no reason. Pinkamena yawned as she looked at the clock in the middle of Cheese's living room. 2:30 AM I'm just glad he passed out now. Another hour of that and I'd have lost my mind. Pinkamena went into the guest bedroom and laid down in bed, tearing the covers from their place and pilling them atop of her, layer by layer. At least I have something to look forward to... ================ Pinkie scrapped her left-cheek against one of the bars, trying to unstrap the muzzle, even if it wasn't by a lot. She had been at it for probably hours now, and still hadn't even made a dent in it. Her cheek had become raw and red from all the friction, stinging and burning with every push or pull against it. Come on! Work! Pinkie, now frustrated, began to scrape against the bars with more force and fervor, but the stubborn strap wouldn't budge. She let out a growl of frustration before kicking the bars with her hind hooves. Maybe I should just give up... Pinkie let out a small sigh. I mean, if what she says is true, it was her body. Maybe I should just let it happen. Just let her take full control. Pinkie's hooves went limp. Perhaps there wasn't any chance of her getting away? I'll never throw another party again. Pinkie began to tear up as she thought of all of her friends. No more cupcakes. She tried to wipe away the tears on the ground. I'll never see my friends... my family... Gummy... I'll never see the Cakes again... Pinkie began rested her head on the ground for another moment. She rested there for a moment, defeated. No... Pinkie lifted up her head, sitting up, and began to scrape the buckle against the bar again. I can't just give up! I can't let her ruin my life just because her's was. I feel bad for her, but she doesn't have to take it out on me and the rest of Equestria! "Then I'll just keep you in here longer." Pinkamena approached the bars, an eager smile on her face. "You think you're escaping?" Pinkamena said as she looked down at Pinkie condescendingly. "You don't get it, do you? This is my imagination. Even if you do manage to escape somehow, I'll lock you up again more securely." I'll get outta here! I'll figure a way out! "Yeah. Just like you figured out a way to save your family and Fluttershy. Just accept it. You'll fade away just like I did." I will escape this place and take back control! "Sure you will..." Pinkamena said as she walked away from the bars. You aren't right! I will escape! ================