- - - ch 24 - - -
Magic gathered around Luna's horn, but it was not her own: Celestia was sending her a letter. Leaving Clover’s side, she went into the common area to be away from the sensitive equipment before the spell fully manifested. The ponies there gave her little notice this time, having already accepted her as just another pony tending to a loved one. Relaxing her mind, Luna allowed the magic to flow through her.
With a pop, a scroll appeared beside her. Taking the letter in her hooves, she unrolled it to see what her sister had sent. “Finished early. Be there soon,” the letter read.
Returning to Clover’s room, Luna took her seat back by his side. “Celestia will be here in a few minutes,” she said, brushing his muzzle with a damp towel.
Clover gave her a weak smile. She couldn’t help but admire the foal. He understood exactly how sick he was, yet seemed completely at peace. Picking up the story book, Luna continued reading him the tale of the pegasus and the dragon.
She had only made it a few more paragraphs before the distinct sound of Celestia’s gait drew both their attentions to the open door. There was a pause in her hoofsteps for just a moment, then Celestia stepped through the door with a glowing expression.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Not so bad,” Clover said, only his mouth moving as he spoke.
Luna sat the book by the bed, and rose to hug her sister. “Have you spoken with the doctors?”
A grim nod cracked her smile for a moment, but it returned as she sat by Clover’s side. “They told me you aren’t eating. Is there anything you want?”
Clover managed to shake his head. “Friends, family.”
Celestia leaned against the bed and pressed her head against his. She had done this so many times, but rarely so young. She opened her mouth to speak, but her voice hitched. Instead hot tears dripped from her to Clover. “We are going to do everything we can to get you through this.”
Clover eased a hoof onto Celestia’s. “It is okay.”
“Why are you the brave one?” Celestia asked, an odd kind of smile returning to her. Sitting up, she looked to her sister. “Thank you so much, but you should get some sleep.”
“I shall,” Luna said, standing from her place. “However, do not hesitate to call upon me.”
Waving her sister goodbye, Celestia then turned back to Clover, and rested a hoof on him. She watched him for a few moments, there was an air of tranquility to him that was almost contagious. “Promise me you’ll fight this.” Celestia said rubbing his back.
The touch bought a smile to Clover. “Feels good. Itchy.”
Taking up the soft brush by the bed, Celestia worked it over his itchy pelt; getting hums of happiness from Clover as she went. He had dodged her words. It was something he was better at than many of the nobles, but this was one she wasn’t going to let slip.
“Clover, I—” the sound of Luna entering the room again interrupted her words. “Something wrong?” Celestia asked. A coy smile on her sister was confusing her.
“Not at all; I merely found some ponies that wanted to wish Clover well,” Luna said, as four foals and a litle dragon stepped quietly into the room.
“Spike, I’m surprised you got here so fast,” Celestia said. His features were a mix of exhaustion and concern, making him look far older than he should have.
“I sent him a letter this morning,” Luna answered for him. “Now I really must be off to bed. Farewell to you all.”
Again Celestia waved her sister goodbye, then looked over Clover’s friends. They each had a different expression, from concern, to grief, to near panic. One was a new face to her. While she knew her name, she had never managed to meet the young mare.
“Primrose,” Celestia gave her a nod. “I’m sorry we haven’t gotten to meet before now. I’ve heard many nice things about you.” Seldom from Clover, but Green often commented on the puppy love between the two foals.
The filly went stiff with fear for a moment, her eyes locked onto her. Celestia couldn't help but sigh, taking her crown in hoof and sitting it on the bedstand. “We're all friends here,” she said.
Primrose nodded, the worst of her fear melting away. “How is he?”
Returning her attention to Clover, she found him smiling, and squirming to sit up.
“Ask him yourself,” she said, pushing the button on the bed to raise Clover up.
The young ones shuffled forward, spreading out around his bed. Each took time to wish him well, and tell him about one thing or another. Clover said little himself, preferring to silently appreciate the company.
After a while, the small talk ran dry, and Spike pulled out a deck of cards. “Can he play cards?” he asked, looking up to her.
Before she could answer, Clover chuckled. “We need chips.”
Primrose traipsed out of the room, and by the time Celestia had the lap-table sat across the bed, she had returned with a full bag of rubber bands.
With their makeshift chips, Spike pulled up a chair next to Celestia, and dealt out cards to everypony.
The first hoof went to Clover, also the third, fourth and sixth. In spite of his inability to hold all his cards without dropping them, Clover seemed to have a nack at the game. At first Spike thought everypony was going easy on him, but by the eighth hoof, it was obvious that even Celestia was trying her very best to get some of her chips back.
Clover smiled through it all, listening to the conversation around him, and laughing along with the others as piles of rubber bands moved from one player to the next, then inevitably in front of him. By the time most of the rubber bands were in Clover’s lap, exhaustion began to wash over him as well.
“I think we need to let Clover sleep now,” Celestia said, as another round was concluded.
Spike gathered the cards and bands, while the others gave their well-wishes, then went back out to the lobby. Once Primrose had left, it was only him and Celestia left with Clover.
Taking Clover’s hoof between his claws, Spike looked him in the eye. There had been something in Clover’s expression today that he found familiar and unsettling. “You’re going to fight this, and get better,” Spike told Clover. Hoofsteps distracted Spike for a moment. Looking behind him, he saw Celestia leave the room.
“Stay close, so you can be here,” Clover said.
Spike spun back to face his all-but-brother. He knew that tone, he remembered that tired expression, that careless peace. Grampa Twinkle had been like this in his last few days.
“You’re just giving up, aren’t you?” Spike said, letting go of Clover.
The easy smile wilted to a frown, as Clover forced himself to look around the room.
“We’re alone,” Spike said.
Clover sighed. “I am tired. My memories are...” Clover’s voice faded searching for a word.
“Jumbled,” Spike said, guessing the word.
“Yes. I do not even know what I use to look like, but I do remember I should have died many, many years ago.”
“Don’t say that,” Spike hissed. “And I know you remember more than you admit.”
Clover leaned back, and closed his eyes. “Maybe I do. Before was bad. It has been nice here. I am ready.
“What about me, what about your mom?”
“You two will see me dead no matter what.” That creepy peace again appeared on Clover again as he settled in for a nap. “I’m mortal.”
“You think that makes it alright to give up?” Spike fought to keep his voice quiet. “You think we treat friends like flowers. We just throw them out when they wilt, and forget them? Would you just say, “Oh well,” and move on if I died?”
The air of peace over Clover vanished. Spike could tell he was trying to say something, but the words weren’t coming.
“Excuse me,” The bright voice of a nurse called from the open door. “I’m sorry, but Clover really needs his rest.”
Spike nodded to the nurse, then turned back to Clover. “Maybe we’re being selfish, but please, fight this for us.” He waited a second for a response, but Clover was asleep, or at least pretending to be.
Stepping back, he passed the young nurse as she went to Clover’s side. He had met her before, but he couldn’t place where. “Take good care of him,” he said, pausing at the door.
“I will,” she said, looking up from the needle drawing Clover’s blood. There was something about her smile that Spike took as a promise.
Something is rotten in Denmark.
Clover seems resigned to it.
Keep on writing.
6050508
Heaven (the author) will direct it.
I hope he doesn't give up yet. That'll suck.
i start to understand this her thing a bit better, but i am still glad, that i didn´t need to read much about it the last few chapters.
i don´t believe that he would die, but this is somehow interessting to read.
Oh so he was dead... wonder how he was revived...
6050593 but if the purpose of a chapter was to foreshadow one thing, might it have been better to merge the two most recent chapters? "At long last" can't be called a chapter in even the most generous sense, it is a scene.
Ok we need Discord back stat! He has all the information and right now it needs to be passed out now. Clover's past is important but it is something far more dangerous that is happening right now. If the belief that he was human before is true if this is a human illness and he could be in major danger here. Cannot wait until that next chapter.
I swear to celestia clover. Dont. You. Do. It.
He better fight. Though he dosent even sound like he was always a pony, so hmmm
I have a feeling that Clover was resurrected as a foal from a human. That's what it sounds like to me. Also, I think Clover might give up in the next chapter, or pull out of it at the last second. It's going to be an attack on the feels. I'm sure on that.
So Clover was a human after all
Interesting chapters. I really hope Clover doesn't die. I want to read what happens to him when he gets older. Good luck with the next chapter.
6050639
There's no evidence of that just yet. No strong evidence, at least.
please don't die
6050636 6050665 6050639 Not necessarily. He could have been anything from a human to a sapient jellyfish for all we know, since he obviously was either reincarnated or dimensionally displaced and transformed.
~Crystalline Electrostatic~
6050639
I'm leaning some sort of time traveler/ reincarnation, unless I seriously misread Luna's memory dive
He's gonna make it.
6050639
There is just as much evidence suggesting that Clover was a talking pie as there is to suggest he was human. So I'm holding out for talking pie.
Clover's dying NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
He better make it or this won't be a good story for me.
HmmmMM very unexpected, sort a.
Anyone else getting creepy vibes off the nurse? The smile, drawing blood when she said he needed rest? Also if this is "just Cow Pox" why is it so bad? Makes me think Munchausen by proxy. Or am I just reading too much into it?
that is one creepy nurse. ok so either he's was human or he's really old. i going with the later because of the winadgo thing he was acting weird then
stayclassy
Please dont make this into a sadfic. Please don't
And, also
... Holy Sheet!
[youtube=bxeoLhLdqnQ]
6050737
Nope. We know a fair bit actually. Luna confirmed the dream was based on memory so he was something that had sharp teeth, 'hard' eyes, and could simultaneously wield spear and shield. From the choreography of the fight and the reference of drawing a blade from the thigh we can also deduce that he most likely had a bipedal stance. So no jellyfish.
Well wasn't that mysterious. There's a lot more to find out! Let's just hope that there won't be far too much mystery for too long
... How old is Clover and how long has his journey been that has brought him to this place?
6050737
I'm pretty sure Clover isn't a Hanar.
Important was one question. Clover asked how long ago windigos happened. It looks like Clover is from windigo time.
Clover is a Time Lord. That my thought on it. or a Foal out of time.
just wow this is getting soo good. you really are an amazing writer with some great skill. hope to see more of this in the future
Two chapter updates: "At Long Last." and "Rest is for the dead."
My instinct: someone's died.
That cliffhanger. Hmmm. im curious to know more of clovers past. HE BETTER LIVE OR WE RIOT! ahem, anyway I like the chapter. but im curious to know what he has too.
6050836 If a human doesn't get chicken pox as a kid, when they finally get it as an adult it's really severe, if I remember correctly. I'm guessing that it's a similar idea at work.
My guess is that it's someone who has been multiple places/worlds (none of which were Equestria) and is probably older than "young adult" at the least (possibly by a fair margin).
6050508
You mean Surströmming? I thought that was swedish :P
6051387
Its the nurse
Don't you DARE let Clover die! He's going to make it!
Things aren't always what they seem. Clover has been full of surprises until now, even ones he wasn't even passively aware of.
There's a lot more to be told from here than this colt's death, Rocinante. Don't let us down.
He regenerated into pony form. He was bipedal at one point, and now he's a pony. Does anyone else get what I'm hinting at here? Think about it, come on, I know that you can do it...
Cow pox? Or perhaps smallpox?
Also, gonna go out on a limb here:
BOOMERCLOVER WILL LIVE!6051387 my thoughts....... He better not fucking die
I just binge read 23 chapter and you had to end the chapter like that?!
Mother fucker
This would be a really sad but ok place to end.
6051042
Finally people are thinking of the dream. It would be interesting for a nonhuman bipedal being, but human would be fine. Also it seems that people are ignoring that Clover just literally told Spike that he was of a different race and was older than he was to them all, but Spike's concerns for Clover's health sidetracked that in his mind. Probably will be a chapter or two till that hits Spike like a brick. Also the nurse is creepy but she was smiling a promise while doing a portion of her job, actually not sure where to stand on the nurse.
6050737 Touche.
6052108 Or Clover already told Spike earlier. Spike picked up that Clover was checking to see if it was safe to talk pretty quickly.
6052212
Yeah but he probably associated that with the fact that in the talk Clover also stated that he giving up the fight against the illness and didn't want Celestia to hear.
Clover's not really a pony, is he?